Chapter 18:
"Did Henry tell you?" Elizabeth asked suddenly as she sat at a coffee table with Abigail, a nice steaming cup of tea in her hand.
"What of which?"
"What happened last night?"
"Oh…yes when you and Rosemary and Lee walked into Gowen Petroleum?"
Elizabeth nodded, grimacing.
"Yes. He told me about it. But I don't know…well, I was wondering how the Coulters reacted?" Abigail questioned cautiously.
"They reacted very well, Abigail. Don't worry. They are your friends."
"Yes. Bill is also my friend." insisted the mayor of Hope Valley, raising her eyebrows.
"Abigail… You know very well it's different. Bill and Henry have always had differences."
"Well, if we assume that all the people who would react badly are those who had conflicts with Henry… the list will be very long." Abigail sighed, playing with her teacup.
"Abigail." Elizabeth put her hand over her great friend's. "Everything will be alright. Once people know, it will pass, and they will accept."
Cody's mother nodded uncertainly.
Later that evening, Abigail was with Rosemary at Elizabeth's house. They had decided to get together a little bit after what had happened with Theodore Richardson.
"It's true that you had strayed far from all of us, Abigail." Rosemary said as she sat down on the couch across from Elizabeth and Abigail sitting next to each other.
"Yes…I'm sorry. Let's say I didn't feel like myself. And I didn't want you around me when I wasn't as usual." Abigail looked down at her hands.
"We understand that very well, Abigail. But we are your friends. No matter the situation." smiled Elizabeth, looking at Rosemary who nodded in agreement.
The mayor of the city smiles. How could she be so lucky? How could she have such friends? What had she done to deserve this?
Much later – at an almost unreasonable hour for Abigail who was already imagining she would have trouble getting up the next day – she left Elizabeth's house. Rosemary had also gone home but being the teacher's neighbor, it was easier for her.
As Abigail walked to her cafe, she felt like a presence not far from her. As if someone was watching her or following her. She turned around but saw absolutely nothing.
"What are you doing on the street in the middle of the night, Mrs. Stanton." suddenly asked a deep voice.
Abigail jumped as she turned to the voice.
"Henry…" Cody's mother sighed in relief. "You scared me."
Henry laughed.
"Excuse me. That wasn't the goal."
He approached the woman and planted himself in front of her, looking into her eyes.
"What are you doing here in the middle of the night?"
"I fell asleep at my desk. It's quite a coincidence that we think we're both out at the same time, don't you think?" Henry asked, his eyes shining with admiration for the one who had become his companion.
"It's true. But maybe that's no coincidence. Maybe it's just fate that brings us together here tonight." Abigail smiled, moving even closer to Henry so her face was close to his.
The darkness added something mysterious to Henry's face. There was something very seductive about him, Abigail thought.
"Do you really believe?" Henry teased, also moving closer to Abigail's face so their lips brushed.
"Yeah…" Abigail mumbled, her gray-green eyes twinkling.
Eventually, their lips finally touched to give each other a passionate, languorous kiss. Abigail plunged her hands into her lover's hair. She tried to ruffle them, and Henry suddenly laughed, breaking the kiss.
"Why are you laughing?" asked Abigail confused.
"It's just that I usually hate having my hair touched."
"Oh…" Abigail immediately removed her hands from Henry's hair. "Sorry…"
"No!" screamed Henry, taking his companion's hands again and pushing them back into his hair. "I have always hated people touching my hair but you… when you do it, I love it. You can mess me up. I love it…" smiles dreamily the manager of Gowen Petroleum.
Abigail did not know what to say. It might sound silly but to her it meant so much. He had always been so withdrawn with everyone. He had, until only a few times ago, always made her life difficult. So, hearing those kinds of simple sentences made her proud and happy.
She moved closer to him again to kiss him. Henry hugged her by the hips before waltzing her aside for a few moments while Abigail laughed into the night.
As the couple walked quietly to Abigail's cafe, they did not notice a person watching them from their window, looking displeased.
Note: A little girl's night out. This evening was also supposed to be in season 6 and, of course, we were not allowed to see it. Anyway! Who could have seen Henry and Abigail outside? Will this have an impact on the rest of their relationship?