Chapter 21:

A week had passed since all these adventures had happened to her. Abigail remained isolated most of the time. Her son did not talk to her much, the townspeople kept staring at her, Florence and Molly did not speak to her anymore, and Henry avoided her as much as possible. How could things have been worse? Luckily, apart from Florence and Molly, her friends were always there for her.

She spent part of her time with Elizabeth and Rosemary and another part with Bill and Clara. She no longer had any customers in her cafe. She honestly never imagined that her relationship with Henry could have such an impact on anything.

She missed Henry terribly. Every night she cried. She could not get over it or get used to the idea of not being with him anymore. Their relationship had been so short, but it had been so wonderful for her.

One day when she was at the mercantile to buy sewing thread for the tablecloths of her tables, she obviously came across Florence who was on the telephone receiver. Then Molly walked into the store, and she saw Henry emerge from one of the shelves. He had been there all along without knowing that Abigail was there too.

Suffice to say that Abigail had quickly emerged from the mercantile.

A few days later, a dinner had been organized at the saloon for Thanksgiving. Winter had clearly and completely set in at the end of November.

Abigail was combing her hair a bit in her mirror in the kitchen. She was ready to go to the Thanksgiving party. She was just waiting for her son who only spoke to her a little.

When they arrived in the saloon, Cody and Abigail took off their coats. The boy went straight to his friends who seemed, despite everything, to have given up on his mother's affair with Henry.

Abigail looked at her son for a few moments before heading into a corner of the room. The mayor of the city found the evening very slow. She was with her friends who still talked to her, but she felt bad and constantly sad. Elizabeth had, of course, noticed her distress for several days, but she did not know what to do. She had heard about the slap she had put on Florence, and she had found it hard to believe. But when she saw a red-cheeked Florence arrive at school to pick up her son, she was speechless.

Later that evening the tables were removed to create a dance floor in the middle of the saloon as music was played. Henry stood alone in a corner of the saloon as he forced himself not to look at Abigail. He was way too sick to his stomach ever since they had argued and broken up. He had been extremely hurt by what Abigail had blamed him for. But above all, he was distressed that she was so ashamed of him. He loved her so much.

Henry had not really understood the magnitude of what Abigail had told him about how the town had reacted to their relationship. But then he had seen it. The citizens barely spoke to Abigail anymore, and she no longer had customers in her cafe. He thought that in the end, it was better if they were separated. That way, he would never hurt her again.

Lost in thought as he stared at the wooden floor, Henry saw the shadow of someone planting itself in front of him. He lifted his head and his blood swirled. He did not let any emotion cross his face, but he felt like breaking down. Abigail was in front of him, looking completely dejected. She looked him in the eyes for a moment before reaching out her hand. It was only then that Henry realized that soft music was playing in the back.

Henry hesitated. But in the end, he wanted it so badly. He had blamed Abigail for being ashamed of him. And now she was silently offering him to dance with her in the middle of the whole town.

Henry grabbed the woman's hand and she slowly backed up to the dance floor, an unreadable expression on her face. He followed her slowly, an expression as unreadable as himself on his face.

They both arrived on the floor and Henry put his free hand on Abigail's hip, while Abigail put her free hand on Henry's shoulder.

They began to waltz, still looking into each other's eyes, not paying attention for a single second to their surroundings. It was only them.

After a few moments, Henry and Abigail began to grow closer. Henry smiled and Abigail too. The two danced in a small bubble for a while. Henry made Abigail lean over which had the effect of causing her to laugh out loud, a laugh joined by Henry himself.

When the music stopped. The two looked at each other for a few moments, smiles still hanging on their lips. Then, little by little, they remembered what had happened last days and gradually lost their smiles.

Abigail sighed, let go of Henry's hand, which she still held in hers, before turning and walking back to the corner of the room. She did not meet any looks; she could not yet see the disapproval in the eyes of the inhabitants. Henry continued to stare at Abigail, not knowing what to do. He wanted to be with her. She had made him the most beautiful proof of love possible: dancing with him in front of everyone. Show the others who kept talking and cackling that she was in love with him, despite what they had to say.

Henry finally left the dance floor and went for a walk.

Then, at the end of the evening, she was surprised that the inhabitants of the city all came to say goodbye to her or to thank her for this evening. Finally, Florence and Molly stood in front of Abigail looking at her with rosy cheeks.

"We wanted… I wanted to apologize Abigail."

Abigail looked at Florence who had her eyes downcast. She was very surprised that the latter apologized after the slap she had dared to put on her. And, she seemed so firm on her positions, that she had not imagined for a single second that such a discussion between them would exist in the future.

"I acted without thinking. I didn't see that... I didn't see the love between you. And on the dance floor you showed it. You were handsome."

"I'm sorry too, Abigail. We are your friends. This is not how we should have reacted." Molly said in turn.

"And I shouldn't have told everyone. I heard from my son that it also fell on Cody at school."

"Yes..." Abigail sighed sadly. "He barely speaks to me anymore…"

"I'm sorry mom..."

Abigail turned in surprise to her son who was behind her, tears in her eyes.

Florence and Molly slipped out of the saloon not without a last hug to their friend.

"I shouldn't have…I mean you and Mr. Gowen seem to like you a lot. And you're right, he's not a criminal, he's nice. He brought Becky back to us and that's something."

Abigail simply smiled at her son, not knowing what to say except a small "Thank you" in a completely moved voice.

Cody rushed into his mother's arms and hugged her as hard as he could.

Note: Hope you still like it. Especially since the story had become a little less joyful, right?