Chapter 24:

Abigail had had a pretty good day. She would not say that everything was back to normal. Some people kept staring at her as if she did not see them. But the clients had almost all returned gradually, and she no longer had any differences with Florence and Molly who seemed to have assimilated her relationship with Henry.

And Henry… She had not seen him all day, but she missed him terribly. They had only just reconciled, so not seeing him was painful for her. She was secretly waiting for the moment when they could see each other today.

And, as if someone had heard her wish, the kitchen door of Abigail's Café opened. She turned to it, as she prepared a pie on the counter.

"Cody?"

Abigail stood surprised for a few seconds at the painting in front of her. Henry and Cody both with smiles looking at her.

"Mom!"

Henry watched the young boy rush to his adoptive mother with a longing gaze. Cody and Becky immediately fell in love with the one who would later become their mother. Why had it always been so complicated with his son? Why had not his son ever run to him like this when he came home from work when he was little?

"How did you come back together?" Abigail asked confused.

"Cody chose to do his internship with me." smiled Henry coming back to earth.

"Really?" asked Abigail surprised. "It's really great, Cody, you're going to learn a lot with Henry."

"He showed me a lot of things, mom! It was great! I cannot wait until tomorrow! Thank you, Sir Henry!" Cody grinned at him.

You're welcome. You'll see, I'll show you lots of new stuff this week."

"Cody, your snack is on the table." Abigail tried to steer him towards it, but he stopped her

"Oh, mum, can I have a snack at Robert's?"

Abigail hesitated. She wanted her son to spend time with his friends and be happy. But she sometimes had selfish feelings that made her want to be always with him.

"Of course, sweetheart." She kissed his cheek before he ran out the door, past Henry.

"Goodbye, Mr. Henry!"

"Goodbye Cody." laughed Gowen as Cody had long since disappeared behind the door.

Henry shifted his gaze to Abigail's. He quickly walked towards her at the same time as she walked towards him and they kissed passionately, having spent too much time apart for their liking.

"I've been thinking about you all day..." Henry whispered in Abigail's ear.

"Me too." laughs the mayor of the city. "It seems that this week that we spent apart has brought us even closer."

"It seems like." Henry agreed, kissing her cheek before diverting his care to her neck.

"Henry…," laughed Abigail. "We are in the middle of the day."

Henry suddenly lifted his head and quickly raised his hands in surrender as he laughed.

"Very well, very well, I will do nothing more, I promise."

"That's not what I asked you." she laughs at Henry's teasing. "So how was it with Cody today?"

"Oh, it went really well. Your son is very quick-witted. He must get that from you." he laughed. "But I don't know if… if he blames me for being close to you."

Henry was trying to silently ask Abigail if she knew more about how Cody was feeling.

"I don't think he's mad at you. He was especially mad at me, and he seems to have understood now…" Abigail declared in an uncertain voice.

Henry nodded, realizing that Abigail was not sure what she was up to.

"I have to know, Abigail…" Henry moved closer to Abigail again. "Would…if Cody didn't agree with both of us…would you leave me?"

Abigail looked down.

"I…I don't want you to leave Henry."

"That's not what I asked you." insisted the former mayor.

"I don't know if I could do it. I'll try, but I don't think I can." Abigail said honestly, looking up at Henry.

Henry nodded again. He did not know if he was happy or not with this confidence. Abigail said, in a way, she loved him way too much to leave him, but that she would anyway if her son asked her to. He felt relieved but at the same time dejected.

"Henry..." she sighed, taking his hands gently. "Cody would never ask me such a thing. Even if he didn't approve of our relationship, all he wants is for me to be happy, despite his young age." she smiled at him.

Henry smiled a little and hugged Abigail. He hugged her tight and inhaled the scent of her hair as she ran her hands through his, like she was used to.

"Anything else bothering you?" Abigail suddenly asked, slowly pulling away from Henry to look at his face whose eyes were avoiding his gaze.

"I... I need to talk to you about something..." he said unsure of himself.

"What is going on?" Abigail wondered.

"I must tell you about my past before Coal Valley."

Note: I have written several chapters that I will post in the next few days. I'm sorry for the time it's taking me. I'm doing exactly what I swore I wouldn't do, which is posting a story before I've finished it. I don't know why; I didn't expect that posting a chapter a day (when I had written 22) I find myself so quickly at the edge of the abyss haha! In short, enjoy and sorry!