Chapter 251 – Frank Asks Questions
Frank and Abigail came down the stairs hand in hand. When Abigail saw Dee wiping the counter she stopped.
"Sorry." Abigail said. "I thought everyone left."
"I was just wondering if I could talk to Frank for a bit." Dee said.
"Give us half an hour." Frank said, giving Abigail a kiss on the cheek.
Abigail nodded. Frank motioned to the dining room and Dee went ahead with Frank following. Frank stopped and pulled the curtain to give them as much privacy as possible. Once they were seated, Frank looked at Dee.
"Thank you." Dee said. "Things got a little crazy this week and I was still trying to work things out in my own head."
"So you went off by yourself for a long time last week." Frank said. "How did that go?"
"Nothing, well actually just the slightest twinge of excitement." Dee said. "Which only added to my frustration. I tried for a long time and it just led to me crying in frustration. I was so emotionally and physically exhausted when I got back, but I put a smile on and dealt with everyone that was at the house for supper."
"I am sorry." Frank said. "At least you have an answer now."
"I thought so as well." Dee said. "Then I was talking to Doug after Jack and Beth went to bed. He showed me his scars. They are all over his body. I am talking from his shoulders to his knees, front and back from the waist down. I am telling you this because Doug got me to admit what the problem was and he told me it took over a year before he felt that excitement and another year before it fully came back. He told me to give myself some time and focus on dealing with the emotional side of what I went through.
He said if I felt some twinges now, it was a good sign because he had nothing for over a year and from what I can gather he was injured worse then I was. I am still torn about what to do, but I will give myself more time to heal – both physically and emotionally. I still don't think it is fair to ask Annie to continue waiting. I wrote her a letter and mailed it today. I told her we would talk when I got back, but that I loved her. I told her more about being injured and how my future as far as being intimate and able to have children was still very much in question. I also explain that I would understand if that was a deal breaker for her, but we would sit down and talk more after I got back. I concluded by telling her I hoped to be back by the end of the month and would wire before I got on the train."
"I know it was hard." Frank said. "But I think you did the right thing. Doug is also right. You need to cut yourself some slack. From everything you have told me, you are lucky to be alive. I understand that feeling and for a while that is enough. Then when it isn't you need to figure out where you want to go. My situation was a little different because I knew when I woke up and was told I would be fine, what I was going to do. I had to face some hard times spending time in prison, but it made me a much better man."
"Thank you." Dee said. "I just hope that Annie will understand."
"Can I ask why you wrote a letter and didn't wait to speak to her in person?" Frank asked.
"Couple reasons." Dee said. "I owed her a letter because we have been here much longer than expected. Also the personal stuff was in a separate envelope inside the main letter. I told her I had to share something extremely personal and didn't think I could do it in person. I asked her to open that letter when she was alone and could have time to process what it said. I finished the main letter telling her all the ways that I loved her and how I hoped she understood. By doing it this way, she can process things and when we sit down, I will be able to answer her questions because we have both had time to wrap our heads around it."
"I understand." Frank said. "But just know she might be hurt. I don't want to upset you, but just prepare you. I still think you did the right thing. Now and until you get back, continue to work on those other things and don't worry about whether you can or can't feel excitement."
Dee ducked his head as he was embarrassed they were talking about what they were. Frank also realized that might have been another reason the young man wrote the letter.
"I will continue to pray for you." Frank said. "I want you to know that you can talk to me at any point, even after you leave. If you need to write, that is fine. I will write back. However, I have a feeling we will be getting the telephone before too long. I also know that you will be back in the fall when Elizabeth has her baby. Hopefully you will know more by then and I can meet your Annie."
"I would like that." Dee said. "I will let you get back to Abigail. I didn't mean to interrupt your time together."
"It is okay." Frank said. "She understands the nature of my job. Before you go. Let me pray with you."
Dee bowed his head and Frank put his hand on Dee's head.
"Heavenly Father." Frank prayed. "We come to You and ask for continued healing for Dee. Restore him as You see fit. Give him peace that You are in control and will guide him. Take away any guilt he is feeling over what he did. I know that You understand why it needed to be done. Help him to have peace when he talks to Annie and give him the words to speak. Open their hearts and show them a way if they are meant to be together. Until he can have those conversations with her, let Dee know peace. I also pray for Annie. Open her heart to hear the words that Dee wrote. Help her to have understanding and show her the path You set for her. Amen."
"Amen." Dee said. "Thank you."
"You are welcome." Frank said. "Now be careful going back to the house and I will see you tomorrow."
Dee nodded and left out the front door. Frank went over and locked the front door behind Dee. He then took a deep breath and headed back to talk to Abigail.
… … … …
After Frank and Dee went to the dining room, Abigail said a quick prayer. She wasn't sure what was going on but she was glad that Dee at least felt comfortable enough to talk to Frank. She was still struggling with everything he had told her. Over the last week since they had declared their love, Frank had shared all of his past with Abigail. He knew that he couldn't move forward without her knowing and he explained all that. He had also explained that Jack and Bill knew as well as Wynn and Dee and probably a few other Mounties but it was a closed matter.
Frank had patiently answered Abigail's questions each night after the children were in bed. They had also talked more about what they wanted moving forward. Abigail asked that they take things slow and she would let him know when she was ready to move forward. That didn't mean they didn't share some pretty intense kisses in the kitchen late at night.
Abigail started to get things ready to make some scones and cookies for the next day as she waited for Frank. For the millionth time in the last few weeks she asked herself if she was crazy to be getting involved with a guy, at her age. She was almost forty and he was forty-four. It wasn't so much the age difference, but their ages in general.
Abigail knew that Frank was good with the kids and it would be nice to have someone to share things with, not that she didn't share with others as well. She was talking about those little things you only share with a spouse. She also knew it would be nice to be held at night again. She had to stop and shake her head as she couldn't think about those things. Then she wondered why not. If Wynn and Elizabeth Rose could be actively intimate at their age, there was no reason that she and Frank couldn't once they were married. The thing was Abigail realized didn't want a big fancy wedding. She hadn't had that with Noah as they ran off to get married. But for her it just didn't make sense. She wanted something small and intimate. Maybe with just the kids. Then an idea came to Abigail. She knew people would be surprised and she would have to explain but the more she thought about the more she liked the idea.
… … … …
When Frank walked back into the kitchen Abigail was standing at the prep table with a far off look on her face. He went and wrapped his arms around her from behind and she actually jumped, she had been so deep in thought.
"So what had you so deep in thought." Frank asked as he kissed her neck.
Abigail turned in his arms and accidentally dusted him with flour when she put her hand on his shoulder. She giggled and Frank shook his head.
"I love you." Frank said. "But trying to distract me is not going to make me forget the question I asked."
"I was thinking about us." Abigail said. "I was also thinking that since we have to go to Union City this next week since Becky has the regional science fair, maybe you could come with us. I promised Cody that he could go as well if he wanted, but now I really think I want him there."
Frank was happy he was getting to go. He wanted to ask, but wasn't sure.
"If you want me to come, I will." Frank said. "We would have to leave on Thursday and then come back on Saturday."
"I was thinking that you could announce that you would be gone for the weekend." Abigail said. "Then you, me and the kids could have a nice weekend in Union City. Wynn and Elizabeth have offered to get up a nice hotel suite and I was thinking that we could make use of it."
"Are you suggesting what I think you are suggesting?" Frank asked.
"I think so." Abigail said. "I know that everyone is going to have an opinion about a wedding. Noah and I eloped because we were so young and my family didn't really approve. I honestly don't want a big wedding. I was thinking about it and I just want something with you and the kids. We can go to the judge there or maybe a pastor and just have a quick ceremony. I realized that I don't want to wait any longer."
"We can do that if you want." Frank said. "I just don't want you to regret anything. If you want a big wedding here, we can wait."
"Maybe when we get home, we can have a party to celebrate." Abigail said. "But honestly I realized that I just want to be married. I know that we have had a lot of changes lately, but I will be forty next week and standing here thinking, I realized that I don't want to wait."
"If this is what you want." Frank said. "I will make it happen. But how about we keep between us and not tell the kids until we are on the way."
"I like that." Abigail said, with a smile. "I know that some people are going to be upset, but honestly, I just want to start my life with you."
"I will move my things over here after we get back." Frank said. "For now, I want to keep the parsonage. I can use it for counseling sessions or if I need some quiet to work on sermons."
"I think that is reasonable." Abigail said. "We have plenty of new housing going up and if someone says something, I will remind them that the contracts with you and the new teacher coming include housing. It doesn't say how you have to use that housing."
Frank leaned forward and kissed Abigail. He wondered if he should propose or wait. After their kiss, Abigail turned back around and went back to her scones. She had a smile on her face and she was running through everything that needed to happen. Frank still had his arms wrapped around her for another minute and she felt his absence the moment that he stepped back. She realized that she had become more used to him being there then she had thought.
Frank stepped back, removed the ring from the chain around his neck. He then slipped it in his shirt pocket before going to wash his hands to help Abigail.
When Frank stepped back up to the prep table, he smiled at Abigail and knew that his life had gotten infinitely better. He started helping Abigail as she pointed to the cookie recipe. He started making those as she put the scones in the oven.
"Should I start some bread?" Abigail asked.
"Will it rise too much overnight?" Frank asked.
"I don't think so." Abigail said. "It is late and we can set in the back cupboard to rise."
"Then go ahead." Frank said. "It will save you time in the morning."
Abigail started bread as Frank finished the cookies. When they were done and just waiting for the last of the cookies to come out, Frank took Abigail by the hand and had her sit down for a moment.
"It is fine." Frank said. "You can sit for a moment."
Frank took a seat next to her on the settee. He then took her hand in his again.
"Abigail Stanton." Frank said. "You have made me happier than I ever thought I could be. When I accepted this posting as pastor, I never thought I would fall in love and certainly not with a woman as amazing, brave and strong as you."
Abigail blushed a little at the praise that Frank poured on her. She had never been that comfortable with that kind of praise, maybe because she never heard it growing up. Even with Noah, she was unsure of herself when he did that.
"I want you to close your eyes and take a moment to think about everything you want in life." Frank said.
Abigail just looked at him. He just tilted his head and looked at her back, so she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Once they were shut, Frank took his free hand and pulled the ring out of his pocket. He then dropped to one knee in front of Abigail.
"Abigail." Frank said. "We might not always have the most fancy things, but I promise I will always love you and do my best to provide for you. I know that our home will be a loving home. I promise to share everything I have with you and I hope it will be enough. The first thing I want to share with you is the one thing that means the most to me in the world."
Frank held up the ring that his grandfather had made for his grandmother. It was small gold nuggets with five small diamonds. It was rough looking, but it was the meaning behind it that meant so much to Frank. His grandmother had given the ring to his father so he could ask his mother to marry him. When she passed away, it was given to Frank for his future bride. He had protected it all those years so he would always have it and he couldn't think of a better ring to give Abigail.
"Open your eyes." Frank said.
When Abigail opened her eyes, she gasped.
"Abigail Marie Stanton." Frank said. "Will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?"
"Yes." Abigail said, through tears. "But your mother's ring? Are you sure?"
"I couldn't think of anything better." Frank said.
Abigail moved her rings from Noah to her other hand and Frank slipped the new ring on her finger. It fit perfectly. Abigail just looked at it and smiled. She then leaned forward and kissed Frank. He stood them up while kissing and the sweet kiss of yes, turned into quite the passionate kiss that was interrupted by the timer for the cookies. Reluctantly, Abigail pulled away and went to take the cookies out of the oven. Once she had them set to cool, she returned to the settee and Frank.
"I will take these (indicating her rings from Noah)." Abigail said. "And save them for either Becky or Cody. We can buy ourselves new bands in Union City."
"If that is what you want." Frank said. "I would never ask you to put them away if that is not what you want."
"I have Noah's matching band to mine." Abigail said. "We are going to be together, it is time to put these away."
"Only if you are sure." Frank said. "If you want to wear them like that, I won't mind. If you want to wear them on a chain, I won't mind."
"I will think about it." Abigail said. "But I think you need to go. We have a long week ahead of us."
"I will make the arrangements on Monday." Frank said.
"Thank you." Abigail said.
With one last kiss, Frank left the cafe. He stopped on the boardwalk and took a deep breath. He realized that he was going to be married in less than a week and he couldn't be happier. Abigail headed up to bed that night feeling better then she had in the previous fourteen months. She was finally getting her life back. She was going to be a wife and mother again, not that she didn't find the cafe and work as the mayor fulfilling, but she knew she was meant to be a mother. She just wished that her and Noah would have been able to have more children. At least she knew that she would have Becky and Cody. Then Abigail thought that maybe she and Frank could look into adopting one or two more. She knew that there were plenty of children that needed a home. She knew with the expansion that they would have the room and with what Frank said, they were going to have plenty of money. He still had a majority of the reward that he had received. Even all he had spent helping the settlers, had barely made a dent. That was one of the things that Frank had Andrew do, set up a second account and transfer half the money to Union City so it wasn't all sitting in Hope Valley.
Like Wynn and Elizabeth Rose, little did Abigail know how much her life was going to change in the next year. As she laid in bed and prayed that night, she had no idea that her prayers would be answered time again.
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