Chapter 247 – Family Supper

Dee was glad that he didn't have to participate in the conversation because his feelings and thoughts were still all over the place. Doug and Jack, both had given him understanding glances. He wanted to talk to Doug, but he knew that it would have to wait until later when they were alone. He wondered about going in and talking to Frank, but he knew that he was spending the evening with Abigail and the kids. Dee reasoned that they deserved a night together and he would find another time to talk to Frank. Then Dee thought about talking to Jacobs, but he didn't want him to tell his dad, and he wasn't quite ready to risk him finding out. Dee wasn't sure how his father would react. Wynn had always talked about how he looked forward to Dee settling down and giving him more grandchildren.

As they finished up eating, Andrew, David and Joe volunteered to clean up as the others sat around visiting for a bit. Dee was still quieter than normal, but no one pushed him to talk after Elizabeth Rose shot her husband a look to back off. Patty and Elizabeth got coffee and tea ready, then put a plate of cookies on the table. Doug and Jacobs took Lee's table back and left enough chairs for everyone and took the two extra back. They left Lee a note that they would return the rest later.

The group continued to visit for the next hour, sharing stories about things that they had done and places they had been. It was only as Jack and Elizabeth both yawned that the group noticed that it was after nine.

"Before we get going." Jacobs said. "Jack, how is your breathing?"

"I could probably due with a treatment." Jack said.

"Then the rest of us will go." Wynn said.

"I will be back in when I am done." Jacobs said.

"Patty and I will walk everyone back in." Joe said.

"Thank you." Jacobs said.

"Before we get moving." Elizabeth said. "What is the plan for tomorrow?"

"David and I will be going to services, having lunch and then leaving for Buxton." Andrew said. "Elizabeth, I will message you when I have filed the paperwork needed. I will also send you copies of everything."

"I look forward to hearing from you." Elizabeth said. "Thank you again for coming all the way out here. I know that it wasn't easy to leave Sophie and JT."

Andrew stepped forward and gave his cousin a hug.

"Thank you." Andrew said. "We will be seeing you. I will plan to be in Hamilton in October when you come."

"Yes, thank you for everything." David said. "I will let you know about things as soon as I get a chance to talk to Melissa and I look forward to seeing you again this fall."

"Thank you both." Jack said. "Let us know what we need to do and we will be in touch."

Andrew and David shook hands with all those that were staying.

"Are you coming into services in the morning?" Aunt Elizabeth asked.

"I will see how I am feeling." Elizabeth said. "But I am planning on it."

"Dee or I will walk her in." Doug said. "Depending on how Jack is doing, one of us might stay with him."

"Very good." Wynn said. "We will speak at some point tomorrow."

Wynn, Elizabeth Rose, Patty, Joe, David and Andrew all left. Doug and Jacobs got Jack going on a breathing treatment while Dee went to his room. Elizabeth saw it and wondered what happened. She just went to her desk to write for a few moments before going upstairs.

… … … …

While the group was having dinner out at Jack and Elizabeth's house, it was busy in town. Not only was the cafe busy, but so was the saloon. Andy, John David and Thomas Wright all came into the cafe to eat together. Andy took the time to introduce each of the men to Abigail and Frank. Abigail welcomed them and said she looked forward to getting to know them, but if they could excuse her as it was busy.

Frank got some of the cadets going on doing laundry that needed to be done as well as keeping up on the dishes. He was helping to serve customers as Ann and Abigail worked to cook for everyone. Without talking, both Abigail and Frank knew that she was going to have to hire another person to help in the evenings, especially if it stayed busy. Abigail knew it was a lot for Ann to stay all day, which is why she was going to make her take days off when her husband was in town. Abigail just wondered who she could hire. There were plenty of people, but who would be willing to work in the afternoons and evenings. She knew that it wouldn't be fair to ask one of the single mothers to give up time with their children, but she didn't know what else she could do. She just knew that she was going to have to think about it some more and see what came about.

As it slowed down, Abigail sent Ann home while Frank made sure that the cadets were taking care of things. Frank and Abigail sat down with Becky and Cody to eat about seven as the cadets were cleaning up the cafe. Abigail knew that she would be interrupted as there were still customers, but she had turned the closed sign on the door, so no new customers were going to come in.

As they were sitting eating, Abigail looked at Frank who nodded.

"I want to talk to both of you." Abigail said. "We might get interrupted, but I want to try and start this conversation."

"What do you want to talk about, Miss Abigail?" Cody asked.

"I want to ask you if you wanted to stay here with me." Abigail said.

"Aren't we already staying with you?" Cody asked.

"Yes." Abigail said. "But I am talking about adopting you and making it permanent."

"Really?" Cody said. "You mean you want us to stay here forever?"

"Yes." Abigail said. "Because if that is something that you want, I will send the paperwork back with Wynn's son-in-law and he will file it on Monday with a judge."

"Are you sure that we will get to stay?" Becky asked.

"Yes." Frank said. "I have talked to Wynn and Andrew. I have also spoken to Sergeant Jacobs. They all support Abigail adopting you. She has plenty of support. It might be busy at the moment, but it won't always be like that. We will all find a routine and Abigail will be able to hire another person to help her."

"Yes!" Cody squealed, jumping up and hugging Abigail.

"Good." Abigail said, hugging Cody back. "I just wanted to check before I sent the paperwork and all the letters of support that had been gathered."

"Will I be able to call you Mom?" Cody asked.

"If that is something that you want." Abigail said. "I would be honored."

"Becky." Frank said. "How are you feeling?"

"I already wrote a letter in support of this." Becky said. "Jeremiah asked me about it and told me to write out what I wanted. I am not sure about calling you Mom, Abigail. But I will think about it."

"If that is not something you are comfortable with." Abigail said. "I won't push it. I want you to know that I will love you no matter what you choose."

"Thank you." Becky said.

The four continued to eat and talk about things, only getting interrupted a couple times as customers finished up in the dining room. Frank had admonished the cadets in the kitchen and they quickly jumped in to help so that the four at the table could eat like a family that they were quickly becoming.

When they were done eating, Frank helped Becky upstairs and Cody headed up as well. Abigail had promised she would be up to check on them in a little bit. While Frank was helping Becky and Cody, Abigail checked to make sure that the cadets had done everything before she dismissed them. She also let them know that they needed to be better about seeing what needed to be done without being asked and if it continued, she was going to have a conversation with Jacobs. The cadets just nodded and quietly left the kitchen.

Abigail went about finishing up the dishes from her, Frank and the kids. She then pulled out things to start prepping for the next day. She knew that she needed to do some baking and thought she could do that while she and Frank talked. She was going to ask him when he came downstairs. There was so much that she had wanted to talk to Frank about. They hadn't had a moment alone since he had declared his love for her.

… … … …

When Frank and the kids got upstairs, he looked at Becky and Cody.

"Cody." Frank said. "Can you go make sure that Becky's bed is turned down and then wait for me."

Cody nodded and then went to Becky's room. Frank set Becky on her feet and she walked the length of the hallway. When they got to the room, he scooped her up and carried her to the bed. He then grabbed the chair and sat facing the two children.

"There is something that I want to talk to you both about." Frank said. "But we need to keep it a secret for a little bit."

"Okay." Becky said.

They looked at Cody who nodded.

"I know that there have been a lot of changes for you lately." Frank said. "And I don't want to add to that, but I also don't want to do something without your permission. I don't know when it is going to happen, so please don't ask me. I just want your permission so when it is right, I can do it and not worry about it."

"Do you want to marry Miss Abigail?" Cody asked.

"Yes." Frank said. "I want to ask her, but I want both of your permission before I do that. Like I said, I don't know when it is going to happen, but I want to be ready so when the time is right, I can ask."

"I would love that." Cody said. "Would you adopt us as well?"

"If that is something that you want." Frank said.

"You have my permission." Becky said. "I think that you are exactly what Abigail needs."

"Me too." Cody said.

"Thank you." Frank said. "I am glad that you agree. I hope we don't have to wait too long to be a family, but please be patient and don't say anything. I will ask when I know that the time is right."

"I won't say anything." Becky said.

"I won't either." Cody said.

"Thank you both so much." Frank said. "Goodnight and I will see you both later. Cody, Abigail should be up to tuck you in soon."

"Thank you." Cody said. "I want to read, so I am going to go get ready."

"Same with me." Becky said.

"You have everything that you need?" Frank asked.

"Yes." Becky said. "Just pull the door shut when you go out."

"I will." Frank said.

Frank and Cody got up and walked out, pulling the door shut. Cody scampered off to his room and Frank headed downstairs.

"Both children are getting ready and then we are good." Frank said, coming into the kitchen. "I told them that you would be up in about half an hour. I was wondering if we can talk?"

"I was thinking the same thing." Abigail said. "We haven't had a moment to talk alone in days. As long as you don't mind helping me with some baking while we talk."

"I would love to." Frank said. "But I need something first."

"Yes." Abigail said.

She turned and looked at Frank. He approached her, cupped her face with both hands and kissed her like she hadn't been kissed in over a year. Her knees started to go weak, so Frank wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. They kissed until they were both breathless and forced to pull back. Frank rested his forehead on Abigail's and looked at her.

"I love you more than I thought possible." Frank said, low and husky.

"I love you also." Abigail said.

Frank held Abigail for a moment before he pulled back and took a step back.

"I am sorry if I was forward." Frank said. "But since you told me that you loved me this afternoon, I have been wanting to do that."

"I don't mind." Abigail said, blushing. "I was thinking about kissing you as well, but have been battling with myself about if it was too soon."

"Only you can answer that." Frank said. "But I will not push for more than you are ready for."

"Thank you." Abigail said. "As much as I loved that kiss, I still think I need to take it slowly. There have been so many changes and there are more to come as we figure out a routine. I just need to feel more settled before we can do anymore life changes at the moment."

"I fully understand." Frank said. "You just let me know when you are ready and then I will surprise you. I want to spend my life with you and when you are ready, I will ask."

Abigail looked at him with wide eyes.

"Don't be surprised." Frank said. "I know that you have concerns, but I am serious. I have never met a woman like you and I know that you are my lifetime. I promise to go as slow as you want."

"Okay." Abigail said, barely above a whisper.

Abigail turned and went back to the recipe that she had on the table. Frank saw that she needed a moment, so put some water on to heat for tea and then stepped out to grab an armload of wood.

After a few moments, Frank and Abigail settled into a comfortable existence in the kitchen. Abigail handed Frank another cookie recipe and she worked on the one in front of her. They caught each other up and all that had happened. They talked about what they wanted from their future and what it might look like when they got married. Frank let Abigail know that he had purchased the lot of land next to and behind the cafe. She was surprised, but Frank assured her it was so that she would be able to expand as she wanted, plant a garden or even have him build a house for them. She said for now that she was happy living above the cafe, but a large garden might be nice as it would cut down on the cost of things. Frank promised to get some fencing and put it up around the lot next to them and then get a large garden ready so they could still plant things that spring. Abigail smiled and realized that she might be more ready to move forward with her life then she thought.

… … … …