A Is for Abigail by Victoria Twead Page B

merry chase through your hedge and across the fields.”
    Abigail forced herself to blurt out the one question that she really didn’t want answered.
    “Have you found out anything more about Tiffany’s parents?”
    “Yes.”
    Abigail’s heart beat like a drum.
    “I think the mystery has been largely cleared. We now know the identity of the baby’s mother, and the father, and how you came to find her in Sixpenny Woods.”
    Archie and his wife exchanged glances. None of this made any sense at all.
    Abigail’s distress was palpable. Her knees were shaking and she sank down onto a chair, tears coursing down her face. Her hold on the baby was vice-like.
    “So you are going to take Tiffany away?”
    “No,” said Stan gently. “No, I’m not.”
    “It’s a trick! You’re going to take her! If you know who the parents are, then why am I allowed to keep her? Aiden put you up to this!”
    Emily rested a supportive hand on Abigail’s arm.
    “I’m sure that’s not the case, my love,” she said gently.
    “It is! It is the case! Aiden will never let me foster or adopt a baby! That’s why I ran away!”
    Before anyone could answer, another figure stepped into the doorway. Aiden stood framed, his face strained and as pale as the milk in the chipped jug. The room fell silent.
    “Abigail, Stan is telling the truth. The reason why nobody will ever take the baby away is because Tiffany is my daughter.”

Chapter Fourteen
     
    “Right,” said Stan, breaking the silence. “I’m going to return to the station and collect my car. Then I’ll come straight back and take the three of you home.”
    “I’ve chores to do outside,” said Archie tactfully. “It’s time I got the tractor out, those fields won’t plough themselves.”
    He hurried out of the door, grabbing his coat and boots on the way.
    “I’m going to check the ewes and collect the eggs,” said Emily, zipping up her jacket and pulling on fingerless knitted gloves. “Help yourself to tea or anything you want.”
    It was unlikely that either Aiden or Abigail heard her kind words or saw her leave the kitchen, they were still staring at each other, speechless.
    Aiden sat down heavily.
    “Abs, I’m so sorry…”
    Abigail stared back at her husband with ice-cold eyes but her hold on the baby didn’t loosen. She felt as if a claw had grabbed hold of her heart. She suddenly recalled the old gypsy’s words.
    Be warned … you may feel as though your heart is being ripped from your chest.
    Eventually she managed to force out some words. Her tone was flat, expressionless.
    “I don’t understand.”
    “Abs, everything is my fault, and I’ve behaved appallingly. If you never forgive me, I wouldn’t blame you.”
    “I don’t understand. Explain.”
    “You know how I’ve been working flat out on the contract… I’ve been away from you and Sixpenny Cross so much. I know that’s no excuse, but I kind of lost my way.”
    “Explain.” Abigail’s eyes were narrow and flinty.
    “I’m so sorry, Abs. I had an affair.”
    “Go on.”
    Aiden was gabbling now, eager for her to understand but mortified at having to confess.
    “I had to work really closely with a woman called Martha Guttman, and we just kind of began a relationship.”
    Abigail snorted.
    “Martha is American. We had a relationship, well, just a brief fling really. I don’t think we ever had any strong feelings for each other. It didn’t last long.”
    “How could you!” Abigail spat. “Didn’t she know you were married?”
    “Yes, but she didn’t care.”
    “Neither did you, it seems.”
    “Abs, I’m so sorry, so very sorry. It should never have happened.”
    “No, you bet it shouldn’t.”
    “And then,” Aiden took a big breath, “then Martha announced she was pregnant. It was a big shock, to both of us, especially as we weren’t even romantically involved. She was horrified and insisted on having an abortion, but I couldn’t bear the thought of that. I persuaded her to