A Is for Abigail by Victoria Twead Page A

’ave to go up there and ’elp out. I ’ate letting you down, but…”
    “Oh Hilary! How awful! Of course you must go! Don’t worry about me, I’ll be absolutely fine. You know it’s just Sam and me in the house and it hardly gets dirty.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Of course I’m sure! This house is much too big for Aiden and me, most of it is never used. It just won’t be a problem.” She paused, and then added quickly, “Of course your job will be waiting for you when you get back.”
    “Thank you, if you are absolutely sure…” There was relief in Hilary’s voice.
    “Don’t worry about a thing, just go to your sister. I do hope she gets well soon, and I’ll see you when you come back.”
    Abigail sighed as she rang off.
    “Okay, time for your walk, boy.”
    Sam jumped up and danced round the kitchen, his eyes never leaving the leash on the back door.
    The phone rang again.
    Sam flopped down on the floor once more, his head on his paws.
    Abigail picked up the receiver, convinced it would be Hilary again, but it wasn’t her cleaning lady this time.
    “Abs?”
    “Hi Aiden, how’s things?”
    Aiden phoned daily, and she loved the opportunity to chat. If only he had more time.
    “Good, good.”
    “Job going well?”
    “Yes, we’re really close to getting that contract, just a few loose ends to tie up with the client.”
    “I’ll be glad when they finally sign. This has been going on for so long. Are you still coming home on Friday?”
    “Of course I am, Abs. I can’t wait!”
    “I miss you so much, Aiden.”
    “I know… But I’ll be home soon. Any village news?”
    “No, not really. Hilary phoned to say she’s gone to Wales so won’t be cleaning for us for a while. Her sister had a fall. And Daisy came round for coffee. That’s it really.”
    “Well, we’ll be able to catch up properly on Friday evening. Oh, must go, my client is here. Bye Abs, love you.”
    The phone went dead and Abigail sighed. Sam opened one eye hopefully.
    “It’s your turn now,” she said, clipping the leash to his collar.
    Locking the door behind her, Abigail and Sam set off down the path for their walk, their legs brushing the daffodils that leaned towards them.
    Turn left or right? Which way along the lane? Sam faced right, straining the leash, hoping Sixpenny Woods and its wealth of scents would be today’s destination.
    “Sorry, Sam, but all the time the travellers are camped in the woods, we’re not going there. We’d better turn left and walk to the village.”
    Abigail tugged Sam the other way and together they headed along the lane in the direction of the village. Sam snuffled happily in the lush grass, reading messages left by rabbits and other animals. Abigail watched a newborn lamb in the field trying out its legs as it danced around its grazing mother before butting its hard little head against her side, begging for a drink.
    In the distance, she could see a tractor gouging neat parallel lines in the soil. She guessed it was Archie Draper, and waved. But Archie was too busy concentrating on ploughing straight lines to notice her.
    It should have been idyllic, and it was. Except… Except for the hollowness inside Abigail. A deep, dark hole of cold nothingness that only a baby could fill.

Chapter Three
     
    The expensive Harley Street specialist said there was nothing wrong. He had pronounced Abigail fit and well. There was nothing wrong with Aiden either. But still no baby appeared.
    Abigail tried to put the whole painful subject out of her mind.
    “Hello, Stan,” she said as a familiar figure pedalled past her.
    “Afternoon, Mrs Martin. Lovely day!”
    Crime in Sixpenny Cross was almost non-existent and for years Stan Cooper had been the village police officer. Unless it was urgent, he travelled everywhere on his bicycle. In an emergency, he used the police car which had become a fixture in front of the police station.
    Aiden always said that Stan had the easiest job in Sixpenny Cross and