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The mention of the wordwalkiessent Ulysses into a frenzy, running in circles and barking.
Abigail sighed. ‘Oh, alright.’ She went to fetch his lead. When she returned, Oliver was standing in the porch outside. ‘I might as well walk you to your car.’ She clipped the lead on to Ulysses’ collar and stepped into the porch too.
Oliver stopped and looked about the small, open porch. There were logs stacked on one side for the wood burner. On the other side, under a small window, was a bench on which Abigail would sit to put on her walking shoes, and under which she would leave them to dry after a walk.
‘So, this is where Toby was left as a baby?’
‘Yeah – so the story goes.’
‘Can I ask you a personal question?’
Abigail nodded. She knew what he was going to ask.
He looked around the porch once more before his eyes settled on her. ‘Why do you still want to find his birth parents when he’s …’ He trailed off.
‘Dead.’ Abigail sighed. ‘Because I’m—’
Abigail was suddenly pulled forward, almost losing her balance.
‘Ulysses!’
‘I think he spotted a rabbit.’
She reined him.
‘What were you saying?’
Once again, Ulysses had foiled her attempt to tell Oliver the news. She’d lost her moment – and her nerve. She dropped her eyes. ‘Nothing.’ Abigail felt soft fingers on her chin, lifting her head. He kissed her goodbye and walked to his car. ‘When will I see you again?’ he asked as he opened the car door.
‘Soon. It sounds as though I need to pop along to the Hall and sort out those accounts.’
He grinned at her. ‘Most definitely. See you tomorrow, then?’
She returned his smile. ‘Most definitely.’
‘Remember to book someone to come out and sort out your landline,’ Oliver called out before winding up his window and starting the engine.
‘Don’t worry, I will.’ She watched Oliver back the car out of the driveway and set off toward Southwold.
When she turned around, she caught sight of Albert standing at one of the windows in the lighthouse. He’d seen them. She turned away, frowning. Seeing Albert reminded her that she wasn’t just returning to Somerville Hall to sort out their accounts tomorrow morning. It might be the only opportunity she had to tell Oliver she was pregnant before he found out from Albert.
