The Cuckoo's Song

Chapter Eleven

Abe stood in front of the house, waiting nervously for Anna.

He had barely slept last night. How was he ever supposed to explain to her what had happened? It was his fault. If he hadn't let his anger towards Keller drive his heart, Frenchie wouldn't have got trigger happy and killed him.

Sam had taken Abe away whilst Hollywood sorted everything out. They hadn't spoken for the rest of the night. Abe knew Sam was ashamed of him, and it really got to him. When he'd woken up, he'd darted straight out and made for patrol. He spent all day thinking of how to tell Anna what had happened. When the boys finally did catch up with him, they gave only conflicting opinions. Hollywood told him to just not say anything. Sam, of course, said he should be honest with Anna... and that he was a fool for going in the first place.

As the evening set in, he made his way to where she was staying. He'd been pacing there for a good ten minutes, unsure of whether to bite the bullet and knock on the door.

Finally the front door opened, and Elli ran out to see him. "Abe!" she cried, launching herself into his arms.

Abe scooped her up with a smile. "Hello El."

Elli pouted. "You did not come to see us yesterday."

Anna stepped out of the door with Gabby. She smiled up at the pair of them and Abe's heart pounded in his chest.

"Sorry, I had a lot to sort out."

"We missed you!" Elli insisted.

"Missed you too."

Anna came over as he set Elli on her feet again. "Is she telling you off for not coming to see us?"

"Yeah, I've had my wrists slapped," he grinned, Anna returning it.

"We are just going for a walk before supper," said Gabby. "Did you want to join us?"

"Actually, I need to talk to Anna. About some official... stuff."

Gabby's eyebrows raised in response. "Official stuff? Sounds very... official."

"Yep," he said, his hands now behind his back so that Anna didn't notice his torn knuckles.

"Come on Elli, we'd best stay here," said Gabby, taking Elli's hand.

"Do you think he's going to ask her to dinner?" asked Elli wistfully.

Anna shot them both a glare.

"Maybe?" teased Gabby, winking at Anna before she led Elli back inside.

"What they saying?" asked Abe.

Anna shifted her attention back to him. "Nothing in particular," she said hurriedly, then really focused her gaze on him. "Are you all right? You seem out of sorts."

"There really is something I need to talk to you about," he murmured.

"Shall we go to the river? Then we can sit down?"

"Good plan." As they walked, Anna linked her arm through his, his gaze softening as he looked down at her. "You and Gabby seem to've hit it off," he said after a while.

"She has been so welcoming. And she is great with Elli."

"I'm mighty pleased."

They soon arrived at the river, Anna working out how to sit up on the high wall beside it.

"Want some help?"

"That would be nice," she laughed. "We cannot all be as vertically gifted as you."