I Am Not Yours

In Retrospect

June 1917

"Peek a boo!" Abigail said as she moved her hands away from hiding her face, looking down at her daughter in the bassinet she laid in in the cafe's kitchen the morning after Rebecca's Graduation Party. "Peek a boo!" She said again, repeating the same motions with the largest grin on her face. Little did she know that Becky and Cody were already awake and standing at the bottom landing of the stairs, watching their mother happily play with their baby sister. They both smiled at each other, loving to see Abigail so happy.

As Cody shifted his weight from one foot to the other, the wood beneath his feet creaked and notified Abigail of their presence as she looked up at them with an even bigger smile. "Good morning, darlings." She told them before picking Josephine up and resting her over her shoulder. "What would you two like for breakfast?"

"Let us make it." Becky told her, going down the rest of the stairs toward the stove.

"Yeah." Cody agreed, following his sister's lead and going into the kitchen with her. They each grabbed a bowl, one for eggs and one for pancakes.

"Are you sure you don't need any of my help?" Abigail asked them.

"No. We got it." Cody reassured her. "Play with Josie some more." He smiled.

"It's time we take care of you for a change." Becky told her as she got out the flour.

Abigail couldn't help but smile again. "Alright, but if you have any cooking questions, just ask me." She told them before turning Josie around in her lap so the baby was facing out and she could watch her brother and sister with wide, curious eyes at the same time as her mother waving her baby rattle in front of her. The intrigued infant played with her tongue as she found entertainment in the toy her mother held for her.

When breakfast was ready, Abigail wheeled Josephine's bassinet over to the table so she could lay close to her while her mother ate at the table with the other two. She complimented her older kids on their cooking, making note of how much they had actually learned whilst watching her cook for the last few years.

After they finished eating, Abigail stood with Josephine in her arms to bounce around the kitchen and the living room with her. Moving around seemed to always keep Josie entertained and she loved being able to see her new surroundings. Becky and Cody washed the dishes and cleaned the counter as the eldest could see out the kitchen window with curiosity.

"I wonder what's happening out there." Becky said, stretching her neck out to try and see the people outside better.

"Out where?" Cody asked, doing the same thing then.

"What?" Abigail wondered, moving over to the back kitchen door. She used her free hand to open the curtain. The citizens of Hope Valley stood out on the street, chatting about something in a huddle with Florence and Molly and Abigail noticed a few of their eyes glancing toward her cafe. "Just...Molly and Florence starting gossip again, I'm sure." She softly chuckled though on the inside, she felt something was off. "Don't worry about it." She told her children before closing the curtain and bouncing around the room with Josie again.

The two teens finished the dishes and dried their hands before sitting in the living room for a bit, watching every adorable face and movement their baby sister made in their mother's arms.

Only about fifteen minutes had passed before Elizabeth and Rosemary stepped inside through the back door. Elizabeth looked at Abigail with a mix of worry and apology whilst Rosemary turned around to close the door. Once it was closed, she turned to face the Stanton family by Elizabeth's side, a look of concern on her face as well.

Abigail's smile faded a little. "What is it?"

"They know." Elizabeth told her.

"Know what?" Becky wondered.