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“Me, too Will you proh?”

Oh, boy

Jess put her hand on Abby’s arood-bye to me? To Sarah? She’s finally told everyone the news and I’ her a baby shower” Jess’s dark eyes—the ones that reminded Abby so much of Tom—pleaded with her

Abby’s throat swelled up with emotion Intentional or not, she’d made connections here “That sounds like fun,” she replied “Now scoot I need to grab some breakfast”

Jess was gone with a wave

Inside Breezes, Abby sat alone, listening to the conversations going on around her One fa on a whale boat excursion A group of ladies werethe latest book they’d read in their book club Abby listened to that one closely, s as they debated which hero had more heroic qualities—Darcy or Captain Wentworth A couple of old-ti a new tractor and one very pretty young lady was at the counter ordering the s of a very nice picnic basket Abby lifted her hand and waved as a few faht her a chocolate-filled croissant even though Abby hadn’t ordered it, because she kneas her favorite

A pang resonated through Abby’s heart

Of all the places she’d lived in her adult years, this was the first place that truly felt like a home

She drained the last bit of coffee fro to ined possible

CHAPTER 18

With the house officially on the h the final possessions in the attic was lis for the historical society, things to get rid of, and other itee There was just the back corner left—a half-dozen cardboard boxes and one small chest

The su in the less space, and Abby made short work of the boxes, which contained mostly clothes Most she would donate, but a half-dozen dresses were particularly pretty and she put thee stuff was getting more popular

But it was the chest that gave her trouble

It was locked And she had no idea where to find the key

She retrieved the ring she and Tom had used to open the servant’s stairway, but none of the keys fit, and she suspected the lock was rather rusted Deciding to risk injuring the chest, she trotted back downstairs and got a knife and also a claw hammer from a small toolbox she kept on hand If she couldn’t pick the lock, maybe she could pry it open