Chapter 205
Abigail twirled pasta around her fork and popped it into her mouth. “How do you know she’s the one who piled on the extra sauce?”
“If not her, then it must be you,” Sebastian smiled.
Eating daintily, Abigail finished her bite before speaking. “If you love it, order another plate. That way you won’t get hungry tonight.”
“Pasta’s tricky. You feel full when you eat it, but it digests fast. I can’t handle two plates. Wanna crash at my place tonight?” Sebastian’s question came out of left field.
Abigail was quiet for a beat. “Maybe not. I shouldn’t keep staying over.”
It felt awkward to live there without a label.
“Fair enough. We can take a walk after eating, then I’ll drive you back.” Though Sebastian wanted her to stay, he respected her boundaries.
Abigail nodded.
Gibson Villa might be rough, but Wyatt was there.
After they polished off their pasta, Judy brought two glasses of lemon water. “How’d you like the bolognese? Anything we can tweak?”
“It’s the best bolognese I’ve ever had, seriously, thank you.” Sebastian usually avoided lemon water but gave it a shot today.
Up close, Judy realized just how good-looking he was—stunning, really.
She beamed, almost forgetting to leave.
Glancing at Abigail who didn’t seem bothered, she asked, “How long have you known Abby?”
“A couple of months now, but don’t worry, I plan to spend a lot more time getting to know her,” Sebastian smiled at Abigail, who looked flustered.
“Right, right. Abby isn’t big on words, but she’s got a good heart. The more you get to know her, the more you’ll see how special she is.” Judy, not highly educated, kept her praise straightforward.
With that, she said to Sebastian, “I should go tend to other customers. If you’re still hungry, just let me know and I’ll fix you something.”
“Got it, thanks. I’ll be sure to visit often,” Sebastian replied, uncharacteristically polite and compliant.
After Judy walked away, Abigail whispered, “Since when are you this compliant?”
“I lay on the charm around favorite elders. You’ll see,” Sebastian said, sipping lemon water with a half-smile.
Abigail smiled but didn’t press further.
As they left, she hesitated, hating to say goodbye to Judy.
“Go on, just come back for pasta when you can.” Judy stood at the door, eyes misty.
For orphans, growing up safe and finding an “okay” partner to share life with was a triumph.
Judy still kept in touch with many kids from the orphanage, but some had been taken advantage of because of their background and kindness. She’d hoped Abigail’s return to the Gibson family would enable her to help the others, but…
Of all the children, Abigail had it worst—three years in prison for nothing. Her orphanage friends had cried for days when they found out.
Now seeing her with someone who cared, Judy felt she’d finally caught a break. Not being judged was the greatest gift.
In the car, Abigail was quiet for a long moment before speaking softly. “Three years ago, when the orphanage shut down, she was one of the directors but wasn’t invited to the new one. I had some savings then, so I invested in her restaurant.
“She’s a phenomenal cook—whether bolognese or seafood pasta. Back when the orphanage had money, she’d always make new dishes for us to try.”
“I used to always wonder about my birth parents, but now I realize she’s really been my first mom.” Her voice was soft, tinged with a hint of sadness.
Sebastian patted her head, his tone doting. “She would want you to be happy. She must be so glad to see you making friends.”
“Yeah, I can tell.” Abigail sounded less down at this.
Judy had always wanted the best for the kids.
She’d once thought, The Gibson family is so wealthy. If I work hard and get an education, I can help the other orphans.
Who could’ve known she’d end up in prison for three years?
“Come on, let’s get you home. Don’t be sad. James and I will swing by when we can, to check on her for you.” Sebastian’s voice was warm with reassurance.