John stared at Anna in the quickly falling darkness. Her revelation was as shocking as it was horrifying. Ray was one of the most respected businessmen in the Asheville area and came from plenty of old money earned in manufacturing. The McCoy family name was as good as a check in any part of the area. John felt a sick feeling creep up his spine as Anna stared him down. "Are you going to say I'm lying again?" "NO," John said as he raised his hands in surrender. Anna glared at him, her heart hurting, her brain-twisting as she wondered whether to believe him. He stood back and seemed like he was finally listening."He let her die rather than paying to help her." "That's not what everyone was told." "Of course it wasn't, did you expect that it would be? He had been jealous beyond belief and had been abusing us both for years, do you think the great Ray McCoy would want anyone to know that he let her die?""I guess not," John said sadly as he remembered her father. Handsome yes, but hi
Anna and John spent the next few weeks works working to rebuild the trust that was damaged between them. John was doing everything in his power to show her that he was ready to make a change but something held Anna back form really moving past it. She knew it was her own hang-ups, but something inside her kept shouting at her to be careful. "I am so screwed up." She thought to herself as she got ready to leave John's office. She put the paperwork on his desk and turned to leave, bumping right into John."Hey beautiful, just in time to go home with me." "I would but I have some things to finish. I have to get the proposal done for the Bennington." "Any chance I can convince you to play hooky?"No, the boss is such a slave driver."John smiled and pulled her closer." So I'm a slave driver?""Who said you were the boss, Stella's the boss." John put his hand to his chest as if wounded. "I thought I was in charge.""It's something women let men believe.""You could be in charge any time
The phone rang as Anna was heading out the door and she swore but went back to get it. The new account was high maintenance, to say the least and the client had no qualms about calling at all hours and he would not consider 9:00 at night late anyway. She picked up the phone and answered only to almost drop it a moment later. "Still working I see." A cultured voice said softly down the line. "That can't be good for your marriage, I'm surprised that you wouldn't know that. Or maybe not considering the family you come from." Anna counted to ten before answering, "Melissa, what an unpleasant surprise. What misfortune do I have to thank for this?""I haven't spoken to you in a month or more, you'd think you'd at least want to be civil.""Not really, I have to get home to my husband.""That's actually what I'm calling you about although I don't know if I want to give you the information after you were such a bi*&h.""Listen, Melissa, I don't have time for any more games, I'm tired and I mi
John drug himself to the door before his legs collapsed. He hit the floor hard but kept trying to reach the door even though he knew Anna was gone. "What the hell happened?" John thought to himself as he rolled over to his back. His head felt like lead and his tongue was thick. Black spots danced in front of his eyes and he knew he was going to vomit. "Anna," He croaked as he watched the ceiling fan move back and forth. "She's not here, you know that. Here honey let me help you up." Isabel said as she lifted John and helped him back to bed. He flopped back onto the coverlet and wished he was dead. "Why are you in my room? And why are you calling me Honey?" Isabel sat beside him and brushed the hair back of his forehead as his eyes closed in misery. "Don't you remember? I came over to make amends and you and I had a drink. One thing led to another and we ended up here.""That's not possible, I was waiting for Anna and you barged in." "John, we had some whiskey, well a lot of whiske
"I said you promised to marry me." Isabel spat out as she put her hands on her brown-robed hips. "You told me you were done with this farce of a marriage and you wanted me."John stated at her in horror, "I would never marry you, even if there was no Anna." "What's that supposed to mean?" Isabel shouted at him, her pretty face going red.John looked her in the eye, trying to make just one of her. "I said, I would never marry you.""How can you say that? After all, we promised each other just a few hours ago.""I don't remember a few hours ago, let alone promising you that I would leave my wife. I didn't even have that much to drink.""You looked like you'd had a few when I got here."John shook his head because something didn't seem right. He tried to think but his head was still fuzzy. Was it possible that he had slept with her? The thought brought horror rushing at him but then he reasoned that he would never do that because it would mean losing Anna. He had gone through too much to
Anna ended the call and the phone slipped from her nerveless fingers. She wrapped her arms around her self and lost it. Ugly crying was an understatement as her face went red and her eyes rolled with tears and sobs that racked her body until she felt like she would blackout."Anna, please stop you'll hurt yourself," Bess said softly as she wrapped Anna in a hug. She rocked her friend and met Nathan's eyes over her shaking shoulders. The worry on her face was more than echoed in his eyes. "I can't. I've gone through so much to be with him and I find him in bed with Isabel. How could he do this to me?" Bess pulled back and pushed Anna's hair back. Anna's face was pale and tear-stained and her blue eyes looked enormous in her face. "I don't know hon, Sometimes people make stupid mistakes.""This is not a mistake. I have put up with his mother and sister for years and since our anniversary party, it's been a hundred times worse. These last few months have been misery.""Then why stay wit
John screamed as he saw Anna get in Bess's car and pull away. He wanted to gag but slumped instead on the wall. His head snapped against the wall as he pulled his arm back and slammed it into the wall. His fist hit the drywall and the satisfying crack as it splintered satisfied something inside him. His panicked mind swayed as he wondered what the hell he was going to do. "Hey, man are you okay?" Nate said as he put his hand on John's shoulder and eased his hand out of the wall. There was a bloody imprint of his fist against the drywall and his knuckles were bleeding. "Sh*t man, you need to see a doctor.""No, I have to kick someone's A**," John growled as he pulled his hand against his chest. "Give me your phone, This ends now." Nate handed John his phone and he dialed his mother. She answered on the first ring."Mother where are you?" "I'm actually here at your house with a very upset Isabel, John how could you do this?" "I'm sorry, how can I do this? Are you crazy?""John I don'
John picked up the burner phone he'd bought and accessed the company directory and found Bess's address and phone number. He glared at his mother sitting silently beside him and waited for Bess to answer. It rang several times before she answered and when she did her voice was chopped and cold."What do you want John?" She asked angrily. Anna was more than just her Boss's wife, she was her best friend and right now she was in best friend mode as she spoke to him. Frankly, she didn't care if he fired her or not. "I need to talk to Anna Please." "Nope, She'd not here," Bess said popping the P on the word Nope."I don't believe you," John said quietly trying to keep the panic out of his voice."Whatever you say boss, but I'm telling you she'd not here.""Where is she?" "I don't have to tell you anything, you lost that right when you cheated on her " "I didn't cheat on her!" He bellowed scrubbing his face. "I need to explain this to her, where is she? Please tell me." He knew he was b
Six months later Anna still woke up screaming. The counselor said that as time went by and with therapy that the trauma would fade. Anna stared into the mirror and could almost see the bruises that had encircled her neck for two weeks after the accident. She ran her hands over her neck and shivered as the memory of that rainy night came back to her. The times when she woke up screaming were awful but thinking about them while awake was worse. Tears began to fall slowly and she tried to shake them off. Isabel had been damaged in many ways but she was the last member of her family she had and now she was gone. Anna knew she shouldn't cry for her but found herself doing it anyway."Princess, please don't cry," John begged as he slid the door open and wrapped his arms around her. He sat behind her on the bench in front of the mirror encasing her with his body and she leaned back with a sigh."I know I shouldn't but I just can't help it when I think about it.""I'm so sorry, I wish I could
Their screams echoed on the buildings around them as they began to go over the edge. Anna mourned the loss of the life she'd wanted, the one she'd wanted so badly that she'd traveled back in time. Darkness began to swallow them as they started over the edge, but suddenly Anna was jerked back. Isabel's eyes went wide as Anna was jerked away and she lost her grip on Anna. The hand grabbing Anna's shirt was a solid link to safety and Isabel realized this as her hands slid free and she fell into darkness. Anna was pulled back and she saw John's strong hand had been the one holding her. Anna collapsed into John's arms as Isabel's screams died away into the darkness. The thud of her hitting the ground was loud despite the thunder and lightning and in that moment Anna curled into John as the horror seeped into her bones."Anna are you alright?" John panted as his arms wrapped around her as they both slid down the wall to sit in the rain. "It's you I'm worried about, seeing you laying there
"I don't have anything else to say to you, John already said it all." Isabel laughed, "Wow you are better at pretending than even I thought, how is it not killing you that John and I were in your bed together?""You weren't "Together" John explained it all and Melissa admitted it. ""Amateurs," Isabel said with a grimace as she looked at Anna and shrugged. "I should have done it myself but I needed a little help. The biggest mistake I ever made." Anna found the pulse at John's throat and breathed a sigh of relief. He still didn't stir but she'd been feeling around his head while Isabel was gloating and the large bump behind his left ear was scary beyond belief. She had to do something."No the biggest mistake you ever made was trying to come between us. John loves me and I love him. Nothing is going to change that." Isabel laughed and stood snuffing out the lighted tip of the cigarette she was smoking. "I think I can change his mind. He is so accommodating, isn't he? Allowing me t
Anna pulled away from John and stretched. She walked toward the desk and picked up the papers staring at them. "you know you don't have to do this?" She said as she turned to face him. "I know I don't, but you deserve it and I want to share everything with you, the good and the bad. I want to share all parts of our lives. I've felt like that for a while and having you come work at the company helped but I still didn't feel right.""Why didn't you tell me?""Have you seen our lives in the last few months?""I know right?" Anna laughed as she put the paper down. "It was like the universe was against us."John came and put his arms back around her and pulled her to his chest tucking her under his chin. "We have too much going for us to waste time worrying about the universe. ""How do you do that?" "What?""Make it all sound so logical.""I have to because how else am I going to convince you to stay with me." "I already said I would stay." "But what if you change your mind? All I can
Anna turned the corner and bumped into John. She'd agreed to come to the office to talk but she hadn't expected him to come out of nowhere. It had been two days since the airport and she wasn't any closer to deciding what to do. She'd had nightmares about it the last two nights and couldn't focus on anything. John had called and asked her to meet him at work and she'd agreed because she needed to move forward somehow. "Anna it's so good to see you." His hand reached out for hers but she pulled back. John flinched, never realizing how much a simple gesture could hurt. He wanted to hold her, to make her believe in him and his love with nothing more than the strength of his love but he knew she wasn't ready for that. "Is it?" She asked looking anywhere but at him. "Anna if you will just listen I know we can make it through this. Look at all the crazy we have dealt with so far." Anna nodded knowing that he was right, but she just couldn't shut up that nasty little voice inside her own
John walked slowly inside, trying to keep himself from hitting them. He wanted more than anything to hit them all. All three of them had worked hard to ruin his life and he was holding onto his temper by a thread. He sat down and leaned forward putting his hands on his knees. He rubbed his eyes with his hands hoping that he had the strength not to act on the anger burning inside him "Why are you here? Was I not clear when I told you to stay away from me and Anna?"Melissa sniffed, "I knew you were not serious. So I let myself in." "Mother, you are not listening! Get it through your privileged head, I want you to stay out of my life. You have probably ruined any chance I have with Anna."Melissa looked at him in shock. "You were serious? I thought you were just angry, I know how you get.""Let me set you straight once and for all. I love Anna, I would give up anything and anyone for her. You three harpies are like a plague on my life. I want you out of it.""John, why are you being s
John's face fell as she spoke. Anna wanted to reassure him it would all be alright but she wasn't sure it would be. She was so tired of fighting what now felt like fate. She just couldn't figure out why she'd been given another chance if this is how it was going to end. "Please stay a few days, at least let's talk it through." He begged, unashamed."Will it make a difference John?" Anna asked as she wiped tears from her eyes. "It's as if the universe is conspiring against us." " I never took you for the type to give up so easily.""Easy? Do you think this is easy? I feel like my insides are being torn out.""I know," he said softly putting calming hands toward her "I just want you to fight for us.""I've been fighting for us since the day we met and I'm tired, John.""So you're just going to get on a plane and disappear?" "Are you going to grab me again if I try?"If I have to."Anna smiled at that but sighed and turned fully toward him. "I guess I could give it a few days, but I ca
Melissa paced, her heels clicking on the neutral linoleum on the floor. She viciously rubbed her arms wrinkling the expensive fabric of her shirt but she didn't seem to notice. "I'm not sure what you want me to say.""How about the truth?" I know it is a foreign concept to you but I really need you to tell her.""John is there any need? Why don't you let her go, you have Isabel now.""Mother! " John screamed "stop it, I don't "Have" Isabel, tell her the truth!" His hand slammed his hand down on the small table and it jumped and almost toppled. Melissa turned and looked at John in shock. "How dare you talk to me like that?""Easy!" John shouted, "I refuse to let your lies end the most important thing in my life."Melissa gasped as the anger in John's voice vibrated around the room. "Fine," She said in a huff as she turned to face Anna. "John doesn't "Have" Isabel." "What does that mean exactly?" Anna said as she stood and stepped toward Melissa. "Well, It means that John and Isabel
Anna sat nervously at the gate, she'd told Bess she didn't want anyone to wait with her but now she was regretting that decision. She stood and walked over to the window watching the plains taking off and landing and felt more hopeless than ever. She had grown to love Asheville in the time she'd lived here. Even before the original timeline, she grew to love it. Now watching the skyline from the wall of windows at the airport it was as if the skyline of the city was waving goodbye. Her heart ached but she turned away. They called boarding and Anna grabbed her bag and went to wait in line. She kept her head down wanting to shut the world out. She kept to herself and didn't' talk to anyone because right now she didn't want to interact with anyone. Anna felt like she was stuck in her own world and she liked it. Heartbreak was a good companion when your world was falling apart. Anna was about to hand her ticket in when she heard her name being called."Anna!" "Anna wait!" the voice screa