The memories flooded back. She could remember as if it were yesterday the day Emma was taken from her. She had dreamed for so long of getting her back, and finally that day had come. She had expected a joyous reunion, but she was met with the greatest heartache of her life. They had brainwashed her; Harris and that manipulative woman had convinced Emma that Ann was the criminal. And to make matters worse, now Bobby knew everything, down to her fight against prescription drugs.
"Annie, why didn't you just tell me?" he asked softly, the two of them sitting up stiffly in bed, looking straight ahead. "For God's sake, Sue Ellen spent more than half of her damn life as an alcoholic; it wouldn't have changed anything"
Ann let out a small, incredulous laugh before responding. "Tell the truth Bobby. There's no way you would have even dated me had you known about my past, so don't try telling me nothin' would have changed" she said, sending a glare his way.
Bobby turned to face her and took her hands firmly in his. He held her eyes in a strong stare, refusing to let her back down.
"No Annie, listen to me" he commanded. "I fell in love with you for who you are, not who you used to be. It was your incredibly generous and caring heart that won me over; it was you, not your past."
She started to shake her head before he brought a hand to her face. He could tell she didn't believe him.
"Do you know the moment I fell for you?" he asked, smiling at her.
"Stop" she pleaded softly. She didn't want meaningless words.
"No, I'm serious. I don't think I've ever told you" he replied honestly. He uncovered himself from the sheets, moving to the foot of the bed to turn and face her.
"Do you remember that old barn you used to work at, over by the Jones property? The stable was one good storm away from falling down, but you wanted to work there. They never turned a single child away from therapy riding, even if it meant the roof wouldn't get patched, or you wouldn't get paid"
Ann cracked a small smile as she reminisced on her days working with the children.
"I came to pick you up one day, and you were still working with one of the kids, a little girl. She was grinning from ear to ear as you guided the horse around. When you took her off, she gave you a big hug before running to her parents' truck. You were crying when you came over to me, and I had no idea why. On the way home, you told me -" he began before Ann took over.
"She had just been adopted from an abusive home, and I was the first person she let hug her" she nodded and looked down as a stray tear fell.
"I should have married you that very day. That girl saw in you what took me an entire lifetime to find in someone" he told her. He put a hand under her chin and gently lifted it to meet his gaze.
"This does not change us, Ann."
Ann had convinced herself this would be the end for her and Bobby; in an instant, all the emotion she had been keeping bottled up came pouring out. The tears began to fall in a steady stream and she collapsed forward against the strong body of her husband. Her body shook as she cried, and Bobby wrapped his arms firmly around her and held her tight. He placed a light kiss on the top off her head and continued to rock her.