2) the visit
The following morning , Annie awoke to hear Joan and Arthur in the the kitchen. Slowly getting up Annie walked down stairs.
"Morning" Annie announced her presence
"Morning" Joan said
"Morning Annie how'd you sleep" Arthur asked
"Okay thanks, "
After getting Annie a cup of coffee Joan sat down next to her and said "are you ready for this?"
"I think so " Annie said
Arthur checked his watch, before saying "I have to go to work now, bye Annie, bye Joan "
Joan stood and walked over to Arthur kissing him softly she said "bye,honey"
*****
After Arthur left Joan and Annie returned to their coffees. When Annie spoke "Joan what time is Elaine coming?"
"At about 11:30, why?"
"I was thinking about going for a run, do you want to come?"
"Yeah sure, let's change I'll meet you here in 10 minutes" Joan responded both stronger today .
"Okay"
On their run Joan and Annie got to know each other better,they made jokes and on the way back they raced.
Upon arriving home Joan noticed a car in the driveway, slowing to a walk and calling "Annie " so she'd stop.
Joan turned to Annie and said "she's early"
Annie Immediately looked scared, grabbing her hand Joan said "hey you can do this we'll just go in jump in a shower and then talk to her okay"
Annie turned back to face Joan seeing the calm and reassuring look in her ice blue eyes Annie nodded "okay,but don't leave me "
"Never" Joan spoke a assuringly "come on"
Together they walked to the door where Joan's mother was waiting "Joanie,where have you been ? And who is this?"
Scared Annie moved behind Joan. Noticing this Joan squeeze her hand again, Joan turned to Annie and said "go have a shower ". Nodding Annie entered the house and all but ran to the bathroom.
Turning back to her mother Joan said "I went for a run, I am going to have a quick shower and then we are going to talk"
With that Joan went into her ensuite ,having a 5minute shower and getting changed Joan walked into the hall way and over to the 2nd bathroom knocking Joan spoke "I am finished if you are I'll be in the living room okay "
As Joan moved away from the door Annie opened it "ok I am ready" was all she said before gripping Joan's hand and following her into the living room.
Elaine eyed Annie carefully before turning to Joan "Joanie this is not something your friend need to hear about"
At this Annie laugh a cynical laugh ,then turned to Joan saying "do you want to tell her or should I?"
"Go ahead" Joan said proud that Annie felt confident enough to start the conversation.
Nodding to Joan, Annie turned to face Elaine saying "Elaine, I am here because Joan and Arthur insisted I stay here so Joan and I can get to know each other, quite funny don't you think Joan's been my boss for over 3years and I find out we share the same parentage"
Elaine's face went from confused to angry " your Annie ? " she asked
Annie and Joan both nodded as Annie said "yup" popping the p .
"So what you get a letter and try to bludge off my daughter " Elaine said angrily . Joan was shocked at her mothers tone, trying to step in and calm the situation she said "mother Annie didn't"
Before Joan could continue Elaine stood moving to stand in front of Annie . Annie not liking the feeling of being towered over stood speaking calmly she said "no i got the letter and called my other sister who said i was never supposed to find out. Then I called Joan Campbell my boss and mentor who came to my apartment and read the letter and papers before informing me Elaine Richardson is her mother who had been pregnant when she was twelve but Joan was lead to believe the baby was dead. I never knew that Joan Campbell was once Joan Richardson nor did I know I was adopted. "
Elaine seemed have become very irritated, before Joan knew what was happening her mother slapped Annie hard across the cheek. Annie stood frozen
When Elaine spoke again "sure you knew the whole time and just wanted hand outs", noticing her mother about to strike Annie again Joan quickly moved to pin her mothers arms behind her back before saying "Annie, go call Arthur and tell him to come home and bring Auggie, then stay in your room until I come and get you " , not trusting her voice Annie nodded and moved down the hall to her phone and calling Arthur like she had been instructed to .
Once Annie was a safe distance away Joan released her grip on her mothers arms, pushing her to sit. Joan angrily towered over her mother and said "what the hell was that?"
"She just wanted to take things from you, Joanie "
"Don't Joanie me right now mother you just slapped my little sister, your daughter ,for what ?! Answering your question. She didn't even want to be here for this she wanted to go to work but I convinced her to stay home. Why the hell did you write her that letter if you just wanted to hit someone? If you want to slap someone you slap me not Annie ! Do I make myself clear?" Joan's voice grew in anger and volume with each word
"You are very protective over someone you barely know" Elaine replied snidely
"That where your wrong I know Annie extremely better than most so if I were you I'd tell me what the hell the letter and all that was about when you clearly want nothing to do with Annie or you can sit there and wait until Arthur gets her and explain to him why you wrote that letter and explain to Auggie Annie's best friend why you hit her"
Joan and her mother sat in silence until the front door opened revealing Auggie and Arthur. Joan stood walked over to Arthur pulling him into a hug , "hey how did it go? Annie rang said you told her to she sounded like she was crying " Arthur spoke softly
"She hit her Arthur, she hit Annie then refused to Answer me" Joan told Arthur
Auggie hearing Annie got hit instantly turned to Joan and demanded "who hit her!"
Joan looked back at Arthur and said "did you tell him about Annie and I ?"
"Yes " Arthur spoke
Joan sighed, turning to Auggie she angrily spat "our mother, our mother hit her!"
"Where's Annie ? " Arthur and Auggie asked together Joan sighed and said "she tried to hit Annie again so I pinned her arms and sent Annie to her room to call you"
Auggie spoke next "ok, can I go check on her?"
"Wait " Joan rushed "let me go you and Arthur try to get mummy dearest to answer why she wrote Annie that letter" "fine"came from Auggie and Arthur
With that they each went their separate ways .
In the guest room Annie sat against the dresser crying and trying to understand what had just happened. Annie thought it was her fault she'd upset Elaine and that she shouldn't be here , that Joan should never of found out and that Joan is going to hate her now .
Out in the hall with her ear against the door Joan heard Annie's desperate sobs and word that sounded like "my...fault ...she hates me...Joan will too" . Having heard enough Joan knocked at the door before opening it to see Annie in the same position Joan had found her in yesterday , rushing to Annie side Joan pulled Annie into a hug doing her best to sooth the fragile that failed Joan held Annie until she had cried herself to sleep.
Noticing Annie was asleep Joan picked up Annie's phone from beside her and texted Arthur to help her move Annie onto the bed. Once Arthur had put Annie in the bed, he turned and hugged Joan, before asking "are you okay?"
"This is my fault Arthur, I I shouldn't of asked her to be here with me "
"No Joan this is not your fault you had no idea your mother would physically harm Annie, don't blame yourself I am sure Annie doesn't"
"No Arthur she doesn't because she was crying and blaming her self thinking I hate her now because Elaine does"
"Oh honey, when she wakes up you and her have to talk about this "
"Okay, what did Elaine have to say ?"
"She hadn't told us anything when I came in here Auggie was still trying to get an answer"
"Ok, we'll she isn't leaving until I get an answer!, let's go Its my turn to try"
****************************************
Back in the living room Auggie still hadn't got an answer from Elaine.
"If your not going to tell me why you wrote her that letter than tell me why you hit her!" Auggie demanded.
At this point Arthur and Joan appeared in the doorway . "Hey Auggie" Joan said
"Joan, can I see Annie now ?please"
"Sorry Aug she just cried herself to sleep so I don't think so , later you can okay?"
"Alright Joan , I still don't know why Annie got the letter or why she got hit ,sorry"
" it's okay Aug "
Noticing Elaine moving to stand Joan spoke harshly "sit down now,Elaine "
sitting back down Elaine spoke "that is no way to speak to your mother Joan!"
"Oh no ? I think it is considering what you just did and the fact you won't answer our questions!" Snapped Joan "why did you send Annie that letter?! When you so obviously don't want her to know you or me for that matter and if you give me some excuse of Annie being a 'gold digger' or something I will hurt you"
"Wrote that letter years ago, I never sent it because I really am not sorry that I gave her away" Elaine said
"Well then why send it ?why write it?"
"I wrote it so one day you would know the truth but I'd be gone before you ever saw it. And I never sent it "
"Well then who sent it?"
"Your aunt Alice probably"
"Wait you wrote the letter so I'd find it after you died?"
"Yes "
"And aunt Alice knew Annie was alive?"
"Yes"
"How very cowardly of you" Joan remarked sarcastically
"Joan, don't speak to me like that"
"Why'd you hit Annie ?" Joan challenged
"Because she was never supposed to exist and now she comes in and disrupts our lives and it pissed me off"
"So you chose to hit her! That's no excuse! And Annie will never be disruption in my life". With that Joan stormed out of the room leaving Auggie and Arthur to see Elaine off.
"I think you should leave Elaine " Arthur spoke coldly
"Not until Joan realises this Annie is nothing but a skank. Who has no place in either of our lives" Elaine responded
"Have you heard a word of what Joan said. We have all known Annie for years, Joan's her boss and mentor, she cares about Annie and your actions are just going to push Joan away. I'd leave before she comes back. So please leave call her in a few days by then Joan may have calmed down " Auggie responded
Elaine angrily spat "you have no right to tell me about my daughter " ,with that she stormed out of the house.
