A/N: Hi everyone! This is the next chapter. I know the last few have been a lot of set up, but were finally getting to the good stuff. Thanks for bearing with me! And on yeah, I'm sorry if you find some "Ana" insted of "Anna". That is totally my fault, and i tried my best to correct it. Please enjoy!
AnNa walked smartly down the grey, cool cobblestone streets. She hummed as she walked because it was her day off and she didn't have to answer to anybody. She had run directly to the big red town trolley and ride it all the way to RIpon.
She liked the sound that her little heels made on the cobbles. It made a sort of rhythm, along with everyones feet tapping the ground. Piff, smack, klonk, piff, smack, klonk. She took a deep breath of the city air, not really caring how feted it was and gasoline-y. The cool fall day whipped its was about her legs and through her coat. She let her fashionably gloved hands rest on her bulging stomach, feeling the life inside. I do think it will be a boy. She decided, caressing the area. She took another deep breath of the hearty, bracing air and then ducked into a little boutique, a display of frilly woolen hats proudly displayed in its spotless windows.
The door jingled as she pushed it open, a string of little brass bells attached to the handle on the other side. A store employee came over in a starched apron and little lacy hat: "May i help you, ma'am?"
"Oh thank you. I was just looking for a hat."
Soon a hat to Anna's liking was uncovered. the store employee wrapped it up for her in blue effervescent crinkly paper and put it in a large, pink and purple hat box with the stores emblem marching across the rounded top. She was just about to leave the store, hat box carefully tucked away under her arm, when on the spur of the moment she turned around and asked the employee where she could find some tasty wine.
"Just across the street. Its called, "Bruno's Brewery"." Was the reply. Anna nodded. She would bring home a fine bottle for her and John to share. Feeling very wealthy with her brand new hat and the promise of some rich, good wine, she scampered out of the store in a glow.
She started out onto the road, past the parked shabby carriages and shiney metal motors and past the hapless grungy kids loitering against them. She stepped into the middle of the street. Wondering whether she should get one bottle or t...
Then it all happened so fast. She was treading out into the middle of the wide lane. There was something a few yards away, speeding toward her. She stopped, meaning to go back, a little annoyed at the recklessness of the driver. Her spindly high heel caught in the gap between the flat stones and she stumbled back. Someone screamed. There was the squeal of brakes. The smell of diesel and gasoline and horse waste. Steaming metal against hot flesh and the feeling of flying through space. I hope nothing happened to my hat...was the last thing Ana remembered thinking before a storm of darkness clouded her vision.
"Shall we take a walk, George?" Edith poked her head into the lavish lounge where George reclined in a pink and yellow chair with a cigarette and the morning news opened to the funnies. He had been at Downton quite a lot lately, ever since she had introduced him to the family. Mary had taken to snarkily calling him, "The light fixture".
"I don't see why not." He folded the news once lengthwise and twice width wise and straightened up, gallantly offering her his arm. They strolled down the ornate hallways and past the creamy carved marble and richly hued paintings.
"Do you want to tour the garden or th-" Edith broke off as felt a tug at her arm. George had stopped in the middle of the hallway. She gave a gentle pull. "What's wrong?" She demanded, then followed his vision down the way.
Rose was seated on an overstuffed chair, her body draped about it so her long legs slid off one arm and her back rested loungingly against the other. She had on a spellbinding dress of gold and green, which accentuated her bust to a great extent. The was gently bouncing one jeweled shoe on her finely formed foot, chewing pink bubble gum, and twirling one of her honey coloured curls around her slender finger. She had a shiny fashion magazine opened across her lap and was flipping absently through it. Seemingly more interested in examining her freshly light pink painted nails then absorbing text.
"Oh I'm sorry dear." George murmured, starting to move forward again. Edith felt like a rock had been lodged in her chest. But what could she do but keep walking? As they passed Rose flashed her pearly teeth knowingly at George, who concentrated on looking like he hadn't seen.
Anna opened her eyes slowly. There was a light fixture by the side of the bed, and its beam of light seemed to be honed right at her eyes. Everything was altogether too bright and too loud. She turned slightly, trying to take in more of her surroundings, and was suddenly overcome with nausea.
"Ah!" A masculine voice sounded to her left, but she was afraid to move her head and look lest the awful feeling wash over her again. "You've woken up! Would you like some water?"
"Yes." She croaked, slowly beginning to become aware of a sharp pain in her side. She drank thirstily the cup he handed her, and then three more.
"I don't feel well." She stated dully after the last drop had been guzzled.
"Yes, well, you took quite a tumble." The doctor slid into the chair next to the white sheeted bed.
"What?" Ana asked, rubbing her gritty eyes.
"A tumble." The doctor told her again. Looking mildly concerned.
"What tumble? Where am i?" The words had just registered in her mind. Tumble?
"You're at St. Anthonys hospital. Ripon." He told her gravley.
"The hospital? Why?" She frowned, slowly becoming aware of the sharp pain in her lower thigh and upper left side.
The doctor moved closer, "You were hit by a car, Mrs. Bates."
She gasped, blinking, trying helplessly to remember. "When?"
"This afternoon."
"What time is it now?" She started sliding out of the crisp white bed. The doctor quickly pushed her back down. "Its just after nine in the evening, Mrs. Bates."
"Good my god! And i don't remember anything! What of my husband?" She cried, settling back among the pillows and rubbing her forehead, quite overwhelmed.
"He has been contacted." Then a sickening thought came to Anna. SHe was almost too afraid to speak it. Tears came into the corners of her eyes.
"And my baby?..." The doctor looked away.
"I'm afraid there wasn't much we could do." He said sorrowfully.
She felt numb, her hands feeling her stomach. It was horribly, sickeningly, all too conformingly flat.
"We had to do some stitching on your leg. You broke five ribs, and we think part of your hip, but thats all. Your a lucky one, Mrs. Bates."
"I don't feel lucky." She said mournfully, then crashed back against the pillows and wept until that doctor went away.