Chapter 7
Anna watched as Vera Bates walked around the living room, she stalked around looking at everything in sight and gave off the impression of an caged animal. Anna took in her appearance. She had dark hair and light blue eyes which were a startling contrast, Anna had to admit she was beautiful and it wasn't hard to see why John had fallen for her all those years ago.
"So this is where my Batsey calls home. " She glanced at Anna, "I recognize you now. So you're Anna?"
"I am." Anna watched as Vera looked her up and down. She fought the urge to pull the shirt down over her legs; she wouldn't give this woman the satisfaction.
"So you were on the little island with John and now I see you have moved right on to being his floozy."
Anna opened her mouth to speak when she heard footsteps walking down the hall.
"Okay Anna the shower is ready whenever you are." John walked into the living room at stopped short at the sight of Vera. He glanced quickly at Anna before turning back to Vera.
"Vera? I can't even imagine why you would be here."
John watched as Vera took in his appearance and Anna's. It didn't take much imagination to know what had taken place a short time ago. John glanced at Anna again and could only imagine how she must be feeling. He hated that she had been put in this situation. Vera's voice brought his attention back.
"Yes, well I can see you have been quite busy since being rescued. Did you forget you were married?"
John let out an incredulous laugh. "Vera I haven't seen you in over ten years and our marriage has been over longer than that. Would you mind telling me what you are doing here?"
Anna chose this moment to speak up. "I think I am just going to get dressed." She gathered up her clothes and headed down the hallway. John shot a glance at Vera before following her.
He found Anna sitting on his bed her head in her hands. He knelt down in front of her and rubbed his hands up and down her arms. "Anna, I am so sorry. I had no idea she would show up like this."
Anna removed her hands from her face and looked down at John. She gave a slight smile. "How could you know? I just wish I hadn't met her wearing your shirt." She let out a small chuckle.
John smiled and glanced down at his t-shirt and boxer briefs. "I didn't greet her in much better attire." They both chuckled and John reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear before leaning in to give her a soft kiss.
John broke the kiss and looked up at Anna. "This doesn't change a thing, you know. I love you and Vera showing up is a nuisance but I will take care of it."
Anna nodded and stood up and pulled John with her, wrapping her arms around him. "I love you too."
John pulled on a pair of pants and watched as Anna dressed and once she was done he took her hand and led her out of the bedroom and down the hallway. He purposefully ignored Vera as he walked Anna to the door. After opening it he leaned down to press a quick kiss to her lip.
"I will call you in the morning, okay?"
Anna nodded and shot a quick look in Vera's direction before smiling. "I love you."
"I love you too." John smiled as she turned and walked down the pathway. He closed the door once she was out of sight and the smile disappeared as he looked at Vera. His eyes turned hard. "Vera, it's been ten years. What in the hell are you doing here?"
Vera let out a bitter chuckle. "Now there is the John Bates I know so well. Why do you think I am here? I read that your plane had gone missing and of course I was concerned."
John let out a bitter laugh. "I highly doubt that, more likely you hoped I wouldn't be found and you could collect whatever belongings and money I had."
"Now Johnny, is that any way to talk me? We did have some good times."
"Vera our good times ended years ago. Now when I see you all I feel is hate and regret that I married you in the first place."
Vera frowned and walked over to where John stood. "The sex was good though wasn't it? I bet little Miss Chef can't do half the things I could do. "
John reigned in the flash of anger he felt at Vera mentioning Anna. He refused to go down that path again with Vera. "Anna is one hundred times the woman you are Vera. Trust me it isn't even close." He watched the anger flash in Vera's eyes at the put down. "I am actually glad you showed up Vera. It saves me the trouble of hiring a private detective. I want a divorce."
Vera laughed. "Do you think I am going to just let you walk away and marry that woman? I don't think so John."
"Why would you even fight it Vera. We haven't been together for years, what would be the point of denying me a divorce?"
"You left me to rot when you decided that jail was the better alternative to being married to me."
John looked at Vera, "If the diamonds on your fingers are any indication, you didn't fall all that far Vera."
Vera smiled, "Maybe not, I always had a way with men. I found a nice rich man who fell for my sob story of my husband abandoning me and my unborn child."
John frowned at the mention of their child. "I am sorry about the baby Vera. I never wanted that to happen."
"Then you shouldn't have confessed. I wouldn't have gone to jail, not while I was pregnant. I could have gotten out of the mess."
John just shook his head. Vera would never understand his reasons for confessing. It wasn't even worth trying to explain them to her. "Can you just tell me what you are doing here? What could you possibly want?"
"For the last ten years I have had a good life. I lived in a nice house, drove a nice car, had a closet full of designer clothes. Then out of the blue Will decides that I am not enough anymore and tosses me aside for a younger model and now we—" John cut her off.
"We? Who is we?"
Vera shook her head. "I mis-spoke. "
John looked at her a moment, but didn't press the issue. "So let me guess, you got tossed to the curb and now you've come crawling back to me hoping that I will take you back? Are you kidding Vera? Why would I take you back? I want nothing to do with you. All I want is a divorce."
"Well I won't give you one. I swore to you years ago that I would never let you be happy and I meant it John Bates. As long as I am alive you will never get that divorce."
"Do you honestly think I would take you back? Do you really think that we could ever live as husband and wife again?"
Vera shrugged her shoulders. "We were good together once; it could be that way again. We were happy once."
John let out a bitter laugh. "It wasn't that great Vera. Trust me. Our marriage was over years ago. There isn't any going back."
Vera frowned. "I won't let you go without a fight John. I promise you that."
John felt his temper rising and knew he had to get rid of Vera before he said or did something he would regret. He walked to the door and opened it. "You need to leave Vera."
Vera walked to the door. "This isn't over John. Trust me; this isn't over by a long shot."
John watched as Vera walked down the pathway and quickly slammed the door. He stalked around the living room. He should have known better than to think he could be happy. The urge to drink was strong. He could have just one. It would calm him down and help him think. He reached for his jacket and headed out the door. He started towards the hotel.
Anna had just settled into bed when the phone rang. She frowned as she looked at the clock. Who would be calling this late? She reached for the phone. "Hello?"
"Anna?"
"John? Are you okay?"
She frowned as he let out a bitter laugh. "I don't think so. I am in the hotel bar staring at a shot of whiskey."
"Did you drink any?"
"I should have known I couldn't be happy. I should have known. "
Anna jumped out of bed, and hurried around the room gathering clothes. "Listen to me, do not drink that. Do you hear me? I will be there in two minutes." Anna hung up the phone and quickly changed before running out the door. She headed to the elevator but after a moment opted for the stairs instead quickly handling the three flights with ease. She flew into the lobby and ran into the bar searching the room for John. She sighed in relief when she spotted him in the corner sitting at a table. She quickly headed that way and sat down next to him. He looked up when she sat down and Anna frowned at the look in his eyes. He looked angry but worst of all he looked defeated. She reached up to caress his cheek.
"What happened? What did she do to you?"
"She refuses to give me a divorce and told me she will never grant me one. She says she wants to give our marriage another try. She won't let me be happy."
Anna shook her head and smiled. "Do you think I will let that vile woman stop me from being happy, John? Do you think I care about a piece of paper?"
John shook his head. "She won't let me be happy. She will find a way to ruin this, to ruin us. She won't leave me alone."
"Let her try. Do not give up on us John Bates. Do you hear me? I love you and we will be together, whether she likes it or not."
John looked at you. "I don't deserve you."
Anna stood up and reached for his hand, pulling him up. She stood on her toes and placed a kiss on his lips. "We deserve to be happy John. We may not have known each other very long, but I truly believe we deserve that. Do you love me?"
John smiled softly. "I do. More than I thought possible."
"And I love you. And that is what is important. Let her try to ruin us. Let her try and come between us. We are stronger than her, but only if we stay together. Do you hear me? I won't give up on us, so don't you!"
John looked at Anna. "You don't know her Anna. She won't walk away without a fight."
"Then a fight she shall have."
John couldn't help but smile at the determination in her voice. He reached down and kissed her softly. He pulled away and gazed into her blue eyes. "How did I get so lucky?"
"We're both lucky. Now how about we go back to my room and show each other how lucky we are?
John laughed. "That's very racy of you."
Anna laughed and graced him with a smile. "I am racy." She squeezed his hand and led him out of the bar.
Neither one had noticed Vera in the corner hidden in the darkness. The anger in her eyes flashed as she reached for the phone. She quickly dialed a number and spoke when someone on the other end picked up.
"It's me. I need you to bring him up here tomorrow. It's about time John realizes what he will be giving up for Anna Smith."
Vera closed the phone and watched the entrance where John and Anna had just left. She smiled and whispered to herself. "Enjoy yourself tonight Anna Smith because tomorrow you will be crying your little eyes out."
