AN: Thank you everyone for keeping reading! i don't always reply reviews because i really don't have time but it means a lot! thank you to my lovely editor too :) Long chapter this time, i thing we have 2 or 3 more to go :)
On Sunday morning, they all went to church. At the end, the Crawleys headed back to the Abbey without them. Anna was confused. She didn't understand why they assumed John and her wouldn't go back with them. He took her hand and started walking without saying a word. When they arrived at the cemetery, John broke the silence.
J. - "I try to come to Downton once a month not only to visit my friends, but also my parents. This trip was for you to meet my family and I want them to meet you."
Anna didn't say anything. She just stood there next to him, waiting for him to speak again as he carefully watched the two tombstones that simply said "Jack and Maggie", beloved parents and partners in life and death.
J. - "Mom, Dad, I want you to meet Anna Smith."
A. - "Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Bates."
J. - "No… Just… I guess I'm full of surprises… This is Margaret Bates and Jack Brown."
A. - "Oh… so…"
J. - "Yes, he was actually my step-father… sort of. They never married."
A. - "... And… what happened to…"
J. - "We don't talk about the other John Bates around here."
A. - "I…I understand."
J. - "As you can see between Jack Brown, myself and William Mason, my family doesn't really care about last names."
They spent about half an hour there, John telling her stories of his family and "catching up" with his parents. If Anna had thought she couldn't possibly love him more, that moment proved her wrong. There and then, she knew she'd spent the rest of her life with this man.
They lived for moments like this. John was sitting on the sofa, Anna's head on his lap. The TV was on, but he was absent mindedly stroking her hair while she looked with attention at his other hand, as she stroked it softly.
A. - "Hey, guess what? Mary called me today."
J. - "Oh yes. She asked me for your number. I totally forgot. What did she want?"
A. - "She asked me to plan her wedding!"
J. - "Honey, that's great! You will do it, right?"
A. - "Of course I said yes, but… I don't know John; I've never done anything this size…"
J. - "Well, there's always a first time…"
A. - "...But, does it have to be an heiress wedding? I don't think I'm ready."
J. - "Stop it Anna. You are the best at what you do. I'm sure you'll manage."
A. - "Thank god for Jane. She is my best employee I'm going to rely on her a lot."
J. - "See, you have nothing to worry about."
A few months had passed and everybody at Anna's company were working hard at the wedding plans, specially Jane and Tom, who didn't have much to do until the actual wedding, but he always found some excuse to go up to the Abbey. Anna thought it was weird, but she didn't ask, knowing that her friend would eventually open up to her, and he finally did.
T. - "Anna, I need to talk to you."
A. - "Something about Downton Abbey and why you are over there all the time?"
T. - "Well, yes… Is it that obvious?... You see, I try to go there all the time because well…"
A. - "Tom, just say it - You and Lady Sybil?"
T. - "How did you know?!"
A. - "Com'on Tom. It is obvious."
T. - "So, everybody knows?"
A. - "I don't know if everybody, but at least I do."
T. - "Do you think Mr. Crawley knows?"
A. - "Oh, I wouldn't worry about Robert. His mind is… I don't know where his mind is nowadays actually…"
T. - "I think I know."
A. - "What do you mean?"
T. - "Anna, I think I am not the only one of us having a secret relationship."
A. - "Tom, what are you trying to say?"
T. - "It's Jane. I didn't want to tell you before, because I have no proof but… she is there all the time and Mr. Crawley too, and he has nothing to do over there on weekdays… so… I just think that maybe you should… I don't know, find out for sure?"
A. - "I can't believe it, but yes, thank you Tom. I will look into it. Whatever you see, please tell me ok?"
That night it was Cora's birthday, so they invited John and Anna to dinner at some fancy restaurant in the city. Anna really didn't want to go. She still wasn't sure, but with help from Ethel they were almost sure Robert was having and affair with Jane.
During the dinner, Anna was awfully quiet. She tried to be as nice as possible, especially to Cora, but she wouldn't laugh at any of Robert's jokes. John began to notice.
J. - "Hey, is everything alright?" – He asked, whispering.
A. - "Oh yes... Don't worry, I'm just" – her phone was ringing- "Sorry. I have to get this. I'll be right back."
She went to the restroom to answer. It was Ethel.
A. - "Hello"
E. - "Hey. Are you still at dinner with the Crawleys?"
A. - "Yes. I'm still here. Why?"
E. - "What are you doing afterwards?"
A. - "Well, Cora will meet up with her daughters and I'm invited, but I think I'm going to pass."
E. - "So, Mr. Crawley will have a night off from the wife?"
A. - "I guess so… Why?"
E. - "I have an idea to catch the son of a bitch. I just called Jane and asked her to go out with us. Now, you go back there and when John asks you about this call, you tell them that I wanted to go out with Jane because she is by herself at home."
A. - "I'm still waiting for the part were we find out for sure."
E. - "Wait. After you mention, Jane, start talking about her. See how uncomfortable he gets and then just count the minutes it takes for him to excuse himself. If I'm right, she will call me to cancel and I'll send you a text when that happens."
A. - "Ethel, this is Cora's birthday. I doubt he will try to sneak out with Jane tonight."
E. - "Anna, my dear, men are pigs. Just do it and we'll see."
A. - "Alright, alright. I'll tell you everything tomorrow."
She went back to the table.
J. - "Everything alright?"
A. - "Yes. It was just Ethel. You know her. She wanted to go out."
C. - "On a Thursday?"
A. - "The thing is, Jane's son is with his grandparents, so it seemed like a good chance to see each other."
C. - "She works with you, right?"
A. - "Yes, she's been helping a lot with Mary's wedding. You must see her lot, right Robert? I mean, she is at Downton all the time these days."
R. - "Jane, you say? I guess I have seen her around, yes."
A. - "So, what are you doing this weekend?"
C. - "I'm going with Mary to buy her wedding dress! I'm so excited!"
A. - "What about you, Robert?"
R. - "I… I'll be at Downton…"
A. - "Oh, so will Jane. Maybe you can take the chance and go over the budget with her?"
R. - "Oh yes… Well… Maybe, if I have the time."
Anna could tell Robert was really nervous, and just as Ethel said, 5 minutes later he excused himself and went out to make a phone call. Shortly after, he returned, they paid the bill and were ready to leave when se received a text from Ethel saying that Jane had cancelled.
C. - "Will you come with me and the girls, Anna?"
A. - "I'm sorry, Cora, but I had a crazy day. I just want to have some rest."
C. - "You are the one missing it. We intend to pull an all-nighter"– she said laughing- "so, I guess you will not keep my husband company, John?"
J. - "Sorry, but you know Anna is the boss of me. If she says it's time to go home, then it is time to go home."
A. - "Don't worry. I'm sure Robert will find a way to entertain himself tonight."
She didn't say anything on the way home. He knew something was wrong so when they arrived, he took her hand and guided her to the kitchen.
A. - "What are you doing?"
J. - "I'm going to make us some tea. I sense we need to talk?"
A. - "Oh, John. I really don't want to talk about it right now."
J. - "If you don't want to tell me, I won't pressure you, but I know you and you will be like this until you let it out."
A. - "I guess you are right. If I don't say it out loud, I will be miserable."
J. - "Well, we can't have that."
A. - "Ok… Sit down."
They sat at the kitchen table, his hand holding hers, waiting for her to speak.
A.-"It's about Robert…"
J. - "Robert? What about him?"
A. - "Listen, John. I don't mean to get myself where I'm not needed, but… is everything alright with him and Cora?"
J. - "Well... they have problems like everybody does. Yes, lately Cora is all about the wedding and they have grown apart a little, but… why do you ask?"
A. - "I didn't tell you before because well, I don't have proof, but, it's kind of my business and Mary is really a good friend of mine now…"
J. - "What's going on?"
A. - "I think Robert is having an affair with Jane."
J. - "What are you talking about?"
A. - "Well, Tom is at Downton with Jane all the time and he has seen things. Lately, every time she goes there, Robert happens to be there too, even on weekdays when he has nothing to do in Downton."
J. - "I'm sorry, but it's just too hard to believe."
A. - "I know. That's why I didn't tell you before, but now…. Now I'm almost sure. When I mentioned Jane would be by herself tonight and Robert excused himself to make a phone call, well, five minutes later, Jane cancelled on Ethel. It's just too much coincidence. So, can you talk to him? God knows I hope to be wrong, but what if I'm not?"
J. - Yeah, you are right. I will talk to him…
A week had gone by and John still didn't know how to approach his friend, until one morning, after a meeting, the opportunity presented itself.
R. - "Well, I better be going."
J. - "Going? Where are you going?"
R. - "There's not much work today, so I was thinking of going to Downton."
J. - "Again? You are spending a lot of time over there lately, aren't you?"
R. - "Yes, well…"
J. - "Robert, what's going on?"
R. - "What's going on with what?"
J. - "You've been acting weird lately and I wish you could trust me enough to talk."
R. - "Talk? Talk about what?"
J.-"Jane…"
R. - "Jane?"
J. - "I don't want to accuse you of anything, just… be careful, alright? People are beginning to talk."
R. - "What? What are they saying?"
J. - "Rumour has it you are having an affair with Jane! Is this true?"
Robert didn't answer, He just looked down.
J. - "So, it is true then?"
R. - "I'm afraid so."
J. - "How could you?!"
R. - "I don't know Bates. I really don't know! It just happened!"
J. - "These things don't just happen."
R. - "I've been feeling lost as of lately, if you must know… Mary is getting married and Cora… Well, she… Sometimes I feel like she doesn't even notice me anymore."
J. - "... And this is your solution? Cheating on her? This is not fair. It's not fair to Jane, to Cora, to your daughters…."
R. - "... Are you seriously giving me advice on marriage? You of all people?"
J. - "That was low Robert… and I'm not trying to give you advice, I'm just trying to help. If not for your sake, then, for your family's sake."
R. - "You are right. I'm sorry, John. I didn't mean it like that."
J. - "Just promise me you'll think about it...And please talk to Cora. If you want to be with Jane, then be with her. If you want to make it right with your wife, then do it, but stop playing with them. They don't deserve it."
R. - "Yes… Thank you. I'll… I'll think about it. Can I ask how you found out?"
J. - "It got to Anna's ears. She was reluctant to tell me because she couldn't prove it. She really appreciates Cora. Mary and Anna are also very close now. I hope you won't hold it against her."
R. - "No, of course not. I understand. She did the right thing."
The very next day, Jane presented her resignation to Anna.
A. - "Jane… You don't have to do this."
Ja.- You know I do. I know you know…"
A. - "What if I just put you somewhere else, take you off the Crawley wedding?"
Ja.- "No, I need to put as much distance as possible, otherwise, the temptation will be there all the time and that would be so much more painful. I'm sorry, but I have to leave."
A. - "I understand… just take care alright?"
Ja. - "I will Anna. Thank you for everything… Goodbye."
A. - "Goodbye."
Two months later at Mary's wedding, Anna took John's hand and they both smiled at the sight of Robert and Cora, lovingly dancing.