Author's note- I'm so sorry I haven't updated for so long, I just found it really hard to get into this chapter. Anyway, thanks to all my reviewers: Sarah303, Awesome Rapidash, NightimeRoseOX, StarrNight and Ekoaleko. I love reading all of your reviews and it's great to get feedback for this story, so keep it up. Well, I hope everyone enjoys reading this chapter!
Chapter 11- Stupid mistakes
With a feeling of satisfaction, Ann stood alongside her best friend, Mary, and they admired the result of a day's hardwork. It was Cliff's birthday and the two of them had dedicated their time to preparing the Inn for the party, which would start at six o'clock that evening.
"Thanks for all your help today," Ann said to her friend once they'd finished.
Mary smiled back at her, "To be honest, it makes a nice change from the constant wedding plans with, mom."
Ann found herself laughing as she set about re-arranging the food for the fifth time. "What's she trying to get you to do now?" she asked. As far as Ann could remember, she'd never seen Mary's mother so excited. Or, for that matter, so interfering. And as anyone who knew Anna would tell you, that was really saying something.
Before answering the question, Mary prised Ann away from the food and dragged her into a seat. "The food's fine, everythings fine," she assured her. Ann looked around and felt herself beginning agree. They had done quite a good job after all. Doug had allowed them to close the Inn for the day so they could prepare the food, music and decorations, and the Inn now looked similar to the way it had for Elli and Tim's wedding reception. Except, of course, the banner over the door now read: 'Happy Birthday Cliff".
With a reminiscent smile, Ann recalled the look of horror on his face when she informed him the Inn would be closed on his behalf. It was the sort you wished you had a camera for. "But...but-I thought this was going to be a small party!" Cliff had whined, earlier that morning. "That's what we agreed!"
"And it will be," Ann replied, before she pushed him and Gray out the door, instructing them not to come back until half an hour before the party.
So they left, allowing Ann and Mary to get to work.
"Well, our current conflict," Mary began. "Is about the floral arrangements. Mom and I, that is." she added, when Ann, who had been caught up in the past, looked blank.
"Oh right! So what's wrong with the flowers, then?"
"Mom wants to have loads in the Church, but I just want something simple," Mary sighed, as though she thought the chances of a simple wedding were getting slimmer by the minute.
Ann, on the other hand chortled, as she imagined large unruly plants snaking along the pews, down the aisles; guests sneezing and coughing all over the place...
Then, she imagined herself tripping over and tearing her brand new dress in front of everyone. The idea didn't seem so funny after that.
"Tell your mother that on no account is she to re-create a rainforest situation inside the Church, ok?" Ann ordered, firmly.
Despite giving her friend an odd look, Mary nodded."Don't worry. This is my wedding, and I'm not going to let anyone- not even my mother -ruin it."
An hour or so later, Gray and Cliff turned up at the Inn ready for the party.
"Will you give me my present now?" Cliff begged, moments before the it was due to begin. Smiling slightly and slipping her arms around his waist, Ann shook her head.
"No, people are going to start arriving any minute now. There's no time," she told him. As intended, Cliff was distracted.
"How many people?" he demanded. "You know I don't like a fuss!"
Ann grinned. "Well you're making enough of one now!" she pointed out, jokingly.
Before Cliff could say anything in his defence, the door was thrown open and guests started to arrive. All together Ann had invited Popuri, Kai, Rick, who was bringing Karen, Jack and also Mary and Gray. She had asked Manna and Duke to come along too, as they were quite friendly with Cliff, but they'd declined, saying they thought they'd feel out of place. So, all in all she had kept to her word, as nine people, including themselves, hardly qualified for a large party.
It was quite lucky that Ann's job involved being a good host because Cliff could be unbelieveably shy at times and was getting nowhere fast with greeting the guests.
Ann soon took over.
Just as she had finished greeting Kai and Popuri, Jack turned up. He was the last person to arrive and surprisingly he wasn't alone. Buttons had come too.
"I'm sorry about this," Jack apologized, as his dog raced around Ann's legs. "He wouldn't let me leave without him. Your Dad won't mind, will he?"
After quickly ruffling Buttons' ears, Ann shook her head, "He's not here. I think he's at Duke's or something, which means I'm in charge."
"Great!" Jack beamed at her. "I'll try and keep him under control, but you know what he's like." As if to prove this point, Buttons had run off and was now leaping up at a shrieking Popuri. Sighing wearily, Jack rushed after his wayward dog. "See you later, Ann!" he called.
Ann waved after him, laughing as she did so. There was never a dull moment with Buttons around.
At that point, she caught Cliff's eye from across the room. Ann was about to smile at him, like she always did, but stopped herself at the look on his face. He was glowering at her.
What's his problem, Ann thought, feeling very shocked. Cliff had already turned away, though, and she began to wonder if she'd actually imagined the look he had given her.
A little while later however it became apparent that it wasn't her imagination at all. Ann was making her way across the room to talk to Mary, when Cliff collared her.
"Why did you invite him?" he demanded angrily, before Ann had time to draw breath. Cliff was muttering so that they wouldn't be overheard, but his body language spoke volumes and it was clear to everyone what was going on. Kai, for one, was staring avidly at them, his mouth open slightly.
Glaring pointedly at Kai, Ann pulled Cliff into a corner. "Who?" she answered in a quiet, but deadly voice that was barely audible over the loud music.
"Jack, of course," came the impatient reply. "So why did you invite him?" At this, Ann just stared blankly at her boyfriend. It didn't make any sense to her.
"Well, he's one of my best friends...and I wanted him here..." she said slowly. There was nothing else to say really. Ann frowned at Cliff; this was so unlike him. To say she was confused was a massive understatement.
"He's not one of my friends though," Cliff pointed out. He hesitated for moment, clearly unsure as to whether or not he should continue. Eventually he went on, "And to be honest I don't really like him all that much."
Ann burst out laughing while Cliff's eyes narrowed. So that was the problem. He was jealous!
Initially, she felt relieved, but it was soon replaced by a wave of anger. How dare Cliff ruin things with his childish jealousy and mad suspicions? Ann just wanted to hit him. Hard.
She felt so betrayed. Cliff was clearly accusing her of...being more interested in Jack than him? That was the only explamation she could really come up with. And it hurt her more than she would have ever imagined to know Cliff didn't trust her.
Without answering him, she turned on her heel and went off to make the best of the remainder of the party.
Ann spent the rest of the evening laughing, dancing and joking with everyone else -apart from Cliff. She even chatted quite happily to Karen, who she was now actually beginning to like.
It would have been quite a good party, but Ann's argument with Cliff had left a dark cloud hanging over her. She just couldn't seem to forget it and enjoy herself. And it was all Cliff's fault.
Ann had to admit she felt relieved when everyone had gone home, leaving just her and Cliff behind (Gray had wisely decided to got to bed early).
There was a heavy, uncomfortable slience in the air as Ann and Cliff tidied up after the party. The room was only dimly lit so Ann couldn't make out the expression on Cliff's face as she threw quick glances at him. Part of her cared about making up with him, but she was still incredibly annoyed and didn't trust herself to speak.
In the end Ann decided she had to do something.
"Cliff..."
"Ann..."
They both smiled weakly at each other, relieved to know the other also wanted to sort this out.
"Go ahead," Ann said, motioning for Cliff to continue.
He looked nervous and hung his head as he made his way over to where Ann was kneeling. She had taken up the not so delightful job of cleaning where Buttons had been sick from eating his weight in birthday cake. Ann threw down the rag she was using and turned to look up at her boyfriend.
"I'm really, really sorry Ann," he mumbled. "I didn't mean to upset you earlier. I was horrible to you and I really regret it now. It was stupid." As he finished speaking, Cliff looked up and his eyes met Ann's. He did look truly sorry.
Ann could feel her anger slowly ebbing away, and she nodded. "That's ok Cliff, I forgive you," she told him. "It's just that I felt so awful when I realised you didn't trust me. I hated it."
Cliff looked instantly horrified. "Of course I trust you!" he insisted.
"That's not what it felt like."
Suddenly, Cliff crouched down beside Ann and slipped his arm over her shoulder. For a second Ann considered shrugging him off, but decided that it would be childish to do so. Instead she turned to face him.
"Look Ann, I know I behaved like an idiot, ok?" Cliff admitted. "I was jealous; stupid I know. But please, I don't want to lose you over something like this."
Ann felt a wave of blissful relief wash over her as he spoke, and it was then that she remembered his birthday present. "Oh no!" she gasped, leaping to her feet.
"What is it? Where are you going?" asked Cliff, who looked stricken. Ann had already raced out of the room, though, so he didn't get a reply.
A moment later she was back again. "Here you go Cliff. Happy Birthday!" Ann handed him a small square package that was very carelessly wrapped with brown paper. "As you can see, I'm terrible at all that homey stuff," she added, making Cliff chuckle.
"'Forget-me-not Valley?'" said Cliff, reading the title of the book he had just unwrapped.
Ann nodded, barely concealing a knowing smile.
"I don't understand," Cliff went on. By now his brow was furrowed in confusion.
That just made Ann grin even more. "It's quite simple actually," she told him. "We're going there. Not forever or anything," she added hastily, before Cliff thought that she wanted them to elope. "Just to visit. I know you've never been and it's not far, we could easily walk it. The views there are supposed to be stunning." She waited anxiously for Cliff's verdict; he now just looked totally surprised. Ann wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.
"How long would we be gone?" he asked her.
"Well," said Ann, "if we left early enough in the morning, I'd say we could get back by nightfall. I've already sorted everything out with dad and your job at the winery, so that's ok. There is one small problem though."
"What's that?"
Taking a deep breath beforehand, Ann explained. "Well, as Mary's wedding is coming up, I'm quite busy at the moment, which means we have to go while we have the chance. Like I said, I got you time off work and I've spoken to my dad, but it's all arranged for one day. And if we want to go it has to be then. So, what do you think?"
To Ann's utter relief and amazement, Cliff was grinning madly. He looked thoroughly excited, like a little kid at the Stocking Festival. "This is the best birthday present I've ever had!" he exclaimed. "Of course I want to go! So, what day are we leaving, then?"
Ann took another sharp intake of breath, "Tomorrow."
A/n- Well, that's it for another chapter. I hope everyone enjoyed reading it! In the next chapter Ann and Cliff embark on their trip to Forget-me not Valley and some of the HM: AWL characters will make appearances. Thanks for reading!
