CHAPTER 11

Charlie totally unaware of our previous relationship, let alone doomed engagement, decides introductions are needed, he gestures to Anne,

"well obviously you'll know who my superstar sister in law is" putting a protective arm around her, that for some reason makes me want to smash his face in.

Mary visibly flinches and I wonder what that is all about,

"but we'd better make a formal introduction…."

Just as I'm about to correct him of our history, Louisa jumps in.

"Oh we all know each other. Nice to see you again Anne. You know, Fred and I have just been saying how much you've changed."

Oh please tell me she's not…

"In fact, Fred says you were so altered he wouldn't have known you!"

Anne, all this time, having her back so close to the opposite wall trying so hard to blend into the background, I'm sure she would've gone through the wall had it been possible, jumps and locks her, now wide, eyes with mine, her whole face turning pink. A second later she drops her gaze looking at the floor, a strand of hair not quite long enough to join the rest in her hair band escapes and dangles in front of her face, she reaches up with a small delicate hand and tuck's it behind her ear. Then pushes her self off the wall and towards Louisa.

"Yeah, well ... eight years is a long time. Hi Louisa, still as gorgeous as ever."

She smiles but I can tell its forced, she nods in my direction not making eye contact again and I feel a stab of pain. The twins are shouting for her in the back ground she looks over her shoulder as if planning her getaway.

Then turning to Charlie, "We're ... old friends. I'm going to take the boys out to the garden for a bit, before lunch, ok?"

Without waiting for an answer she grabs the boys and bolts through a door at the end of the hall.

Wait. What just happened? That's it? Not even a hello? Well if that the way she wants to play it so be it, its ok with me. Strangers, as it should be.

Charlie's puzzled eyes follow her through the doors, as if he doesn't know what just happened either. He looks at me, then Louisa and finally at Mary as if silently questioning her. She shrugs and walks about mumbling something about finding a bottle.

"So Charlie, are you going to show us round this amazing place? I cant wait to see it now the renovations are complete."

I don't give a shit about seeing his stupid barn conversion. I just need to get my head in gear and out of this hallway where her perfume still lingers. She still wears the same brand I bought her for Valentines Day? Crap. I'm in so much trouble. Maybe its not too late to go to a hotel after all?

Charlie proceeds in showing us an in depth tour of the house, that as it turns out is not a stupid barn conversion but a beautiful home. Complete with dance studios across a courtyard.

After Charlie has shown us to our room, Louisa insists on a nap, so I decide to go downstairs and explore the studio out back, nothing to do with Anne being out there, obviously. As I pass through the glass wall walk way that leads from the house to the studio, I see her. She's sat on the grass watching the boys play in the sand pit. She looks so down and broken, not like the star she had been on her way to becoming. Then I think back to the last time I saw her, and I realise this is exactly how she looked then too. I want so much to go to her. My head saying, 'rub it in her face with a big fat 'I told you so'. My heart, wanting to hold her and make it all go away like I did when she had stage fright.

But then I hear someone approaching. It's Mary.

She looks at Anne, not with pity or concern or with any kind of sisterly love or affection, but with annoyance and distaste like she's irritating her just being there. She's clutching a champagne filled glass like her life depends on it. Her lips screwed up so tight her face could crack. As I look at her now, I forget she is the youngest sister. She looks older than her twenty four years. I have no idea why? She has ever had any worries as far as I know. Other than losing her mother at a young age. She grew up with sisters who loved her and a father who doted on her. Her teenage years living on her sisters fame and money. Only to meet and marry Charlie, pop out a couple of cute kids and live happily ever after. Right?

"She deserves everything she got you know."

I stand stunned, not sure if I have in fact just heard those words come out of her mouth, out of Anne's sister's mouth. And I'm reminded back to a scene a long time ago with another sister, and Sophia's expression "Bitch!" Before I get a chance to ask why, she whines on.

"She wanted all the fame and glory, while people like me have to settle with being the little housewife sat at home taking care of the kids..."

I couldn't help but see the flaw in this, she's dressed up in designer gear, sipping champagne in the lap of luxury, while her sister, life crumbling at her feet, is out there playing in the mud taking care of her kids. Again I try to open my mouth to respond and again she continues.

"I suppose you know she wanted this life though, don't you? She wanted to be me. She even wanted my husband!"

She gulps down about half a glass of the champagne, I can't hold my tongue.

"What? Do you mean her and Charlie..."

"Yes! Quite the perfect little pair, while they were at Uni, he was one of her back up dancers then. Anyway he soon saw through her, and then he met me, and the rest they say is history."

She drains her glass and turns to a nearby bottle to refill it.

I stand aghast, not sure what to make of what I have just heard. Charlie and Anne. My Annie and Charlie. Together? Like together together? I can't believe it. And he left her for moaning Mary? No way! Is he a complete idiot or what? Well this just opened up a whole new can of worms. I have so many questions running through my mind.

They were together at Uni. How long for? How serious was it? Did they…? No! I can't even think about that! About her doing that with someone else. I know I sounded a hypocrite. I'd done just that after all, with Louisa, one of her worst enemies, and now I was here flaunting it in her face. But Annie. I can feel bile rising in my throat and I swallow hard. Trying to smile at Mary, who is outwardly proud of the secret she has bestowed on me. Charlie? How am I supposed to work with the guy now? I shift my weight from one foot to the other, dying to get my un asked questions answered and at the same time never wanting to know the details. Ever.

I look at Anne playing with the boys. She should have been their mum, she could have been Charlie's wife. Why? Why did it end up like this? I couldn't believe Mary, that Charlie chose her over Anne. Charlie was a good man and he wouldn't give up some one like Anne that easy. There had to be more to it. Her dad or miss Russell at work again no doubt. Had they done this to Anne? Again? Either way she was alone, again.

Me and Louisa. Mary and Charles. And Anne….alone.

I shook my head trying to get the overwhelming feeling of wanting to take her in my arms, scoop her up and …What am I saying? She left me! She broke my heart!

NO!

Even armed with this new insight into the life of Anne Elliot, I realised I still hadn't forgiven her. She'd given me up just to please others. She had shown such a weakness and timidity in her character, that even with her sweet shyness and stage fright, I didn't think was possible.

Knowing I wouldn't be able to look at either Charlie, or her, quite the same again, I turned to make my way back inside.

Not realising the window was open or the fact Anne could hear everything.