Last part of the story, a happy ending. Was it ever in doubt? Thanks for all your kind reviews, we really appreciate it.
John's POV
On the drive back down to London , all I can think about is Anna. Stopping off at a service station, over my coffee I have an epiphany. Why should I give Vera any money? Why did I say yes? Intending to give in to her for an easy life, I realised all it's done is brought pain to the one person who means everything to me. My life isn't easier at all. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out a copy of the picture of me and Anna in Saltburn. I want to make more memories like this. Aware I now have a soppy grin plastered over my face, I put the picture back in my pocket, down the remainder of my coffee and leave the service station.
Decision made, I begin the remainder of the drive to London. I'll still sell the house, I am so far along with it now and it is going to a nice family too. I'd like it to bring as much joy to them as it did to myself and my family when we were all living their together. Feeling at peace with my decision, I know my mother would agree with my reasoning behind it. However, I won't give a penny to Vera. I had to take measures to ensure Vera could never get her hands on the money. This was not going to be an easy conversation.
After an awkward visit to a phone shop, asking them to try and retrieve the numbers from the handset I had smashed, I was able to buy a new phone and ring Vera. This was one conversation I didn't want to have face to face. I have decided to spend the last night before the sale in my mother's house. Calling from my family home, I sit in the living room and dial.
'Hello John, is it all nearly complete?' Vera asks, answering after just one ring.
'Yes, it's nearly complete.' I reply. 'Should go through within the next couple of hours, in fact.'
'Brilliant news.' Vera says, I can almost see her smile.
'By the way, Vera. I've been thinking and you're not getting a penny.' I can't think of any other way to put it.
'What?' she replies. 'It's all settled. You can't back out now.'
'The only thing that is settled is the sale of the house. My house.' I reply. 'Now, I'll send you a business plan I have drawn up to take into the bank and you can try to get a loan.'
'But John...'
'But nothing. It's time I put myself first and looked to the future. My future does not involve you and I'd like to keep it that way.'
'You haven't heard the last of me.' Vera squeals.
'Yes, like all good pantomime villains I suspect I haven't.' With that, I hang up the phone and ignore Vera's ten calls within the next five minutes.
As soon as I have the funds clear in my account, I head back up to the North as quick as my car and the law will allow. Deciding to use the money to buy a property near the park, as soon as I reach my destination I find a paper advertising houses. Sitting on a bench overlooking the beach where myself and Anna enjoyed our midnight strolls, I peruse the paper.
As luck would have it, there is a three bedroom penthouse with a balcony overlooking the beach and the park which was right in the middle of my price range. Upon viewing the property I thought it was perfect although a part of me thought Anna should be viewing it with me. However, I've winged it this far and thought I should carry on.
It will take a couple of weeks to complete on the purchase of the penthouse so I move back into the park and help Robert do some jobs around Downton Sands, and begin preparations for next years season. I told him of my plans for Anna, he even helped me pick out an engagement ring and volunteered to be my best man, such was his confidence that she wouldn't turn me down.
Completing on the penthouse, half of it in Anna's name, within minutes I am in the car and on the way to find her.
Turning down a fairly modest street, I drive until I spot number forty-five. Anna's house. Parking the car, I try to focus before getting out. Hands sweating, my collar feeling like it is strangling me, I psyche myself up. There is no backing out now.
I walk up her garden path, knock on the door and put my hands in my pockets to hide the fact they are shaking like mad. Expecting Anna to open the door, I am surprised when another young lady opens it.
'Hello,' she says, in a voice almost identical to Anna's.
'Hi,' I say. 'Err, is this Anna Smith's house?'
'Well she lives here.' the lady replies. She turns around before shouting, 'Anna, there's a bloke for you at the door.' She looks back at me. 'She'll be here in a second.'
Nodding in acknowledgement, I turn around to check my car is alright before looking back and seeing Anna in the doorway. My heart skips a beat as she affords me one of her beautiful smiles.
'You came then?' she says, stepping outside.
'Told you I would,' I reply. I take hold of her hand and pull her towards me. There are no more words as I press my lips against hers, weeks of missing each other and the pain of being apart evaporating in one kiss.
'So this is John then,' I hear the young lady reply. Not wanting to seem rude, I wave over Anna's shoulder.
'Come in for some tea,' I hear a slightly older voice say.
'No mum, they need some time alone.' the younger lady says.
'This is John,' Anna says, turning to look at the two women standing in the doorway. 'John, this is my sister Sophie and my Mum, Helen.'
'Hello,' I say, waving again.
'Shall we go for a walk,' Anna suggests. I nod and lead her back down the garden path.
'Aww, he seems nice. Older than I thought.' Helen says.
'I can see what she means about his smile. His eyes twinkle,' Sophie replies as she follows her mum in the house.
Anna takes me to some nearby gardens. We both have so much to tell each other.
'Anna...' I begin.
'John...' she interrupts.
'You go first,' I say.
' Perhaps we should sit down,' she suggests. We find a bench and sit together. Leaning back, I take her hand in mine.
'What is it?' I ask.
'Do you remember the time we took a shower together?' she asks.
I realise I am now grinning stupidly into the distance. 'Best breakfast I ever had.' I reply before something twigs. There is only one reason she could be bringing that up. 'You're not, are you?'
Her beaming smile tells me all I need to know. 'It's all confirmed. I am seven weeks gone.'
Suddenly, the thought that clouds all others is that I am going to be a father. Looking at Anna's smiling face, I realise I must be smiling too as she begins to stroke my cheek. 'I'm going to be a Dad?'
'Yes, you are.' she replies, a tear now falling down her cheek. The urge to hold her is overwhelming as I gently pull her into my arms. Placing a hand on her stomach I rest my forehead against hers. 'So what did you have to tell me?'
'What?' I ask, trying to remember what my news was. 'Oh yes. It was going to be pretty groundbreaking but I'm not going to be able to beat that.'
'What is it?' Anna laughs.
'I've bought us a penthouse. Overlooking Downton.' I say, my heart thumping as I wait for her response.
'But how...' she asks.
'I didn't give Vera the money. I got to thinking you were right. Why should I give her anything of mine? She's nothing to me anymore.' I answer. 'So I still sold the house but kept the money. I even have some left over, which I was going to use for a wedding, but it seems it may be of better use elsewhere.'
'A wedding?' Anna gasps.
'Yes, see I bought this.' I pull the ring box out of my pocket and show it to Anna. 'It is still my intention to ask you to be my wife, whether we'll get married as soon as I planned now, I don't know.'
'Why wouldn't we?' Anna asks, studying the ring.
'Well, did you want to do it sooner and have a low key affair, saving some money for the baby. Or, have the baby then save again and get married a couple of years down the line?'
'John, I'd pick the low key affair every time. I can't bear to spend one more day without being your wife, let alone a couple of years.'
'Really?' I gasp, tears threatening to escape my eyes. 'I best do this then.' Slowly getting down on one knee, I take the ring out of the box, put the box back in my pocket before turning all my attentions on Anna.
'Oh John,' she is now crying as I begin my proposal. Taking her hands in mine, I kiss them before beginning. If there was ever any time to tell how exactly how I felt, this was it.
'I came to Downton expecting the job to help me get over my past troubles. What I didn't expect was to find you. I honestly knew I wanted to marry you after watching you doing the 'Mikey Dance' with those kids on stage on my first night at Downton.' I stop as we both begin to laugh. 'I knew then you were the woman for me. No one else has ever, or ever could come close to making me feel the way that you do. You amaze me and if you do me the greatest honour that could ever be afforded to me, by agreeing to marry me, I look forward to being amazed by you every day for the rest of our lives.'
'John, that is the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me,' she says, kissing my hands that are entwined in hers. 'Of course I'll marry you.'
'You will?' I am crying now too as I stand up and help her up with me. Pulling her in for yet another kiss, for the first time in our relationship I feel like the woman I am holding is exclusively, officially mine. Always believing she would come to her senses and realise she is too good for me, she has now pledged her life to me and it is the most incredible feeling in the world.
