Chapter 14
In Anastasia's POV
Oh my goodness this is just an emotional overload. I am overjoyed as my children run into my arms and cover me with kisses. I glance up as I hold them and look into a room full of teary eyes glancing at me and after what Christian just told me I should be thrilled to see them but apart from my children and nanny I am NOT.
I feel as though I am in a dream. I can hear them calling my name and saying they love me and that they've missed me and all I can think about is how much they have hurt me and betrayed me. They left me on my own during my darkest hours. The only one who was there for me was Jose and Emma but now I question what they knew.
I let the kids go and they run into their fathers waiting arms and he scoops them both up effortlessly. Kate approaches me first all weepy with her arms out towards me and I immediately step back. She looks at me confused and surprised my reaction as does everyone else.
"Ana, I missed you so much. I'm so sorry for everything" she cries. I just narrow my eyes and glare at her then my eyes dart over to Mia.
After all I have risked for her I would have thought even if Christian had just left me for other reasons she would have still been loyal to me after I almost died saving her. She hangs her head in shame and avoids eye contact with me.
Suddenly I feel angry at everyone in the room. I look at Christian and he pulls me into a hug and I give him a soft kiss on his neck, take a deep breath and look up at him anxiously.
"I need some time, I'll be upstairs" I whisper and he nods.
"Take as long as you need I know this is not what you expected. I'll be upstairs in a few minutes baby" he whispers back and kisses my hair softly.
As I head to the stairs Emma shrugs at me and I know that she knew nothing. I give her a worried smile and she follows me upstairs.
We go into my bedroom and sit down on my window bench. Emma looks nervous.
"Emma did you know?" I ask nervously. She is seven months pregnant and I don't want to upset her but I must know. She has been such a support system for me.
"No Ana, I had no idea, neither did Jose. We just found out today that your husband was being blackmailed and that some harm could have come to the children but I don't know much more than that." And I know she's being honest with me.
"Jose did say that had contacted him when you first split up and asked him to be there for you and you would need the support of a friend. He told him to fuck off and said he would always be there for you and that was the last time they spoke. He only just told me that today. Ana I am so sorry I don't really know what to say, this is just odd. I feel like I'm intruding"
"Emma, no I don't know what I would have done without you and Jose. I would have gone into a deep depression or worse. Your friendship and support gave me the strength to move forward. I can never thank you enough, you barely knew me but you reached out to me and my children and made me feel needed and important. I can never thank you enough for that you are my best friend." I say as tears prick my eyes and we hug.
"you are mine too Ana" she says in a warm voice.
I hear a knock on the door and Christian enters. He walks over to me cautiously and traces my jaw with his fingertips.
"You Okay baby?" he murmurs. And I shrug because I'm not sure if I am.
I need time to process all this. I am still reeling from our reconciliation and day of lovemaking and promise of a new life together. Now I find out it was all to protect me from Elena's blackmail scheme.
"Christian this is my very best friend Emma Rodriguez" I smile through my tears and in a very un-Christian Grey gesture he leans down and kisses her on the cheek and gives her a gentle hug.
"Very nice to meet you Mrs. Rodriguez please call me Christian"
"Nice to meet you Christian, call me Emma" she smiles.
"Thank you Emma for being there for my wife. I'm sorry I can't explain any more but please know this was only to protect her."
"No need to be sorry, I am just glad to have such a wonderful friend as Ana. She is going to be the godmother to our son" she beams and I hug her tight.
"Love you Emma, thank you" I whisper.
"I'll be downstairs Ana"
"Alright I'll be down shortly" I mutter but I'm nervous to face everyone.
I want to scream at them. The only one I can maybe rationalize a reason with is Carrick. He was helping his son, he's a lawyer but everyone else could have just been kept in the dark.
I feel like I was dumped by everyone. Okay I forgave Christian today but that was before I knew all of this, I love my husband I missed him. I never thought this could have been the reason he left but it's obviously true or everyone wouldn't be here throwing me some welcome back party.
Actually this is my home and I'll be damned if they are going to welcome me back. I will have to talk to them one by one and welcome them back. However in light of this day I am going to head downstairs and address my little fan club.
"Christian this is a lot to take on in one day, first us then all this I um..I just don't know how to react I'm in shock ."
"I know Anastasia, I am just happy you have forgiven me. I love you so much and I have missed you. I won't ever hurt you again. I'd die before I ever hurt you or the kids again, I promise you that. I don't care if the world knows what happened or if I lose my fortune, as long as I have you I'll survive. I just can't survive without you again" he chokes out as he buries his nose in my hair and holds me tight.
"God I have missed your scent, you are heavenly. I love you Anastasia with all of my heart and soul"
"I love you Christian, come lets go downstairs so the kids can see you. I have an announcement to make" and his eyes widen nervously. He says nothing and takes my hand and we head back downstairs into the family room.
The nanny has taken the children and Ava into the playroom and the silence from the family room is deafening. You can hear a pin drop as I enter the room hold hand with Christian. I smile at Emma and Jose and turn and face the anxious crowd. Kate is flushed and red faced from her tears and is gripping Elliot's hand tight as she stares at me.
I square my shoulders and look at them. Even in my jeans and converse I won't be intimidated.
"Hi everyone, I know you are all here because of this situation" I say feigning a lack of emotion.
I want to break down and cry but I will not. Time for them to earn my trust back, I don't give a fuck if they were protecting me. I'm hurting more than they could ever know. Stop Ana, focus and continue…
"I have had an overload of information thrust upon me today and for the sake of the children I would just like to not get into anything heavy and emotional right now. I'd like to eat something then spend time with my husband and children. Please have some food if you'd like and we can save our discussions for another time. I am not ready." I say confidently and one by one I take a glance at each of them.
"Of course Ana" Grace says quietly. My eyes shoot over to Kate again, my best friend, well was my best friend. How can I ever look at her the same especially knowing that she has also been my "fake boss" for the past few months? I feel like a joke, I put so much hard work and effort into reading those manuscripts. Were they all faked or plagiarized? Were they real? I have no clue. I do know that I am out of work again because I sure as hell wont be working for a fake company.
She looks up at me in a most un-Kate like way. She looks defeated as opposed to her usual tough demeanor. There is a part of me that wants to run to her and hold her tight. She was my best friend for so long, besides Christian she knows me better than anyone. She knew me before all of them ok well except my parents.
I give her a small sad smile and then embrace my mom who is sitting in the kitchen on a stool by the island talking to Ray. I know they had no clue about whats going on, my mother would have told me no matter what. She only knows that we were on the outs after a fight when I came to stay with her that week. I didn't really tell Ray too much about what was going on, only that we were having some problems. He said he'd be there for me but he is not one to pry. I even withheld info from my mother because she would have given Christian a piece of her mind. I give Ray a quick kiss on the cheek and he sighs.
"Well Annie I have no idea what is going on and frankly I don't want to know so long as you're okay?" he asks
"It's going to be okay dad, it's a long story but Christian and I are going to try to work it out. Mom where's Bob?" I ask hoping Ray doesn't feel uncomfortable. I know he's still got a thing for my mom.
"He's home, he couldn't get the time off. He's saving up vacation days for Christmas time. He sends his love to you and the family" she says quietly.
"You're both staying here tonight, I won't have it any other way" I glance at them. Mom traveled so far and Ray drove a good 100 miles to get here.
"I'm heading home Annie, I have a fishing trip tomorrow and a wedding on Sunday for Felicia's niece." Felicia is his girlfriend of three years now, lovely woman.
"Ana darling your husband has already put me up at the Fairmont in their best suite with all the trimmings including spa treatments. You two need some time together as a family. I will be here for the next two days we can do dinner tomorrow evening. Your nanny and I are taking the kids to story time at the book store and then to the aquarium. She's picking me up at 10am. After the kids are back home and settled in give me a call and we can meet for dinner" and she stands up and squeezes my face in her hands and kisses my cheeks a bunch of time and hugs me hard.
"I love you mom" I cry then I lean over Ray and give him a big hug and kiss on the cheek. "I love you daddy"
"Love you Annie" he smiles
"Come Carla I'll drop you at the Fairmont" he mutters to my mom and they both get up and head for the family room. I can hear them saying their goodbyes to everyone as I sit on the bar stool and pick at some grapes.
Little by little the Grey s make their way into the kitchen making small talk as they pick on some food they've obviously had catered to my house. I smile politely but remain aloof. I would prefer to talk one on one some other time with everyone. Right now I just wish they would go and let me have some time to process all of this. I just want to be with Christian and the kids.
Christian come up behind me and wraps his arms around me.
"I'll tell everyone you need some rest baby" and I nod and stand up.
I still want to say goodbye to everyone. I'm not very good at being cold hearted. Okay so maybe they had good intentions but I'm hurt and I need time.
I hug José tight and tell Emma to call me tomorrow. We have plans next week for lunch and I intend to make good on her having the best baby shower. I say goodnight to everyone else as a group and they all say goodnight to me and smile.
Kate lunges at me and before I have a chance to react she kisses me and hugs me tight.
"I love you Ana Steele, please give me a chance to make it right. I'll call you in a few days. I am so sorry." she weeps and I hug her back gently and she straightens up and smiles at me. She takes a deep breath and smiles at me while she sobs. She turns and grips Elliot tight while he carries Ava in his free arm and they head to the front door.
Everyone else shuffles out quietly looking sad. Grace turns to me and takes my hand. I do not harbor the same ill will towards her mainly because she has reached out to me, called me and has come to visit the children's many times over the last 18 months. I will still need to discuss this with her.
"Goodnight Ana dear" and she releases my hand. Christian bends down and gives each of her cheeks a gentle kiss and then a sweet hug. He closes the door behind everyone and kisses me hard.
"Ana I am sorry maybe it was a bad idea to have everyone, I was just so excited after you forgave me this afternoon and while you were napping I called everyone and set this all up. Please don't be angry at everyone it was my idea."
"Its okay I know you meant well Christian. I am just tired now I want to give Phoebe a bath, have Teddy take his shower give them a snack and story and then go to bed"
"With me ?" he smiles as he kisses my ear. Oh my blood flames at his touch. I want him right now, but it will have to wait.
"Yes with you , now lets get the kids settled down, then you can settle me down" I smirk
"Oh Ana, my beautiful wife, you have no idea how happy I am at this moment. I'm home with my family where I belong" he says as he kisses my hair and holds me close and tight in his arms. I almost feel whole again…
To be continued… Happy holidays to you all xo