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Chapter 2

Yorkshire – 1912

"Anna, pay attention," her father, Walter Smith, said, guiding the paper through the entrance carefully. Anna nodded, her thoughts elsewhere. She had been taught this her whole life and yet her father always acted as though she didn't know how to do anything. While she hadn't been in pigtails and ribbons for several years now, her father still saw her as a child. He was a good person whom loved her deeply, but he was always treating her as much younger than she actually was. He was also a weak man. Very smart, but very much controlled by her mother's wants and wishes.

"Look who has come to say hello!" Her mother, Agnes, brightly stated. Anna looked up and sighed when she saw it was Edward Martin. She stepped backward slightly, hoping to find a way to get out of this meeting. But there was no way out and Edward's eyes were already upon her.

"Oh, hello!" Walter welcomed, stepping toward him and reaching out to give him a firm handshake. Her father loved Edward; he was her father's protégé. Over the past several years, he had been groomed to take over the business. Of course, there was one caveat, he had to marry Anna. Her mother kept pushing for a proposal, saying that Anna was at the perfect age to get married. Her father, though, felt she was still too young to marry, even though he and her mother had married at seventeen.

Edward was ready to propose. He had told Anna this on several occasions. But Anna did not want to marry him. She felt no love toward Edward. He was alright, she supposed. Though he was very power hungry. He only wanted to marry Anna for the chance to have this company at his fingertips. They did well financially and were seen highly by everyone in town. Yes, they had more power than most and were very influential. Edward wanted that.

Her father was too naïve to see it for what it was, though. He loved Edwards and saw him as a son. Her mother, on the other hand, knew exactly what Edward wanted and didn't care. Edward would be a good look for their shop. He was highly educated and well mannered, not lower class (as her mother would whisper).

"Anna, you look stunning today," Edward said, smiling at her. His lips curled up into a Cheshire cat smile which made her spine tingle from uncomfortableness.

"Thank you," Anna unwillingly replied, keeping her lips tight. She refused to play along in her mother's games. If she was going to insist that Anna marry this man, Anna was not going to make it easy for her or him. She could be stubborn when she wanted to be.

"Anna, why don't you show Edward the new paper we bought," her mother suggested. Her eyes then cut to Anna, signifying that if she didn't do as she was told she would get a stern earful later. With that, Anna sighed, but nodded.

"Alright, come on Edward," Anna said. She walked him back to the front of the store to the display case. Edward's hand brushed against her wrist and she jerked it away from him, scowling.

"That's not very proper," she stated beneath her breath.

"Oh, we're to be married, Anna," Edward replied, stepping closer to her. Anna stiffened her back and walked away from him.

"We're not engaged, yet," Anna reminded him. "My father has yet to give you his permission, I might remind you."

"He will, soon. My parents have quite the offer to give. Your mother will insist he give me your hand."

Anna tightened her lips, uneasy. "What?"

"They've sold their home and are moving off to an old family farm house. They'll be offering your father a decent amount of money so he can do the expansion he has wanted to do for ages to this place. He won't say no."

Anna's heart beat against her chest, but she tried to remain calm so that Edward couldn't tell. She wouldn't give him that satisfaction.

"Your parents sold their home? Why would they do that?"

"They want to ensure I marry you," Edward simply answered. "While they may have lost most of their wealth years ago, they still had their home. It is important to them that I secure my future."

Bringing her hands together, Anna took in a deep breath. Her eyes met Edward's and she could see the intensity staring back at her.

"We'll see," Anna finally said a moment later. "My father may still say no." Though Anna knew that only came from hopefulness. Her father would say yes. He'd love to have that money to go to the store. They were well off, but this extension had been just out of reach and would be for a few more years.

"Anna, be a dear and run this to the station," her mother interrupted, handing her a stack papers. "The attendant needs this before the next train leaves."

"Alright," Anna was quick to accept if it meant she was able to get away from Edward right now.

"You could go with her," her mother recommended, but Anna shook her head.

"I'll be faster on my own." Before either Edward or her mother could say another thing about it, Anna was out the side door and bee lining her way to the train station. It was only a quarter block down the road.

She made it to the attendant just in time and then watched as the train went away from the station. There was a wistful feeling that always filled her whenever she saw the train going on its adventure, jealous that she wasn't joining any of the passengers onboard. Anna had many dreams of seeing the world and yet she was stuck here. It wasn't that Yorkshire was a terrible place, no, it was quite lovely. But she wanted to know what else was out there in the world. She wanted to see it all.

Stepping forward on the platform, her eyes fell to the tracks below. A soft sigh left her lips.

"You don't want to do that," a voice drew her from her thoughts. Glancing up, she was greeted by the kindest of eyes. Her lips curled upward and she squinted against the light of the sun that hit her eyes.

"I wasn't going to do anything," Anna told the man before her. He wore a pair of filthy trousers and a black stained white button up shirt with rolled up sleeves.

"Good," he winked. His hands rung together. "It would be a true loss for the world without you in it."

Anna laughed. "How do you know? You don't even know me."

"I can tell you're wonderful, just by looking at you." Anna smiled.

"You're a charmer, I see," Anna teased. He shook his head.

"Not really," he disagreed. Anna couldn't get the smile to leave her lips. There was something about this person in front of her that made her feel at ease.

"What are you doing here at the station?"

"Just arrived," the man answered. "You?"

"I had to bring something for the attendant."

Anna realized that she and the young man were already off the platform and back on the street. She would soon have to tell him goodbye and they had only just met.

"What is your name?" Anna questioned.

"I'm John Bates, and you?"

"Anna Smith."

"It's quite a lovely day, Anna Smith, and I don't have to be anywhere for a few more hours. Might you like to go for a walk with me?"

"Yes, I think I might."

Yorkshire – 1937

The door to the print shop dinged with the swinging of the door. His eyes fell to the front counter and he found that he was disappointed to see no one standing behind it. His eyes glanced around the room and he saw how much it had changed over the years. Technology had changed over the course of two and half decades and he assumed it made differences in the old print shop. Though many things had changed, there were many familiarities. It took him back to a simpler time.

He walked further into the shop, closing the door behind him. It caused the bell to ring again and this time, he heard a voice from the back.

"I'll be right with you!" His heart stopped. He would know that voice anywhere. It was a voice that still came in his dreams, even though it had been so long since he had heard it. He braced himself for her to come through those backdoors. Part of him wanted to turn and leave thinking that he might not be as ready for this as he previously thought. Yet, he couldn't do it. He needed to see her.

His hand clutched firmly to the cane at his side and he straightened his shoulders right as the doors opened. She had a cheery smile on her face ready to welcome her new customer. But the moment she saw who it was, the smile left her lips. She paused in her steps and looked at him, as though she was looking at a ghost. He found he was doing the same.

For several moments, they both just stood there. Neither knowing the right words to say. Even though John had practiced what he would say when he saw Anna, those words were now lost.

"It's you," Anna finally broke the silence. "It's really you."

John nodded.

"It is."

To be continued...

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