Chapter 6
This was heavenly, Anna thought, as hands slid up her sides to rest right up under her top on her hips. Her lips caressed against John's and she moaned, feeling absolutely and completely free. She'd never felt like this with anyone before. In every other relationship, there had always been a part of herself that was guarded, prepared for him to let her down in some way or fashion. But she felt none of this with John Bates. He made her feel alive, safe, and possibly in love.
The two of them had only known each other for a little under two weeks. Anna definitely wasn't about to bring up the term love so quickly, though there were times it nearly escaped her lips. She couldn't understand any of this. However, she didn't hate it. She enjoyed this connection that had come on suddenly. When it should have made her take pause, she did the opposite. It was the first time in her life that she wasn't terrified.
The sound of a throat clearing made John and Anna jerk apart and turn to the sound of the noise. There, standing in the doorway of Anna's small flat, was Mary. Her arms were crossed over her chest, as though she disapproved, but the smirk on her lips gave way that she was quite pleased by catching the two of them making out.
The two separated, sitting on opposite ends of the couch. Their cheeks turning crimson like two teenagers who had just been caught by a parent.
"Well," Mary began, a small chuckle leaving her lips. "I gather you two are getting along well enough."
Anna rolled her eyes and stood from her couch, walking toward her friend. John followed behind her, kissing her cheek and making some excuse about needing to go downstairs to prepare for the evening.
When they were both alone, Mary closed the door and made a face.
"I see now why you leave that door open. It's dreadfully small in here."
"I didn't expect you to drop by today," Anna said in response. She then pointed to the small kitchenette, asking Mary to join her for a cuppa.
As Mary sat, Anna began preparing them some tea and searched for some biscuits. Surely, she had some in her cabinets. She didn't keep much food upstairs, since she ate most of her meals from the kitchens downstairs. However, she tried to keep some foods for when the kitchens were closed and she needed something to snack on.
Finally, she found a small container of biscuits and sat them in front of Mary, before pouring the tea in cups.
"I think it's safe to assume that you will be going with Bates to Sybil and Tom's wedding?" Mary asked over the top of her cup, her brows rising.
"Yes," Anna replied.
"Good," Mary approved. "I like Bates. He's a great guy, kind and loyal- maybe to a fault. But he'll treat you well and I know he won't hurt you. I'm happy to see you happy."
That brought a genuine smile upon Anna's lips. While she did not need Mary's approval, she did like having it. Mary knew her better than anyone else and she could be fiercely protective. If Mary hadn't approved, it would have been only because she worried.
"I am happy," Anna stated, her smile growing. "John makes me very happy."
"Have you…" Mary's head cocked to the side and Anna felt the blush rising from her cheeks, knowing what she was implying. Anna's head quickly shook and she took in a sharp breath.
"No, we haven't gotten that serious," Anna told her friend.
"Well, then I'm glad because I would have been hurt had you not told me about such a monumental moment in your life. I do expect a phone call the next morning when it does happen," Mary went on to say.
"Mary…" Anna admonished.
"You knew all about my first time, it's only fair I know about yours," Mary teased.
"Because I walked in on you and that boy at Downton when I was supposed to be cleaning the room. You didn't tell me – I got a front row view. One, I might add, I will never be able to scrub from my memory."
Mary only laughed.
"I was quite the rebellious teen, god what was I thinking?"
"I don't know," Anna replied, a chuckle leaving her lips. But then she grew pensive, taking in a deep breath. "Do you think he'll think there's something wrong with me?"
"Who? Bates? Why?"
"Because, I've never…"
Mary waved her hand dismissively in the air. "Of course he wouldn't, because there is nothing wrong with you. And if he does, then he's not the Bates I think I know."
"I thought you hardly knew him," Anna added then.
"I know what my father has told me," Mary replied. "And he's a good man. Any man who judges you on your sexual history, or lack thereof, is not a good man."
Anna nodded, she did believe what Mary was saying about John. She did not feel that he would look at her differently, but it was hard not to worry. Most women her age had at least one sexual partner in their lifetime, if not more. But she had never found a man whom she trusted enough to give that part of herself over to. After what she went through with her stepfather, she refused to be vulnerable in that way with someone she didn't fully trust.
"I spoke with Matthew," Anna turned the conversation. The lightness in the room vanished and Mary's shoulders squared, her lips falling into a thin line.
"Oh?"
"I needed to see if he couldn't stop my pictures and name from being in all of the papers," Anna went on to explain.
"Yes," Mary responsibly said. "That needed to happen. And…how was he?"
"I think he misses you," Anna honestly told her friend. Mary's eyes shot up. "He asked about how you were doing."
"What did you tell him?"
"That it wasn't for me to speak on."
Mary's hand slid across the small island and she grabbed Anna's. "Good, you're a good friend."
"I still think you should talk with him, tell him…."
"Not that again," Mary huffed, pulling her hand back away. "It's over, Anna. I appreciate what you're trying to do, or think you're doing- rather, but I think your judgement might be clouded over by what happened to you as a child. Not every man is a predator. Sometimes, we just make horrible mistakes."
Anna pursed her lips. There was more that she wanted to say and that she could say, but at the moment it would be pointless. She, instead, poured herself a second cup of tea and sat herself down on the small barstool.
She knew what Mary was doing. It was a defense mechanism. If Mary allowed herself to really think about that night and the events that happened, then she would realize the truth. And it was possible that she had, but that truth was a horrible truth. In many ways, choosing to believe that she cheated on Matthew was easier to swallow, even if it meant she lost him.
"Alright," Anna said a moment later. "I won't speak on it again. But," Anna added. "I am here, when you do decide to talk about it."
Mary didn't respond, but Anna knew she was taking in what Anna said. Then the two of them sat in silence for a while and finished their tea.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
"Ah, Ms. Smith, follow me back to my office," Detective Hughes stated, the moment Anna walked into the station. Anna smiled and followed the detective. It was whom she had met the morning after her near attack.
The moment Anna met her, she knew that Detective Hughes meant business. She was kind, but stern with her staff. There would be no skirting around anything. She would make sure every item was covered and that Alex Green would serve his time in prison, if she had any say in it. To be sure of that, she wouldn't let anyone be sloppy. Anna respected that.
They walked into Detective Hughes' office and she slid over a photograph. Anna's stomach immediately turned. It was him. It was Alex Green.
"Yes, that's him," Anna wearily said. She was now wishing she had taken John up on his offer to come along with her. She had not expected that seeing Green's face would cause such a visceral reaction from her. The truth of the matter was that this experience had taken her back to when she was a young girl and made her feel completely vulnerable all over again. Green was just another face, but he was the same creepy man underneath it. All of them were.
"That's what I thought. Take a seat, dear."
Anna did as she was told.
"We have him in custody. The other women he attacked have also verified that he was the same man they were drinking with before they winded up in the alley way. The case is strong. We have the evidence of him drugging your drink. We have witnesses and the women's testimonies. I do believe he will be put away for a long time. But there will be a trial. Will you testify?"
"Yes," Anna firmly stated. "I'll do whatever is needed to put him away so he can't hurt anyone else."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Mary stood in front of the mirror, her eyes falling to her long locks of hair. Slowly, her hand came up to tug at the strand of one and she could recall him telling her how much he loved it. Her hair had always been such a part of her. There had been hours upon hours spend on getting it just right for every special event that she had to attend. Being Lady Mary held such high expectations on how she was to appear and who she was to be.
Matthew had never cared about any of that. He just loved her for her.
Without thinking too much about it, her other hand came up with a pair of scissors and chopped the piece of hair. She continued until a lopsided bob was left. Her eyes met hers in the mirror and she twisted her lips.
"Oh."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Hours later, Mary entered Downton Abbey, surprised to find her father and Matthew speaking in his study. She shouldn't have been surprised. Her father still adored Matthew. He was the son her father never got to have. Their breakup had been especially hard on her father, who begged her many times to see reason.
The moment she stepped into her father's study, he gasped.
"You've cut your hair!"
Mary brought her hands up to her newly chopped locks. After she realized how disastrous it looked, she had rushed to the hairdresser. Thankfully, the hairdresser had been able to correct the horrendous disaster. And she now liked the new hairdo. It made her feel sophisticated and different. She had needed different.
"Yes," Mary replied, "I did. Do you not like it?"
"It's just…your sister is getting married tomorrow. Didn't you…"
"I like it," Matthew said, his eyes on Mary. She felt her body warm and also chill in the same moment. The way Matthew looked at her was the same way he always had. She had to advert her eyes away from him to keep from breaking and rushing herself into his arms, to beg for his forgiveness.
Thankfully, she was well practiced. Her eyes fell to her father, who was struggling to compose himself. His eyes would not remove themselves from her hair.
"I don't understand why you cut it," her papa continued on about it.
"I needed a change," came Mary's honest answer. "I can't very well make it grow back overnight."
"No," her father agreed. "You can't. It…it is rather nice." He lied. Mary just ignored him. He would grow accustomed to it and she did like her new haircut. It suited her. Less management, as well. As she turned, she saw that Matthew still had his eyes on her. He gave her a small smile.
"I really do like it," he stated. She knew he was being truthful. Her heart ached and she nodded, ever so slightly.
"Thank you." Her voice cracked. "I should get back to work. I'll see you tomorrow at the wedding."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
That night as Mary prepared for bed, she heard her phone ding. Lifting up her phone, she saw it was a text from Anna.
You never told me who your date was for the wedding. Did you find one? If you don't have one, I could ask John not to come as my date, but just as a guest. Sybil did invite him. I don't want you to go alone.
Mary smiled. Anna was a good friend.
I have a date. Besides, I wouldn't allow you to not go as Bates' date. You two are cute together.
Who are you going with?
Tony Gillingham. Goodnight, Anna. You'll be over tomorrow morning to get ready with me?
First thing in the morning. Goodnight.
To be continued...
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