Hi everyone! So, let's go back to the end of that party. Don't worry, Anna and John are going to fashion a very happy outcome out of that very unpleasant encounter. Enjoy!
Anna, John and Timmy walked back silently to Robert and Cora's house, where they were housed for the night. Neither John nor Anna dared talk about what had just happened with Timmy listening. When they arrived at the house, Anna went to put Timmy to bed in the room he was supposed to share with George and Sybil's children, who were already asleep. Anna helped him to change into his pyjama, then whispered:
- Come to bed sweetie.
The boy snuggled into bed, holding his mother tight against him.
- I love you Timmy, she said. You know I will never let anyone hurt you.
- I know Mummy, said the boy sleepily.
- Good night, my love. Sleep tight.
- Good night Mum. I love you to the moon and back.
Her eyes prickled once again. How strange it was, to hate Green's guts so hard, but to still be grateful he had given her this miracle of a child. She kissed his forehead, and went to her and John's bedroom, where he was waiting for her.
- Will you be alright, my darling? said John, worried, as he came to her and wrapped his arms around her.
She sighed deeply.
- I can't say I'm not a little shaken. I was so not prepared to that.
- You're still shaking… he said, stroking her hand.
- It's the adrenaline… My body needs to wash it out, it'll take a little while. I think I need a shower.
- OK, he said, releasing her. I'll be waiting for you.
She stood still for a long while, drowning the harsh memories under the stream of hot water. No matter how hard she tried to reason herself that it was highly unlikely, she couldn't shake off the fear that Green might come back and ask questions about Timmy. She finally went out of the shower and crawled into the bed, rejoicing in John's warm and soothing presence. His arms encircled her once more, and his hand started softly stroking her lower back just under the hem of her T-shirt.
- I'm sorry, she whispered, I'm afraid we've lost that happy feeling we had before. The mood is gone…
She herself had a hard time realizing that only an hour before she had been high in the skies with joy and happiness.
- Yeah, he replied. This is not quite the way I had planned that evening to end.
- I'm sorry, she repeated.
- Don't ever apologize to me darling. One, it's not your fault, and two, we have a whole lifetime ahead of us to make love.
She smiled at the idea.
- I like the thought of it, she said.
- Me too.
After a short silent moment, he spoke again, a faint note of uncertainty in his voice.
- Anna?
- Hmm?
- There's something I've been thinking about, and I must say seeing him earlier made me think of it again.
- What's that?
- I… I'd like to adopt Timmy. If you'll let me of course, he quickly added.
- Oh.
- I mean, when I saw him look at Timmy, and you, I imagined him coming to ask for his rights and it made my skin crawl. So I figured if Timmy already had an official father… But I had already thought of it before.
- Yes.
- Yes?
- Yes, John, I'd like you to adopt Timmy! Of course. It makes such good sense, and he'll be over the moon, he loves you so much!
- Oh darling thank you!
She smiled as she noticed the tears shining in his eyes, and she brought her hand to his cheek.
- You've earned it, she said. You're already his father in his eyes. You're the only one he's ever known. And the only one he will ever know, she added confidently.
He kissed her lightly, when they heard a little voice:
- Mummy?
Anna chuckled:
- Speaking of the devil… Yes Timmy, what is it sweet pea?
- I can't sleep…
She started moving out of bed to lead him back to his room, when John grabbed her hand and whispered:
- Maybe we could take him with us? Tell him now?
She smiled to John and called out to Timmy:
- Do you want to come sleep with us, Timmy?
- Yes.
The boy crawled between them, and settled on the pillows, sighing with ease.
- So, Timmy, started Anna, John and I were talking about something, and we would like to hear your opinion on it.
Timmy looked back at his mother, a quizzical look on his face.
- How would you like it, if John became your daddy? For real?
- My real daddy?
- Yes, added John. I would like it very much, but we would like to know if you'd like it.
- Yes! he almost yelled. How do we do that?
- Well, we'll have to go to see a judge, and tell him that you, me and John are all agreed for him to be your daddy. And we'd have to sign a lot of papers.
- OK! Can we do it tomorrow?! said Timmy, enthusiasm overwhelming him.
Both Anna and John broke into laughter.
- I think he's on board, joked John.
- No, Timmy, we can't do it tomorrow, it's not possible, but we'll see with Uncle Matthew to do it soon.
- OK… accepted the boy, slightly disappointed. So can I call you Daddy when we've done the judge thing? he asked John.
- You can call me Daddy anytime you want sweetie, we don't need the judge for that.
- And now I think we should all sleep, said Anna. It's very very late, she pointed.
- Alright Mummy. Good night, said Timmy, turning to her to give her a kiss.
Then he rolled over to John and kissed him too:
- Good night Daddy.
- Would you like a little song? asked John.
- Yes!
John settled him more comfortably on the bed and started in a soft voice:
- Close your eyes
Have no fear
The monster's gone
He's on the run,
And your daddy's here.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It's getting better and better
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
As John sang, Timmy snuggled back into the pillows and closed his eyes. John stopped singing when Timmy's soft breathing informed them that he had fallen asleep.
- I love you John, whispered Anna. I'm so happy. I only want to remember the happiness from tonight.
- Me too, answered John. I'm happy, and I love you both.
x x x x
When Anna opened her eyes late the next morning, she found herself staring in John's face, who was watching her sleep with a happy grin on his face. She blinked a few times to adjust to the bright morning light, and yawned.
- Where's Timmy? she asked, looking around the room.
- He woke up a little while ago, so I took him downstairs for breakfast. Elsie and Charles were already up so I left him with them and I came back to enjoy looking at you.
She smiled lazily and stirred in the bed.
- Thank you. I slept well, all things considered. Although I think Timmy elbowed me in the nose at one point during the night…, she added, rubbing her nose.
- I'm glad you had a good sleep. How do you feel today my darling? Are you OK?
She frowned a little bit, thinking over how she felt, and replied:
- Yes. Yes, I feel good. I will never let him take our happiness away.
- I won't let him do that either.
He bent towards Anna's face and took her lips in a sweet good-morning kiss. When they parted, he looked at her with a mischievous smile.
- So… Maybe we could make it up for what we missed last night?
- I'd like that, she answered, putting her hand on his cheek and kissing him again.
His hand found his way under her T-shirt and he started stroking her side, making her giggle, then gasp as it went up and cupped her breast, his thumb playing with her nipple. He started peppering her clavicle with light kisses, while she made a move to turn around and look at the door.
- I locked the door, he breathed, not leaving the crook of her neck.
- Oh, alright, she said, turning back to him.
She started tugging on John's T-shirt and pulled it over his head, and he did the same to her. She moaned when his lips settled on her nipple, and for the next half-hour, nothing else existed around them.
x x x x
Cora and Robert had had a nice brunch set up on their terrace, for their private guests. Having filled a plate of all the delicious things on display, Anna came to sit at the garden table, with her mug of tea. Mary soon joined her, holding a cup of coffee.
- Hi, how are you? asked Mary to her blond friend.
- Fine, answered Anna sincerely.
- Really? insisted Mary.
- Yes, really Mary, I promise. Thank you again for the quick thinking yesterday.
- Oh, yeah, you're welcome. So, you might be glad to know that after you left, I talked to Mrs Te Kanawa.
Anna looked at her, alarmed.
- You didn't…
Mary held out her hand in reassurance:
- Of course I didn't tell her the whole story, but I said I knew Green and I had heard of some nasty things he'd done. Turns out she was not very surprised, and anyway she was not satisfied with his work, so she said she was going to let him go as soon as they're back in Sydney.
As Anna remembered how Green had been casually hanging out on his phone when the singer had been looking for him, she could tell that he was not that much dedicated to his job.
- Oh, well. Good for him, admitted Anna. If only it could stop him harassing other women. I feel so bad knowing he has surely done the same thing he did to me, to some other girls. But I have no way to stop him. It's too late now.
- I'm sure one day karma will take care of him. Don't worry.
- I hope you're right.
- I know I'm right. And, to speak of something lighter, are you planning on ever telling me about that shiny new thing on your left hand's fourth finger, added Mary, looking pointedly at the ring John had offered Anna the night before.
Anna flushed and a silly grin lit up her face.
- Oh, that. Now, don't get yourself excited. There were some promises exchanged, but, there will be no wedding.
Mary looked utterly scandalized at that news:
- WHAT?! Oh come on, Anna Smith, you can't do that to me! I had already planned everything!
Anna laughed.
- Well I'm sorry but that's how it is.
Mary crossed her arms on her chest and childishly pouted. Then she laughed to herself:
- If you keep that promise as well as the "no dating" one, I might as well order the flowers right away.
- Mary, I'm serious. I want to keep my independence.
- And John is alright with that?
- He is.
Mary scoffed.
- Yeah right. Says he.
Anna almost told her about the adoption project, only to take Mary's mind off the non-wedding, but she refrained. She and John had not yet agreed on when and how to tell everyone. She only hid her smirk behind her tea mug.
- I have faith in you Mary, I'm sure you'll get over that hard turn in your life, she said in a mocking tone.
Mary made a face and got up to attend to George who was calling after her in the house. Anna sat back into her chair, enjoying the warm sun on her face. A little further away, John was in deep conversation with Robert, Matthew and Cora. Anna overheard little bits of the conversation and understood they were discussing the amount of money that had been raised thanks to the charity party. Robert looked very satisfied. She startled a bit when a hand touched her shoulder:
- Anna, do you mind if I sit next to you? asked her mother shyly.
- Sure Mum, she answered.
Eileen cupped her tea mug as she sat. She looked like she wanted to discuss something with her daughter, but didn't know how to start. Anna finally noticed her mother's hesitation:
- Is something the matter?
Eileen studied her daughter's face and asked:
- Are you alright Anna? Only you looked so… distressed yesterday. I've been worrying.
- Oh, yes. I was distressed, but I am fine now. Really, she insisted, squeezing her mother's hand. It's over.
- Alright, I'm glad if it is. But… why on Earth did Mary tell that man Timmy was her son?
Anna frowned. Maybe now was finally the time to share the truth with Eileen.
- OK, Mum, I'll tell you why. But I need you to promise me not to make a big fuss about it. That man… is Timmy's… genitor.
She couldn't bring herself to use the word father when it came to Green. The only person that deserved that title was John. Eileen was looking at Anna, gaping.
- But why do you insist so hard on not telling that poor guy he has a son? I mean maybe he'd like to know… And is that fair on Timmy too? Doesn't he deserve to know who his father is?
Anna closed her eyes, feeling herself tense inside. She was irritated by her mother's assumptions, but then Eileen couldn't know how it had been.
- Alright Mum, I'll tell you why, she said a bit crossly. I met that guy in a club, at a friend's birthday. He offered me to drive me back home, and I accepted, making it very clear, that I didn't want anything more than a drive home. He said he had understood. So we leave the club, and next thing I know, I wake up the next day in my bed, naked, and he has… done what he wanted of me. He drugged me, Mum, in order to have his way with me. Are you happy now? Do you get why I don't want him to know and I'll never let him anywhere near my son?!
Eileen sat frozen at Anna's words, tears welling into her eyes. When she managed to gather herself, she said in a hoarse voice:
- I'm not happy, no. Oh my little girl… I'm so sorry…
She took Anna's hands and squeezed them, then brought them to her mouth and kissed them.
- But why… why didn't you explain that to me and your father when you told us you were pregnant?!
- At that time, I hadn't realized what had happened. I thought I had drunk too much and forgotten what I'd done through the night. But last year I remembered clearly. I know now it wasn't true. Anyway, even if I had, I would never have told that to Dad. I wouldn't have born the look of pity and shame he would have given me.
- I'm so sorry Anna, that I was never there to help you go through all of this. You'll never know how much I regret this. Would you let me hold you a little while? she asked, holding out her arms shyly.
- Sure.
The two women stayed embraced for a moment, before Eileen broke away, wiping her eyes.
- But, Mum, really, I'm fine now. I'm happy, I love Timmy and I have John. He is Timmy's father now. I was shaken yesterday, because I found myself face to face with Green, and it caught me off guard. I had not seen him in seven years, and he was supposed to be living on the other side of the world. But really, I'm over it. I'm perfectly fine when I don't run into him without notice.
- Alright, I believe you. I'm glad you've found your balance. My sweet girl… she added, stroking Anna's cheek with her thumb.
x x x x
The end of the morning slowly turned into early afternoon, as everyone hung out lazily in post-party bliss. The kids were running and yelling around in the large garden, while the grown-ups chatted quietly on the terrace. Anna and John were discussing the concert with Charles and Elsie, when Timmy came up running to them, holding a football in his hands, and called:
- Daddy, daddy! Will you come play ball with us?
Hearing those words, Charles turned to Anna, puzzled:
- Daddy?
Anna smiled fondly, and replied:
- Seems so…
Turning around to John, she whispered in his ear:
- Shall we tell everyone?
- If you want to my darling.
Anna and John both got up from their seats, and Anna called out to Timmy:
- Timmy darling, come here for a sec. You can go play ball with Daddy in a minute.
She took one of Timmy's hand while John got hold of the other one.
- So, Timmy, started Anna again, do you want to tell every one what we decided yesterday before sleeping?
- Oh, yes, said Timmy excitedly.
He held himself up proudly and went on:
- We are going to go see a judge and have him make John my daddy!
Happy collective exclamations and cheers erupted among all those present, and the next moment, John and Anna found themselves hugging everyone in turn.
- You're really making it official? asked Elsie.
- Yes, we're going to fill in an adoption request. So, Matthew, we're going to need your help, she said to Mary's husband who was shaking hands with John.
- I'll be happy to help! exclaimed Matthew.
- Oh, Anna, I'm so happy for the three of you, said Mary. You'll be such a beautiful family!
- Thank you Mary!
- And still no wedding in sight? asked Charles coyly.
- No, Uncle Charlie, laughed Anna. No wedding planned. You can always form a support group with Mary, she's not happy about that either.
When everyone had resumed their seats and John had gone out to play football with the kids, as he had promised Timmy, Anna sat near Elsie and Mary.
- I'm so happy for you you found John my dear, said Elsie.
- I'm so happy too. And I'm so glad Timmy and him go along so well. You know the cutest thing? When we explained to Timmy yesterday we would have to go see a judge to make John his official father, he wanted to go today!
Elsie and Mary both laughed, and Elsie beamed:
- Oh my God, that's so sweet!
- He's such a darling… He loves John so much, I could almost be jealous sometimes!
Elsie eyed Anna:
- You're not serious, are you?
Anna looked back and laughed:
- Of course not! I'm very happy they love each other as much as I love them both.
There we have a soon-to-be official family. Now will Anna keep up with the no-wedding doctrine? ^^