- So ?, asked Mary as Anna entered her office next afternoon. Did you go to the police? Did you file a complaint?
- Yeah, sighed Anna. In my own name and in Downton's name. Spent two whole hours in the damn police station. God the guy who took my suit typed so slowly I only wanted to rip the keyboard from him and type my deposition myself…
Mary laughed.
- Anyway, Anna went on, he didn't seem very optimistic on our chances to obtain something, since Vera is outside of the UK…
- For now. Don't you think she's going to come after John in person, if her little despicable tricks don't show any results?
- She very well might. I'm not looking forward to it though.
- Of course.
- So, now I must inform all my bloody contacts that I've got a new phone number and a new email. But the policeman said I must keep the old ones open to keep collecting evidence of Vera's harassment.
- Alright. Seems clever.
- So, what did I miss this morning?
- Oh, I got a call from the PR lady for the Yorkshire Orchestra, we settled on April the twentieth for the charity concert.
- Oh, good. We'll need to get down to business to organize the venue then.
- Yes. I put Thomas on the matter.
- Good.
- We'll need to have John come round asap too, to work on his hiring contract.
- Oh, yes.
- Are you happy to work with him?
- Definitely. I've missed him so much all those years, I don't think I can ever tire of having him around, said Anna with a sheepish smile.
Mary looked at her fondly.
- You are so cute the two of you. I'm glad he resurfaced in your life.
- So am I… So, let's get some work done now.
x x x x
Weeks passed, and November turned into December. John took his new job as manager of Downton's non-English-speaking services at the beginning of December, just as the decoration team was dressing the Abbey up with its Christmas outfit, and he and Anna soon settled into a new routine. They still checked their old phones and email inboxes every other day, only to see that Vera kept littering them with crap. After a few weeks though, probably noticing that this was getting her nowhere, she seemed to slow down on her spamming tasks.
On a rainy Saturday afternoon, they were finishing decorating Anna's apartment with Christmas stuff (John had been amazed at how much Christmassy paraphernalia she owned, but Anna had always been a Christmas-lover, and she was ready to make the most of it this year, now that John was back). After adjusting the last bauble on her tree, she asked John to turn on the lights.
- Ah, yes, perfect, she nodded, petting her cat. Now, Sassenach, remember, what did we say last year, and all the years before? No destroying the Christmas tree, alright?
John laughed.
- Does she comply to your rules?
- Of course not, she's a cat, she stated matter-of-factly. It doesn't stop me from trying… Would you care for some tea?, she asked, putting the cat back on the floor.
- Yes, please.
Moments later, they were sipping on their hot mugs, admiring the shining tree, and keeping an eye on Sassenach who was looking at it with clearly mischievous intents.
- Anna, there's something I wanted to discuss.
- Hmm?
- Now that I've got a steady job, thanks to you, I want to take my share in the household expenses. It's not fair you should be paying for me. I want to help you pay rent, and everything.
- Oh. Well, I guess yes, that would be fair. I don't pay a rent though. I bought this place.
- Well I'll pay you a rent then, to cover part of your mortgage. And part of the daily expenses.
- OK. Alright. We'll figure it out.
- Good.
They kept silent for a short moment. John took a sip of tea, as Anna got up to shoo the cat away from the tree.
- So, said Anna as she went back to snuggle against John in the settee. Vera seems to have got tired of annoying us?
- Hmm. I'm not so sure, wondered John. I'm worried she's only planning her next step. I don't think she'll bail out that easily. I assume we'll hear from her in a little while, when she'll receive the first divorce papers.
- I can't wait…, replied Anna ironically. Say, I was wondering about something the other day…
- What was that?
- You said she'd lied to you about being pregnant?
- Yes.
- But, didn't you tell me she had shown you a sonogram picture on your wedding night?
- Ah, yes.
Anna waited a moment, and seeing that he wasn't going to elaborate further, she asked:
- Would you care to explain to me how she did that?
- I wondered about that ever since she told me about lying to me. And then, while I was searching for my passport, I found the picture in her stuff.
- And?
- It was one she had stolen from her sister Joan, when she was pregnant. I didn't see the name on it when she showed it to me that night. I realized afterwards she had her fingers hiding it, and she didn't let me hold the photograph myself.
- Wow. So she really did plan this to the smallest details. She's the devil incarnate, that woman.
- And that's exactly why I know she's not going to give up on us after a few weeks of mail and phone harassment. She's capable of anything.
Anna sighed.
- I guess you're right. There's nothing we can do now, though? We'll need to figure it out when the time comes.
x x x x
Christmas came, and for the first time in almost ten years, John actually enjoyed the holiday. He and Anna spent Christmas Eve at Robert and Cora's, who had also invited their three daughters and families. It was a joyful evening, with good food and good spirits, and John almost forgot about his future-ex-wife.
On the next day, Anna and John had decided to enjoy a quiet Christmas lunch just the two of them, after a late lie-in.
- You're quite the cook, acknowledged John, wiping the last traces of gravy in his plate. That turkey was delicious.
- Well thank you, smiled Anna. Fancy a little Christmas pudding for dessert? Do you have a little room left?
- I'll make some, he said in an enthusiastic tone.
- I'll get it, said Anna, getting up.
- I'll put all this in the dishwasher, he said, gesturing to the dirty plates and cutlery.
- OK.
Back in the kitchen, as he was busying himself putting the dishes in the dishwasher, John suddenly jumped out of his skin, when he heard an almighty crash coming from the living-room, and a high-pitched shriek from Anna.
- Anna?!, he called out, hurrying back to her.
He stopped dead in his tracks, at the living-room's door, while his brain registered the details of what he was seeing. Anna was standing frozen, her hand clutching to her heart, panting hard, the remains of the Christmas pudding and its plate shattered at her feet, and a few feet from her, a pool of broken glass shards, among which sat a brick. He lifted his eyes from the floor, and saw the big hole in the living-room's window.
- Jesus! What the…
- Oh God. Oh God, murmured Anna, still visibly shocked.
He hurried at her side and took her in his arms.
- Are you alright love? Are you hurt?
He could feel her trembling from head to foot.
- No, no, she said in a shaky voice. No, I'm fine. I just thought I was having a heart attack.
Leaving her side, he carefully walked into the remains of the window, and picked up the brick, noticing a piece of paper tied to it. He untied it, and unfolded the sheet. He read it, and sighed. As he walked back to Anna, he said in an ominous tone:
- Seems she's finally crossed the Sea of Ireland…
As he laid the paper on the table, Anna read the scribbled words: "Merry Xmas! Missed me? (Nice car, Anna)"
She frowned, muttering:
- Nice c… Oh no, my car!, she yelled as she suddenly realized what that must mean.
They both caught their coats and ran downstairs to the parking place where Anna had parked her car the day before.
- BLOODY HELL!, exclaimed John as he caught up with Anna who had arrived before him. Oh my God Anna, I'm so sorry.
Anna was standing in front of her ruined car, her hands covering her mouth, stunned. Vera had done a good job: smashed windows (she seems to hold a special grudge against windows), slashed tires, scratched body, the work was complete.
- Fucking bitch…, she breathed as John put his hands on her shoulders. Sorry, she added, her hand meeting his on her shoulder.
- Oh, no, I think you're being more than accurate. She totally is what you just said.
- She's really got something with cars? I mean first the rented car in Dublin, now this…
She looked at her destroyed car for a moment, letting the scene sink in.
- Wait!, she said suddenly, looking around her to the larger area. How did she know this one was my car?
John tensed as he processed the implication of her question.
- It means…, he started cautiously.
- She's been watching us!, she finished.
- We must go back to the police. She's scaring me now. Crappy voice mail and texts are one thing, but this? I'm worried she's going to end up hurting you for real. She's dangerous.
Anna inhaled and exhaled slowly.
- I bet she's looking at us right now and having a good laugh.
As she took another look at her car, she added:
- Well, I guess we should go back inside and call the cops. God that's not how I imagined spending my Christmas day.
- I'm sorry… I know I keep saying that all the time, but I really am…
- I know you are sweetie. It's not your fault, she replied, taking his hand and smiling sadly to him, as she started her way back inside.
x x x x
- Alright, Ma'am, I think I've got all I need, concluded the police officer, after taking John and Anna's testimony.
Two of his colleagues were taking pictures of the mess in the living-room, after taking some of the ruined car outside.
- We are going to keep the brick and the paper as evidences, the officer went on. We'll search for prints on them, but I daresay there not a great chance we'll find some, since my colleagues have found none the car. I think the perpetrator was careful to wear gloves. You'll have to call your insurance about the car.
- Yes, of course, I will, said Anna in a blank tone.
She was still shaken by all the day's events. She barely felt John's hand stroking her back in comfort.
- And to have that window fixed too. We'll check the surrounding CCTVs to see if we can identify someone, maybe looking like your wife, he said, looking at John, who nodded back at him. We'll do a neighbourhood investigation too. See if anyone noticed something. Someone must have heard something, at least when they smashed the car's windows.
- Thank you officer, replied Anna.
- Might I suggest that you sleep somewhere else for a few days, Ma'am, Sir, added the policeman. Do you have some relations who could accommodate you?
- Er, yes, yes, we've got friends, we'll ask them, said Anna.
- Good. Well, we are going to leave you now, said the officer, getting up. We'll be in touch as soon as we've got more. Be careful meanwhile. Looks like someone's mad at you.
- You don't say… muttered John under his breath.
