Late
Ann grabbed a damp washcloth and began wiping the tables. It wasn't her idea of fun, but she didn't mind helping her father look after the Inn. After her mother's passing, Ann took charge and relieved her father of the added responsibilities. She always worked hard and tried her hardest to remain in good spirits, though it wasn't always easy.Ann missed her mother but she felt so distant from her memories. She couldn't clearly visualize her mother's face without the aid of a photograph. Ann couldn't remember her mother's soft and warm voice. She wanted to keep her mother alive in her head but as time seemed to pass, her memories began to fade.
Ann still had her father and was grateful for that but she always felt like a piece of her was missing. When her mother died, a part of herself died with her. She loved her father but felt that wasn't enough. There was a void in her heart that could never be replaced. Even though she constantly convinced herself she was over the ordeal, it still tormented her.
Every time Ann accomplished something, she'd wonder if her mother would have been proud. Ann wondered if her mother would have approved of Cliff, Ann's boyfriend. She had too many questions left unanswered and although it made her uneasy, Ann had to trust that she was making the right decisions and her mother would love her always.
Ann's father approached her and sighed. The sad expression on his face worried her. Ann asked her father what was the matter. "Today's the anniversary of…" He trailed off. Ann nodded knowingly; it was the anniversary of her mother's death. "Ann, could you please watch the Inn today? If it's all right I'd just like to go for a walk and be alone."
Ann smiled trying desperately not to cry. "It's all right, Daddy. I'll make sure everything here runs smoothly." Ann's father hugged her tightly. She felt lost in his embrace. Hypnotized. She never wanted the hug to end. Pulling away, he looked at her closely.
"You know Ann, the more I look at you… the more I am reminded of your mother. You look so much like Christine, it's uncanny." Ann's eyes brightened a little. "You're mother would have been so proud of you."
Ann beamed. Her tears fell but she wore them with honour. "Thank you, Daddy." She paused briefly. "I love you."
Her father leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. "I love you too. You'll always be my little girl." With that said, her father bowed his head and excused himself. Ann watched him silently as he headed out.
Ann sat down sadly. She knew she'd have to part with her father one day and that bothered her. She didn't want to go through the emotional rollercoaster again. Ann wanted to cherish every moment her and her father had together. Ann was not going to take him for granted.
Thinking back to the moments she had shared with her mother, Ann felt a twinge of guilt.
Ann wasn't particularly close to her mother. She tried to remember a moment in time when Ann told her mother that she loved her but she came up blank. Ann did however remember arguing with her mother. She remembered rebelling against her mother's rules. Ann felt ashamed of herself. If she'd have known sooner, she would have made things easier. Ann would have told her mother she loved her every day.
Ann knew she still had time to tell her father how great she thought he was and how much she loved him. Ann wondered if her mother truly knew how Ann felt. She wished things had worked out differently. She wanted her mother to know she was appreciated, loved and cared for.
But it was too late.
