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Chapter 3
Anna sat in the small chair, with her elbows on the rickety table in front of her. Her body shuddered with every intake of air, but no tears or sobs had escaped for a while now. She was only numb, the dread was so immense, that she had fallen into almost a catatonic state as a form of self-defense.
Knock. Knock. "Mrs. Smith?"
It was William. Anna's body shook itself out of its state and she stood from her chair. She had to think about her future, as much as the thought alone broke her heart into tinier shreds. How could there be a future when Lou was gone?
A singular tear slipped down her cheek and she pressed her hand against it, before opening the door for William.
He came into her home with a small basket of foods for her. It was a nice basket with foods that would keep her fed for several days.
"Ms. Patmore, the Head Cook at Downton Abbey, put together this basket for you when I told her of your misfortune," William explained. Anna frowned at the word misfortune. It seemed worse than that, but she forced the smallest of smiles upon her lips and gave William a small nod of thanks.
"It was very kind of her." Her voice shook. She was weak, as she had barely eaten or slept since they had delivered the dreadful news of Lou's passing. Thinking about it made her body quake and she had to force herself to remain calm. "Did you speak to the Housekeeper?"
"I did," William answered, his voice solemn. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Smith, but there aren't any positions available right now. She said she would let me know if that changes. I have tomorrow off, I could take you around town to see if there are any positions opened."
"Of course," Anna weakly replied. She felt like the last bit of hope she had left had disappeared. Now she would need to search for a position and pray that it had somewhere she could live. She had absolutely nothing. Her lower lip began to tremble.
"My father will let you stay here as long as he can, Mrs. Smith," William tried to assure her.
"But he'll need a new farmer's hand soon," Anna murmured. She fell back into her chair, defeated. Her mind went back to the request she had received earlier from a Mr. Bates. Surely, she couldn't be even entertaining that idea? Anna looked up at William. "What do you know of a Mr. Bates?"
At that, William's lips curled up into a genuine grin.
"He's a good man, very noble. A little too honorable for his own good, if you ask me. He had a horrid wife, that he did everything to try and make happy. He's on his own now, with their little boy. Good father."
Anna took all of that in.
"You…you'd trust him?" William glanced at Anna, confused by her question.
"I'd trust him with almost anything, except maybe carrying something large. Like me, he has challenges, but we make do, he and I."
"It sounds like it," Anna murmured. "Thank you, William."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
After John had propositioned the newly widowed Mrs. Smith, he had gone to pick up his son and take him home. He had a rare two half-days in a row. He had this afternoon and tomorrow morning to spend with Declan. Words couldn't describe how happy he was to have this time with his son.
Declan appeared to be enjoying the attention as well. He had climbed up into John's lap and asked him to read him a book. From as early as John could remember, Declan loved to be read to. He recalled him as just a mere babe in his lap, his head barely holding itself up and his eyes wide as John read to him.
Once the story was over, John kissed the top of Declan's head and glanced at the time. It was nearing dinner.
"Go on and play with your blocks, I'm going to make us something to eat."
Declan did as he was told. John turned toward the kitchen and sighed. What was he going to make for them? He wasn't much of a cook. He could manage a simple sandwich or cut up some fruit and cheese, but he knew he should be providing Declan with more enriching foods.
A knock came at the door and John paused what he was doing to go and answer it. He assumed it was a neighbor asking him for something. He was grateful for his neighbors. They were their own small community that helped one another. Without them, he wouldn't be able to care for Declan at all. He would have had to send him away to give him any sort of chance at life and that would have devastated him.
However, when he opened the door, he was surprised to find Anna Smith on the other side of the door. She was still wearing the same dress from earlier, but her face had been cleaned and her hair redone into a fresh bun. Her eyes were darting back and forth and John could tell she was nervous.
"William Mason told me where you lived," Anna informed him. "I hope…"
"Come on inside," John motioned for her to come in. She inhaled sharply. He could tell she was trembling. But she came in and eyed the place. John knew it wasn't much. There wasn't much color and he did the best he could with the upkeep between his job and Declan.
Anna's steps inside were slow and full of caution. Her hands were clasped tightly and she swayed slightly.
"Please, take a seat," John then offered. He rushed back into the kitchen to grab a glass of water and a biscuit. He hoped it wasn't stale.
When he brought the items to Anna, she just took them and sat them down on the small table beside her. Her fingers were now playing with the fabric of her dress.
"My son is in his room, if you'd like to meet him," John said, feeling awkward. He wasn't sure why he offered that, but if Anna happened to be here to say yes to the request, he assumed she might want to meet his boy.
"Where would I stay?" Anna asked instead.
"I could take you on a tour of the place," John stated. Anna stood and hesitantly nodded. "This, of course, is our sitting room. You can see our kitchen. Up these stairs is where the rooms are. There are three: Declan's, mine, and the extra bedroom where you would stay."
John led her up the staircase and opened the first door on the right. It was a small bedroom with a small bed and little desk.
"This would be your room." John wished he had looked into finding better covers for the bed. These were dull and had been his even before he had married. Anna glanced over the room, but John couldn't read her thoughts. He worried this wouldn't be acceptable enough for her.
"And Declan's room?"
John smiled. "Right across from you." They turned to see Declan sitting on the floor playing quietly with his few toys. The little boy had quite the imagination and could play on his own for hours if allowed.
Seeing his father and Anna, Declan stopped what he was doing and stood. He brushed a stray hair off his forehead and tucked one of his hands into his trousers' pocket.
"Declan, this is Mrs. Smith, can you say hello?" John asked of his son. But Declan just kept his eyes on Anna, not saying a word. "I'm afraid he's rather shy," John tried to explain.
"It's quite alright. I am too," Anna said to the boy, giving the first genuine smile John had seen from her. She bent down and took one of the blocks from the floor. "Are you building something exciting?"
"A castle!" Declan then exclaimed.
"Oh, that is exciting," Anna stated. "I do hope there aren't any dragons."
Declan then made a roar, to which both Anna and John laughed.
"Oh dear, well, who will protect me?"
Declan shrugged his shoulders. John watched as Anna just handed him back the block and stood. Her eyes were glassed over in tears.
"Alright," she whispered. "I….I will take up your offer."
"Are you sure?" John questioned.
"I don't have much of a choice," Anna's words were tight, but not unkind. "I'd rather not end up on the streets and it seems to me like you are a kind enough man."
"I promise that I will care for you, Mrs. Smith," he guaranteed. "All I ask is for you to help me watch over my son. You won't have to worry about anything else. And come next summer, I'll buy your tickets to go to your sister's place."
"You ought to call me Anna, if we're to marry," was all she responded.
"Yes, right, Anna. And you're to call me John."
"When will we marry?" Her lips were now quaking and he could see that the tears in her eyes had thickened, threatening to spill over her eyelids.
"Tomorrow morning."
Anna inhaled a sharp intake of air and she clutched against the doorway to keep herself steady. However, she then nodded, pressing herself forward.
"Then I'll see you in the morning. Where shall we meet?"
"Ripon Register Office," John informed her. "9 o'clock? Do you need me to come and…."
"No," her words were sharp. Then they softened. "No, I will find my way there. Thank you Mr….I mean, John," her eyes never met his. She turned away, not saying another word and disappearing out the front door.
As John heard the door shut behind her, he sighed. This was the right thing, he knew that to be true. Both of them needed the other, if even for just a year. He would have a mother for his son and she would have a safe place to live until she could return to her family.
To be continued...
Next chapter they will marry. Yes, it is fast, but desperation cause for desperate measures. Thank you for reading!
