Hey guys! Here is the last chapter of Anna's Infinity. I just have a few words for you guys. Beginning this with 'Their Little Infinity' was just a small dream. I never imagined I would write a sequel to the sequel. It has been an amazing ride and I want to thank everyone for all the support on this journey. You all gave me a forever within the numbered chapters and for that I am grateful. Thank you for riding this roller coaster all the way to the top with me.
'The Promises We Keep' (Van Houten's story) is in the works as we speak and I hope to get it up sometime before Christmas. I hope I can count on some or even all of you to return for that story. It would mean the world to me:)
Thank you all so much again for reading my story. I hope you have enjoyed it.
Okay?
~Wallflower95
I have been in Amsterdam for eight months now. I've gone back home for the holidays and to see everyone. Everyone is great. Kylie is really enjoying her business class in university. She met a nice guy in her class. She doesn't like calling him her boyfriend... yet. Kaitlyn and Isaac announced that they are expecting a third child. The've been to the doctor and they're expecting a boy. Grandma and Grandpa (my dad's parents) are planning a year of travelling Europe. Grandma and Grandpa (mom's parent's) are working hard and doing fine.
Me? I am fantastic. I've been in Amsterdam for eight months now. Its the summer time now. I leave for home in a week. Amsterdam has been an amazing experience and I've loved helping Liam and Van Houten out but... I still don't know who or what I want to be in life. I'm sitting in the front room rifling through papers and sorting them into piles. Liam was out on errands. I set aside the paper and lean back in my chair and sigh. I heard the sound of someone clearing their throat. I turn to see Peter leaning against the door frame. I pick the paper up again.
"Sorry. I was just taking a short break." I said. He nodded and then walked into the room. Liam and I don't live with Van Houten. We're renting out our own place not too far from here. He sat down in the seat across from me.
"So... Anna." I fold my hands together and look at him. He's wearing khaki pants, brown leather shoes, a white t-shirt and a blue and white plaid shirt over it. He takes off his glasses and looks at me.
"I can't help but notice that Liam is... very fond of you." I nodded.
"I'm very fond of him as well." He nodded.
"You remind me of them. Your parents." I was quiet.
"You may think you are nothing like your parents but you are. You truly are. All cells come from cells." And then he sat up.
"Please know that I have enjoyed your stay here in Amsterdam and I appreciate all the work you have don for me." I nodded.
"No problem at all." Van Houten looked at me.
"You may not know it yet Anna," He looked right at me and smiled.
"But you have found what you are looking for." He said. I frowned.
"What do you mean?" He sighed and looked out the window.
"We are not defined by the things that makes us who we are. We are defined by the things we do." He talk like that a lot. In riddles or quotes. Sometimes I think you need a dictionary to understand him. I nodded.
"Okay." I said. He smiled at me.
"You don't understand." I sighed.
"Not really." He sat back down.
"What do you love most in this world Anna?" I frowned.
"My family."
"And?"
"My friends."
"And?"
"Liam?" He smiled.
"And?" I rolled my eyes.
"What does this have to do with," I threw up my hands.
"Anything?"
"This has to do with what path you will take in life."
"Okay and what's that path?"
"Have you enjoyed your part time job as my #2 assistant?" I nodded.
"Sure."
"I have seen you do incredible thins these past eight months Anna Lancaster. You are very punctual, precise, organized and well spoke . You would make a fine book editor." I leaned back in my chair. You know, I always loved being around books. I once thought I could be an author some day but I can't write for shit. Being an editor would be pretty awesome though. Van Houten smiled.
"You have found what you are looking for."
"Yeah... I think I have."
When Liam and I returned home for the summer I started looking up Literature classes at the local university. It wasn't hard and it wasn't too late to sign up. My bedroom door opened and Liam came in with a tray with snacks, iced tea and a single rose in a vase. I smiled.
"You spoil me." I said. He leaned down to kiss me. He sat down on my bed and chewed on a cookie.
"What's that?" He asked, nodding his head towards the computer. I turned the screen towards him.
"I'm looking at classes for the fall..." I said.
"That's great Anna!" I nodded.
"Van Houten gave me the idea actually. Can you believe it?" He smiled.
"That old man surprises me every day." Liam took a step towards me and embraced me.
"I want you to go for it." He said.
"But that mean I'll be away from you." I said sadly.
"You are not giving this up, okay? Not for me. I want you to do it." He said. He took my hand.
"Promise me you'll stay here and do what you want." His grey eyes stared at me. I nodded.
"I promise." I said. He hugged me tight. I was excited to be doing something that I might actually want to do but to leave Liam? I felt like I was betraying him. But he was amazing about all of it. He was encouraging me to go for it and that's what I'm going to do.
I got into the university I wanted and pretty soon the Fall semester started. Liam had gone back to Amsterdam to work for Van Houten. We skyped twice a week and emailed nearly every day. I missed him so much but I knew he would never forgive me if I had given up on this. Besides, I was really enjoying the university experience. Even if it did involve a shit load of work. Seriously, it's like high school on drugs!
During one particularly busy week of studying, Liam just happened to be super busy with work and was unable to skype. I was a little disappointed but I understood the matter at hand. That night I was trying to focus on studying for a test we would behaving the following morning. The Hectic Glow's song 'There's No Good in Goodbye' was playing softly from my laptop when I heard something hit the window. I frowned and set down my pencil. I looked out the window and gasped.
Standing below my window was boyfriend. The boy who was supposed to be in Amsterdam working for that crazy author. Liam. I opened the window.
"What are you doing here?" I hissed. He whipped out a bouquet of roses from behind his back.
"Rapunzel, rapunzel let down your hair." He called.
"I have short hair you dummy."
"Just go with it."
"No way."
"Fine I'll climb up." He said with a goofy grin on his face.
"Oh god you'll kill yourself." I swear to god it's hard o believe he's nineteen going on twenty.
"I'm coming for y-" Thump. Of course. He fell on his ass. I rolled my eyes and smiled.
"Hang on." I threw on a sweatshirt, checked my reflection and ran down the stairs quietly. I opened the door and found Liam outside on his ass. He stood up and held out the crushed bouquet of rose. I smiled and took them.
"Why thank you." I said. He took my hand and stroked it with his thumb.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. He smiled at me.
"Well, I quit." He said.
"What?"
"I am no longer working for Van Houten. I am moving here." He said.
"Wait wait, so you're..."
"Moving. Here." He said with a smile on his face.
"Why?" He smiled at me.
"Because I love you Anna Haven Lancaster and all I want in life is to be by your side every moment for as long as I live." He said. I was quiet for a moment because he said the three words to me. In the eight months we've been dating neither of us have said those words to each other.
"I love you Anna." He said again. I smiled.
"I love you too."
6 years later...
I heard that the bride always gets nervous and has second thoughts on her wedding day... but not me. There were no second thought running through my mind. I have everything. The perfect career as a book editor. Amazing friends and family and I'm marrying the love of my life. What else is there to ask for?
I'm walking down the aisle towards him. His grey eyes never leaving my face. A smile forever on his face. Grandpa kisses me on the cheek and whispers in my ear.
"Hazel would be so proud of you." And then he gives me away to the man I will love forever. He looks super hot in his black tuxedo. The wedding is being held near funky bones. It's a small ceremony in a gazebo with close friends and family. As we recite our vows I can't help but think about the ending of 'An Imperial Affliction'.
It's true. Life can end like that. In the middle of a sentence. But not for some people. For others, life can go on and sometimes it can totally suck but I guess that's the beauty of it. I hope I am somebody my parents can be proud of. I really do. I think of something my mother said in one of her letters.
I hope you like your choices Anna.
I see Liam in front of me. I see my gradparents, all four of them. Standing there, smiling at me. There Amelia and Max with their baby five year old brother, Brady. Kylie is holding my bouquet. Smiling but fighting back tears. And then there's Liam. In front of me with the ring in his hand.
"I do."
I do like my choices mom.
Liam slips the ring onto my finger. Everyone cheers and cries and laughs but all I see is this man who has promised to love me till the end. He takes my hand and gives me the superman of all kisses.
I do.