Anna looked down and smoothed her skirt before she spoke. 'Hello dear, how are you feeling?'

Laura sat up slowly struggling to turn around and face her. 'How am I feeling? Now thats a loaded question? I mean how the hell do you think I should feel? My husband is a liar, I'm about to have his baby, my life as I knew it was a lie. Does that answer your question?'

Anna was looking down the garden as Laura spoke. She took a deep breath she had known this was going to be bad but she needed to fix this.

'Laura I know you must be shell shocked, disgusted at what we have done. But please know that Jake loves you very much regardless of everything that is not a lie if you saw the state he is in today. Well I've never seen him like this.'

'And you think I'm having a good day Anna? I'm homeless, I'm pregnant and I feel a fool. I got caught up in all your secrets. I don't get it why do all of this? I would never have stopped Charlie from knowing his fathers family. I cant get my head around it.' She took a gulp as she finished speaking and Anna could see the tears trickling down her cheeks. She watched as Laura angrily swiped them away.

'I panicked, I didn't know you, I thought I knew best I realise now I was very ill informed in my decisions. I pushed Jake to do this.'

'What do you mean?'

'Everything was my idea Laura. He didn't want to do any of this. Sorry please let me finish.' Anna reached out towards Laura as her face crumpled and the tears fell quickly.

Anna stood up and walked along the terrace letting Laura compose herself.

'Let me explain the Harrison men to you and maybe it will help you understand why we behave like we do.' She looked back at Laura but her head was down so she began speaking.

'I married Jakes father with one intention and that was to have a place in society. I wanted to walk into a room and have people stop and stare. Whisper as I swept past them look at Anna Harrison. It all sounds very grand but really it wasn't it was sad and shallow. I tried to be a good wife I was never the domestic type and when I had the boys I realised I was not particularly maternal. But I need to go back further. I had a terrible childhood my mother abandoned me and my grandparents brought me up so I can identify with the struggles you've had Laura. I admire how hard you've worked to carve out a career and build a home for you and Charlie. I admit I felt very jealous when I first heard of you and saw how happy Charlie was.'

She walked back to the lounger and sat down knotting her hands in her lap. Laura was eyeing her suspiciously she wasn't really making a good job of this she realised. 'I'm not a bad person Laura. I grew to love my husband very much he was a superb businessman. With that came good and bad. I put up with a lot not that he hit me or anything good gracious no.' She laughed softly gazing into the distance. 'But when he had the boys around they were a unit they didn't need me, I was what people say surplus to requirements. Two boys to carry on the family name. I felt unappreciated I was there to host the business dinners, attend the functions everything that came with it but I was lonely. So I forged a life outside of my home. I was very discreet only meeting like minded people.'

Laura's head flew up. 'You had an affair?' Anna laughed softly and turned her eyes on Laura. 'My dear I had several I was lonely my life was empty or so I thought.'

'What has this got to do with me Anna? Its nice of you to spill all your secrets but I'm not sure I need this much detail. Not today.'

Anna nodded and stood up again pacing back and forth on the terrace. 'Jake was a good boy all his life straight A student. We were very proud of him he was independent from the moment he could walk. He certainly didn't need me. He was his father's son sitting underneath his desk for hours watching his father work. But Will ah he was different. Expelled so many times I lost count, in trouble so many times it cost us a fortune to keep it out of the papers. But I loved him so. I loved him more than I loved anything else. He seemed to be more like me damaged, lonely.'

'You damaged huh yeah.'

'I know it must seem strange my dear. I didn't behave or conduct myself as I should have done when we met. But I was afraid of you.'

'Of me why?'

'When I lost Will I blamed it totally on your sister. I know its crazy but what was he doing chasing after her. We will never know what happened that night to cause the two of them to drive drunk, and risk Charles life with their behaviour. I hated everything about your family so of course that included you. I realise now I was very wrong and well I apologise for that Laura.'

She watched as Laura digested the information. 'I'm stunned really don't what to say.'

'Don't say anything yet I'm not quite finished. I need to tell you why we are in this situation today and why it's my fault. I don't know why Jake insisted on buying the hotel but he did it he can be hot headed about some things. He gets that from me.'

'Ya think?'

'Hmmm.' Anna laughed quietly and carried on speaking. 'So after Will died we were shattered of course. My darling boy gone I was devastated at the loss. But then some months later at the inquest they mentioned Emma and Charlie. Well of course that rang alarm bells who was Charlie and so we investigated and of course found you. Our family lawyer wanted to do it all properly although he was furious at Jake for the hotel deal. But, I couldn't, didn't want to take the chance we would lose so I told Jake to marry you.'

'Anna do you realise how crazy all of this sounds?' Laura looked across at her face full of hurt as her eyes locked on hers.

'Now of course I do. But I was terrified I would lose that link to Will. Put yourself in my place Laura wouldn't you do anything to protect your family?'

'I guess so I'm just not as creative as the pair of you. I would have picked up the phone and introduced myself.'

'Yes you're right it could have been so different and then you and Jake wouldn't be apart now.'

She saw Laura wince and jumped up going quickly to her side. 'Are you okay?'

'Yes I just need to stretch out the baby is kicking like crazy today. She must know there is something going on.'

'She's kicking? May I?' Anna's hand hovered over Laura. 'Be my guest.'

Laura had closed her eyes as Anna dropped next to her sitting silently with her hands waiting for the next kick. As it came Laura's eyes flew open and she watched as Anna gasped and tears welled up in her eyes.

'Laura please let me fix this. He loves you so much. I never saw a man so devastated as I did yesterday. He would do anything to make it right.'

The tears fell as Anna sat watching her.

'Does he know your here?' She shook her head. 'His exact words this morning were Mum butt out you've done enough.'

'So why didn't you?' Laura's eyes were accusing, angry as she stared back at her.

'Laura I don't want my son to lose you and I don't want to lose my two grandchildren. So I guess you could say I'm being my normal selfish self. But, you make him happy, content. When I walked into Netherfield yesterday I saw a home. What you did in the study for him was full of love it was all you telling the man you love how important he is in your world. He wont come out of there today. Shut himself away says he's working but he's not. Please talk to him I beg you.'

'I can't not yet. Im too disappointed in him.'

Anna sat back and nodded. 'Right well I've said my piece. The rest is up too the two of you.' She stood up. Her hand dropped to Laura's shoulder. 'I never had a daughter but if I had you would have been perfect feisty, caring and full of love for those she holds dearest.'

'Thanks I think.'

Anna bent down to retrieve her bag. 'I brought some things for you and Charlie clothes etc. Your handbag, phone that sort of thing. Your friend has them.'

'That was kind Anna thank you. I don't know where I will go from here. You have been honest I appreciate that but, it doesn't take away the fact he lied to me he kept secrets and I told him the day we got engaged never lie to me. He was already in so deep by that point. I'm not a bad person it could have been so different. We could have sorted it all out so amicably and now well I just don't know how I forgive this.'

'Laura I don't think you have to forgive we don't deserve that. I think you have to want to have Jake and me and all the baggage that comes with our family in your life. If you can see yourself accepting us for all the flaws well then we might have a chance to be a proper family.'

She watched Laura so far so good. She hadn't thrown her out. Her Rottweiler friend had remained indoors. She had been as open and honest as she could would it do any good? She had no clue but she had had nothing to lose.

'Granny.' She turned quickly as Charlie launched himself at her. Dropping her bag as she hugged him tightly. 'Oh my lovely boy there you are I've missed you.'

She looked over his head at Laura and saw the conflict in her face as she observed the two of them. She stepped back ruffling Charlie's hair as she spoke. 'Now my darling boy I must away but please have Laura bring you to tea soon.'

'Yeah that be fun can we go to the London Eye?'

Anna bit her tongue as she heard the slang word now was not the time for correcting him. 'Of course Charlie anything you want. As long as Laura is okay with it.'

He looked at her and Laura smiled back. 'Of course Charlie Ellie can take you up on the train this weekend. How would you like that?'

'Yay gonna see my Granny.' He ran off singing calling for Ellie as he entered the house.

'Thank you.' Anna retrieved her bag and watched Laura struggling with a fresh wave of emotions.

'Anna he's part of your life just as I am. So lets start afresh with him. You can tell Jake if he wants to see him he can. Its important to me that he is not affected by this. But, I don't want to see or speak to Jake. Not yet.'

Anna nodded. 'Fine message understood. She reached down and hugged her sniffling as she stood up. 'Thank you for letting me see him.'

Laura nodded and leaned back she looked exhausted so Anna took her leave. Walking through the kitchen she was greeted by the icy stare of Jules (again such a silly name she thought). But her husband was perfectly charming and walked her to the car.

'Is he okay?' Pete stopped as they reached the car.

'No he is not. He's a proud man but the way he behaved yesterday was a man broken. Ive never seen that side of him before not when his father or brother died. This is overwhelming for him. He has no clue what to do.'

'Yeah I guessed that. I might call in to see him would that be okay?'

Anna nodded. 'Yes that would be helpful Pete thank you. You're good people.'

'Well okay then I will drop by this evening.'

'Pete, she will forgive him wont she? I mean there is no screaming, shouting from her so surely thats a good sign.'

'I don't know, I've known Laura a long time she is not one to forgive easily. I'll see you later.'

He stepped back as her driver held the door open.

Anna rested her head on the seat and let the tears flow. She had made a lot of mistakes in her life pushed people close to her away. Her sins were coming back to haunt her. She cried for her husband and his wise advice which she sorely needed, she cried for Will and the loss of him in her life, she cried for Jake and the mistakes she had made with him.

Would her confession to Laura make any difference?

So there I was trying to upload and my chapter was too long so you get two for the price of one or something like that!

And I figured we needed to hear what was Anna's story. Thanx for reading everyone. x