It is a bright Tuesday morning and I lie wide awake. I have the week off, because of my kids' school vacation, but I'm used to getting up early anyway. I don't know why, but today I'm anxious and kind of nervous. I go to the kid's room and make sure if everything is ok. Tommy and Andy are still sleeping. Aren't they cute when they are sleeping? I go downstairs to make me a cup of English Breakfast Tea, my favorite type. Ray always drinks a cup of tea when he is not feeling well. Since I've known him I do the same and it takes effect.
Eating a banana, I take my cup of tea to the couch and switch on the television. I love this little TV channel K-RAB. It's a regional channel and I watch it in the mornings, when my kids sleep in. Michael Potter is hosting the news and holy cow, fuck me sideways seven days till Sunday, there is a picture of Mr. Grey. He looks a little bit worn-out, but I'm sure it's him. I pump up the volume.
"… a mysterious man was picked up by the Montesano garbage scow shortly after midnight. He's conscious, but the problem is that he seems to be suffering from amnesia. He has no recollection of who he is. As you can see in the photo, he's about thirty years old, has copper-colored hair and grey eyes. Now folks, here's an interview we taped earlier today at the hospital."
Mr. Potter disappears and the next thing you see is a young woman beside Mr. Grey's bed with a microphone in her hand.
"Good Morning, Mister. Do you know your name?" she asks Mr. Grey and holds the microphone to his mouth. She tries to look professional, but is failing miserably. She's drooling obviously.
"Of course I know my name. It's … uhm … It's on the tip of my tongue … Oh, this is absurd! … hhhmmm I'll remember in a minute … … … Get that thing out of my face!" he yells pushing the microphone away and then he's looking at her. "What a horrible wig!" he moans pointing his finger at her.
The woman looks embarrassed and is speechless. Yep, that is definitely Mr. Grey.
"Thanks, Sharon. So there isn't any news, nobody knows who he is. Earlier today, a woman arrived to make identification, but she didn't recognize him …" Oh fuck, they show the blonde goddess walking from the hospital entrance waving her hand indicating that she won't give an interview. I can't believe she's skipping out on him. Seems this was not everlasting love. "… If you recognize this man, please contact the hospital. I'll put up a reward myself. He's driving everybody crazy. And now the weather …"
I gasp. What the fuck happened? And why is he still there? He sure has friends or at least a family, who are looking for him.
I hear a knock at the door. I stand up and open it and find Kate and half of her property in five big suitcases on my doorstep. She is spending the week at our home.
"Ana Banana, how are you? You look a bit pale", she says concerned.
"I watched the news and Mr. Grey, the ass who fired me, he had an accident I suppose and he is at the hospital and doesn't know who he is. His picture was on TV and I don't understand why he is still at the hospital", I explain confused.
"Maybe he is an ass not only to you but to his family and friends too and they have abandoned him now, that they had the chance", she says and shrugs.
"Do you think this is possible? At least he should have paid staff or something", I shake my head in bewilderment.
"Never mind. He should rot in this little city where no one knows him and no one finds him and …" she pauses.
"And what?" I ask.
"What if?" she asks lost in thoughts, looking at the wall behind me.
"Hmmm?" I say confused, because I just don't get it.
"What if nobody finds him and here obviously nobody knows him", she asks, focusing now on me.
"Then it would be a looooong way home for him", I answer her stating the obvious.
"ANA!" she shrieks. "Ana, Ana, Ana, let me think!"
I go to the kitchen and make a coffee for her and another tea for myself. I'm afraid she is having a bad idea, as she does often. We sit at the table as she continues:
"What if you go to the hospital and claim him as your husband? What if he comes home with you and you let him do the yard work to pay for the loss of your job. And when he's done, you tell him the truth or he can remember everything anyway, so you get rid of him easily", she announces with a broad grin on her face.
"Kate, what are you suggesting? You can't do that to somebody so vulnerable!" I'm shocked.
"No? But he could! He fired you although you lost your husband and you have two little kids at home to take care of. He is a selfish prick, he deserves it!" she points out.
"But how will you do that? You can't go to the hospital and say ‚Hello sweetheart, here I am!'" I retort.
"Maybe with a little help you could. I know this police officer, who is nuts about me. I could ask him to help us", she laughs.
"I don't know. This is so undeveloped. How should I explain it to the people that I have a husband all of a sudden?" I wonder.
"The only one you have to report to is Ray. The people around here don't know you anyway, you don't go outside very often", she describes my situation precisely. I sigh. When Kate has an idea it's hard to get her to drop it.
"He would be a slave for you … for free! Think of it. He could do breakfast everyday, he could do the yard work, he could find a job and pay your bills, the list is endless. How does he look?" she questions.
"Not so bad", I say, trying to remember how he looks in all his glory. I tried to forget him and this whole day till now.
"Hell you could even get laid everyday if you want!" she brays.
"KATE!" I cry out loud, gesturing towards her and knocking over my cup of tea. What a mess, but on the other hand it's typical me to spill it. I take a napkin and wipe the table.
"Ana, just do it. For once in your life think of yourself! And this bonehead deserves it!" she spits.
I don't know what to think. He could really help me out. And he's the reason I need help in the first place. And Kate would help me to go through with it.
"Ok. We could just do it. But Kate: Do it quick and do it good!" I issue an order.
"Oh Ana, now everything will be alright! I'll call Phil and if he's on board, everything will work out fine", she rejoices.
"I hope so. If not, you will regret it!" I threaten and go upstairs to see, if my boys are already awake.
They are and after I have helped them get changed, we make our way downstairs to Kate. She's standing on the patio and speaking with somebody on the phone. I tell the boys to set the table and make breakfast for the four of us. When the bacon, eggs and pancakes are ready, Kate does not end the call. When she's stuck on something, nobody can change her plan. So after what feels like an eternity, she sits at the table with us and has this shit-eating grin on her face. We eat in silence and after that, the kids clear the table and Kate and I are doing the dishes, while the boys are in the front yard playing soccer.
"Why are you smiling?" I take an interest in her new found happiness.
"I have a date tonight with Phil, the police officer. So don't wait for me", she laughs.
"Are you serious?" I ask her disbelievingly.
"Sure. I'll call Ethan, José and Ray to tell them my plan. Oh Ana, this will be so much fun!" she shouts with joy.
"For you maybe, but I have to live with this man!" I say desperately.
"Come on, that will be great. Let him do your chores and enjoy the additional time you have for yourself", she proposes.
"So what exactly is your plan?" I ask her nosy.
"Ok, so, you explain the plan to your children. Ethan and Hannah are going shopping for some clothes and toiletries for him. Maybe Ethan will give me some of his used items, you know, that way Mr. Grey gets the image that he doesn't only have new things. José will fake the family photos with Photoshop. And I will go to Ray's and have a talk with him. After all he has to play his father. Maybe Christian can work for his company. Generally, I think we should stick to the truth as much as possible. You know, how long you are married, how you two met and so on. I would say we meet up in an hour and then I'll get ready for my date. If everything works out like planned, tomorrow you could go to the hospital and come back as a married woman with a hubby at your side. Oh it will be wonderful!" she says gesticulating widely.
"You are way too confident about this plan, you know that, don't you?" I question her suspiciously.
"And you are way too negative, Missy!" she says confidently, pointing a finger at me.
"Ok, ok. So I go and talk to the boys." I lift my hands in the air defensively.
And with that I stand up and go to my front yard and tell them to go to their room so we could talk.
I take a deep breath, open their door to enter the kids' room and sit down with them on Andy's bed. I explain them that we won the lottery and that we get a new daddy for some time and that we have to integrate him completely and act as if he is the daddy in the house. Tommy finds it funny and Andy, well, I think he did not get it. But it's ok, he is not a great speaker anyway. Because we are in the kids' room, I jump at the chance and spend the afternoon playing and fooling around with my boys.
In the late afternoon, Kate joins me in the kitchen, where I am about to prepare dinner.
"I have spoken to Ray and he's not thrilled, but he is on board. He said, he could use some help at the house and maybe Christian can help him with his books", she informs me.
"Great. Just why don't I feel comfortable about this?" I ask her insecurely.
"Ana, you are an amazing woman. Such a caring thing, who doesn't think of herself but of all the others around her. Stop that! It's time for you and you alone", she advises.
"I think it is easier for me to pretend it is for the boys. I want a proper home for them. If other kids come around, Tommy and Andy should not have to feel embarrassed", I state nodding to myself trying to convince me.
"Whatever Annie. The main thing is you get a little help, you've been through enough in the past year", she says bitterly, hugging me tight.
"Yeah, a little helping hand is just what I need. This and a relaxing bath", I sigh.
"Go for it, Ana, I'll play a bit with the boys, before I go out with Phil", she suggests.
"Thanks, Kate, for everything. What would I do without you?" I put my arm around her shoulder.
"You'd have to find another friend, who's a fashion victim, to pimp up your wardrobe", she laughs, stands up and goes upstairs.
I smile and go to the bathroom to soak in the tub. I'm flustered. How could I have said yes to this absolute foredoomed plan? How am I able to deliver? And how will it be to have a man in the house? Can I live with him without a major breakdown? I will just follow Kate's instructions and exploit him just a little bit. He may remember everything soon and go back to his life in no time anyway.
After this amazing bath, we all eat mac and cheese for dinner, it's Andy's favorite. Then I change into my pajamas and take the boys to their room. Kate leaves to get ready for her date. Ugh! Casual sex isn't my cup of tea, but if it makes her happy, who am I to judge. I crawl on the floor with my kids, doing a little wrestling and soon, we go downstairs to build a fort with pillows and blankets and have a movie evening. We all end up sleeping there in front of the TV amidst all the pillows and blankets on the couch.
Ok, two of you recognized the movie quote from chapter 2 - Mrs. Burbridge is from the movie "Overboard". But nobody found the second movie quote, so come on guys, it's just half of a sentence, but who finds it? There will be plenty of movie quotes in the future, so keep on reading attentively ;).
Elena seems to be a very sensitive topic for many of you. So, as you see, Elena is gone. She will reappear in the 15th and last chapter, but until then, there will be no sight of her.
hettyblue, Pielietje, alyssa2001 - Thanks for your review!
Westie80 - Yeah, I just love that movie and it screamed FSOG to me, so I wrote this story. In almost every chapter, there will be a quote of this film ;D.
ashley . mercer . 16 - I think the interaction between Ana and Christian was too short to let the sparks fly, but no worries, they'll spent a lot of time together in the near future ;). And I think the guest reviewer means to mark my story with "AU", "OCC", "HEA" and so on. But without even a 'please', I don't want to.
sweetsub75 - Sorry, the whole story is in her POV. Maybe, if the publishing house will have financial problems in the future, GEH will buy it. They will see each other in the next chapter ;). And HAHAHAHAHA! I like the thought of the kids going all arson with the SUV.
Grey Steele fan - I don't think there are major problems with the kids. There will be one incident in chapter 9, but nothing serious. ;)
westosobear - Yes and Yes. Oh how I love that movie.
Christian618 - I think it's bad to lose the job and the house, but I also think it's more important to have family and friends nearby, especially with two kids. We will see in chapter 13 the outcome of his compensation.
hanouna, janeellove - The next interaction takes place in the next chapter ;)
emi17 - In chapter 7 we will read about Clayton's. Ana is sweet indeed and we'll see how long it will take to fall for Christian, but as you see in this chapter, she won't ignore him.