Just want to say thank you to YaleAceBella, the guest Jasmine, xxxlirielxxx, seleneplaysgames, and the three (?) other guests who reviewed the last chapter. For all of you asking for drama with Anna, here's some drama for you though not in the way you asked for it. As the saying goes "save the drama for your mama". Though there's not a lot of Mama drama in this chapter, it's mostly Daddy drama, it is some. Side note, to the guests who reviewed the last chapter, if you type a name in the name box, it'll post as a public review.
As the end of June rolled around, Sean approached his sister. "What's up, kid?" Anna asked.
"You're going to Miami in a couple months. I know that you're going to be there for at least nine months and you'll probably only come home for a week or a weekend at a time," Sean said.
Anna studied him for a moment. "Get to the question, Sean."
"Can I have your room? I don't mean that like I don't want you coming back, I'm just saying I'm tried of sharing with Jack. It's a perfectly good room and it shouldn't sit empty for that long."
"We'll talk to Mom and Dad. See what they say." Sean nodded.
Sure enough, once Anna talked to her mom and dad, they thought it was a good idea. Danny even volunteered to help. By mid-August most of the excess furniture had been moved to the basement or garage and the stuff Anna wasn't taking to college was boxed up to store in the top of the garage. All that was left to do was paint the walls and move her bed out. Every time Anna approached Danny to do just that he kept pushing it off. She wasn't sure if it was because he hoped she'd change her mind or what, but the weekend before she had to leave with both her parents at work and her mom's full permission, she called Jamie over and they made the day of it. The only problem it created was it drove the wedge further between father and daughter. For her part, Anna was more than ready for summer to be over to get out of New York and put some distance on the problem. After Sean had fully moved in, Anna blew up an air mattress in the basement room and camped out there.
A few days later, as they were cleaning up after dinner, Linda turned to Anna. "I can still take off and come with you to help you get settled in," Linda said.
"I know, Mama, and I appreciate that but it's an 18 hour drive and you really can't afford that right now," Anna said.
"You let me and Daddy worry about what we can or can't afford. My baby is going away to college. I don't like missing important days in her life. This is one of those big ones."
"Yeah and again I appreciate that and I want you to be there but I just feel like I have to learn to stand on my own two feet and I have to start somewhere. This would be a good place to start," Anna said, loading the last dish in the dishwasher. "You raised me to be strong and smart," Anna turned to look at her mom. "I have to make sure you and Dad are right about that. I promise I'll send you a thousand and one pictures and introduce you to my roommate over video chat. I'll be okay," Anna told her.
"Okay."
"How 'bout we plan for the end of Christmas break? You can come down and I'll show you around."
"I'd like that. Don't forget we're having dinner at your grandfather's tomorrow night."
"But it's not Sunday."
"You won't be here on Sunday. Your grandfather wants to do something special since you won't be here on Sunday or for your 18th birthday."
"Fine, but can we not do lamb, meatloaf, steak, or roast?"
"You don't like seafood or duck, so that leaves ..."
"Casserole? Shepherd's pie? Pasta? Chicken?" Anna suggested.
"Okay."
"Thanks, Mom."
"Do you have everything packed?"
"Nearly everything. Going to run a load of laundry Friday but then my suitcase will be done and a few last minute things and I'll be good to go. Nearly everything is already in the car. Also Thursday night, Jim is taking me out to dinner with a bunch of friends then I'll be leaving mid-morning Saturday as Sunday is move-in day."
"Are you sure you don't want to leave Friday?" Linda asked.
"And spend Saturday in a hotel? No, thank you, I can't get into the dorms until Sunday anyway."
The following night at dinner with Shepard's pie from her grandmother Reagan's recipe in front of her, Anna did her best to keep calm. As long as she didn't remind herself that this would be the last time she'd have dinner with her family for a while, she wouldn't burst into tears. Then Frank sorta stepped in it. "Do you have everything you need, Anna?" he asked.
"School supplies, backpack, clothes, bedding, medical records, laptop, money for anything I don't have ... what else could I need?"
"Contact information?" Frank asked.
Anna sighed. "Everyone's emails, everyone's cell numbers and/or home numbers if they have them, the 5-4 precinct number, the 12th precinct number, the direct line to the commissioner's office, the number for both Detective Baker's and Nuciforo's desks, Sergeant Gormley's number, DCPI Moore's number, the number for Aunt Erin's office, Detective Baez's number, the ER desk at St. Victor's, Sergeant Renzulli's number, and I'm sure you've already talked to the head of security at the university. I will be fine."
"We just want to make sure you're prepared. It's an awful long way away and if something were to happen ..." Henry stated.
"Nothing's going to happen, Pops," Anna said.
"But if it did—"
"What do you think about the Giants' chances this year?" Jamie asked, cutting off his grandfather.
Anna shot him a grateful look and talk moved on.
The following night at dinner with her friends, it went relatively better. They stayed away from college talk though most were sad Anna was going out of state. At the end of the night, she traded hugs with all of her friends, Jim opting to go last. He held her a smidge bit tighter and for a smidge bit longer than the rest of them but was no less emphatic about how much he'd miss her while she was gone.
A million hugs and promises to her brothers and mom, at least it felt that way, later on Saturday morning, Anna was ready to leave. Her car was completely packed with everything she needed inside. She stood next to her car and stared at the house trying not to get emotional. She had practically grown up in this house and this was the first time she'd be away from it for more than a few days. Linda nudged her to snap her out of her thoughts. "Yeah, sorry?" Anna asked.
"I said do you have everything?" Linda asked.
"We've been over my checklist a thousand times. I have everything, I promise," Anna answered as Danny stepped out the front door onto the steps. Anna glanced at him then looked back up at her mom.
"You're going to do fine, Anna. You can call any time, especially if you need something."
"Of course, Mama."
"Try to talk to your dad. At least hear him out. You're leaving for three months and you won't see him for a while."
"What difference does it make? He's still not going to agree and he's still going to be angry about me leaving."
"I know, but he loves you." Anna sighed and Linda hugged her close. Anna relished in the hug. "I love you."
"I love you too," Anna answered. Linda gave her one last squeeze then walked over to Danny. Anna watched as Linda spoke to her husband then placed a gentle hand on his arm before he walked down the steps to Anna.
"I know there's no reason why you want to stay," he said. Anna leaned back against her car and waited. Maybe he was about to apologize, they'd hug, and she'd still leave but feel better about it. "But don't you think you're being awfully selfish or at least a bit childish about this?" Anna bit down on her tongue to keep from saying the automatic come back. "You picking a college just to spite me—"
"Spite you? Not everything is about you, Dad. Sometimes it's about me." Anna rolled her eyes. "Maybe it started out that way, picking a school so far away was to get you, at the very least, to ask me to stay, but now ... now this has nothing to do with you. It's about me and what I need. After all it's not like you really care all that much about what I do as long as it doesn't affect you or your job," Anna argued.
"You're saying I didn't influence this?" Danny asked.
"You haven't influenced my life since the assault case," Anna said.
Danny's jaw tensed then he turned and took a few steps back towards the house; Anna huffed and turned to her car trying to keep her disappointment at bay. Before she could pull the door open, a hand grabbed her arm and spun her around, dragging her into a tight hug. She resisted at first, but the faint odor of her dad's cologne and gun oil brought up old, happy memories that she gave in to, so she hugged him back. Then the moment was over and Danny went back into the house. Anna leaned back against her car and huffed out a heavy sigh then climbed into her car and drove off.
The following morning, in a small motel room outside Florence, South Carolina, Anna stared at her reflection in the foggy mirror. "You can do this. New York was in the past, this will be a fresh start," she told herself. With that in mind she picked up the curling iron and went to work in what would become part of her daily morning routine.
Her original plan was to take I-95 all the way down to U.S. 1 and then take that to the university. However shortly after getting on the highway after the interstate she saw how backed up it was. She quickly rerouted her phone's GPS and found an alternate route.
She had just turned on to Mary Street from South Bayshore Drive when the red and blue lights appeared in her rearview. She cursed and pulled over. This was the last thing she needed. Soon the officer was standing outside her window. She turned slightly and looked up at him, giving him a slight smile. He reminded her of her dad, slightly older, married, dark hair, and slightly scruffy. "Afternoon officer," Anna said.
"I see from your tags, you're from out of state. Welcome to Miami," he answered.
"Thank you," she answered softly.
"Do you know why I pulled you over?"
"No, I'm sorry."
"I clocked you doing 45 in a 30."
"My bad. I'm just really late. You see I'm supposed to meet my RA at Stanford residence on University of Miami campus and I'm late. I'm sorry." She looked over his blue uniform and saw his name was Officer Johansen from Miami Police Department.
"I can understand that. My daughters are headed back to school too. Mind if I see your license and registration?" he asked. Anna handed both over. "That an NYPD hoodie?" he asked, nodding to the one in her passenger seat.
"Yes sir. It was my uncle's. I am really, really sorry, Officer. I really don't notice how fast I was going. It's a problem I have. I promise I'll slow it down."
"As an officer of the law, it's hard for me to overlook this. 15 miles an hour over the speed limit, however, as I said, I'm also a father and I understand that you don't want to be late. Call your RA, she'll most likely understand that you're running late and will wait. You said your uncle was a cop?"
"Was. Line of duty," Anna told him.
"When?" he asked.
Anna swallowed then realized he was probably thinking about 9/11. "2009, killed serving a warrant. Unfortunately, it wasn't even the perp he was serving to that did it."
"My condolences. I'm not going to write you a ticket this time but slow it down. And Ms. Reagan, good luck this year," Johansen said.
"Thank you so much, Officer Johansen. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it." He handed her the license and registration back then handed over another card.
"You need anything, even if you're just feeling homesick, you call. My cell number is on the back, try not after ten though."
"Yes, sir. Thank you."
"I appreciate the way you treated me. I wish everyone treated cops the way you do. You remind me of my daughters."
Anna nodded, tucking the business card and license back in her wallet. As soon as he was back in his blue and white car, Anna called her RA and explained what happened and she said she'd be glad to wait. When Officer Johansen pulled off, Anna started her car and put it in gear then kept to the speed limit as she drove to the residence hall. She pulled up outside the building to see a girl sitting on the steps. Anna parked, grabbed her bag and hoodie, and went to meet the girl. Anna was a little surprised to see that the girl looked Asian and then instantly realized that the thought was racist and there was nothing wrong with her RA being a different nationality and that had no bearing on her doing the job.
"Anna Reagan?" the girl asked, standing. Anna nodded. "Sadie Christopher. Before you ask, my mom's Korean, my dad is American. We're on the second floor; you don't mind heights, do you?"
"No, that's fine." Sadie walked her up to the second floor and nearly straight in to her room.
"So this is your room. Single occupancy; in the corner. Bathrooms are down the hall, middle of the floor. Your welcome packet is on your desk. My room is right across from the bathroom. These are your keys. I'll help you move in," Sadie told her.
Later that night after getting some dinner and settling in, Anna called her mom. "Hey, sweetie. Did you make it, safe and sound?" Linda asked.
"Yeah, Mom, everything's great. My RA is real sweet, got settled in. Found everything I need. I'm good, Mom, I promise," Anna said, purposefully leaving out her brush with the law.
"That's great. Anna—Okay, Danny," Linda answered the murmured question in the background. "Your dad wants to talk to you."
"Mom," Anna whined.
"Talk to him," she stressed.
"Fine," Anna pouted. She knew her mom couldn't see her so her pouty face wouldn't really work but she also knew the tone of her voice would get to her mom. Sure enough, the dejected tone in her daughter's voice went straight to Linda's heart, but she knew that she couldn't encourage this to fester.
Then Anna heard Danny's voice. "Anna, I get that you have to do this and that you don't want help, but you are still my child. I have every right to worry about you," he said.
"Great, we get to do this again," Anna muttered. "I'm not saying you can't worry," she told him.
"Kid ..." Danny sighed. Anna could tell he was angry. It went silent on the other end for a moment or two. "Your mom is going to miss you so for her sake, promise me you'll call once a week."
"Phone works both ways, Dad."
"If I tell her to call you, you'll get a call every day."
"Fine, I will call Mom once a week."
"Good."
And they were back to the awkward silence. "I know it's dangerous down here," Anna said to break the tension. "I was watching a rerun of my favorite show last night and plot goes that the girl of one of the main characters gets kidnapped and he calls her. With the kidnapper holding her at gun point she couldn't flat out tell him she was in trouble but they had this code word. Pickled ice cream or something like that. The point was they didn't like pickles so the use of that in a sentence raised red flags. You think it would make you feel better if we had one? I know I may not always be able to get to the phone but, in times when I can ..."
"I guess, but only if it was in cases of extreme emergencies. I can't be flying down there every five seconds to kill a spider."
"And when have you ever known me to be afraid of spiders? I'm the daughter of a cop and a marine; I'm tougher than you think I am." It went silent on both ends for a few moments. "You always said when I'm truly terrified and I scream, it sounds like bloody murder. There's a scene is this movie where a kid writes "Redrum" on a door and he says it throughout the movie. It's a reference to murder, it's also 2007 film. Can't remember the plot of the movie, but I know it is."
"I've seen the movie with the little boy. I hope to God you never have to say that."
"Me too. I have to go. Tell my brothers I love them. Mom too, bye." Anna hung up before he could say another word. She let out a deep, shaky breath and squeezed her eyes shut to hold back tears. It took a few deep breaths to shake off the depressed, guilty feeling but the knock on the slightly open door brought the tears right back.
"Um, sorry, we're all getting ... oh, are you okay?" the girl in the doorway asked. Anna noticed her caramel colored hair and skin first and her sympathetic smile second. "My name's Riley, I live right down the hall. Do you want to talk about it or do you want to be left alone?" she asked.
"It's okay. It's my dad. We got in a fight before I left. He didn't want me to come all the way down here where he can't protect me."
"That sucks. Is it that far away?"
"New York, Staten Island."
"Wow and I thought ten minutes was a long way. You okay."
"I will be. Did you need something?"
"Our RA has a movie set up in the Common Room, kinda a first week tradition for her. You don't have to come if you don't want to," Riley said. She kinda struck Anna as a real fashionista type and reminded Anna of Sofie.
"Thanks. I'm Anna, by the way. Maryanna, but everyone calls me Anna." She stood and they went down to the Common Room where they met the rest of their floor mates.
I hope you enjoy the small Mama drama in this chapter because I certainly did not enjoy the real Mama Drama that happened today on my birthday in real life.