Let Me In ( Anne with an E fanfic)

Chapter 65

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1CLh17KJeuXrR6YU8xnKz3?si=REIlZd-zRPGyDsApFmV3rA&dl_branch=1

January was cold and snowy. That didn't stop the life going inside the house from continuing, though. After the holiday rush, Anne felt she had much more time without all the seasonal projects absorbing almost every moment of her day. Everything seemed to be running more or less smoothly with the website, Jerry and Diana's advice, combined with the ideas she'd had to start with, were starting to give fruit: she had a couple of subscription options, as well as some self-paced courses that were popular for parents trying to think of something for their young kids to do as the lockdown dragged on and they had to juggle home office and taking care of kids.

That meant she finally had time to write the fairy stories as she had originally wanted to, and she found the outlines she had done in the fall and started working on them. Part of the project of childrens' stories was the visual part, and she called Cole again to see if he was still interested. From their homes, they brainstormed over zoom about the different styles and how the stories and the illustrations could merge to be really part of the same thing and they could truly do the project as co-authors.

Gilbert came that afternoon to find Anne still on her video call with Cole, sheets taped to one wall with all the ideas they had, some with his sketches he had sent her and she had printed to put alongside the story line. He gave her a kiss and greeted Cole quietly, not wanting to interrupt their work, and went to the kitchen to prepare something warm to drink. Anne had a cup next to her of a very cold tea that could have been there for hours. She was finally saying goodbye to Cole when he returned, both looking tired but satisfied.

"So you both managed to sketch your plans to conquer the world?" he asked, teasing gently, making them laugh. She took a sip of the warm ginger tea.

"The world of Pilbert the fox, most likely," Cole said, mischief in his eyes. "But yes, I think we have enough work for a couple of months at least. With frequent checkups, sure, but we do have the outline."

"It will be amazing, Gil," Anne said to him, beaming. "Cole input just took the stories to a whole new level... I think we do have something great. And if we apply ourselves we will manage to finish before baby Blythe arrives."

"That's the plan, at least," Cole confirmed. Gilbert nodded.

"So how are you doing, Cole? How's Roy?" Gilbert asked, bringing a chair next to Anne's and sitting there.

"He's doing fine. Has been smiling for an hour straight as he corrects some stories the children wrote as an assignment," Cole said. "He will be complaining about their total lack of grammar and spelling, but he can't lie to me, I know he enjoys reading those things way more than he lets on."

"It's just you've never read kids' stories," Anne said. "They have the best imaginations ever. I always enjoyed reading that too. And it's a great opportunity to teach them boring stuff without making it look like a spelling class."

"That's what he says," Cole agreed. "I wouldn't have the patience to decipher their writing. Anyway guys, I have dinner to get started on, but we'll talk soon, I hope? Nana, we do a follow up next Wednesday to see advances and all that like we mentioned, right?"

"Right, still, if we manage to have a call with Roy for a drink or something it would be nice," she agreed.

"Have a nice evening, Cole," Gilbert said, and Cole finished the call. "So, you both are busy now, I take?"

"Busy but good busy," Anne agreed. "So, how was your day? I'm sorry I was still caught up in this. Thank you for the tea."

"No problem, Anne-girl," he said, stretching. "Got my vaccine today," he added.