Red (sequel to TYG)

Chapter 21

Can we take a moment to appreciate young Leonardo Dicaprio, aka Charlie?

Anna's pov:

Dave's face looks drastically worse the next day, all of the bruises fully formed now. There's nothing really to do for him besides get him some snow for his aching stomach. I have no idea what Daddy would do in this case. I don't think there is anything to do.

He can't walk around today, his stomach is to painful and plus his left eye is swollen shut. He needs a day to rest.

"Do you need anything?" I ask him. I've checked up on him several times now.

"Will you get me some water?" He asks, his voice husky.

"Of course." I say, getting up.

"Thanks, Anna." He calls after me as I exit the room.

I go to the kitchen and get a bottle of water from Wanda.

When I return I hear voices in there so I lean against the door frame.

Charlie is sitting in the chair beside his bed that I had dragged into the room so I could read to Dave.

"It's alright man, I understand." Dave says. "She's worth fighting for."

A smile stretches across my face. Charlie apologized. He apologized for me.

Charlie clears his throat lightly when he notices me leaning against the door and I straighten up. His eyes meet mine and he smiles back at me.

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I don't see Charlie for a couple of hours after that because he's busy doing something outside. I help Wanda cook for the soldiers and it isn't until right before dinner that I see Charlie. I wore one of the nice dresses from the wardrobe because I know he likes when I dress up for dinner. He did something to make me happy so I should try to make him happy too.

Most of the soldiers are already in the dining hall when I come downstairs and I find Charlie walking to the dining hall.

"Charlie!" I call him to get his attention. He stops and spins around towards me.

"Thank you." I thank him. "For before."

"Anything to keep you happy. I want you to like being here." He says. "If there's anything you want, just ask me. There's nothing that I can't give you."

I nod my head, trying not to let my face fall.

"Shall we?" He asks, holding the door open for me.

I nod my head once more, taking his arm when he offers it to me.

I think about what he said all through dinner and I know that he can tell that something is upsetting me. My mind is in a different place than my body. The soldiers are cheerful tonight, all of them rowdy and loud. They drink glasses of wine with dinner, which brings the volume up a little more.

I lean my head into my hand with my elbow on the table and push my food around with my fork. I don't know why I'm getting so upset over what he said. I can't put my finger on it.

After everyone is done I go to the kitchen to help Wanda with the dishes. I'm silent as I wash the dishes, still trying to figure it out.

"Wanda, what makes you happy?" I ask suddenly.

She looks surprised that I spoke to her and I realize this is the first time she's heard me talk. We are normally quiet when we work. I didn't want to talk and I don't think she did either. Come to think of it, I've never heard her talk either.

"Little things. Getting to see my grandson grow up, reading a good book, finishing my work at the end of the day. Now that there's not much left in this world you have to learn to enjoy the little things, even the things you might not have enjoyed before. Being depended on makes me happy. Not a one of those soldiers have ever cooked a day in their lives. They need me. That makes me happy." She says. All that silence must have given her an awful long time to think.

I nod my head, continuing to rinse the soap off the dishes and stack them on the dish rack where they will air dry until tomorrow.

"Who's your grandson?" I ask after a moment. I didn't realize Wanda was related to one of the soldiers.

"Jacob. He's quite a special young man." She says, smiling warmly at the mention of him.

"Wait, Jacob as in Charlie?" I ask, my eyes wide.

"That's him. I prefer to call him Jacob though." She says.

"Wow." I say softly.

I finish up the rest of the dishes and empty the pan of dirty water out the back door and leave it upside down in the sink.

"Anna, before you go I need to tell you something." Wanda stops me. I close the kitchen door and lean against the counter.

"I know you don't think so, but he can make you happy if you give him a chance." She says. I drop my eyes to the ground and fidget with my fingers

"He's had a tough life and these past couple of months have been really hard for him. You've made him happy. I can see the change in him. And I know he can make you happy too. He's a very smart, kind, and caring young man if give him time to open up to you. Just think about it." She finishes.

"I will." I say, not lying. "Thanks, Wanda. Good night."

Charlie, Tucker, Mason, and a few others are still sitting at one of the tables playing a card game and talking when I leave. He doesn't notice me slip past them.

I go outside and walk around the perimeter of the fence to get some fresh air. My mind is racing with about a million things running through my mind. If this is my life now, why can't I just accept it? And then I realize. Because a huge piece of it is missing. Carl. Carl is the one that always made me happy, and now I don't have him. He's the one thing that Charlie can't give me.

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(Look at Anna, getting her priorities straight :'). Guess who won the most improved student scholarship award at her dance recital! This girl 😁❤️ Does anyone even read these? 😂)