"Annabella Gilmore: Dreamer and Achiever"

Chapter 11

Time skip to Friday night dinner

Grandma greeted them with a beaming smile, clapping her hands together as if she had been looking forward to this all week. She ushered them inside and motioned for everyone to sit around the dining room table. With eyes twinkling, she exclaimed how she "had a surprise for Anna and Rory" She set it on the table in front of us, then stepped back expectantly with her hands clasped together at her breastbone. "Go ahead," she said breathlessly as though we were about to open a great present that was just for us kids

The room had an aura of enchantment, with a soft vibrancy that filled the space. Pale lavender walls were dotted by brightly colored flowers that adorned the windowsill while a deep grey velvet duvet created a striking contrast on the bed. A large desk stood in one corner, its top almost hidden beneath drawings and paintings of fantastical creatures and designs for new dresses. Shelves along one wall displayed fabrics folded carefully into neat piles; each piece was unique in hue and texture, as though chosen from amongst nature's vibrant hues. Across from them loomed an open closet door, revealing shelves full to bursting with clothes fabrics and dress design dummies to practice on.

We looked at each other, eyes wide in confusion as we glanced back and forth from the target of our host's expectation to ourselves. I stepped forward, hesitantly reaching out my hand to touch what sat on the table. "Rory!" Anna gasped in surprise while Rory stood speechless by her side. It was a sewing machine! The sleek white frame was encased in an ornate gold metal border, with a silver handle that sparkled brightly. We looked at each other excitedly — this machine could help make Anna's fashion dreams come true! Rory hugged her sister and grinned, already planning ideas for her next project.

Emily opened the door to Rory's room, and they stepped inside. The walls had been painted a soft lilac color, its lightness perfect for the calming atmosphere of the bedroom. A large blue comforter was spread over the bed and two matching pillows lay on top. On one wall hung a poster of 98° with their signature smiles brightly lit by spotlights while cheerful fans filled the background—a reminder that Emily did pay attention to some things even if she was too picky about

Although Anna was happy with the extra space and new items to help with her projects. She didn't understand why her grandma and grandpa had done this. On the other hand, Rory did not like her room as it subconsciously showed her that it was clear her grandma didn't know her at all. Mom's eyes narrowed and her mouth pinched into a thin line as she took in the news. Her voice was tight with anger as she stepped forward, her fingers clenching and unclenching at her side. She felt betrayed that Grandma had done this, without consulting her and felt like this she overstepped in creating rooms for other girls.

Grandma felt confused at their mom's reaction she was trying to give the girls what they missed out on when they were young. Then she went back in thought to that potting shed. She was so hurt and angry when she realized that is where her daughter ran away to so proudly and took her granddaughters there and raised them in a potting shed. She looked at her daughter Lorelai and all her anger just intensified. Grandma took a deep sigh and looked away from her daughter, trying to compose herself as she stared at the wall in front of her. Then suddenly Mom looked at her ready to start an argument. Lorelai's voice rose in anger, a tone that cut through the air like a knife. She could feel her cheeks flush with indignation as she berated her mother. "How dare you? You went behind my back and did this without even talking to me first!" Emily looked at her daughter incredulously and snapped back, "I had no choice! You left us with no other option! How proud of yourself were you when your solution was to run away and raise your daughters in the potting shed out there?" Grandma sighed heavily. "You know full well how awful that place is - how could I have let that happen? How could I have not taken action to make sure they were better off?"

Annabella, the sixteen-year-old twin sister of Annabella, had been watching silently for some time now. She stepped forward slowly and spoke in a voice filled with respect but sadness. "It's ok Grandma, you did what you thought was best. I... I understand why you thought this was necessary," She looked down at the ground, not wanting to show any emotion. "And maybe things do need to change - but we can figure it out together." Anna watched helplessly as her mother and grandmother continued to argue. Her mom's face was red with rage, her eyes burning like coals, while Grandma stood firm on the other side of the room, calmly yet fiercely stating her position in no uncertain terms. It seemed as if neither woman would back down until finally, Mom whirled around and stormed towards the door. She paused at the threshold momentarily before she slammed it shut behind her. Outside Ann heard Rory starting up their car engine and realized that they had been waiting outside all this time for Mom to finish arguing with Grandma so they could leave without making any more tension between them as they hugged their grandparents.

Anna and Rory felt the tension as soon as they stepped into the car after dinner. Their mother was in a foul mood, her eyes locked on the windshield and words of criticism or warnings about their behavior tumbling off her tongue as she drove. It was a thick atmosphere of hostility, making it hard for the two siblings to breathe or even exchange glances. By the time they reached their home, Anna wanted nothing more than to run away from this hostile environment - to find solace in her room where she could get lost in her designs.

Rory clumped up the stairs with heavy steps, eager to escape into her room and get lost in her schoolwork. She flicked on the light switch as she entered her bedroom, scanning it for any forgotten items from earlier that night. Her eyes fell on one of several highlighter pens scattered across a pile of books strewn atop a wooden desk beneath an open window overlooking the street outside. With an almost instinctive flourish, Rory grabbed all four corners of a textbook lying atop another and yanked them out from underneath before settling herself down at the desk chair ready to get lost in the words.