The Boy She Illegally Brought To The Lavender Field (bwwm)

Page 84

Annie walked into the facility with her purse and looked at the person behind the counter.

"Visiting?" the woman asked.
"Yes."
"What's your name?"
"Annie Ross. Visiting Sirius Moore."
She watched the woman fill out the papers.

"Okay, you can go take a seat and they'll call for you once he's here." she explained.
Annie nodded. "Thank you."

She went to take her seat and stared around with her purse in her lap.
It was a long trip but she made it once a month just so her daddy had a visitor. She refused to leave him there all alone. If she lived closer it would be once to twice a week. It's the only complaint she had about moving.

She sat only a couple more minutes before they called her name.

"Annie Ross?!"
She stood up and followed the voice.

"Right here." the woman instructed.
Annie took the seat and the woman left.

She waited patiently for her father's face.

She heard a door open followed by footsteps.

The chair was pulled out and she watched him sit.
The two smiled at one another.
"Hi, daddy."
"Hey, pumpkin."

They had an hour to get everything out. To tell each other what had been going on in their lives.

"You're married." he said after seeing Annie's hand.
Annie looked down at the ring. "I am."
"And I didn't walk you down the aisle like I always wanted."
"Wasn't much of an aisle." she snickered. "We didn't get a wedding. Just went to the courthouse a few weeks after the engagement."
"Why not?"
"Um...Well I just wouldn't feel right without any family there."
"How's your mother?"
"Still sick. She can hardly get up." Annie lied.

She told her father that was why Diana never visited. Because she was seriously ill. But she couldn't imagine telling him that she'd run off to be with some other man. The lie would never bite her because she knew her mama wasn't coming back. So she'd keep it going.

Sirius sighed. "I should've never fought back."
"Daddy, if you hadn't, those men would've killed you and we'd still be in the same spot."
He didn't answer.
"Mama's sick but it's not your fault."
"No, but I should be there by her side. Instead of in here."
Annie sighed. "She told me to tell you she loves you. And that she's alright. Just make sure you're alright."
Sirius nodded.
His eyes watered and he faced away from his daughter with a hand covering his face.

"Everything will be fine." Annie stated.
Sirius nodded and sniffed before putting his hand down. "Yea. Everything'll be just fine, Annie Denise." he agreed.

•~~~•

Annie noticed a familiar stop approaching on her bus ride.

She gasped faintly as the bus took a pause to pick up new passengers.
She grabbed her things and started getting off.

Only a few hundred feet upwards and a right.

She was down her old street again.

She took a deep breath as she walked.

She walked further and further until she reached it.
The house she grew up in.

She stared at it. It hadn't been long but it felt like it had been forever.
It practically brought her to tears. Because when she saw it she remembered all of them together. And that wasn't the case anymore.

"Good god a'mighty..." she heard and turned around.

She saw an old woman standing in front of her.

"Annie?" the woman asked.
Annie nodded.
She recognized the woman as Ms. Mary. She lived on the street.

Ms. Mary smiled. "Oh, girl. I've got a gift for you. Come on and follow me." She walked off and Annie curiously followed behind.

"I ain't think we'd ever see y'all again. But just in case, I kept every last one the moment that box started gettin' too full."
They walked into Ms. Mary's house.
Annie wondered what she was talking about.
"Take a seat at that table." Mary instructed and continued walking.

Annie went over to the table and sat down.

She wondered what gift Ms. Mary had for her as she sat there.

"I'm excited to give these to you." Ms. Mary said as she returned.
Annie looked and saw her carrying a chest before she placed it onto the table in front.

Ms. Mary opened it.
Annie looked inside.

Her eyes widened at it all.

Dozens of envelopes.
From Diana Moore. To Annie Moore and Daniel Ross.
She dug through the chest.
They all said the same thing.
From Diana Moore.
To Annie Moore and Daniel Ross.

She could see her mother's new address.
It was in North Dakota.
She questioned what made them choose there.

There had to be a hundred letters if not more.

"Oh my goodness." Annie said softly.
She smiled at all of them.

"You can take them home with you. Now that you got her address, I'm sure you can let her know you've moved just like her." Ms. Mary stated.
Annie looked at her and nodded. "Thank you so much."

"Annie..." Ms. Mary called.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Why did your mother leave to North Dakota?"
Annie froze.

She looked up at Ms. Mary as she awaited an answer.

"Um...I'm not sure. Change of scenery maybe?" she snickered awkwardly and looked back through the chest.

Annie stood up and pulled off her purse to place into the chest as well.

"Thank you, Ms. Mary. I'll try to mail back as soon as I can." Annie stated.
"Alright, honey. Let me get you somethin' to eat on your way."
"Yes ma'am."

Annie shut the chest.