Intertwined Souls

Chapter 33 (part 3)

Late one night, after Beth had fallen asleep, Ann tiptoed out of their shared bedroom and into the modest living room of their new home. The only light was the soft glow of the fireplace, which cast dancing shadows across the room. She settled into an armchair and dialed Richard's number.

It was deep into the night when the unexpected ring of the telephone jolted Richard from his sleep. Blinking in the dark, he fumbled for the receiver, his heart racing with the sudden intrusion of noise into the quiet of his bedroom.

"Hello?" His voice was thick with sleep, edged with a note of irritation and concern over the late-hour disturbance.

"Richie, it's Anne," came the voice on the other end, instantly dispelling his annoyance and replacing it with a surge of relief and surprise.

"Annie! God, I... I—" Richard cut himself off, sitting up in bed as he switched on the bedside lamp. His mind raced with a thousand questions. "I've been so worried about you. Are you alright?"

"We're safe," Anne assured him quickly, her voice a soothing balm to his frayed nerves. "We found a place. It's hidden, quiet. We're okay, Richie."

Hearing her voice, so familiar yet laden with the weight of unspoken stories, Richard felt a mix of joy and overwhelming concern. "I can't tell you how good it is to hear from you. I... Is everything okay?"

Anne paused, the silence on the line thick with hesitancy. "There's something you need to know. Something important... Beth is pregnant."

The words struck Richard like a physical blow, his mind reeling with the implications. "Pregnant?" he echoed, his voice a mix of astonishment and dread. "Annie, that's— Are you sure?"

"Yes, it's true. But we're going to raise it together," Anne's voice was firm, her resolve clear even through the phone line.

Richard's protective instincts flared. "Annie, that's a lot to take on. I'm worried about you, both of you. This is..."

"I know," Anne interrupted, her voice softer now. "But we're committed to this, to each other. We're building a life here, Richie. But if something happens to me, you need to know where we are. You might be the only one who can help Beth and the baby."

"Nothing is going to happen to you," Richard asserted, his tone resolute. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep you all safe. You know that, right?"

Anne provided him with the details of their location, describing the small village nestled among towering pines and the quaint cottage that had become their sanctuary.

"For now, it's better if we keep communication to a minimum. I'll contact you. It's safer that way." Ann said.

Richard agreed reluctantly, the weight of their situation settling heavily upon him. "Just stay safe, Annie. Please."

"We will," Anne promised, and after a few more words, they ended the call.

Richard sat in the silence of his room long after hanging up, the dim light casting long shadows around him. His mind was a whirlwind of worry and determination, protective and ready to act at a moment's notice. As the night stretched on, he resolved again to be there for Anne and Beth, no matter what the future held.

———————

The next day, the atmosphere in Richard's apartment was tense as Lucas burst through the door, his face etched with concern and frustration. He confronted Richard immediately, his voice laced with desperation.

"Where is Anne? She just disappeared, Richard! She didn't tell me anything, and now she's just gone. What's going on? Where is she?" Lucas's voice rose with each question, echoing his mounting anxiety.

Richard, who had been expecting this visit, tried to maintain a composed demeanor. "Lucas, I understand your concern, but I don't have much to tell you." He began cautiously, choosing his words carefully to avoid revealing too much.

"How can you not know anything? You're her brother!" Lucas countered sharply, pacing back and forth in agitation. "Why would she just vanish without telling anyone? Why didn't she tell me?"

Seeing Lucas's distress, Richard knew he had to offer some explanation to placate his friend, even if it meant disclosing delicate information. "Look, Lucas, there's a lot you don't know about Anne's recent life. It's complicated, and it involves more than just her," Richard said, signaling Lucas to take a seat, hinting at the gravity of the conversation to come.

Lucas, though reluctant, sat down, his expression shifting from anger to concern. "Tell me, Richard. I deserve to know."

Taking a deep breath, Richard started from the beginning. "Ann and Beth... they had a relationship, a deep one. But then Beth got married to Jacob, and well, it was a mess. Anne was devastated."

Lucas's eyes widened in surprise, his personal feelings for Anne making the information harder to digest. "Elizabeth Munroe? But why... How did Anne end up with her?"

Richard continued, "It's not as simple. Jacob, Beth's husband, wasn't good to her. It was bad, Lucas. When Beth finally left him, Annie went with her. They couldn't stay. It was too dangerous."

"So, they ran away together? Is that what you're saying?" Lucas asked, trying to piece together the shocking revelations.

"Yes, they're together somewhere safe, or at least that's what Anne told me last. And I can't tell anyone, not even you, Lucas. If Jacob finds out, if he even suspects where they might be, he'd go after them. You know what he's capable of," Richard explained, his tone earnest, reflecting the gravity of their situation.

Lucas sat back, his emotions a turbulent mix of shock, betrayal, and concern. He cared for Anne deeply, and this news shattered a part of what he felt for her. Yet, his primary concern remained her safety.

"I... I had no idea," Lucas finally muttered, his voice breaking slightly. "I just want her to be safe, Richard."

"And she will be. I'm doing everything I can to keep it that way. But it means you can't know where they are. Not for now. It's the only way to protect them," Richard concluded, hoping Lucas would understand the necessity of secrecy.

Lucas nodded slowly, the weight of the situation settling on him. "Just... make sure she's okay, Richard. That's all I ask."

"I will," Richard assured him, feeling the burden of his promise deeply. As Lucas left the apartment, the door closing softly behind him, Richard felt a profound sense of responsibility. Keeping Anne and Beth safe was his priority, no matter the personal costs involved.