12 Days to Find a Husband

Chapter 14 - True Colours

"Sweet heart. Sweet heart, telephone".

Anna-lea felt her shoulder being lightly shaken.

"What?" she asked, still semi-asleep.

"Telephone. It's Tracey," John replied.

Anna-lea was still groggy from her sleep and was trying to process what John was telling her. She slowly sat up, looking around her surroundings as she did. She was disoriented and didn't know where she was for a moment. Looking down she saw the picnic rug set up and remembered she was in John's hotel suite. Seeing the food, she was suddenly ravenous. She took the phone from John's outstretched hand and said, "Hang on Trace", before quickly picking up a crab ball, some bread and a bowl of dip. She positioned herself on the lounge, legs crossed, and popped the crab ball into her mouth. An immediate explosion of flavour burst into her mouth.

"I'm coming," she mumbled through her mouthful.

Quickly finishing the crab ball, she dipped the bread into the dip and spoke again.

"Sorry Trace. I haven't eaten all day and I'm famished. I just had to get some food in my gob. I'm all yours. What's up?"

Whilst she listened to Tracey, Anna-lea proceeded to munch on the bread and dip.

"I've been worried about you. Are you okay? Hettie rang me. She's worried too. Haven't you been over to see her? Are you still eating?" Tracey questioned.

"Sorry, yes. No, I haven't caught up with Hettie yet. I've been meaning to. I'm going over there tonight," Anna-lea answered.

"Tonight? Don't you think it's a little late now?" Tracey asked.

"What time is it?" Anna-lea questioned.

"9pm," Tracey answered matter-of-factly.

"What? Oh man! I slept longer than I expected. I'll text her and let her know I'll see her in the morning. Poor Hettie. I feel so bad," Anna-lea said, feeling guilty.

"Look, you're obviously run down and still need rest. Why don't you get something to eat and then go and get a good nights' sleep? I'm sure what's his name won't mind," Tracey said, obviously put out because she hadn't been informed about the man who had answered the phone.

"John. His name is John. I'll fill you in tomorrow. I'll call you after I've seen Hettie," Anna-lea responded.

"John. Okay. Yes, that would be good. Now promise me you'll get some sleep tonight? You sound like you need a lot of it. You really haven't been looking after yourself since Hilda passed away, have you?" Tracey reprimanded.

"Yes, mum. I promise," Anna-lea said sarcastically.

"Well, you don't have a mum anymore so someone has to step up, don't they?" Tracey responded.

"Yes, mum. Love you," Anna-lea continued on with her sarcasm.

"Love you too. Now, get some rest. I'll talk to you in the morning, child," Tracey said, tongue in cheek, before hanging up.

Anna-lea put the phone down and immediately went to work on the bread and dip. After taking her first huge bite she looked up to see John still standing next to the lounge, looking down at her.

"What?" she asked, mouth full of bread.

"So, that was Tracey. Your best friend, Tracey?" John questioned.

Anna-lea nodded her head.

"Why haven't you told her about us yet? Or is there no us?" John asked, a hint of hurt in his voice.

"I will. I just haven't had a chance. Of course, there's an us," Anna-lea answered, mouth still half full.

John sat down next to Anna-lea, all the while keeping eye contact with her. In the time she had been sleeping, he'd managed to take a shower to get the smell of Natasha off him and track down some clean sheets and remake his bed. He didn't want Anna-lea to become the least bit suspicious of his character, and if she smelt another woman, she certainly would.