Chasing Anne

I'm Here

Mark hopped up the steps to the porch of Anne's farmhouse and stopped in front of the door. He almost reached for the doorbell, but then remembered that it didn't work and changed his mind. He took a deep breath and then knocked. There was a bark from Dawn on the inside, but that was all. Why was he so nervous? He loved this girl, so why was he so anxious about going to see her? He waited a few minutes and then knocked again. Dawn whined on the inside and he could hear her scratching at the bottom of the door. He sighed. Either Anne was sleeping, or she wasn't home. He received the answer to his question seconds later when he heard footsteps behind him and the buzz of a cellphone. He spun around and jumped back. Anne was walking up the steps toward him, her phone tucked between her shoulder and her ear as she made her way to the door. Mark felt his own phone vibrate in his pocket as she came closer and pulled it out of his pocket, answering the call.

"Mark?" Anne began, still not seeing him as she fished through her purse for the keys.

"Yes?" Mark asked, staring directly at her.

"Where are you?"

Mark tried not to laugh and clicked off the phone. "Anne, look up," he said, a chuckle twinging his voice.

Anne complied and gasped, nearly dropping her phone. She turned it off and shoved it in her purse, dumbstruck. "Mark...you...phone..." She couldn't seem to make the words come together. She stopped, regained herself and then spoke again. "What are you doing here?"

Mark smiled. "Coming to check on you, of course."

Anne blushed and Dawn let out a whine. "Well, I shouldn't leave you standing there, why don't you come in?"

Mark smiled. "I think Dawn wants to come out."

Anne sighed. "I've been gone all day...trying to work things out like wills and inheritance stuff..." she trailed off, tears again coming to her eyes. Mark walked over to her and enveloped her in his arms. "I'm here. You can relax."

Anne laughed and smiled, looking up into his eyes. "Thanks for stopping by."

Mark nodded. "Absolutely."

The two went to the white wooden door of the old farmhouse and Anne unlocked it, stepping inside. Dawn met them and jumped into her beloved owner's lap, knocking Anne backward. Anne laughed and caught herself, hugging the husky tightly. "I missed you too, girl."

The dog licked her cheek, clearly happy about her master's return. After a moment, Anne stood and walked over to the kitchen, taking two glasses of water out of the cupboard and filling them with a bottle of water from the fridge. Mark leaned against the frame of the entry way and watched her in complete silence. She set the two glasses on the kitchen table and then whistled for Dawn. The husky came bounding in and smiled broadly with her tongue hanging to the side. Anne sighed and refilled the dog's water bowl and then went over to the table.

"Won't you sit down?" she asked, looking over at Mark who was still standing in the doorway. He nodded, siding off his coat and resting it over the back of one of the chairs, before sitting down across from her. She sat down across from him and slipped out of her own coat, tossing it across the room onto the counter. She then lifted her glass to her lips and took a drink.

"So, did you come here other than to just see me?" she asked.

Mark smiled, his eyes brightening. "Do I need more reason than that?" he asked, folding his hands on the table.

Anne rolled her blue eyes. "Very funny. But I'm serious. Is there something that you wanted to tell me?"

Mark half-nodded. "I had the guys from the repair shop in Shakopee look at your car."