Chasing Anne

To The End

Mitchel felt Anne's forehead and smiled, patting her shoulder.

"Well, you've certainly made a splendid recovery!" he exclaimed.

Anne shrugged and turned her gaze to the window. Mitchel's smile faded and he went for the door. "I'll leave you-."

"No, Mitchel, you don't have to leave," Anne said softly, turning back to him. "I'm just lost in thought I guess."

Mitchel hesitated, but then let go of the doorknob. "Oh? About what?"

Anne immediately blushed and Mitchel instantly knew why. He smiled. "This is about Mark."

Anne didn't have to reply. Mitchel knew her all too well already. She'd been in Parr Manor for a week now and other than the window, Mitch had become the highlight of her day. He came only once and his reason for coming was to make sure she wasn't sick, but it still brought her some joy. The company he gave her made her feel less lonely and it also gave her someone to talk with. To be honest, he wasn't much of a talker, but Anne had already figured out ways to get around his shy demeanor. She knew that once he started talking, he wasn't going to stop. He was no Mark Normand, but he was something other Ray. At the thought of Raymond however, a shiver ran down Anne's spine. She'd been too sick to dine with him for the past few days, but...now she could put it off no longer. She didn't want to join him for dinner, wear the dress that was too small, or put on the shoes that made her feet ache. In short, she wanted to do anything but go to dinner, but she had no choice.

Mitchel touched her shoulder. "Your blush didn't last. What are you thinking about now?"

Anne sighed and looked over at Mitchel, the only normal person in the entire household. He almost laughed when she did which only annoyed her, but frankly his smile was the least of her concerns. "I was just thinking about Raymond, Mitchel."

Mitchel laughed. "I have a feeling that he's not exactly on your nice list," he chuckled.

Anne rolled her eyes. "Just the opposite, Mitch."

Mitchel laughed again. "You don't want to have dinner with him, do you?"

"Would you?" Anne asked, standing and walking over to the window.

Mitchel laughed. "Not for him. But if it gave me a chance to spend time with you...then yes." He paused and turned his gaze to the floor for a moment before folding his arms over his chest.

"You miss him, don't you?"

Anne bowed her head a moment and looked at the floor. "I don't even know if he's still alive, Mitchel." She could feel tears press at her eyes and tried to hold them back, but it was impossible to. She sniffled and wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. "Sorry," she whispered.

Mitchel just smiled and wrapped his arm around her. "Everybody cries, Anne. Don't be ashamed of it."

Anne turned to him and looked into his eyes. "If you were me, and you fell in love with someone...but they were stolen away from you, what would you do?"

"Under your circumstances, Anne, I would pray."

"But what if Mark's...dead?"

Mitch smiled. "He's not. Trust me."

"How can you be so sure?" Anne asked, trying to hold back another wave of tears.

Mitch tucked her hair behind her ear and looked into her eyes. "Because he loves you, Anne. Listen, everything Parr told you was a lie. Everything he will tell you about Mark will be a lie. Mark's smitten with you. I've seen it myself. There is nothing that is keeping him from you other than Raymond right now."