DAWN PAIGE GREY Young Adult Romance

Chapter 4 - Annie's Conscience

When the girls came down to breakfast Dawn was surprised to find Luke in the kitchen so early in the morning. He would usually stop by in the evenings after work and visit for a while or have dinner with them.  But today he seemed to be in deep conversation with Chris, who was frowning. Luke had his back to the stairs and did not see Dawn and Annie enter the kitchen. When Dawn crept up to him quietly and placed her hands over his eyes he jumped, startled by the unexpected touch and swore heavily. 

Annie blushed and felt herself turn several shades of red and felt extremely uncomfortable when she came face to face with Luke.  He apologised profusely when he saw Annie’s reaction and was rather taken aback at the sight of such a cute young woman standing beside Dawn.

Luke playfully scolded Dawn, catching her round the waist and pulling her into his arms while, trying to cover up his own embarrassment, at being caught off guard like that.

Annie felt totally dumb struck and couldn’t fathom out if she was blushing because of the foul language that came out of Luke’s mouth or the fact that when he turned round she thought she had just locked eyes with a Greek God. Dawn had mentioned he was tall, dark and handsome, but she had omitted to mention that he had stepped out of Greek mythology. A Greek God, from the legends, physically here on earth.  For a brief moment Annie’s breath got trapped in her lungs and she could only exhale when Luke pulled Dawn into his arms.

Annie bit down on her bottom lip to hold back the squeaky sound that threatened to expel from her vocal chords. The embarrassing noise she made whenever she was overly excited. A sound her new friend Dawn had not been privy to as yet.

So this was Dawn’s fiancé and all those unworded thoughts that were jostling to get out of the starting gate of her brain had to be capped there and then.  Such unbridled thoughts did not belong in the here and now and not ever even! Annie scolded her brain furiously for being so out of bounds.  Dawn was her new BFF and she would never let anything ruin this new friendship.

‘To covet your friend’s fiancé, how absolutely sinful Annie!’ Her conscience screamed at her.

Annie struggled to compose herself and heard Dawn asking if she was alright.

“Annie, are you okay?”

“Yes, yes I’m find Dawn, thanks.”

“Well you sort of went all quiet when I introduced you to Luke.”

“I’m sorry, I …. Ummm.” Annie stuttered and catching Chris watching her she blushed again.

Dawn immediately noticed the exchange of looks between Chris and Annie and smiled. She now understood Annie’s blushing and embarrassing silence. Dawn’s cupid brain swam into action sensing the attraction between her brother and Annie, especially after their unexpected meeting in the hall way yesterday. Maybe she could organise a double wedding after all, or was she rushing things?

‘Let the arrows fall and find their hearts,’ she whispered thoughtfully to her cupid angel.

Dawn was an incurable romantic and that cupid angel had taken up residence inside that romantic triangle in her brain, often causing unexpected mischief as she tried to play matchmaker to her brother’s at every social function.  Just to have another female presence in the home would be a dream come true for her.

The strained silence was broken by the appearance of her father as he marched into the kitchen with his muddy boots.

“Dad!” Dawn hollered, “Your boots!”

“Oh.” He responded looking down at the trail of muddy footprints following him across the white tiled kitchen floor, “I needed a quick cuppa. Myrtle is about to give birth.”

“Who is Myrtle?” Annie asked confused by this unexpected information.

“Dawn’s pet.” Chris responded coming forward and taking Annie’s hand saying, “come, I’ll show you.”

Leading Annie out of the kitchen, he quickly followed his father to the barn, dragging her after him.

Annie neither agreed nor protested as at that moment she felt confused about everything and she was even more confused when they arrived at the barn and was introduced to Myrtle the cow.

“So this is Dawn’s pet?” She asked looking up at Chris who towered a good six inches above her.

“Yes.” Replied Dawn breathlessly, catching up to them in the barn, followed by Luke trailing behind.

“You have a cow for a pet.” Annie said frowning at her friend.

“What’s wrong with having a cow as a pet?  I live on a farm don’t I? Surely it’s the most natural pet to have on a farm?” Dawn said looking at her friend rather sternly.

“Well, ummm, most people I know have dogs or cats or maybe even birds ….. but a cow, gee Dawn, you’re the first person I know who has a cow ….. named Myrtle!”

Dawn could no longer keep a straight face and burst out laughing, “Ohh, Annie,” she gave her friend a hug, “you should see your face, it’s a picture. If I could paint confusion onto a canvas, it would look exactly as your face does now.”

Annie burst out laughing too and hugged Dawn.

Just then the cow made a high pitched moo sound and one tiny hoof popped out.  Slowly inch by inch a little brown and white calf was born. As the calf plopped down to the barn floor Annie turned round to Dawn and asked, “Dawn do you paint?”

Everyone turned to look at Annie, whose question seemed totally out of context at this moment.

“What?” asked Dawn?

“You said you’d paint my confused face on a canvas just a few minutes ago.” Annie responded to the question that seemed to be on everyone’s faces.

“Oh Annie,” Chris said as he gave her a gentle punch on her arm, “It’s just an expression, albeit colourful and the kind of vocab Dawn uses often.”

“Look Annie, just look how cute he is, trying to stand on his wobbly little legs.” Dawn stated excitedly.

All conversation forgotten as they looked on mesmerised by the sight of the new born calf.

Annie turned to look at Dawn with the intention of saying something and found Luke watching her. She metaphorically plucked the wings off the butterfly that threatened to flutter in her tummy.