If All Else Fails

When It Rains, It Pours

~Anya~

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Mum. I like it here, it gives me peace. Besides, I haven't been here since I was what? Two years old? I'm fine. I really am." I look out the window and at the sunrise seeing a few strange clouds looming.

"Are you sure? I know your Dad would have wanted you here. But if it gives you all the peace of mind that you deserve then, I'm okay with it. Just please... please make sure to take care of yourself. I'll do my best to put things into place just in case you do decide to come back out."

I sigh on to the phone and nod. As if she could see me. Although, I know she'd never hope that I come back. After all, I had no reason to. "Of course, Mum. I'll get by." I sigh again. "Look, I have to go. I have to take Lucas out for a walk. It's nice out here." I hear her sniffle but I don't say a word. I was never really close to her but I knew enough when she was upset about something. She agrees to let me go and I end the call. I look out the window again and call out for Lucas. Where's that damn dog anyway?

I head for the kitchen, grabbed something to drink when the calendar caught my eye. Two more days, and it's that time of the year again. Which brought me to think, I've been here for almost three years now. I can hardly believe it. Although it was a small town away from the hustle and bustle of the city I once knew, everything here just gave me peace. No pressure, just living every day the way I want it to. He must be somewhere looking down at me and just shaking his head. His favorite princess wasting her life away when all he wanted was for me to be at the top of the corporate chain, following his footsteps. I slump against the counter and stare at the calendar intently. It took me quite a few minutes to gather myself and call out for Lucas again. This time, he appears out of nowhere bringing with him the paper. I set it aside, not bothering to read it and head out for the door and into the beach.

Lucas is a four year old golden retriever. He was a gift to me by my father when I turned twenty-eight. He knew that I loved animals, dogs especially and had been working for a non-profit organization that worked closely with PETA and the WWF which he silently disapproved of but had no choice but to agree with everything I did since it kept me busy and out of mischief. I remember him waking me up one Tuesday morning and leading me to the foyer and pointing at what was clearly a kennel box and said he adopted the youngest one out.  I didn't know that he had gotten in touch with Andy, one of my good friends from the org, to find out about what I liked and which animal I had been closely associating myself with. Andy then recommended that there was a recent rescued pup from a sewer near the Hillcrest Columbarium. At first Andy said he was hesitant to meet up with my father because after he told the story, he just heard him grunt, said nothing else and hung up the phone. Fast forward to that morning, he stared at me and I saw him smile a tiny smile in what seemed like a long long time ever since he separated with mum. I knew then and there that he was doing all that he could to keep me happy. Although, he still had not gotten over my good old college days when frat parties and clubbing were the "it" thing. Ah, Dad. What would I do without you.. what do I do now?

I shake my head and continue walking, picking up a few sticks and throwing them for Lucas to fetch and play with. I had been so lost in thought that I didn't know that I walked way too far already, with Lucas still following of course. I looked back at the distance I walked and looked at the sun now halfway above the sea. Everything in this town is just pretty much relaxed. I can do this all day, be at the beach all day, stay in bed all day without having to worry about anything else. But of course, I came here to find myself after losing everything. I promised myself that I would not allow anything else to cripple my happiness. I would put myself at the center of my universe. If I had to grow old alone, I would. Having to go through the pain of losing the man that was my everything was excruciating enough, I would not ever submit myself to that point in my life again. I would be strong. I needed to be.

I started pacing my way back but Lucas barked at me as if to say I forgot to throw him something. I smiled and shook my head at him. "Alright, here you go boy." I saw a twig but right before I was about to pick it up, I noticed a small black box just a few inches away from it. How could I not have seen this as I was walking up this path earlier? Ah right, I was too busy thinking about other things. I picked up the twig and looked sideways and back to see if there was anybody around. No one. I took the small box out of the sand and right before I opened it, on top was an all too familiar print. A print I had known all my life and had grown up seeing it every single day until three years ago. I had made myself believe that I could escape my own reality, but here it is, by some weird chance.

I brushed my thumb on the print and went on to opening the box. I tried to contain my surprise and all the emotions that came with it. This was the very piece that my father had designed for my mother. The first ever piece that was produced was when I was thirteen when my father had gotten down on one knee and asked for my mother's hand again for their 18th anniversary but got rejected as my mother wanted a divorce. It was a piece that symbolized both my father's dedication to his work and the heartbreak that came along with it. It was named Diana, after my mother. It had a contemporary 3-carat Princess cut diamond at the center flanked by double 1-carat Princess cut diamonds on either side. The band was made of 14K white gold with a solid square shank and intricate metalwork. I could not believe my eyes. There were only three pieces that were ever made. The first one was back at home, the other one was bought by the Prince of Monaco nine years ago and I'm here, having found the third one just at the beach by someone who was clumsy enough to not value this ring's worth. It annoyed me but I started running toward the small path just in case I still get to return the ring to whoever left this on here on purpose or by accident.

I was about to get on to the main road when it started raining. Lucas was still following me, with a look on his face that must mean he thinks I've gone crazy. This won't do. I'd have to go back home. But what about the ring? The owner? I don't want it to seem like I'm stealing this. But I can't just leave it back on the beach though. I look at Lucas. "Oh what do I do, boy? I don't want to leave this here. You know what this means to me right?" Lucas started barking and wagging his tail. I thought it meant that he was in agreement to my taking it home. I started to walk back to the beach. I'm taking this home. I'll take this to the police station when it stops raining. The owner can wait. I mean, why leave this carelessly, at the beach of all places, anyway? Sheesh, dumb person. I was about to take another step when I was whirled and a pair of strong hands gripped both my arms. I was so taken aback that the first thing I saw were two bright emerald green eyes looking down on me.

These eyes contained a whole lot of emotions but not happy ones. They belonged to a face that would stop you in your tracks. He had strong arched brows, impossibly thick eyelashes, a distinct pair of cheekbones, his lips were pale and thin and his nose slender and rounded and a prominent jaw curved gracefully around and the strength of his neck showed in the twining cords of muscle that shaped his entire body which all the more made his face perfectly symmetrical. He had thick tousled brown hair, now wet from the rain. He was tall and it was hard to look up and stare at him what with the downpour. He was the type of guy any female alpha would fall head over heels for but I wasn't about to lose my grip. Or so I thought, until he spoke the few words that were all too familiar.

"Give me back what's mine." I was stunned. His voice was deep and in a serious tone but it was ice cold. It gave me the shivers all the more. But I couldn't get myself to speak. I wanted to push him off, but I was left weak in the hands of a man I never thought I would meet.