Finding Annabelle CH. 2

I had finally arrived in Morrison and found a hotel. Turns out there is only one. I was exhausted I glanced down at the clock; it read 1:17am. The hotel was a quaint little bed and breakfast with a vintage feel. The lights were old and dim. I began walking upstairs to my room. With each step the stairs creaked as I slowly applied pressure from each step as to not wake any of the guests. The owner looked at me as if I had three heads. She asked me in a rather loud voice for what time it was, “what are you doing",

 

"Trying not to wake anyone", I said.

"Honey, there's no one here but you and me" she laughed as she said this. She was probably thinking that I had never been in a town this size before. She was right I hadn't.

 

I went up the stairs with considerably less caution. When I got to the top I began walking to my room being careful of avoiding the beautifully ornate vintage floor molding. I sauntered to my room exhausted. I shut the door behind me and locked it; dropped my bags and started surveying the room. It smelled musty with the hint of lavender. The moon was shining dimly though the window directly on the head of the bed on which was an elaborately hand carved hunting scene. Something you would see out of the Black forest area of Germany where woodworking is passed from father to son and is perfected over the ages. After spending a couple minutes admiring the craftsmanship, I climbed between the covers. Within minutes I was fast asleep.

 

The next morning had come too quickly. I had slept well that night. It was as if I had slept for years. I got out of bed and got dressed and went downstairs for breakfast. It smelled just like I was in Ihop but better. Everything was made from scratch and all the ingredients were local. It was so picturesque like something you would see out of country life magazine. Believe it or not it tasted even better than it looked.

 

Once I was done eating I asked the inn keeper how long she had lived in the town. She replied “all my life dear...Why?"

I thought of telling her of what had happened but then I remembered from all the TV I watched that news travels fast in small towns. I didn’t want anything reaching Annabelle before I had a chance to tell her. Although I am sure she knows of the ill fate her fiancé had met I just didn’t want anyone to know I was the cause. So I simply replied...."I am looking for a friend." 

She proceeded to ask me who I was looking for. I finally said "Annabelle Cole."

She smiled and said, " of course I know little Annabelle who doesn't in this town... sweet young thing. She teaches over at the school house." "How do you know her if you're not from around here?"

I quickly thought of the retort "I served with her husband" as soon as those words passed through my lips I regretted it. the questions just began flowing and wouldn't stop. She was asking." how did he die" and, "does poor Annabelle know?"

That was the worst lie I could have ever told. I hardly knew anything about the guy.

But, I had to run with it I didn't want anything reaching Annabelle before I could tell her myself.

I just told the inn keeper that I had transferred into the unit right before he left for home.

 

I realized I had to leave before she started finding all the holes in my story. So I politely said I had to go and that I would be back late that night.

 

And so the journey began. My thoughts began racing again. I immediately drove to the school house. As I pulled up I began thinking of how I was going to introduce myself. The best I could come up with was....to go with the flow. I mean after all what can you say in such a horrible situation. That's when I saw her.... she was even more beautiful in person than in the photo that was posted on facebook. This time there was something different about her. A tired and sad look was on her face; she forced a smile as the kids came out for their 10:45 recess break. I could tell she had been informed of her late fiancé’s death. How she was keeping it together was beyond me.

 

 

 

I slowly got out of the escalade and shut the door. I must have shut the door a little too hard because the second it had closed, she quickly looked in my direction and spotted me. She forced another smile and began to walk towards me. The distance was closing fast and I thought to myself, “How can you say something to someone that will destroy everything they have come to know.” Chris Evans was her everything. He had become her exigence of breath. Her very reason to breathe. A gift from god himself. Someone who understood and loved her in her entirety. He had embraced her many kinks and quirks for the beautiful human being she was. He was that one person we meet only once in our life.

The first words that passed her lips were, “Hey soldier!"

I immediately froze. That nosy innkeeper must have spread the word of my arrival! I knew I couldn't tell her the truth now I just simply had to play the part, and so began what seemed like an endless intricate web of lives.

I replied, "Afternoon mam."

With each passing second I began to grow sick from the images of Chris' final moments replaying through my brain. I took this as a sign from Christopher to stay the course and continue my final mission to tell her what happened and possibly try offering her solace through her husband's last words.

 

I had no idea how I was going to break the ice. Turns out I didn't have to. She did.  She immediately spoke saying “I am sure by now you have heard of the untimely passing of my fiancé.

 

"I have mam.” I said

"I have come to offer the deepest of my condolences. As a matter of fact, I was hoping I could speak with you somewhere private. Is that possible?"

 

“Why such a need for discretion soldier?”

 

“No reason mam, other than me wanting to talk to you about Chris. I just don’t want to see you become disheveled in front of everyone.”

 

“I would ask you to come and talk at the bed and breakfast that I am staying at but I don’t want the other town members getting the wrong idea”

 

Anabelle replied, “I appreciate that I don’t know if you knew about this but in small towns everyone is a gossip, and it starts from the most harmless of intentions.’

But, no one is going to question the integrity of a marine especially one that served with Chris.

Can you be there at around six? I live on the other side of town by the river near Rock Creek Park.

 

There was that lie again! I was perpetually haunted by the very mention of it.

How was I ever be able to rid myself of this very evil? I have to come clean. I had resolved to do just that at our next encounter.

Author's Note

ignore grammar problems