“Yes. She’ll be here in a moment. She’s acting odd, though,” Michael confessed as James’s eye shot up in alarm. “She asked us to drop her a bit up the road so she could walk the rest of the way. That girl definitely has something on her mind,” Michael confirmed.

“Oh, okay,” James sighed, deflated. He knew what was on her mind. He didn’t have to ask. It was the same thing playing on his mind. On repeat. But what was worse, he knew that Anna’s anguish was his fault. “Should we order drinks while we wait?” Diana and Michael just nodded.

James had no trouble attracting the waitress’s attention. He placed their drink order, a bottle of white wine for his parents and Anna, while he stuck to the orange juice. She returned moments later carrying their drinks. After dropping them off, she pressed a crumpled piece of paper into James’s hand. “Open it!” she whispered seductively into his ear. As she walked away her hips swayed seductively.

Diana flashed her son a harsh look. “Well? What’s that? It can’t be the bill because we haven’t even eaten yet,” Diana snorted.

James untangled it. As soon as he saw it, he was filled with guilt and mild disgust.

Elizabeth Webb. If you need a friend or more, call me.

James handed it to his father, who laughed smugly. The fury in James’s eyes showed clearly exactly how unamused he was.

But his anger didn’t last long. As a young woman appeared in the doorway, all thoughts of the phone number in his hand evaporated instantly. Tall and graceful, her dark hair framed her face and cascaded over her bare shoulders. The black sheath gown she wore was simple yet elegant. Sleeveless, high around the neck, it fell to the floor, grazing her breasts and hips in such a way that it was both modest and sexy. Her make-up was discreet, except for a bright blaze of red on her plump lips. James sat motionless. He was completely mystified and mesmerised by the mysterious woman. It wasn’t until she reached his table and James looked up into her eyes he recognised her. It was Anna. His Anna. Anna as he had never seen her.

Diana and Michael watched with bemused relief. Unable to hide their amusement, they looked on, powerless to do anything but sit back as their son melted at his fiancée’s feet. He was completely tongue tied. All thoughts of the waitress were long forgotten. Michael couldn’t restrain his smirk as he watched the phone number fall to the floor, discarded.

James stood and pulled out her chair. “You’re stunning,” he barely choked, barely managing to string words together. He had always considered Anna beautiful but tonight she stole his breath. He couldn’t tear his eyes off her as he poured her a glass of wine. Raising his glass above his head, he said “A toast. To England.” He laughed lightly.

The waitress appeared a few minutes later to take their order. She was pleasant to Diana and Michael, overly friendly to James, but she was straight out rude to Anna. With their dinner ordered, James led Anna out onto the small, intimate dance floor. By the time he slipped his arms around Anna’s waist, word had spread through the restaurant that James Thompson, the swimmer, dined amongst them. Patrons were craning their necks to get a glimpse, but neither James nor Anna noticed. James just stood in the centre of the dance floor with his arms snugly wrapped around Anna, oblivious to the world.

Something had changed between them. James not only felt it, but he could see it in Anna’s sad eyes. Despite the smile on her face, James knew it was forced. It didn’t reach her eyes. She was keeping him at arm’s length, even as they danced. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice trembling. He was petrified that last night could change everything. But it was more than that. James was scared he would lose Anna but it was more than fear. He was baffled as to why she seemed so angry and hurt. Did she blame him? How could he fix it? Would Anna even let him try? His mind was whirling. This had to be fixed and fixed now, otherwise it would be still eating at him when competition started tomorrow.

“Nothing. Why?” Anna was so distant; it was almost as if she wasn’t really there.

“Look, I’m really sorry about last night…”

“No. No. Please don’t. I’m the one who’s sorry. I should have said or done something before it got that far, but I didn’t want to. I don’t know why, but I wanted it just as much as you did. Probably more.”

“Baby, I promise you, that’s not possible,” James confessed, planting a chaste kiss on Anna’s exposed neck, causing Anna to tremble in his arms.

“But I really am sorry. And I wish I could explain it better but I just don’t know how,” Anna admitted. Her face that was usually so bright and bubbly was now apologetic and almost sad.

“Princess, don’t for a minute think that I didn’t want exactly the same thing. And I knew that I couldn’t and shouldn’t, but it didn’t mean I didn’t want it…if that makes any sense at all. We only have a few more weeks to wait. Then you’re all mine.” James chuckled throatily. His honesty and his optimism made Anna’s squirm.

“What if I said I could speed things up? Any thoughts?” Anna waited anxiously for his response.

“I’d say why are we still standing here? But there is no way—”

“Shh,” Anna whispered, putting her finger on his lips. “Haven’t you figured it out yet? I’m magical. I have ways. Tell me, Mr. Thompson, what are you doing in an hour and a half?”

“Whatever you tell me,” he agreed, pulling her closer to him if it was at all possible. He was totally captivated by her. At that moment James knew whatever Anna wanted he would give to her. Wherever Anna went, that’s where he wanted to be. No matter the cost, she would always come first.

Diana and Michael sat, watching them from the table. In fact the whole restaurant was watching their every move.

“I’m really glad he’s marrying that girl,” Michael smiled at his wife, intertwining their fingers. “They’re perfect together. I just can’t imagine him being happy with anyone else.”

“I know what you mean. They really do just fit, don’t they?” Diana replied proudly. Her face was covered by a smile of pure admiration.

***

Diana

James was everything that a mother could hope their son would grow up to be. He was successful, charming, handsome, intelligent, kind, sensitive, and more important than anything else, he was happy.

All they ever hoped for James was his happiness and only Diana and Michael knew how hard that was for James. To the outside world James led a charmed life, and the truth was he really did, but what the world didn’t see was all the sacrifices he had made to have that life. He’d fought the dark periods in his life and always come out on top but that didn’t mean that they weren’t there or that they didn’t leave scars—deep, permanent and ugly scars.

As Diana watched her son she was more thankful for Anna than she could ever express. Since Anna there had been no dark days. It was like she was the light inside James and made his world sparkle. And although Anna knew vaguely of James’s struggles she’d never experienced one first hand, and Diana prayed that she would never have to.

***

Anna

Anna led James back to the table where they sat quietly and enjoyed their meal. James couldn’t help but keep checking his watch, waiting anxiously for the surprise Anna had alluded to. After their meal, Anna told Diana that she and James were going to take a walk, and she would find her own way back to Chesterfield. James shot Anna a bewildered look. Anna just smiled mischievously and offered a slight nod as she reached down and took his hand.

The temperature had dropped noticeably since their arrival and it was snowing lightly. Anna’s dark brown spirals were collecting the soft snowflakes. They landed in her hair, on her nose, and on the ends of her eyelashes. Anna dropped James’s hand and stood with her arms high above her head, spinning around. She looked like an innocent child who’d never before seen snow.