Read Online The Other Side of Anne by Kelly Stuart - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kelly Stuart
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walls.
Chapter Seven
Anne awoke in a pool of sunshine. She scrambled to orient herself and find the clock. 9:43. Goodness. She must have fallen asleep right away. She remembered scuttling into bed and then…nothing. I am rested. I am refreshed. I am alive.
The door creaked open, and Avery peeked into the room. “You’re awake! Good morning.”
Anne patted her hair. “Good morning. I apologize again for intruding in your home. I truly hope you are not inconvenienced.”
Avery waved off the comment. “Anytime. How did you sleep?”
“Very well. And you?”
“Same. Come on, let’s grab breakfast.”
Over Corn Pops, Avery said: “I canceled my class today. Actually, that’s a lie. I videotaped my lecture and uploaded it to Blackboard.”
“What is Blackboard ?”
“ It’s the online system Quentin University uses for classes. I assigned a mini-project, so that means we’re good to take our time and get your paintings at Pegasus when you’re ready.”
Anne was relieved that Avery had cancelled his class, but she would not let him see that. “There was no need.”
Avery grinned and stuck a spoonful of cereal in his mouth. “I’m a big boy. I can make decisions just fine.”
An ne disliked the gentle teasing in his tone. “Why do you live out here?”
“Why not? Peaceful. Quiet. Lots of land. No nosy neighbors. I like it.”
“I see.”
“Anyway, the day is wide open. Anything you want to do other than get your paintings? Buy new clothes?”
Anne dipped h er spoon into a section that held mostly crisp pieces of cereal. “Perhaps later I shall purchase additional clothing. You own much land, I believe. It has been ever long since I walked for a goodly time and felt the air, the cold and the wind on my cheeks.”
“That sounds great. Can I tag along?” Anne saw the real message in Avery’s expression, in his tight, taut mouth: Safer to not go alone. No one can sneak up on you and seize you.
“ You may accompany me, yes.”
“ Awesome. It’s really cold out, so bundle up.”
**
The doorbell rang moments before Avery and Anne were to leave on their walk. He peered through the peephole, and his stomach knotted. Not a visitor from Pegasus. Worse.
“Shit.” Avery turned to Anne. “It’s Cindy, one of my cousins. She’s Mom’s sister’s daughter.”
Another insistent doorbell ring and Cindy called: “Yoo-hoo! I see you!”
“Shall I go to my bedroom?” Anne offered.
“N ot unless you want to. I’ll get rid of Cindy as quickly as I can.” Avery undid the deadbolt and opened the door. He forced a smile. “Cindy!”
Cindy tore off her winter cap. Her hair had turned pink. Pink!
Avery’s jaw fell. “Wow.”
“Like it?” Cindy asked. She was a statuesque brunette—temporary pinkhead—who looked fifteen years younger than she was.
“It’s striking. Uh, come on in. Get out of the cold.” Avery indicated Anne. “We were about to go on a walk. This is my friend, Anne George. Anne, this woman with the Pepto-Bismol hair is my cousin, Cindy.”
Anne smiled good-naturedly, and her aura was different. She was no longer a distant and haughty queen. She was softer. More approachable. She held out one of her gloved hands. “Pleasure to meet you. Your hair is delightful, ma’am.”
Cindy beamed. “Call me Cindy. And thank you.” She shifted her attention back to Avery. “You left so suddenly after your father’s burial. I wanted to check on you.”
“I’m fine. Needed to get out of there. Too many people. It was overwhelming.”
Cindy pursed her lips, not believing Avery. “Anne, where are you from? Your accent...”
“Anne is European,” Avery supplied. “She spent her childhood all over.” Anne sounded precious little like a modern Briton or a modern Frenchwoman. Best to make her out as some sort of European mongrel.
“Ah. ” Skepticism leaked from Cindy’s voice.
“I wish you would’ve called.” Avery zipped his jacket
Chapter Seven
Anne awoke in a pool of sunshine. She scrambled to orient herself and find the clock. 9:43. Goodness. She must have fallen asleep right away. She remembered scuttling into bed and then…nothing. I am rested. I am refreshed. I am alive.
The door creaked open, and Avery peeked into the room. “You’re awake! Good morning.”
Anne patted her hair. “Good morning. I apologize again for intruding in your home. I truly hope you are not inconvenienced.”
Avery waved off the comment. “Anytime. How did you sleep?”
“Very well. And you?”
“Same. Come on, let’s grab breakfast.”
Over Corn Pops, Avery said: “I canceled my class today. Actually, that’s a lie. I videotaped my lecture and uploaded it to Blackboard.”
“What is Blackboard ?”
“ It’s the online system Quentin University uses for classes. I assigned a mini-project, so that means we’re good to take our time and get your paintings at Pegasus when you’re ready.”
Anne was relieved that Avery had cancelled his class, but she would not let him see that. “There was no need.”
Avery grinned and stuck a spoonful of cereal in his mouth. “I’m a big boy. I can make decisions just fine.”
An ne disliked the gentle teasing in his tone. “Why do you live out here?”
“Why not? Peaceful. Quiet. Lots of land. No nosy neighbors. I like it.”
“I see.”
“Anyway, the day is wide open. Anything you want to do other than get your paintings? Buy new clothes?”
Anne dipped h er spoon into a section that held mostly crisp pieces of cereal. “Perhaps later I shall purchase additional clothing. You own much land, I believe. It has been ever long since I walked for a goodly time and felt the air, the cold and the wind on my cheeks.”
“That sounds great. Can I tag along?” Anne saw the real message in Avery’s expression, in his tight, taut mouth: Safer to not go alone. No one can sneak up on you and seize you.
“ You may accompany me, yes.”
“ Awesome. It’s really cold out, so bundle up.”
**
The doorbell rang moments before Avery and Anne were to leave on their walk. He peered through the peephole, and his stomach knotted. Not a visitor from Pegasus. Worse.
“Shit.” Avery turned to Anne. “It’s Cindy, one of my cousins. She’s Mom’s sister’s daughter.”
Another insistent doorbell ring and Cindy called: “Yoo-hoo! I see you!”
“Shall I go to my bedroom?” Anne offered.
“N ot unless you want to. I’ll get rid of Cindy as quickly as I can.” Avery undid the deadbolt and opened the door. He forced a smile. “Cindy!”
Cindy tore off her winter cap. Her hair had turned pink. Pink!
Avery’s jaw fell. “Wow.”
“Like it?” Cindy asked. She was a statuesque brunette—temporary pinkhead—who looked fifteen years younger than she was.
“It’s striking. Uh, come on in. Get out of the cold.” Avery indicated Anne. “We were about to go on a walk. This is my friend, Anne George. Anne, this woman with the Pepto-Bismol hair is my cousin, Cindy.”
Anne smiled good-naturedly, and her aura was different. She was no longer a distant and haughty queen. She was softer. More approachable. She held out one of her gloved hands. “Pleasure to meet you. Your hair is delightful, ma’am.”
Cindy beamed. “Call me Cindy. And thank you.” She shifted her attention back to Avery. “You left so suddenly after your father’s burial. I wanted to check on you.”
“I’m fine. Needed to get out of there. Too many people. It was overwhelming.”
Cindy pursed her lips, not believing Avery. “Anne, where are you from? Your accent...”
“Anne is European,” Avery supplied. “She spent her childhood all over.” Anne sounded precious little like a modern Briton or a modern Frenchwoman. Best to make her out as some sort of European mongrel.
“Ah. ” Skepticism leaked from Cindy’s voice.
“I wish you would’ve called.” Avery zipped his jacket
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