Chapter 29 I Can't Accept

“Anthony, what are you talking about, you sound crazy.” She pushed him back and slid around to the other side of the table.
“Listen, I know this is out of the blue but I’ve heard things, mostly from Seline. She said that some pretty ugly stuff went down at your anniversary party. Something about a huge fight.”
Anna’s head swum as the memory of the night replayed in her mind. She’d been so hurt and so upset and she had left john initially. Then she’d lived through the worst five years of her life without him and had been murdered in her apartment. She knew what it was like to lose everything and she did not want to repeat that mistake.
“It was a bad fight,” Anna Acknowledged as she considered all she had been through and continued to go through with Melissa, May, and Isabel. It was not going to be an easy road.
“Then leave it all, I promise we can be happy if you just give us a chance.”
“Anthony, I want my marriage to work.”
“I’m not sure it can work when your husband is having an affair with his secretary.”
“He is not, she was all over him. I trust my husband.” Anna said this vehemently not even doubting it as she said it. Anna hadn’t realized just how much she trusted John until now. She grabbed her purse and went to leave but Anthony stayed her with a gentle touch to her hand.
Anthony rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed heavily as she sat back down. His hand wrapped around the cup and Anna was afraid it would crack under the pressure. He looked really upset but she wasn’t sure how to make it better.
“Why do you trust him, because he’s rich? “I’m rich too.”
“It’s not about the money, do you think that matters to me?”
“No, He said calmly looking down into the dark liquid in his cup “You’ve never been like that. I guess I just don’t understand why you wouldn’t want to walk away if you have the chance.”
Anna looked down at her coffee and thought about it. There were a million reasons to walk away, but a million more to stay. When Anna had woken up to find herself in the past with a second chance it had been scary. Hell, it was still scary. But she wanted this chance to make things right.
She wanted to build a life with John and if she was honest with herself, to get revenge on Melissa, May, and Isabel. Anna had never considered herself a vengeful person but she knew she had to get even for the things these women had done to her and John. There was no way she could walk away from John or their life together, she was determined to fight for it.
“Could you walk away from someone you love if you knew there was a chance to be happy?”
Anthony’s eyes locked with hers making his meaning clear before he answered “No I can’t.”
“Anthony, I’m not going to stop fighting for my marriage.”
“Even when you know you could be happy with someone else? Didn’t we always laugh and have the best time together?”
“Yes, we were good friends.”
“OH Friends,” he said putting his hand to his chest as if he’d been shot through the heart.
“I never acted like we were anything more. I never led you on.”
“No, you didn’t,” Anthony admitted softly, “but surely you knew how I felt about you? I was pretty obvious.”
“Yes, but I thought it was just a crush and that it would die on its own.”
Anthony shook his head, “It never did.”
“I’m sorry,” Anna said sincerely.
“You won’t even consider giving us a chance?” Anthony asked as he leaned over the table toward her “I promise I could make you happy.”
Anna looking into his blue eyes and knew that he believed that, and if she didn’t love John the way she did she might have been swayed. She contemplated what life with him would have been like. He smiled and leaned toward her taking advantage of her silent thoughtfulness. His mouth closed over hers in a gentle kiss.
“No! What are you doing?” she asked fiercely pushing him away. She wiped her mouth and glared at him.
“I wanted you to see how it could be between us.”
“Anthony, I don’t want to lose your friendship but I want to be clear, I love my husband.”
Anthony looked at her as he slowly stood. He seemed sad but a fire glowed in his eyes. “Honestly, I can’t say that I’ll stop trying.” Anthony said as he gathered his trash “you are worth fighting for.”
“We are happy even if it doesn’t seem that way.”
“I hope your right. What if you are throwing away your chance at real happiness?”