Chapter 55 A Plan and Some Truth

“Thank you so much for coming. I wasn’t sure you would.”
Anthony stood and held out her chair for her as she approached. “I have to admit I was curious.”
“Well, whatever your reasons for coming, thank you.”
“I came for you. I knew you must need my help to call after what happened at the coffee house.”
“Don’t you care about yourself? I mean you were in those pictures too.”
“Please, if anything I got off easy. The men think I’m a stud. Society sucks.”
“Yes, it does. You know Seline leaked those pictures right?”
“I was sort of hoping she didn’t, but there is no other explanation.”
“I’m really sorry.”
“I kept waiting for her to grow up and it never happened,” Anthony sighed “Plus I was always distracted by a certain redhead.”
Anna smiled at him sadly “If I didn’t love John so much things might have been different.”
“I know.” He said softly.
“I wanted you to know that John and I found proof of the digital altering of the photos and we are giving them to the press today to help clear our names but without a confession of some kind we are still in a lot of trouble.”
“It will only clear you anyway.”
Anna gaped at him “what?”
“They were of me and Seline.”
“I’m so sorry.” She said as the horror of the situation hit home.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve indulged her when I shouldn’t have.”
“Anthony, what can I do to help you?
“Let me help clear your name.”
“Okay, here’s the plan.”
***
“Where is she?” Anthony said to the sour-faced woman who answered the door.
. “That’s none of your business.”
“I want to see her now.”
“No.”
“Miriam, get away from the door for God’s sake! You are not a guard dog.” Seline’s voice said with cold calmness from behind her. Seline pushed Miriam to the side and glared at Anthony “Why are you here?”
“I want to talk to you. Can I come in?”
“By all means, do what you want, “Seline shrugged stepping back and walking further into the house, “You always do.”
Anthony gritted his teeth and followed her. He still liked what he saw from the outside even though he knew what she was like on the inside.
“What do you want?” Seline asked as she sat primly on the red patterned couch.
“I want to talk about the pictures that were released.”
“Yes I saw them, very nice,” Seline said with a scoff.
“I wanted to make sure you were okay after seeing them.”
Seline looked at him as if he’d grown a second head “You were worried about me? That wasn’t me in those pictures being ridden by someone else’s spouse.”
“We both know that was you and I in those pictures, I never had that kind of relationship with Anna.”
“You wanted it though didn’t you?”
“Yes, but she loves her husband.”
“She always did, even I could see that.”
“I guess I was just too blind to see it before now.”
“Anthony… “
“Anyway, “he cut her off raking his hands through his short blonde hair “I’ve been fired from my job and I am leaving Asheville. “
Seline’s face dropped and her skin turned a pallid grey. She felt like her chest had been punched. She knew that this would hurt Anna, hadn’t been able to see past it in fact, but she hadn’t thought about the effect on Anthony. She never thought she might lose him for good.
“Ant, how can I help you?”
Anthony took her hand and smiled bravely “There is nothing you can do, it looks like I was having some sordid affair and unless the truth comes out I am done here.”
“I wish I could help,” Seline said and surprised herself realizing she meant it with no anger at him.
“I just wanted to see you before I go.” He stood and leaned down kissing her cheek gently “I’m sorry for my part in all this if I ever made you feel like you were less.”
“Anthony…” Seline said softly trying to hold onto his hands, but he squeezed his hands and pulled free.
“Goodbye Seline.” He said as he turned away and strode out of the house.
Seline stared after him with a devastated look on her face.
***
‘I did my best,” Anthony told Anna and John as he walked to his car “now I’m going to hope she has some good left in her, some conscience.”
“I hope she does too,” Anna said softly as she and John thanked him and hung up the phone. She turned to John and crawled into his lap and his open arms.
“I have a good feeling about this,” John said in her ear. “I think Seline loves Anthony and if anyone can get her to confess it’s him.
“That almost sounded like you were saying something nice about Anthony.” She said incredulously.
“I think he is a good man, he just needs to keep himself away from you.”
“I don’t think that will be a problem.” She said softly. She wondered if some good did still live in Seline. Anthony seemed to think so but she had her doubts, her stomach rolled at this whole miserable situation. She didn’t know what this would mean for them even with the photo evidence