Chapter 56 The Truth Comes Out

“This is Peter Richards with ABC 11 news. Top story tonight, the phots that caused such a sensation on the Town Talk website the past few days have been verified as being false. Sources state that the photos were a combination of two other photos and were extensively edited. The photos were released by a third-party source.. The blog has claimed that they had no idea that the photos were edited and claim that they will seek legal action against their source. The blog also posted a retraction and an apology on their site.”
Anna smiled as the newscaster droned on. She felt lighter than she had in forever. Sometimes she felt bogged down as if she were a hundred. Now hearing the confirmation that Seline had told the truth caused her to feel a little lighter.
“I can’t believe it, she actually does have good in her somewhere. I never saw that coming.”
“I’m totally shocked,” John said as he turned off the news. “Combined with the evidence that we submitted everyone knows now that the pictures were fake.”
“Dare I dream that maybe we will have some peace?”
“I hope so, I’m tired of all the crap that has been going on lately. I just want to kidnap you and run away somewhere.”
“We already did that.” She said with a smile as she pulled him down to kiss him.
“Let’s go anyway.” He growled. He kissed down her neck and squeezed her to him making her gasp in laughter.
John kissed her and Anna leaned into the kiss wanting nothing more than to be in this moment with him. It felt like they were always running through quicksand and she wanted nothing more than a little normal life. She pulled on the ties of his sleep pants as the phone began to ring.
John’s head fell to her chest as he groaned “you have to be kidding me.”
Anna reached over and grabbed the phone. Seeing that it was Anthony she hit answer and put it on speaker. “Anthony, did you see the news?”
“Yes I did, I was pleasantly surprised.”
“We were too,” John said sitting up “it wouldn’t have happened without your help though.”
“I just did what was right, I couldn’t let her ruin your life here.”
“Anthony thank you.” Anna said quietly, “but what happens to you now?”
“Well, I go to visit my parents, get a job, and try to move on with my life.”
“I thought you were staying in Asheville?”
“Nope, I really was fired from my job, Edited or not I still allowed my picture to be taken in a compromising position. Apparently I’m not of a “good moral character.”
“If we’d known you would really lose your job we would have found another way. “John said softly.
“It would have happened anyway.”
“Anthony is there anything we can do?” Anna asked.
“Take care of each other. You’ll regret it your whole life if you don’t.”
“We will take care of yourself,” John said softly.
“Goodbye Anthony,” Anna said in a quiet voice. Somewhere inside her, she ached for the gangly boy he’d been and the man he’d become. She knew that somewhere inside him he had loved Seline even if he didn’t want to admit it to anyone, even himself. That coupled with her rejection of him made the situation worse.
“Goodbye Anna, John,” Anthony said as he hung up the phone.
Anna set the phone back down and sat back stunned. A plot against them had led to the total change in the life of a good person and she felt guilty for it. John opened his arms and Anna fell into them suddenly exhausted.
***
The next morning Anna and John sat at breakfast and Anna’s mind was a million miles away. The reality of the past few weeks was crashing down on her and it was a lot to handle. Thoughts of Anthony ran through her mind and she was sad and sorry for him.
“Hey, where were you just now?” John asked putting his toast down.
“I was thinking about Anthony. I know they say that the first year of marriage is the hardest but we’ve been married just over a year and it seems like life has it out for us.”
“Or at least our respective families,” John said with a sigh.
“It just feels like my head is about to bust.”
“I know, what I can do to make it better?”
“Just love me.”
“I always do but really what can I “Do” to help you?”
“Keep my mind off it?”
John smiled and wiggled his eyebrows at her. Anna sighed and rolled her eyes. “Perv.”
“Can’t blame me for trying.”
“I guess I can’t,” She said with a smile “I just want to forget all this drama for a while.”
John cocked his head and then smiled as if he’d just come up with the solution for world hunger. “I know just how I can distract you.”
Anna raised an eyebrow.
“With work,” he said with a laugh.
“Well I already have my team and I love it.”
“I thought you might want to be the team lead in training.”
“Lead in training? Does that mean Stella’s leaving?”
“No, but I want her to train you so you can lead a team of your own soon.”
“Why?”
“The owner of the Rushmore called to say how happy he is with our advertising strategy and with you. They signed on for five more years.”
“John that’s amazing!” Anna said with the first real smile in weeks.
“So do you want to use that smart brain and sassy mouth of yours more at work?”
Anna squealed and jumped onto his lap. “I would love it.”
John smiled too against her lips and pulled her close. He was very afraid they were going to be late for work. He just wished he cared.
***
Across town, Isabel opened the door to Melissa and May and invited them inside. The door closed and the three women began to plan their next move. It was time to step up their plans to get rid of Anna.