Chapter 69 Leaving on a jet plane

Anna woke slowly with a spin to her head that made her sick. She rolled over and regretted it almost immediately. She turned off the blaring alarm right near her head and wondered if they would let her fly like this. A gentle tap sounded on her bedroom door before it was pushed open slowly. Bess’s head poked through the door opening and even though she was smiling Anna could see the sadness lurking in her eyes.
“Hey sleepyhead, how ya feeling?”
“Like I’ve been run over by a truck. I probably look like it too.”
Bess sat down on the bed and handed Anna a cup of coffee with a sad smile. “Not at all, You are going to be fine, You probably really need coffee though
Anna sat up and cradled the cup of coffee Bess gave her. The coffee tasted like heaven and if she wasn’t so miserable she would have loved it. She raised an eyebrow in question and gave her a sad look back. “You really think so?”
“Of course I do, you just need to decide what you are going to do about your marriage.
“I’m not sure there is much to do about it, John cheated on me so now I have to move to another place and try to move on with my life without him”.
“Is that what you really want?”
Anna ran her hands over the coverlet and looked away. “I really only have two choices, stay with him or divorce him.
“What is your heart telling you to do?
“That’s the thing, I don’t know. I can’t forgive him for what he’s done.”
“But can you live life without him?”
Anna wiped her eyes again and looked at Bess, “I guess I have to, because I can’t live like this anymore.”
“I’m so sorry hon.”
“Me Too,”
“So what will you do next?”
Anna sighed, “I’m going to Los Angele I guess. Life was miserable there before but at least I have a place that is all mine. Maybe this time it will be better.”
“But you hated it there and at least here you have friends.”
“But Johns here too,” Anna said with a sigh “that would just be one more reminder of what we lost.
“I have a friend who words at another agency I’m sure I could get you a job working there and you can stay with me while you are sorting things out.”
“That’s sweet of you, but Asheville will always be about John. I’m going to have to leave.”
“But that’s letting him win!”
“Not really because I get to move on with my life on my own terms. I just can’t live here with all that’s happened. Especially since I’m sure Isabel was the one who sent the guys to murder me.”
“Anna are you sure?” Bess asked in horror. “How could someone you’re related to do that to you?
“Jealousy I guess.”
“There’s evil everywhere I guess.”
“I’m going to call some airlines to see if I can get a flight out tonight. “
“You’re not going to wait a few days to see if John can clear it up?”
“No, I’m done waiting.” Anna said as she got to her feet and went to get the phone. Bess watched her go hurting for her friend who had defied time to come back to a man who had broken her heart.

***
Anna closed the door behind her and barely held off the tears until it was shut. She wanted to be strong but the pain was eating at her insides. Her chest hurt every minute as if someone were stomping on it and she just wanted the pain to end. She picked up the phone and dialed her travel agent. She was uncertain about taking the last seat on the flight leaving in four hours but she really only needed what she had on her. She booked the flight and cried as soon as she hung up the phone wondering if her life would ever feel normal again.

***
Several hours later John heard the phone through his misery. John grabbed it quickly hoping that it might be Anna or someone with information on where she’d been. He’s been so worried about her. He kept seeing her eyes wide and filled with tears and the crushing effects of what she was seeing. Then when he’d found her ring on the floor of her car his heart had died a little too.
“”Hello, Anna?” “He said his voice betraying his desperation.
“Not Hardly” Bess said drolly, “but I thought you’d want to know that Anna is leaving Asheville today for good.”
“What are you talking about?” John asked as his stomach dropped out.
“She’s leaving on a plane tonight. I tried to talk her out of it.”
“When?” John asked harshly grabbing his keys.
“Flight number 123 leaving at 5:30pm, gate number 4. Don’t make me regret this John,”