AnnaI hate seeing Kennedy so sad. I don’t understand all of it, but I know it’s bad, and I know it’s about work.I also know how hard he tried to work with me when I was sitting across his desk every week. He’s good with people. He cares.Even if that place is stuffy and snooty and no good for people like me.I don’t think now’s the time to tell him that, so I keep my mouth shut and do what I can do, which is mainly make coffee.He closes his newspaper and pulls me tight against him as I dish out the drinks, and it’s nice to feel him smile against my cheek.“I’m sorry,” he says, “I don’t mean to seem miserable. I’ve been looking forward to seeing you.”I nod. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing you, too.” I look over at Riven. “Both of you.”I love how Kennedy’s arm feels around my waist. I love the smell of him in his suit.He’s wearing the tie I bought him and it makes me feel proud.“Did they say anything?” I ask. “About me, I mean? Did you get into trouble for helping me?”“No,
KennedyLoving Anna Josephine is everything I thought it would be. More than I thought it would be.Because the Anna Josephine who snapped and sneered at me every week in my office has transformed into a girl who’s everything I knew she could be.Even more than I knew she could be.I know I said packing my clothes and bringing them here would be way too soon, but here, in bed, with Anna snuggled into my side and Riven pressed up against the back of her, it feels anything but soon.It feels like all roads led here, even if I didn’t know it before it happened.The whole town undoubtedly knows Anna is here, even if they didn’t even know where here was before now.Riven’s house will have been discussed and pointed out, questions raised over just what’s going on between the man they know makes a shit ton of money out of insurance, and the mouthy little gypsy girl they shake their head at in the street.But I don’t care.My job is the only string left holding me to any of their unwanted opi
AnnaAfter all those years of feeling I had nothing to live for but a disgusting excuse for a brother who made me do things that no girl should ever do, I suddenly have a whole world in front of me.I love wandering through the fields every day – especially today.Especially since there was a knock at the front door this morning and I had to sign for a parcel with my name on it. I had to ask three times to make sure the courier was sure, but there it was in print – Anna Josephine – my name right over the address. I stared at it for ten whole minutes before I opened it, and when I finally tore into the box it took my breath.A new pair of boots in just the right size. The delivery note said from Riven and Kennedy, you earned them with a string of kisses underneath. I still have it in my pocket. I don’t think I’ll ever take it out.I love feeling the mud under those new boots as I set off across Riven’s beautiful farmland with a load of planks on my shoulder and a hammer stuffed down my
I’m just grabbing myself a coffee when I feel the shiver in the air. It’s not cold. It’s different to that.A sixth sense. A shudder in my mind.And then I know. I sense him before I smell him, and smell him before I see him, a waft of weed hitting my nose from the dining room doorway.He props himself in the frame like he owns the place, hood up high so his eyes look even darker than usual.“Made me fucking come for it, didn’t you?”I play it cool, just like always. “Had no fucking credit on my phone, nor bus fare either.”He looks about the room and I hate how he ogles everything. “Landed on your feet here. Fucking some posh guy so I hear. Whole shitty town is talking about it, a silly old bitch directed me right to your door.”“I’m working here,” I tell him. “I’m fixing fences.”“Fixing fences and sucking dick,” he sneers. “Have you missed mine? I bet you fucking have, you filthy little bitch.”“Don’t flatter yourself,” I snap.“Shame,” he says and takes a step forward, “since you
RivenMy crazy idea for Kennedy’s career wouldn’t let go once it started. That’s why I called the bank today and set up an appointment. That’s why I marched in there with a hastily drawn up plan and opened a new account all ready to start.It’s crazy but perfect. Perfect for both of them.I can’t fucking wait to fill them in on the news.I’ve got more money than I’ve ever known what to do with, and more than enough time around work to help with the practicalities of setting up something like this. I make sure I’ve got my folder of ideas on the passenger seat as I buckle up and head for home.I know I’ll be earlier than Kennedy, I’ll just have to keep my mouth shut until he gets there.There’s a crunch of glass under my foot as I step inside. My brow creases as I stare down at it, and it takes me a second to realise it’s the mirror from the wall, smashed to pieces.What the fuck?Memories of walking in on Anna for the very first time come flooding back to me, and I guard myself against
AnnaI want to tell him but I can’t. Even now I can’t let them throw Margaretha in prison. He’s my brother. He was there for me when no one else was.My heart is breaking worse than Riven’s, even though I can’t show him. My heart is breaking because I know I can’t come back from this, because no matter how much Riven’s eyes say he wants to forgive me, I know he won’t.I know he can’t.I know he’ll never trust me again.I wish I could say I’m sorry, but I can’t. Even though I can’t bring myself to land my brother in the shit, I can’t bring myself to confess all this either.Riven’s glaring right at me as I hear Kennedy’s car pull onto the drive. I want the ground to swallow me up and never spit me out again, but I’m standing right here with nowhere to run and no one to turn to.Kennedy doesn’t even notice the destruction as he steps through the door. He sees me before Riven but he’s already got questions of his own.“Kevin Baker was asking directions to your house in town earlier, why?
AnnaI don’t know how long they hold me there, but I never want to move.I’m scared I’ll fall apart without their arms around me. I’m scared I’ll shatter into pieces and never pick them all up again.I remember all the times the guy who called himself Margaretha touched me. I remember all the times he told me that that was what love felt like.But love feels nothing like that, and I know it now.I want to forget every second I ever spent with him. I want to feel how much I’m loved for real this time.I want to feel kind hands on my body. I want to feel kisses that give, not kisses that take.I want them. The only two men who’ve ever counted.I need to know I’m still theirs and they’re mine, and words aren’t enough.Words will never be enough now I know how easily a random guy like Kevin Baker could speak whatever he wanted in my ear.I’m still in their arms as I press my lips to Riven’s neck. Kennedy is still pressed to my back as I reach for him.Riven doesn’t respond at first as I k
RivenIt took me a few days before I sat Anna and Kennedy down and talked them through my great new vision for the future.I waited until the police visits stopped with such frequency and all Anna’s statements were taken. I didn’t take the file out of my car until we heard that Kevin Baker was in custody and the evidence was stacking up nicely.Fingerprints, text messages, a load of druggy mates who sold him out at the first sign of a police car at the door.He’s going down for it, that’s a certainty. He’d better hope it’s a long sentence – I’ll still be tempted to choke the life out of him if he’s ever unlucky enough to cross my path.So, there we had it. An arrest, a new furniture delivery and Kennedy’s official acceptance of his resignation, all in one day.It that’s not a good day to make life plans, I don’t know when else would be.They’d been nervous as I sat them down at the new dining table. Glancing at each other as I cleared my throat and flipped open the file.A charity ini