WE # 8 MC

 

 

My grandfather was never the same again.

                When she died, a part of him died, too. He no longer laughed, no longer told jokes or stories, no longer danced. He walked around like a zombie, half living, half dead. He went into an eternal haze, a place in between life and death. His face was always downcast, his eyes ever so sad. He never spoke of her again after her passing.

                One day, I happened to get a hold of the thick, brown journal he always kept on the highest shelf in his study. I just wanted to know what my grandmother was like in life. And this is what I found…

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England, April 23, 1876

                I was doing business with my partner over a table when I spotted her a few yards away.

She sat there at the table in the middle of the lawn all by herself. Tea and various snacks were arranged around her, but she picked at them distastefully. A tabby cat sat a few feet away, but she paid it no mind.

                Her light pink dress swayed a little in the slight breeze, the top flap of her flowered hat rising a bit as the wind caught it.

                I don’t know why, but I was mesmerized by her, caught off guard. I had never seen a more beautiful woman in all my life.

                As I watched, her hat lifted off her head and blew away in the wind. She jumped up to catch it, but it fluttered away across the lawn.

                I ran to help her and just as I scooped up the hat, we collided into each other and fell to the ground.

                “I am so sorry, sir,” she hastily apologized, trying to regain her balance to stand up.

                Perhaps it was inappropriate at the time, but I laughed.

                This took her by surprise and she sat there, dumbfounded, confused as to my sudden outburst, watching me. After a moment of this, she finally joined in the laughter.

                I had never heard such beautiful laughter before and the sound made me laugh even more, sending me into a phase of pure bliss.

                When we finally settled down, I stood up and helped her to her feet.

                “Jonathan Truitt,” I introduced myself as I gave the hat back to her.

                “Anne Sweeney.” She reached for the hat with her left hand and I noticed a diamond on her ring finger.

                Trying to figure out a way to ask her about it without being rude, I said, “Mrs. Sweeney?”

                “Oh no, not yet. I’m engaged.”

                “Oh, well congratulations!” My enthusiasm betrayed my heart.

                “Well congratulations would certainly be due if it wasn’t for the man I am engaged to,” she said distastefully.

                Suddenly a man came rushing up to us. He had thick blonde locks and dark brown eyes. I recognized my brother, who I had not seen in many years.

                He stopped short when he saw me. “John.”

                “Edward. What a pleasant surprise,” I said with fake enthusiasm so as not to let Ms. Sweeney catch onto the iciness between us.

                “Darling,” Edward addressed his fiancé, “why don’t you give us a moment?”

                “Of course, dear.” She turned to me and flashed me a smile. “Good day, Mr. Truitt.”

                “Good day, Ms. Sweeney. Don’t let your hat run away again!”

                She laughed and headed back to the table.

                Edward turned to me. “Ah, dear brother…been a while, yes?”

                “Indeed,” I said through gritted teeth. “What brings you to England, may I ask?”

                “Oh, just looking for a new wife…after my last one died. Bloody tragic, really. I believe you knew her.” His mouth turns up slightly at the corners in a cruel smile.

                Of course I knew her. She was my fiancé before he swooned her off her feet and took her for his bride. He said it was my fault because I didn’t keep her attention due to working all the time. We hadn’t spoken since.

                I clear my throat and change the subject. “Beautiful weather, no?”

                “I suppose…but that’s not why I’m here, is it?”

                “I beg your pardon?”

                “I wouldn’t have come to you from across the lawn had I not seen you flirting with my soon-to-be wife.”

                “Flirting?” I said, confused. “Her hat blew away and I retrieved it for her. There was no flirting involved.”

                “So you would have me believe. But you and I both know she’s beautiful. And we know that you are dying for revenge for past faults, no?”

                I was taken aback by the this sudden assertion, but quickly recovered as a plan started formulating in my mind. “Not at all, brother. After all, it was my fault. I worked too much, you said so yourself.”

                “Indeed.” Edward ran a hand through his hair and straightened his brown coat. “Well, you know what goes around comes around. But for you, dear Jonathan, I would highly advise against it. Good day.”

                As he walked away to join his beautiful fiancé, I thought to myself, Oh, I would highly recommend it. And I take it upon myself to see that what came around to me comes back to make its way to you.

 

 

Author's note: I had decided to drop out of WE for a while due to my busy schedule, but one look at this pic (thank you, Beka, lol) and I knew I couldn't skip out on this one. So I have decided that I will "pop" into WE when I can and not give it up completely:)