Page 11 of After Anna

Maggie had frowned.I don’t think so. I think it makes perfect sense, and so does Kathy. Anna doesn’t know if I knew or not and she probably didn’t want to tell me over the phone. You’re being critical, aren’t you?

Noah had let it go, but that was the first time he thought Anna had done something weird. Not wrong, not terrible, just weird. Since then, there had been times after that, each one slightly worse, and looking back now, he realized that those early incidents were like a case history of a patient. The first exposure to an allergen could result in a faint rash, a single raised bump, a brief shortness of breath. But then would come a second exposure with another symptom, more noticeable but dismissible by someone who didn’t understand its significance. Ultimately there would be a third or fourth exposure, with a symptom each time, incrementally worse, but the human body wouldn’t realize it was under lethal attack until it was too late.

Noah felt his gut twist. He had missed the diagnosis, and before he realized what was happening, Anna had destroyed him and his family. Yet he was on trial for her murder.

He should’ve claimed self-defense.

Chapter Eight

Maggie, Before

Maggie looked at her reflection in the hotel mirror. She was about to see Anna, all grown up. Maggie had on an outfit she had bought for the occasion, a white blouse under a navy V-neck with gray-wool pants, looking every inch the suburban mom. Her dark curls were reasonably well-behaved, falling wavy to her shoulders. Her eyes were an earthy brown and wide-set, emphasized by the good eyeliner, not the CVS brand, for tonight. She had a short, wide nose and dimples that punctuated chubby cheeks, since she was ten pounds over goal weight, which was no longer her goal. She felt nervous and excited, both at once.

Maggie grabbed her down coat, left the inn, and hurried down Main Street, adjusting to the cold. She passed the Maine Savings Bank, and its digital sign read 6:15P.M.and 39°. The waning sun cut through the crisp air, and traffic moved at a civilized pace through the charming town of Congreve. The sidewalk bustled with young people and families going to upscale boutiques, funky restaurants and coffee shops, and an independent bookstore.

Maggie’s step quickened. She craned her neck to see if Anna was coming the other way. She wondered if she would recognize her, but she knew she would. She felt her heart hammering, and her mouthwent dry. Suddenly she spotted a young girl hurrying down the street toward her, and her heart knew her on sight.

“Anna!” Maggie found herself running to her daughter, arms outstretched.

“Mom!” Anna’s eyes lit up, and she smiled, causing both dimples to pop, which melted Maggie’s heart.

“Honey!” Maggie reached Anna, scooped her up, and held her close, squeezing her like she’d never let her go. “It’s so good to see you!”

“You, too, hi.” Anna chuckled, uncomfortably, and Maggie held her away to look at her, trying not to cry or snot up.

“Look at you! You’re so pretty, you’regorgeous!”

“Ha!” Anna shrugged it off, with a giggle.

“Yes, you’re lovely! God, look at you!” Maggie squeezed Anna’s shoulders, blinking wetness from her eyes as she took in her daughter with a loving gaze. Anna truly had grown into a lovely young woman, her blue eyes large with thick eyebrows, like Florian’s. Her nose was perfect, and her cheeks were prominent, like Maggie’s, and her mouth curved into a broad smile. Light brown hair flowed to her shoulders, and the sun brought out her reddish highlights.

Anna chuckled. “You’re just going to look at me?”

“Exactly!” Maggie burst into laughter, feeling the warm rush of a happy memory, out of nowhere. “I remember combing that hair with a baby brush and clipping it with a pink plastic barrette! A bunny!”

“Aw.”

“It didn’t hold much hair, but it was cute.” Maggie laughed with joy. She was here, with Anna. It was too much. She wiped her eyes with her coat sleeve. “Sorry, I’ll get it together soon.”

“It’s okay.” Anna’s eyes shone sweetly. “It’s nice.”

“Thanks, well, it can’t be helped. It’s the Italian part.” Maggie wiped her eyes and got her emotions in control. She didn’t think she would ever stop smiling. She felt great, whole again, thrilled to the marrow. Anna seemed pleased, if subdued, by contrast, but Maggie had expected that. Anna really was beautiful and tall, maybe five-eight, which she’d gotten from Florian’s side of the family. She had on a black downcoat with an oversized Coach purse and a cobalt-blue totebag, with a CA for Congreve Academy.

“We should go inside. This place fills up fast.” Anna turned away, opened the door of the restaurant, and made a beeline for an empty table by the window, with Maggie behind her, composing herself. They reached the table, and Maggie took her purse off her shoulder.

“This place looks great,” Maggie said, looking around, getting her bearings.

“It’s good.” Anna shed her belongings, bunching her coat behind the chair, and sat down.

“This is just wonderful!” Maggie sat down opposite her, finally settling.

“Thank you for coming.”

“I was thrilled to, obviously.” Maggie wiped her eyes with a cloth napkin. She needed a sip of water but there wasn’t any.

“I’m glad you did.”

“No, really, it was very brave of you, emotionally brave, to ask me!”