Chapter 2

As Annabel descended down the stairs she couldn't help but laugh, still thinking about how her mother would sneakily slide the topic of marriage into their conversation.

"Annie my dear". Annabels mom stood up from the couch as soon as she saw her daughter coming down.

"Mother". Annabel smiled softly remembering the nickname her mother used to call her when she was younger. "How are you mom?". She says as she walks to her mother while giving her a hug.

"I've seen better days my dear". Her mom says as she hugs her back.

Anna's mom had Anna when she was around her early 20s making her a little younger than the maid, she has ravishing raven hair with the same emerald colored eyes as Anna, she is around 5'6 and she is a bit busty, people sometimes often mistook her for Anna's elder sister.

"What's wrong?". Anna wonders.

"Nothing". Her mother pauses as she sighs in a dramatic manner. "It's just that i had you when i was around 22 and well you're not getting any younger and neither am i, i was just hoping I'd see my grandkids before i died". Her mother says as she walks with Anna towards the couch.

"Mom you know how much I love kids and you know how much I wanted to have them but I'm just not ready to move on yet". Anna sighs as she thinks about how much Dustin wanted to have kids too, they usually would come up with names and plan out the nursery dreaming of how their lives would be even more complete with their mini selves running around whilst their laughter would echo round the house.

Thinking of this made tears escape Anna's eye's.

"Annie sweetie, I'm sorry I'm being insensitive again". Her mom says as she tries to comfort her daughter. "I know you miss him, and I know it can't be easy sweetheart but you should use your head to think about something like this, sweetie he's not coming back and as your mother I don't want to see you grow old with no one by your side cause you're too busy waiting for someone that's not going to return". Her mother tells her in a matter of fact tone.

"I understand". Anna says feeling too sad to argue with her mom but she couldn't help but think whether she should stop waiting, was she wasting her life waiting for Dustin to return.

'How could he'. She thought to herself. 'Dustins dead and he's never coming back'. This realization, this thing that she has been refusing to accept all these years, should she finally accept it all she did, all she could think of doing was cry which she did, she cried like a baby, she was finally letting everything out everything that she had be holding back for the past three and a half years, the pain of losing her love, the person she had thought she'd grow old with.

"Annie baby please don't cry". Her mother tried to console her. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt you". Her mom started feeling a bit guilty. "Sweetie you don't need to come to the party".

"What". Anna manages to say as tears still fall from her eyes. "I thought I was o-o-obliged to go". She says as she tries to calm herself down.

"Sweetheart you're not obligated to attend the party". Her mom says softly. "We were just throwing it because we wanted to celebrate the deal we just signed with Duna Corp and we also wanted to use the opportunity to introduce you to some clients, you're our only child after all we just wanted you to socialize with some of our acquaintances seeing as you are our heir and it's not bad if we also wanted to use the opportunity to introduce you to some handsome guys you can talk to, maybe even go on a date with". Her mom says, smiling sweetly.

"I understand mom". Anna says. "I'll go to the party and meet with the clients you want to introduce me to". She says with a dry smile.

"Sweetheart really". Her mother says excitedly

"Yes mom, I promise to attend the party". Anna says in a very neutral tone.

"Oh that's splendid my dear, do you have what to wear or should I send them to bring the latest designs so you can choose ''. Her mother say, still pleased with her daughter's decision to attend the party.

"Whichever one would make you happy". Anna says still in a very neutral tone.

"Okay let me call your dad and inform him just give me a few minutes". Her mother says as she gets her phone to call her husband.

"Mrs Hunter". Anna calls to the maid that was standing just behind the sofa.

"Yes Mrs Anna". The maid says as she walks to stand just in front of Annabel.

"Do you think I'm making the right decision by waiting and not moving on". Anna asks the woman that she had viewed as her other mother.

"Well in my opinion I feel you shouldn't be asking me, i lost my husband when i was in my mid thirties and a lot of people told me to move on but all the fond memories we shared together wouldn't let me, i wouldn't say holding on is bad but i wouldn't say moving on is bad either". Mrs Hunter tells her with a sweet smile on her face. "All I'd tell you is to do whatever would make you happy because I assume that's what Dustin would want". Before Mrs Hunter knew what was going on Anna stood up to hug her.

This was the sort of advice she wanted from her mother. She wanted to feel the closure she needed, yes she wanted to hold on to every memory they'd shared but she knew Dustin, and he'd want her to be happy no matter who she ends up with because he loved her and she would always love him.

"Thank you Mrs Hunter". Anna says as she smiles and finally feels a sense of relief.

"For what my dear". Mrs Hunter says feeling a tad bit confused.

"For the advice you gave me just now, it was exactly what I needed". She says as she walks towards her mom.

"Mother, I've decided to give it a try". Anna says

"Give what a try dear". Mrs Garcia says wandering about what her daughter was referring to.

"I'm going to give dating a try, you can introduce me to some of the people you want to and we can move at the pace i feel appropriate. Agreed". She says as she smiles at her mother.

"Agreed dear". Her mother says as she pulls her daughter in an embrace. "I'll go home now and plan everything, I'll also call the designer and tell your father and the boys I want to introduce you to, oh there's so much to do". Her mother exclaims. "I'm so excited". She says as she picks up her bag and heads to the door. "Bye sweetheart, take good care of yourself okay". Her mom says as she gets in her car and waves to her daughter.

"Bye mom". Anna says as she waves back whilst her mother drives off.

She had finally made a decision and she hoped it was the right one.