Transformation

Early Monday morning, Anna woke up feeling refreshed, like she could breathe again. The sun was out, Delia had already called and said Jeremy purchased plum purple house paint, and they were ready to spend the day transforming the house.

Anna slipped on some of Max's ratty clothes and attempted to sneak out before she woke up demanding Anna to stay in writer's jail. Unfortunately, her clumsiness had different plans. She bumped into the ugly couch before reaching the kitchen to grab a bottle of water and Max appeared in the bedroom doorway.

"Hey . . . what's with the silent exit?" Max asked with squinted, suspicious looking eyes.

"Oh, nothing! Just going to help your dad actually." Anna smiled nervously. "Delia called and honestly it sounds like a train wreck I don't want to miss."

Max sucked in a small breath, immediately appearing anxious and afraid.

"Don't worry girlfriend. At least I'll be able to come back with updates. It might make you feel better." Anna walked quickly to Max and softly grabbed her hands. "Plus, there is absolutely NO way I am missing your dad walking around Pier One picking out accent pillows." Max shut her eyes and laughed. "FINE. Have fun. Don't work too hard." Max looked like she wanted that to come off as a joke, but Anna knew she really wanted her to make sure they didn't move too fast. "Catch ya later, babe!" Anna shouted as she hopped to the door and headed to Swiftwater.

When Anna arrived at the Redding home she found Delia laughing and screaming while Jeremy chased her around. They both quickly came to a halt, however, when they saw Michelle Johnston. Anna scoffed at the sight of her mother. Oh, this should be good Anna thought as she rolled her eyes. Anna was ready to listen in on the conversation that would undoubtedly result in her mother being a jerk, but she hid behind some bushes. She would rather eat a cactus than speak to her.

"Michelle!" Jeremy said, out of breath. "You remember Delia." He motioned to the out-of-breath woman. "How can I help you, neighbor?"

Michelle's face didn't move except to briefly look at Delia. Anna waited patiently for the monster to come out as she remained bent over awkwardly, listening.

Delia didn't speak and Anna assumed it was because her mom had a tendency to look fairly intimidating. She was the definition of resting-bitch-face.

"Well! With all the racket you're making I figured I would come by and see what all the fuss is about?" She tilted her head to the left, clearly waiting for an answer.

"I apologize Michelle, we'll keep it down," Jeremy said with a quick smile at Delia.

"Why are you painting your house?"

And HOW is that your business? Anna scoffed once more, backing up realizing it may have been too loud.

Jeremy threw his arms up. "Just felt like a change, I suppose!"

"A bit dark, isn't it," she said as she looked the house up and down.

"Without darkness there would be no light!" Delia chimed in sweetly.

Anna snickered to herself knowing her mom would immediately want to smack the positivity out of Miss Delia.

Michelle looked at her coolly with a visibly annoyed face. "Fantastic," Michelle replied as she turned around. "Have a delightful day."

Delia turned toward Jeremy, eyes big, looking shocked. "What was that?" She said seriously under her breath. "That was classic Michelle, Delia! Sorry you had to endure it." Anna shouted jokingly with a purposeful hint of annoyance. "Anna!" Delia squealed as she ran over and hugged her. "So good to see you, honey." Anna smiled as they ended their embrace. "You too, Miss Delia." Anna started towards Jeremy with wide eyes letting out a loud sigh. "Mr. R! What a joy to see Michelle before lunch." He chuckled as he shook his head and said softly, "you know how she can be, kiddo. Lets have some fun now!" Anna always felt like Jeremy was too forgiving towards her mom, but that's just one of the things that made Jeremy such a good person. He could always see good in any person or situation. That's why over the past seven years everything felt so hopeless. Anna remembers watching him fall apart and lose his faith. As it happened, it took down everyone else too. Anna shook the sadness out of her mind as Delia laughed telling her about Jeremy's unfortunate morning.

"I found him lying on the grass looking up at the sky, it was hilarious." Delia chuckled. "He asked me if I was stalking him after running into him at Home Depot! Like PLEASE. Were you expecting people to NOT notice you laid out on your front lawn?" Anna smiled from ear to ear watching Jeremy put his head in his hands and laugh like he was embarrassed. As funny as Jeremy and Delia sounded, they looked exhausted, but the house looked like they had barely made any progress.

Yikes, Anna thought to herself. "OKAY!!" Delia shouted as she clapped her hands, interrupting Anna's thought, "Let's get to work!" Anna giggled as Jeremy saluted her complete with a loud, "YES MA'AM!"

After a few hours of painting and chatting, Delia shouted excitedly, "We're almost done!"

"I know, I can't believe it!" Jeremy joined in with a huge smile on his face, "I think the inside will probably be much easier."

She looked at Anna and Jeremy with surprise flashing on her face a few seconds before inquiring, "The inside?"

Anna furrowed her eyebrows and shot Jeremy a confused look. She assumed Delia would know the plan ahead of time until Anna realized Jeremy still hadn't told Delia about Max.

"R-Man?" Anna whispered to him with her head slightly turned towards him. "You haven't told her?"

Delia squinted her eyes. "Jeremy. You have to tell me what's going on. If this is you finally attempting to let go of the past, I think that's wonderful! But, something is definitely goi—"

"Something is going on." He shook his head. "But it's kind of the opposite of what you're saying."

Delia sighed, exasperated. "You're killing me, man."

Anna laughed quietly at Delia's impatience while Jeremy said softly, "Come inside, we have something to tell you."

Anna and Jeremy led Delia inside, shut the door, and slowly turned toward her. In a confident but soft voice he said, "It's Violet, Delia. We found her."

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Delia said with a straight face.

"Violet. We found her." Anna added before lightly taking Delia's hand and sitting her down on the couch.

Delia looked forward for a few seconds. She turned toward Jeremy with her mouth slightly open, her face still motionless. "Wait, what?"

Jeremy laughed and sat down next to her and Anna. "Actually, Anna found her. In New York. It's her, Delia. We know it's her."

Delia sat up and stared forward again.

"I know this makes no sense and it's hard to believe," Anna whispered gently, "but it IS her. With 100 percent certainty."

Delia turned her head to look at Jeremy as tears appeared in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" Jeremy asked with concern.

She looked into his eyes. "My god, Jeremy. This is the most incredible thing I have ever heard in my life." She laughed with tears dripping and lunged at him. "I am so happy for you!"

He hugged her back and nearly made Anna cry as well.

She pulled away suddenly, wiping the tears from her face. "Okay. You have to tell me EVERYTHING!" She squealed excitedly.

"You got it." Jeremy stifled a laugh. "This may take a minute."

After Anna and Jeremy filled Delia in, he told her that he and Anna were going shopping and they would love to have her artistic expertise on hand. She accepted their invitation with glee and drove them all to the nearest Pier One to begin buying furniture for the house.

"Goodness, I haven't been in a Pier One since Maxine died." Jeremy shot a gross face at Anna and Delia. "And there is a reason for that."

Delia quickly interjected, "Oh stop it, it's not that bad! Look at this table! Have you EVER seen a cuter table?"

He put his hand up to his chin, taking a few moments to jokingly look the table up and down.

"No, I have not."

"Great! Let's buy it!" Anna shouted as she grabbed the tag and continued bouncing through the store with Delia.

Anna looked back and watched Jeremy jump and attempt to keep up as Delia screamed, "Jeremy!"

In his best British accent he replied, "Yes ma'am? What can I do for you?"

She giggled, pointing to a black lamp with green jewels falling from the tip of the shade. "TELL me she wouldn't love this. It's all black with a hint of green to match your idea for her room."

The excitement in the air gave Anna a sense of calm. With Delia's infectious energy and Jeremy's hope returning, Anna started to believe that everything would really work out for Max. She would be happy. She WILL be happy. Anna said to herself over and over.

"Of course!" Jeremy said with what looked like a twinkle in his eyes.

Delia clapped and snatched the tag.

"This is so fun! Anna look at this!" she said in a high-pitched voice and took off once again.

Anna shook her head, wondering how Jeremy could be having so much fun shopping at a Pier One full of fancy, overpriced stools and light fixtures.

She looked back at Jeremy and said goofily, "I betcha never thought you'd have so much fun in a Pier One, Mr. R."

Jeremy laughed loudly. "Well! I guess it's her fault," he pointed to Delia, "I think everyone in this store is enjoying watching us!"

Anna giggled as Delia interrupted them by squealing, "Oh my god, Jeremy!"

Anna raised her eyebrows as he laughed and they shuffled through the store to find Delia holding some lacy, deep purple pillows.

They all returned to the Redding home after way too many hours shopping and brought inside the countless numbers of bags with pillows and other decorations.

"Wow. That is a successful shopping trip!"

Delia said as she looked at the bags and furniture before turning to Jeremy with her bright eyes and sparkling smile.

Anna couldn't help but think about Maxine. This would've been quite the adventure: Max's mom with her shopping antics. Especially when it came to Anna and Max. The thousands of Barbies, makeup kits, and other girly things that Maxine bought Anna and Max caught her eye. Anna caught Jeremy out of the corner of her eye looking at her and without saying a word they both knew it had to go before Max came home. Anna knew he would be sad about it, but she also thought it could be a good thing for both of them.

Anna turned her full focus to Jeremy when she realized he was staring at Max's old bedroom like he was in a different world. He seemed to snap out of the rabbit hole he'd stumbled down when Delia waved her hand in front of his face.

"Welcome back," she laughed. "What's up?" Her face quickly became serious.

Jeremy looked at her and shook his head. "Nothing! Nothing." He laughed nervously. "Sometimes I just . . . fly away, you know what I mean?"

She nodded her head slowly. "Absolutely."

Anna knew all too well what that felt like, but before she went too deep in her thoughts

he changed the subject quickly. "So please explain to me what I'm looking at here because that looks like a kitchen utensil, but I honestly don't think I'm right."

Delia laughed out loud. "Oh my! You need some decoration training! Thank goodness I am here!" She grabbed the "kitchen utensil" and held it up. "Introducing! An incense holder."

He focused on it hard. "Okay. Now, what do we do with incense?"

Anna and Delia giggled, looking at each other. "This is going to take a while."