28 CHAPTER 27

"I'll get it" Ethan told the old lady who was cooking and rushed out of the kitchen to the front door. As he reached for the door knob, he looked down at his flour covered hands and chuckled.

Cooking was really not his thing.

He wiped his hand on the apron that he was wearing and quickly unlocked the door before the bell could ring again. He was quite surprised to see the unexpected guest but nevertheless welcomed them in.

Anna was smiling a little, amused by all the early college love stories Elora was narrating, not about herself but about her friends. This was something she was really good at, vanishing the distress from Anna's face and replacing it with a smile. She continued with how the boys would sneak in the girl's hotel and then get caught, and Anna could not hold the giggle in.

They heard a knock on the door and turned their heads around in unison.

"Sorry to interrupt Ladies, but we have a guest you'd like to meet."

Ethan warmly smiled and both of them looked at him blankly before Elora broke out into a fits laughter. Anna could not hold her amused smile too and Ethan looked confused all over.

"What....What happened to you dear?"

Elora managed to ask in between her laughs. Ethan looked down at himself and sighed. The apron he was wearing was splashed in flour and some sauces and so were his sleeves. Some of the flour was on his face which he was completely oblivious of. He looked like a newlywed husband, trying to cook for his wife.

Elora got up from the bed holding her stomach, still giggling and walked over to him, brushing off small tendrils of vegetables from his hair as she threw it away. Ethan looked at the mess and rubbed the back of his neck cutely looking up at Elora who was still smiling at him.

His cheeks turned crimson in no time and Elora ruffled his hair, making him look more adorable. He ran his fingers through his hair trying to rearrange them before he spoke.

"Umm, we still have the guests." He cleared his throat trying to sound normal and not embarrassed and Elora nodded while Anna kept her foot down from the bed. She was still feeling a little weak but managed to stand straight and Elora immediately came to her side, holding her hand in attempt to support her.

Anna smiled at her and Elora mouthed 'I got you' as she led her towards the door. Ethan walked out of the room first as Elora and Anna slowly followed him out. She carefully walked down the stairs with Elora by her side, helping her.

As soon as they stepped in the living room Anna froze on the spot.

Charlotte sat at the couch, across the old Grandmother and a bunch of things, which looked like presents, were neatly arranged on the coffee table at the center of the room. The ladies were casually talking until Charlotte spotted Anna standing stunned at the corner and rose from her seat and walked towards her.

Charlotte approached her with a warm smile and enfolded Anna in her arms. Anna gulped dryly, she had so many questions on her mind at the moment that she wanted to raise.

Why was she here when her son had already recovered?

Anna glanced over the ladies shoulder and looked at the Grandmother who smiled softly before nodding her head. Anna understood the sign from the old lady and gently put her arms ,which were dangling on her sides, around Charlotte.

Charlotte pulled away after some seconds and looked at her and once again Anna was shocked to see her teary eyes.

'Why is she crying? Did something happen to....'

Before Anna could ask her anything, Charlotte held her arm and led her to the couch as Elora followed them behind. The lady sat down with Anna and Elora stood beside them near the couch still confused over the new face she encountered.

As soon as Ethan walked in, he stood beside Elora and she glanced at him. He had cleaned up the mess from his clothes and hair as she raised her brows at him amusingly. Ethan winked at her and both of them chuckled silently before she leaned closer to his ear. Ethan stilled when she breathed near hid ears.

"Who's the new character?" She whispered raising her brow at Charlotte.

"M-Mrs. Lorraine" Ethan whispered back flustered after a few seconds and she nodded with her mouth forming an 'o' shape, not noticing his flushed cheeks.

She had guessed by the appearance that the lady was someone not someone ordinary but Raven's mother? That was quite a surprise. Elora knew she would have to meet the lady sometime soon in the future.

"Oh Anna, How should I thank you?"

Charlotte held Anna's hand while Anna glanced at her grandmother every third second before looking back at the lady.

"I did...I did not do anything Mrs. Lorraine" She said smiling nervously, still wondering if the lady came all the way to her house just to say Thanks.

"Yes, you did. You helped Raven and you've done everything so selflessly."

Anna looked down at her lap. Why did the lady have to mention about him? She was hardly able to get over his thoughts and now she was feeling miserable again. All the memories of that afternoon filled her mind, the kiss, the moment. Everything was so warm and gentle until he pushed her away like she meant nothing. Anna felt a sting in her chest when all of that came back to her mind again.

"We were so shattered by everything. You've not only helped Raven but my family too."

Charlotte smiled with a tint of red in her eyes.

"Thank you"

Anna looked up at her with a week smile and nodded, feeling herself falling short of words. A hand landed on Anna's shoulder and she looked up only to find Elora smiling down at her. She was feeling so much better after letting everything out to her aunt, at least someone knew and she she did not have to carry the burden on her chest.

After quite an hour or two, Charlotte took a leave and Anna went back to her room, wanting to be alone for a while. Sitting on the chair near her window, she looked at the photo frame in her lap.

"Mom, Dada. I miss you, so much."

A single tear escaped her eyes and dropped on the photo frame of her parents last picture with her as she pressed it against her chest and wiped the tear off.

She did miss them, at this point when her mind was so messed up with unfamiliar thoughts and feelings. She missed the hands of her mother that caressed her head which helped her sleep. She missed her father's jokes which lightened up her mood on the worst days.

As days passed by after their death, she just hoped for one thing, peace, which she seemed to find when she met Raven. But it disappeared too, just like that.

Anna heard a knock and saw Ethan standing there. He walked over to her and stood beside her near the window, facing outside. It was raining lightly and the evening sky looked darker because of the clouds. There was a moment of complete silence, a comfortable silence as they watched the light showers of rain outside until Ethan turned to face her.

"I need you to accompany me to a place tomorrow"

Anna looked up at him from where she sat and raised her brows. She was so lost in thoughts that she did not even hear what he said. Ethan sighed and sat by the window beside her, placing a hand over her folded ones as his eyes met her hazel orbs which looked up at him blankly. She almost seemed like a different person with the pale look on her face and her eyes showing nothing but hopelessness.

She did not deserve this and Ethan knew he had to help her. She may have been the nerd in high school but she was also the most sweetest girl he ever knew and he was determined to bring that girl back.

"You will come with me tomorrow" He rather stated this time than requesting and Anna looked confused again.

"Where? And why?"

"Somewhere great because tomorrow is your birthday"

Ethan smiled. Anna blinked a couple of times and then gasped when she finally realized what he was saying.

"Oh my! birthday. It's 'your' birthday tomorrow"

Anna looked stunned suddenly and Ethan chuckled at her. She remembered how everyone used to get excited to celebrate his birthday back in high school but that was not the cause of her thrill.

Before he could say anything further, she suddenly got up from the chair with a wide smile spread across her lips and it was Ethan's turn to get confused. Why was she so excited about his birthday?

"It's not a party or something Anna. Just a small gathering of friends and- " he was cut off by Anna when she suddenly squealed.

"Birthday. It's Eva's Birthday too."

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A/N: Here you go! Today's double update is dedicated to my sweet people who left reviews and comments on my previous chapters. I may not be able to reply but I always read them and I'm always thankful.

Enjoy Babies ❤️ I'll see you tomorrow with some really interesting update.