A Modern Day Persuasion (21 page)

Wanting to disguise the dark circles that had formed the night before, Anne repeatedly checked her appearance using a compact mirror while traveling to Folsom Lake. The lighting in her dad’s car was terrible, causing Anne to doubt whether she even wanted to attend. Anne couldn’t seem to apply enough coverage to mask her sleep deprived eyes.

“What’s up with you?” Elizabeth asked, eyeing Anne suspiciously when they were halfway to the lake. “Who are you trying to impress?”

“What do you mean?” Anne replied defensively as she put down her compact mirror to look at her sister.

“The makeup…the hair…your new look,” Elizabeth motioned.

Anne felt like she was on trial.
Is it a crime to want to look nice
!?!
What is it to Elizabeth anyway
?
I shouldn’t have to explain to her, of all people, why a woman would wish to look her best
! Before Anne could express these unspoken thoughts to her sister, Mr. Elliot spoke up.

“I, for one, am glad Anne has become more concerned about her appearance. After all, we
are
Elliots.” Glancing at Anne through the rear-view mirror he added, “For a while there, dear, you were looking a little ragged so this is a refreshing change.”

Anne looked away, feeling anxiety fill her inner being. She was beyond exasperated.
First, my family complains when my appearance isn’t up to their perceived ‘Elliot’ standards, and now, when I actually make an effort, they question every little thing
!
Aaarggh
!

“I didn’t realize I’d cause such an uproar by simply opening my compact mirror or wearing a little makeup,” began Anne, taking pains to keep her voice calm. “It’s simply that I didn’t get much sleep last night and I wanted to hide the effects.”

Elizabeth shifted away from Anne to pull on her dark sunglasses, signifying the discussion was over while Mr. Elliot turned his attention back to the road where it belonged.
Sighing, Anne began to question whether the possibility of seeing Rick was even worth this scrutiny from her family.

This year’s Fourth of July event at Folsom Lake had attracted a large crowd. As Anne got out of vehicle, she surveyed the huge gathering. All of the grassy areas surrounding the lake were now literally cluttered with guests who’d arrived hours in advance just to reserve choice spots on the lawn. Fortunately, her family had the foresight to send Will on ahead to secure a place for them to sit. But now, with all the hundreds of spectators moving about, they were having difficulty locating him. While the others looked in earnest for Will, Anne kept a hopeful eye out for Rick.

“Elizabeth, are you sure that Will planned on getting here early?” Mr. Elliot asked, frustrated while shading his eyes from the bright sun.

With a decided edge to her voice, Elizabeth replied, “Yes, Dad, I’m sure. I just hope Will got a spot close enough to the lake. I hate looking over people…”

“Well, I don’t see him anywhere,” followed the petulant whine from her father.

Annoyed, Elizabeth stepped forward to scan the crowd with even more determination. Finally, success was met, and with a triumphant look towards her father she boasted, “There he is! I knew we could count on Will, Dad.” With a beaming smile, Elizabeth waved to Will as the group edged towards him.

Anne trudged after her family as they maneuvered through the abundant crowd, ever vigil to keep an eye out for Rick or Harve. Moving forward while simultaneously carrying a menagerie of items necessary for her family’s comfort, her eyes and heart did a double take. Was that Rick?!? Before she could get another look, several large men managed to block her view. Trying to keep up with her family but determined to confirm her assumption, Anne began walking on her tip-toes in an attempt to see above the flow of traffic. It was situations like this that made her wish she was six
feet tall. Finally, a group of children passed by her, allowing Anne only a fraction of time to see what made her insides jump for joy. Not more than thirty feet away was Rick, who, sensing her gaze, looked over. An instant spark of electricity shocked both of them as their eyes locked. It was just the magical moment Anne had been dreaming of.

Standing beside Rick was Harve, who smiled as Anne and Rick unconsciously moved towards each other until they were stationed face to face.

“Rick…” Anne finally said breathlessly, “I’m so glad you decided to come!” They stood there awkwardly while each struggled to think of something to say. Recalling his injury from the fateful day at the beach she asked, “How is your shoulder? Is it fully recovered?”

Rick looked as if her question jolted him back to reality. “Oh…” he mumbled as he moved it in full rotation. “Better. I have my full range back.”

Anne nodded and bit her lip nervously.

“Oh, that reminds me,” Rick added. “Did you hear the good news about Louise and Ben? Who would have guessed an engagement would have resulted from her accident?”

Hearing Rick refer to Ben and Louise’s plans of marriage as “good news” cheered Anne’s heart. It made her think perhaps Admiral Croft had been correct in supposing Rick never cared for Louise in that way.

“Yes!” Anne smiled. “The Admiral told me. I was really surprised. I hope they’ll be very happy.”

“Me, too,” Rick smiled in return. “They are fortunate that both families approve.” As Rick said these words, he glanced pointedly towards her father. Anne felt she understood his meaning as he continued, “It just makes things easier when there is no opposition. Even so, I am surprised at how quickly their love has come about. Don’t get me wrong, Louise is a great girl, but after all, Ben was still recovering from a broken heart…you see, his fiancé, Francie, was such an incredible
woman…a man does not simply forget someone like that. If he does, then I’d have to question the depth of his love.”

The gentleness behind Rick’s eyes as he voiced these words mesmerized Anne, making her incapable of looking away.
Could there be a deeper meaning behind his words
? she thought as she stood before Rick bright-eyed, feeling as though she were eighteen years old again.

“Anne,” Rick tenderly spoke her name, “I have never…” he paused.

Anne waited breathlessly to hear more and the stillness seemed like an eternity…

KA-BOOM! A spectacular opening firework blasted into the sky, exploding as it sent shimmers of light everywhere. The beautiful display normally would have caused Anne much delight, but the timing could not have been worse as it interrupted Rick mid-sentence. Between the noise of the fireworks and the ensuing appreciation from the crowd, it made the hearing of Rick’s words next to impossible.

“Ladies and gentleman,” began the host from his platform on the stage, “Welcome to this year’s Fourth of July celebration!”

“Anne!”

But this time it was not Rick’s strong and tender voice calling her name, but rather the shrill voice of Elizabeth. With dread, Anne looked over to her sister who was standing nearby with her hands on her hips looking displeased. Apparently Anne’s interaction with Rick was causing a spectacle, and her sister was not the only one who had noticed. Her father and the others were observing them as well, but more out of curiosity.

“The show’s starting!” Elizabeth’s voice was laced with veiled contempt towards Rick as she issued what seemed like a command for Anne to join them.

Anne turned back to Rick who now spoke with disparity. “As
always
, your family wants you,” he said, his body language indicating whatever moment had just been happening
between them no longer existed.
Oh, will the two of us ever get that second chance I feel we both desire
? thought Anne as her eyes shimmered with tears she refused to shed. Now was not the time to get emotional.

Glancing back at her family, Anne’s heart tightened when she saw Rick already moving back to rejoin Harve. Anne felt as if her world were falling apart, but even so, she continued to hold out a glimmer of hope that Rick still cared, else why did he come tonight?

As she settled onto the blanket Will had laid out for their family, Anne belatedly wished that she had invited Rick and Harve to join their party. Even if they hadn’t been able to talk, Anne felt she could have communicated volumes by her behavior towards Rick.

“What do you keep looking at?” Will asked Anne with a hint of annoyance at being ignored. Anne had been too wrapped up in keeping an eye on Rick to worry about what the others were thinking around her.

“Oh…um,” Anne began, trying to force her eyes away from Rick so that she could answer Will but was reluctant to do so.

Seeing that her attention was still divided, Will placed his finger on the top of Anne’s hand to trace it seductively up her arm. The sensation sent chills down her spine—the type of chills you get though when watching a horror flick. Startled at this intimate gesture, Anne quickly pulled her hand away, hoping Rick by chance hadn’t witnessed Will’s forward touch.

“I’m just taking everything in, crowds included,” Anne explained while sending Will a questioning look.

But Will was not so easily duped. Since Anne’s arrival, he had noticed her preoccupied behavior. He also was aware Anne kept looking in the direction of the man previously seen at the mini-mart.

Trying a different approach to secure the answers he wanted, Will turned to Mr. Elliot. “Who’s that guy over
there?” he asked, motioning to Rick in the distance. “The one Anne was talking to earlier.”

Walter looked as directed, straining his eyes to see the person Will was referring to, but it was Elizabeth who answered the question, “Oh,
him
…that’s Rick Wentworth.”

At the mention of Rick’s name, Mr. Elliot became alert, squinting even harder as Elizabeth unenthusiastically pointed Wentworth out to her dad. “Really?” he said with surprise at catching sight of him, “I would never have recognized him.”

“If you’d wear your glasses like you’re supposed to, you wouldn’t have that problem,” Elizabeth retorted, settling back into her lawn chair.

“But they make me look old,” Mr. Elliot pouted.

Having obtained the information he sought, Will pointedly moved back to sit close to Anne, making sure Rick noticed the gesture while sending a malicious look of triumph his way.

By that time, the band had begun playing the tune “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?
”
Will listened to the first stanza. Since the words to the song served his purpose nicely, he decided to make the most of this opportune moment. Securing her attention, he pointedly asked, “Anne…what are you doing for the rest of your life?”

Obtuse to his meaning, Anne absentmindedly responded, “Oh yes, I like that song, too.”

A shockwave of anger rippled down Will’s spine as he watched Anne once again turn her attention back to her present favorite activity: keeping an eye on that fellow named Rick. “No!” he exclaimed more sharply then he had intended, causing Anne to look his way. Noting the frightened look in her eyes, he quickly softened his tone to one of tenderness. “Dearest Anne, I was asking you a question. What are
you
doing…for the rest of your life?”

Anne looked at him rather confused. “Huh?” she asked, not getting his meaning.

Will was having trouble keeping his irritation under wraps due to Anne making this more difficult than expected. He quickly channeled his MTV experience to mask his displeasure, picking up her hand and stroking it with tenderness. “Anne,” Will began, “What would you say if I told you I wanted to love and pamper you for the rest of
your
life?”

Anne tried to pull her hand away, but Will’s tight grip refused to lessen. Thinking Rick might be observing this tête-à-tête, she worried he might misunderstand. To make matters worse, Will placed his other hand directly on Anne’s cheek, forcing her to look into his eyes.

“Will…what is this all about?” Anne asked, now completely bewildered—not only by his words, but also by his actions.

“Anne, I envision the two of us—” Will started to say, but Anne didn’t hear the rest.

Out of the corner of her eye, Anne witnessed Rick turning to leave with Harve, causing panic to set in. Struggling against the hold Will had on her, Anne managed to get free.

“Anne!” Will yelled with a combination of frustration and astonishment at seeing Anne scramble after the departing Rick.

As Will was heralding Anne, she was shouting out to Rick, hoping the latter would slow down enough for her to catch him in the crowded park.

Luckily, Rick heard his name and turned in time to see Anne rushing towards him. Stopping his progress, Rick spoke briefly to Harve who nodded. His friend then proceeded on to give the two some space.

“Leaving so soon?” Anne asked breathlessly and with some trepidation when she reached him.

“Yes,” Rick bit out the word, his voice an emotionless pit.

Anne’s mind went blank. What could she say to convince him not to leave? She somehow sensed Rick would be unreceptive to any of her entreaties. It was only when Anne felt a touch on her shoulder that she realized Will had followed her, filling Anne with a sense of doom. By Will’s pursuit of
her, he effectively signed, sealed, and delivered Rick’s goodbye.

“Anne…
dear
, please come back,” Will pleaded, his voice causing Anne’s blood to boil at the addition of the word “dear”.