Chapter 25

Mildred sat and glared over at her dear friend, wondering what words would tumble out of her mouth. Sheldon sat back and crossed his arms with a raised eyebrow, looking overly pleased with himself.

‘I will not entertain such pointless remarks. Now excuse me, I must go and make sure my future husband is okay.’ Anne said aggressively. She gently slammed her napkin onto her table, pushed her chair out and dashed out of the room.

‘Was it something I said?’ Sheldon laughed as Anne was halfway out of the room.

Anne darted around the place, trying to find a distressed George. It was then that she found him, standing near the front door of his house, gazing out of the large bay window.

‘Why is it such a big ask for one’s own flesh and blood to be happy for my happiness? His tongue is much too sharp, it slices any atmosphere.’ George told her when he heard her footsteps approaching him from behind.

She stood beside him and placed one hand upon his shoulder.

‘Sheldon is one of a kind. He will come round to the idea of me being his step mother, he has to. Once everything is legal and above board, what other choice does he have?’ Anne tried to reassure him.

‘In a way, he is correct. How odd must it be for his own step mother to be younger than him? For his own father to be marrying a young maiden that he has tried before me? I fear his words are too true to ignore.’ George muttered out, a significant sigh leaving his body after every few words.

‘That is the way of the world, he should get used to it. We are marrying for love, not for the approval of anyone else. What happened between myself and Sheldon was by no choice of my own, it was nothing like what we have. Therefore, none of his words can be true. He likes to play games and cause trouble, that does not make his claims in any way true.’ Anne explained. Her voice sounded confident but with a hint of doubt, enough for George to notice.

‘But I have seen it. Whether it be in my own mind or in reality, the results remain the same. I have this unjustified jealousy burning deep within me, an emotion I am not familiar with. It turns me into a man that I never wanted to be. I despise myself for being jealous of my own son but whenever the two of you are in the same room, I can see it. Him laying you upon his bed and you loving to be with someone more your own age. That is the true fear. The fear that once we are wed, you will be forced to see him almost everyday and you will realise that he was right, you did choose the wrong Winchester and you will be stuck with me and our baby forever. Tell me you see it too.’ George cried out, each word sounding more painful than the last and a tear of doubt drizzled down one cheek.

She couldn’t bring herself to deny it, or speak of any kind for quite a while. A silence that gave George his unwanted answer. She felt she couldn’t give him the reassurance that he wanted as the doubts were buried deep inside her too.

‘That is nonsense talk, that would never happen. He is getting to you, he is winning. We cannot let his fantasies ruin us before we are even married.’ Anne finally spoke up.

‘But that is the thing, I fear it may not just be his fantasy, but yours also.’ George said with a serious look in his eyes that Anne had never seen before. She stared into his eyes and the fear from him leaked into her soul.

Meanwhile, Mildred spent several minutes staring at Sheldon and wondering why she never ended up with someone as handsome as he was.

‘So, remind me again, why have I never noticed you before?’ Sheldon remarked.

Mildred’s face suddenly turned sour as though her emotions couldn’t take it.

‘Perhaps because a certain someone was in the way. I first saw you at Bertha’s new year ball a few months ago. You did not notice me but I certainly noticed you. But talk like this is no use, I am married now to a man I cannot stomach and you are, what? Married too, I hear?’ Mildred replied.

‘Oh, that. It was a sort of marriage at first but no, I prefer to refer to myself as single. It is much more fun to stay single and play with hearts than it is to hold only one in your grasp.’ Sheldon said. He took his tea and sipped it while keeping eye contact with her.

‘So what are you saying Mr. Winchester? That you want to play with my heart?’ Mildred said in a playful excited voice. Sheldon laughed and looked suddenly more invested in the conversation.

‘Perhaps. I tend to stay away from married women, it causes too many complications.’ Sheldon explained.

‘So what you are saying is you are too afraid to take dangerous risks? I must say, I am rather disappointed. I thought you would be up for a challenge. Or has Anne beaten it all out of you?’ Mildred remarked as she smirked her way through her own words.

‘I will warn you now, I do not take kindly to being mocked. As you are Anne’s closest friend, I did not think you would be interested in her enemy.’ Sheldon replied abruptly.

‘You think yourself to be her enemy? That is not what it looks like from where I am sitting. I am envious of the amount of chemistry the two of you hold, even now that she is engaged.’ Mildred said.

‘So it seems it is not in my imagination as the two of them would have me believe? Our chemistry is in fact reality and not fantasy? Well, that is all I needed to know. Isn’t that right father?’ Sheldon said, smirking as his father appeared in the doorway with Anne next to him.

‘Please, just stop this nonsense and be happy for us!’ Anne cried out. Sheldon bathed in her obvious discomfort.

‘I will not listen to another word from you, son. I have come to tell you some important news. I have brought our wedding forward, we will marry this time next week. Now, be happy for us or leave this house. That is all I will say on the matter.’ George said as he swiftly walked off down the corridor. Anne exchanged one look with Sheldon and then followed her future husband.