True Love
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events or locations is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2011 by Karen Cacciattolo
All rights reserved. No parts of this book may be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems without prior permission from the author.
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One fine day in Australia, two boys, Amos and Lowell were on their way to the forest with their parents Nathaniel and Vera. They took some food and water with them and when they found a nice spot, they placed a large blanket on the grass and sat down on it. Nathaniel was cleaning his rifle while Amos, who was the youngest of the boys, was the first one to tuck into the lunch box and took out a sandwich. They enjoyed having lunch under the sun until they heard a heavy thump coming from behind the trees. Vera was startled.
“What was that?”
“I think it’s a big dog ...”
“No, I think it’s something much bigger!”
Amos was anxious about the noise and moved closer to his mother.
“I’m so afraid mum.”
“Me too!” said Lowell.
Nathaniel stood up and asked them to stay behind.
“Let me go and see what’s at the back of the trees.”
“Nathaniel, be careful!”
Nathaniel walked towards the trees and as soon as he moved closer a large grizzly bear appeared. Nathaniel was shocked and froze. After a few minutes he started walking backwards but the bear attacked him and left him motionless on the ground. Vera, Amos and Lowell were all screaming. Intuitively Vera ran over to see what had happened to her husband and the bear attacked her too. Amos and Lowell were stunned and the bear was walking towards them now. Lowell picked up the rifle and pointed it at the bear. He managed to shoot and kill it.
Amos was crying and Lowell went near Nathaniel and Vera to check if they were still alive. Unfortunately they were not breathing.
“Come on Amos, let’s go home and tell Uncle Curtis. He’s supposed to be there by now.”
Curtis was an old Uncle of their mother and he was living with them. When they entered the house he was preparing dinner for the family.
“Where are your mum and dad? Lowell, what are you doing with that rifle? Put it down!”
Amos and Lowell looked at each other. Amos started crying again and Lowell was shivering and put the rifle on the table.
“A bear attacked them and they’re dead!”
“What?!”
All three couldn’t stop crying and then Curtis made arrangements for the funeral of both Nathaniel and Vera. He promised the boys that he would take care of them for as long as he stayed alive. He loved them dearly as if they were his sons.
During the years Curtis and the boys had put up a farm. They grew their own crops and sold them to the village people. One day Curtis got the boys two horses. Amos named his horse Ezra whilst Lowell preferred to name the other one Rollo. The farm had quite a few animals; a female cat named Lulu, a male cat named Rex, and a kitten which was called Enoch. Lowell had a soft spot for sheep and therefore his uncle got him three. Lowell named them Zoe, Zenas and Yates. They also owned Bruno, a sheep dog. The boys loved animals but they liked the horses most and their uncle gave them some cantering lessons. The boys grew into handsome young men. Lowell was now sixteen and Amos had just celebrated his fifteenth birthday. They both had not attended much of the lessons at school and preferred to work at the farm. They both wanted to spend their lives there, growing crops and attending to the animals.
One fine day Amos and Lowell were discussing their future with Uncle Curtis. It was raining heavily outside and it was getting cold. Lowell put on the fire and Bruno settled in front of it. The dog was feeling cold too! All of a sudden Bruno stood up and started barking.
“What on earth is he barking about?”
“I think Bruno is sensing something going on outside.”
Lowell opened the front door and looked outside. It was raining heavily and suddenly he could see a soaked body of a young lady a few metres away. He immediately picked her up, held her in his arms and went back inside. Curtis and Amos stared at her.
“Who’s that?”
“I have no idea! She was outside on the ground.”
“So that’s why Bruno was barking.”
Curtis opened the bedroom door.
“Lowell, put her on your bed. Let’s hope she’s got nothing wrong.”
Lowell did as his uncle told him. He took off her wet clothes, dried her body with a towel and covered her with a blanket. He then took her clothes and put them in front of the fire to dry. Amos and their uncle sat down near the bed. The girl was still breathing but she was either unconscious or asleep. They couldn’t tell but they all agreed that she was very pretty with that blond hair and fair skin. Later that evening, Curtis and Amos went to bed in their rooms. In his room, Lowell put a blanket on the floor and left the girl on the bed. He didn’t want to disturb her but couldn’t help not looking at her. He felt attracted to her, something that he had never experienced before.
The next morning the weather was much better and the sun was shining brightly. Lowell, Amos and Curtis were near the girl’s bed waiting for her to wake up. She did wake up and stared at all three of them.
“Where am I? Who are you?”
“Calm down Miss. We found you outside yesterday afternoon and Lowell brought you inside.”
“Who’s Lowell?”
“I’m Lowell.”
“I don’t know how I’m going to thank you ...”
Curtis took her hand in his.
“Don’t worry dear. We’re ready to help you.”
Amos was curious to know more about this girl.
“Why were you here?”
“Before I tell you the whole story, I want to know your names. I’m Anastasia.”
“My name is Curtis and I’m these boys’ uncle. This is Lowell and this is Amos.”
Amos was still waiting for an answer.
“Tell us why you were here.”
Anastasia told them that she lived with her parents Eloise and Duke in England. A few weeks ago she came on holiday in Australia with her aunty Dolores. They were passing by with a horse and carriage and the lightning hit the carriage. She said that she fell out of it and could not see her aunty and neither the horse nor the carriage. She saw the farm and started walking towards it. Then she fell to the ground and could not remember anything else. Curtis told her that she probably experienced a very big shock. He told her that she could stay with them until they found her aunt.
“Thank you Curtis. Now I would like to stay alone for a while.”
Curtis brought her a few clothes of his late wife which he had kept in a closet.
“Here, try these clothes on. I think they will fit you just fine.”
Curtis, as well as Lowell and Amos left the room. Anastasia put on the clothes that Curtis gave her. He was right! They fitted her perfectly. She felt at home there and took a liking to this family. She heard a knock on the door and Lowell went in. Anastasia blushed when she saw him. Lowell looked at her.
“How are you feeling now?”
“I’m good. I want to thank you for rescuing me!”
“No problem. Anastasia, may I ask how old are you?
“I’m fourteen and you?”
“I’m sixteen.”
They couldn’t find any more words to say to each other. Anastasia was still blushing with Lowell’s presence and he noticed that, so he started walking out of the room.
“When you’re ready come to the kitchen. My uncle is preparing lunch.”
“Lowell, I can help you out with the cooking and I can clean too!”
“That’s good! Well, if you need me I will be outside by the gate checking on the farm.”
Lowell now was sure that he fancied Anastasia. He had dreamed about her too!
More days passed and Anastasia was enjoying her time with the boys and their uncle. She also got used to the animals of the farm and new the name of the pets. Lowell was falling in love with her, but he never mentioned this to her. He was trying to find the right time to tell her that he loved her but he never did. Amos liked Anastasia too, but he loved her more as a sister while Curtis loved her as if she was his daughter. They never heard news about her aunt Dolores and Anastasia didn’t want to go back to England as yet. She was enjoying her time too much to leave. A few more weeks passed and finally Lowell had decided to confess his feelings for her. Anastasia went by the river and Lowell followed her.
“Anastasia, what are you doing here all by yourself?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to spend some time alone.”
“I need to tell you something ...”
“What?”
“From the first day I saw you, I liked you and I think I ...”
“Lowell, what are you trying to tell me?”
“I think ... I think I’m in love with you.”
Anastasia didn’t say anything but hugged him tight. When she was in his arms she started thinking about her parents. She began to miss them and had decided to go back to England to her parents. She didn’t know how she was going to tell Lowell.
“Lowell, I need to talk to you too.”
“Tell me ...” Lowell was expecting a similar confession to his.
“I’m going back to England to my parents.”
“I don’t want you to leave ... can I come with you?”
“Lowell, don’t worry, I will come back here. But I miss my parents and I need to see them.”
“How long will it be until I see you again?”
“I don’t know Lowell. I can’t say now.”
“When are you leaving?”
“As soon as possible, preferably by the end of this week.”
Lowell felt betrayed as he was hoping to spend more time with her. When they went back to the house, she told Amos and Curtis with the decision. They all got used to her and were finding it hard to let her go. Lowell helped Anastasia to pack some things to take with her during the trip. At the end of the week they all went to the harbour where the ship was taking on the passengers. Before she left, Anastasia said goodbye to Amos and Curtis, then turned towards Lowell.
“Lowell ...”
“Anastasia, please promise me that you’ll come back.”
“Yes, I promise. I will write to you when I arrive in England.”
Lowell handed her a golden ring.
“Take this ring with you.”
Anastasia burst into tears and hugged him. She said the last goodbyes and left them.
Curtis and Amos prepared the carriage to go back home.
“Come Lowell, let’s go back home.”
“You go ahead; I will go for a walk.”
Amos was concerned about his brother.
“Lowell, I think I know you quite well. Come home with us. It’s all in vain to keep on thinking about Anastasia. She said she will write to you when she arrives in England and you gave her the ring.”
His uncle Curtis noticed the sad look on Lowell’s face.
“Lowell, I know what you’re feeling right now. It will be alright, come home with us now.”
“I told you to leave me alone! I’m going for a walk. I will come home later.”
“Well ... see you later then!”
Curtis and Amos left the harbour and Lowell walked towards a small shop where many men were drinking wine. He asked the barman to give him a red bottle of wine and a large glass. He sat down on an empty chair inside the shop and started drinking until he got drunk. He was talking nonsense and stood up from his chair and walked outside the shop. He was moving around in circles until he lost consciousness and fell on the ground. A young lady noticed him and was trying to wake him up. With the help of a friend she took him to her home which was nearby and laid him on a bed.
When Lowell woke up he felt a slight hangover and was still very dizzy. He looked around him and saw the young lady. He was seeing everything hazy.
“Who are you?”
“Hello, I’m Eliza.”
“What am I doing here?”
“You were drunk and fell on the ground. I brought you here …”
“Sorry but I have to go!”
“Wait, you’re still not fit to go out!”
Lowell tried to get up but felt his head spinning really hard. He was talking nonsense again and he mistook Eliza for Anastasia.
“Anastasia, you’re back …”
“I’m not Anastasia. Can you tell me your name?”
“You know who I am, yes, I’m Lowell.”
Lowell grabbed Eliza’s arm and then rapped his arms around her. Eliza tried to put Lowell back to bed but he managed to fall on the floor and hit the pale of water that was near the bed. He sort of gained consciousness.
“Who are you?”
“I told you already, I’m Eliza. Who is Anastasia?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Mmmmm, I think she’s your girlfriend and she left you …”
“I have to go …”
“Lowell, wait!”
As soon as Lowell stood up and was heading for the door, Eliza ran over to him and gave him a really big hug.
“Please stay a little bit more.”
“I can’t, I have to go!”
Lowell ran outside and went to the same shop to buy another bottle of wine.
In the meantime, Amos decided to go and find his brother with his horse Ezra as well as Lowell’s horse Rollo. Amos arrived at the place where he had left Lowell and soon after found him at the shop drinking wine.
“Lowell! Don’t drink anymore!”
Amos snatched the bottle of wine from Lowell’s hands.
“Leave me alone Amos, I want to drink.”
“Come on Lowell, let’s go, I’ve got your horse outside.”
“Just leave me alone, I will come home by myself.”
“No way! I think I better take you home myself.”
Amos helped his brother to get up from the chair. They arrived near the horses and Amos helped his brother to climb Rollo. Then they were off to their farm. On the way home Amos was talking to himself “Anastasia, why did you leave us? Poor Lowell, he didn’t take it very well ...”
Anastasia was on the ship looking out at the sea. She talked to no-one and spent the days alone until one day she bumped into a young man. She excused herself and looked up at him. It was her brother who went to Australia to look for her after he heard of the accident.
“Robin!”
“Anastasia! Oh god! I thought you were dead! Mum and dad are worried sick about you!”
“I’m so sorry; I was staying at a farm with a very nice family. They helped me get over the accident. Oh, I’m so glad you’re here!”
Robin and Anastasia hugged each other. When they arrived to England, Anastasia decided to write a short letter to Lowell.
“Dear Lowell,
How are you? We just arrived in England. Luckily I met my brother Robin on the ship. He went to Australia to look for me! When I meet mum and dad I will tell them about you and I will come back to see you. Until then me and Robin will be staying in a hotel for two days and then we will travel to our home town.
I don’t know what else to write! I will surely come back to see you.
Love,
Anastasia.”
Her brother Robin was curious to know to whom she was writing the letter.
“Anastasia, who are you writing to?”
“Lowell.”
“Who is he?”
“He’s my boyfriend.”
“You have a boyfriend?! What is he like?”
“He’s gorgeous and blonde with green eyes.”
Robin was not very pleased with this news. Anastasia showed him the ring that Lowell had given her before her departure from Australia. Robin felt a little bit jealous. Probably because he was adopted by Anastasia’s parents and so he wasn’t her biological brother. Loving feelings were growing inside him for her. On the other hand, Anastasia had always loved him as a brother. Robin took her to a hotel nearby where they were to stay for the next couple of days.
In Australia Lowell received Anastasia’s letter and he was so anxious to read it! He was so pleased to know that she met her brother on the ship and so she was taken care of. He showed the letter to Amos and his uncle Curtis and they too were pleased that she wrote. That evening Lowell was drafting a reply to send to her.
“Dear Anastasia,
I received your letter this morning and I’m so pleased to read that you are ok and that you met your brother! I really look forward to see you again and hope that you will not take long to return to Australia. Amos and Uncle Curtis are sending their regards. They too were pleased to know that you arrived safely.
Anyway, keep in touch and I’m waiting for you here so that we could be together again.
I love you,
Lowell.”
Lowell spent his days thinking about Anastasia and about the day when she returns to Australia. He was even thinking that he would marry her in the future. One day he had an errand near the harbour where he had left Anastasia and he saw Eliza. She saw him too and hurried towards him and gave him a hug. He was surprised by her attitude and she immediately invited him to her place: he didn’t refuse and followed her. They were silent all the way towards her home and when they arrived Lowell broke the silence by talking about the ambience of her room.
“Lowell, what do you like about me?”
He didn’t know what to say and to get rid of her he mentioned her hair. Eliza moved closer to him and tried to kiss him on the lips. Lowell was taken aback.
“Eliza, no!”
“But you said that you like me. Let me kiss you ...”
“There can’t be anything between us!”
“Well, maybe if I show you something, you’ll change your mind ...”
They were in her bedroom and Eliza locked the door. She started to undress and Lowell was staring at her. He couldn’t believe his eyes. How could a girl want him that much?
“Why are you staring at me like that? Don’t you like what you see?”
“My eyes are set on only one person. Sorry, I have to leave!”
“You’re talking about Anastasia? But she left you!”
Lowell tried to unlock the door. The key was not there and he managed to kick the door open. Eliza quickly put on her clothes and followed him. She called out his name but he kept on walking.
“Lowell, wait, please wait!”
“Why can’t I get rid of you??”
“I love you Lowell” shouted Eliza at the top of her voice.
Lowell stopped walking and turned around.
“You have to stop this. I can’t be yours.”
He left her behind crying her heart out.
Anastasia and Robin arrived at their parents’ house. She was very happy to see them. Her father Duke thanked Robin for taking care of her and he wanted to speak to him in private.
“Well done, Robin! I’m very proud of you!”
“Dad, remember your promise now.”
“Yes, sure. Let her settle down first and then we take action.”
Her mother Eloise, Duke, Anastasia, her younger sister Zandra and Robin went inside the house and the servants welcomed Anastasia. In the afternoon Anastasia went up to her room to have a nap. Robin was thinking about her and he didn’t wish her to get engaged with Lowell as he wanted her for himself. He went into her room and while she was asleep he took off Lowell’s ring from her finger. He hid it with his belongings in his room so that no one could find it. When she woke up, she didn’t realise that the ring was not there and started writing another letter to Lowell. Robin offered to take the letter himself at the post office and she agreed. He went outside and opened the envelope. After reading it he tore it to pieces.
A few more weeks passed and Anastasia was eagerly waiting for Lowell’s reply to her letter but there was nothing in the letter box. She was worried that something had happened to him and decided to talk to her parents about her worries.
“Lowell gave me that ring ... oh ... I haven’t worn it for some time. I hope I didn’t lose it!”
Duke started laughing and Eloise smiled at her daughter.
“My dear, maybe you left it in your room?”
“I must have left it somewhere ...”
Duke was serious now.
“Are you insinuating that you want to go back to Australia to see him?”
“How did you guess?”
“Anastasia, I also know that you haven’t heard from him for a while. If he loves you he would write to you often.”
Anastasia didn’t say anything else. She was thinking about what her father had just told her. She was absolutely sure that Lowell loved her, but she couldn’t understand why he hasn’t written to her yet. She decided to write him another letter and once again, Robin offered to take it to the post office himself. Of course he destroyed it. Lowell was keen as well to receive news from her and when he didn’t receive anything for a while he was worried too. When he sent her letters, Robin used to pick them up from the postman and destroy them. Lowell was getting very anxious and he also was becoming very sad for not hearing from her. He started to lock himself in his room in the evenings and cry his eyes out, thinking that Anastasia didn’t want him anymore. One fine day, he was very sad and to his surprise, Eliza went to see him at the farm. He had never told her where he lived but she managed to track him down. Curtis let her in the house and without knocking she entered Lowell’s room.
“Lowell, why are you so sad?”
“What the heck … how did you find where I live? Please leave me alone!”
“Lowell, I love you.”
“Please don’t say that and tell me why you’re here.”
“I want to tell you something …”
“What?”
“I want to be your girlfriend. Even more … I want to be your wife in the future. I want to marry you!”
“Are you crazy?! I already told you that I love someone else so please leave now.”
Eliza was shocked and left the room. She tore apart the flowers she had brought for him and was very angry and disappointed. She couldn’t understand why Lowell could not love her.
Anastasia was missing Lowell terribly. She decided to write him one last letter and gave it to Robin. She was determined to go to Australia to find Lowell and hoped that her parents would let her go.
“Robin, please take this one last letter. I hope Lowell replies. But now I’m determined to go to Australia to see him.”
“Anastasia, I feel that Lowell is not interested in you anymore. If he was he would have written to you, don’t you think so?”
Anastasia had tears in her eyes.
“Don’t say that, Robin, you’re making me more sad!”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. By the way, did you find the ring?”
“No, I can’t find it anywhere. I must have left it somewhere in the house.”
“Well, I hope you’ll find it. Let me go and take this letter to the post office.”
Robin was smiling and Anastasia could see that. For some reason Robin’s attitude was puzzling her. She went after him without him seeing her and followed him outside. At one point, Robin stopped and opened the letter, read it and tore it apart. Anastasia saw everything and was taken aback. She couldn’t believe what she saw and now started to realise that it was all Robin’s fault that she was not receiving news from Lowell. She ran towards him.
“Robin!”
“Anastasia? What are you doing here?”
“Robin, why did you destroy the letter? Now Lowell will think that I don’t want him anymore! What did you do with Lowell’s letters?”
Anastasia burst into tears. Robin went pale. He didn’t know that Anastasia had followed him.
“Anastasia, let me explain …”
“You’re my brother and you’re supposed to protect me! I hate you!”
“Anastasia, please … I can explain …”
“And the ring? You took it, didn’t you? Oh I hate you so much!”
Robin tried to calm her down but she wouldn’t hear anything of it. She ran back towards the house, crying. Robin ran after her and grabbed her arm.
“Anastasia, I love you!”
“What are you saying? You’re my brother …”
“Our parents didn’t tell you the truth …”
“What truth?!”
“I am not your brother! Our parents never told you ... I’m adopted!”
“I cannot believe this!”
“You have to believe because it’s the truth. I love you Anastasia, I want to make you happy.”
“If you want to make me happy, why did you tear the letters?”
“Because mum and dad promised that you will be my wife!”
“But I don’t love you! I love Lowell ... and I miss him ...”
Anastasia started crying again. Robin had tears in his eyes too. Not because he was feeling guilty but because he realised that Anastasia can’t be his as her heart was set on someone else. Anastasia left Robin and went to see her parents inside the house. Now she was feeling angry towards them.
“Mum, Dad, I never expected this from you!”
Duke looked at his daughter and tried to figure out why she was angry at him and her mother.
“What are you talking about?”
“You promised Robin that I would marry him!”
“Who told you that?”
“Robin.”
“Why not, dear? He’s a good boy and he’s already part of the family.”
“If you loved me you wouldn’t do this to me!“
Eloise put her hands on Anastasia’s shoulder and assured her that Robin would make her happy. But Anastasia continued to insist that she loved Lowell. She left the room and went to her bedroom. For the rest of the day she didn’t want to speak to anyone.
In Australia Lowell was sick in bed. He missed Anastasia a lot but one day he decided to try and forget her. While he was in bed his brother Amos entered the room to give him some soup. Lowell surprised him with a request.
“Amos, can you do me a favour? I want to see Eliza, can you find her for me?”
“Eliza? What about Anastasia?”
“I must forget her. She didn’t write back, therefore she doesn’t want me anymore. I want to see Eliza, maybe by time I will fall in love with her.”
Amos agreed to his brother’s request and went to town to look for her. He found her near some shops buying vegetables.
“Eliza?”
“Hello Amos, how’s Lowell?”
“He’s sick in bed and he wants to see you ...”
“Are you joking?! Lowell wants to see me?”
“Yes he does.”
Eliza was thrilled with the news. She was so happy that she let go of the vegetables she was holding in her hands and hugged Amos. Amos fancied Eliza and he hugged her back. He was pleased to have her in his arms. He then lowered his lips to meet hers and kissed her. Eliza was stunned by Amos’ action and let go of him.
“Do you really want me to go and see Lowell now?”
“Eliza, I really like you.”
“So you think I’m prettier than Anastasia?”
“For me yes, I like you a lot.”
Amos approached her and kissed her again on the lips.
“But I have to go and see Lowell ! He asked for me!”
“Please don’t go to him, stay with me today.”
Eliza was puzzled. All of a sudden she was noticing Amos like she had never noticed him before. She agreed to stay with him for the day. They went to her house, no one else was there and went up to her room. They talked about their childhood days and then ended up making love the whole afternoon. In the evening he went back to the farm and told Lowell that Eliza didn’t want to see him. Lowell couldn’t believe his ears as Eliza had been pestering him for a long time to be his girlfriend.
Anastasia decided to write to Lowell again to tell him that she was on her way to Australia to see him.
“Dear Lowell,
It’s been a while since I last had news from you. I am coming back to Australia to be with you and I want to stay with you at the farm for good. I really missed you and when I’m there I will tell you all that happened at my home and why you didn’t receive the letters that I wrote to you.
I hope that you haven’t forgotten me after all this time. Say hello to Uncle Curtis and Amos. I’ll be seeing you soon.
Your love,
Anastasia”
She went to the post office together with an assistant to make sure that the letter is not destroyed. When she returned home she started packing her things. Her younger sister Zandra was already missing her older sister.
“Anastasia, I want to go with you to Australia!”
“No darling, you will come and see me when you are a bit older, ok?”
“But, I already miss you a lot ...”
“Zandra, I will miss you too, but I have to go to Australia where my heart belongs. I promise to write to you.”
When Lowell received the letter he was over the moon. He was shaking and asked his brother to read the letter for him as he was too anxious to read it himself. They were pleased to know that Anastasia was going back to stay with them. Uncle Curtis was pleased too. When Amos met Eliza later on that day he told her about Anastasia and her stay at the farm. Eliza didn’t bother to care about Anastasia. She was only interested in Amos now.
“I don’t care if she comes and stays at the farm. The important thing is that we have each other.”
“You’re right, sweetie, you don’t have to worry about me.”
Eliza and Amos were kissing passionately until Eliza felt sick. She was feeling obnoxious and her stomach was upset. Amos went with her to a doctor and after examining her, the doctor went to see Amos who was waiting outside.
“She’ll be fine. What she’s feeling is completely natural.”
“What do you mean?”
“She felt sick because of the pregnancy. You didn’t know that she’s pregnant?”
“This is news to me! Well ... I better go and check on her.”
Amos went into the clinic where Eliza was lying on a stretcher. He held her hand.
“Eliza, how are you?”
“I feel a bit better. Did the doctor tell you?”
“Yes, you’re pregnant ... I can’t believe that I’m going to be a dad so soon!”
“Yes, this is good news.”
“Eliza, will you marry me? We have to get married now. I love you.”
“I love you too and I too want to marry you.”
Anastasia was on the ship on her way to Australia. She was eager to meet her beloved Lowell. One night she was out on deck looking at the stars when four young men approached her to go and party with them. She refused and one of them pulled up her skirt. Anastasia slapped him on the face and the guy grabbed her arm.
“Don’t you dare slap me in front of my friends!”
The other three were laughing heartily until another young man passing by stood up for her.
“Leave her alone!”
The guy who was slapped in the face wanted to get in a fight but his friends pulled him back. They went inside and ignored Anastasia and her rescuer.
“Thank you for that.”
“You’re welcome. Shall I accompany you inside or you want to stay here?”
“I prefer to stay here and sit down on this bench.”
They sat down, shook hands and started talking.
“I’m Maurice, what is your name?”
“Anastasia.”
“So, why are going to Australia?”
“I’m going to meet Lowell, my future husband.”
“Really? I was going to ask you out” replied Maurice with a smile.
“And you? Why are you going to Australia?”
“I’m going to see my sister Eliza. She got married and is expecting a baby. How strange ...”
“Why?”
“You said Lowell? The brother of my sister’s husband is called Lowell too!”
Suddenly they realised that they were both referring to the same person. Maurice was the brother of Eliza and she got married to Amos.
“This is a very small world!”
“So we can go to see them together. Do you know my sister Eliza?”
“No, I have never met her and I’m really surprised that Amos got married and is going to be a dad!”
When they arrived at the harbour, Anastasia could see Lowell, Curtis, Amos and Eliza waiting for her. Maurice went down first and hugged Eliza. He was later introduced to everyone else. Anastasia was next and she was so emotional that she started to cry.
“Lowell!”
“Anastasia!”
Lowell ran to her and hugged her so tight. He too had tears in his eyes. He kissed Anastasia all over her face.
“It’s been so long, I missed you so much!”
Anastasia then greeted Uncle Curtis and Amos. She moved over to Eliza.
“Hello, you’re Eliza, right?”
“Yes, and you’re Anastasia. Lowell was right, you are very beautiful.”
Anastasia was blushing as she wasn’t expecting this compliment from another girl. Lowell asked her to go with him somewhere quite as he wanted to spend some time alone with her. They left the others and agreed to meet later in the day. They went to a quite place by the sea.
“Lowell, I really wish that we get married soon. I want a family like Amos and Eliza.”
“Anastasia, that is what I want with you. I think I love you more than before!”
After a few hours of catching up they joined the others at the shop of Eliza’s family. They were celebrating Anastasia’s arrival to Australia.
A few more months passed and Lowell and Anastasia were preparing for their wedding. Anastasia looked like a princess in her dress whilst Lowell looked like a real gentleman. Before the nuptials Eliza went into Anastasia’s room.
“I’m really happy for you Anastasia. Lowell is a very good looking guy and he’s very kind.”
“Thank you Eliza for your kind words.”
“You’re really beautiful. Everyone will not stop looking at you!”
They both smiled and hugged each other. Eliza was almost exploding with the size of her pregnant belly. She had a few more weeks left to give birth to the baby.
Anastasia emerged from the room and as soon as she appeared in church, everyone kept staring at her. When she arrived near Lowell they looked into each other’s eyes. The priest looked at them and the ceremony started.
“Do you Lowell, take Anastasia as your beloved wife?”
“I do!”
“And you Anastasia, will you take Lowell as your husband?”
“I do!”
All the people that were present at the ceremony clapped their hands. Lowell and Anastasia engaged in a very long deep kiss, a kiss of two lovers, a kiss of true love.