Saving Annabelle (4)

Saving Annabelle

Finding one of the few clean outfits she had left, Annabelle dressed quickly in a pair of black slacks and a sleeveless, yet conservative, yellow shirt and left the room. She made her way to the lobby where Bessie was talking to a man, who from the look of things, was an old friend. Scratch that, Annabelle thought. This man was far from old. If she was any judge of age, she was sure he was no older than thirty. Short brown curls framed his face just right, and she could clearly see muscles through a worn green t-shirt that brought her attention straight to a pair of sparkling hazel eyes. Man, was she a sucker for nice eyes!

Annabelle guessed she must have been on the verge of drooling, because she was suddenly brought back to reality by a small hand waving in front of her face and a hearty chuckle from across the room. "Sorry..." Annabelle said nervously. "I was in another world."

"And a very good one too, I bet," laughed Bessie. "Don't worry, hon. Not a girl in Delton has looked into those eyes without being lost at least once. Sometimes even I can't help myself. I would introduce you two, but I think there would be a slight problem." At Annabelle's look of confusion, Bessie continued. "You were so tired last night, I don't believe I caught your name. I'm Bessie, by the way."

"Oh, sorry. I'm Annabelle. And, really, there's no need to introduce us. I..." Before she could finish her sentence, Annabelle was being pulled across the room, her hand in Bessie's until they stopped, just a foot in front of Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Handsome.

"Daniel, I'd like you to meet Annabelle. She arrived last night, and I have a feeling she'll be staying with us a while. Since it's your day off and all, I figured you could show her around."

Daniel was silent for a moment and sent Bessie a stern look before speaking. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Annabelle. Could you wait right here while I talk to Bessie for a moment please?"  Annabelle only nodded, and was otherwise frozen. Her thoughts wouldn't quite reach her mouth. When they were finally out of earshot, Daniel was first to speak, "No way are you trying this again! You can't just fix me up every time a good-looking girl shows up in Delton. I don't have time for a relationship, especially one that is bound to end within a week."

"Daniel, it's not like that this time!" Bessie pleaded. "I'm doing this for her, not you. I know we just met her, but you didn't see what I saw last night. There was such sadness in those eyes, I could have wept for the pain I saw there. I'm not asking you to date her. Just make her feel at home, please."

If there was something Daniel had learned about Bessie, it was that she meant well and could see things about a person that others could not. If she was truly that concerned about Annabelle, there was no way he could say no. So Daniel nodded, agreeing mostly with his eyes, then took a deep breath to brace himself and headed back across the room.