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Chapter 13

John walked into The Bookshop with some books already in his hand. Immediately, he was met by Thomas who blocked his path. John's eyebrows rose and he made a low grunt.

"I need to speak with Anna," he informed Thomas. Thomas crossed his arms across his chest and made his own low sound.

"I thought she wasn't speaking with you," Thomas lowly growled. If he wasn't so incorrigible, John might find this type of protectiveness for Anna sweet.

"You thought wrong." A beat later, the door opened again and another man walked in. "This is my friend, Richard Ellis. He's here to help me on a mission." Thomas shifted on his heels and stuck out his hand for Richard to take his.

"Nice to meet you," Thomas said to the man. Richard took his hand and gave it a nice, tight squeeze and then shook it.

"Nice to meet you, too," he winked. John chuckled. He knew people well.

"Anyway," John interrupted the two of them, who seemed to have locked eyes and not been able to stop. "Anna?"

"Right," Thomas said, his lips turning into a disapproving frown. "She's in the back. I'll grab her for you."

"Thank you," John replied. Thomas disappeared and Richard stepped forward to be next to John.

"Who is that guy?" Richard questioned.

"He works here. Not much of a fan of me," John told him, though he decided not to add that it went both ways.

"And do you know if he's available?"

John laughed and turned to his friend.

"I don't know, Richard. You'll have to ask him yourself. I thought you were here to help me on my trip for my daughter," John reminded him. Then he paused. It was the first time he had said those words without much thought. My daughter. He had a daughter. A smile crept up on his lips.

"I am," Richard strongly stated. "Doesn't mean I can't take a look around the shop first."

"No," John agreed with a chuckle, "I guess it doesn't."

"Hello," Anna said, stepping into their view. She looked radiant, John thought. Her hair was pinned up, but there were fly a ways that were framing her face. "I'm Anna, and you are?"

"Richard," his friend stated.

"Yes, my friend, Richard, has helped me plan a few ideas for our special secret mission," John teasingly said and he noticed how Anna's cheeks blushed.

"Ah, right."

"He can go over the best elements of each plan. I could, as well, but Richard knows a little bit more than me."

"Then let's get to it," Anna said, smiling.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

A little while later, as Anna, John, and Richard wrapped up what they were doing, Bree walked into the shop. Her face lit up the moment she saw John. She hadn't expected him to ever come to the shop again. And he was standing at the desk with her mother. The two were standing close together, their shoulders almost touching, and they were both giggling.

"Mum? John?" She asked. As soon as she spoke, her mother stood up and straightened her apron.

"Bree," Anna beamed. "How was your day?"

"Good," Bree carefully replied, still not sure about her parents being in the same room together. "How was your day?"

"Great!" Anna stated. John stepped over closer to Bree and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Richard, this is Bree. Bree, this is my friend, Richard."

"Hi, Richard. What's all this?"

"Nothing," John told her. Bree's brows furrowed.

"You two are just hanging out now, again?" Bree questioned them both. She watched them both shift slightly uncomfortably.

"Perhaps," her mother finally said. Bree watched as John's eyes brightened at her mother's response.

"Well, cool," Bree sincerely replied. Then her eyes narrowed. "Are you two planning something for my birthday?"

"Absolutely not," Anna countered. "That's still weeks away. John just wanted me to meet his friend, Richard. He likes books. In fact, why don't you take him to the back area and show him the new books we got in."

"Yes," John agreed. "Thomas can give him a tour." Richard gave John a look, but didn't say anything as Bree dragged him away.

"So, trying to set up Thomas?" Anna questioned a moment later with lift in her voice.

"No, I'm trying to help Richard find someone, Thomas just happened to be here today and they seem to at least be interested. Are you trying to set up Thomas?" It had been her to send him off toward Thomas.

"I don't know," Anna chuckled. "I may have just wanted to be able to speak with you alone for a couple of minutes." There was an air of cleverness in Anna's features and John had to swallow hard.

"Well," John tried to remain stoic, "I am glad for the few minutes alone."

"I do think Bree will be excited," Anna informed him. "She's always wanted to go to Paris. I appreciate you having your friend to help."

"Of course, only the best for Bree."

"Yes," Anna agreed. "Maybe we should meet up tomorrow at the coffee shop to handle the final details?" John inhaled sharply and tried not to appear too excited.

"Yes, tomorrow at nine?"

"Tomorrow at nine."

"What's tomorrow at nine?" Bree asked, stepping up and in between Anna and John. Neither spoke; they just shook their heads. Bree eyed them curiously.

"Alright, I should probably get going," John finally said. He looked toward the back of the store to find Richard and Thomas still talking. "Tell Richard I headed back to work and that I'll call him later."

"Okay," Anna smiled. Bree eyed them both again. As John walked out from the store, Bree turned to her mother.

"You know I'm not stupid, right," Bree pointedly asked.

"Of course, you're not stupid. Why would you even ask me that?" Anna stated. Bree heavily sighed.

"Fine, fine, play it that way," she scoffed.

"Play it what way?" Anna was genuinely confused.

"Never mind," Bree decided it wasn't worth discussing right now. If her mother and John did like each other again, it would reveal itself soon enough.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

When Anna arrived at the coffee shop, she found that John was already there and had remembered her order. She went and sat down with him, grateful for the warm drink. Slowly, she took a sip before saying anything.

"You know how I said no more secrets?" Anna questioned him, meeting John's eyes.

"Yes, and I haven't kept anymore," John assured her. Anna's lips quirked up slightly into a small smile.

"I know. It's just…..I realized I have kept another secret. Although, I don't know if it matters or not, but I feel like it does," Anna rambled. She shook her head and took another sip of her drink.

"Well, whatever it is, I'm sure I'll handle it," John winked. "Unless it's not something you've hidden from me and that I am being presumptuous."

"I've hidden it from you and Bree," Anna honestly said. "You see, when I had Bree, you know that I used donor eggs and your sperm?"

"Right," John agreed. This was well known by now.

"They froze some of the fertilized eggs we didn't use in case I ever wanted to have another child," Anna explained. "And I've been paying to store them for years. At first, I thought I would have a second child, but it never happened. But I can't seem to stop paying for them. I don't want them destroyed, but I also don't want to release them for someone else. Which sounds very selfish of me…..but technically, it would be Bree's complete sibling." Anna paused and met John's eyes. He didn't look surprised, only sympathetic to her worries.

"It's not selfish," he was quick to tell her. "And I don't think this is a secret you have to share with Bree unless you want to. And likely, she'll only start to bug you for a sibling if you do," John teased. Anna had to agree and began to lightly laugh.

"True."

"What made you want to tell me?" John asked. Anna inhaled and John brought his hand over hers, happy when she didn't pull away. Anna bit down on her lower lip and shrugged.

"I guess, well, because if I did decide to try it again, I felt like I would need your permission this time. Or, if I decided to give it away or…..I don't know." Anna glanced down at their hands tangled together. She felt her breath hitch in her throat, as John brought his other hand up to brush the hair off her face.

"Do you want to try it again?" John questioned her, wondering if it was that want that was driving this discussion. He watched as Anna continued to chew on her lower lip and he brushed his thumb along her lips.

"Maybe," she honestly replied. Then she sat back and shook her head. "I….I'm sorry. I didn't mean….." Her words faded.

"Don't apologize, Anna."

Anna began to laugh. "This is rather ridiculous, isn't it? I'm getting too old and Bree is almost 12. We're supposed to be here for Bree."

"It's not ridiculous," John assured her. "Do you think, perhaps, that you want to try again because you could see what it is like to raise a child with the father in the picture and not alone?" Anna blinked heavily and John knew that he had hit the nail on the head.

"I….I…" Anna stammered and then shook her head. "We should really focus on Bree's birthday now. Tickets need to be ordered soon."

"Right," John agreed, knowing not to push Anna anymore on the topic. "Let's settle the last few details, shall we?"

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

"Happy birthday!" John and Anna both exclaimed, stepping into Bree's bedroom. John had come over early, with Anna's permission, and the two decided they would spring the entire trip on Bree that morning. John was carrying a birthday cake and Anna held the gift in her hands. Bree turned around and yawned, before sitting up excitedly.

"You're both here!"

"Of course we are, silly," Anna playfully stated. "Now blow out your candles."

Bree did as she was told and John set the cake on the table next to Bree's bed, as Anna handed her the small gift. Bree glanced between the two of them, before opening up the present. Her jaw dropped.

"Paris?" John and Anna nodded. "Tonight?" They nodded again. "Seriously?" Another nod. Bree jumped out of the bed and gave them both a big squeeze. "And we're all going? All three of us?"

"Yes," Anna told her.

"This is the best gift ever!" Bree said to them. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

They stepped out of Bree's room. She told them she needed to pack her bags and would eat her cake for breakfast.

After making their way downstairs, Anna turned to John and offered him some coffee and biscuits. He shook his head.

"I need to finish packing myself," he told her. Anna nodded. "Thank you, for inviting me along, letting me be a part of it." Anna chewed down on her lower lip and then placed her hands on John's shoulders, inching herself up and then catching his lips within her own. John moaned, before placing his hands behind her head and kissing her back. Anna sat back and smiled.

"You're welcome." Then they both heard a yelp from on top of the stairs and turned to find Bree standing with a large smile on her face.

"I knew it!" She screeched. Anna and John met eyes and then they both laughed. "Best birthday, ever!"

"Right," John said, a large smile dancing on his lips. "I should go and finish packing."

"Yes, we'll see you in a few hours," Anna replied, her own lips grinning. John brushed his hand against hers.

"See you then."

To be continued...thanks for reading!