“What do you think? I need him far away from her, Diane. I don’t know what to do with her right now, but she can’t be around him.”

  “We will handle Travis, don’t worry.”

  “Does she really think it would be different if it were a boy of higher social standing?”

  “No, she’s just being a teenage girl. They like to say things to make their mothers upset and angry. Ana knows better than that.” Diane was trying to ease her worry.

  “I love her, and this is killing me. Do you think she will try to sneak out of the house?”

  “I don’t think so,” Diane replied.

  Andrea went back to Ana’s room a few hours later. The lamp was on, and Ana was sitting on the bed with a book in her hand. “Ana, it’s getting late. You should sleep,” Andrea said, trying to change the tone of the night.

  “Mom, I’m sorry for saying that. I shouldn't have said it.”

  “Do you really believe that?”

  “No.”

  Andrea looked at Ana, seeing her own seventeen-year-old self in her daughter’s image. Ana laid down, turned on her side facing the door, and Andrea curled up behind her putting her arm around Ana’s body. “Anastasia, I know you’re embarrassed, but I have to ask you a question. When was your last period?” her mother asked.

  “Mom, please, I didn’t have sex with him.”

  “Ana, when was it?” her mother asked again.

  “I think like three weeks ago.” Ana turned toward her mother and tucked into her. “Mom, I didn’t do it. You have to believe me.”

  “Ok, I believe you. But my point is, what if he wouldn’t have stopped? What if you wouldn't have been caught? You put yourself at risk, even if you say you weren’t going to let him. He could have taken advantage of the situation. You’re a teenager. He is a man. Ana, he could have hurt you.”

  “He did. I’m sorry for disappointing you. It got out of control real fast.” There was a long pause.

  “I know, I was there once myself.” They laid in the bed silent and listened to each other breathe. “I love you, Anastasia, no matter what.” There was a long silence.

  “Mom, do you still want me?” Ana whispered. Andrea felt so sad for this beautiful teenage girl lying in front of her. She wished she could have been there to love her all her life. She loved Ana as her daughter, and that would never change. She knew it would be challenging, and tonight had broken her heart, but she was willing to go through the fire for Ana, and she needed to know that.

  Andrea whispered back, “You are mine, I will always want you, and I forgive you.”

  Ana began to cry, and Andrea held her as she sobbed. “Please, believe me, Momma,” Ana pleaded.

  “Shhhhhh, now go to sleep.” A few minutes later, she said, “I’m going downstairs. Please don’t leave the house. I don’t know if I can mentally make it through anymore tonight.”

  “I won’t go anywhere,” Ana said.

  Andrea got up and covered her with the blanket and said goodnight, then went downstairs to talk with Diane. Diane was sitting in the kitchen with Nellie. Nellie walked out when Andrea walked in. “Well, has she calmed down?” Diane asked.

  “Yes, finally, I am emotionally exhausted.”

  Diane agreed. “I talked to Jeffrey. He’s going down to the stables tomorrow when Travis arrives to tell him he no longer works for us. Also, I do feel he needs to talk with him about what he’s telling people.”

  Andrea was relieved. “Thank you, Diane. Do you believe her?”

  Diane waited for the right words then said, “I think so, and I know it was difficult for her to tell us how far they had gotten. I can’t imagine telling my mother something like that. I would have been mortified.”

  Andrea poured a cup of coffee and sat down. She looked like she wanted to crawl in a hole and hide for a few days. “Well, I asked when she had her last period. That made her very upset. I just wish I could trust her. I want to believe her, and I agree it was difficult for her to tell us about their level of intimacy, but that could be due to her embarrassment. I was embarrassed enough hearing it. No, I can’t imagine saying that to my mother either. We never spoke about sex. Diane, truthfully, I don’t know if she’s ever been in a situation like this before. She said she was a virgin. But who knows what Ana has been through? I know she had a boyfriend at the Academy or a friend that was a guy. Jude, right?” Diane nodded, and Andrea continued, “I didn’t think she was involved with him physically, but now I don’t know. Diane, I should have talked to her about sex. I was going to. I just haven’t yet. I feel like I should have picked up on this.” Andrea was exhausted just hearing herself.

  “Andrea, you didn’t know this was going on, neither did I. You can’t stop it if you don’t know, don’t be so hard on yourself.” Diane was trying to comfort her best friend. “As far as her past and Jude, I know that Jude and Ana had some kind of a relationship, although it was fairly new. That last night we were there, she didn’t show for curfew. I found out later she had been stuck in the woods alone with him. She said nothing happened, and I believed her, I should have told you that sooner. I was really embarrassed that I let it happen. Andrea, I’m sorry, maybe that would have prompted you to talk to her sooner. I know she really likes Jude. I’ve seen where she Snapchats him a lot at all hours of the night, or at least she did when she stayed with me. I could hear her phone buzz every time. I do believe she’s a virgin, but what she did in her past life we have no say over. I believe her about Travis too, I did look at the video from the barn camera, and she described it correctly. I couldn’t see very close, but it didn’t look like there was any movement that would indicate penetration,” Diane told Andrea, hoping to reassure her.

  “I am so glad they were interrupted. That relieves me some. I don’t know what to do about punishing her for this. I mean, I just grounded her for a month, and this happened. What do I do?”

  “Oh friend, I know this feeling well from Lauren. I don’t think you should be permissive though, to me, that would be like you were giving up, and she would feel like it’s ok and her actions don’t matter. I wouldn’t compare last month to this incident. They are totally unrelated with the exception of the dishonesty.” Andrea looked at her then stared across the room. “But nobody has the answers, this is, unfortunately, one of those things we all have to deal with, and I’m sorry it has happened this soon. But I do think she’s a good kid. She’s just stubborn, and truthfully, I don’t think she’s ever had any boundaries in her life.”

  “I am not giving up on her, Diane. She asked me if I still wanted her. Yes, of course, I do.”

  “Friend, she reminds me a lot of you,” Diane said as she smiled. “Do you want me to stay tonight?”

  “No, go home. I don’t think she’s going anywhere.”

  “Ok, I’ll come over in the morning, after we go to the stables, to do a well check on Ana,” Diane said and laughed.

  “I have to find a way to tell Phillip, but I’ll do that tomorrow.”

  Diane and Jeffrey were at the stables when Travis showed up the next morning. They had known Travis for a couple of years, and he was always very respectful and hardworking.

  “Good morning, Travis,” Jeffrey Said.

  “Morning,” Travis replied. He looked nervous. They moved onto the porch to meet Diane.

  “Travis, we have a problem. Do you know what it is?” Diane asked, holding the empty bottle of liquor. She knew he knew exactly what the problem was/

  He answered, “No.”

  “Andrea and I found out yesterday, after a long discussion with Ana, that you were involved in some kind of relationship with each other. Can you tell me about that, Travis?” Diane asked. Travis didn’t answer.

  “Well, can you answer a few questions for me then?” Jeffrey asked. “Travis, I strongly encourage you to answer and be honest.”

  “Yes, sir,” he responded.

  “When did you start seeing Ana? How long ago?” Jeffrey asked.

  “About a month ago or maybe more,” he answered.

  “Did you ever take Ana anywhere, like on a date?” Diane asked.

  “No.”

  Then Diane asked the most important question. “Did you and Ana have sex?”

  “No.”

  “Are you being honest about that?” Diane wanted to confirm his answer.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Travis answered.

  “Who did you tell that you and Ana were in a relationship? And why did you tell people that you had sex with her?” Jeff asked Travis in an accusing tone.

  “I didn’t tell anyone,” Travis replied defensively.

  Jeff walked with Travis to his truck. Jeff’s objective was to make Travis understand his time with Ana was over and that he should keep quiet. Travis indicated to Jeff he understood with a nod. After the conversation, Jeff confided in Diane that he thought Travis was more attached to Ana than Ana had been to him. Travis had been shy and clumsy in high school and college, having only a few friends. He was handsome but couldn’t seem to commit to any relationship. Although he had plenty of one night stands after drinking at the pub. Travis was obsessive. He wouldn’t let go that easily.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Mistakes Have Consequences

  Ana came downstairs at 8:30 a.m. to find Andrea cooking breakfast. She had only seen her mom cook a few times, mostly when the whole family would be eating or on a special day. It had been almost three months since she was discovered and had become Anastasia Hutchinson. Ana actually felt like she had been here for years, and sometimes she had to remind herself she hadn’t. Her mother looked up, saw her, and smiled. “Ana, come help me make breakfast. I’m making French toast.” Ana had worried it would be hard or different interacting with her mom because of her discovering Ana’s all too recent sin, but her mom acted the same as always. Ana walked to the bathroom near the kitchen, washed her hands, then joined her mother at the counter. Ana asked what she could do, and her mother asked if she wanted to flip or dip the bread. Ana chose to dip.

  “Who’s coming to eat?” Ana asked, looking at the pile of toast prepared.

  “Your aunt and uncle, we have to talk over a few things,” Andrea explained.

  Ana didn’t ask any questions, but she couldn’t help but feel this meeting was due to the recent discovery of the interaction between her and Travis. They were almost done with the French toast when Diane and Jeffrey walked in. Jeffrey sat at the table, and Diane went to pour their coffee. Diane asked, “Can I do anything?”

  Andrea responded, “No, we’re all done.” She smiled and handed Ana a plate of fruit.

  Once they started eating, Jeffrey asked Andrea, “Do you want me to discuss it now or wait?” Ana knew what he was really asking if he should speak in her presence.

  “Go ahead, Jeffrey. She needs to hear this.” Andrea replied. Ana didn’t say anything, because she really didn’t understand what they were talking about.

  “So, I called Drake last night. I have found the boy who messaged him about Ana and Travis. It seems Travis was intoxicated and was boasting about his recent score. I’m trying to term this nicely,” Jeffrey said.

  “It’s ok. You can say whatever you need to. There’s no need to sugar coat anything,” Andrea said as she sighed.

  “I’m sorry, Ana, I know this will not be pleasant to hear,” Jeffrey said. This surprised Ana and made her even more uncomfortable.

  “May I be excused?” Ana asked, wanting to vacate the area in a hurry.

  “No, ma’am, you helped create this mess. There’s no need to run away from the reality of the situation,” Andrea responded. Her mom was right, but it still would have been a lot easier if Ana could skip this whole conversation.

  “I’ve spoken to Matt Howard, the boy from the pub, who says Travis was boasting about having sex with Ana and was showing a picture on his phone of her. Matt did give me the names of the boys Travis was speaking to, and the one of significance is Scott Trammel,” Jeffrey stated. He pulled out his phone to read a text.

  “What kind of picture was he showing? Did Matt see it?” Andrea asked as she looked at Ana.

  “Matt said he was farther away and couldn’t tell exactly.”

  “What picture did you send him, Ana?” Andrea asked, tired of surprises.

  “I don’t know,” she responded.

  “You don’t know? I swear, I think you have opportunistic amnesia.” Andrea shook her head and tried to focus back on Jeffrey. “Ok, we will revisit the picture later. Go ahead, Jeffrey.”

  “My concern is with Scott’s father, Steven Trammel. Steven has had recent interactions with Phillip on a project,” Jeffrey clarified.

  “Ugh, I have to tell Phillip, but I was hoping to keep him out of the details,” Andrea said.

  “Unfortunately, I do feel you should tell him about this possible exposure to Trammel. As far as how much detail, that is up to you and what he inquiries about,” Jeffrey replied.

  “What about Travis?” Andrea asked. Ana was suddenly interested.

  “He is no longer employed by us, and he has been advised to keep his mouth shut. Although, I didn’t know about the photos until after I met with him this morning,” Jeffrey stated.

  “You fired him? Why?” Ana asked.

  “Yes, it was absolutely necessary,” Jeffrey replied.

  “Why? That’s crazy,” Ana said.

  “Because we don’t want this relationship to continue,” Diane answered.

  “It’s not a relationship, and it never was. I told you we were not dating, and I just told him that when he called me. Why did he say we were dating? What did he say?” Ana said as she stared at Diane, awaiting a response.

  “He didn’t say much of anything,” Diane responded. Ana was relieved that he didn’t go into detail about their time together.

  Jeff asked Andrea, “Would you like me to speak to Philip about this before you speak to him?”

  Andrea replied, “Yes, that would be great. It will be easier that way, so I don’t confuse him.” Diane asked when he was due home, but Andrea wasn’t sure. Jeffrey rose from the table and left the room. He went to Phillip’s office and closed the door. Andrea began to clean off the table from breakfast, and Ana got up to help her. Jeffrey was able to reach Philip on his cell phone and began to explain the incident to him. Jeffrey told him all the main points and how he had let Travis go, and unfortunately, who Travis had told. He skipped the details as much as possible. Immediately after Jeffrey finished, Phillip demanded to speak to Andrea. Jeffrey put him on hold and summoned Andrea from the kitchen. Jeffrey dreaded this because he knew how upset Philip was by his tone. Jeffrey informed Andrea that Philip wanted to speak to her. She sighed, dried her hands with the dishcloth, walked into the office, and closed the door. Ana decided she should go up to her room. She wanted to run away and hide, which she knew wasn’t practical, so hiding in her room would have to do. Andrea explained to Phillip all she could while trying to keep the conversation away from the intimate details. Andrea couldn’t explain it, but she felt responsible for Ana’s behavior. Phillip was upset, to say the least.

  “I am coming home as soon as I can board a plane,” he told Andrea, almost as a threat. “Where is she? I want to speak to her.”

  “Phillip, she’s upstairs in her room. I think you should wait until you get here after you’ve had time to think.”

  “Don’t cover up her mistakes Andrea, she’s not an infant,” Phillip scolded her.

  “I’m not defending her. I’m just saying to wait. Give yourself time to think.”

  “Don’t let her leave that house until I get there.”

  “Dear, please calm down. I need your help. I don’t know what to do next. I mean, I just grounded her for a month and took her car. I can't beat her. I just don’t know what to do.” Andrea was trying to get him to understand.

  “Ok, well -- tell her I wanted to speak to her and that I will handle this when I get home.”

  “Yes, dear, I will.” Andrea hung up the phone. She was relieved he had agreed to wait.

  Ana was dressed and sitting on her bed, looking at her phone, when Andrea came in. “Well?” Ana asked her mother.

  “He is very upset, he wanted to speak to you, but I felt it wouldn’t have been beneficial in his state of anger,” Andrea said gently.

  “Oh, great, that is so good to hear,” Ana said sarcastically.

  Andrea slapped Ana on the leg lightly and said, “Come on, we’ll go ride around for a while. I feel like the walls are closing in on me.” Ana got up quickly, and soon they were in her mom’s car riding down the driveway. Ana was so relieved her mother wasn’t holding a grudge. It hurt her heart to know she had disappointed her mother. Even though she knew she didn’t have sex with Travis, it was still wrong what she had done. Since she was a small child, Ana had had a very guilty conscience. Ana thought that maybe it was because she didn’t really have any guidance as a child, but the guilt followed her past her childhood and past the Peterson’s. Ana had made mistakes in the past that made her feel guilty and remorseful but disappointing her mother, Andrea Hutchinson, had been the worst. She couldn’t explain it, and it really felt stupid if she thought about other girls her age and what they had done. But Ana wasn't like other girls. Ana was different and always had been. Ana was the kid who appreciated kindness and had had to let the material things go. She had seen and been through so many trials, that by default, she was calm when everything around her was chaotic. Ana had been to the bottom, had seen the devil, and had survived. She wasn’t proud and had always appeared humble, telling herself it could always have been worse. This was worse. This feeling of regret and shame was worse than anything she had ever endured. Not because of Travis, but because she was expected to be better than her behavior, and she had failed in her parents' eyes. She was secretly scared that she would lose her mother, and that made her desperate, seeking repentance from the one who had always fixed it all, God.

  Andrea drove down a country road that passed their property and went around a small village of mill style houses until she passed the river. Everything had always been so simple and natural on this route, Ana thought. Andrea stopped at a small white church. The church was so old the siding was cracked, and it had a bell that hung inside a square steeple. The wood rafters were visible from the windows and were a shiny oak, and in many places, shingles had fallen to the ground. The church had been built in the 1800s and had been used for many different things since being built but had had no inhabitants in over a century. Ana asked, “What are we doing, Mom?” Ana looked at the church with great curiosity.