Where the Tracks Go

Chapter Five

Ann had not slept that good last night.  She had come across a picture of her father and mother the day before that had prompted several dreams through the night. Some good, some bad.

Ann had dreamt about one of times she had seen her Great Granny.  Great Granny had come to Norfolk for a visit. Ann was three years old and had taken a picture where she was posing beside her Great Granny with her Bunny doll and Easter basket. Ann had been wearing a cute dress and some Mary Jane shoes.  The dress had been a light blue with lace and a pretty ribbon sash that tied in a bow in the back. Her hair had been pinned back with a cute ribbon and curled in the back.   She remembered feeling special in her outfit. She also remembered how fun it had been looking for eggs.  Great Granny had helped her find some of them. 

She looked through her bucket of embellishments.  She found some related to Easter and pulled out a few to add to her page.  She had a bunny holding an Easter basket and a few small Easter eggs.   She laid them out across a page of spring colors.  She was happy.  She glued them down and admired her work.  She could not wait to show Davey.  She was glad that he had taken an interest in her project.  Even if it were only to please an old lady.

As time passed, Great Aunt Flora became known as mommy and Great Uncle Phil as daddy.  Betty and Ellen loved Ann as if she was their sister. Ann spent most of her time with Betty. Looking through the pictures, Ann came across a picture of her and Betty standing in front of a train.  She remembered when her and Betty had taken a train trip to visit Great Granny back home in the mountain town.  She had been excited to ride on the train with Betty. She recalled going to the station and getting on the train.  It was big and loud. They had stepped up the steps into a cart with chairs.  Betty had let Ann sit beside the window.  When the train started moving it was slow but got faster.  Ann could see the small town and woods pass by as the train went down the tracks.  The train trip had been exciting.

She pulled a picture out of her and William.  They were together in front of a boarding house.  She remembered on the same trip to visit her Great Granny she got to spend time with William.  Ann did not understand why she had a "real" daddy, but she liked him.  After that visit, every time Great Aunt Flora took them to see Great Granny, Ann got to visit with William.

She made up the four scrapbook pages.  One with her father and mother, one with Great Aunt Flora and the rest of the family by the tree, one of her and Betty in front of the train, and one of her and her father.  She typed up her stories and pulled embellishments to decorate each page. She had not realized how much time had gone by until she heard the doorbell and realized it was Davey.   

She went to the door and let Davey in.  Davey looked at her and asked if she was feeling alright.  She looked tired.  She told him she was good.  She had made four scrapbook pages she wanted to show him.  She poured him a glass of tea and then sat down to go over them.

He appeared surprised when she told him she had been raised by her Great Aunt and Great Uncle and not by her parents. Wow grandma.  You had to have been confused.  I could not imagine being without Landon for any amount of time.  What happened to your siblings?  Oh Davey, that is a story for another day.  Ok grandma.  I need to be getting home anyway.  See you tomorrow.  Love you.