The Story of Annabelle & Alison

by Lydia Rose

  “She’s going to miss Mary these next two months. I’ve seen the sadness in her eyes even though she won’t talk about it with me, mom.” Annabelle watched Judy. “I’m sure Judy is happy that the two girls will finally be separated. I’m sure she’s hoping that Mary will find a boyfriend once she’s away from Allie.”

  “Do you think she suspects?” Alison asked.

  Annabelle shook her head. “I don’t think that has even entered her mind. I just think she thinks Mary needs to get away from Allie’s influence.”

  “Is Allie going to visit her in Raleigh this summer?” Alison asked.

  “I don’t know, mom. I’m sure if they can work something out, they will.”

  Judy walked up to the two women.

  “We’re very proud of our two girls,” Alison said when she walked over.

  Judy smiled. “Yes, but they’ve been best friends since fifth grade. They both need to spread their wings and see what the world has to offer.”

  Annabelle and Alison remained quiet.

  “In a few years, Mary will be married and be starting a family. Allie will meet other people and like most of us.” Judy sighed. “Our childhood best friends drift apart.”

  “Oh, I think those two girls will always be best friends. No matter what happens,” Alison said softly.

  Judy looked at Alison’s face and then to the two girls. “You might be right, Alison.”

  The party broke up at midnight and Mary offered to help clean up with the rest of the family. The two girls carried things into the house while the men folded the tables and chairs.

  Annabelle put her arm around Allie as she came in the door. “I love you, honey and I’m so proud of you.”

  “Thanks, mom.” Allie put the bowl of food in the refrigerator. “Can Mary stay over tonight? Her mother already said it would be okay.”

  Annabelle and Alison shared a glance. “Allie, I just want you to know that all I’ve ever wanted for you was to be happy.” She kissed Allie’s cheek. “If Mary is the one to make you happy. Then it’s okay with your father and me.”

  Allie went into her mother’s arms. “You are the best, mom. Thank you.”

  “Why don’t you two go to bed and I’ll finish up here.”

  The two girls smiled at each other and ran for the door.

  Alison walked up to her daughter and rested her hand on her forehead. “Are you feeling okay, dear?”

  Annabelle laughed. “I don’t know, mom. I think I’ve lost my mind because I just gave them permission to make love.”

  “You’re a good mother, Annie. They’re both eighteen years old.”

  “I know, mom. I feel bad that they will be separated for the next two months.” A tear fell onto Annabelle’s cheek.

  “You’re such a romantic.” Alison squeezed Annabelle. “I love you.”

  “I love you too, mom.”

  June walked in the door and saw the state of her sister-in-law and mother-in-law. “What’s going on in here? Is something wrong?”

  “No, dear. We’re just both happy.”

  June came over and wrapped her arms around the two women. “I am so lucky to have married into this wonderful family.”

  “We’re happy to have you too, dear,” Alison said squeezing the two women to her.

  PART II

  ALLIE’S STORY

  CHAPTER ONE

  Allie had spent the month of July moping around the house. She helped her father in the fields, but in the evenings she was lost without Mary. They wrote letters, but from the letters Allie received she knew something was wrong. As Allie walked out in the front yard, her grandmother called her over.

  “Hi, honey. How are you?” Alison asked.

  Allie approached and took a seat next to her grandmother. “Hi, grandma.”

  Alison waited to see if Allie would tell her what was wrong. She could see the anguish on her granddaughter’s face. “What’s wrong, Allie?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “There’s something bothering you. You haven’t been yourself. Is it because of Mary?” Alison asked taking her granddaughter’s hand.

  Allie nodded.

  “Tell me what it is and maybe I can help.”

  “I miss Mary and I know something is going on. Her letters are different.”

  “What do you mean different?” Alison asked.

  “I think she’s over me,” Allie said as her voice cracked admitting to her grandmother of her relationship with Mary.

  “Why would you think that?”

  “I feel it, grandma.”

  “Have you talked to Mary?” Alison asked.

  Allie shook her head. “Mom said it’s too expensive to keep making calls to Raleigh.”

  “Well, go inside my house and call Mary. It’s Friday night and I’m sure she misses you as much as you miss her.”

  Allie went inside the house and dialed Mary’s aunt and uncle’s home.

  “Hello, Mrs. Winter. This is Allie. Can I speak with Mary, please?”

  “Oh, hello Allie. I’m sorry, dear, but Mary is out of on a date.”

  “A date. With who?” Allie asked as her hands began to shake.

  “A nice young man who is working at the courthouse for the summer. He’s attending the college.”

  “Would you let Mary know I called?”

  “Of course, dear.”

  Allie came back onto the porch and took a seat again.

  “Do you feel better?” Alison asked.

  Allie nodded her head back and forth. “She wasn’t home.”

  “You can try her tomorrow if you’d like.”

  “She was on a date, grandma,” Allie said softly.

  “Are you sure?” Alison asked thinking it must be a mistake.

  “Her Aunt told me she met a college student who’s working at the courthouse this summer.” Allie put her hand over her face. “I’ve lost her, grandma. I’ve lost her.”

  Alison got out of the chair and pulled her granddaughter too her. “I’m so sorry, Allie.” She held Allie away from her so she could look at her face. “Maybe the date was to keep her Aunt and Uncle off her back?”

  “No, grandma. It would explain the letters I’ve received lately. Mary’s been trying to let me down easily.”

  Alison guided Allie back into the chair. “I won’t say to you that you’ll meet lots of girls like yourself in school because I know how much you love Mary.” Alison paused. “But it’s hard to live this life. Some people have trouble living in fear of being caught. What other people will say if they found out and others lose their families because of their homosexuality.” Alison touched her hand. “Some people just aren’t strong enough to be who they are.”

  “When did you learn so much, grandma?” Allie asked trying to laugh.

  “I read a lot,” Alison said with a laugh. “Why don’t you wait until you speak with Mary before you think you’ve lost her?”

  “Can I come back tomorrow and call her?” Allie asked.

  “Of course you can, dear.” Alison wrapped her arms around her granddaughter and squeezed her tight.

  “Thanks, grandma.” Allie walked down the steps and went back to her house.

  Allie knew her grandmother was right. There could be a lot of reasons why Mary would be out with a boy, but Allie didn’t believe there could be any reason that she would be satisfied hearing.

  Going on little sleep the night before, Allie walked over to her grandmother’s house to call Mary again.

  Alison and Annabelle left the house to give Allie privacy.

  “Hello,”

  “Mary?” Allie asked.

  “Hi,” Mary said into the phone. “My aunt told me you called last night. I’m sorry I missed your call.”

  Allie took a deep breath. “She told me you were out on a date.” Allie waited for Mary’s response, but there was silence instead. “I guess we’re done?”

  “Oh, Allie. Don’t be so dramatic. We will always be best friends,” Mary said lightly.
>
  “I don’t need any more friends, Mary. I thought you loved me?”

  “I do love you, Allie.” Mary insisted.

  “You’re just not in love with me.” Allie said trying desperately not to cry.

  “Wait until you get here, Al. There’s so many people. So many things to do.”

  “Good bye, Mary,” Allie said as she lowered the handset and sobbed.

  Alison heard Allie crying and wrapped her in her arms. “It will be okay, Allie. I promise you.” Alison feathered her fingers through her hair.

  The following week, Allie received a letter from Mary. After reading the letter she walked over to her grandmother’s home.

  “Hi, grandma.” Allie took a seat next to her grandmother on the sofa and handed her the letter.

  Allie: I’m so sorry that I hurt you. I do love you, but I don’t think I’m strong enough to live the life you want me to. I am happy for the time we had and I hope someday you forgive me. Mary

  Alison put her arm around Allie and held her while she cried. There were no words that she could say to Allie to make her feel better. She herself was living a lie. She didn’t have the strength even now all these years later to tell her family the truth about Annabelle. Alison had been writing in her diary for a long time, but that was meant to be read after she and Annabelle were gone. All she could say to Allie was she was sorry, but she knew it wasn’t enough.

  Over the next few weeks, Allie walked around in a haze. She even stopped helping in the fields and chose to spend her time in her room.

  Annabelle walked over to her mother’s house looking for advice. “Hi, mom,” she said as she walked in the door.

  “How’s Allie?” Alison asked. Everyone in the family was worried about her.

  “Not good, mom. I have such a hard time getting her to eat anything. All we do is argue.”

  “You have to give her time, Annie. She’ll be leaving for school in a couple of weeks and Allie will meet new people.” This was the only advice that she could give her daughter. All she knew that her heart was breaking just like her granddaughter’s heart.

  Annabelle and Alison had talked every night in bed after Mary broke up with Allie. They held each other knowing what they would have felt like if they had lost each other because they couldn’t find a way to be with each other all those years ago.

  “I feel so bad for Allie,” Alison whispered as she laid against Annabelle’s shoulder.

  “I do too, honey, but there is nothing we can do. Forcing Mary to stay with Allie would only lead to disaster years later. If she doesn’t have the strength to stay with her now, she’ll never have the strength. It’s cruel what she did to our Allie, but it’s better now than for Mary to do it later.”

  “I know you’re right and she’s very young, but it’s still not fair.” Alison insisted.

  “All we can do is be here for Allie and be supportive.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Allie was packing to leave for school. Stan and Annabelle would be driving her to Raleigh and getting her settled into her dorm room. Annabelle’s only hope was once Allie was there, she would come alive again.

  “All packed, honey?” Annabelle asked as she walked into Allie’s room.

  Allie nodded and sat down on the bed. “I didn’t realize that I had all these things to bring.”

  “You have a dining room table full of things you’re bringing too,” Annabelle said with a laugh.

  “It’s a good thing dad has that big truck.” Allie tried to smile and show some enthusiasm. If only her heart felt what was shown on her face.

  “Allie, you know you can come home on the weekends anytime you want to. You can take the train or I’ll come pick you up.” Annabelle offered.

  “Thanks, mom.”

  “I just don’t want you to isolate yourself. Get out there and meet new people. Make lots of friends. I loved my time in college. I made some great friends when I was there. This is the time when you’ll learn about yourself.”

  “You’re not going to want me to meet a boy, are you?”

  Annabelle put her arm around her daughter. “No, honey. I want you to be yourself. You may not find everyone is accepting of your life, but I want you to live the life you’ve been destined for.”

  “Thanks, mom,” Allie said squeezing her mother. She wondered if Mary had this kind of support from her family, if they’d still be together.

  They got to the school and began unloading the truck into Allie’s dorm room. Since Allie’s roommate had not arrived as of yet, she chose a side of the room and began unpacking.

  A short while later, a tall brunette stood at the doorway of the room. Allie looked over and saw her standing there. “Hi, I’m Allie,” she said holding out her hand.

  “Hi. I’m Jenny. I guess you’re my roommate?”

  Allie nodded and smiled again looking at the girl. The dark brown hair just came to her shoulder and when she moved into the room, it was her eyes that Allie focused on. They were the color of an amber stone and Allie sat on the edge feeling her stomach tumble.

  “I hope it’s okay that I took this side of the room?” Allie asked as her parents walked into the room with another box.

  “It’s fine.” The girl turned and greeted Allie’s parents. “Hi, I’m Jenny,” she said holding out her hand.

  “Jenny, these are my parents. Stan and Annabelle Summers.” Allie finished the introductions.

  “It’s nice to meet you both,” Jenny said smiling. “Here’s my parents now. Mom, dad, this is Allie, Stan and Annabelle Summers. My parents, Archie and Susan Archer.”

  Everyone shook hands and the moving continued with everyone helping. Within in an hour, the two girls were settled into the room.

  “We were going to take Jenny out for dinner tonight,” Archie said to the group. “Would you like to join us?”

  “We don’t want to impose,” Annabelle said.

  “The girls will be spending the next four years together. We may as well get to know everyone,” Susan said with a smile.

  “Thank you, we’d like that,” Annabelle said glancing at her smiling daughter. She had watched as the room took shape and that Allie watched Jenny closely. “Honey, let’s go see if there’s anything left to bring up?”

  Stan started to say something, but Annabelle gave him a look to not say anything.

  As they walked outside, Allie said. “Okay, mom. What’s on your mind?”

  Annabelle chuckled. “You know me too well.”

  “I knew the truck was empty and so did you. Just say it.”

  “Jenny may not be like you, honey.”

  “I know that, mom. Don’t worry I won’t attack her in the night,” Allie said laughing.

  “I just don’t want to see you get hurt again.”

  Allie put her arm around her mother’s shoulder. “I know that. Don’t worry.”

  The six of them sat in a restaurant near the campus having dinner. Everyone shared information. The Archer’s were from South Carolina and they had two other children at home. Another girl and a son. Annabelle told them about living on the farm and how her and her sibling’s house was part of the farm along with her parents and an uncle. As they were having coffee and dessert, Mary walked in the door with her boyfriend. Annabelle saw the look on her daughter’s face. Jenny saw it too and followed her gaze.

  Allie got up from the table and walked over to Mary and her date. “Hello, Mary,” Allie said standing over the table.

  Mary looked up from her menu surprised. “Hi, Allie,” she said forcing a smile. “Allie, this is Steven. Steven, this is Allie. We grew up together.”

  Steven stood up and extended his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Allie.”

  Allie looked at the hand and almost left him hanging, but she gently took his hand. “I’ll let you eat your meal,” she said and walked away.

  Jenny watched Allie the entire time and now watched as she walked back to the table. She leaned over to Allie’s ear. “At first I thought it wa
s the guy you were pissed at, but I could tell it was her. She must have done something horrible to you,” Jenny said with a whisper.

  “Yeah, she did.” Allie picked up her coffee.

  “She’s looking over here.” Jenny whispered again.

  Allie didn’t turn around. “Let her look.” She growled.

  “Someday I’m going to make you tell me what she did,” Jenny said touching Allie’s arm.

  “Someday I just might tell you.”

  The check was paid and they drove back to the college.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Allie saw Steven a few times on Campus and neither one of them acknowledged knowing each other. Jenny and Allie had a couple of classes together. They both were in the creative writing class together and seemed to get along well.

  After the creative writing class, Allie said. “I’m going to the library to study if you want the room to yourself.”

  “Why? Do you think I want the room to entertain someone?” Jenny asked chuckling.

  Allie shrugged.

  “Are you offering so I will do the same for you someday?” Jenny asked facing Allie.

  Allie shrugged again and said. “Maybe.”

  “Anytime you want the room to yourself, just let me know,” Jenny said harshly and turned away.

  “Wait Jenny. I’m not seeing anyone so the point is moot anyway.”

  “Then why did you bring it up? Have you seen me with anyone?” Jenny asked.

  “No.”

  “I’m here to get an education. I’m not here to date every boy on campus.” Jenny lowered her voice. “I couldn’t care less about these boys.”

  “Sorry, Jenny.”

  “Now let’s go back to our rooms so we can study.” Jenny put her arm through Allie’s and they walked back to the dorm.

  Over the next two months, Allie thought less of Mary each day. She was busy with her studies and Jenny had become a close friend.

  Running late for class, she reached for the door of the building only to find it opening. Allie ran into the girl rushing out. Their books flew to the ground.

  “Shit, I’m sorry,” Allie said without looking up.