#gillespielegacy

[justsimplysimone]

Chapter 4: Stuck Thoughts

Mystery man has a name. It’s Mr. Cole Heller. Cole Heller is sitting with her friends and laughing at her jokes. Anita debated staying to get to know him better but she had already told her friends goodbye. Not even I know how she broke the through her daze caused by his deep laugh to leave. I do know that she smiled the whole way to the library.

Giddy, is the only way to describe how Anita was feeling. She was giddy at finally meeting Mr. Heller. Writing her second children’s book took longer than the first. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Cole. Though she knew his name nearly everything else about him was a mystery.  

During breakfast the next day she thought of him and his dreamy green eyes.

Tending to her garden as usual in the morning a strange thought popped in her head. Does Cole like being outdoors in nature? She didn’t ponder it too long before finishing up and going to watch the sunrise at beach.

Running into Ms. Bria Simms hadn’t been her plan. Anita couldn’t help but notice her true first friend looked bummed. Bria’s dog was sick and it seemed to weigh down on her soul. The two friends talked for a long while about everything and nothing. It was nearly noon when Bria finally felt better and the two young women went there separate ways. 

Anita deciding on a short afternoon snooze. With dreams of emerald eyes, laughter, and rays of sunshine following her.

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[justsimplysimone]

Chapter 3: Love Thy Neighbor?

Anita is a bit of a lightweight. One little drink as she waiting for Ms. Garcia and her vision got a little blurry. So when the mystery man sat next to her, flirted, then proceeded to talk about his wife’s something or another. She stopped listening at wife. Anger welled up inside her. How could someone be so infuriating and reckless? 

Storming over and steering a confused Kelsie away from the bar she left mystery man alone. Rather loudly, Anita went on and on about how inconsiderate he was to her new friend. When her ramblings got to be slurred and confusing Kelsie informed her that the man at the bar hadn’t been at the library at all. While he may be an idiot sometimes the man at the bar loved his wife and kids. It was probably the alcohol, or the flood of emotions, or the sheer embarrassment that caused Anita to run to the bathroom. Feeling drained and disappointed she called it a night and decided to sleep it off.

And sleep she did. 

Waking up to a raging headache is no one’s idea of fun. Opting for a quieter day she worked on her garden. Still a bit embarrassed about her behavior last night she looked to see Solomon had sent her a message. She called him to come over. 

He listened while she went on about her mistake and laughed without making her feel foolish. It was reassuring. Feeling better the pair decided to meet Kiera at town center. 

The trio laughed together at their horrible card skills before deciding to watch a film. There was a bit of tension between the group as Anita began to feel like a third wheel. Deciding to head to the library and leave her neighbors to have a moment, Anita gets up and hugs Solomon goodbye. Thanking him for his company and encouragement. 

That’s how she ended up at the town center. And those are the moments that led up to her yet again coming face to face with the mystery man.

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[justsimplysimone]

Chapter 10: I Can Hear the Bells

Anita gives Salim a call. There’s no need for a marriage pact anymore. Salim joked the whole time about having to actually look for a wife. She made it so hard for him. He agreed to come see the man who stole away “his bride” and celebrate the happy couple being together. This wedding will be something.

Telling Salim had been easy. Telling Cole had not been. Their relationship was still a strong bond but there was an awkward tension whenever they were around each other. Though she never admitted it, Anita is sure Kiera had some sort of romantic interest in Solomon. So Anita killed two birds with one stone. Both of her dearest friends were happy for the couple. And with that weight off her shoulder she told the rest of her friends about the wedding. The wedding that came sooner than she realized. 

I take you, Solomon, to be my husband from this day forward,

to join with you and share all that is to come,

and I promise to be faithful to you

until death parts us.

If you asked Anita about her wedding day she’d tell you it all happened so fast. Her friends were there and it was a small church. She’d never forget the feeling of serenity that washed over her the moment they said their vows. It had to have been the look in Solomon’s eyes. The kind of look that radiated “we’re home.”

Solomon and Salim were two peas in a pod. Claire thought Solomon was the bees knees. Bria was happy her friend had finally gotten married even if she was a little unsure of her choice in husband. Kelsie enjoyed her night without the kids. 

All in all, Anita’s wedding was a sweet affair. Surrounded by people she loved. And even though the groom hadn’t been the man she’d secretly pictured since she moved to Brindleton Bay, there was not a thing she would’ve have changed. And that’s the gospel truth.

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[justsimplysimone]

Chapter 9: Sunday Kind of Love

The months after Salim and Anita ran into each other were eventful to say the least. Anita sitting in her kitchen listening to music from people who lived along time ago while eating pancakes couldn’t keep the smile off her face. She was getting married. And the first date had been so sweet.

Solomon seemed nervous which was definitely unusual for Mr. Calm Cool and Collected. Anita was unsure if agreeing to a date with her neighbor was something she should do. The two had been close for years now, but there was so much she didn’t know about him. She never thought he was interested in her in that way. Never really felt the same spark she had with Cole.

And maybe that’s what made Solomon a better choice. The kind of man who told you the honest truth. Dependable. Solid. Caring.

Someone you could grow old with and still have a good laugh. A man who didn’t want you to be anything or anyone but yourself. A man who was unafraid to be himself.

A man ready for what the future was going to bring. For a future by your side.   

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[justsimplysimone]

Chapter 8: The Times They Are A-Changin’

It took some time but all good things do. Anita finally had a cute little home of her own. The outhouse got put in storage because you never really know. It is small but Anita preferred the word cozy. She also preferred to not be there alone but that dream seemed more elusive with each passing day.

Feeling wistful yet excited Anita met up with Kelsie. The two talked about how big Garcia’s youngest was getting; starting high school this fall. It seemed like time was just slipping through her fingers.

The two stayed at the library where they ran into Noelle. Anita having met nearly all of her friends at the library felt an warm sense of comfort. Despite being single she was never really alone. And she could always visit her friends kids.

It was nearly eleven at night when the librarian gave Anita the “leave now or I’’ll hurt you” eyes. She had gotten carried away while writing again. Maybe that was good, if she had left any sooner she wouldn’t have run into Salim. She hadn’t seen him in years; not since she left the city. Her old neighbor is all grown up. 

Salim: So you never thought about going back to the old neighbor? It’s cleaned up a bit and I even bought our old building and I-

Anita: I’m not going back. I could never leave Brindleton. Life out here is...it’s got...I’m just...

Salim: It’s good that your happy. Next you’ll tell me your married some fisherman.

Anita: I’m not married. 

Salim: What the fisherman doesn’t use the right bait? Doesn’t know a catch when he sees one?

Anita: No turns out the “fisherman” already caught a great catch. But it’ll be alr-

Salim: Well then I guess our marriage pact still stands.

Anita: *small laugh* I haven’t thought of that pact since we were in junior high. You’d have to stick around town for that to work.

Salim: For the legendary Ms. Anita Blanche Gillespie, I just might.

The two called it a night. It was good to see an old friend. When the times were bad but the people were good. Maybe Salim would stay around for awhile. 

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[justsimplysimone]

Gillespie Bonus

Right before Anita met Cole for the very first time this poor broken child appeared and scared the living shit out of me. So Anita & I technically saw this horror right before the absolute treat that is Cole. The contrast.

[justsimplysimone]

Legacy Lessons #3

If you have friends in different age groups it can be awkward that hey you don’t see them for a couple days and next thing ya know they are elders...wild.

[justsimplysimone]

Gillespie Bonus

One of the first few people Anita met. His shirt made him a yes. His sad dirty pupp made him a no. She did however become close to his wife Nicole.