halle18

[halle18]

The Swarovskis

Chapter One: Meeting Him

          Jeremiah shakes his head, it’s the hundredth time he’s had to deal with this since agreeing on this arranged marriage. Sure, he wanted to have her powerful father eating out of the palm of his hand but the last thing he wants is to deal with Ana’s incessant spoiled ranting. “Money is no issue. Replace the fucking thing if you hate it so much.” He said with a grunt, his voice cold and stern as he took his cigarette and ran the end of it along his lips before lighting it.        

   With a frustrated sigh, Anna shakes her head, crossing her arms against her chest like a petulant child. “No! Money is not the problem. The problem is that this dress is horrid! It doesn’t match my complexion!” She turns and gives Jeremiah a sharp glare, her eyes narrowing as she looks him up and down with a look that is somewhere between disgust and annoyance. “You don’t get it because you’re a man.”      

      Jeremiah can’t help but roll his eyes at her words, taking a deep drag from his cigarette before letting out a puff of smoke with a scoff.      

    “I’m starting to wonder if you find a problem with everything I do, no matter what, just to annoy me.”    

   He crosses his own arms, leaning against the wall with a stoic expression, his eyes narrowing as he looks at her. “This is the tenth dress you’ve turned your nose up at… what exactly is wrong with it this time?”    

     Ana’s face hardens as she lets out a huff of annoyance. “Everything! The color is hideous, the cut is unflattering, and the fabric is scratchy!”         She runs a hand down the length of the dress, her fingers tracing along the fabric and scrunching up her nose in disgust. “It’s like wearing a sack!”    

     Jeremiah takes another drag from his cigarette, his eyes narrowing as he looks her up and down, letting out a long exhale of smoke. “I’m sorry the fabric isn’t up to your high standards. Maybe I should have asked for the finest silk from china instead.” He says with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, his expression remaining stoic and unimpressed.      

    Ana rolls her eyes at his sarcasm, her arms crossing even tighter across her chest, her chin raised defiantly. “You really don’t understand fashion, do you?”  

      She turns back to the mirror, studying her reflection with a critical eye, smoothing out the non-existent wrinkles in the dress. “I can’t expect a man like you to understand these things. You probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between silk and burlap.”      

     Ana stood before the mirror, her eyes critically roaming over her reflection as she examined her appearance. With tan skin, long dark locks of curly hair, a beautiful face framed by long lashes that framed her mesmerizing brown eyes, she had a sharp jawline that contrasted the fullness of her plump pink lips.      

   Her body was a perfect hour-glass, her curves filling out every inch of her navy blue dress. The black heels she wore peeked out from underneath the heavy layers, adding just the right amount of height and elegance.      

   Jeremiah stood as the complete opposite of the woman before him. His features were sharp, his gaze cold and unwavering. Dark hair combed back, his eyes a sharp piercing blue, his jawline dusted with stubble. His build was lean and muscular, his arms taut against the pristine shirt that was tucked into his slacks that hung low on his hips, the top two buttons unbuttoned, revealing the top of his chest. He looked every bit the part of a dangerous man, but his features were undeniably handsome.          She storms out of the room, her face flushing with anger as she stomps through the hallway. The sound of her heels against the hardwood floor echoes through the halls as she approaches her father’s study, her hands balled up into fists. Upon reaching the door, she lets her anger get the best of her, pushing it open forcefully and entering with a huff. “Paw-Paw!” She yells, her voice echoing through the room.

    An elderly and handsome man looks up from his desk, surprised at her unexpected entrance. A black Jamaican priest, his face is stern but kind, his dark eyes widening in surprise as his daughter enters the room uninvited. “Ana, what is the matter?” He said in a firm yet gentle voice, setting aside the pen he was using and giving her his undivided attention.      

     Ana ignores his question, her face still flushed with anger as she marches up to his desk and slams her hands down on the surface. “I’ve had enough!” She says, her voice laced with frustration. She looks up at her father, her eyes narrowing as she speaks again. “I can’t do this anymore, paw-paw!”      

  Just as her father opens his mouth to respond, the door flies open once again, and Jeremiah strides into the room. His gait is firm and confident, his eyes dark and unreadable as he locks eyes with the priest.    

   “What’s all this racket?” He says, his voice cool and controlled as he walks up to the desk, standing beside Ana.      

  The elderly man looks up at Jeremiah, his expression turning stoic as the tall man approaches. He looks at Jeremiah for a moment, studying him with a gaze that is both firm yet assessing.

        “I’m afraid I couldn’t say for sure…” He responds, his voice steady and calm. He looks from Jeremiah to his daughter, raising an eyebrow in confusion as he takes in her angry expression.          Ana lets out a huff of annoyance, crossing her arms tightly across her chest as her gaze flits back and forth between her father and Jeremiah.  

       “I’m talking about this…marriage you’ve decided on.” She says, her voice filled with frustration. She glares up at Jeremiah, her eyes narrowing.  

      Jeremiah doesn’t respond at first, his expression unchanged as he looks down at her. Her outburst doesn’t seem to faze him, his eyes still locked with hers, his face unreadable. The priest tilts his head, a slight frown forming on his face as he looks between the pair. “Ah, this is about the arrangement I’ve made…”    

    Ana looks over at him, her expression firm as she nods . “Yes, it is a about the ‘arrangement’…” She says , spitting the last word out with disdain. She crosses her arms even tighter, her lips pursing as she looks between the two. Her father lets out a sigh, his eyes flitting from her to Jeremiah and back, his features conflicted.    

    Jeremiah remains eerily silent, watching the exchange with his arms crossed. There’s a flicker of annoyance in his eyes, but he manages to keep his expression stoic and unreadable.  

     The priest lets out another sigh, his eyes closing for a moment before reopening, his features still conflicted. “I understand how unhappy you are with this, but I made this decision for a reason, Ana.”        Jeremiah’s eye twitches slightly at her words, his jaw clenching as he looks down at her, his expression hardening. But he still remains silent, standing beside the desk as he listens to the exchange.  

     The priest leans back In his chair, his eyes locking on his daughter, his expression stern and serious now. “You know very well why I’ve made this decision, Ana. You need to be married to a man of power and influence, and Jeremiah fits that description.”    

    Ana scoffs at this, her eyes narrowing further as she looks at her father. She’s about to respond with a retort, but Jeremiah finally speaks up, cutting her off. “She’s being ungrateful.” He says, his voice cool and controlled. His eyes lock on her, a coldness in them. “Any girl should be grateful to be married off to a man of my status.”  

     The priest gives him a sharp look, his eyes narrowing as he listens to Jeremiah’s words. He looks between Jeremiah and his daughter again, his expression stern and disapproving. “That may be true, Jeremiah. But remember, this is my daughter you’re talking about. She’s not a piece of property to be married off to the highest bidder.”        

  Jeremiah lets out a scoff, his eyes hardening as he looks at the priest . “Is that not exactly what you’re doing, by giving her to me?” He says, his voice laced with a hint of irritation.    

     The priest lets out a sigh, running a hand over his face. “I’m just trying to do what’s best for her. I want her to be taken care of. You’re a powerful man, Jeremiah. My daughter will never want for anything with you as her husband.”      

   Jeremiah lets out a huff, his expression remaining stoic as he looks down at Ana, his eyes still cold as he responds. “She does not need to want for anything. She will be taken care of regardless. But I will not put up with her tantrums and spoiled behavior on a daily basis.”    

    The priest lets out another sigh, his eyes closing for a moment. “She’s young, Jeremiah. This is a lot for her to handle. She’s not used to being told what to do. Her behavior is not acceptable, but I assure you she will come around.”  

      Ana rolls her eyes at him, letting out a scoff. “Just because YOU’RE an old man, doesn’t mean that I need to bend to your ignorant rules.” She says, her voice filled with sass. Her words hang in the air as she looks up at him, her chin raised defiantly.    

    Jeremiah’s jaw clenches, his eyes narrowing at her words. He takes a step towards her, closing the distance between them, towering over her as he glares down at her. “I may be ‘old’ in your eyes, but I’m only seven years older than you, girl. You would do well to mind your tongue when speaking to me.”      

  Ana storms out of the study after their exchange, leaving Jeremiah and her father in the room. She marches through the corridor, her footsteps loud and frustrated. Once she reaches her mother’s bedchambers, she enters without knocking, her face still flushed with anger.  

     Her mother turns In surprise as she enters, her eyes widening as she takes in her daughter’s irate expression. “Ana, what’s the matter, dear?”         Ana lets out a huff, walking over and throwing herself down on the bed, her eyes filled with frustration. “I can’t married to him. It’s not fair!!” She says, her voice laced with anger as she looks up at her mother, pleading in her eyes.  

      Her mother frowns, moving to sit beside her on the bed. She looks at her daughter, her expression sympathetic yet firm. “Ana, we’ve talked about this. Your father has made the decision, and there’s nothing we can do to change it.”      

  Ana lets out another frustrated sigh, propping herself up on her elbow and looking up at her mother. “But he’s horrible, mother! He’s cold and cruel, and he doesn’t care about anything I want!” She says, her voice filled with emotion as she thinks about Jeremiah.  

     Her mother sighs, her expression sympathetic as she looks down at her daughter . “I know it’s hard, dear. But Jeremiah is a powerful and wealthy man. He can provide for you in ways that few others can.” She reaches out and takes one of her daughter’s hands, squeezing it gently. “Try to give it a chance, my darling.”

        Ana huffs, her expression stubborn as she looks at her mother, her eyes narrowed . “I’m not attracted to him. He’s rude, arrogant, and controlling. He's the last person I'd ever want to marry.” She says, her voice firm and resolute, even as her heart betrays her words, betraying her true feelings.  

      Her mother looks at her for a moment, her eyebrow raised in skepticism. She knows her daughter better than anyone, and she sees the subtle changes in her expression and body language when Jeremiah is mentioned. She lets out a small chuckle, her voice gently teasing . “Are you sure about that, dear? You’re not even a little attracted to him?”    

    Ana scowls at her mother’s words, her cheeks flushing slightly. She looks away, avoiding her mother’s gaze as she responds. “Of course not. He’s insufferable. I can’t stand to be in the same room with him for more than a few minutes.”         Her mother smiles, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she watches her daughter’s defensive demeanor. “I don’t know, sweetheart. You seem awfully worked up over someone you claim to have no feelings for.”    

    Ana scoffs at her mother’s remark, her expression still annoyed. She quickly changes the subject, desperate to get off the topic of Jeremiah. “What do I have to do, exactly? For the ‘courting’.” She says, using air quotes as she says the word. She looks at her mother, her face still slightly flushed from the previous conversation.

       Her mother takes the hint and lets the subject drop, shifting gears to address her question . “Well, for starters you’ll spend time together at the park. You’ll go on walks, maybe have a picnic, and just get to know each other.” She smiles, a hint of excitement in her voice. “It’s an exciting time, dear. You’ll get to spend time with him, and let him get to know you.”  

       Ana’s expression turns to one of distaste, her lips curling slightly at the thought of spending time with Jeremiah. “Great. So I have to spend the next few weeks being paraded in front of this… monster, like some prize to be won.” She crosses her arms, her irritation growing.    

    The conversation with her mother continues, Ana expressing her displeasure and frustration at having to spend time with Jeremiah. Eventually, her mother manages to calm her down, and they finish their discussion for the night.      

   For the rest of the night, Ana lies in bed, unable to sleep. She tosses and turns as thoughts of Jeremiah and their upcoming time together fills her mind. Finally, exhaustion takes over, and she falls into a fitful sleep. The next morning, she wakes up early, getting ready for the day. She chooses a pretty dress to wear.      

  Meanwhile, her mother plans to watch over them while they court. She will keep a discreet distance, while still being close enough to intervene if necessary. Once Ana is dressed, she leaves her room and heads downstairs, her stomach clenched in knots as she thinks about seeing Jeremiah.          As she descends the stairs, her mind is on Jeremiah. She tries to mentally prepare herself for the upcoming day. Will he be in a good mood? She wonders. Will he have something nasty to say to her? The thoughts swirl in her mind as she reaches the main floor of the house, heading towards the breakfast room.    

     In the breakfast room, Ana’s father and brothers are already seated, eating breakfast. They greet her as she enters, but her responses are mumbled as her thoughts are preoccupied with Jeremiah. She sits at the table, picking at her food as her family continues their conversation around her. But her mind is elsewhere, already imagining the upcoming hours she will have to spend with Jeremiah.         Finally, the time comes for her to leave. Her family wishes her luck, her father reminding her to behave. She steps outside and walks to the arranged meeting spot, her heart thudding in her chest as she sees Jeremiah waiting there, leaning against a tree, looking handsome and imposing as always.      

  He looks up as she approaches, his eyes roaming over her appreciatively. Her heart quickens as she draws closer, her steps faltering slightly as she stops in front of him. He smirks, his gaze cool and appraising as he looks her up and down.    

    “You look nice.” He says, his voice cool and calm as he pushes off from the tree and straightens up. His eyes flick over her, taking in her appearance, lingering on the way the dress hugs her curves.        Ana feels a shiver run down her spine at his words, a mix of annoyance and… something else she can’t quite identify. She lifts her chin defiantly, meeting his gaze with a cool glare of her own. “Cut the pleasantries. Let’s just get this over with.”         Jeremiah chuckles, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Feisty as ever, I see. This is going to be interesting.” He pushes off from the tree, gesturing for her to start walking beside him. “Shall we?”    

     Ana lets out a huff, her irritation at his smug attitude growing. “Fine. Let’s go.” She starts walking beside him, matching his stride as they begin their walk through the park.      

    The park is a beautiful place, filled with lush greenery and flowers in bloom. Ana notices a sense of peace wash over her as they walk, the natural surroundings a welcome distraction from the tension between them. As they stroll, Jeremiah seems content to let the silence stretch out between them. He walks with a leisurely stride, his hands stuffed in his pockets as he glances over at her occasionally.         

Ana does her best to ignore the way his eyes seem to linger on her, and she focuses instead on the scenery around them. She tries to keep her cool composure, but she can’t quite shake the feeling of his gaze on her. After a few minutes, the silence becomes too much for her. She glances over at him, her curiosity getting the better of her. “So, are we just going to walk in silence?”        

  Jeremiah looks over at her, his gaze cool and unreadable. He smirks slightly, seemingly enjoying her discomfort. “What do you want to talk about, Ana?”      

    Ana crosses her arms, her irritation growing at his smirk. “I don’t know, anything. Small talk. How about… the weather?” She grumbles, her tone dripping with sarcasm.        

  Jeremiah lets out a small chuckle, his eyes gleaming with amusement at her sass. “The weather? Really? That’s the best you can come up with?” He pauses for a moment, looking up at the sky before looking back at her. “Looks sunny to me.”      

    Ana rolls her eyes, her patience with him wearing thin. She lets out a frustrated huff. “Yes, it’s sunny, thanks for stating the obvious. Now what?”           Jeremiah smirks, enjoying her growing frustration. He takes a few steps closer to her, his eyes locking on hers. “You’re cute when you’re annoyed, you know that?”      

   As they continue walking, Jeremiah decides to start a conversation, asking her some questions. “So, tell me about yourself, Ana. What do you do for fun when you’re not being a brat?” She rolls her eyes at his remark, but responds nonetheless. “I like to read. And I play the piano. I’m sure you think that’s dull.”

         Jeremiah chuckles, his eyes sparkling with amusement . “On the contrary, I find it charming. A young woman who can entertain herself with music and books, rather than superficial pursuits, is a rare thing.”      

  The unexpected compliment takes Ana by surprise. She hadn’t expected such a response from him, and she feels her irritation and defensiveness towards him soften slightly. “You… you’re not just saying that to be nice, are you?”        Jeremiah shakes his head, his gaze locking on hers. There’s a hint of something almost sincere in his eyes as he responds. “No, I mean it. I appreciate someone who values intellect and culture over mindless entertainment. And I can say with certainty, you’re not like any other girl I’ve met before.”

       Ana is flattered by his words, feeling a warm flutter in her chest at the unexpected compliment. She tries to ignore the feeling, not wanting him to know the effect he’s having on her. She glances away, attempting to regain her cool demeanor.        “Well… I suppose I should thank you for the compliment, then. But don’t think this changes anything between us.” Jeremiah lets out a small chuckle, his smirk returning. “Oh, I don’t expect you to suddenly fall at my feet just because I complimented you. I know you’re too stubborn for that.”

     He steps even closer, closing the small distance between them. His eyes roam over her face, taking in her every feature as they walk.  

   She can feel his presence close to her now, the heat from his body radiating towards her. She swallows, trying to ignore the fluttering in her stomach at his proximity. She attempts to sound nonchalant, despite her racing heart and flushed cheeks. “Stubborn? I prefer the term ‘strong-willed.’”     

He chuckles again, his eyes locking on hers once more. “Strong-willed, stubborn, defiant… You’re quite full of yourself, aren’t you?”    He reaches out, his hand brushing a strand of hair away from her face, his fingers lightly grazing her cheek. Her heart stutters at the unexpected touch, a shiver running down her spine.

She quickly jerks her head away, trying to maintain her façade, even as her body betrays her. “I’m not full of myself. I just know my worth.”    He lets out a soft laugh, his eyes never leaving her face. He’s clearly enjoying their verbal sparring, getting a thrill out of her strong-willed personality.

“Oh, I know exactly how much you value yourself. You think quite highly of yourself, don’t you my little minx?”

  She scoffs at his comment, her irritation flaring up again at his cocky arrogance. “I’m not ‘your’ anything, Jeremiah. And yes, I do think highly of myself. Is that such a bad thing?”  

    He smirks, moving even closer, his body now almost pressed against hers. He towers over her, looking down at her with an intense gaze.      “Not necessarily. Confidence is an attractive trait, after all. But there’s a fine line between confidence and cockiness. And you, my dear, seem to be straddling that line quite closely.”  

    She scowls up at him, her heart racing at their closeness, but her defiance flaring up even more at his comment. She takes a small step back, attempting to put some distance between them. “I’m not cocky. I just know my own mind, and I’m not afraid to stand up for myself.”    

  He grins, watching her retreat with amusement. He closes the distance again, his hand grasping her arm, preventing her from moving further away. “That attitude of yours is one of the things I find so tantalizing about you, you know. Most girls would wilt under my gaze, but not you. You’re not afraid to push back.”

      She pulls her arm out of his grip, her eyes flashing defiantly. She smooths out her dress and starts walking again, her pace slightly faster now, eager to put some distance between them.

    As they walk, she decides to turn the tables on him and ask some questions of her own. “So why are you interested in me anyway? You have hordes of girls fawning over you, why bother with someone like me?”

Jeremiah walks beside her, his hands in his pockets as he responds to her question with a smirk. “Because you’re different. You’re challenging and defiant, and you don’t just fall at my feet like all the other girls. You’re feisty, and it’s... exciting.” She glances over at him, her eyes narrowing slightly as she processes his response.

She tries to ignore the way his admission makes her heart flutter, but it’s hard. “Exciting, hm? So I’m some sort of… conquest to you then? Another prize to win?”

He shakes his head, his smirk softening into a smile. “No, not a conquest. More like a challenge, I suppose. You’re the first girl who’s ever dared to defy me, who’s ever pushed back against my advances. You’re intriguing, to say the least. I find myself wanting to… unravel you, to see what makes you tick.”

She falters slightly at his words, her heart skipping a beat at the implications of what he’s saying. But she quickly regains her composure, her defensive instincts kicking in once more. “What makes you think you stand a chance of ‘unraveling’ me, as you put it? I don’t break that easily.”

Jeremiah chuckles, his eyes sparkling with amusement and challenge. “Oh, I don’t doubt that you’re a hard one to crack. But don’t underestimate me, my sweet. I’m quite determined when I set my sights on something I want. And right now, I want you.”

She can’t help the way her heart flutters at his words, the way his gaze makes her feel a mixture of excitement and fear. She swallows hard, trying to maintain her composure. “You want me? Just for the thrill of the chase, you mean?”

He shakes his head In response, his expression softening slightly. “No, it’s more than that. There’s something about you that’s different from the other girls. You’re not just some pretty face I can easily impress. You’ve got fire in you, and spirit. And I find that incredibly enticing.”

As they continue walking and talking, Ana begins to feel her defenses weaken. Jeremiah’s unexpected honesty and flattering words draw her in, causing her to let her guard down slightly. She relaxes, dropping her snarky retorts and sarcastic comments, instead asking him genuine questions about himself. They eventually finish their walk, and Ana reluctantly says goodbye to Jeremiah and heads home.

At home, Ana’s family greets her as they all settle into the dining room for supper. Her three older brothers tease her about her day out with Jeremiah, their names being Mateo, Diego, and Victor. Ana rolls her eyes at her brothers’ teasing, a small smile on her face as she takes her seat. Anita, the black maid who traveled with Ana’s family, comes in and begins serving the food. Ana’s father says a prayer over the meal, and everyone begins eating, chatting amongst themselves.

As they eat, Ana’s family talks about their day, sharing news and stories. The conversation drifts to Ana and her day with Jeremiah, Ana’s brothers making jokes at her expense, while her parents and Anita listen patiently.

After supper is finished, Anita takes Ana aside to help her prepare a bath. Anita helps Ana out of her dress and assists her into the bathtub, the warm water and soothing scents helping to relax Ana after her long day. Once Ana is settled in the tub, Anita sits on a stool next to it, ready to help with washing her hair or any other needs. Ana leans back, enjoying the feeling of the warm water enveloping her body.

She lets out a small sigh, feeling the tension eases out of her muscles. Anita, sensing Ana’s relaxed state, decides to speak up. “So… how was your day out with the young mister?” Anita asks, a knowing smile on her face.

Ana lets out a huff, her eyes closing as she relaxes in the tub. “It was… different. I was expecting it to be a dull, mundane day, but it turned out to be more interesting than I thought.”

Anita chuckles, a knowing look in her eyes. “Is that so? Interesting, you say? Do tell me more. I could use some excitement myself.” She grabs a washcloth and begins lathering it with soap.Ana sighs, her eyes still closed as she lets the warm water soothe her skin.

“Well… Jeremiah wasn’t as insufferable as I thought he would be. We actually had a decent conversation, for the most part. He was surprisingly… open with me. And he even gave me a few compliments.”

Anita’s eyebrows raise in surprise, a small gasp escaping her lips. “A few compliments, you say? My, that is quite a revelation. And how did that make you feel?” She begins gently washing Ana’s back, the warm water and rhythmic motions soothing her tired muscles.

Ana leans her head back further, enjoying the feel of the washcloth against her skin. She thinks about Jeremiah’s compliments, her heart skipping a beat at the thought. “It… caught me off guard, to say the least. I’m not used to hearing such… sincere remarks from people like him. And there was something about the way he said them… it made me feel… fluttery, almost.”

Anita smirks, a knowing look in her eyes as she continues washing Ana. “Aha, so you’ve got butterflies in your stomach, huh? It sounds like this Jeremiah character may have charmed more than you realize.”

Ana lets out a huff, opening her eyes to give Anita a half-hearted glare.“I wouldn’t say I have ‘butterflies.’ I’m not some simpering fool who falls for the first pretty face she sees. It was just… unexpected, that’s all.”

Anita’s expression suddenly becomes serious as she continues washing Ana’s back.She speaks in a firm, yet gentle tone. “You know, child, you’re getting to be the age where certain things must be considered. Your body is changing, and you need to be mindful of your purity until you’re ready for marriage. Do you understand what I’m saying, dear?”

Ana, who had been blissfully enjoying the warm water, suddenly realizes that Anita’s tone has shifted. She opens her eyes again, looking at Anita with a curious expression. “Uh, I think so? You mean the… physical changes happening to me, right? My… womanly… er… development?”

Anita nods, a serious expression on her face. “That’s right, dear. You’re becoming a young woman now, and it’s important that you keep your body pure until marriage. You mustn’t do anything… improper or impure with anyone until the proper time. Do you understand?”

Ana furrows her brow slightly, still not fully understanding what Anita means by ‘improper’ or ‘impure.’ But she knows that Anita only has her best interests at heart, and she trusts the older woman’s judgement. She nods her head, her expression a mixture of confusion and trust. “Y-yeah… I think I understand, I guess.”

Anita smiles gently, satisfied with Ana’s response. She continues washing the rest of Ana’s body, making sure every part is clean and pristine. “Good girl. I know it can be difficult to understand at your age, but trust me, it’s for the best. I’ve seen too many young women lose their purity before they’re ready, and it brings nothing but heartache and regret. Promise me you’ll be careful, my dear.”

Ana nods again, slightly embarrassed to be having this conversation with Anita, but she trusts the maid’s wisdom. “I promise, Anita. I’ll be careful. I won’t do anything… improper, I swear.”

Ana and Jeremiah are settling into a picnic by a beautiful lake the next day, surrounded by lush greenery and the sounds of nature. They’ve been talking and enjoying each other’s company, the conversation flowing easily between them. But suddenly, Jeremiah pauses, a serious look on his face.

“Ana, can I ask you something… personal?” Ana nods, intrigued by his serious tone. “Sure, what is it?” Jeremiah takes a deep breath, his eyes locked on hers. “I know this might be… forward of me to ask… but I need to know. Have you… have you ever, uh…” He hesitates, struggling to find the right words. He doesn’t want to offend her, but his curiosity is getting the better of him.

Ana tilts her head to the side in confusion, not understanding what Jeremiah is getting at.Her expression becomes puzzled as she responds. “Have I ever… what? I don’t understand what you’re asking.” Jeremiah swallows hard, realizing that he’ll have to be more direct.

He takes a deep breath and speaks with caution. “I’m asking… have you ever done anything, with anyone… intimate, I mean. Have you… had your first kiss yet?” Ana’s eyes widen at the question, her cheeks flushing crimson at the unexpected inquiry. She hadn’t anticipated Jeremiah asking about her intimate experiences. She shakes her head vehemently, her heart racing in her chest.

“No, no, I haven’t. I’ve never kissed anyone before.” Ana nervously takes another bite of the scone in her hand, trying to distract herself from the awkwardness of the situation. She fidgets with her hands, playing with the hem of her dress as she avoids making eye contact with Jeremiah, her cheeks still scarlet with embarrassment.

Jeremiah watches her carefully, seeing how uncomfortable and embarrassed she is. He regrets bringing it up in such a blunt way, and he tries to soften his expression and tone. “I apologize if that question was too forward. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I just… I was curious, that’s all.”

Ana manages a small smile, appreciating his attempt to ease the tension. She takes a deep breath before responding, still fidgeting with her hands. “No, it’s okay. I just wasn’t expecting you to ask something like that. I mean, we hardly know each other. I guess it just… caught me off guard.”

Jeremiah nods, understanding her perspective. “I realize that, and I’m sorry if it seemed inappropriate. I guess I just got a little carried away with my curiosity. It’s just that… you’re such an attractive young woman, and I suppose I just assumed…” He drifts off, his own cheeks coloring slightly at the implication of his words.Ana’s eyes widen slightly, her heart skipping a beat at the compliment.

She glances up, making eye contact with Jeremiah for the first time since the question was asked. “A-attractive? You think I’m… attractive?”

Jeremiah nods, a small smile on his lips. “Of course I do. You’re beautiful, Ana. You have such a natural elegance and grace about you, and your smile is absolutely enchanting.” He looks at her intently, his gaze admiring and sincere.

As the picnic comes to an end and Ana returns home, she can’t help but replay the conversation with Jeremiah in her head. His words and compliments swirl around her mind, making it difficult for her to focus on anything else.

She tries to eat supper with her family, but she ends up pushing her food around her plate, lost in her thoughts.Anita can see the change in Ana, knowing that her young charge has fallen head over heels for Jeremiah. As she tucks Ana into bed that night, she gives her a comforting smile, knowing the internal struggle she’s going through.