Authors: Fern Michaels
Annie's Rainbow (27 page)
“Why is that? It's good, but is there a reason?”
Annie told her about Elmo.
“I am so sorry, Annie. If there is anything I can do, call on me.”
“The wedding may have to be here. I don't know if Elmo will be up to the long plane ride.”
“Then we will bring the islands to you, Annie. It can be done. If this happens, let me know, and my sisters and I will arrange things for you. It will be our pleasure.”
“That's very kind of you, Kiki. I appreciate it. I guess I'll say good-bye for now.”
“Thank you for calling, Annie.”
It was nice being friends with Kiki. She'd never had a sister, and now she was going to have a big wonderful family with lots of sisters. Life couldn't be better. Or could it?
Annie was aware suddenly of how dark her room had become. She looked out across the water as a storm roiled inward. One of Charleston's famous thunderstorms was about to shatter the quiet. She gathered up her ice tea glass and ran to the stairs. Before long there would be thunder and lightning. Rosie was petrified of storms, and Harry always ran and hid under the staircase leading to the second floor.
Annie felt like a mother as she herded Daisy and the two dogs into the house.
It was a wonderful feeling.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Annie looked down at her watch, amazed that it was five minutes to midnight. She and Parker had been talking for over two hours about everything and nothing. She smiled to herself as she listened to Parker regale her with some of his childhood antics. She yawned elaborately as she realized she was tired of hearing his voice. It was all me, and I did this and I did that and then I did something else.
“Are you going to go to sleep, Parker? It's almost time for you to get up.”
“I'm so wide-awake there's no point in trying to sleep. See, that's what talking to you does to me. I'd rather talk to you than sleep. I'm counting the days till you get back from New Jersey. I'll be there in Charleston the moment you get home. I miss you, Annie. I didn't think it was possible to miss someone as much as I miss you.”
“I feel the same way. You understand about Elmo then? Kiki said she would bring the islands to Charleston if we decide to get married here. I'm not sure I know what that means.”
“Well, if Kiki said it, then she means it. The whole family will be there, nieces and nephews. Aunts, uncles, cousins. Can you handle it?”
“Of course. My garden is wonderful. The house is spacious. The kitchen is huge. It won't be a problem.”
“If you like, we can have a traditional Hawaiian wedding later on. I like the idea of marrying you twice,” Parker said jubilantly.
Annie winced. She wasn't sure she wanted to get married once, let alone twice.
“That's exactly what we'll do,” Parker said sprightly. “The family is big, Annie.”
“My family is very small. Speaking of family, how is your nephew doing?”
“Right now, Ben isn't doing so good. It seems one of his law professors assigned each student a police case to solve. By that I mean a case that's still on the books. I think he said it was over thirteen years old. The professor divided the youngsters into teams, and Ben and a fellow student named Andreas were assigned a case that took place in Boston back when you were just leaving for South Carolina. That's if my memory is correct. You never said anything about a bank robbery to me, did you, Annie?”
“No, I don't think so. If it's the case I'm thinking of, it happened the day before graduation, then Jane and I left right after graduation the following day.”
“Well, Ben has himself in a tizzy over this. Wanted my advice as to how to go about it.”
Annie felt like she had a scoop of peanut butter in her mouth. She tried clearing her throat, but it felt so dry she gulped at the warm ice tea on the little table next to her chair. She finally managed to say, “What ... what's he going to do?”
“That's just it. He doesn't know what to do. Andreas is a French student, and his English isn't that good. He wants to do the paperwork and the files and have Ben do all the legwork. Ben says it's fair. He just doesn't know where to start. I told him to go to the police and get the report, then the library for all the articles that were written, and from there I would imagine he should go to the insurance company. What's your opinion?”
Annie mumbled something, and a moment later couldn't remember what it was she'd said. “I hear Daisy, Parker. I want to get to her before the dogs start to bark and wake Jane. I'll call you tomorrow.”
“I love you, and don't you ever forget it.”
Annie broke the connection and replaced the phone. It took both her hands to hold on to the receiver. She felt so faint she had to put her head between her legs.
Is this pure coincidence or something else? Now what am I supposed to do? Run? Hide? Call off my marriage to Parker? Should I tell Jane and Elmo? Maybe Jane, but not Elmo. Elmo has enough on his plate right now. God, what should I do? How can one person be so happy one minute and then so miserable the next?
Is this pure coincidence or something else? Now what am I supposed to do? Run? Hide? Call off my marriage to Parker? Should I tell Jane and Elmo? Maybe Jane, but not Elmo. Elmo has enough on his plate right now. God, what should I do? How can one person be so happy one minute and then so miserable the next?
Shaking from head to toe, Annie crept from her room and down the steps to the kitchen, the dogs trotting alongside her. Her whole body felt like it was on fire as she made her way to the garden. She needed to think, but her brain felt numb. Maybe what she was feeling was the first step in a nervous breakdown.
God in heaven, what will happen to everything if I'm reduced to a blithering idiot? How will Tom cope? Jane is in a fragile state, as is Daisy, and Elmo is ... is ill. I can't tell any of them. I
can't
ask any of
them
for help. There isn't one other person in the whole world I can talk to.
God in heaven, what will happen to everything if I'm reduced to a blithering idiot? How will Tom cope? Jane is in a fragile state, as is Daisy, and Elmo is ... is ill. I can't tell any of them. I
can't
ask any of
them
for help. There isn't one other person in the whole world I can talk to.
Perhaps I should consult a lawyer or a shrink. They are bound by confidentiality oaths. Going it alone is tough. Damn it, I gave half the money back plus interest.
I'll
pack up the rest and drop it off on my way to New Jersey tomorrow. I've tried to lead
a
good life. So I made one mistake. I've paid for it dearly every day
of my life.
I'll
pack up the rest and drop it off on my way to New Jersey tomorrow. I've tried to lead
a
good life. So I made one mistake. I've paid for it dearly every day
of my life.
Annie cried then because there was nothing else for her to do.
At four o'clock in the morning, Annie climbed the stairs to her room, her back ramrod stiff, her eyes dry and miserable. She was like a robot as she pulled out the chair nestled underneath the cherry wood secretary. From one of the drawers she withdrew letterhead stationery and a pen. She took a deep breath as she started to compose her letter.
Dear Parker,
I don't know quite how to say this, Parker, other than to just come out and say it. I can't marry you. I realized after talking to you this evening that I can't give up my business and relocate to your beautiful island. I guess I am a career woman after all. A selfish career woman who doesn't want to share the fruits of her labor. I must think of Elmo and Jane and do what I can for them. I'm sorry if this causes you pain. Please explain to your family. I also want to assure you that my decision to call off our marriage will not affect our business relationship during the next few months.
Annie
Annie folded the letter and slipped it into a matching envelope. The envelope then went into a Federal Express envelope. She filled in the air bill, marked it for next-day delivery. She'd drop it off in the special drop box at the bank when she left in the morning.
The next two hours were spent getting the rest of the money ready for delivery to whichever bank she came in contact with first. At one point she became so confused with the interest she owed, she simply dumped in two packets of money from her safe. Money that she swished and dipped into the back of the toilet tank filled with Clorox. She tiptoed down the steps and loaded the bags into the cargo area of her all-terrain vehicle.
With nothing else to do, she packed her bags and carried them down to the car and put them in the backseat. She was drinking coffee when Elmo arrived at six o'clock. The dogs circled him, waiting for the treats he always carried in his pockets.
“You're up early this morning, Annie. You look kind of peaked,” Elmo said as he opened the door to the garden. The dogs barreled outside. “You've been crying, haven't you?”
“So what if I have, Elmo? Where does it say that I can't cry? Why do I always have to be the tough one? I have feelings, and I hurt just like everyone else.”
Elmo poured himself coffee. “Feeling sorry for ourselves this morning, are we?”
“So what, Elmo? So what?”
“Does this have anything to do with Jane and little Daisy?”
“No, of course not.”
“Are you stewing and fretting about me? If you are, I won't tolerate it, Annie.”
“No, Elmo, it has nothing to do with you.”
“Did you have a fight with Tom?”
“No, Elmo, I did not fight with Tom.”
“See, now we're getting somewhere. That leaves Parker Grayson.”
“I'm calling off the wedding. I'm not getting married. I decided I don't want to live in Hawaii. I'm a career woman. I'm not giving up my business. I busted my ass, Elmo, and I'm not going to sit back and clip coupons.”
“Do you mind me asking what brought this to a head?”
Annie leaped up from her chair and started to pace the kitchen. “You know what, Elmo, it's that damn bank robbery that's been hanging over our heads for thirteen years. Wait till you hear this. Just wait till I tell you what Parker told me tonight. Well, last night, you know what I mean.”
“I'm listening, Annie.”
“So, that's what happened,” Annie said fifteen minutes later. “See, you don't know Parker like I know him. He hates lies and deceit. I didn't exactly lie, but by not telling him about being under suspicion, I was deceitful. He made a point to ask about secrets, and I didn't say anything. It was baggage, Elmo. I didn't . . . You know what, I'm glad I didn't tell him, or they'd be hounding him now the way they're hounding Tom's ex-wife. It plain out sucks, Elmo. So, I decided to call it off. Then there's the merger stuff. No way. I mean, that's simply out of the question. I'm not going to spend the rest of my life worrying about what if he finds out, what if, what if. This is the best way.”
“Don't you think you might be shortchanging the fellow? How do you know how he would react? If you explain the circumstances, I'm sure he'd understand. I feel duty-bound to tell you this is a dumb, stupid thing you're doing.”
“Give it up, Elmo. Don't you see, if I say anything now, Parker will be convinced his nephew's doing the legwork on the case scared me. It's all screwed up in my head. This way is best. Don't interfere, Elmo. I will never forgive you if you say even one word to Parker. This is my personal problem, and I'm handling it the best way I know how.
“Now, are you sure you don't mind taking care of the dogs? If I leave now, I can make the interstate before rush-hour traffic.”
“I can handle the dogs, Annie. I think I will stay here, though. I need to work with Harry to perfect his checker game. He bit Rosie's tail the other day when he caught her cheating. I swear, Annie, that's a true story.”
“I know, Elmo. Harry's real smart. You need to stop giving them so many treats. Harry gets the splats. I didn't hear you give me your word where Parker is concerned.”
“You have my word, Annie. What about Jane and Tom?”
“Not a word.”
“Why'd you pick me to spill the beans to about you and Grayson, Annie?”
“Because, Elmo, you're like my father. If I had a father or a mother, I would have talked to them. Take charge, Elmo.”
The frail old man hugged Annie. “Don't worry about a thing. We'll all be here when you get back. By the way, when are you coming back?”
“Not for a long time, Elmo. I'm going to do the circuit in the car. I'll just go from one place to the next. I'll check in. It won't be necessary to tell anyone where I am. Okay?”
“Okay, Annie.”
“Then I guess I'm outta here,” Annie said in a choked voice.
“Guess so.” Elmo waved airily as he poured more coffee into his cup.
The moment Elmo heard the engine of Annie's car start up, the phone was in his hand. “Tom, there's a problem here. Sit down, and I'll tell you.”
“You broke your word to Annie! She's never going to forgive you, Elmo,” Tom said when the old man wound down.
“She's only going to find out if you blab, Tom. We need to put our heads together and figure out what to do. Your sister isn't thinking clearly. This is way too serious for us to ignore. Now, you need to skedaddle down here so we can make a plan. Miss Daisy is leaving for camp today with your daughter, so you just hitch a ride with Mandy. Yes, of course I'm going to tell Jane. She's a part of it just like Annie and me. We need to go on the
attack!”
attack!”
Parker ripped at the red-and-blue Federal Express envelope. Annie must be sending him some of the pictures she took at the waterfall. He was going to frame all of them, one for every room in the house, so no matter where he was, she would be in his line of vision. He felt like a young teenager as he ripped at the envelope, all the while realizing it wasn't heavy enough to hold snapshots.
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