Authors: Fern Michaels
Annie's Rainbow (32 page)
“I met this man a long time ago. I more or less fell in love but he had a different culture than mine. He owns the coffee company that supplies most of my coffee. His parents left the whole kit and caboodle to him, and his sisters were out in the cold. I stuck my nose into his business and told him what I thought of that idea. At the time I don't think he appreciated it. I didn't see him again for a long time. Then in June I went to Hawaii to renew our contract and to order more coffee. His sister was at the helm. Kind of. Flash forward. We met again, and it was like old times. But he still has ideas and beliefs I do not share. My opinion is whatever came before is not important. He seems to think it is. I called it off. Well, first, I moved up the wedding date from February of next year to September, next month, because I wanted Elmo to give me away. He's on borrowed time. Then I changed my mind and wrote to tell him so. He called Jane once, she passed on his message, and I haven't heard from him since.”
“And your feelings are . . .”
“Numb. What's your feeling on the past?”
“I say let sleeping dogs lie. Resurrecting something always manages to hurt someone. Why is it people think they need to know every stinking little detail about the other person? Life starts when you meet. Life is what two people make it. The past is prologue. I guess you're bumming, huh?”
“I'm over the worst of it. I'm just going to be an old maid. What are you going to do?”
“Exist.”
“That's a bummer, too.”
“I could coach if I wanted to.”
“Maybe you just aren't ready to take that step yet. Three years is a long time, and yet in other respects it isn't long at all. When the time is right, you'll do something.”
“That sounds like something Ann Marie would say. Sometimes I can't remember what she looked like. Other times I can
feel
her. What would you do if I leaned across this table and kissed you?”
feel
her. What would you do if I leaned across this table and kissed you?”
“I'd probably slap you. Why would you want to kiss me?”
“To see if I'm as dead as I feel. You're pretty. I even kind of like you. My dog likes you. You have a brain. We can talk intelligently.”
“Okay, go ahead.”
At best it was a brotherly kiss.
“Well?”
“The earth didn't move. My brother Tom kisses me like that. You need to put some gusto into it.”
“Oh, yeah.”
“Yeah. You smell good, though.”
“Yeah?”
“Oh, yeah. I'm a lady that likes things to smell good. Especially a man. Do you like perfume?”
“I like perfume. Flowery stuff. Soft music. I'm kind of sentimental. At least I was. I don't know what I am these days.”
“Me too,” Annie said. “Want to try again?” She wondered where the laughter in her voice was coming from.
“Well, hey, sure.” He leaned across the table.
Annie closed her eyes. They snapped open almost immediately. “Whoa.”
“You said gusto.” Clay laughed. “So, did the earth move?”
“Nah. I think you just need more practice. Don't get any ideas about me being your guinea pig.”
“Didn't it move even a little bit? A tremor?”
“Nope!”
Jake let loose with a sudden earsplitting bark.
“Guess that means Omar is here with your truck. You're sure you want to leave? You're welcome to stay as long as you like. One of the sofas in the den opens to a bed. You could sleep down here, so you don't have to climb the steps.”
“No, I have to get back. Daisy is what's important right now.”
“Let me settle up with Omar. He always carries extra gas with him, so I'll have him fill your tank. You said you need your bag, right?”
“If it isn't too much trouble. My wallet's in my purse. Just take the money out to pay him.”
“Omar sends bills. He likes to keep his wife busy. She handles the business end of things. You never throw Omar a curve.”
“Okay. Guess you have to clean up. It was a great breakfast. Thanks.”
“My pleasure. I could just throw the dishes and stuff away. If I did that, we could leave as soon as you get dressed.”
“Go for it!” Annie giggled. “I always wanted to do that. It's so ... decadent. Can you imagine just eating and then throwing everything away, even the pots and pans?”
“That's why they make paper plates and plastic forks and knives.”
“Yeah, I know, but it isn't the same thing.”
“I guess that's called a quirk of your nature.”
“Admit it, Clay, wouldn't you like to do the same thing?” Annie teased. “Wow, look at my truck!”
“Isn't that one of those pricey ATVs whose advertisements say it can do anything?”
“You mean like going over the frozen tundra, handling the jungles of Africa and the Sahara Desert, not to mention scaling high mountains and carrying a whole zoo of animals? Yep, that's the one. It doesn't do mud.”
“I'd demand my money back.”
“I'm thinking about it.”
Annie finished her coffee and wished she had another cup. She looked down at her knee. It was as big as a melon. She swallowed three more aspirin from the bottle on the table with the last swig of coffee.
“Okay, here's your bill and here's your bag. Your purse wasn't in the car. Don't go thinking Omar took it. He's a deacon in the church. I think it's safe to say the guy chasing you last night took it. Did you have anything important in it?”
“Yes, I did. Do you have a cell phone we can take with us?”
“Sure. I keep one in the truck for emergencies.”
Good, I'll call Elmo and Jane, and they can notify everyone. They'll have to get the locks changed on the house. I had spare keys in my wallet. Is there a bathroom down here?”
“Off the hallway.”
Annie hopped to the bathroom. Clay handed her the bag. She emerged five minutes later in a yellow sundress properly spritzed with sinful-smelling perfume.
“Okay, we're done here,” Clay said, tossing the two fry pans into the trash bag. “Can you make it to the truck on your own?”
“Sure, but you'll have to adjust the seats.”
“Just let me take this trash out. I'll get some pillows to elevate your leg and an ice pack. I just have to get Jake's blanket and lock up. Is it okay for him to sit in the front with me? He knows how to buckle up.”
“Absolutely. Will you bring my bag?”
Annie climbed into the truck. She had a bad moment when she realized whoever had chased her the night before had sat in this vehicle, touching and going through her things and stealing her purse. “Bastard,” she muttered.
“I'm going to need at least a five-minute lesson to learn all this fancy-dancy stuff. You need to buy American.”
“I'm thinking about it.”
“You think a lot, don't you?” Clay teased.
“Keeps your mind sharp. Everybody
thinks.”
thinks.”
“Settle back and enjoy the ride, Miss Clark. Would you care for some music or would you like me to expound on the vagaries of the world?”
“Music please. But after I call home,” Annie said sweetly.
“I think you were fibbing about the earth not moving.”
“No, I wasn't fibbing.”
“In my heyday I was known as Shake, Rattle, and Roll Mitchell,” Clay snorted.
“What year was that?”
“None of your business. I'm not sharing anything else with you, Annie Clark.”
“Okay.”
He was nice. She liked him. For a little while she'd forgotten about Parker Grayson.
Â
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It was a great welcoming home party. Even her brother was standing on the porch along with Elmo, Jane, and Daisy. Rosie and Harry stood next to Daisy.
Clay fit right in from the moment he carried her up the front steps to the house. Everyone shook hands and thanked him for taking such good care of her. She watched as the dogs checked each other out. Rosie circled Clay several times, while Harry untied his shoelaces. Jake stood back, his eyes going from Rosie to Harry and back to Clay. Satisfied that nothing was going to happen to his master, Jake entered the house.
Everyone immediately started fussing over Annie. Jane insisted she stretch out on the sofa. Tom brought her a glass of frosty ice tea. Daisy brought two of her storybooks for her to read and then turned on the television, handing her the remote control. Elmo, his breathing raspy and harsh, sat down on the love seat opposite Annie.
Annie wanted to cry at the drawn look on his face. He just wasn't going to give up. When his breathing was under control, he spoke. “The locks were changed an hour ago. All the credit-card companies were notified. We had the bank flag all your accounts and new account numbers will be issued tomorrow. Jane notified DMV. When you're up to it, you'll have to go there personally to get your license reissued. Same thing for your car registration. All you have to do now is stay off your feet and let your knee mend.”
“Tomorrow is my birthday party, Aunt Annie. Mommy is letting me help bake the cake. Tessie and Junior are coming to the party. Mommy said it was okay.”
“Of course it's okay.” Tessie and Junior were twins who lived three doors away.
“Let me give you the grand tour, Clay,” Tom said.
When the two men were safely out of earshot, Annie said, “You look like you want to tell me something, Elmo. How are you feeling?”
“I'm feeling better than I look. Each day it's getting harder and harder. I'm not giving up. You were right, there is something I wanted to tell you. Mr. Grayson called yesterday. He's here. Not here in Charleston but in Boston. He said his nephew needed his help. He asked when you would be back, and I said I didn't know. Tom said he's called him several times. He didn't give up any information either. That's a real nice fellow that brought you home, Annie.”
“Elmo, you only talked to him for five minutes. How can you tell if he's nice or not?”
“It's in the eyes. I saw the way he treats his dog. Yours, too. He took care of you, didn't he? Drove you all the way here because of Daisy's party tomorrow. That to me means the man is a real nice fellow.”
“He is nice, Elmo. So is his dog. I'm going to let him take the Rover back and at some point Jane and I will drive up and get it. He used to play for the Lakers. His wife died three years ago. I don't think he's over it yet.”
“He's over it. He just feels guilty about getting on with his life. Real nice fellow.”
“You said that already, Elmo,” Annie said tartly.
“Sometimes, Annie, you don't see what's right in front of your eyes. Sometimes you need a little nudge and even that doesn't work and I have to give you a shove.”
“Elmo, are you trying to match us up?”
“Why would I be doing something like that? You're mooning over that Hawaiian fellow. What would be the point?”
“I'm not mooning over anyone, Elmo. Parker and I are at opposite ends of the spectrum. I've had a lot of time to think, Elmo, and I came to realize Parker is not the man for me. We are too opposite in our thinking. Oh, it might work for a while, but eventually the marriage would erode. He wants me to give up too much, and I want him to give up too much. Neither party should have to give up anything. I care a great deal for him, but I'm not in love with him. I know that now.”
“Well, thank the Lord for small favors.”
“Are you telling me you never approved of Parker, Elmo?”
“I'm not saying that at all. I just plain out didn't like the man.”
“Elmo, for God's sake, you never met him.”
“What's that got to do with anything? I talked to him hundreds of times. Tom told me things. You told me things. Jane told me things. I just didn't like the man. And you know what else, Annie? The man didn't like me. I had the sense that he has no patience with old people. I wouldn't have said a word if you hadn't said something first.”
“You should have said something earlier, Elmo.”
“I thought I did when I came back from Hawaii with the dogs. You were in love. At least you said you were.”
“I think I was in love with the word
love
. I wanted someone of my own. I thought Parker was that special person who would light up my life. Maybe he is that person, and I'm simply too dumb to see it. Any news from our friends in Boston?”
love
. I wanted someone of my own. I thought Parker was that special person who would light up my life. Maybe he is that person, and I'm simply too dumb to see it. Any news from our friends in Boston?”
“Not a word. Tom, Jane, and I had this idea to go on the attack. It fell flat. We don't have criminal minds. By the way, did you file a police report about last night?”
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