Annie's Rainbow (36 page)

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Authors: Fern Michaels

BOOK: Annie's Rainbow
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Jane hooted with laughter. “That dog's feet haven't touched the floor in a week. He sleeps right next to her on her pillow. He perches on the edge of the tub while she's taking a bath. He cries all day while she's in school. I carry him in a knapsack. He knows the minute her feet touch the sidewalk out front. You did good, Annie. I need to thank you for that. The change in Daisy is so wonderful. She's a happy little girl again.”
“When I was that age I would have killed for a pet like Charlie. I had goldfish.”
Jane's voice dropped to a low whisper. “Are we doing the right thing by taking Elmo, Annie? He's so frail.”
“I hope so. I asked him last night if he was sure he wanted to make the trip, and his response was, ‘Try going without me.' Then he got real feisty and wanted to know if we were objecting to pushing his wheelchair. He said he wanted a motorized one. I said okay. You know when he gets testy like that it doesn't pay to argue. He doesn't have long, Jane. We have to prepare ourselves.”
“You can't prepare for something like that. You think you can, but it doesn't work. When it happens, it slams right into you. Either you deal with it, or you don't. I fall apart in a crisis, you know that.”
“I'm no better.”
“Tell me, how do you really feel about Clay Mitchell? Isn't it time we talked about Parker?”
“I like Clay's dog. I think Clay's a nice person. I offered him a job. He said he would let me know. He said yes at first, but he didn't mean it. He's got a lot of personal baggage he has to deal with. I told him I didn't want him or his old FBI friends helping us with our problems. I think he got kind of miffed about that. When we get back from Boston we'll drive to North Carolina to pick up my truck if that's okay with you. I might even take Rosie and Harry and let them run to their heart's content. I bet Jake can show them all kinds of rabbit warrens. They're city dogs, though.”
“Parker?”
“Parker is someone I used to know. I was one of many who thought they fell in love in the islands. I understand it's a common occurrence. Sometimes reality has to slap you in the face. It was a mistake, and I'll live with it.”
“Kind of like the one I made.”
“You were in love back then, Jane.”
“No, I wasn't, Annie. I was afraid. I wanted to get away from you and Elmo. I have no guts. You know that. It's all in the past. From where I'm standing, the future looks pretty damn good. By the way, I found a little house yesterday in Summerville. It's close to the school, and Daisy can walk. It's got a fenced yard and everything. It's just twenty minutes from Charleston. I think I'm going to take it. I want your opinion first, though.”
Annie leaned across the table. “Jane, don't rush into anything. Listen, I don't know if I should be telling you this or not, so keep it to yourself, okay?”
“Sure.”
“Elmo is leaving his entire estate in trust for Daisy. That means this house, too. It's perfect for you and Daisy. It's got a pool, the grounds are fenced, and the gardens are great. Daisy loves it here. Don't do anything rash just yet.”
Jane burst into tears.
“Shhh, here comes Elmo. Right on time. The car service should be arriving any minute now. You better get Daisy and Charlie. With you and Daisy on each side of him, he can handle the ramp. I can handle the bags.”
In the car, sitting next to Elmo, Annie felt her heart start to flutter. She risked a glance at the old man. His color was bad, and he seemed to be having difficulty breathing. “We don't have to go to this reunion. If you aren't feeling well, Elmo . . .”
“I'm feeling just fine, and, yes, we do have to go to this reunion. I don't like it when plans switch up. I have myself psyched to see the old store. I'm going. I'm a little winded, that's all. I have all my medication. That's the end of it, ladies.”
“Do you want to hold Charlie, Uncle Elmo?” Daisy asked.
“I'd love to hold the little guy. He isn't going to poop on my new suit, is he?”
“Oh, Uncle Elmo, you are so funny. Charlie only poops on the paper or the grass. He knows how to behave.”
“I knew that. I was just testing you, Daisy,” Elmo wheezed.
“I wonder if what's his name, from the campus police, is still working? Remember how he used to have a crush on you, Jane?” Annie giggled.
“What I remember is him calling
you
on the phone.” Jane giggled.
“Yes, but to talk about you. He's probably married by now with six kids,” Annie retorted. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Elmo nod off. She reached for the little dog and handed him over to Daisy.
“Is this really an adventure, Mommy?” Daisy asked.
“You bet it is, honey.”
“Oh, boy, Charlie, we're going on a real live adventure, on a real airplane!”
Jane rolled her eyes. Annie clenched her teeth. Adventures sometimes had a way of turning into disasters.
 
 
“Okay, Jake, we did our walk. We went grocery shopping. We did our laundry. I cleaned the bathroom. I read the paper from front to back. There's nothing left to do. There's nothing on the tube, and I refuse to watch soap operas. I feel like I should be doing something, but I don't know what that something is. What in the hell did we do before you dragged Annie Clark into our lives? This is all your fault, Jake.”
Clay's tone of voice was so new to the Lab he slunk across the room on his belly. “C'mere, I didn't mean it in a bad way.” The dog bounded over to Clay and hopped on his lap, all 130 pounds of him.
“She offered me a job. Kind of. have to make a decision about that. I like old Tom and her two roommates. The old guy is okay. Jane's a real mother, and the kid is okay, too. Ya know, Jake, they're a family. We're kind of lacking if you know what I mean. You know what they're doing right now? They're getting ready to go to Boston. We could do that, too, if we wanted to. I've chartered planes before. I can certainly afford it. You could sit in first-class with me. Hell, it's all first-class when you charter a plane.
“Two women, one kid, and a dying old man. What kind of odds are those for someone who means to harm them? Not good. What'ya think, Jake? All it takes is a phone call. I could be packed in five minutes. It will just take you a second to get that raggedy-ass blanket and squeak toy you drag with you everywhere. So, say something!”
Jake bounded off Clay's lap and ran for his blanket and toy.
“Okay, let's do it!”
“It occurs to me, Jake,” Clay said on the drive to the airport, “that maybe we are overstepping our bounds here. Maybe I should call Tom Clark and tell him what we're doing. Yeah, yeah, that's what I'm gonna do. If he nixes the idea, we can cancel the flight.”
Jake stirred himself long enough to lick at his master's hand as he punched out a series of numbers.
“Tom, this is Clay Mitchell. Listen, I had this cockamamie idea that I would charter a plane and go to Boston. There's something about two women, a kid, and a dying old man that bothers me if something goes awry. I don't know what good I'll be, but at least I can . . . you know, be visible.
“Why? Well, I got tired of talking to my dog. Is it okay with you, then? Hey, I can have the pilot stop and pick you up at your airport if you want to come along. Yeah, yeah, I did get the idea that your sister doesn't like anyone sticking their nose in her business. My concern is the old man and the kid. Well, yeah, sure, I like your sister. What's not to like? She sent my dog twelve T-bone steaks. Okay, then, Jake and I are going to Boston. While I'm airborne I'm going to try and figure out what I did for the past three years. Sure, I'll let you know. This is going to sound kind of sophomoric, but did Annie say anything about me? You know, any little thing. So tell me already. She said
that!
Are you putting me on? No kidding! Well, thanks, Tom. Nah, I haven't decided if I want to work for a woman or not. They get their panties in a wad over every little thing. She really said that, huh? Okay, I'll give it some serious thought. Wait a damn minute. Are you saying if I buy into the Daisy Shops, I would have an equal voice? Is that what you're saying? Uh-huh. I'll keep that in mind. I'll call and let you know how things are going. Sure. Nice talking to you, too.
“You are never going to believe this, Jake. Never in a million years. Hot damn! This is almost as good as coming straight from the horse's mouth. Listen to this, Jake. Miss Annie Clark told her brother Tom Clark that the earth
did
move when I kissed her!”
Jake threw his big head backward and howled until Clay swatted him. “So, Mr. Shake, Rattle, and Roll hasn't lost his touch after all. Damn! I feel like howling myself, Jake.”
 
 
Parker Grayson set his private plane down smooth as silk. “You guys go ahead. I'll meet up with you for dinner. I need about an hour here and I have some phone calls to make. I'm going to rent a car. Just give me directions to the hotel. Tell me again where the reunion is being held.” Parker scribbled in a small notebook. “I'll meet up with you later.”
An hour later, all the flight details taken care of, Parker headed for the car that would drop him off at the main terminal. He spent another hour calling all the hotels in the city to find out where Annie was registered. He finally struck paydirt when he called the Four Seasons. He debated a full minute before he made a reservation for himself, then asked to be put through to Annie's room. He was told his party hadn't checked in as yet. Parker left a message. “I'm registered here at the hotel. Please call me.”
Parker used up another forty minutes filling out the forms for a rental car. With a map on the front seat, he exited the airport, realizing how much he truly hated city life. There would never be a time in his life when he would appreciate the genteel streets lined with elegant brick town houses. There was no way in the world he would or could accept the public greens and the gardens, not when he came from an island so lush with greenery and brilliant flowers it took your breath away. What did he care if the savvy spin doctors touted the city as America's mother city. The colonial steeples and expressways that raced around the buildings for people to recall the scrimshaw era had absolutely no interest for him. He flat out hated it.
What was it Ben had said, or was it his friend Andreas who said there was nothing better than Boston fish cakes and yesterday's baked beans. He'd gone on to say boiled or nouvelle-fangled wood-grilled lobster with wild seasonings was to die for. He knew if he did eat it, he would probably die. Not one word had been mentioned about pineapple, mangos, or any of the luscious foods found in Hawaii. What had really stung was the way his nephew had agreed with Andreas. Damn, his nephew had turned into a Bostonian.
What in the hell am I doing here anyway? Am I such a miserable human being that I have to get in Annie's face and let her know I know her dirty little secret as my way of punishing her for rejecting me as a person? Is her coffee contract that important to my business? Yes to all of the above.
Is this what I've come to?
he wondered.
 
 
The bright red Mustang convertible made Clay's eyeballs stand at attention. “We can handle this, Jake,” he said, settling himself behind the wheel. “Buckle up, buddy, we're gonna roll. Four Seasons here we come. They're going to do a double take when they see you, Jake. They said small dogs were acceptable. The word small means different things to different people, so behave yourself. I don't think we're going to have a problem since my brother was such an icon when he played with the Celtics. If all else fails, I'm going to tell them I'm Larry Bird's brother. That should get us some first-class accommodations, buddy. Babe Ruth used to hang out here. Then they went and traded him to the damn Yankees. I used to come here all the time, Jake. It's a great city. I got some of the best lobster I've ever eaten right here in this town. I took this girl I was dating at the time to a Harvard-Yale game. I thought I was in love. That day proved I wasn't. Someday I'll bring you here to see the Bruins and how they rule. the ice. I'm telling you, this is a great city. It's amazing that Annie went to college here.
“She's sure going to be surprised when she sees us. Especially you. Me, I'm just the guy that made the earth move. Christ, Jake, I feel like some damn teenager. I really like that woman. You know what else, there's more to this than her coming here for a college reunion. She's coming back to the scene of the crime hoping to draw that crazy guy out in the open. That's what this is all about. Trust me. Great little car, huh?
“Did I always talk to you like this, Jake? Weren't there any people in our lives these past few years? Guess not. Damn, I wish you'd hold up your end of the conversation.”
Clay drove aimlessly, up one street and down another until he made his way to the Four Seasons. He'd stayed here many times before he retired to the farm. He wondered if any of the old staff would remember him. He didn't have long to wait to find out. The moment he pulled to the curb, the doorman stepped back and then forward, a huge smile on his face.

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