Annie's Rainbow (39 page)

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Authors: Fern Michaels

BOOK: Annie's Rainbow
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“It is my pleasure to meet you, sir,” Andy said. “Miss Clark has told me all about you. Is there anything I can do for you other than to hand over your old sign?”
“No. I just wanted to see the old place one more time. Do you serve tuna sandwiches?” Elmo gasped as he struggled to speak.
“Only on Friday. Egg salad with a slice of tomato on whole wheat is our big seller.”
“Fancy that.”
“Would you like to come behind the counter, sir?” Elmo nodded.
“I was about to fill a prescription for Amoxicillin. Would you like to do it?”
“I would like that very much,” Elmo managed to say. Annie's hand flew to her mouth to stifle a cry. Jane turned away, tears rolling down her cheeks. Daisy counted the boxes of Jujubes on the candy counter. Clay jammed his hands into his pockets, deciding he must be allergic to something in the store. Why else would his eyes be burning like this?
They stared at one another as they waited for the pharmacist to wheel Elmo to the front of the store. When they heard his running feet they met him halfway down the aisle. “I called an ambulance. It should be here any second. He finished the prescription and collapsed. I'm so sorry.”
Annie patted the young man's arm. “That was a kind, wonderful thing you did for Elmo. Knowing he was coming here is what kept him going. We're all grateful.”
“Mr. Richardson asked for two aspirin. I gave them to him. Sometimes it helps a little. Ah, the ambulance is here. Hurry, hurry,” he called to the paramedics.
Annie and Jane watched helplessly as Elmo's frail body was placed on the gurney and wheeled to the ambulance. One and all noticed the weathered sign clutched to his chest. “I'll go with him,” Annie said.
“We'll be right behind you,” Clay said.
Jake held the paramedics at bay, all one hundred and thirty pounds of him. He growled menacingly, his fangs bared. Daisy raced up to him. “It's okay, Jake, Uncle Elmo isn't feeling good. They're going to make him better. That's a good boy, Jake.”
“Jesus,” one of the paramedics said, “I wouldn't want to meet up with that dog in a dark alley.”
“Jake doesn't go in dark alleys, mister. He goes on the grass. Don't you, Jake?”
“Get in the car, Jake. In the backseat with Daisy and Charlie. Do you know the way, Jane? They're going to use the siren, and I can't run red lights.”
“I know the way,” Jane blubbered. “I'm glad it happened here. I didn't want it to happen at all, but this is the best place. He got to fill one last prescription. For Elmo, it didn't get any better than that. He wouldn't take any more medication. He just flat out refused. I think he knew this was going to happen just the way it did. Today he insisted on drinking scotch. He had two doubles. I didn't want to give it to him, but I could never refuse Elmo anything. Do you think that did it, Clay?”
“No. It's his time, Jane. Not many people get to do that one thing they love doing best in the whole world before it's time to go. From what I know, Mr. Richardson had a good life. He has wonderful friends he loves and who love him. He was a lucky man.”
“Annie and I are the lucky ones. We were all the family Elmo had.”
“He might come out of this,” Clay said, his eyes on the careening ambulance ahead of him.
“No, not this time,” Jane said sadly. “Annie's going to fall apart. You don't have any idea how much she loved that old man. I'm so glad you're here.”
“Me too,” Clay said quietly.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“Who are all those people trooping in and out of Elmo's room?” Annie asked. “I thought only family could visit patients in Intensive Care. Where's Clay?”
“Annie, please sit down,” Jane said. “You're making me nervous. This is as hard on me as it is on you. I don't know who those people are. Clay is outside with Daisy and the dogs. As you know, they don't let dogs in hospitals. They'll let us see him when it's time. Why don't you go outside and check on things. I'll wait here. If anything happens, I'll call you.”
“Do you want some coffee?”
“Coffee has been running in my veins for the past few hours. It's lucky Elmo's old doctor is still practicing. Elmo felt good about that. We could be here for a very long time. How do you feel about me telling Clay to take Daisy and Charlie back to his hotel room. It has to be the Four Seasons, because the Ritz doesn't allow animals. We were pushing our luck with Charlie in his little bag. I think Clay can handle anything that might come up. I'm not saying anything will. And there's Jake. Nobody in his right mind would tangle with that animal. Did you see how he acted when they were wheeling Elmo to the ambulance?”
Annie smiled at her friend. “You know what, Jane? I think I'd trust that man with my life. I know I've only known him a short while. Sometimes that's all it takes. And, he really did make the earth move. No one has ever been able to do that to me. I also love that dog of his. Don't go getting any ideas, Jane. I hate it when you try to play matchmaker.”
“Hey, he didn't make the earth move for me. That has to count for something.”
Annie smiled. “I wish Tom would get here.”
“He'll get here in time, Annie. Go on now, get something to eat while you're downstairs. By the way, you look awful.”
“Guess what, Jane. You look like I feel. We're cranky, you know that, don't you? I didn't think it would happen here. For some crazy reason, I thought Elmo would . . . You know, go in his sleep. You know how he likes to orchestrate everything.”
“Annie, stop torturing yourself. We got him back here in time. He got to fill a prescription. He got to see that his old store where he spent most of his life didn't change. He got his sign, and he's still hanging on to it. They couldn't pry his fingers loose. Dr. Quinlan said it was okay, germs and all. We did our best. Elmo says you never look back.”
Annie ran from the room.
It was a beautiful autumn day with just the right amount of sunshine. It wasn't hot, and it wasn't cold. Elmo's kind of day. She blinked away her tears.
Clay, Daisy, and the dogs came to her in a wild rush. She wanted to throw herself into Clay Mitchell's arms more than she ever wanted to do anything in her life. She held back and didn't know why. “Did I thank you for coming, Clay? Twice now you've come to my rescue. I'm grateful. I have a favor to ask of you. We don't know how . . . what I mean is we might be here for a while. Would you mind taking Daisy back to the hotel? There's no point in your hanging around outside the hospital. You said yourself that you can't leave Jake anywhere, that he has to be with you at all times.”
“You don't think you'll need me here?”
“You know what, Clay? I don't know. Tom is on his way. He should be here soon. We need to make sure Daisy is safe. Jane trusts you to take care of her daughter. That's quite an endorsement.”
Clay could feel his chest puff out. “Consider it done. Will you call me if you need me?”
“Absolutely.”
“Are you sure the earth didn't move, Annie Clark?”
“Nah. Steady as a rock. If you play your cards right, I might give you a second crack at it.”
Clay laughed. “Do I have to worry about that coffee guy?”
“Nope.”
“If that job offer is still open, I'll take it.”
“Consider it yours then. What made you decide to take me up on the offer?”
“You're nice people. I like that old man, I really do. Jane's great. I like the way she practices motherhood. Your brother is an okay guy, and you're kind of nice yourself. Did I miss anything?”
“You're kind of nice yourself, Clay Mitchell. I love your dog. I gotta get back inside. Jane or I will call you to keep you posted.” She hugged Daisy and tickled Charlie under the chin. Then Annie dropped to her haunches. “Listen to me, big guy,” she said to Jake. “You saved my life, so that means you're responsible for me. Take care of things, okay?”
“Woof.”
“That's it?” Clay asked. “Nothing for me?”
“Winsomeness doesn't become you.” Annie smiled in spite of herself. “I want to make sure my feet are firmly planted on the ground when you make your next try. at making the earth move.”
“I'm beginning to think I lost my touch.”
“Maybe we'll never know,” Annie said, tweaking his cheek.
“What about that coffee guy? Did he make the earth move?”
Annie surprised herself by laughing aloud. “He did string a mean lei,” she called over her shoulder as she tripped her way to the front entrance of the hospital.
Her heart skipped a beat when she stared down the long hallway that led to the elevator. For one heart stopping moment she thought she saw Peter Newman. Right stance, right profile, wrong man. She was just on edge.
Annie backed up and entered the coffee shop. It smelled almost as good as Elmo's old drugstore. She ordered soft drinks and two sticky buns to go.
Jane was crying into a wad of tissues when she entered the waiting room. “Did something happen? What's wrong?” Annie demanded.
“Nothing's changed. Elmo's doctor came out to talk to me. It was only for a minute, then he was paged in emergency. He's as old as Elmo, and he's still practicing medicine and taking care of patients. It doesn't seem fair.”
“He's not as old as Elmo, Jane. What did he say?”
“He said Elmo made a lot of strange requests and they were working on them. His minister is on the way. You know doctors never commit to times or anything like that. He left me with the impression the end is a matter of
hours
.”
“Can we go in?”
“Not yet. There are a lot of people in there. I don't know if they're all for Elmo or the man in the next unit. Dr. Quinlan said the nurse would let us know when we can go in. Sticky buns, Annie?”
“There wasn't much to choose from. I think I just bought them to have something to do. If you don't want them, toss them in the trash. Clay took Daisy back to the hotel. He's going to take us up on the job offer. He said we were nice people.”
“We are nice people,” Jane said smartly.
“I hope Elmo isn't in any pain. Do you think he is, Jane?”
“No, I don't think so. The doctor said he was resting comfortably. He slips in and out of consciousness. That's usually the way it works in books and movies. I don't want to cry anymore, but I can't help myself. Who
are
those people?”
“Who cares?” Annie muttered.
Annie heard her before she saw her, the white oxfords squeaking on the polished floor, the rustle of her starched uniform. For some reason she thought nurses today wore soft nylon and tennislike shoes. Then she looked up. This nurse was from the old school and still wore her starched cap. That had to mean Elmo was in good hands. She heard Dr. Quinlan's name over the loudspeaker.
“Come with me. Quickly, ladies.”
Annie ran, Jane right behind her.
Annie pulled up short when she entered the room. Damn it, who were these men? She voiced her question in a snarling voice. “Who are you? What do you want? What are you doing in here? Visiting in ICU is just for family members. Get out of here
now!
”
“Annie, Jane, I invited them here,” Elmo whispered in a barely audible voice. “I want you to listen and to be quiet.”
Annie bit down on her lower lip as her right hand reached for Jane's left hand. She could feel her body start to shake. She listened, her face full of horror. She felt rather than saw Jane's knees start to buckle. She grabbed for her. This wasn't happening.
“This isn't true! Elmo isn't the one who found the money. It was me!” Annie shouted. “Elmo, take that back.”
“Miss, Mr. Richardson gave us his statement thirty minutes ago. His doctor was here as a witness. It's been signed and witnessed. I'm Police Chief Tobias.”
“You just tear that statement right up. Elmo Richardson never did a wrong thing in his life. I'm the one you want. Not him,” Annie snarled. “Why won't you listen to me?”
“No, it's not Annie. It wasn't Elmo either. It was me,” Jane said in a strong, forceful voice. “You tear that confession up right now. I'm confessing.”
“Mr. Richardson said you would say what you both just said. We have no other choice but to go by his confession. He's provided every single detail.” With that said, the small army of men left the crowded ICU room.
Annie threw herself on the bed, tears flooding her eyes and rolling down her cheeks. “Elmo, do you know what you've just done! You can't do this. Take it back. Please. I can't let you do this,” she pleaded. She felt his hand on her head and felt him beckoning her closer. She had to strain to hear his words.
“Let it alone, Annie. Go on with your life. You'll all be safe now. Don't you see, it was all I could do for you and Jane. I promised the two of you I would always take care of you.”
“How did you
know
, Elmo?” Annie whispered.
“I always knew. You changed after that day. You were never the same. You gave it all back. I knew you would. Everyone is satisfied, so you have to let it go. I want your promise, Annie.”
“No, Elmo. I did it. I'll pay the price. I wanted to do it a thousand times. I simply didn't have the guts. I refuse to let the world believe you're a criminal. Do you hear me, Elmo. I refuse!”
“Your promise, Annie. That's all I ask.”
And because she could deny him nothing, she gave her promise in a tearful voice.
“It's not right, Elmo, that I go off scot-free and your memory is tainted.”
“You aren't off scot-free, girl. Carrying the secret forever is your punishment. In the end, I'm the one who is getting off scot-free.”
“Does Jane know, too?”
Annie had to wait so long for his response she panicked, and shouted, “Elmo! Elmo!”
“Yes. We both knew.”
And then he-was gone, his hand going limp in Annie's hard grasp. “Jane!”
“I'm right here, Annie.”
“He's gone.”
“I know.”
“You both knew I took that money and never said a word.”
“Whatever are you talking about, Annie?”
“You know damn well what I'm talking about.”
“No, I don't, Annie. When I make a promise, especially to a dying man, I keep that promise.” Jane bent over to kiss Elmo's sunken cheek. “I'll wait outside if you want a few minutes alone. What happened in this room, stays in this room, Annie. Forever and ever.”
“Go with the angels, Elmo,” Annie whispered tearfully.
Outside in the crisp late-afternoon sunshine, Annie turned to Jane, and said, “No one in their right mind will believe Elmo Richardson did what he confessed to. Do you hear me, Jane, no one will believe it.”
“What do we do now?”
“Go back to the hotel. Daisy's waiting for you. I'll go back inside and make all the arrangements. Don't worry about me.”
“Annie.”
“Yes.”
“I'm so very sorry.”
“I am too, Jane.”
It was almost dark when Annie walked out of the hospital to hail a cab. She felt numb and disoriented. Life would go on. Elmo said it would. Even if she took out full-page ads in every newspaper across the country professing her guilt, no one would believe her. Elmo had taken care of all that the way he'd taken care of everything since the first day she'd met him. The grief she felt was so total, so all-consuming, she couldn't cry. She climbed into the waiting taxi in a daze. Where was she going? To the Four Seasons or the Ritz Carlton. “The Four Seasons,” she mumbled.
 
 
Parker Grayson set his drink down on one of the shiny tables when he spotted Annie Clark walk through the door. “Hold up, Annie.”
“What is it, Parker? I don't have anything to say to_you. I'm really very tired right now. Wait, there is one thing. Tune in to the eleven o'clock news. I guess your nephew missed the boat. Sorry about that.”

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