See Bride Run! (12 page)

Sam pulled out a jar of dill pickles and set them on the island. “Almost five years.”

“Do you have family nearby?”

“No. My parents moved to a retirement community in Hilton Head several years back so my dad could play golf every day, but they visit every few months. I have a younger sister,” he added. “She’s married with two boys, ages three and four. She and her husband live in Connecticut. He’s a stockbroker in New York. And a damn good one, I might add because he has doubled my investments.

“Do the two of you keep in touch?” Annie asked, recalling how often she and Bradley called each other once he left for college.”

“We talk once a week. Everybody comes here for Christmas. Which is cool,” he added, “because this place has five bedrooms. One belongs to Martha, but there is always plenty of room. We also go on vacation together.”

“So, what do you want? Ham, salami, roast beef, sliced chicken?”

Annie stood. “I’ll have whatever you’re having,” she said, “but I really don’t expect you to wait on me. If you’ll tell me where the glasses are, I’ll get us something to drink. I’d like to have milk.”

Sam pointed to a cabinet. “I’ll have the same,” he said. How about ham and Swiss cheese on rye?”

“Perfect,” she said. Annie grabbed the milk carton from the refrigerator and filled two glasses. Once she ate a sandwich, she helped Sam put things away.

“Take a look around,” Sam said. “Make yourself at home.”

Annie peeked into several rooms. A formal living room ran the length of the front of the house. The furniture was clearly of good quality with a couple of antiques thrown in as accent pieces.

The den was large, yet cozy, with its stone fireplace and overstuffed furniture in navy and khaki stripes. An entertainment center took up one wall, boasting an enormous flat-screen TV that Annie guessed was at least sixty inches wide. She chuckled. “I’m thinking you should buy a larger flat screen.”

“Hey, I need a big one. This is where the guys come during football season.”

“I like your place,” she said, returning to the kitchen. “But you’re missing something.”

He looked at her. “Like what?”

“A family,” she said. “And a big dog lying in front of the fireplace,” she added.

“I wouldn’t mind having a golden Lab,” he said, “but I’m not too keen on the idea of having a family.”

“You’re going to let one bad experience affect the rest of your life?”

“I like things just the way they are,” he said matter-of-factly and in a tone that did not invite conversation.

“I should probably mind my own business,” she said. “Besides, I’m not exactly an expert on relationships or I would not have skipped out on my wedding, nor would I be practically broke and in hiding. If it weren’t for the kindness of others, I’d probably be sleeping in a homeless shelter tonight.”

“You’re not exactly destitute, Annie. I know who your father is, and I know he’s worth mega millions.”

“How do you know that?”

“Hartford Iron and Steel is only three hours from here,” he said. “Most people have heard of it. I also read a lengthy article about your father and his company some months back. Plus, Hester hired someone to check you out.”

“So much for trying to keep a low profile,” she said.

“Want to know what Harry said when he found out you were the only heir to a vast fortune?”

“I can’t wait,” she muttered.

Sam chuckled. “He said you must be crazy to walk away from all that money.”

“What did
you
say?”

“Well, I have an advantage over Hester since I also checked your old man out on the Internet. Some of the remarks about your father were unflattering. I told Hester you were probably tired of being bullied.”

Annie looked surprised. “You actually said that?” When he nodded, she went on. “That’s
exactly
why I left. It wasn’t
all
about him trying to push me into marriage; that was just one of many ways he tried to control me, and I suspect he did the same thing to my mother.”

“What’s the story on her?”

“My father told so many lies it’s hard to know what really happened. When Bradley and I were four years old, he told us she was leaving and we would never see her again.

“Do you remember her?”

Annie shook her head. “No. The only thing I remember is being so sad that I tried not to think of her. I suppose I blocked a lot. Our housekeeper, Vera, became our nanny, and she raised us. Bradley and I adored her. I still do.”

“Have you ever tried to find your mother?”

“No. Bradley and I were led to believe—again, this was what our father told us—that she was leaving and that she did not even want us.”

“That must’ve hurt like hell.”

Thankfully, Vera was able to convince us otherwise most of the time; but she had to be careful what she said because we were little and might repeat it, and she would be fired. She could easily have found another job, but she refused to leave us.

“He must have really hated your mother,” Sam said.

“I think he hates all women. He has no respect for them. When I was older and realized how mean he could be at times, I thought of looking for her, but I had no idea how to go about it. And even though I knew my father had probably told us nothing but lies, I worried that she might have a new family, and, even if Bradley and I did find her, she might not want to see us.”

Annie shook her head sadly. “And then we lost Bradley, and for a long time nothing really mattered. It was hard enough to just get out of the bed in the morning and put one foot in front of the other. I thought she would at least attend his funeral, if she was still alive.”

“How do you know she didn’t?”

“I think she would have made herself known to me. After all, I was an adult by then. Afterward, I realized she would not have had a chance because I did not leave my father’s side. He was inconsolable. I thought it might change him for the better, but he was consumed by anger. I should have left. I could have moved into a place of my own and started a new life. I could have gone to college. But I was afraid to leave him. Even though he was still angry and bitter, I thought he needed me. So I stayed. I kept myself busy so I wouldn’t have time to think. I did not realize I would still be with him almost ten years later. Then Eldon showed up. My father pushed us into getting engaged. I discovered in the meantime that every word that came out of Eldon’s mouth were lies; no wonder he and my father hit it off so quickly. I just wanted out.”

They were quiet for a moment. “I know what it’s like to discover you aren’t really in love with the person you’re supposed to pledge your life to,” Sam said. “It’s like your oxygen supply is cut off; you’re constantly trying to find a way to get out of it.”

“I thought you were jilted.”

Sam shook his head. “The only reason I’m telling you this is because I understand what you’re going through.”

“But why did you let everybody think
she
walked out on
you
?”

“Guilt.”

“Have you ever regretted your decision?”

“Not even once. You’d probably enjoy a hot shower about now,” he said.

“That sounds like a great idea,” she said. “I’m beat.”

“I can give you a t-shirt and bathrobe,” he offered. “I can’t help you with the rest of, well, you know.”

“No problem,” Annie said. “I do my laundry in the bathroom sink before I go to bed. And pray that it’s dry when I have to put it on the next morning.”

Sam laughed. “I’ll show you to your room.”

Annie followed him up a flight of stairs and down a spacious hallway. He pointed to a closed door. “That’s my room, in case you need something during the night.” Two doors down, he led her inside a pale blue bedroom with a mahogany sleigh bed. On each side, night tables held magazines and books. A fat comforter and oversized pillows in white looked inviting, and a floral settee and matching chair sat in front of the fireplace. An ornate mirror hung over the mantle.

“It’s lovely,” Annie said.

He nodded. “Lillian Calhoun decorated it,” he said. “I might let her do my room next. “There is a private bathroom through that doorway,” Sam said. “Hold on, I’ll be right back.”

Annie spent a few minutes looking around. She would have enjoyed sprucing up the home she shared with her father, if only to soften the rooms a bit with new rugs and draperies. Her father did not like change, but that did not stop her from redecorating her bedroom, and turning what was called the “sewing room” into her office.

Sam returned with a couple of t-shirts, and a navy bathrobe. “This should get you through the night,” he said. “Maybe you can take some of that tip money and buy a few things.” He paused. “Well, good night.”

“Sam?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you. And thanks for listening. I didn’t mean to talk your ear off.”

“You’re going to be okay, Annie.” He exited the bedroom without another word.

Chapter Six

“. . . so you see, I couldn’t very well go through with it now, could I? I mean marriage is hard enough without marrying someone you wish would fall into a pit of quicksand and sink to the bottom. Am I right?” Annie took a sip of her coffee.

“You did the right thing, dear.” Martha Fender sat across from Annie at the kitchen table, a pair of wire-framed glasses perched at the end of her nose as she let the hem out in Annie’s uniform. Martha had tossed it in the washer while Annie took another hot shower, which explained why she was still wearing Sam’s bathrobe which was so large she had to hold it up so it wouldn’t drag on the floor. She was reminded of her wedding dress.

“My father wanted me to marry a banker’s son,” Martha said, as Annie drank her coffee and nibbled on a slice of toast, “but my heart belonged to a mechanic. We ended up eloping.”

“How romantic,” Annie said.

“We never had much when it came to material things, and I had to work all my life cleaning other folks’ houses, but I wouldn’t have changed a thing. We had three beautiful children and almost forty years of happiness.” She paused and looked up. “My Albert died of a sudden heart attack two years ago.”

“I’m so sorry. I’ll bet you miss him terribly.”

“Oh, yes. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. And I thank the Lord that He gave me a good man. Not every woman is blessed to have a good helpmate by her side.”

“You’re absolutely right,” Annie said, “which is why I’m not sure I’ll ever marry.”

“Oh, but dear, you’re still young. You have your whole life before you. Don’t you want children?”

“Yes, I’ve always wanted a big family. But after living with a domineering father, I fear I might unconsciously choose someone with his traits. That happens, you know.”

“Would you like to know a secret, Annie?”

“Sure.”

“Okay, get ready because it might be life-altering.” Martha smiled.

Annie leaned closer. “Do tell.”

“We
teach
people how to treat us.”

Annie straightened in her chair and regarded the woman. “I never once considered that,” she said, “but, again, you’re right. I did not stand up for myself because it was all I knew. I’ll bet if I had carried a big board with me and knocked him over the head every time he opened his mouth he would have learned to shut up. You think?”

She and Martha looked at each other, and the next thing Annie knew they were howling with laughter.

In the next room, Sam tried to ignore the conversation and concentrate on the news program he was watching. But there was no ignoring Annie. He discovered right away that when she was around, his eyes and ears were fixed solely on her. He wasn’t sure what that meant. Perhaps it was merely a physical attraction. No surprise there, since she was both bright and pretty. But there were parts of her personality that warmed him. Annie Hartford never met a stranger, it seemed. She’d already won over his moody housekeeper, simply by being herself.

“A horse whip would have accomplished the same thing,” Annie said, “and would not be as burdensome to carry around, nor would I risk getting splinters in my hand.”

Martha wiped tears from her eyes. “Are you always like this?” the woman asked.

“Yes,” Sam called back. “She never shuts up. And when she’s not talking she’s breaking dishes.”

Annie leaned close to Martha. “I could probably use a horsewhip about now.”

“I heard that,” Sam said.

“I’d better hush,” Annie whispered. “If he fires me I won’t be able to buy underwear.”

Martha shook her head, but she was still chuckling. “There now,” she said, biting the thread and holding the uniform up for inspection. “You’ve got a good two inches added to the length.”

“Thank you, Martha,” Annie said. “You don’t know how relieved I am. Of course, my tips are likely to suffer. Darla says the shorter the dress the bigger the tips.” She winked. “I don’t know how Darla avoids frostbite in the winter.”

“I’m glad you’ll be moving into Lillian Calhoun’s garage apartment,” the woman said. “Darla Jenkins is a sweet girl, mind you,” she added, “but she’s a little wild for my tastes.”

“You know what I think?” Annie said. “I think Darla
wanted
people to think she was going out all the time and having fun so they wouldn’t feel sorry for her. When I was looking through her closet to find something to wear, there were so many books stacked up on the floor that she could have started her own library. I noticed a book on her night stand as well.”

“Well, bless her heart,” Martha said. “All this time she has been pretending to be somebody she’s not.”

In the next room, Sam was frowning as he recalled his conversation with Darla about going to bed with a good book once in a while. He would never have guessed she was trying to save face after Bo was hauled off to jail. If Darla partied as hard as she led people to believe, she would never be able to work as hard or stay as sharp as she did. He felt bad that he had not thought of it, but it gave him a new respect for her.

Martha smiled. “You know what I think, Annie. I think you are very wise for someone who hasn’t turned thirty yet. You’re going to do well for yourself. By the way, I’ll be glad to come over and help you clean your new place.”