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By Root 888 0

and summers would be spent here at the farm. It just never got off the ground the way most dreams do. I made megadollars and invested wisely. Was an All-Star six years running. Money still comes in from all the endorsements I did back then. The first year and a half is pretty much a blur. My snoot was in the bottle most of the time. Jake took care of me. He really did. Henry stopped by once or twice a week and brought food his wife cooked. I can’t remember if I ate it or not. Then one day, Jake got sick. That woke me up in a hell of a hurry. That’s the end of my story. What’s yours? I’d really like to know why someone who looks like you packs a serious gun like a Glock. I would have thought a twenty-two would be more to your liking. Remember, I was a Special Agent. I know about stuff like that.”

Annie felt her heart rate accelerate. Just her luck to meet up with an FBI agent. “I told you, I spend a lot of time on the road. My brother and Elmo made me get the gun. I know how to shoot. I’m not sure if I could kill anyone or not. I know the rule is if you pull out a gun you better be prepared to shoot. I’d probably aim for the kneecap.”

“What do you do that you’re on the road?”

“I check on my stores. Make sure everything is running smoothly. I like to stay personal and up close with my employees.”

“What kind of stores?”

“Coffee shops. I have one in Chapel Hill. They’re called Daisy Shops.”

“Jesus, you’re kidding! Ann Marie loved that place. We went to Chapel Hill before we moved here to set things up. In one week’s time I don’t think 1 ever ate so many tuna sandwiches and brownies or drank so much coffee. You own those, huh?”

“Yeah. We’re going to start franchising them. Elmo is working on it, and so is my brother. My friend Jane is back in the fold, too. We’re also going to start selling coffee by the pound.”

“Who’s Elmo?”

“He’s a wonderful friend who’s been like a father to Jane and me. He’s also very sick right now,” Annie said with a catch in her voice.

“I read about you in the Sunday papers a few times. I thought you looked vaguely familiar. You were voted Businesswoman of the Year a few years running, weren’t you?” Annie nodded. “Ann Marie thought it was wonderful the way you started up your business on a shoestring. I think you would have liked her.”

“I’m sure I would have.”

“There’s more, isn’t there?” Clay asked.

“More what?”

“More than you’re telling me.”

“No, that’s pretty much it. Unless you mean about my personal life. I was more or less engaged to be engaged and maybe married. It didn’t work out. Not that it’s any of your business.”

“Why didn’t it work out?”

“Are you writing a book or something? My personal life is no one’s business.”

“Are you hiding something? Are you ashamed of something? It’s a simple question. Most people would ask it out of concern for you, which is what I just did.”

“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