Annie's Rainbow - Fern Michaels [115]
“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.”
“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.
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