Annie's Rainbow - Fern Michaels [122]
“I’ll think about it.”
“What’s to think about for God’s sake? Either you do something or you don’t. Let me help.”
“Why do you want to help me? Just tell me that.”
“Selfish reasons. I like you. My dog likes you. Doing something constructive for a change will help me get back among the living. Who knows, you might want to give me another chance to see if I can make the earth move for you.”
“I’ll let you know, Mr. Shake, Rattle, and Roll.” Annie laughed. “Okay, turn right here. There’s the store, and here’s the money for the wagon.”
“Since Daisy invited me to the party, I need to get a gift, too. What do little girls like?”
“One of those pink Barbie race cars you pedal. It should fit in the back with the wagon. Jake can sit up here with me and Charlie.”
“Stay, Jake. I’m coming back,” Clay said. “See, I told you he understands.”
“Go already,” Annie said.
Annie leaned her head back against the headrest and closed her eyes. Fear ran rampant throughout her body. Her heart started to pound inside her chest. She’d missed death by mere seconds, as had Elmo. Dear God, what was she supposed to do now? Tears burned her eyelids and rolled down her cheeks. Jake whined softly. “I wish I knew what to do, Jake. I’d confess in a minute if I thought it would help. I wish I’d done it years ago. Too much too little too late.” The pup opened one eye and closed it.
Jake scrambled into the cargo area just as Clay arrived with a stock boy, a wagon, and a bright pink Barbie race car.
“Wow!” Annie said. “It didn’t look that big when I saw it in the store the first time. Will it fit?”
“Sure will. Are we ready to go home now?”
“I’m ready. Thanks for doing this, Clay.”
“It was my pleasure. Jake is having himself a good time. I guess chasing rabbits gets boring after a while. He’s a people dog. What shall we talk about now? How about the skinny on that boyfriend you dumped.”
“How about the skinny on Ann Marie,” Annie said sharply.
“What do you want to know?”
“Everything.”
“I thought you said whatever came before didn’t count,” Clay said.
“Oh. Well then, tell me about your career as a hoop star. Did you like the roar of the crowds, the adoration, the big paychecks?”
“All of the above. Next topic.”
“Your farm.”
“Five hundred acres. Been in the family for hundreds of years. I lease the fields to other farmers. My brother doesn’t want any part of it. No other family.”
“Oh.”
“Next.”
“Are you going to stay there forever?”
“Someday I might stick a pin in a map and head in that direction. For now it serves a purpose.”
“Oh.”
“Next.”
“Would you be interested in learning the coffee business?”
“I might. What do you have in mind?”
“No one is ever going to be able to take Elmo’s place. We’re going to need some extra help. Tom is on overload. Jane can do just so much. Daisy needs her mother. I’m not going to be renewing my coffee contract, so we need to find a new supplier. Are you willing to travel?”
“I might be. What do you have in mind?”
“Right now my head is too clogged up to think straight. I’ll talk to Tom and see what he has to say. We have real good health benefits. That’s important today. Really important. Three weeks vacation. Good pension plan. All the coffee you can drink. Not to mention tuna and brownies. It’s an attractive package. We really don’t have a corporate office. We should. It doesn’t work for me. You could work out of North Carolina. Tom lives there, too. Do you think we should have a corporate office?”
“My theory is this. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
“My thought exactly.”
“What are you going to do, Annie? You can’t pretend it didn’t happen. What if there’s a next time?”
“You don’t have to try and scare me. I’m already scared. I have to think it through. I have to consult with Tom and the others. Tonight after the party when Daisy’s in bed, we’ll talk. You’re staying the night, aren’t you?”
“Am I invited?”
“I thought Daisy invited you.