Annie's Rainbow - Fern Michaels [71]
Annie draped one of the fragrant leis she’d found on the bathroom vanity around her neck. With a glass of champagne, she retired to the balcony, where she settled into one of the chairs and propped her feet on the railing. She needed to map out a plan of attack. First, though, she had to call Tom.
Annie sipped at her champagne as she listened to Tom regale her with his children’s antics: Someday she would have children and would love them the way Tom loved his kids and the way her parents had loved both her and Tom. Someday.
“So, where do we stand, Tom?”
“Parker called after you did. I told him what happened, and he was pissed to the teeth. It seems he was in Waikiki entertaining some college friends for two days. The sister didn’t know until the last minute, she says, that you were making the trip instead of me. She was under the impression that Parker was going to entertain me. I just spoke to him a second time, about an hour ago. He said there had been some kind of problem with one of Kiki’s children at school, and she was running late. Neither he nor I can figure out what your hat and pocketbook have to do with things. Guess it’s one of those things only women understand. Do you know what it’s all about?”
“What are you talking about, Tom?”
“Your pocketbook and your hat. Parker thinks they pissed off Kiki. Now, for whatever this is worth, he’s willing to cut his price by a buck and a half, roasted, if we order our package coffee from him. He said he and Kiki talked it over and agreed. The ball’s in our court, and it’s your call.”
“I need to think about it.”
“Don’t think too long or too hard, or the guy’s going to have a heart attack. He wants to know where you’re staying. I told him I didn’t know. By the way, where are you?”
“I am in the most gorgeous, the most luxurious condo you have ever seen. There’s a phone in every room, even in both bathrooms. I can sit on the balcony and see the ocean. The air is so sweet you almost feel like you’re drunk. I rented a car. I’m going to explore tomorrow.”
“What about business, Annie?”
“Can’t I have a few days to myself, Tom? We aren’t on some deadline, are we? This is my first vacation in a long time. I’d kind of like to savor it even if it’s just for a few days.”
Tom’s voice gentled. “Take all the time you want, Annie. When you’re ready to make a decision, call me. What do you want me to tell Parker if he calls?”
“Tell him anything you want but don’t tell him where I am. I mean it, Tom.”
“Understood.”
“Are you feeling okay? Did Elmo call you?”
“About ten minutes before you did. Elmo’s fine, and the dogs are fine. He said he was going to take a nap and then work on the daisy coffee bags. End of story.”
“Tom, four of Jane’s watercolors are hanging in this living room. Will you call her and tell her?”
“Sure.”
“Then I’m going to hang up and sit here and drink my champagne and read that new mystery novel I brought with me. I’ll have room service send up some dinner, take a nice bubble bath, turn in, and be up at first light to explore.”
“Sounds kind of lonely to me.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” Annie said, her voice breaking. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Disgusted with his inability to locate Annie Clark, Parker stopped at the first restaurant he came to, where he ordered a fruit platter, a mahimahi sandwich and a cold beer. Knowing it would take at least twenty minutes, he pulled out his portable phone and placed a call to his sister advising her of the situation. Then he called Tom.
“Did you hear from Annie?”
“She called earlier this afternoon. She said she was