Annie's Rainbow - Fern Michaels [74]
“All of the above.”
Kiki leaned across the table. “Do you know what really makes Parker nuts?”
“Not a clue.” She grinned. “Not a clue. Share.”
“He hates it when a woman is right. He’s come a long way, but he hasn’t come all the way yet. I want to thank you on behalf of all my sisters and myself. I didn’t know you were the one responsible for Parker’s turnaround until Mattie told me. He chopped down the banyan tree by the front of the house. It was symbolic. He’s not seeing anyone. Are you? Seeing anyone? Am I being too forward?”
“No and no. He never called or wrote. Twelve years is a long time,” Annie said wistfully.
“Sometimes it takes a man forever to make a decision where the heart is concerned. They can make billion-dollar decisions in the blink of an eye, though. Parker was never the same after you left. Again, I got all this from Mattie. I probably shouldn’t even be telling you this.”
“I’m glad you did. I apologize for the other day.”
“You must also accept my apology. My day didn’t start out all that well. Then I saw you in that stunning outfit with your Chanel handbag, and something snapped in me. I always wanted to own my own company. I wanted to be a corporate giant. I guess I wanted to be like you. For a lot of years my little family had to count pennies. When I saw that Chanel bag something just happened. I think I was just tired of seeing how women had to stand behind men and take second place. Maybe I was ahead of my time. Parker’s been real good about it. I made a lot of mistakes that cost the company money. All things considered, he’s tolerant. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back.”
Annie stood up. She looked down at the table. Neither one of them had touched the toast or coffee. She laid some bills on the table.
“You want to know something? I gave that purse to Stella. I saw the look in your eyes when you saw it the other day. Here,” she said shyly. “I bought this from a vendor outside the airport.” She looped the fragrant lei around Kiki’s neck. Saw the glistening tears in her eyes. “Tell your brother you’re the only one in the Grayson Coffee Company that I will do business with.”
“Are you sure you want me to say that?”
Annie smiled. “I’m sure. You want to know something else? Being a corporate giant isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. At this moment in time, you have it all, a husband, a family, and you just clinched a deal your brother wasn’t able to make. I should know, I’m a corporate giant.” Both women burst out laughing.
“Do me a favor, slow down a little so my brother can catch you.”
Annie laughed again. “If I went any slower, I’d be at a dead stop. Come on, I’ll walk you to your gate. No hard feelings.”
“None. I’m glad you gave me another chance. A man wouldn’t have.”
“I know that.” Annie smiled. “See you around.”
“Maybe sooner than you think. I’m taking my daughter to Boston in the fall. She starts college. My oldest son is finishing his first year of law school there, too. Maybe I’ll stop and see you.”
“Please do.”
Annie stood on the tarmac and waited until the small plane took off. She waved until the plane was out of sight.
Now she was going to spend an enjoyable day with Stella and Joe Kaminsky, her new friends.
Parker felt like he was coming off a two-day drunk when he entered the Aston Wailea Resort. He strode up to the desk like a man on a mission. “I’m trying to locate a client of mine. I understand she’s staying here. Anna Daisy Clark is her name. Could you ring her room, please?”
“I’m sorry, sir. Miss Clark left early this morning.”
“You mean she checked out?” Parker looked at his index finger. It was red and puffy from all the dialing he’d done during the night.
“No, sir. She called down for her car and left a little before eight.”
“Did she say where she was going?”
“Not to me, sir. You could try the valet.”
Parker knew his eyes were wild when he searched out the valet who had brought Annie’s car to the entrance. “Did she say where she was going or ask for directions?”
“No, sir, she didn’t. There was a map on the front seat.