Annie's Rainbow - Fern Michaels [84]
Annie’s eyes filled. She didn’t have to look at Jane to know she was teary-eyed as well. She nodded miserably.
Tom just stared at the old man. “I know of a specialist . . .”
“Been there, done that. Not another word,” Elmo said forcefully. Tom clamped his lips tight.
Harry whined softly at Annie’s feet. Rosie swiped at him with one paw.
“Now tell us your news, Annie,” Elmo said, helping himself to the concoction in the chafing dish.
Annie cleared her throat. “We have a great six-month deal with Grayson Coffee. That’s the good news. The bad news is, Parker asked me to marry him. We set the date for February. I ... I said yes. Parker wants a merger. I said no. He did not like a six-month contract, but he had to swallow that one. I want you to be my matron of honor, Jane, and Elmo, I want you to give me away.”
“I’d be honored, Annie. However, February is a long way away. I have to be realistic according to my doctor. He said . . . maybe as little as six months.”
“Six months!” the others said in unison.
Elmo held up his hand. “I don’t care to discuss this matter. Give or take a few months on either side, possibly longer. It’s the way it is. Let’s move on here.”
“I’ll talk to Parker. I’m not getting married unless you give me away. That’s the way that is, Elmo. So there. I said yes in the heat of the moment. I’m not sure I want to get married at all. I’m terribly confused right now.”
The old man cackled. “What’s the sense in waiting if you love one another?”
Annie choked up. “Business. Details. A wedding dress. Stupid stuff. Parker has a harvest to get in. Prenuptial agreements. They take forever.”
“You work on that, young woman. We need to put our heads together where this insurance fellow is concerned. Jane told me the alumni association moved back your reunion to September of this year. If you plan to go to it, you could arrange a meeting with the insurance company. Or, you could do it now if you want, since Jane is here.”
“I can’t stay, Elmo. School is out, and my daughter’s dance classes begin next week. I don’t have the free time I used to have. I’m also behind in my commissioned paintings, plus I teach a class two nights a week..If I budget my time, I should be clear by September. I really want to go to the reunion.”
Annie felt sick to her stomach. Later, when she was alone, she would think about all of this. For Elmo’s sake, it was easier to agree. “Okay,” she said. “Why did they move back the reunion date?”
“The questionnaire they sent out asked which month was preferable, and they picked this September. I guess June is a busy month for everyone. I find it hard to believe fifteen years have gone by since we got our bachelor degrees. I screwed that up, didn’t I, Annie?” Jane asked fretfully.
“Not at all. If you want to go, then I’m going, too.”
“Then it’s settled,” Tom said. “Let’s work out a plan for what you’re going to say and which insurance executive you’re going to say it to. That case should have been written off the books by now. The statute of limitations should have passed by now.”
Elmo twirled his fork around the Chinese noodles on his plate. “It’s the boy. He’s a man now. He’s bitter and angry about serving all that time in prison for something he claims he didn’t do. His family has a lot of money.”
“A jury thought there was enough evidence to convict him,” Annie said coldly. “Why is he hounding us?”
“Allegedly hounding us. We don’t know who’s sending the letters and making the phone calls,” Elmo said.
Jane shivered. “Twelve years in prison makes for a lot of hatred, especially if the guy is as innocent as he says he is. Do we know for a pure fact that Newman eliminated everyone but us?”
“He said it. He’s being very careful because we could sue him for libel and slander,” Elmo said.
“I repeat, a jury listened