Annie's Rainbow - Fern Michaels [90]
“I don’t know if I can do that, Annie. I’ll break out into a sweat, my voice will crack, and he’ll know I’m everything he says, I am.”
Annie’s voice turned to steel. “And what does he say you are, Jane?”
“It doesn’t matter, Annie. This is the end of the road. I’ll do it.”
“Then we call all the utility companies to turn everything off and tell them to take your name off each one. I’m glad we stopped at the bank first and did the same thing. I’m also glad your Daisy Shop is back in my name. He won’t have a claim to it. I know all about this stuff from Tom. He went through it with Mona. She called him and didn’t even ask about the kids.” .
“Some people just aren’t parent material, Annie. I found that out the hard way.”
“It’s just so hard to believe parents can turn their backs on their own flesh and blood.”
“Shhhh. This is Jane Granger. Can I speak to my husband please? I don’t really care if he’s in a meeting or not, Miriam. Both of us know that isn’t true, so just put me through. I wouldn’t be calling if it wasn’t important.” .
“Good,” Annie whispered.
“Bob, I need you to come home after work. I don’t want to hear you have to work late. I gave up believing all those lies a long time ago. Fine, if you don’t want to come home then I guess you aren’t interested in the fact that Annie sold my Daisy Shop out from under me. Oh, you will be home. Make it early. Four-thirty is good for me.”
“I thought you said you didn’t have any guts.” Annie smiled.
“Only when you’re around. Let’s finish up, so I can call the utility companies. Bob hates it when there’s no air conditioning.”
“Do you know what he does or where he goes?”
“There’s been a string of women. This last one is the daughter of his boss. It’s not a large company that he works for, but it is successful. If Bob had been a good husband, we could have had a good life. Daisy’s future would be secure, and I wouldn’t have to worry about paying bills and dodging creditors.”
“What did he do with the money, Jane?”
“He likes expensive suits and custom-made shoes. He leases a Porsche. He has a boat. He has two Rolex watches. He goes on trips. He has a passion for Las Vegas. I couldn’t go along because Daisy was in school. He never asked me, though. I think he married me because he believed I was going to be a famous artist someday. I sell, but I’m not famous. You should have seen his face when he found out about the Daisy Shop. It’s called high living. I really did love him, Annie, but that love died a long time ago. I wasn’t smart enough to get out. I guess part of me kept hoping it would get better. Instead, it got worse. Daisy is going to need some counseling.”
“We’ll take care of all that. I guess this is the last of it. Anything else you want to take?”
“That’s it. I’ll call the utility companies and tell them to turn everything off by five.”
“Sounds good to me. Let’s have something cold to drink and make a plan for Daisy. How about a good summer camp? Tom’s daughter is a camp counselor summers at a really good one. It will give you time to get on your feet. She’ll be happy with other kids; and in the fall, when it’s time for school, you can be all settled in.”
“No stress, no strain. It sounds like heaven.”
Annie forced a laugh she didn’t feel. “No, the stress is going to come when it’s time to go shopping. Charleston has some beautiful stores, or we could spin up to Atlanta and shop there. We’re going to start you off right.”
“How can I thank you, Annie?”
“Thank you is good enough. You’re my friend, Jane. We always said we’d be friends forever and ever. I meant it when I made the promise. I thought you did, too.”
“Annie, I wanted to call you so many times. They say pride is the deadliest sin of all.”
“That’s in the past. This is a new day. Make your calls, and I’ll fix us some ice tea if you tell me where everything is.”
Jane pointed-as she dialed.
At three-thirty, Bob Granger roared up the driveway and parked his silver Porsche under the carport. His roar was as loud as his sports