Annie's Rainbow - Fern Michaels [95]
Annie
Annie folded the letter and slipped it into a matching envelope. The envelope then went into a Federal Express envelope. She filled in the air bill, marked it for next-day delivery. She’d drop it off in the special drop box at the bank when she left in the morning.
The next two hours were spent getting the rest of the money ready for delivery to whichever bank she came in contact with first. At one point she became so confused with the interest she owed, she simply dumped in two packets of money from her safe. Money that she swished and dipped into the back of the toilet tank filled with Clorox. She tiptoed down the steps and loaded the bags into the cargo area of her all-terrain vehicle.
With nothing else to do, she packed her bags and carried them down to the car and put them in the backseat. She was drinking coffee when Elmo arrived at six o’clock. The dogs circled him, waiting for the treats he always carried in his pockets.
“You’re up early this morning, Annie. You look kind of peaked,” Elmo said as he opened the door to the garden. The dogs barreled outside. “You’ve been crying, haven’t you?”
“So what if I have, Elmo? Where does it say that I can’t cry? Why do I always have to be the tough one? I have feelings, and I hurt just like everyone else.”
Elmo poured himself coffee. “Feeling sorry for ourselves this morning, are we?”
“So what, Elmo? So what?”
“Does this have anything to do with Jane and little Daisy?”
“No, of course not.”
“Are you stewing and fretting about me? If you are, I won’t tolerate it, Annie.”
“No, Elmo, it has nothing to do with you.”
“Did you have a fight with Tom?”
“No, Elmo, I did not fight with Tom.”
“See, now we’re getting somewhere. That leaves Parker Grayson.”
“I’m calling off the wedding. I’m not getting married. I decided I don’t want to live in Hawaii. I’m a career woman. I’m not giving up my business. I busted my ass, Elmo, and I’m not going to sit back and clip coupons.”
“Do you mind me asking what brought this to a head?”
Annie leaped up from her chair and started to pace the kitchen. “You know what, Elmo, it’s that damn bank robbery that’s been hanging over our heads for thirteen years. Wait till you hear this. Just wait till I tell you what Parker told me tonight. Well, last night, you know what I mean.”
“I’m listening, Annie.”
“So, that’s what happened,” Annie said fifteen minutes later. “See, you don’t know Parker like I know him. He hates lies and deceit. I didn’t exactly lie, but by not telling him about being under suspicion, I was deceitful. He made a point to ask about secrets, and I didn’t say anything. It was baggage, Elmo. I didn’t . . . You know what, I’m glad I didn’t tell him, or they’d be hounding him now the way they’re hounding Tom’s ex-wife. It plain out sucks, Elmo. So, I decided to call it off. Then there’s the merger stuff. No way. I mean, that’s simply out of the question. I’m not going to spend the rest of my life worrying about what if he finds out, what if, what if. This is the best way.”
“Don’t you think you might be shortchanging the fellow? How do you know how he would react? If you explain the circumstances, I’m sure he’d understand. I feel duty-bound to tell you this is a dumb, stupid thing you’re doing.”
“Give it up, Elmo. Don’t you see, if I say anything now, Parker will be convinced his nephew’s doing the legwork on the case scared me. It’s all screwed up in my head. This way is best. Don’t interfere, Elmo. I will never forgive you if you say even one word to Parker. This is my personal problem, and I’m handling it the best way I know how.
“Now, are you sure you don’t mind taking care