Chapter Three
CHAPTER THREE
After quickly changing out of his dusty clothes and washing his face, Brody ran his fingers through his thick mop of dark hair and returned to the kitchen. Feeling restless as he waited for Annie to arrive he started a fresh pot of coffee, then opened the plastic tub of home made blueberry muffins his mother had brought over the day before. As he was laying them out on a plate he heard a car.
His heart skipped.
He couldn’t wait to see her, but he was worried. What could have sent her running from her glamorous life, and why had she felt the need to drive for hours on end? Hastily opening the door to the garage, he was surprised to see an older Ford Sedan, and when she stepped from behind the wheel he was shocked. Her long blond hair was now black.
“Hi, thanks for letting me come over,” she muttered nervously. “I wasn’t if you’d want to see me.”
“I’ll always be here for you, Annie,” he declared, pushing the button on the wall to close the garage door. “Come inside and—” but Bella suddenly ran across to join him and began barking excitedly.
“Bella, how wonderful to see you,” Annie exclaimed, bending down and making a fuss of the happy dog. “You’re just the same.”
“I can’t say the same about you,” Brody remarked. “When did you dye your hair?”
“I didn’t.” Removing her hat, she yanked off the wig, then unpinned her hair letting it fall around her shoulders. “Any chance of a hug?” she added with a weary sigh.
Wordlessly stepping up to her, he brought her into his arms. Though still upset and confused his heart was melting. As the silent seconds ticked by, he instinctively began moving his hands across her back. When she let out a sigh and sank against him, he slowly pulled back.
“I don’t know how you do that,” she mumbled, gazing up at him.
“Do what?”
“Take away all the stress. You have magic hands, and I needed them so badly.”
“Annie, sit down, you look wiped out.”
“I am,” she muttered, dropping her wig and hat on the table. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so tired in my life.”
“Not even after one of your concerts?”
“Not even then. When I turned down Main Street and stopped at the hotel, I don’t think I could have driven another mile.”
“Here, you need this,” he said, reaching for the coffee pot and pouring her a cup. “I don’t know if you remember mom’s famous blueberry muffins, but she brought a batch over yesterday. Help yourself.”
“How could I forget, and thanks, I’m starving,” she mumbled, reaching for one and taking a bite, then adding cream and sugar to her coffee she took a long drink and let out a sigh. “That’s so good.”
Still amazed she was sitting at his kitchen table he didn’t know what to say, then suddenly the words spilled from his lips.
“Annie, I don’t know what to make of all this. Maybe I should wait to ask, but—what the hell? Why did you shut me out? I haven’t heard a word from you for over a year, and now—out of nowhere—here you are.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I’m sorry about so many things. But can we please get into everything later. I’m so tired, and I’m achy. I guess it’s from sitting in the car for so long, though driving through a crazy storm didn’t help. I was really tense.”
“White knuckles?”
“God, yes. There was a tornado warning in the area. I didn’t see anything, but the skies…you know how they get.”
“Unfortunately I do,” he replied with a heavy frown.
“Do you mind if I lie down for a little while?” she asked as she finished her drink. “Being here I can breathe, and hopefully get some sleep.”
“You should, you look worn out. Rest on my bed, or take the guest room if you’d prefer.”
“Where do you want me?”
“Why don’t you take the guest room. That way I won’t disturb you if you’re sleepin’ when I come in.”
“Thanks.”
“Do you have any suitcases?”
“Just an overnight bag. It’s in the back seat.”
“You came all this way with just an overnight bag?”
“I was in a hurry,” she muttered.
“Sorry, just tell me the story when you’re ready. I’ll fetch it for you.”
“Brody, thanks, especially since you’re probably still angry.”
“Yep, I am, but I’d never turn my back on you. No matter what.“
“You’re such a good man,” she whispered, her eyes welling up.
“Maybe that’s why I finished last,” he quipped, and though he instantly regretted the remark it was how he felt.
“You didn’t,” she said earnestly. “But if you want me to leave—”
“I don’t, not for a minute. You know where the guest room is. I’ll get your bag and bring it in.”
As he rose from the table and moved to the door, he glanced over his shoulder. She’d poured herself another cup of coffee and picked up a second muffin before heading towards the hall. She was obviously hungry and exhausted, but he’d have to wait to hear the gory details. As Bella trotted after her, he stepped into the garage and up to the car, spying the small suitcase on the back seat. He was about to lift it out when his phone rang. It was his mother, and he quickly accepted the call.
“Hey, mom, what’s up?”
“That girl, the one Edith thinks is Annie, she’s gone.”
“Mom, I don’t think—”
“Don’t you think it’s odd? She checked in, used cash to pay for two nights in advance, then said she wouldn’t back and didn’t stop to pick what they owed her.”
“Mom, there’s no mystery. Whoever she is, she must have been in a hurry.”
“What if Edith was right? Maybe it was Annie wearing a disguise and she had to take off in a hurry.”
“I think Edith is letting her imagination run away with her, which you very well know is not unusual.”
“Yes, I suppose you’re right.”
“I’m sure I am.”
“Brody I’m not gossiping. It occurred to me she might be on her way to see you and I thought you should know.”
“I see. How long ago did all this happen?”
“Goodness, perhaps fifteen, twenty minutes ago. I’m not sure. Why?”
“Because I’ve had no visitors, and if it was her and she’s here to see me, she’s taking a long time to get to my place.”
“Oh, I suppose you’re right. Yes, it was a silly notion. I hear your father coming in. I have to run. Bye, dear.”
“Bye, mom.”
As he ended the call and picked up the suitcase he felt a ripple of guilt. He didn’t like lying to anyone, let alone his mother, but he’d had no choice. Whatever was going on with Annie was serious, and he wasn’t about to put her at risk.
“Whatever it is, you’d better tell me soon,” he muttered, then grabbed her wig and hat off the table started down the hall to the guest room.