Chapter 41 Annabelle
Annabelle
Before pulling out of the driveway the next morning, Annabelle went to Monica’s contact and hit send.
She’d take care of this before her day got too busy and she forgot.
But instead of ringing, she got an automated message that the phone number was no longer in service.
That was weird. Navigating to a browser, she typed in Monica’s full name and the town.
She was dismayed when an obituary came up.
She’d died five months ago. The obituary didn’t specify the cause.
Annabelle’s heart sank. The woman had been in her mid-eighties, but still, this was a shock.
She looked across the street at Belinda’s house and debated confiding in her, but she quickly decided against it.
The last thing she needed was to get a reputation as some loony woman who thought her dreams were coming true.
All the neighbors would be talking about her.
Maybe she could call her doctor and ask for a referral to a therapist.
She dialed Kiera’s number but got voicemail.
As she pulled out of the driveway, a profound sense of loneliness filled her.
How was it possible that she’d lived here for so long and in all that time, the only person she felt comfortable confiding in was a therapist she hadn’t seen in years?
From the outside, her life looked perfect.
She was married to a successful doctor, had a great career, and two beautiful girls.
They lived in a gorgeous house in a sought-after neighborhood with a busy social calendar.
Sailing, tennis, parties. Their lives could be a commercial for the good life.
Yet it all seemed so superficial. Their packed calendars kept them from thinking too deeply about anything.
She didn’t want time to think, because then she’d have to remember.
Then she’d have to feel all those feelings that she’d tucked away in a little box, far out of reach.
It was easier to keep busy and to focus on all the minutiae of their lives and their children’s lives than to wonder if they were actually living a life of substance.
They gave back, sure. School charities, donations to needy causes, but it was easy; it came off the top.
There was no true sacrifice, no going without to make someone else’s life better.
Any time things started to get too real—someone lost a job or had to move from the neighborhood because their circumstances changed—the conversation went quiet. What was she doing with her life?
Riggs was waiting for Annabelle in her office when she arrived. Could the morning get any worse?
“Wanted to catch you before you got involved in anything,” he said as she walked in. She hated being ambushed. Throwing her tote on a chair, Annabelle crossed her arms and stood across from him.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, more than okay. Chase signed the contract and doubled the hours he originally requested. He was very impressed with you. That means he’ll be your sole account for now.”
“I don’t understand. Why does he need so many hours?”
“He wants you to accompany him on some of his speaking engagements. You know, do some Facebook Lives, help with interviews, et cetera. You’re going to California!”
“What?”
Riggs nodded, a toothy grin on his face. “I made some calls to my L.A. contacts. We’ve got him booked to do a talk at the National Crime Podcasters Conference.”
“When is it?”
Riggs grimaced. “You need to leave the day after tomorrow.”
“Are you serious? I need—”
He put up both his hands. “Look, someone canceled at the last minute and they had an open spot for him. It’s too good of an opportunity to pass up.”
Annabelle thought quickly. She supposed she could get Charlotte to come and stay with the girls, to help James out. “Okay, one night, or what?”
“Two, actually. You need to fly out on Thursday because his talk is early Friday morning. Then he’s on a panel Saturday.”
Great. Now she’d be gone for the whole weekend.
“Riggs, I don’t understand why I need to be there. He’s a big boy. What am I supposed to do, follow him around in between his talks?”
“Of course not. You’ll be meeting with Ellen in our L.A. office. Chase’s podcast has gotten some Hollywood interest. It’s possible they might adapt some of his stories into a limited series. We’re giving him the support of both agencies.”
“That would certainly push him into the big leagues. He’s okay with that? I thought he didn’t want that kind of attention.”
“Everyone wants that kind of attention. I had a long talk with him, and he’s good with it.”
She nodded. “All right, I guess that makes sense. What’s Ellen’s role?”
“I want you to work with Ellen to divide and conquer. She’s got public relations experience, but she’s newer to social media. You’ll still be in charge of that, but she wants to work with you on connecting with some targeted influencers.”
“Do I need to call to set up the meeting, or have you already done that?” She tried to keep the annoyance from her tone.
“I sent her Chase’s schedule because, of course, when he gives his talk, you need to be there to take photos and help him network at the cocktail party. She’ll email you some times to meet that work around his schedule.”
“Well, I guess I’d better get myself organized for the trip.”
“Dawn’s already gotten your airline tickets. You’re both booked for two nights in Santa Monica at the—”
Annabelle knew what he was going to say before he said it.
“Shutters on the Beach, right?” she asked.
Surprise played over his face. “How’d you know that?”
“Just a guess.” She inhaled deeply, trying to stave off the feeling of dizziness that overcame her.