Chapter 46 Annabelle
Annabelle
It was their last night in California. Yesterday had been jam-packed, between Chase’s sessions, her meetings with the California team, and then the conference cocktail party and dinner.
She enjoyed socializing, but a twelve-hour day with nonstop smiling and small talk was exhausting.
She’d been checking in at home sporadically and was relieved to hear that everything was fine.
Scarlett had survived her first day of skiing, with no broken bones.
Chase had finished his last panel, and they were in an Uber now, heading back to the hotel. A group from the conference were all meeting up for dinner, and Annabelle could have kissed Chase when he demurred, saying the two of them had to finalize a report.
“I hope you don’t mind my bagging out of the group dinner, but I can’t fake-laugh anymore today,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Feel free to go if you want, but—”
“No, I was so relieved to hear you say that.”
“So, listen, if you want to chill on your own, I get it, but if you’re up for it, I was thinking maybe we could grab a pier burger, do the whole tourist thing. Unless you think that’s too corny.”
“I think it sounds perfect. I can’t wait to change these heels for sneakers.”
An hour later, they were sitting across from each other at a table by the window. Annabelle scanned the menu.
“What are you thinking?” Chase asked.
“Maybe the veggie burger.”
Chase put his menu down and stared at her in mock outrage. “You’re not serious? You know you want a juicy cheeseburger with fries on the side.”
He was right. She was starving, and a juicy burger sounded great. It was James’s voice in her head warning her of clogged arteries and trans fats that had influenced her first choice. “Twist my arm,” she said.
When they got their food, they both dug in, and Annabelle was surprised that she actually finished all her fries. She dipped the last one into the ketchup on her plate and popped it in her mouth. She must have been even hungrier than she thought. “Shall we walk around the pier a bit?” she asked.
“Yeah. Then maybe a ride on the Ferris wheel?”
“Okay, but only after my food has digested.” She was squeamish about heights, but it was a gorgeous night, and she bet the view from the Ferris wheel was spectacular. They walked in companionable silence for a bit, taking in the sights.
“Any word on your daughter?” he asked.
“Having a great time, and no broken bones, thank goodness.” Although she wouldn’t completely relax until Scarlett was home safe and sound tomorrow night.
“Glad to hear it.”
“I guess my husband was right, and I let my dreams get the best of me.” As soon as the words left her lips, she realized her mistake.
“Dreams?”
“Nothing. Not important.”
“Annabelle, I know we haven’t known each other all that long, but I feel like we’re becoming friends. I’m pretty good at reading people—it’s what I do for a living. You can talk to me.”
She bit her lip. She would love to unburden herself, but he was a client. “I appreciate it, but…”
Chase stopped walking and looked in her eyes. “Can I be honest?”
“Of course.”
“I wasn’t that impressed with Riggs. The only reason I’m with the company is you. Investigative reporters stick their noses in other people’s business, but I’m not digging for a story. I just want to help if I can. I’m good at keeping a confidence. Part of the code.”
They walked over to a bench and sat.
She looked at him, then plunged ahead. “I’ve been having some strange dreams, and some things in the dreams have come true.
” Annabelle watched Chase’s face closely for a reaction.
So far, he merely looked interested. She told him about the plane crash and the accident with the pickup truck.
“Anyway, um, I had a dream that my daughter was in the hospital, and I can’t shake the feeling that something bad is going to happen while she’s away skiing.
” Once she started, she couldn’t seem to stop.
“I said no, but then she talked to James, and he said yes, and now I’m here, and I can’t stop it and… You must think I’m unhinged.”
Chase reached out and put a hand on hers.
“I think nothing of the sort. There’s a long history of people seeing the future in dreams. I don’t know what your dreams are or what might come true, but I think we can definitely get messages from the universe, warning us.
But let’s break it down. What exactly did you see with your daughter? ”
A wave of relief overcame Annabelle, and gratitude that finally someone was listening to her. “Nothing specific. More like quick images where she’s lying still, eyes closed. And then I’m in the waiting room in the hospital, and everyone is blaming me.”
“Okay, so, if something were to happen on the ski trip, you are the one who said no, so no one would blame you, right?”
She considered that. “I guess, yeah, maybe you’re right.”
“Sounds like some of what you’re dreaming are visions, and maybe some are regular, from your imagination.”
She thought about the fiasco at James’s office. She nodded. “I need to distinguish the dreams my worries and anxiety concoct from these other dreams about the future.”
“The trick is how to tell the difference, I would think,” he said.
“Exactly. Maybe some are coming from me, like the ones about my kids. But others are showing the future, like the plane crash and the pickup truck. I haven’t figured out why.” She wasn’t ready to tell him that she’d dreamt about him. She didn’t want to freak him out.
“It must be scary,” he said.
Annabelle felt herself tear up. Chase wasn’t making her think something was wrong with her, the way James was. “It is. I don’t understand why this is happening to me.”
“People have been having visions in their dreams for centuries.”
She tried to lighten the mood. “I’m no prophet, but I guess you’re right about that. Thank you for not making me feel foolish, and for listening.”
“Of course. What does your husband say?”
“That I should see a therapist.”
He raised his eyebrows. “I don’t know much about this kind of thing, but it doesn’t sound to me like you need a doctor. Maybe try to find someone who knows more about it.”
“I’ve done some research, and apparently it’s not all that uncommon.
There are people who specialize in visions and dreams, but some of their methods seem a bit out there.
” Annabelle decided to tell him a little more.
“I dreamt I was here, weeks before any of this was set up. I even dreamt I stayed at this hotel.”
He stared at her. She was mesmerized by his eyes as she flashed back to her dreams of him. Not wanting him to probe further, she stood. “Shall we take that Ferris wheel ride now?”
“Okay.” He smiled, and her eyes were drawn again to the dimple by his mouth. Why did he have to be so damned cute?
They got their tickets and took a seat. Her stomach did a flip-flop as the wheel began to turn and they rose higher. The view was magnificent as the sunset painted the sky a vibrant orange over the blue Pacific. “It’s so beautiful here,” she said.
“It is. I’ve always felt like I could live in California,” Chase said.
“I can see why. Beautiful weather, palm trees everywhere, sun. It makes me wonder why we stay somewhere where the weather is only nice half the year, if that.”
“Would you ever consider moving? Working out of the L.A. office?”
“No. My husband’s practice is in Connecticut, and so are his parents. He wouldn’t leave.”
“What about your parents?”
“My mom died eleven years ago, and I don’t talk to my father.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Do you have any siblings?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Just me. My father left us when I was a kid, and he screwed my mom over. It’s a long story, but I don’t want to have anything to do with him. James’s parents are good grandparents, and I wouldn’t want to move the girls away from them.”
“It’s hard. Once you have a family, you lay down tracks. It’s not easy to uproot everyone.”
They were both quiet for the rest of the ride, seemingly lost in their own thoughts. When they got off, Annabelle thought it best to end the evening. “I’m beat. Think I’ll head back and call it a night.”
“I’ll walk you back, I—”
“It’s okay. Enjoy the pier. I’ll see you in the morning.” Annabelle walked away before Chase could protest.
When she got to her room, she washed up and changed. She brought her laptop over to the bed and navigated to Facebook. Her text tone buzzed, and she picked up her phone. From Chase. It was a photo of his hand holding a glass of wine, the moon and ocean in the background.
Thanks for a great night. Hope your dreams are only sweet ones xx
She started to type, then erased it and simply hearted the message.
Since his room was right next to hers, if she went out on the balcony, she would see him.
Shaking her head, she went back to her laptop and typed Tara Sommers into the search bar.
Several profiles popped up. She clicked on the first one, but quickly realized it couldn’t be Chase’s wife when she saw it was a much older woman.
Two more Taras were too young, and then finally she found a profile under Tara Winters Sommers.
A beautiful blond woman who looked to be in her forties.
Annabelle went to the About section and places lived. Fairfield, Connecticut. Bull’s-eye.
Annabelle clicked on a recent picture showing Tara at a restaurant with two other women.
She was holding a martini glass and smiling.
There were some political posts, some feminist memes, and a few more of her with other women.
Tara seemed to be involved in a variety of causes.
There were fundraisers for a shelter, and posts asking for donations to school lunch programs. She was dressed to the nines and perfectly made up in each picture.
She was much more glamourous than Annabelle; she felt a little intimidated by how beautiful Tara was.
Her social posts revolved around parties and events—nothing at home or with their son.
Annabelle wondered if that was because they didn’t spend a lot of time together, or if she was simply keeping her family life private.
She thought of Chase’s comments about his wife thinking he doted too much on his son.
She kept scrolling and came to a series of posts from the holidays the year before.
The first looked like a Christmas party, and they were with a group of friends.
Chase had his hand on the shoulder of a guy sitting down, and the other arm by his side.
Tara’s arm was linked through Chase’s possessively.
The next post was the two of them in evening wear for a New Year’s party.
Again, Tara’s arm was linked through Chase’s, but his hands were clasped in front of him.
She studied picture after picture, looking for a clue to their relationship.
He didn’t seem into his wife. Or maybe that’s what she was hoping to see.
It was odd that there were no family photos, and that the last ones of Tara and Chase were from almost a year ago.
All recent posts were of Tara with friends.
Annabelle’s own Facebook page was full of family outings and photos, special occasions, and shout-outs of significant accomplishments.
She realized, of course, that so much of social media was smoke and mirrors.
She knew from her job how people curated their online profiles.
And how often had she seen a friend posting about how wonderful her husband was, only to file for divorce a few months later?
The recent activity on Tara’s page could belong to a single woman. It was weird. But what bothered Annabelle the most about Chase’s current absence from his wife’s Facebook page was that she was happy about it.