She skimmed through the fifty or so comments that had been made so far and didn’t see anything. She paused for a moment to think, and then clicked on the My Perfect Little Life Facebook page, and there it was. A woman named Annette Williams had posted late last night.
I’ve been instructed to apologize to Anne for my actions, but I don’t regret my intentions. No mother likes to witness their child’s heart take a beating, but I shouldn’t have been cruel to Anne. It’s not her fault she’s dating a heartbreaker. I’ve removed the video.
There were already over a thousand likes and 345 comments. The photos of Mike with Katie had also been deleted. She clicked on Annette’s profile picture and gasped. She was immediately reminded of that night at Smokey’s when she’d had a shot at the bar with some women who claimed to be fans of hers. Annette had been there; Anne wouldn’t forget that head of red hair or that laugh. Well, you just never knew about some people.
Anne closed her laptop. She couldn’t indulge in the comments right now, and she wasn’t even sure if she should. The only way to get over it was to move forward. Obviously it was Katie’s mother, and Anne almost respected her for what she’d done. Still, that was a really lame apology.
Mike was a heartbreaker all right. He’d explained what happened and she actually believed him, and his story had now been proven true, but even so, it still hurt, she still hurt. She began thinking of the possibilities, of the future, but before she got too carried away Anne shook her head; she couldn’t let her thoughts go there. She had a job to do, a party to make special, and if she’d learned anything it was that she could weather almost any storm.
“Have you seen Facebook?” Callie breezed through the barn doors with her arms full of pink boxes.
“You’re really early, and yes, I just saw it. Strange, isn’t it?”
Callie set her items on the dessert table, which was ready for her to fill with goodies. Various pink and black milk-glass stands and silver trays stood empty and waiting. “Very. Annette comes into the bakery at least once a week, I wouldn’t have thought she’d do that to us. I always wondered if she held a grudge that I go to the city to get my hair done.”
Anne smiled. “I doubt it. She was just acting as a woman scorned, or mother of a scorned woman. I guess I can sort of respect that.”
“I didn’t even think that it could have been Katie. She’s sweet, comes in for coffee a lot, but according to Eric she’s quite a party girl.” Callie carefully arranged pink-frosted mini cupcakes on the trays.
“Yeah, that doesn’t surprise me. She looked like something that would prance around the Playboy Mansion.” And that was the shocker. Had Mike really been able to resist that kind of woman? How could she ever compete against Katie, who was pert, young, and overtly sexy?
Anne Edmond was none of those things. In fact, she specialized in the complete opposite of that. She was all crafty-mom and coordinating sweater sets. There was no way she was Mike’s type for anything more than a novelty fling. It hadn’t even worked for her husband and the father of her child; Scott had even gone as far as to call her “Boring Suzy-Homemaker” once. Sexy was a language she didn’t speak.
“Anne, your internal thoughts are screaming at me right now and I want you to stop it. Why don’t you see how hot you are? Mike wanted you bad, and I’m sure he still does. Are you going to let Annette get away with breaking you up?”
“He hasn’t tried to talk to me since Wednesday.”
“Anne, he’s a dude. You tell them to take a hike, they’re gonna do it. Boys are never thinking what we assume they are.” Callie tweaked the cake stands once more before she went out to her car. “But don’t throw this wisdom back in my face next time I’m crazy over some man. I’m only a genius when it comes to other people’s problems.”
Anne laughed as her best friend left the building to retrieve more goodies. Callie was right, Anne had told Mike to back off, and he’d listened. And hadn’t she meant it? Yes and no. Deep down she’d wanted him to prove that he would be there no matter what. Accept and love her, all of her, and that meant also loving her sweater sets and her blog persona.
The next few hours were a crazy mix of final touches and vendors coming and going. This party was on par with a wedding, and that meant the details were incredibly important. Anne looked over the garden and the outdoor bar once more. One end for the teenagers and one for the adults. Giant oak barrels were filled with ice and colored bottles of soda and beer. Servers were ready with trays of wine and a specialty pink mocktail made with pomegranate juice and ginger ale served in martini glasses and garnished with a lime twist. Anne knew the teenage girls would love them.
Thirty minutes later when the first few cars began to arrive, Anne’s stomach twisted into knots. Everything was ready, the band was playing some light jazz in the garden, but she had an overwhelming need to walk back through the barn and the main house to check each detail once more. Nothing was forgotten, down to the pink soap and lotion in the restroom. Conveniently the main house had a nice-sized restroom that could be easily accessed off the garden.
The barn was gorgeous with the chandeliers on and the lanterns being lit. She couldn’t help but think of all of the amazing parties and weddings she could plan in this space. On one side of the room Callie’s three-tiered cake was beautiful. After the Mustang was revealed, they would top it with the tiny fondant replica. It was a sixteen-year-old girl’s fantasy, and Anne was really proud of what she’d accomplished with this job.
The sound of revelry growing louder in the garden distracted Anne and made her smile. This party was going to be a hit. It was still empty in the main party room except for the catering staff prepping the food table and putting out water glasses, but everything was coming together and then some.
The large barn doors in back were still open a crack, and Anne glanced out to the empty patio. Mike was set to arrive in the next ten minutes. The plan was to have the partygoers come inside from the garden after cocktails, which would happen in about half an hour, and then Jessica would have a formal introduction on her father’s arm. At that point, the back doors would be opened and she would be able to see the car sitting outside against a beautiful backdrop of wheat field and early-evening blue sky. It would be a magical surprise.
If Anne was going to make herself scarce, now was the time to do it, but something was keeping her feet planted in place, looking out back toward the empty cement pad littered with pink geraniums.
As hard as she’d tried to avoid thinking about Mike the past few days, she missed him, and her desire to get even a peek of him almost won out. In the end she knew it would only cause sadness, and she needed to keep herself together this evening.
“I just got a call from Mike,” Dan Monser said, entering the barn from the front. Anne turned toward him, hoping her expression didn’t give her panic away. “He’s just now pulling into the drive and should be heading through the yard on the far side of the house as we planned.”
“Great, the flower pots are moved and ready for him to back his trailer right up to the cement. Will you direct him, or shall I?” What was she doing asking that question? She had no intention of seeing him tonight.
“No, no. I’ll do it. I have his final payment.”
“Perfect. I’ll leave it to the two of you.” She wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed, which was ridiculous. “I’ve marked the ideal parking spot with pink duct tape on the concrete right out the center doors.”
“Fantastic.”
Anne gave him a wink and turned toward the kitchen. It was better if she didn’t see Mike at all; she’d best get away before it was awkward.
“Oh, and Anne,” Dan said. She turned to face him. “I want to thank you. I was furious when the country club canceled on us. I never dreamed I could still give Jessica the party she wanted, but you’ve done it. It’s amazing, even better than it would have been because it’s totally her. Thank you.”
“You’re so very welcome. I’m ho
nored.”
With a smile he turned and walked outside. Anne heard the telltale rumble of an old beefed-up engine. Her heart nearly stopped at the sound, and she forced her feet to move. She cut right through the festivities in the garden and directly in to the main house. The owners, Joanne and Pete, were enjoying a lavish evening away in the city, on the Monsers’ dime of course.
Anne rushed into a second bathroom and stood in front of the mirror. Her little black dress was adorned with a pink belt to match the party. It was almost sad that she actually felt pretty tonight. Too bad there would be no one to appreciate it. Two deep breaths later she tried to collect herself.
She jumped when her hip vibrated and she pulled her cell phone out of the pocket in her dress. It was Lindsey, who was babysitting Claire at Anne’s house.
“Lindsey, hey, is Claire okay?”
“Anne, I’m so sorry to bother you tonight, but Marie’s apartment complex called. She was just taken into the emergency room. I’m not sure what’s wrong, but they wanted you to know.”
Anne’s stomach dropped. She glanced in the mirror and her face had gone pale. “Oh God. They didn’t say anything?”
“Just that she’s stable, but—”
“Never mind, it doesn’t matter, thank you.”
She disconnected, ran from the bathroom out into the garden, and found Callie refilling the pink sodas in a bucket. Her grin was wide until she saw Anne.
“What’s wrong?” Callie asked.
“It’s my mother, she was taken to the hospital. I need to go, but I can’t leave the party.”
“Yes, you can. Eric and I’ve got this, Anne. Go.”
She nodded. Without another thought she headed back to the barn to grab her purse, then hightailed to the far side of the house where she’d parked her car.
* * *
Mike was relieved to receive Dan’s approval of the finished Mustang. He knew it looked amazing, but hearing a client’s praises was the ultimate reward. He stood by while Dan inspected the new V8 in awe.
“As usual, your work is flawless, Mike. I’m really happy with this. I may have to borrow my daughter’s car,” Dan said with a chuckle.
“I don’t know, Dan, I think the color would make me hesitate to be caught behind the wheel.”
“Very true, but damn, she’s gonna love it,” Dan said as he lowered the hood carefully.
Mike was pleased with the money Dan had added onto the final balance, an extra three thousand just for the rush and inconvenience. He folded the check and put it in his back pocket as something caught his eye from the side of the house. There were no mistaking Anne’s curves in that black dress as she ran to her car.
“Excuse me, Dan.” Mike didn’t wait for a response before he took off after her. She was in heels, and the pitted yard slowed her. “Anne.”
She froze but didn’t immediately turn. Her body looked amazing in this dress, her trim waist accentuated with a bow, and the bottom skirt hugged her hips and rear so nicely he wanted to groan. Her hair was pulled into a low knot at the nape of her neck. She was like a sexy June Cleaver, and he wanted to touch her so bad it hurt.
“Anne, look at me.” He kept walking until they were only a car length away from each other. She turned slowly, barely meeting his gaze.
“Hi, Mike, I’m kind of in a hurry.”
And that was when he noticed her eyes were red and her skin pale; even her hands shook. He immediately went to her and grabbed both of them, holding them in his own. “Anne, what’s wrong?”
She didn’t pull away; for that he was grateful. “My mother was taken to the hospital. I have to go to her.”
Shit. “Let me take you.”
Her eyes widened as she looked up into his eyes, finally. “Oh no, I’ll drive myself.”
“No way, Anne—”
She pulled her hands from his grip. “I want to go alone.”
“It doesn’t have to mean anything, we don’t even have to talk, but I am driving you to the hospital.”
The worry and fear he saw in her eyes made his chest ache. She swallowed, and her shoulders visibly relaxed. He prayed that was a sign she was about to give in, because he’d pick her up and carry her to the hospital if he had to in order to keep her from driving while she was this upset.
“Okay,” she whispered with a slight nod and handed him her keys.
He grabbed her hand again and walked her around to the passenger side before he quickly went to the driver’s side. Carefully he maneuvered through the packed makeshift parking lot and pulled her car out onto the highway. He had an overwhelming urge to ask for her hand once more, just to hold some part of her, like all the times they’d done before, but he didn’t. He let her have her space. For now at least.
Twenty-Five
St. Agnes Hospital was only fifteen minutes away, but with the tension humming between them it felt like an eternity. Anne had already called and verified that her mother was in fact okay, but she was being monitored for a few different concerns, all of which were related to her diabetes and her kidneys.
Relaxing slightly, Anne remained quiet in the seat next to Mike. A few times she’d glanced at him from the corner of her eye. He looked amazing, his strong arm resting on the console between them in her car. If only she could go back in time, relive those few days of bliss they’d shared. But now things had been said that she couldn’t take back. She had cast doubt and insecurity into the relationship, and she feared it couldn’t be undone.
He dropped her off at the emergency room entrance, telling her to go on ahead, that he’d find her inside. Right away she discovered that Marie had already been moved to a regular room on the second floor, so Anne rushed to the elevator, hoping that was a good sign. They directed her to the end of the hall and she fought the urge to run, panic overtaking her. Right before she could burst into the room, she heard her mother laugh, the sound pulling her up short. Anne gently pushed the heavy door open, and a handsome young doctor looked her way.
“This must be your daughter, Marie. You were right, she is lovely.” He said then put his hand out. She didn’t miss the way his blue scrubs hugged his firm biceps. “Hello, I’m Dr. Nelson.”
Anne took his hand with a small tilt of her lips and then instinctively swiped under her eyes, fearing some of her earlier tears had streaked her mascara. When she turned toward her mother she found her looking surprisingly alert, but frail tucked into the hospital blanket and linked to an IV and monitor. Anne still sighed with relief upon seeing her mother’s smiling face. She went to her and grabbed her hand.
“Mom, you scared me to death. What’s happened?”
“Sweetie, you shouldn’t have rushed over here. I’m fine, just some swelling and my heart was beating a little too fast.”
“But—”
“Now, Marie,” Dr. Nelson interrupted. “You are fine, but this isn’t anything to brush off. Your blood pressure was extremely high, your blood sugar too low, and the swelling in your ankles would have been enough to let me know you’re not taking care of yourself.”
“Mom,” Anne said breathlessly. She turned to the doctor. “This is my fault, I’ve been too busy to check in properly, and I’ve asked her to help watch Claire too much this week. Oh, Mom, I’m so sorry.”
“Anne, don’t you dare apologize to me. It’s my job to help you.”
“Marie,” Dr. Nelson said, “I’m sure Anne wants you healthy more than anything, and at your age, with your recent health concerns, you really need to consider this a serious warning. I’ve just spoken with Dr. Timmons, and she informed me that the two of you have already discussed the likelihood of dialysis.”
Anne sighed. “Do you hear that, Mom? This is serious. No more coffee and I’m going to start doing the cooking on Monday night. No salt, no sugar, no carbs! You got it?”
“And no fun!” Marie said.
Anne felt tears start to roll down her face—from relief or fear she wasn’t sure, no doubt a mixture of both. She wasn’t ready to
lose her mother so soon, and definitely not when it could possibly be avoided with some lifestyle changes.
“She’ll do whatever she has to do, Dr. Nelson. We need her to be healthy,” Anne said.
“I know she will, she loves you and her granddaughter too much. She just needed to get this out of her system. Right, Marie?” he asked, his words more a demand than a question.
Marie nodded. “I hear ya, but I only agree because you’re rather handsome.”
Anne rolled her eyes and followed the doctor into the hall to have a few words. He gave her a little reassurance that her mother still had many happy years ahead of her, even on dialysis, but it was going to take some work on Marie’s part. Anne assured him that she would do what she could to help her mother.
“We’re keeping her overnight just to make sure the edema goes down and her levels all come back to normal. Unchecked, this could have quickly become dangerous. The fact that she alerted someone shows me that she knows that, she’s just struggling with it, which is normal. No one wants to accept that they’re getting older and their body is failing them. I’m sending in a nutritionist tomorrow morning, and Dr. Timmons will come by before we release her.”
“Thank you, Dr. Nelson, for everything. My mother needs to be pushed around a little bit,” Anne said.
He hesitated a moment, a nervous grin on his face. “I hope this didn’t pull you away from … a date … or anything?”
His words surprised her and she bit at her lip, completely unsure of what to say. “No, actually, I was working. I plan parties and tonight’s was a rather fancy sweet sixteen.”
“Ah, so that explains why you look so beautiful.”
A blush traveled up Anne’s cheeks. Dr. Nelson was certainly handsome … and a doctor. How much more perfect could it be, and yet he wasn’t the one for her at all, despite how flattering his flirting was. “Well thank you, Dr. Nelson, that’s very sweet.”
“Please, call me Gabe.”
“Oh well.…” She tucked her hands into the pockets of her dress. So they weren’t only for cell phones, but awkward moments as well. “Thank you, Gabe, for taking care of my mother.”
Start Me Up Page 24
