by Iris Bolling
“I did.” Monica smiled.
“How long did it take you?” Chrystina asked.
“Once we selected the material,” she shrugged, “A few weeks.”
“I’m a pretty healthy girl,” Chrystina advised. “Do you think I would be able to get something like this?”
“Sure. Hand me the phone.” They gave the phone back to Monica. She scrolled through the phone a little longer, then gave the phone back to Chrystina. “This is another bride I helped.”
Chrystina and AnnieMarie gasped. “Okay. I’m convinced Mrs. Michael. When can we start?” Chrystina beamed.
“Start what?” Aunt Viv asked as she walked through the door with her husband Ken.
“Aunt Viv,” AnnieMarie held her arms out for a hug. “Myles and Christina have set a date for their wedding.”
“Congratulations,” Viv hugged Chrystina as Ken shook Myles’ hand.
“When is the date?” Ken asked.
“A month from now.” Myles replied. “We have no reason to wait any longer.”
“Where will the wedding be?” Viv asked. “You know places are selected a year in advance these days. You’re about eleven months behind the eight ball.”
“Until we walked in the door, we hadn’t planned out anything,” Chrystina laughed. “In less than thirty minutes, I have a dress designer and wedding coordinators.”
“The Estate,” AnnieMarie suggested. “It has a huge garden if you want to do outdoors and two ballrooms if you want to do inside.”
“And that gorgeous staircase,” Viv added. “I think that would be perfect. We will have to really look at the condition of it since Walker lived there, but the space is certainly large enough for up to six hundred guests.”
“Oh,” Chrystina waved her off, “We won’t have that many people.”
Myles raised an eyebrow, as did Winnie.
“Yeah you will,” AnnieMarie giggled. “As to the upkeep, I was there last night. A few cosmetic things need to be done, but the house is in pretty good condition.” She turned to her Aunt Viv. “In fact, that’s why I asked you over here.”
“That is our cue to leave,” Myles stated.
“Mrs. Michael may I call you later today to set an appointment to discuss a dress?”
“Please do,” Monica replied as she stood. “I will get some ideas together for you.” She ran up the back staircase.
“Thank you,” Chrystina waved as she and Myles were walking out. “We’ll talk to everyone later.”
“Okay, young lady,” Viv looked at AnnieMarie, as she took Monica’s vacated seat. “What about the estate?”
“What are you planning on doing with the estate?” AnnieMarie asked.
Viv and Ken glanced at each other. Viv cleared her throat then looked at Winnie. “I was thinking about putting it on the market. There are so many great memories there, but some overwhelming ones as well. Walker and Hepburn were a part of those memories. Ken and I talked about it and we know we are not interested in living there. The girls, well, they aren’t interested in the estate.” She shrugged. “I was going to talk with you about it before we did anything, Winnie.”
“It’s your parents’ home,” Winnie took her hand. “You don’t have to get my okay to do anything with it.”
“You are…were Hepburn’s wife. I would not do anything without checking with you. Myles is about to get married, maybe he would like to move in there.”
“No,” AnnieMarie jumped into the conversation. “I would like to buy the estate.”
Viv frowned. “That place is huge AnnieMarie,” she glanced at Ken. “At least ten thousand square feet.” She shook her head in disbelief. “You would get lost in that place.”
“No Aunt Viv, I wouldn’t. I know every inch of that house. From the attic down to the basement. I know how grandfather changed the filters in the furnace. Hell, it will be one of the first things I replace when I move in. I hate those filters. I love that house Aunt Viv. I want to buy it, now. I’m willing to do a straight cash purchase.”
“AnnieMarie the house is going to sell for millions,” her Uncle Ken said.
“Uncle Ken, I did an internet search last night. I know the market value for the property. I am willing to pay that plus ten percent more. I want Dunning Estate.”
Ken and Viv gazed at each other. “Well, we aren’t going to ask you to pay any extra, AnnieMarie,” Ken said as his gaze slowly moved from his wife to AnnieMarie. “We have discussed putting it on the market,” he shrugged then turned back to his wife. “It’s your property, Viv. What do you think?”
“If you need time to think about it Viv,” Winnie smiled as she patted Aunt Viv’s hand. “Take it. This was your family home.”
“It is,” Aunt Viv said. “But I don't need time to think about it.” She looked at Ken. “Did we get the keys back from Jerome?”
“Yes, he dropped them off this morning,” Ken replied.
“Give the keys to AnnieMarie,” she smiled at her. “I’d rather see family in it than strangers.”
AnnieMarie jumped up with a squeal. “Yes, oh my God. Thank you Aunt Viv.” She beamed at her Uncle Ken. “How soon can we do the paperwork?”
Ken smiled at her. “As soon as I get back to the office, I’ll begin the process. Whatever the market price is we’ll take it.”
AnnieMarie hugged her Uncle. “Thank you, so much.” She turned to her Aunt Viv. “I promise to care for it with the knowledge that this is a part of our legacy.”
Viv smiled at her. “I know you will AnnieMarie. I know how much the estate means to you.”
Winnie turned to Daisy. “I think we have something to celebrate. Daisy, let’s open a bottle of champagne.”
“We don’t have any,” came Daisy’s dry response.
“Of course we do, Daisy. If not open a bottle of wine.” Winnie laughed.
“I have plans Aunt Viv,” AnnieMarie started talking, sharing her plans with her aunt.
Daisy poured glasses of champagne for everyone, but did not participate in the celebration. A few hours later, Ken and Viv left to get the paperwork drawn up for the transfer of the estate. Winnie was closing the door behind AnnieMarie who left to go to the office.
Daisy waited until she and Winnie were alone. As soon as the door closed she spoke. “AnnieMarie cannot live in that house alone, Winnie.”
“You have been against this since AnnieMarie brought it up this morning. What’s with you?”
“I’m not against it,” Daisy said as she began putting things away. “It’s a big damn house. That girl will be in there by herself. Aren’t any of you concerned about her being there alone? What if the people after that Scott boy find out about her? None of you considered they may come after her to get to him? ”
“She’s not moving in there right away,” Winnie nodded. “Renovations have to be done before she can officially move in.”
“Did you not see the excitement in that child’s eyes, Winnie. That girl is going to move as soon as she has the keys in her hands.”
“Well, we know how to secure the house, Daisy. We can put a team in place there just like we have you and Jerome here. She is going to be just fine.”
“Maybe once the Scott issue is over, it will be okay. But right now, I am concerned with her being there alone.”
Daisy could only hope that Winnie was buying the explanation she was giving. There was no way she could tell her that it wasn’t a good idea for AnnieMarie to be fumbling around in that house. There were family secrets that needed to stay secret.
CHAPTER 13
“Phillip would you contact Preston Long’s office to see if I could get ten minutes of his time?” She rushed by him, as he followed her into the office. “Also, contact Lynn Sterling’s office. I’m going to need to make a large withdrawal from my personal account.”
“Why do you have to talk to Risk Management to make a withdrawal?”
“Risk Management reviews all large withdrawals from dormant accounts.” She thought f
or a moment. “I honestly cannot think of the last time I withdrew anything.”
“Why are you now?” Phillip asked as he took his seat in front of her desk.
AnnieMarie smiled as she sat down. “You will be the first to know, well outside of family. I’m buying a house.”
“What? Where?” He beamed.
“Dunning Estate.”
She laughed at his stunned expression. “You are buying the mansion?”
“Yes,” she beamed.
“Think of the parties you can host there. Congratulations.”
“I could jump your bones right now. But I am your boss so I will refrain from doing that.”
“I won’t tell if you don’t,” Phillip laughed.
“Everyone else keeps telling me the place is too big for me to live in by myself.”
“Listen, if all goes well with the Cainan situation, I suspect you will not be there alone for long.”
“I have no idea how that situation is going to work out,” she sighed. “If he is able to testify, they find everyone charged guilty, Cainan may want to stay with his family. He may not want to come back here.”
Phillip stood. “Yeah, right,” He laughed. “I will get with Mr. Sterling and Mr. Long and let you know when they are both free. I will also find an interior decorator.”
“And a general contractor. I plan on doing a few renovations. Oh and…and….”
“There is more?” He laughed.
“Yes, I need you to find Gina Price. Myles and Christina set a wedding date for the end of next month. I really want to convince them the house will be ready for it.”
“You’re planning on having the wedding at the mansion?”
She beamed. “That’s the plan.”
“That will be an aggressive schedule. I better get on it.”
“Wait,” she stared up at him. “Yeah right what?”
“Excuse me?”
“Earlier you said yeah right when I talked about Cainan not coming back.”
He huffed. “This is friend to friend, not boss to subordinate. You’re a damn fool if you think Cainan is not coming back for your prissy ass. Okay, we’re back to boss, subordinate.”
“I’m not as sure as you are, but we’ll see.” She shrugged. “Get going. We have a wedding to put together.”
AnnieMarie watched as Phillip walked out of the office. In her heart she had to hold on to two simple facts; Cainan would prevail in this trial and he would come back to her.
“Mr. Sterling is on line one,” Phillip’s voice came through the intercom.
“Thank you.” She pushed thoughts of Cainan from her mind as she picked up the phone. “Lynn hi. Thank you for making time for me. I am about to buy a house. I’d like to pay cash for it, no mortgage. The cost is going to be significant, but the good news is the transfer is amongst family. Tell me how I should handle this.”
$ $ $
“Preston,” AnnieMarie knocked on his office door, then opened it and walked in. “I see you are about to move into your new office. Are you excited?”
“AnnieMarie, come on in,” Preston said as he glanced up. “Excited, nervous, there are a few more adjectives I could add.”
“Allow me, prepared,” She smiled. “You have been working your way through the bank for as long as I can remember. I remember when Grace announced the Director of PR position. Even though I knew I had the skills, knew the bank inside and out, I had doubts. Could I live up to the Family Integrity First and Foremost motto? Did I have what it took to represent the bank to the world the way the family needed me to? The questions went on for months.” She shrugged, “At times, like now, I still have doubts. But I know with family behind us, we are going make it.”
“Family,” Preston exhaled. “It is a lot to handle with everything that is happening with my mom. The thought of what she did,” he shook his head. “It’s all a little overwhelming.”
AnnieMarie nodded in understanding. “I can certainly relate to that,” she said as she took a seat. “The situation with you and your mom and me with Cainan can delay our growth with the bank if we let it. I choose not to. What about you?”
Preston leaned against his desk, crossing his legs at the ankles. “How do you do it?” Preston asked. “How do you always have a positive spin on all the crazy that is happening around here?”
“Honestly, I shut out the noise. Some may say I live in my own reality. They are not wrong. I plan what I want to accomplish in the morning then set out to get it done. If situations come up, I handle them then continue with my plan.”
“How do you shut out the noise?”
“Create my own.” AnnieMarie smiled. “Have you ever noticed the way I dress?”
Preston laughed out loud. “You walk around here every day dressed like a 1950’s movie star, with your four inch heels, A-line dresses and elbow length gloves.”
“That’s my noise,” AnnieMarie smiled. “When I walk into a room of people who don’t know me, the noise becomes about me. To be honest, I don’t do it for the attention. I happen to love the style of the 50’s. For women, the clothes were so feminine. They designed clothes to show off a woman’s natural figure and I love that.”
“Not into the women’s movement?”
“Don’t get me wrong, I want all the rights and more. But there is no reason I can’t get that and look good too.”
Preston laughed. “You definitely do that. You and Gina have a way of wearing clothes that brings out your best assets, that’s for sure.”
“Really.” AnnieMarie sat forward. “Gina?” She raised a questioning eyebrow.
“Uh… it’s not like that,” Preston said as he walked back around his desk. “Listen, Phillip mentioned you needed to ask me about something personal.”
“Well, I just did and you shut me down,” AnnieMarie said as she waved off the topic. “I will not ask anything more about Gina, but I do need your help with a touchy issue.”
“What is it?”
“My mother mentioned that she noticed some family art pieces in your mother’s house when she was there.” She watched his reaction to determine how to proceed.
“My mother has quite a few art pieces,” he replied. “But I had no idea any of them are family pieces.”
“From what I’ve been told, Uncle Walker moved the pieces into your mother’s home.”
“Did he give them to her?”
“I don’t know.” AnnieMarie shrugged. “If he did, they belong to her.”
“I can ask her about them.”
“No, your mother is dealing with enough. Do you think you could take me to her house to see if there is any of the art from the family estate? I know this seems terribly insensitive, but I’m buying the estate and would like to put it back together as I remember it.”
“You bought the estate?”
“Well, I’m in the process of buying it,” She giggled. “I’m really excited about it.”
“Congratulations. It’s good that it will be staying in the family.”
“There are some updates that I will have to do, but I plan to make it my forever home.”
“You and Cainan?”
AnnieMarie sighed. “I don’t know. He has the situation up north to handle.”
Preston stood then walked back around the desk to where she stood. “Whatever is happening, I believe you two will work things out. Don’t let petty things stop you from happiness.”
“Can I offer you the same advice. I’m not saying your mother’s situation is petty, far from it. Be there for her, but please, please don’t let it stop you from living your life. Preston you are a young handsome, debonair man. I never met your mother. But I know she loves you. I’m sure she wants to see you happy.”
“I’m dealing with a lot, but I’m okay.”
AnnieMarie glared at him. “Are you getting any?”
“Excuse me?” Preston stood.
“We’re cousins, right? So that means I can get into your business now.”
&nbs
p; “No, it does not mean that,” he walked back around his desk.
“So the desk is your barrier, huh.” She smiled. “Every time I say something that makes you uncomfortable you go behind your desk. Like you are putting up a barrier between you and me.” She almost laughed at his expression. “So are you getting any?”
“Yes….no….None of your business.” He smirked.
“You know you have a large family now. You are a part of the Dunning clan. Get ready for the family functions, holidays and all of us getting into your business.” She walked towards the door. “We’ll give you time to adjust, but don’t think for a moment that we are going to leave you alone. It’s not in the Dunning’s DNA.” She opened the door. “When can we get together to check out the pictures?”
Preston opened the door for her to leave. “Tomorrow afternoon works for me.”
Gina walked up just as he completed the statement.
“I will appreciate it.” AnnieMarie stated then turned to Gina. “Good morning, Gina, have you spoken to Chrystina this morning?”
“Not yet,” Gina replied as she glanced from Preston to AnnieMarie.
“Well, when you do drop by to see me so we can chat,” AnnieMarie smiled as she walked away. “Thanks for the chat, Preston.”
“Anytime,” he replied then motioned Gina into the room. “Good morning, Gina. You are looking lovely as always.”
“Yes I am. You have plans with AnnieMarie tomorrow? Aren’t you two cousins or something?”
“Yes, we are. I’m still getting used to that knowledge,” he pointed to a chair in front of his desk. “Tell me something, Gina. What are your plans here at Dunning?”
“At the moment my plan is to determine why you are going out with your cousin?”
Preston sat back. “She wants to see some art work that is at my mother’s house.”
“Why?”
Preston cleared his throat, still felling somewhat self-conscious about the fact that his mother not only deceived him all his life, but actually killed Hepburn Dunning. Yes, he knew she was under the devious influence of Walker Dunning but it did not change the facts to him. “It seems, that night my mother was arrested, Mrs. Dunning noticed some of the art work that belonged to the family estate.”
