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  “Have you ever tried to find your mother?”

  “No. Bradley and I were led to believe—again, this was what our father told us—that she was leaving and that she did not even want us.”

  “That must’ve hurt like hell.”

  Thankfully, Vera was able to convince us otherwise most of the time; but she had to be careful what she said because we were little and might repeat it, and she would be fired. She could easily have found another job, but she refused to leave us.

  “He must have really hated your mother,” Sam said.

  “I think he hates all women. He has no respect for them. When I was older and realized how mean he could be at times, I thought of looking for her, but I had no idea how to go about it. And even though I knew my father had probably told us nothing but lies, I worried that she might have a new family, and, even if Bradley and I did find her, she might not want to see us.”

  Annie shook her head sadly. “And then we lost Bradley, and for a long time nothing really mattered. It was hard enough to just get out of the bed in the morning and put one foot in front of the other. I thought she would at least attend his funeral, if she was still alive.”

  “How do you know she didn’t?”

  “I think she would have made herself known to me. After all, I was an adult by then. Afterward, I realized she would not have had a chance because I did not leave my father’s side. He was inconsolable. I thought it might change him for the better, but he was consumed by anger. I should have left. I could have moved into a place of my own and started a new life. I could have gone to college. But I was afraid to leave him. Even though he was still angry and bitter, I thought he needed me. So I stayed. I kept myself busy so I wouldn’t have time to think. I did not realize I would still be with him almost ten years later. Then Eldon showed up. My father pushed us into getting engaged. I discovered in the meantime that every word that came out of Eldon’s mouth were lies; no wonder he and my father hit it off so quickly. I just wanted out.”

  They were quiet for a moment. “I know what it’s like to discover you aren’t really in love with the person you’re supposed to pledge your life to,” Sam said. “It’s like your oxygen supply is cut off; you’re constantly trying to find a way to get out of it.”

  “I thought you were jilted.”

  Sam shook his head. “The only reason I’m telling you this is because I understand what you’re going through.”

  “But why did you let everybody think she walked out on you?”

  “Guilt.”

  “Have you ever regretted your decision?”

  “Not even once. You’d probably enjoy a hot shower about now,” he said.

  “That sounds like a great idea,” she said. “I’m beat.”

  “I can give you a t-shirt and bathrobe,” he offered. “I can’t help you with the rest of, well, you know.”

  “No problem,” Annie said. “I do my laundry in the bathroom sink before I go to bed. And pray that it’s dry when I have to put it on the next morning.”

  Sam laughed. “I’ll show you to your room.”

  Annie followed him up a flight of stairs and down a spacious hallway. He pointed to a closed door. “That’s my room, in case you need something during the night.” Two doors down, he led her inside a pale blue bedroom with a mahogany sleigh bed. On each side, night tables held magazines and books. A fat comforter and oversized pillows in white looked inviting, and a floral settee and matching chair sat in front of the fireplace. An ornate mirror hung over the mantle.

  “It’s lovely,” Annie said.

  He nodded. “Lillian Calhoun decorated it,” he said. “I might let her do my room next. “There is a private bathroom through that doorway,” Sam said. “Hold on, I’ll be right back.”

  Annie spent a few minutes looking around. She would have enjoyed sprucing up the home she shared with her father, if only to soften the rooms a bit with new rugs and draperies. Her father did not like change, but that did not stop her from redecorating her bedroom, and turning what was called the “sewing room” into her office.

  Sam returned with a couple of t-shirts, and a navy bathrobe. “This should get you through the night,” he said. “Maybe you can take some of that tip money and buy a few things.” He paused. “Well, good night.”

  “Sam?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Thank you. And thanks for listening. I didn’t mean to talk your ear off.”

  “You’re going to be okay, Annie.” He exited the bedroom without another word.

  Chapter Six

  “. . . so you see, I couldn’t very well go through with it now, could I? I mean marriage is hard enough without marrying someone you wish would fall into a pit of quicksand and sink to the bottom. Am I right?” Annie took a sip of her coffee.

  “You did the right thing, dear.” Martha Fender sat across from Annie at the kitchen table, a pair of wire-framed glasses perched at the end of her nose as she let the hem out in Annie’s uniform. Martha had tossed it in the washer while Annie took another hot shower, which explained why she was still wearing Sam’s bathrobe which was so large she had to hold it up so it wouldn’t drag on the floor. She was reminded of her wedding dress.

  “My father wanted me to marry a banker’s son,” Martha said, as Annie drank her coffee and nibbled on a slice of toast, “but my heart belonged to a mechanic. We ended up eloping.”

  “How romantic,” Annie said.

  “We never had much when it came to material things, and I had to work all my life cleaning other folks’ houses, but I wouldn’t have changed a thing. We had three beautiful children and almost forty years of happiness.” She paused and looked up. “My Albert died of a sudden heart attack two years ago.”

  “I’m so sorry. I’ll bet you miss him terribly.”

  “Oh, yes. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. And I thank the Lord that He gave me a good man. Not every woman is blessed to have a good helpmate by her side.”

  “You’re absolutely right,” Annie said, “which is why I’m not sure I’ll ever marry.”

  “Oh, but dear, you’re still young. You have your whole life before you. Don’t you want children?”

  “Yes, I’ve always wanted a big family. But after living with a domineering father, I fear I might unconsciously choose someone with his traits. That happens, you know.”

  “Would you like to know a secret, Annie?”

  “Sure.”

  “Okay, get ready because it might be life-altering.” Martha smiled.

  Annie leaned closer. “Do tell.”

  “We teach people how to treat us.”

  Annie straightened in her chair and regarded the woman. “I never once considered that,” she said, “but, again, you’re right. I did not stand up for myself because it was all I knew. I’ll bet if I had carried a big board with me and knocked him over the head every time he opened his mouth he would have learned to shut up. You think?”

  She and Martha looked at each other, and the next thing Annie knew they were howling with laughter.

  In the next room, Sam tried to ignore the conversation and concentrate on the news program he was watching. But there was no ignoring Annie. He discovered right away that when she was around, his eyes and ears were fixed solely on her. He wasn’t sure what that meant. Perhaps it was merely a physical attraction. No surprise there, since she was both bright and pretty. But there were parts of her personality that warmed him. Annie Hartford never met a stranger, it seemed. She’d already won over his moody housekeeper, simply by being herself.

  “A horse whip would have accomplished the same thing,” Annie said, “and would not be as burdensome to carry around, nor would I risk getting splinters in my hand.”

  Martha wiped tears from her eyes. “Are you always like this?” the woman asked.

  “Yes,” Sam called back. “She never shuts up. And when she’s not talking she’s breaking dishes.”

  Annie leaned close to Martha. “I could probably
use a horsewhip about now.”

  “I heard that,” Sam said.

  “I’d better hush,” Annie whispered. “If he fires me I won’t be able to buy underwear.”

  Martha shook her head, but she was still chuckling. “There now,” she said, biting the thread and holding the uniform up for inspection. “You’ve got a good two inches added to the length.”

  “Thank you, Martha,” Annie said. “You don’t know how relieved I am. Of course, my tips are likely to suffer. Darla says the shorter the dress the bigger the tips.” She winked. “I don’t know how Darla avoids frostbite in the winter.”

  “I’m glad you’ll be moving into Lillian Calhoun’s garage apartment,” the woman said. “Darla Jenkins is a sweet girl, mind you,” she added, “but she’s a little wild for my tastes.”

  “You know what I think?” Annie said. “I think Darla wanted people to think she was going out all the time and having fun so they wouldn’t feel sorry for her. When I was looking through her closet to find something to wear, there were so many books stacked up on the floor that she could have started her own library. I noticed a book on her night stand as well.”

  “Well, bless her heart,” Martha said. “All this time she has been pretending to be somebody she’s not.”

  In the next room, Sam was frowning as he recalled his conversation with Darla about going to bed with a good book once in a while. He would never have guessed she was trying to save face after Bo was hauled off to jail. If Darla partied as hard as she led people to believe, she would never be able to work as hard or stay as sharp as she did. He felt bad that he had not thought of it, but it gave him a new respect for her.

  Martha smiled. “You know what I think, Annie. I think you are very wise for someone who hasn’t turned thirty yet. You’re going to do well for yourself. By the way, I’ll be glad to come over and help you clean your new place.”

  “That’s very sweet, Martha, but I’ll let you in on a little secret. I’ll bet that apartment doesn’t have a speck of dust in it. That’s just Lillian’s way of trying to help without hurting my pride. I can’t wait until I can do something nice for her.”

  Sam shook his head and took another sip of his coffee. What was it about Annie that automatically drew people to her? He had to admit she was the most open person he’d ever met, and she genuinely cared about others. Unlike her father, he thought.

  Still . . . Sam wondered if Annie might return home if she got over her mad spell. She was used to the good life. She did not carry trays and clean tables; people did it for her. How long would she be content to live in a garage apartment when she could easily return home to a mansion and a life of luxury?

  He was going to have to steer clear of Annie before he did something stupid like fall in love with her.

  #

  “Oh, Lillian, it’s absolutely adorable!”

  “You really like it?”

  “I love it.”

  The two women were standing in the living room of Lillian’s garage apartment. Lillian had pulled the dustcovers from the furniture, and Annie was amazed that everything looked brand-new. A massive coffee table sat in the center of the room, piled high with books and magazines. “It’s so cozy,” she said. “I can imagine sitting in that antique rocker reading a good book.”

  “I decorated it for my friend, Mildred, when she came to live here several years ago after her husband died,” Lillian said. “She absolutely refused to live in my house—said two women under one roof was one too many.” Lillian suddenly looked sad. “Then, last year, all of a sudden she was gone. I miss her.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” Annie said. “Was it a peaceful passing?”

  Lillian gave Annie an odd look before she burst into laughter. “Oh, she isn’t dead. She met a retired stockbroker at the bingo parlor, and it was love at first sight. She crammed everything she could into one small suitcase, and they took off in his RV to see the country. I get postcards now and then. I expect to receive a wedding announcement one of these days.”

  “That’s wonderful. You must have a very youthful mother.”

  Lillian nodded. “I’m happy as long as she’s happy.” She motioned to the large bay window at the front of the apartment. “Kazue made all the window treatments and bedspreads. There’s one bedroom and a bath and a half. You should have plenty of room,” she added.

  “It’s perfect,” Annie said, “and I promise to take very good care of it.”

  “Oh, honey, I don’t doubt that for a minute.”

  “I’m prepared to pay you the first week’s rent.”

  “No way,” Lillian said. “Our agreement was you’d get the first week free in exchange for cleaning it.”

  “But it’s not dirty.”

  “Oh, it needs dusting and sweeping and mopping. I noticed some cobwebs in the bedroom.”

  “Cobwebs? Oh, my, that’ll take me all of thirty seconds.”

  “And you’ll want to scrub the bathrooms since they haven’t been used in a while. You should find cleansers beneath the sink, as well as various supplies Mildred left behind, most of them unopened. And there’s a stackable washer and dryer in the storage closet just off the kitchen.”

  “Not that I’ll need that right away,” Annie said, laughing. “This is the only outfit I have to my name at the moment. I was wondering if there’s a Salvation Army store or Goodwill in town. I need to pick up a few things.”

  “Honey, we can do better than that.” Lillian checked her watch. “What time do you have to be at work?”

  “Eleven-thirty.”

  “That gives us two hours. Let’s go.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  Annie followed Lillian out of the apartment and down the stairs. “Go ahead and get into my car,” Lillian said. “I’m just going to grab my purse and lock up.”

  They were on their way in minutes. Annie was delighted to get a closer look at the small town. She smiled when they passed the community college. “I plan to enroll first thing in the morning,” she told Lillian.

  “Good for you. Kazue says you can use one of her bicycles for as long as you need it. Shoot, she’d give it to you if you wanted it.”

  “Uh-oh, I just thought of something,” Annie said. “I hope I don’t run into problems registering because I have no identification,” she said, wishing she had grabbed her purse before she left the church. “I probably already have one strike against me for enrolling late.”

  “Let me know if they give you a hard time in admissions,” Lillian said. She chuckled. “I know everybody who works there, and I dare them to give my new friend any grief.”

  Annie felt a surge of joy that Lillian already considered her a friend. They arrived at the Second-Time-Around Shop a few minutes later. Lillian parked her car. “Believe it or not, we have a few well-to-do ladies in Pinckney who wouldn’t think of wearing the same outfit twice. They donate their clothes here because all the proceeds go to the women’s shelter. I’ve heard you can buy an entire wardrobe for less than fifty dollars. I’ve never shopped here personally, you understand. I mean, the last thing I want is to run into one of those snooty old biddies from the ladies’ club, wearing her linen suit. Know what I mean?” She laughed. “I’d have to go out of town to wear them.” She paused before going inside. “Now, let me do all the talking because I know how things are done in this town.”

  “Oh, good,” Annie said. “I get to see a real pro at work.”

  They stepped inside and a well-dressed woman with white hair smiled at them. “Elaine, meet my new friend, Annie,” Lillian said. “I insist that you give her the best possible deal or I’m going to spread awful rumors about you around town.” Lillian winked at Annie.

  “Nice to meet you, dear,” Elaine said, shaking Annie’s hand. She turned to Lillian. “I’m so glad you’re back. You know that teal suit you were admiring on Marion Jones at the Christmas bazaar.” She glanced around as if to make sure there was no one e
lse in the shop. “She brought it in last week. Just five minutes after you left,” she added. “And it’s in A-one condition.”

  Lillian gave Annie a sheepish smile. “Well, I may have come in once or twice,” she muttered out of the side of her mouth. “But we’ll let that be our little secret.”

  Annie grinned, found her size, and began flipping through the racks. She was surprised but delighted to find the clothes in such good condition. An hour later, she followed Lillian out of the shop carrying three plastic bags and a good start on her new wardrobe: two pairs of jeans, several cotton shirts, and a lightweight jacket. She’d also picked up a couple of nightgowns, and a pair of sneakers that looked as though they’d come right off the rack. Lillian carried a sack as well; it contained the almost new teal suit.

  They climbed into Lillian’s car. “I’ll have my seamstress jazz the suit up a bit,” Lillian whispered as though she feared someone had bugged her car and would find out what she had done. “Add teal satin to the collar and lapels, change the buttons, add a kick-pleat in the back, and Marion Jones will never suspect it was her suit.”

  Annie had already decided she would do her shopping at the second hand store from that point on. “I need to make one quick stop if you don’t mind,” she told her shopping partner. “I have to pick up socks and lingerie. And maybe a little makeup so I don’t scare people.”

  “That’s not likely to happen with your complexion, dear.” Two minutes later they pulled in front of a Kmart. Annie hurried in to get what she needed while Lillian stepped into the book store next door. When they arrived home, Annie was touched to find Kazue had already dropped off a bicycle and left a nice note.

  “Check out the giant front basket,” Annie said. “It looks to be about two feet wide. A person could easily fit a thirty pound dog in it. Not that I’m planning to get a dog,” she added quickly since Lillian was now her landlady.

  “That is an industrial sized basket,” Lillian said, “the kind paperboys used at one time. It’ll be perfect for lugging books and groceries.”