“Have another hit, baby and relax. I’ll come get you later.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead and Annika suddenly realized Rhys never kissed her on the mouth outside of sex. A warning rang out in her mind but before she allowed it to escalate, she reached across and put another line of powder in her nose. The burn of the substance was different and instantly, Annika was rendered almost paralyzed by the drug. Rhys’ grin widened as she sat back against the pillows.
“What do you think of that?” he asked as she began to float away. Her expression must have answered his question.
“What…is…it?” Annika heard her voice ask. Rhys turned for the door but flashed her one of his incredible smiles before exiting.
“Heroin. But don’t worry – only the highest grade for my baby.”
Chapter Six: It’s My Own Fault
Rhys had not been home in five days. He had not called, texted or emailed. The small stash of drugs was gone, flushed down the toilet since the day he had walked out the door. Trevor (or was it Travis?) had knocked on the door but his arrival had been unreceived despite the fact that Annika had been there, shivering, sweating, vomiting and scratching imaginary cockroaches off her face. She forced herself to drink water, glass after glass, all day and all endless night. She had not eaten a morsel but that would come later. First she needed to get the junk out of her system. She dared not call room service because she did not want to see anyone, especially the designated delivery kid who might have been bearing a joint. I need to do this alone. As the symptoms escalated, Annika had reached for the phone more than once to call Dickie but she, by some miracle force of will, stopped herself. His last words rang in her ears and it was enough to sober her up. By the third day, when it became clear that Rhys was gone for good, Annika made an impulsive decision and hurled the cell phone off the balcony. I need to do this alone. I have to get to get used to doing things alone.
It was now the fifth day and Annika was able to stand and walk around. She was weak and desperately needed food but the sweats and shaking had minimized considerably. She forced herself into the shower for the first time in over a week and sat in the tub as the water washed over her. She scrubbed every inch of her frail body and inspected the bruises and cuts she had acquired while in her haze. How the hell did this happen? How could you let this happen? No man is every good enough to reduce you to this. But here you are, you stupid, stupid girl. Annika was also self-aware enough to know that this was her own doing. It was not Rhys. She had put herself out there out of desperation and she had attracted the worst kind of predator. Dickie had been right all along. The day Rhys had left, she had tried to call ABC Music Studios to hunt him down but no one had ever heard of him.
After that reality hit home, the street smart, worldly Annika slowly began to resurface from whatever place it had been hibernating and she knew that she would come out of this alive and it would make her tougher and wiser. So she fought day by painful day and her perseverance paid off.
As she finished in the shower, there was a knock on the suite door. Prepared to ignore it, Annika let the towel drop and she examined her figure in the full length mirror in the bedroom and made a list. She was sickly thin, her complexion almost transparent and there was no life in her once gutsy irises. Food, exercise, water. That’s what I need. I need two weeks and I will be okay. Not great. But better than I am at this moment. She tried to smile but it was too soon for that. Suddenly, the door to the suite opened. In spite of herself, Annika’s heart skipped a beat.
“Rhys?” she called out. An older woman wearing a shirt emblazoned with the Four Seasons insignia walked into the room with a feather duster and froze as she saw Annika standing naked before her. She gasped and retreated, apologizing profusely.
“The Do Not Disturb sign is on the door!” Annika yelled after her retreating frame, her nerves as taut as her concaved stomach. She threw a robe on and ran to confront the housekeeper. The woman was scrolling through a clipboard frantically, looking pale.
“I am so sorry, miss! It shows on my schedule that this suite had checked out!” the woman babbled, still flipping through the papers. Then she tossed it under Annika’s chin so the irate redhead could read the paper.
“That must be a mistake,” Annika said slowly. In her heart, however, she knew what had happened. Rhys had checked out of the room so she would vacate and he would never have to deal with her again. That heartless asshole! She smiled weakly at the red faced cleaner.
“Can you just give me a few minutes to gather my things?” Annika asked politely. She nodded vigorously, appearing relieved that there would be no argument.
“I will come back later, miss. I am so sorry to have walked in on you!” Annika closed the door and leaned back heavily, struggling not to cry. Collecting herself, she slowly dropped the robe and headed toward the bedroom. She emptied out one of Rhys’ abandoned suitcases and started to throw her own items into it, gathering only the most sensible clothing and toiletries. She stared wistfully at some of the pairs of shoes she was leaving behind but she turned and continued on her mission. No need for stilettos now. She entered the bathroom and picked up her toothbrush and deodorant, pausing to look at the items on the counter. She picked up the piece of plastic on the edge of the sink. It wasn’t clear anymore, the liquid had bled through, skewing the initial reading but she knew what the outcome had been; two lines on the test meant she was pregnant. Pregnant with the child of a man she never knew in the most basic way. The impact of the situation suddenly seized her, knocking the wind out of her abruptly and she doubled over. She had spent all of her energy on getting clean and not thinking of anything else. Now she was homeless, pregnant and completely broke. She caught her breath and began tearing through Rhys’ belongings, looking for money. She found three hundred and seven dollars, a pair of two carat diamond cuff links and a platinum wedding band. Annika felt her jaw lock. Like a heavy, soaking wet blanket had suddenly been yanked off her shoulders, the old Annika materialized in its entirety, reclaiming her skin. She remembered the night she had moved into Dickie’s, just after Kevin had left him. Before she could exercise any self-control, her hand was swiping lamps onto the floor with a smash. She whipped those new heels against the mirrors, causing them to shatter explosively. Seven years of bad luck a piece? I guess that’s another lifetime then. She ripped pillows to shreds. When she felt as if she had expelled all of her fury, she dusted herself off and stepped over the chaos she had created and into the hallway. The housekeeper, who had clearly heard the commotion, was standing by the elevator nonchalantly but Annika could feel her watchful stare and she rolled the large suitcase across the hall. Annika paused in front of the lady and held out her hand. Warily, the woman extended her hand to accept whatever Annika was handing her.
“This is for you,” Annika told her, dropping the diamond cuff links into the woman’s extended palm. “I’m sorry about the mess but I hope you will find this to be enough for your time. Let the hotel’s insurance figure out the damage. Sell these and keep the money for yourself.” Before the woman could respond, Annika boarded the elevator and was gone.
Chapter Seven: Midnight Train to Georgia
The entire town reeked of desperation. Is this even a town? Annika stood in the general store which doubled as the bus depot and tried to scrunch up her nose in distaste. You’re in no position to judge anything. She looked around the lonely building and swatted a fly away from her face. She had no idea why she had chosen this place of all places. Well she did but she was questioning her reasoning as the reality shattered the illusion. I shouldn’t have come here. I’ll hop on a bus out of here tomorrow and go somewhere else. But she knew she had nowhere to go. No one was waiting for her. This was the closest thing she had to “somewhere” and it wasn’t even hers.
“Kin I help ya, miss?” Annika turned to face an elderly man, leaning for support against the cash counter. He looked the quintessential farmer, shocking white, scraggly hair, a scruff about his face, coveralls
and a straw hat to boot. Annika blushed, embarrassed. She really had no reason to be in the store but to collect her thoughts and formulate a plan. She would have gone to sit in a Starbucks but she highly doubted the hamlet had even heard the name, let alone housed one. She smiled briefly and shook her head.
“No I – actually, yes, please. Are there any cheap hotels around here?” The shopkeeper looked her up and down disapprovingly, taking in her lovely face but dusty appearance and low cut top.
“This ain’t that kind of town, miss,” he responded coldly. It took Annika a moment to understand what he was thinking before she went pale.
“No! NO! I am just not from around here and I have nowhere to stay. I just need a place to stay until I find an apartment.” The man lost his stony look and grinned sheepishly.
“I’m sorry, darlin’. I thought…never ya mind. If ya need a room, my daughter has a big house on Willow Drive. She’s lookin’ ta rent out one of her rooms since her good fer nothin’ husband ain’t workin’. I kin take ya over there. The rent ain’t bad.” Annika blinked at his unexpected offer.
“I-well I can wait if you want to call her and see if the room is still for rent.”
“Nah, it’s fer rent. Lemme just tell my wife we’re goin’. Be right back in a jiffy.”
This sure isn’t the city, Annika thought as she watched the old timer shuffle into to the back of the store. A moment later, he returned, whistling. Annika had the surreal feeling she was in a movie. Real people don’t live and act like this.
“Well, come on, chickie! It ain’t that far.” He came around the counter and took hold of Annika’s rolling suitcase. She was stunned by the gesture.
“I can take that!” she said, hurrying after him. He was feet ahead of her, walking a pace unexpected for his feeble looking presence.
“Ya ain’t one of them feminism broads, is ya? Won’t let a man do nothin’ fer her? I kin do this. Ya look like ya been travelin’ fer ten days. I kin do this.”
Annika was uncharacteristically moved by his kindness and she felt tears spring to her eyes. Stupid goddamn hormones!
“Thank you, sir,” she choked, quickly brushing the salty water from her eyes before he noticed them. He guffawed.
“I ain’t no ‘sir’ chickie dee. The name’s Lou. Lou Bradley James. Kin ya handle that?” Annika nodded.
“Thank you, Lou,” she said. She was almost running to keep up with his brisk stride.
“So whatcha doin’ here? Ya don’ look much like ya belong here.”
“My friend grew up here and I wanted a change of pace from the city,” Annika replied honestly.
“Who’s yer friend?”
“Richard Robinson.” Lou laughed again.
“Well I’ll be a pig’s uncle! Little Dickie! How is that kid? I always liked that child. Even though he liked the boys. Ain’t his fault I don’ suppose. Neva was any beautiful women here.” Annika smiled sadly.
“He’s good.” Lou nodded and stopped abruptly in front of a beautiful but ill kept Victorian house. There was a wraparound porch in white, peeling paint, and black shutters falling off the many windows.
“His mama and daddy still run that farm outside of town but all his brothers and sisters is gone to the city now. I reckon they’ll done and sell the property soon. They ain’t spring chickens anymore. They got them all kinds of ills. Anyhoo, this is Lucy’s house. C’mon.” She obligingly followed him up the rickety stairs and onto the porch. A huge orange tabby nearly jumped out its skin on their arrival, screeching its displeasure before slinking away. He opened the screen door and walked inside without so much as knocking to announce his arrival, pulling Annika’s bag in with him.
“Lulu? Joey? Any y’all home?” He held the door open for her but she was reluctant to go in uninvited.
“I’ll just wait – “
“Git in here, girl. Ain’t no one gonna bite ya.” Sighing, Annika tentatively stepped over the threshold. She heard a rush of footsteps and suddenly a girl of six or seven came flying into the front hall, throwing herself into Lou’s arms.
“Grampy!” the child shrieked. Annika cringed. She had never been a fan of small children. You better get used to them, she reminded herself with some contempt.
“Lula, ain’t ya a sight for sore eyes! Ya get bigger an’ bigger every time I see ya!”
“Oh Grampy I just saw you this morning!” Annika smiled despite her resolve to ignore the child. The little girl noticed her standing there and grinned.
“Hiya! I’m Louisa.”
“Hi Louisa, I’m – “she paused. “I’m Annie.”
Before the child could say anything else, a middle aged woman came around the corner, her dark hair in a loose bun, wearing an apron covered in icing sugar.
“Hiya dad! What are you doing here?”
“Hiya baby. This is Annie. She’s new in Burrowsburg and needs a place to stay. Told her y’all had a room for rent.” The brunette smiled warmly at Annika.
“Hi Annie! Welcome! I’m Lucy Ward. Please come in! Dad, go put her bag in the room next to Luke’s.” Annika was almost dizzy. Who the hell are these people that allow perfect strangers to walk into their lives and live in their homes? Aren’t they worried about murderers and thieves? She followed Lucy into a cozy but run down salon in the front of the house.
“Are you thirsty? Hungry? I just made some cookies. You have to try them.” Annika tried to refuse but Louisa was already returning from the kitchen with a plate of the goodies and a glass of lemonade. Annika took them and suddenly realized she was absolutely famished.
“So tell me about yourself, Annie. Where are you from? Why are you here?”
“She’s a friend of Dickie Robinson!” Lou cackled gleefully as he entered the room. Lucy arched her thin eyebrow in surprise.
“A good friend?” she asked innocently.
“Dickie is still gay,” Annika replied flatly. Lucy and Lou burst out laughing.
“What a shame. I always rather fancied that boy,” Lucy sighed wistfully but winked jokingly at Annika.
“He’d be an improvement from the one ya got now,” Lou grumbled. Lucy gave him a scathing look.
“Well, Annie, my husband Joe and I own this house. We have four children – Louisa here is our baby. Then there’s JJ, Evan and Luke is the oldest. I hope that isn’t too full of a house for you.” Annika shook her head and forced a smile but she knew the living arrangements were probably going to drive her crazy. This is just temporary. You’ll find a job and get your own place soon.
Even as the thought flittered through her mind, Annika knew she would be trapped for a long while. She might be able to get away with getting a job but keeping one while pregnant would be a whole other scenario.
“The rent will be seventy-five dollars a month,” Lucy continued. Annika choked and choke on her lemonade. She continued to sputter as everyone jumped up to assist her. Once the spasm passed, Lucy recanted, apologetically.
“I’m sorry it’s too much, isn’t it? Is fifty okay?” And Annika knew trapped or not, she was the luckiest woman in the world at that moment in time.
After having their drinks and nibbles, Lucy led a tour of the grand but rundown home. There were seven bedrooms and three bathrooms, a back patio and a shabby barn. Lucy allotted one of the bathrooms to Annika.
“And don’t you let Louisa and JJ talk you into sharing it with them. They’ll hog it like a starving hound on a boar hunt and you’ll never get a chance to relieve yourself,” Lucy warned. Annika smiled and nodded but winked at little Louisa who scowled in protest. She was beginning to feel herself relaxing in the incredibly foreign surroundings. There was nothing familiar about these people or this little God forsaken town. In fact, it was the polar opposite to how she had been reared and lived her twenty-five years on the planet. Yet somehow, she felt like she belonged there. The warmness and open nature of these people had a calming effect on her depleted, worn down nerves. Her mind, body and soul had taken a near fatal beating and wer
e still extremely fragile from the impact Rhys had on her. While she knew that she would surge through, she was also painfully aware that she was alone. Or so she had thought. Out of nowhere, the universe had offered her decent, kind and caring people. Just like the universe had offered her Dickie. Try not to fuck this up the way you did with him.
Lucy opened the heavy wood door to what was to be Annika’s room and she gasped. It was the last room at the end of the hallway and there were four huge windows allowing for a view of the vast back and barn and the ravine on the side of the property. A huge weeping willow was tickling the panes of the glass. In the center of the room, beneath the twelve-foot ceiling was an antique four poster bed, adorned in an intricate handmade quilt. Four decorative pillows sat atop, covered in handmade pillowcases to match. There was a solid pine dresser and matching desk, both badly scarred but obviously heirlooms.
“This here was all ma mama’s,” Lou piped in as if hearing her thoughts. “Dang well this entire house is ma mamas. Lulu was her only gran’chile.” Annika suddenly felt uncomfortable.
“I will see about getting my own furniture,” she said quickly. Lou and Lucy laughed.
“Well, honey, you can if you want but nobody ever uses this old junk so you may as well. It doesn’t look like much but it’s actually really comfy.”
“I promise; I only need a place to stay for a short time. As soon as I find a job, I’ll get my own place…” Annika trailed off and felt a lump forming in her throat. Lou steered Louisa into the hallway and Lucy gently sat Annika on the bed.
“Annie, we are really happy you’re here. You stay as long as you like. It isn’t every day that we get to see such beauty around here.”
Lucy stood up and gestured at the bed.
“There are some fresh towels there. Why don’t you take a nap and get freshened up? When you’re all rested up, come down and meet the rest of the family.” She patted Annika on the arm in a motherly fashion and closed the bedroom door. Annika lay back and stared at the ceiling. No particle board here. No water damaged plaster hanging down. Just a picturesque room with a view in a quiet town where no one knew her. She shut her eyes and took a deep breath, expelling all the tension she had been holding. For the first time since infancy, Annika was asleep within minutes of her head hitting the pillow.
Romance: The Bad Boy Affair: A Second Chance Romance Page 10