Annie's Rainbow by Fern Michaels

that?
    â€œIt’s no problem. For you to be washing on Christmas, the clothing must be important.”
    â€œI was bored,” Annie said lamely. “See, it stopped all by itself.” With all the bouncing around the machine was doing, the money might be shredded by now. You are one stupid woman , Annie Clark.
    â€œTell me, how can you be bored? What are you doing alone on Christmas? Where are all your friends?”
    â€œThey’re all busy. Elmo is with his two lady friends. Jane is with Bob. They got engaged and are going to move to San Francisco. Tom’s here, but he’s beat, so he went to bed early. He’s going to move here and help with the business. He’s going through a divorce.”
    â€œDon’t tell me any more. Been there, done that. It wasn’t a good time in my life. It still isn’t. I wanted to tell you, Annie. It’s just that I hate talking about it. Right now I can’t handle anything more than friendship.”
    â€œFriendship is fine. I’m not in a hurry to ... what I mean is, I’m not ready ... this isn’t coming out right. Friendship is fine. More wine?”
    â€œSure. That’s a pretty tree. Did you have it cut down?”
    Annie laughed. “Nineteen ninety-five from the Shell station.”
    â€œAt least you have a tree. I didn’t get one for the apartment. I put up a wreath on the door before I left, and when I got back it was gone. Some kids probably swiped it. I bought mine at the Piggly Wiggly. You know what I always say, if it works, then do it.”
    â€œYeah, I say that a lot myself.” Annie giggled. “Listen, if you’re hungry, I can make you a turkey sandwich.”
    â€œI am, and I’ll take it. How about some of that good coffee of yours? Which brings me to the real reason I came by. When I got to my dad’s house a Christmas card was waiting for me from an old college buddy. He owns a coffee plantation in Hawaii. Primo stuff. I called him just for the heck of it and he said you should order your coffee beans direct from him instead of buying through a middleman. Real nice guy. Single, no baggage. Women fall all over him. He’s part Hawaiian, part Irish. Great athlete. He whipped my ass at every sport we ever played. He’s competitive, rich as sin, and the best friend a guy could have. He was my best man when I got married. Anyway, he’ll give you the best deal going. You need to go there and check it out. He said you could stay at the plantation. Trust me when I tell you there’s nothing this guy doesn’t know about coffee. I think he was weaned on the stuff instead of milk.”
    â€œReally,” was all Annie could think of to say.
    â€œMayo and mustard. Do you have any pickles?”
    â€œI have a whole jar full.”
    â€œYou shouldn’t have said that. Pickles are my downfall.”
    â€œThe only reason I have them is I forgot to put them on the table last night.”
    â€œSo you and your brother are going to run the shops, eh?”
    â€œYes, but we’re going to have to hire more help. Do you know any art students who might be interested in sitting in the shop doing the postcards?”
    â€œAs a matter of fact, I do. Great kid, hard worker. Gives a hundred percent to anything she does. She paints scenes on sand dollars. That’s what’s in the present I brought you. I had her come by while I was gone to paint your shop and this house.”
    Annie ran into the living room for the small gift box. She oohed and aahed when she saw the sand dollars. “These are beautiful. If she wants the job, tell her it’s hers. What about her classes?”
    â€œShe clerks at Bob Ellis during the day. Takes classes at night. She’s in the master’s program. I’m sure you can work something out.”
    â€œFull-time. Health benefits. We’re working on a profit-sharing program. It won’t be up and running for a while