Molly Dox - Annie Addison 01 - Color Me Crazy Read Free

Pip. “Charlotte, if something happened to me, would you take care of Pip?”
    “Of course, and you’d take Kit Kat?” Kit Kat was her feline companion, and the most spoiled cat on all of the east coast.
    “Of course,” Annie answered.
    “Though, let’s be honest, I’m going to go before you are. I’ve got a head start, and according to my kids, one foot in the grave, don’t you know.” She tsk-tsked and shook her head.
    “Greg must be broken up, having seen it and all ,” Annie said. She couldn’t imagine seeing her own parents dying right in front of her. It must have been horrible for him. It was horrible for her to see, and she only knew her as a client. Even seeing a stranger collapse like that would be horrible.
    The women finished their meal, not sure what else to say. Each was lost in her own thoughts. Finishing up, they said their goodbyes and headed home.
    Annie drove down the main drag, grateful that the traffic lights were back to their blinking pattern. Once the season was over, they turned off the traffic lights. There’s just not enough traffic to need them off-season. The change was hugely noticeable. With the lights on it could take a full forty-five minutes to get from one side of the island to the other, with them off, she could cover that same distance in half the time. The island itself was attached to the mainland via a causeway bridge that spanned over the bay side of the island. At its narrowest the island was all of two blocks wide, and at its widest six.
    September was Annie’s favorite month. There were still a lot of shops open, the weather was amazing, but most of the summer crowd had left. Once October rolled around and the big lobster bisque challenge in the park finished up, most shops closed up until warmer weather and the crowds came back.
    Annie drove to Barnacle Heights, the northern end of the island near the lighthouse. Her shop was in the busier center section of the island, in Sandy Beach Township. The northern and southern tips were quieter. Holden capped off the southern end. From the beach, you could see the lights of Action City at night. It was a happening spot where a plethora of casinos rose up with mirrored glass, fancy restaurants, and rows and rows of slot machines that were used by seniors who were bussed in from every direction, hoping to win big.
    Pulling into the pebbled driveway of her small cape cod, the headlights of her car alerted Pip that she was home. She could hear her barking start as soon as she stepped out. Solitude was nice time to time, but having Pip meant she was never alone. And dating was out of the question for now ; she still wasn’t sure she could trust a man again. Not that she didn’t look time to time, but no thank you, she wanted no part of a relationship again. 
    Pip greeted her, bouncing up and down like she had a spring beneath her. Annie reached down to rub behind her ears. “Just give me a second girl .” She tossed her bag on a table and kicked her shoes off. “Okay,” she teased with enthusiasm, as Pip jumped onto her lap. She gave her pup a few quick belly rubs and then put her out to do her business.
    Lost in thought, Annie replayed the night at Uncle Buck’s in her mind. Running her fingers through her hair, she sighed deeply. Life could be taken away so fast. She made a mental note to call her mother the following day. Or maybe the one after. Yeah, she was pretty sure she was fine. She’d talk to her next week.

Chapter 3
     
    Annie pulled a sweatshirt over her head and tugged on a pair of shorts. Leashing up Pip, the two of them went for a morning walk on the beach. Singlehandedly, this was the best part about living on the island. Having close access to the beach and ocean, falling asleep to the sounds of the waves crashing, and the quieter months of the season when only the locals remained. September was hit or miss with the weather. Some days were ideal, but the nights grew cooler.
    The little home she rented