The couple’s wedding was scheduled for today.
Annie closed her eyes for a minute. That was it, then. Susan was gone, and no doubt this Archer Prescott had picked himself up and moved on with his life. He was probably married to someone else and had kids—maybe even grandkids; 1989 was a long time ago.
She thought for a minute that she would go back to the Reference Room to see what she could find out about this JFP Athletics he owned, but the whole idea of following up on the lead didn’t appeal to her anymore. It was done. It was over. Time to go home, feed the cat, catch up with LeeAnn and the twins, and work on her new sweater.
She gathered up her things, and with another quick thank you to Grace at the Circulation Desk, she went out to her car. Before she could get in, Peggy waved to her from the window of The Cup & Saucer. Then she held up her index finger, a gesture Annie took to mean Peggy wanted her to stay where she was.
Annie put the papers she was carrying and her purse on the front seat and waited until Peggy scurried out of the café.
“I can’t stand the suspense. Did you find out Prince Charming’s name?”
“The article says his name was Archer Prescott. Did you ever hear of him?”
Peggy thought for a minute. “I don’t think so. Was he from somewhere around here? Couldn’t have been Stony Point. People would have remembered.”
“I don’t know. All I know is that when he knew Susan, he was the owner of JFP Athletics. Could be shoes, like Mary Beth said. I didn’t really check them out.”
“Oh yeah. I remember them. Wally used to have some of their work boots. He loved those old things. He always said they were the best he’d ever had and wouldn’t throw them away for anything. They finally wore out on him, so he bought some more about five or six years ago. But those were awful. Too expensive, and they fell apart on him way too quickly. He said JFP was never the same after they moved the company out to the West Coast.”
“That’s a shame. Maybe this Prescott guy sold the business after Susan died. You never know.”
“Yeah, I suppose not. Well, I’d better get back to work. We get a little rush around four o’clock or so. Some of the older folks like to get in and out before the evening crowd.”
“Don’t work too hard, Peg.” Annie got into the car. “And thanks for asking around for me.”
“Sure thing. Are you going to try to call the guy up? Maybe he can tell you more.”
Annie shook her head. “I don’t think there’s much else to know. I wish I hadn’t lost touch with Susan over the years. Maybe she wouldn’t have been on that boat, and things wouldn’t have ended up like this. Who knows?”
With a little wave, Annie shut her car door and drove down Main Street. Maybe Susan would have been somewhere else if she and Annie had stayed friends. And maybe Annie’s own life would have been different too. No Wayne. No LeeAnn. No twins.
Annie chuckled to herself as she turned onto Maple Street. She could almost hear Gram telling her not to borrow trouble. Who are you, missy, to think you’re in control of how people’s lives play out? Let God run the world. He’s had a lot of practice.
Annie slowed as she turned onto Ocean Drive and was treated to a wide view of the sea, of the deep sapphire water capped with foam that leaped and danced against the rocks to the music of the surf.
Too much gloom for one afternoon, she decided as she breathed in the fresh salt air, especially one as glorious as this. A gull took wing, soaring and disappearing into the sun, and Annie smiled. It was time to let Susan go.
8
But Annie couldn’t let Susan go. Yes, she was gone, but Annie knew the name of the man she had planned to marry. Surely this Archer Prescott would be able to tell her something about Susan’s last days, and whether they were happy. Maybe then she could move on.
Late that evening, once she had made up her mind, she looked up the contact information for JFP Athletics Inc. in San Diego. Listed as president and CEO was one Archer L. Prescott. Annie jotted down the company’s telephone number and address. She’d just call the man. What could it hurt?
“You’re as determined as your grandmother,” her grandpa had often said, and Annie smiled to herself. Maybe she did have a lot of Gram’s determination. Pigheadedness, Grandpa would have called it, and there would have been a twinkle in his eyes. But Gram never let anything stand in her way. Neither would Annie.
California was three hours behind them in Maine, so Annie had to wait until after noon of the next day before she could call the number for JFP Athletics. Even then, she was afraid she might be calling too early.