Annie and the E's Go to Aspen

By Sandra Funcich

Murphy's Law: "Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong." This is a story about four lifelong friends who re-connect over a holiday ski trip to beautiful Aspen, Colorado. Hilarity ensues as these four experience the absolute worst that Aspen has to offer, all the while, drawing Annie ever closer to the ultimate love of her life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Oct 6, 2016
• ISBN: 9781483583976

Book preview

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CHAPTER ONE

Jay, a local locksmith, received a phone call at seven-thirty in the morning from a woman named Annie Simms. Miss Simms needed all the locks on her bungalow changed and the tenor of her voice expressed anger and an immediate urgency. Jay told her he could be there shortly and asked if a sheriff was needed. She said no. He knew by the address that hers was an upscale neighborhood located in Brentwood, California.

Forty-five minutes later a late model silver Ford van drove down the street toward the address. At the home of Miss Simms, Jay noticed a large pile of clothing and other assorted items strewn on the front lawn. He pulled into the long driveway and parked behind a brand new black convertible Porsche. When he stepped out of his van he saw a stunningly attractive young woman in jogging shorts. He watched as she threw an armful of what appeared to be men’s shoes onto the pile. Then she turned and quickly walked back into the home. As Jay walked past the large pile he noticed that the items appeared to belong to a man. He now had an inkling as to what this house-call was about.

Once reaching the open front door, the young woman with the great legs wheeled out what looked like a very expensive mountain bike. Jay knew about bikes and this one was a beauty with all the bells and whistles and looked to be in perfect condition. It didn’t even have any dirt on it, as if it had never been used. He watched as she pushed it toward the pile. Then she turned to look at him and glanced at his van which read Jay’s Locksmith.

Miss Simms, I presume? I’m Jay. He reached out to shake her hand and felt a slight tremor. He was startled by her beautiful face and bright blue eyes and could tell she’d been crying. Her long dark hair was tied back in a ponytail. The contrast of the dark hair that framed her face made her eyes undoubtedly the bluest eyes he’d ever seen.

Hi Jay. Yes, I’m Annie Simms. Thank you for coming right over. There are three doors. Front of course, side and back. As you can see, I’m getting rid of some trash. If there is anything you’d like to take let me know.

I’ll just need to see some ID Miss Simms. Are you the owner of the home and is anyone else on the title?

No, it’s a lease and I’m the only one on it. I can provide a copy if need be. The person who is leaving was a guest. Well, I’ve got my hands full so I’ll let you get busy with the locks.

Wow, this woman was on a mission and Jay wondered what this guy had done to her. He walked to his truck to get the locks and watched as Miss Simms turned to go back into the home. Once inside, Annie surveyed the front room which was filled with Tommy’s rock’n’roll music memorabilia, knowing it was worth a small fortune. Without a thought she grabbed several large trash bags from the kitchen. She began clearing the walls of his valuable collection of signed guitars, photos, platinum albums and framed posters of the bands he’d been affiliated with during his twenty year career in the music business. By the time she was through, no one would even have a clue that he’d ever lived here.

While Jay replaced the locks, the pile on the lawn grew quickly. It was as if Miss Simms couldn’t get rid of this guy fast enough. He watched her race in and out of the bungalow, and each time she ran out her arms were full.

Tommy had hurt her badly. She thought they had a great relationship and would eventually be married. Yes, they both traveled for work but she trusted him, even though she knew about his lifestyle with bands on the road. After all, isn’t that how she’d met him—backstage at a concert? Naively, she thought he was single but after spending the next few evenings together he finally confessed that he was involved with a woman who was extremely needy and jealous. He said she would rage at him if she couldn’t get hold of him while he was on the road working. Tommy had also told Annie he felt like he was being suffocated.

Wait a minute! Annie said out loud as she raced to the answering machine. She angrily hit the PLAY button again and heard his voice saying, Annie, it’s me. Hey babe, I’m thinking that I need my own space, and I just don’t think I’m ready to settle down yet. I guess I’m feeling a little suffocated. If it’s ok, I’ll be by later today to pick up some of my things.

For being such a smart girl, she felt so stupid. He was a cheater and Annie thought she could change him. Wow, what a pig! Suffocated, huh? After six years and that’s what I get? Well, just wait until he sees his big surprise on the lawn! Thank God she listened to her mother about always having a career of her own. Her mom always told her, Annie, when you have a good job you’ll always have options. If she hadn’t climbed that ladder with her record company she wouldn’t have been able to afford to throw the jerk out. Thanks Mom! Annie shouted. Oh shoot, she said as she suddenly remembered his surfboard.

Jay was finishing up at the same time Annie finished her house cleaning. He asked Annie about the beautiful mountain bike and she said Tommy paid $6,000 for it.

She asked Jay, Do you ride?

Yes, I do, but not on anything like that.

Would you like to make an offer?

Oh, Miss Simms, I don’t think I could even afford to make one.

Annie laughed, You got a buck?

Jay smiled, How about I trade you the lock job for the bike?

Well Jay, you just bought yourself a new mountain bike!

She watched as Jay carefully put the mountain bike in his van. He got into the driver’s seat and smiled while waving goodbye. Then he started the engine and slowly backed out of the driveway.

Annie needed to go for a run. Desperately. She didn’t want to be home when Tommy arrived. She didn’t want the drama. She needed to clear her head and running was the answer. While she was locking the front door, she heard a young man from behind her asking, Lady, is the board for sale?

This is your lucky day because it’s free.

Wow, thanks lady!

The kid put Tommy’s custom board under his arm and rode off. With a sad smile and a tear in her eye, she watched him ride down the street. Annie got into her new car and cranked up the tunes. The Porsche was a surprise gift from a band she managed. It was their way of thanking her for the millions of albums they sold last year. She’d been working with them since they were a start up; now they were known worldwide with several platinum albums. She slowly backed her new toy out of the driveway and took one last look at Tommy’s things on the lawn. It was eight-forty and if there wasn’t too much traffic, she might have time for that run before a meeting in her office at one o’clock. She drove to the corner, turned right and headed down Sunset Boulevard toward Pacific Coast Highway.

CHAPTER TWO

Not far away in Pacific Palisades, Charlie Collins hit the snooze button for the second time. It was eight a.m. and he was exhausted from the four fifteen-hour workdays this week. In his stupor Charlie suddenly realized he needed to be in the trailer for hair and make-up by ten. The set was on location in a town called Lakeview Village.

Friday morning traffic on PCH would be heavy because Caltrans was still working on the 405 with people taking the coast highway instead. Charlie jumped out of bed and into the shower. He threw on his clothes and grabbed a mug of hot coffee for the road. Then he locked up and set the alarm for his and Claire’s beautiful town home that overlooked the water. Glancing out at the Pacific Ocean, he felt grateful to be here instead of New York where he grew up. The day before, his folks told him they were freezing and hadn’t seen the sun in several weeks. Charlie remembered those cold, miserable days and was glad his career brought him to sunny Southern California.

Charlie was a teen when his mother encouraged him to try acting and modeling. His favorite of the two was acting and he hoped to make it a career one day. He’d been told by many people in the industry that he reminded them of a young Clint Eastwood with blond tousled hair. So with his winning smile and outgoing personality it was no wonder he was discovered at the age of eighteen.

As soon as he graduated college he was cast in his first Hollywood television series and never looked back. Acting was in his blood and he couldn’t get enough of it. The lifestyle wasn’t for everyone though as several of his co-stars along the way ended up with serious drug and alcohol problems. It made him grateful that his parents raised him in a Christian home because it definitely helped to keep him balanced and avoid those pitfalls. He was humble and generous and everyone loved working with him. Because of his easy-going disposition and great work ethic Charlie was in high demand with the busiest directors and producers in Hollywood.

He also loved the perks that came with the biz. Nice homes with incredible views, fast cars and a beautiful wife; a wife who was also an actress, and a very jealous one at that. He met her while filming a movie four years ago. They fell fast and hard and were married a year later. The wedding was a star-studded affair that took place at a friend’s mansion overlooking the Pacific Ocean. He and Claire were the talk of the tabloids and the paparazzi followed their every move. Their pictures appeared on the cover of every tabloid and they were touted as the most beautiful couple in Hollywood.

The same paparazzi just about caused a divorce more than once in the last couple of years. There were photos of Charlie with other actresses on and off sets. The circumstances were very innocent, but the photos suggested otherwise. Claire had him on a short leash and threatened to take him to the proverbial cleaners if she found out that the rumors were true. Even when she was out of the country filming, as she was now, she had her spies. There were many girlfriends who were all too eager to report any suspicious activity. She also became friendly with co-stars on his show. She even got cozy with the film crew and the hair and makeup people. They had eyes and ears and Charlie knew they would keep her in the loop. He loved her very much but was glad they didn’t have any children yet and he wanted to keep it that way. It would be a lot easier to move on without her if she continued her unwarranted threats.

Charlie went into the garage where he kept the red Ferrari 458 Italia. Claire gave it to him for a wedding present, but he only drove it on weekends. He used the black Audi S6 with the tinted windows to drive to and from work. He jumped into the Audi and turned over the engine. It roared as he cruised down the street toward the security gates where he waved at Joe, the guard. As Charlie turned the corner he noticed a familiar car parked at the curb—a paparazzo. He smirked while shaking his head in disbelief, and said out loud, Don’t you idiots have anything important to do? Then he turned on his stereo and blasted Fastbender. He hadn’t listened to them in a while and this music brought back memories, and great ones at that. Memories of concerts with Annie, Stewy and Denny in their teenage years back home in New York. He missed those simple days when they’d sit on the stoop of his folks’ brownstone listening to their favorite tunes. Where were they now? He knew Annie was living in Southern California with her boyfriend Tommy, but because of Claire’s jealousy, Charlie hadn’t spoken to her since his wedding several years ago.

As he was cruising up Pacific Coast Highway, he noticed it was nine. The traffic was heavy but if it still moved like this he might even get to the set a few minutes early. The paparazzo was right on his tail, and Charlie decided to try to lose him by speeding up and switching lanes. It seemed to work because Charlie couldn’t see him in his rear view mirror. Then, shifting his eyes to look at the road ahead of him, he suddenly realized the traffic had come to a screeching halt. Charlie downshifted and slammed on the brakes just in time to avoid hitting the car in front of him and was now hoping the car coming up behind would be able do the same.

CHAPTER THREE

Annie was driving down Sunset Boulevard and she could see the traffic moving swiftly on the coast highway. There were at least a dozen cars ahead of her which were stopped for the red light at the bottom of the hill. As she was slowly inching her way down, she noticed an elderly homeless woman standing along the side of the road. Next to her was a motley-looking little dog. Annie reached into her purse and fumbled around in her wallet. She pulled out a brand new hundred—dollar bill and handed it to the woman.

The woman cried with gratitude, Thank you Miss, and God bless you.

Annie smiled and with a tear in her eye replied, You’re welcome and God bless you too.

She continued moving slowly down the hill when all of a sudden the woman appeared next to her car saying, Lady, please give my dog a home, as she dropped the filthy little creature into Annie’s front passenger seat.

What are you doing? Please, no, I can’t take your dog! The cars behind her were blasting their horns, forcing Annie to move with the traffic.

Annie said, Crap, then she turned her head around and shouted, What’s his name? She heard the woman in the distance yell back, Brutus!

Annie finally got to the signal to make her right turn. She stepped on the gas to merge into the fast-moving traffic on PCH. She looked over at the mangy mutt and said, You don’t look like a Brutus. When the little dog heard his name, he leapt excitedly onto her lap and jumped up to lick her face, just as the traffic ahead of her came to a sudden stop.

Annie yelled as she slammed on her brakes and heard the screech of her tires while her new Porsche skidded right into the bumper of the black car in front of her. She sat there in shock for several minutes before the other driver waved for her to follow him to the side of the road. The sound of the two bumpers colliding made Annie sick to her stomach, and with much anxiety she eased her car to the side of the road, pulling up behind the Audi.

The other driver was a man wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap turned backwards. She could tell he was angry by the way he slammed his car door. Annie fished out her insurance information, driver’s license and business card. Then she slowly got out of her car. She glanced at her front bumper and then walked apprehensively toward the angry man when she heard a familiar voice say, Annie, is that you?

Charlie? Oh my God! I can’t believe it’s you! All of the tears Annie was trying to hold back came flooding down her cheeks.

Annie, are you alright?

I think I’m fine, but how are you?

I’m sure I’ll be fine, Annie. You didn’t even dent my bumper.

I’m so sorry I hit your car, she sobbed, I think I’m ok, but I could really use a friend right about now.

The two of them embraced right at the same time the paparazzo arrived on the scene, having been in hot pursuit of Charlie. The photographer got several excellent shots of the long-lasting embrace. Pictures of the pretty dark-haired girl crying on Charlie Collins’ shoulder. These photos were money-makers and would definitely appear in the tabloids. Pictures Charlie wouldn’t want Claire to see, and because she was out of the country, he wouldn’t be able to explain the situation immediately.

Charlie asked, Do you have the same number? She shook her head no and handed him her business card. Ok, I’ll call you later and we’ll figure something out.

Ok Charlie, and don’t worry about your car. I’ll call my agent as soon as I get to my office later today.

Oh, I’m really worried, Annie. Hey, I’m running late for the set so I’ll call you sometime today, I promise, he said as he walked back to his car while flipping off the paparazzo.

Annie got into her car and looked at her mascara-stained cheeks. The poor little dog not only looked scared but confused, so she picked him up and held him. Right now she didn’t even care that she could see some of his fur moving—probably because of being infested with fleas and ticks!

She started her car and as it began to move she could hear the fender scraping against her left front tire. She was near the Jonathan Beach Club, where she was heading anyway, so she continued to drive there. When she pulled up to the valet stand her favorite valet Nick, who was a young tanned surfer, came over to her car with a look of shock on his face.

Miss Simms! What happened? Are you ok?

Yes, Nick. It’s a long story.

Looking at Brutus, he asked, Who’s your friend?

Longer story. Nick, could you please try to find a leash and some food for him? I’m sure he’s hungry and I know dogs aren’t allowed in the club or on this beach, so I’ll walk him on the adjacent one. Nick, could you also try to pull the fender away from my tire so at least I can drive my car home? You can’t damage it any worse than it is, so don’t worry. Oh, and his name is Brutus. Thanks so much, Nick.

Sure, Miss Simms. No problem, Nick said as he took the little dog from her.

After Annie left Brutus with Nick she went into the club to get some water, wash her face and put her belongings in her locker. She silenced her phone and could hear a dog barking in the distance. Suddenly the barking was getting closer. She turned to see that Brutus had escaped from Nick and was running into the club to find his new mommy. There was pandemonium with the staff and management as they wondered why a dog was running loose inside their exclusive beach club!

Fortunately, everyone loved Annie and welcomed her new friend. They were stunned when she told them the story about Brutus. Some of the staff took him into the break room and fed the little guy until he just about popped. It was certain that the homeless woman loved him, but he was starving. While Brutus was devouring his third plate of chopped sirloin, Annie used her cell phone to make an appointment with a mobile groomer who would be waiting for her when she got home at eleven-thirty. Someone then came up with a leash, a bottle of water for Annie and also one for Brutus. She thanked them all and walked him over to a nearby beach that allowed dogs.

By the time she and Brutus got to the water’s edge, he was so worn out he could hardly move. Annie decided to sit on the sand and just hold the sweet little guy in her arms. Annie’s thoughts went back to her dog when she was a little girl, and Brutus reminded her a little of Buttons. She sat back and stared out at the beautiful Pacific Ocean while the tears slid down her face as the memories came flooding back..

CHAPTER FOUR

Ellen Woods and Roger Simms grew up in Des Moines, Iowa. They met and started dating in high school. She was the homecoming queen and he was the quarterback of the varsity football team. In the yearbook they were touted as the best looking couple on campus. Soon after graduation they got married. Ellen was nineteen and pregnant when Roger took a job selling insurance. He was proud and wanted to take care of his beautiful wife and the baby who was due in three months.

Ellen gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. She was born with Roger’s thick dark hair and olive complexion along with her mother’s bright blue eyes and delicate features. They named her Annie. She was two years old when Roger was able to move them out of their apartment. He worked very hard and was able to buy them a modest home of their own on a nice street in a middle class neighborhood.

Roger and Ellen enjoyed taking Annie to the neighborhood park where they would push her on the swings. They would also take her to a nearby pond where they would feed the ducks. When Annie turned three Roger bought them an above ground pool where he taught her to swim. Occasionally they would chase fireflies on the summer evenings and she would sit with her mommy and watch her daddy burn the leaves in their backyard. She loved the smell of the burning leaves. She also loved tossing walnuts and peanuts to the squirrels and chipmunks who lived in their yard. Those were such happy times and Annie’s earliest memories. By the time Annie was four her daddy spent less time playing with her and more time working.

By the time Roger was twenty-four the responsibilities of being a husband, young father and homeowner started to wear on him.

On top of everything else the insurance business was stressful and competitive. In order to climb the ladder, lunch and dinner meetings to entertain clients were required and always centered around alcohol. He began to find respite in the numbing effects the booze would provide and come home late reeking of it.

Over the next couple of years the drinking caused him to start neglecting his family and home. The luster of life began to fade as his alcoholism progressed. That’s when the fighting had begun.

Annie was now six years old and her best friend in the whole world was her dog Buttons. Buttons was a shaggy little dog that Annie and her mommy rescued from the pound. She had round black eyes that looked like the buttons on Annie’s coat, and that’s how she got her name.

The screaming outside her bedroom was getting worse. Annie could hear her mommy telling her daddy that she was embarrassed by the way their house looked. That it had become the worst looking house on the street. Annie was crying and Buttons was shaking. Buttons always shook when they fought and Annie always cried. Annie’s mommy and daddy were at it again, but this time it seemed worse. It was always about the same thing: the house and money. Annie’s daddy screamed back, Then why don’t you get a fucking job and help out around here! That’s when Annie heard the sound of a loud slap and her mommy started sobbing and screaming louder. Annie never heard that word or that slapping sound before. Her daddy must have been drinking that dark juice again. Whenever he drank it, he got mean. That’s when Annie and Buttons would go hide under the faded rainbow printed covers on Annie’s bed where it was safe. This time it didn’t seem very safe and she held onto Buttons for dear life.

She could hear the door to her room open slowly and knew it was her mommy. She was sobbing and crawled into Annie’s bed, holding her and Buttons all night long.

When they woke up in the morning, Annie could see a very large black circle around her mommy’s eye.

Mommy, does your eye hurt?

Not much, Pumpkin. Are you ok?

Annie said sadly, I guess, but Buttons and I were really scared.

I’m so sorry, honey. I’m going to try to make things better for us. Now that you’re in school, I’m going to look for a job so we will have the extra money we need to live, ok? That way Daddy won’t be mad at me anymore.

Ok, Mommy.

It wasn’t very long before Annie’s mommy got a job that a friend had found for her. This friend was also a friend of Edward Davis, a local contract attorney. He’d been told about the lovely woman and her young daughter and the abuse they were enduring in their home. So as a favor to their mutual friend he was more than happy to hire Ellen as his personal assistant.

So at the age of twenty-six Ellen went to work for the first time in her life. Edward Davis was a man in his early thirties who had short blond hair, kind eyes and a warm smile. Ellen’s job required that she answer the phones and make appointments for Edward. Knowing the difficulties Ellen was having at home with Roger, Edward didn’t want her to worry about having to pay for a babysitter; so he would let Ellen pick up Annie after school and bring her back to the office for a few hours each day. Annie would sit and color pretty pictures and she could tell that her mommy was happy in this place. Her mommy’s new boss told Annie that she could call him Mr. Eddy. He would even give her fun little jobs to do in his office which made her feel important. She could tell that Mr. Eddy seemed to enjoy having the two of them around.

One day at the office she heard Mr. Eddy and her mommy talking. They didn’t know she was busy working on a paperclip necklace under her mommy’s desk.

Ellen, why don’t you leave him? I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I am getting very attached to you and Annie.

Eddy, his drinking has gotten so bad that I’m considering it. It’s just not safe for Annie or me. I also have feelings for you and you’ve been so kind to us. I just need a little more time, ok?

I worry about you being there with him, especially when he’s drinking.

Believe me, if it ever gets to that point again, we will get out of there immediately.

Annie wondered what she meant by that. Did it have to do with the black circle around her eye?

You know that I would treat you like a queen and you’d never have to worry about anything ever again.

Then Annie heard her mommy say, You are a very special man, Eddy, and I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for us.

Then she heard a kissing sound.

That night when they got home, her daddy was drinking the dark juice again and he was really mad. He started screaming at her mommy and was saying mean things. Annie and Buttons went into her bedroom to hide under the covers.

Annie heard her daddy say, Now that you have a job you think you are such hot shit and I bet you’ve got the hots for that boss of yours.

Her mommy didn’t say anything but Annie heard the slapping noise again and then the crying and her mommy saying, Please Roger… don’t. Please don’t. I’m calling the police!

She heard the slapping sound again and her mommy screamed. Annie was really scared now. She was crying and Buttons was shaking. A few minutes later her mommy came into her room crying and said, Pumpkin, we are leaving. I need you to help me pack up some of your clothes right now. We can’t stay here anymore.

A sobbing Annie said, Ok, Mommy. Can we take Buttons?

Of course we can, honey.

From her bedroom window Annie suddenly saw the red and blue flashing lights from the police cars that were pulling up in front of their house. She watched as the two officers emerged from their cars and through her tears she caught the faint glint of steel rings that one of the officers was holding in his hand.

Annie could see the front door from her bedroom window and watched her daddy stumble through it to talk to the two policemen. His face looked contorted and was red with anger. His thick dark hair looked very messy and wet from sweat. Then all of a sudden she saw her daddy’s clenched fist fly forward in an attempt to hit one of the policemen. In an instant the officers wrestled him to the ground.

Annie was filled with feelings of confusion mixed with fear and sadness as they put her daddy’s hands behind his back and quickly put the silver rings around his wrists. Then the officers dragged him to one of their cars and pushed him into the back seat.

After that she saw them talking to her mommy and looking at all of the bruises on her face and arms. Annie’s gaze shifted back to her daddy and their eyes met. She was close enough to see that he was crying now and she saw him mouth the words, I’m sorry. He looked as if he knew he had failed her and would never see her again. Annie didn’t know it then but that would be the last time she would see her daddy alive.

Annie’s mommy took her and Buttons to Mr. Eddy’s house. It was a large fancy house, and she had never seen anything like this place. When they got there he and her mommy hugged and then Mr. Eddy took them around the house and showed Annie a pretty room that would be hers and Buttons’. He told Annie that she and Buttons would never be scared again and that they were all going to be a very happy family.

Not long after they’d moved into Eddy’s house, Annie’s mommy came into her room one day and sat down on her bed. She said how sorry she was that Annie was so scared of her daddy and that he wasn’t a drinker when they first got married. He never wanted Annie’s mommy to work because he was a very proud man. He also told her he wanted to be the provider and take care of his two girls. When he started drinking he spent his pay checks on alcohol, which kept them from having the money they needed for important things like clothes, shoes and the household bills.

She told Annie, Pumpkin, please don’t do what I did. When you grow up promise me you’ll go to college and have a career and money of your own so you won’t ever have to depend on anyone else to provide for you. Please, don’t ever forget this, promise?

Ok, Mommy, I promise.

Two years later when Annie was in third grade, her mommy and Eddy got married. Annie was the maid of honor and it was a beautiful and happy day for all of them. Even Buttons was happy. It was about this time when Annie heard that her daddy had gotten drunk one night and crashed his car into a tree and died. Even though she had anger and resentment towards him, she remembered the happy times and was devastated.

When Annie turned nine, her little brother Jimmy was born.