Merrillee Whren - Second Chance Reunion

“That’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. We need to get things started for you, so someday you can do the same thing—go out on your own.”

“We can always do this later.” Annie tried to smile. The prospect of being on her own both excited and frightened her.

“There’s no point in putting this off when Ian can help you with this paperwork.” Melody headed for the door. “I’ll drive you over to the administration building so you can meet with him in his office. Then you and Ian can discuss your case further.”

Wondering whether she should tell Melody that Ian didn’t plan to be her legal counsel, Annie followed the other woman out to her car. Annie got into the passenger seat and decided she would keep her mouth shut. Ian would eventually have to explain everything. “Shouldn’t we call him first? Maybe he’s busy.”

Melody pulled her car to a stop in the parking lot. “Ian is never too busy to help me out. He’s there when I need him.”

Jealousy erupted in Annie’s mind. Did this mean Ian and Melody were involved? Annie chided herself for letting old feelings creep into her thoughts. She’d relinquished any claim on Ian when she’d left him.

“That’s good. It’s always nice to have someone you can count on.” She hadn’t been there for Ian. That was part of the reason she was in her current mess. Making a fresh start would be so much easier if he wasn’t in the mix. What would he say when she was foisted on him again without warning?

Chapter Two

Annie could barely keep up with Melody as she went through a side door at the end of the hallway where Ian’s office was located. Where did Melody get her energy? She walked faster than anyone Annie knew.

Melody tapped on the door, then went into the office without waiting for an invitation. Reluctantly, Annie followed. Ian looked up from his desk and met Annie’s gaze. An expression she couldn’t define crossed his face. Was he worried she had explained their former relationship to Melody?

Then Ian looked at Melody and smiled. “What can I do for you ladies?”

He had a smile for Melody but not for her. Jealousy slithered back into Annie’s heart. She didn’t want to feel this way. Nothing good could come from it.

Melody laid papers on his desk. “Could you go over these with Annie and then show her around campus? I had planned to, but one of my ladies is getting her own place.”

Ian smiled again. “Sure. I know how excited you get when that happens. Go. I’ll take care of this.”

“Thanks. You’re a sweetheart.” Melody turned to Annie. “I’ll check with you after I get back.”

Annie nodded, feeling like a hot potato that everyone kept tossing about. She watched Melody leave. Alone with Ian, Annie didn’t know what to say or how to act. What was he thinking? Did she dare look at him?

“So here we are again.”

Annie turned, expecting a frown but found a wry smile instead. “Yeah, probably not what you really want to be doing.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“But you were thinking it.”

“So now you’re a mind reader?” He raised his eyebrows.

“No.” She dropped her gaze. He always used to say that when she would tell him what he was supposedly thinking. Why did she have to keep remembering things from the past? Why couldn’t she look forward, not back?

“Just because I think it’s better for someone else to represent you in court doesn’t mean I’m going to turn my back on you completely.”

He didn’t say it, but he might as well have finished the sentence with like you did to me. The past barged into her thoughts again. It was as bad as the drugs and alcohol that had once enslaved her. She couldn’t shake it. “What do I have to do?”

“Let’s see what we’ve got here.” Ian picked up the papers Melody had left. “The usual forms we have new residents fill out so we know your job skills.”

“But you know those.”

“But Melody doesn’t, and she needs this for her records.” Ian handed her the papers and a pen. “Fill this out.”

Annie skimmed the pages as Ian busied himself with something on his computer. The papers were essentially a job application and a personality test. Annie filled in the information with a renewed hope. Seeing her job experience in writing made her realize she had some marketable skills. But how many employers were willing to take a chance on a former drug addict? The past again. She couldn’t banish it from her mind.

“Here.” She let out a loud sigh as she finished and handed the papers back to Ian. “I wasn’t sure about the contact information for my former bosses.”

“That’s usually the case with most of our new residents. This is mainly to see what experience you’ve had so we can help you search for the right kind of employment.”

“Okay.” Annie sat there, her stomach whirling with nervous anticipation. “Do you think I’ll find a job?”

“With your degree and experience, I’m sure you’ll find something.” Ian stood. “Now that you’ve filled these out, let’s tour the rest of the campus. We can start in this building, and then I’ll point out where all of our other ministries are located.”

“I’d like that.” Annie jumped up, eager to do something besides sit in Ian’s office. Even though being with Ian was difficult, it was better than being alone.

Ian headed for the door, then turned. “We’ll drop this stuff off in Melody’s office before we start the tour.”

Unlike Melody, Ian didn’t outpace Annie as they headed down the hallway. Did he remember she had short legs and couldn’t keep up with his long strides? He used to call her “short stuff” and would stand with his chin resting on the top of her head to prove it. Another recollection. How was she going to overcome the constant barrage of memories?

He stopped and pushed the envelope through the slot in Melody’s office door. When they reached a set of double doors at the opposite end of the hallway from Ian’s office, he opened the door for her.

Annie stepped into the cavernous space and took in the floor-to-ceiling mahogany-colored bookcases along three walls. A curved marble staircase hugged the fourth wall and led to the upper floor with an ornately carved balustrade. To the right were the checkout desk and two conference rooms, and on the left two rows of cubicles contained computers and monitors. “Wow! This is fantastic.”

“This is the former college library. I knew you’d like it. I remember how you loved to read.”

Annie nodded, knowing that was before drugs and alcohol had numbed her brain. She’d begun to read again in rehab, and she wanted desperately to read to her kids and introduce them to the children’s books she loved. A spark of surprise that Ian recalled her love of books ignited some happiness. “Do they have a children’s section?”

“Absolutely. Back in the far corner.” Ian led the way. “Since we have a dozen houses for children, this part of the library gets a lot of use. We’ll take a walk through the area where the children’s homes are located. We have a day care there, too, where you’ll be able to take Spencer and Kara while you’re at work.”

Ian’s positive comment put hope in Annie’s heart even though at times it seemed as though he didn’t believe his own statements. “I’d love to bring them here.”

“And we’re going to make that happen.”

Annie wanted to believe that was possible. But with Ian passing her off on one of his friends, did he really mean it? Annie straightened her spine and lifted her chin high. “How are you going to make that happen when you won’t represent me?”

* * *

The urge to take Annie by those stiff shoulders and shake some sense into her zigzagged through Ian’s mind, but he crossed his arms in order not to act on the ignoble thought. Why did she have to keep questioning his best wishes for her welfare? How could he convince her that he wanted everything good for her without personally involving himself in her life? That’s the last thing either of them needed. He decided it was best to just ignore her question.