Second Chance Reunion. Merrillee Whren

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      The other woman’s gray business suit, a sharp contrast to Annie’s blue jeans and white knit top, reminded Annie of her mother—all business and not much love. Annie longed for a gentle mother figure—something she hadn’t had growing up. Her mother had handed Annie and her brother over to nannies and housekeepers. Marcia Payton had always been too busy for her own children.

      Annie chastised herself. How could she have such critical feelings about her mother when she’d neglected her own children so much that they’d been taken away? She had no right to judge anyone, least of all her mother. Annie had felt emotional neglect, but nobody reported that to the Division of Family and Children Services. At thirty years of age, why was she worried about having a mother in her life? She should concentrate on being the kind of mother her own children could depend on.

      “No need to be sorry.” Melody sat on the sofa. “I’d like to get some more information from you so I can help you find a job. That’s part of what we do here.”

      “That’s good to know. What information do you need?” Annie hoped it wasn’t something she didn’t want to talk about.

      Before Melody could answer, her cell phone rang. She glanced at it. “I’m sorry. I need to take this call.”

      “No problem.”

      Annie sat at the other end of the sofa while Melody spoke in excited tones. Annie gathered that the call brought good news. She wished she could receive good news, too. But hadn’t she? She had a wonderful place to live. She should be grateful for the good things and try to move on from the bad. But with the history between her and Ian lying in wait to disrupt everything, she had a hard time being optimistic.

      When Melody finished, she looked over at Annie. “Sorry about that. One of my ladies is ready to leave The Village and go out on her own, and someone has donated secondhand furniture for her to use in her new apartment. She’ll be so excited.”

      “That’s wonderful for her.”

      “Yes, it is.” Picking up the portfolio, Melody stood. “But, unfortunately for you, I have to meet the folks with the furniture, and that means cutting our meeting short.”

      “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 СКАЧАТЬ