pulse at the base of her neck throbbed rapidly. “I didn’t make this arrangement, Mr. Langford.”
“But you’re choosing to continue it.”
She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. “I have my reasons.”
“I’m sure you do. Goodbye.” He pivoted and took the steps slowly, replaying the encounter in his mind, examining every moment. Today’s exchange was totally different from years past. Mrs. Owens had taken great pleasure in reminding him of all the joys of life her son would never know. College, marriage, children and whatever else she had dreamed up in her warped mind. The woman had been bitter and vindictive.
Annelle Shepherd on the other hand appeared to be the opposite. He hadn’t sensed any anger in her tone or attitude, only resolve. At the sidewalk he turned and glanced back at the house. Mrs. Shepherd was still standing in the door, studying him. She darted back inside quickly and shut the door.
For the first time in fifteen years, Jake wished he had to pay another dollar tomorrow. He definitely wanted to know more about his new warden.
* * *
Annie shut the door, blocking her view of the departing Jake Langford. She closed her eyes, taking a few deep breaths to try and calm her racing heart. Her anxiety over her first encounter with the man had been replaced by surprise and confusion.
He was nothing like she’d expected, and she was unsure how to deal with the discovery. In her mind she’d always seen him as hard and unfeeling, with no respect for anyone. But the man who’d come to her door dressed in neatly pressed khaki pants and a pale green polo shirt resembled more of a successful business man than a hardened criminal.
He’d stood a good six feet, maybe more, with broad shoulders, a lean physique and warm, intelligent brown eyes. His dark walnut-toned hair was thick and perfectly styled. The intriguing angle of his features cast interesting shadows on his high cheekbones and generous mouth. The deep creases at the corners of his mouth peeked out when he spoke and softened the sharp line of his jaw.
Annie stared at the dollar in her hand. What was she supposed to do with it? Save it? Spend it? First she had to report it. Reaching for her phone she opened her contacts list. Her aunt’s attorney, Dalton Hall, took her call immediately. “How did it go?”
“Fine. He handed me the money and left.”
“Really? He didn’t give you any trouble?”
Mr. Hall’s tone revealed his surprise. “No. He was polite and respectful.”
“He wasn’t upset that the sentence is continuing?”
Clearly this year’s meeting had not developed the same way in the past. “I think he probably was, but he didn’t say anything. In fact, I had the impression that he regretted what happened.” That was a surprise.
“Interesting. Your aunt usually reported extensive verbal confrontations.”
She found it hard to imagine the polite, soft-spoken man at her door becoming belligerent. “He didn’t do anything like that.” A wave of sympathy coursed through her. It seemed cruel to force a man to relive the worst day of his life year after year. But she didn’t know how she would react if she were in the same position and had lost her son to a drunk driver. “It seems odd to me that she’d insist on maintaining this arrangement.”
“Your aunt was a very unhappy woman, Mrs. Shepherd. I tried repeatedly to persuade her to let go of this arrangement, but she was adamant.”
“I guess I can’t blame her. Langford’s actions cost them their only child. Her grief must have been overwhelming.”
“I suppose so. Thank you for reporting.”
After promising to contact him if she needed anything, she ended the call and slipped the phone in her shorts pocket, breathing a deep sigh of relief. All in all, the whole encounter had gone quickly and with no conflict at all. If these yearly visits were as easy as today, then she could stop worrying about it. Though she was puzzled by the contradiction in what she’d been told and what had occurred just now. Her Aunt Margaret had always complained to Annie’s mother about how difficult the yearly meetings were, how the man showed no remorse or concern for the pain he had caused her family.
The whole arrangement with Langford made her uncomfortable. It seemed excessive, harsh and not at all like the sweet, fun-loving aunt she remembered from childhood. Since meeting him face-to-face, she found it hard to believe that he was so cold and hard-hearted that he didn’t regret what happened. Prolonging his sentence served no purpose.
What kind of burden did the irrational sentence impose on him? Was he able to push it to the back of his mind for three hundred and sixty-four days or did it nag at him like a pebble in his shoe, never far from his thoughts? Annie shoved the encounter to the back of her mind. Accepting his money was a small price to pay for inheriting a home for her boys and financial security.
She folded the dollar bill in half and placed it in the desk drawer in the living room and turned her attention to her next task, getting her new home in order. The house had been closed up like a tomb for years and her aunt had buried herself inside with her possessions, which explained why the rooms had smelled musty when they’d first walked in. Even leaving the windows open for a few days hadn’t chased the smell away completely.
In the two weeks they’d been here, she only managed to clean out the bedrooms and the family room. Her next objective was to remove the excess furniture and then tackle the kitchen, which was overstuffed with enough food for a decade. She had big plans for this house. With a little paint, some updating and a lot of hard work it could be something special.
As she made her way to the stairs, her gaze drifted to the front door. For some reason she couldn’t get Jake Langford out of her mind. She had a feeling it would have been a lot easier to dismiss the meeting if he was more like the image in her mind, and not the attractive man he was.
She hated that she even noticed his good looks. There had been an aura of strength and control about him. His eyes were intelligent and thoughtful. If she’d met him under different circumstances she would have called him warm and friendly.
But the circumstances weren’t different. Besides, men had no place in her life. Ever again. Her only goal was to provide for her boys. Her new teaching position at Jefferson Elementary started soon and her first faculty meeting was this week.
Thankfully she’d be too preoccupied with work to think about Langford. She wouldn’t see him again for a year.
* * *
Jake finished tying his running shoes the next morning before grabbing his vibrating cell phone. His good friend Harley Evan’s name was displayed. “Hey. Make it quick. I’m going on a run.”
“Did you know that Coach Baker at Hillcrest High is retiring after this year?”
Not what he’d expected his friend to say. “No kidding. Is Dave Morrow taking over?”
“No. That’s why I’m calling. The athletic director is looking for someone younger to fill the spot. You need to put your application in before anyone else does.”
It was an opportunity he’d been hoping for. Moving back to Hastings had been a blessing, but it had dealt a blow to
