Why was he single? What had he been doing since the accident? What did he do for a living? There was no denying he was an attractive man. With his dark coloring and his athletically toned physique, he was the kind of man who turned women’s heads.
Annie slid behind the wheel of her car and started the engine. Thankfully, now that school was starting next week, she’d have too much on her mind to entertain thoughts of Jake. There’d be homework and chores in the evenings and earlier bedtimes. Weekends would be spent working on the house and maybe, now that she had a little extra money, she could take the twins to the zoo or to the beach. All the things they’d been unable to enjoy before.
Her spirits lifted as she drove across Hastings to Jefferson Elementary. Her gaze scanned the facility as she parked her car in a faculty slot. An old two-story brick building anchored the school, with two awkwardly placed additions jutting out behind. Despite the haphazard design, the structure had a certain charm about it.
Annie made her way to the principal’s office, her spirits rising. She was starting another new phase of her life today. It felt good. Principal Winters was a robust black man with a bright smile and a deep voice that rumbled when he spoke. He greeted her with a warm handshake, and then she sat down to go over last-minutes details.
“You’ll be in room 20C. That’s the last room at the end of the long corridor, where the fifth and sixth graders are located. You should have time to take a quick peek before the meeting starts. We’ll all meet in the library, which is right next door. I’d like to take you around myself but I’ve got some urgent things to do before the meeting.”
“I can wander around on my own.”
“But I don’t want you to get lost. It seems like a simple layout but it has some twists and turns that can be confusing.”
He looked up and smiled, waving to someone outside the room. “Come in here. I want you to meet someone.”
Annie glanced over her shoulder and froze. Jake Langford strode into the office. What was he doing here?
Principal Winters shook hands with Jake and then turned to her. “Annie, I’d like you to meet Coach Langford. Jake, this is our newest faculty member, Annie Shepherd. She’ll be teaching fifth grade in your part of the school.”
Stunned, she could only offer a slight nod. It was clear from the tight expression on his face that Langford was none too pleased to see her here either.
“Jake, why don’t you give Mrs. Shepherd a tour, then show her to her room while I get ready for the meeting? In fact, why don’t you be her partner for the year? Show her the ropes. Mrs. Shepherd, we’re glad you’re with us. I hope you’ll be happy here.”
She muttered an appropriate response and then followed him out into the hall. “Why didn’t you tell me you were a coach here?”
“Why would I? I didn’t know you’d be teaching here.” He started down the hall, forcing her to catch up. “The cafeteria is down that way. The gym is at the end of the south corridor over there.”
She grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop. “What are we going to do about this?”
“Nothing.”
He stopped and opened a door to one of the classrooms. “This is your room. I’m right across the hall in 18C. If you need anything just ask. Mary Gayton is in room 19C. She’ll be glad to help too.”
Annie stepped inside her new classroom. It was large with lots of windows overlooking the playing field. The desks were old-style but still serviceable. Her desk was large and positioned at the front with file cabinets nearby. And on two walls, large blackboards took up most of the space. It was going to be nice working here. With the exception of Langford.
“I’ll see you at the meeting.”
He started to leave but she hurried forward. She hadn’t been paying attention to where they were going. She’d been too distracted by the shock of finding him here. “Wait. Mr. Langford, I don’t think I can find my way back.”
He held her gaze. “Jake.”
She swallowed past the sudden lump in her throat. “Annie.” He closed the door to her room and started walking.
She tried to pay attention to the turns he made on the way, but lost track after the third one. His silence was wearing on her nerves. “You don’t have a problem working together?” The look he gave her left her puzzled. She couldn’t tell if he was incredulous, irritated or just plain angry.
“Do you?”
Oh, she most definitely did. It was a matter of common sense. Mingling with the man who’d killed her cousin, the man who was still serving a sentence—albeit perhaps an unfairly extended one—was awkward to say the least. Not to mention she was already more curious about him than she should be. Now she’d be exposed to him around the clock. The whole thing was too unsettling for her liking.
“Hey, Jake.”
A very attractive African American woman hurried toward them as they neared the library, throwing her arms around Jake’s neck and giving him a big hug.
“Hey, Sharee. Good to see you. Annie, this is Sharee DeMarco, our school counselor. Sharee, this is our new fifth-grade teacher, Annelle Shepherd.”
The woman quickly transferred the hug to her, wrapping her in warmth and a scent of spearmint. “Welcome to Jefferson. I’m so glad to meet you. It’s always so nice to have new faces around.” She turned back to Jake. “How was Belize?”
“Hot but rewarding.”
“Amen to that. You two had better scoot. The meeting starts in a few minutes.” She winked, waved and sauntered down the hall, toward the office.
Annie frowned as she looked at Jake. “Belize?”
“A mission trip. I just got back a few days ago.”
She followed Jake into the library, struggling to process the discovery that he’d gone on a mission trip. The more she learned about him, the less it added up. He introduced her to the fourth-grade teacher, Linda Bain, and then walked off to join the other male teachers. Despite his words that working together wasn’t a problem, she suspected he didn’t like it any more than she did.
She turned her attention to Linda, who welcomed her warmly, introducing her to a couple of other faculty members before they took their seats.
“So, you know Jake already?”
Annie searched for an appropriate response. “We’ve met.”
“He’s a great guy. And a great sixth-grade teacher. He coaches junior high football and baseball too.”
Her heart sank into her stomach. Jake was the sixth-grade teacher? The twins were in the sixth grade. That meant they’d have Jake as their teacher. This whole situation was getting more and more complicated. She didn’t think she wanted her sons being taught by a man with his background. The people here didn’t appear to have any issues, but then they probably didn’t know about the accident. Maybe she should switch the twins back to their normal school. Annie muttered a polite response. “He sounds very dedicated.”
“Totally.
