Second Chance Reunion

Annie nodded and hurried away with the image of Ian’s smile filling her thoughts. She didn’t want that smile to make her think he might care about her on a personal level. That kind of thinking could only lead her to more heartache. She’d had more than her share, and she had no one to blame but herself.

Annie forced herself not to run or to look back at Ian. The whole meeting with him had been surreal. He’d been so matter-of-fact. He obviously didn’t have any remnants of those long-ago feelings they’d shared. To a casual observer, his demeanor would have given no hint that he’d been talking to his ex-wife.

* * *

Standing at the edge of the reception area, Ian observed Annie as she slipped out of the administration building without a backward glance. Against his will, he watched her through the glass door as she meandered down the walkway. When she was gone from his sight, he let out a harsh breath. He could hardly believe he’d remained so calm during their meeting. The last time they’d seen each other a rancorous conversation had ensued. He couldn’t let even a hint of old feelings enter his mind. Annie and he were history.

Ian wasn’t sure what he was going to do. How was he supposed to deal with his ex-wife? He had to treat her like any other resident. But was that possible? Emotions of every stripe flooded his mind. How could he ever focus on the board meeting after this conversation with her?

How could he consider helping her reunite with her children when he didn’t trust her? He’d been burned before by her pledges. Her two sweet children didn’t deserve to be manipulated by the promises their mother never kept. But she’d been in rehab for a year, and John Rice didn’t put up with misbehavior at his rehab center, so maybe she was clean. But could she stay that way?

Ian looked heavenward. “Why now, Lord? Why when I need to have my focus on keeping this place going? What do you want me to do with Annie?”

“Are you talking to yourself again, Mr. Ian?” The sound of Lovie Trimble’s voice floated his way.

Ian jerked his head toward the sound. “Saying a prayer ahead of the board meeting. I didn’t see you there.”

“I was delivering a message and returned just in time to hear you muttering.” She shook her head as she settled in her chair behind the reception desk. “That board meeting must have you in a dither.”

Ian smiled, knowing Lovie had no idea what had him talking to himself and offering prayers for help. “It’s a big meeting. Have any of the board members arrived yet?”

A wide grin wrinkling her face, she glanced at the clock on the wall opposite the desk. “Not yet, but I expect they’ll arrive any minute. Hope all goes well. Adam seemed a little on edge about it.”

“He has a lot riding on this. Lots of important decisions may happen today.” Ian nodded. “Put on your prayer warrior bonnet and start praying.”

Her chocolate-brown eyes twinkled. With her silver-gray hair, she looked like the queen bee behind the reception desk. “I’ve been praying for you two daily since the meeting was scheduled.”

“I should’ve known. You’re one of the people who puts ‘hope’ in The Village of Hope.”

“I think that description fits you and Adam, too.”

“I’d like to think so, but no one can beat you. You’re the face of hope when people walk in this front door.” Ian made a wide gesture around the entrance hall with its shiny marble floor and the two-story ceiling.

“Now you’re making me blush.” Lovie waved a hand at Ian. “Go on to your meeting before I wish I were thirty years younger and could end your bachelor days. Be warned. I’m on the lookout for a good match for you.”

“Forget the matchmaking. I’ve had my chance at love, and it didn’t work out.”

Lovie shook her head. “There are always second chances. When the right gal comes along and catches one glimpse of your Ryan Gosling good looks, she’ll win your heart.”

“I don’t need a woman. And quit comparing me to some movie star.”

“How can I help it when you look just like him?”

Ian rolled his eyes. “That’s debatable.”

“I saw you staring after that cute young woman with that dark hair and blue, blue eyes who just left. She might be a good match for you.”

Ian shook his head. “Lovie, what am I going to do with you? You can’t keep trying to match me up with every woman who walks in the door.”

“Sure I can.” Lovie chuckled.

Ian sighed. “Guess I can’t stop you. Got to get to that meeting. See you later.”

Turning on his heel, Ian headed for the conference room while Lovie’s laughter followed him down the hall. Wouldn’t she have a ball if she knew Annie was his ex-wife? He shook the thought away. He needed his focus on the upcoming meeting, not Annie.

With that thought in mind, Ian hurried toward the room where the board would meet. A silent prayer for a positive outcome formed in his mind as he entered.

Glad to be the first one here, he navigated past a large oak table surrounded by a dozen chairs in the center of the room. He stopped in front of the row of windows overlooking the campus quad. Like the spokes of a wheel, sidewalks radiated out from a fountain toward the buildings around the quad. He loved this place. He prayed again that nothing would happen to close it down. Too many people depended on the services provided here. Even Annie.

Footsteps sounded behind Ian. He turned and greeted two members of the board as they found seats at the table. Before they could converse further, several other men entered the room. The area filled with greetings, laughter and backslapping as the others found places to sit. Ian nodded to acknowledge the others who had joined them. After Melody and Adam entered the room, everyone settled in, and Ian pulled his notes from a folder.

Melody squeezed her chair in next to Ian’s and leaned closer. “How did your meeting with Annie go?”

Ian shrugged. “Okay. Did you talk to her again?”

“There wasn’t time.”

“True.” Ian wondered how he could’ve asked such a stupid question. He’d better get his thoughts in order. “We can confer later.”

After Adam opened the meeting with prayer, Ian surveyed the four women and eight men who comprised the board of directors. These folks had had a vision several years ago to turn this abandoned college campus on the outskirts of Atlanta into a place to minister to folks who needed a helping hand. Over the past year, they seemed to have lost the vision.

The meeting started with the mundane reports that always characterized such gatherings. After the reports and old business concluded, Bob Franklin, the board chairman, introduced new business. Ian held his breath. This was the subject he didn’t want to hear.

Bob cleared his throat. “I know some of you won’t like what I have to say, but it has to be said. This institution is in the red. Donations are down, way down. How can we be good stewards if we continue to pile on debt? I propose we end this ministry and try to sell the property—have an auction if we can’t find a buyer in the traditional way.”

Adam stood at the opposite end of the table. “What will happen to the people who live here and depend on what we have to offer?”

Bob raised his eyebrows. “We can refer them to other charitable organizations.”

Ian stood beside Adam. “Do you intend to make a formal motion to that effect?”

Bob glanced around the table. “Not now. I’d like to hear what everyone has to say.”

Ian forced himself not to jump in with his opinion. He resumed his seat. Patience. Persistence. Prayer. He let the words roll through his thoughts as he listened to each of the board members give their views. After all the board members had spoken, Ian had a big knot in his stomach. Only five of the members implied they wanted to keep The Village open. So if it came down to a vote today, things didn’t look good.

After looking over the group, Bob’s gaze settled on Ian. “Would y’all like to say something?”

“I’ll let Melody speak.” Ian gestured toward her.

Melody stood, her posture exuding confidence. “Thanks. When I took the women’s ministries coordinator job, I didn’t know how much this place would come to mean to me. But this isn’t about me. It’s about the hundreds of women who’ve been saved from abuse, who’ve found jobs and a better life. You can’t let a financial setback end this ministry. Remember what Jesus said in Luke. ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God.’”

When Melody returned to her seat, Adam stood. “Melody has given you only one of the reasons why we should continue. Have we lost the vision that started this ministry?”

Ian stood. Leaning forward, he placed his palms on the table and stared at the group. “Isn’t this where faith comes in? Remember the story of the Israelites when they crossed the Jordon River and conquered Jericho. The priests stepped into the river on faith, and they were able to cross the river on dry ground. The people marched around Jericho and the walls fell. Why can’t we have faith like that?”

No one said a thing. A mower outside sounded loud in the quiet room. Trying to gauge the response of the individual board members, he let his gaze roam from face to face until it rested on Bob Franklin. Bob stood, his expression giving no clue to his thoughts.

Bob folded his arms across his trim waist. “You make a good point, Ian, but sometimes we have to count the cost, too. Don’t you agree?”