by Lyn Cote
“Call him, Jack,” Annie murmured.
“I don’t hear from him for years,” Jack fumed, “and now he calls my office and I meet him at the hospital Friday, and he stops over at my mom’s on Saturday. This morning he calls my office again.”
“Maybe you’re reading too much into it. Maybe he just wants you to do a job for him because you’re the best at what he needs done.” Her voice was earnest.
He resisted the new and unexpected attraction he’d felt for her all this unusual day. “With Tom on vacation and you on family leave—”
“Just call your dad back and set up a lunch date.” She took a step closer. “What’s so hard about that?”
“Having lunch with my dad tops my list of Things I Don’t Want to Do.” He folded his arms.
“How about if I went with you to that lunch? I can do that much.” She waved to someone across the street. “A neighbor could watch the twins.”
“No,” he objected. “I wouldn’t ask you to take time away from your family. The twins need you.” He turned away slightly, but still gazed at Annie, wishing there was something he could do to ease her worry. But there wasn’t anything more he could do for her or her nephews. And...why hadn’t he ever noticed that she had a small mole on one of her ears—just like Austin?
“Well, you could always ask him to meet us—all of us—at the Polska Cafe.” As she motioned down the street, a shadow of a grin passed over Annie’s face. “I’m sure it’s just his kind of restaurant.”
Jack looked down the street at the busy neighborhood cafe. His dad with his Rolex and Brooks Brothers suit at the Polska Cafe? He chuckled. “Why not?”
“Jack, no. I was only joking.”
“Then, the joke’s on him.” Jack chuckled and got into the car, ignoring Annie’s further objections.
The next day, Tuesday around noon, Annie entered the Polska Cafe. She glanced around to make sure neither Jack nor his dad had already arrived for their business lunch. The little cafe, not redecorated since it opened in 1947, hummed with voices, laughter and the clatter of dishes and flatware. Annie winced inside at the contrast between her worried self and the happy, unconcerned mood in the cafe.
“Hey! Annie, how are you?” Plump, aproned “Mama” Kalanovski, standing behind the counter, leaned over to Annie and asked in a low voice, revealing that the neighborhood had not missed the troubles at the Petrov two-flat, “Any word from Melissa?”
“She and Troy are talking...”
Mama clucked her tongue sympathetically.
Every day, the fact of Melissa’s leaving became harder to accept, not easier. And now, this business lunch. Annie felt keyed up and dragged down at the same time. “I need a table for three.”
“Okay.”' Within moments, Mama had a table wiped and set. “Your dad and Troy coming?” Mama asked.
“No, my boss and his, uh...client.” Annie sat down, facing the entrance.
“Your big boss from downtown?” Mama’s awed voice boomed over the jovial din. “The one Mike calls ‘The Brain’?”
Nearby customers turned to look at Annie. Not meeting anyone’s eye, she nodded to Mama. If Jack and his dad don’t back out.
Just then, Jack strode in, looking out of place in his business casual. The summer sunshine pouring through the front window lit up the red in his chestnut hair.
A brief break in the surrounding chatter alerted Annie that his entrance had been duly noted. She waved, ignoring the attention Jack’s entrance had drawn. Why did he have to look so good, so tempting? I have to resign...soon. But Melissa’s leaving Troy had greatly overshadowed Annie’s dilemma over leaving Jack.
Annie’s love for Jack still simmered inside her, overlaid with hopelessness. She tightened her self-control, making her face blandly welcome.
Jack reached her. “Annie, something’s come up. Has Tom called you?”
“Tom?” Her face twisted in surprise. “No. Was he supposed to? What’s happened?”
Jack sat down across from her. “He called me this morning on my cell phone. He said a few words, then we were cut off.” Jack shrugged. “I tried to call him back but I couldn’t get him.”
“What did he want?” She recalled her own uneasiness about Tom the last time she’d seen him. So much had happened since that Friday evening. It felt like a thousand years ago.
Jack frowned. “What he said didn’t make a lot of sense—”
“There’s your father,” Annie cut in. She nodded toward the front. Jack rose. Annie noted the hardening of his jaw as he motioned to the man who hesitated just inside the entrance.
Lord, I’m here to help Jack, to run interference between the two of them. Help me because I don’t feel up to this today.
Cliff Lasater, wearing a crisp, lightweight tan business suit, stood out like an alien. Most diners were retirees and workmen from nearby factories. He glanced around critically as he moved to join their table. Those around him returned his obvious inspection with a variety of reactions—lifted eyebrows, grunts and some glares.
Annie sighed inwardly. She would be interrogated in the “friendliest” way for the next few weeks: “Who was that with you at the Polska?”
“Hello.” Cliff greeted them. “I remember, you’re Annie, right?”
Annie nodded.
After glancing at the chair as though assessing its cleanliness, Cliff sat down beside Jack. “Do you eat here often?” He asked the question in a tone that also asked, Why would you eat in a place like this and why would you ask me to join you?
Annie bristled at the condescension in his tone. “I know this isn’t what you’re used to—”
“We can do business here.” Jack leaned back in his chair. “That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?” His tone was a challenge to his dad.
“Well, I’m glad we’re finally meeting.” Cliff glanced around, looking increasingly uncomfortable.
“It’s a bit crowded here. I’d hoped for a more confidential meeting place—”
“I don’t think you have to worry—” Jack dismissed his father’s objection with a wave “—about anyone here being interested in whatever problem you’ve come to discuss.” He opened up his plastic-covered handwritten menu, closing the discussion.
Annie smiled to soften Jack’s abruptness. “The Polska is noted for its Polish and Slovenian specialties. They make all their sausage, baked goods and breads—everything from scratch.”
Mama bustled over and distributed glasses of ice water. “Welcome to the Polska! Do you need more time, or do you know what you want?”
Cliff looked to Annie instead of the menu. “Perhaps you could suggest something?”
“I’m going to have the spring salad and a poppy seed roll,” Annie said. “In this heat, I can’t eat much.” That would be as good an excuse as any for her lack of appetite.
Mama clucked her tongue. “Okay, the spring and a poppy seed for you. That’s good, all right, but not enough for a bird.”
“Well, I’ll be a bird, too, then,” Cliff said, and smiled. “Same for me.”
Jack glanced at Mama. “I’ll have your Reuben sandwich and iced tea.”
“Very good.” Mama beamed at him. “We make our own sauerkraut and rye bread.” She bustled away.
“Jack, how is your mother?” Cliff asked, sounding to Annie more polite than concerned.
“She’s feeling better.” Jack wouldn’t look at his dad.
Annie sensed the instant wall Jack had put up between him and his father. Did Cliff sense it, too?
“Why don’t we get started with business?” she suggested.
“Hope Medical has an untarnished reputation—” Cliff began.
“Cut to the chase,” Jack interrupted in a brusque tone. “What is it that Hope Medical needs?”
Cliff grimaced and then cleared his throat “Hope Medical Group is responsible for a few hospitals, clinical labs and several large practices in the metro area in a combined financial and medical organization.” Cliff folded his hands on
the table and leaned on his elbows. “We save money on financial costs by joining together. Somehow, our billing system has been compromised—”
“A hacker?” Jack asked.
“We don’t know.” Cliff looked even more uneasy and his voice lowered until Annie had to lean forward to hear him over the voices around them. “Our last two billings were rife with errors—over-billing, double-billing, incorrect charges, that kind of thing. A lot of zeros popping up where they didn’t belong.”
“It might have been a software glitch.” Jack sounded unconcerned. He crossed his arms and leaned back.
Annie tried to look interested in Hope’s problems, but Jack worried her more. Why had she suggested meeting at the Polska? The intense exchange didn’t belong in this cheerful place.
“Whatever it is—” Cliffs tone stiffened “—we’ve assured the insurance companies and clients that we’ll fix the problem ASAP. I know LIT primarily creates medical information systems, but you’ve done updating and problem-solving before.”
“Is that why you chose LIT?” Jack finally looked his dad in the eye.
Yes, Jack would want to know that. Annie sipped her iced tea, praying God would pour oil over these troubled waters.
“Another Board member looked into possible companies to contact.” Obviously not trusting the Polska’s dishwasher, Cliff used a paper napkin to polish his tableware. “Anyway, he knew I had a son in information technology and called me to see if Lasater Information Tech was yours. He suggested we contact you.”
Jack’s lips turned to a straight line. “So that’s why you called?”
Annie knew Cliff couldn’t have said anything that would anger Jack more than this. According to Sandy, Jack hadn’t even let Cliff pay for his college expenses. He wanted nothing from his father.
“I didn’t use my influence, if that’s what you mean, Jack.” Cliff’s tone hardened. “Your reputation is excellent and the Board hoped that if you, with our family association, did the work, we could keep this under wraps. We don’t want to lose credibility with our customers, make more out of this than we should. If customers begin to doubt a system, we could have people disputing charges. It would be a real mess.”
“I see.” Jack looked downward.
So Annie tried to read Jack’s tone. Was he softening toward the idea of working for his dad or not?
“I’d like to have your answer today or by Friday at the latest. Our billing cycle waits for no man. And what if Medicare or Medicaid accounts are compromised this time? There could be all kinds of legal fallout. And I don’t even want to think about compromising of medical records. Who knows how far this will go if we don’t stop it now?”
Glancing up, Jack frowned.
Annie knew he didn’t like to be pressured by clients. That was one of Tom’s jobs—to keep the clients from irritating Jack. But this was an urgent situation and they needed the work.
“I think you’ve come to the right firm.” Annie spoke up in Tom’s absence. And nudged Jack’s foot under the table.
“We’ll do it,” Jack muttered.
Annie swallowed her surprise. Having Jack take the job had been what she’d wanted, but she’d expected to have to coax him after lunch. What had caused this turnaround?
At the front of the cafe, her sister Melissa entered and glanced around.
Heads turned to look at her. News traveled fast in this neighborhood.
Annie’s pulse pounded in her temples.
Melissa stalked toward her.
Annie should be happy to see her sister, but Melissa’s stormy expression didn’t reassure her. Was she mad at her? Why?
Chapter 4
Later that evening in Sandy’s driveway, Annie opened the door of her dad’s pickup and got out. Her mind still whirred with vivid words and expressions from her intense confrontation with Melissa in front of the Polska this afternoon.
“Come on, boys.” Biting her lower lip, she motioned the twins to climb down from their seats at the rear of the extended cab.
“Is this where Mr. Lasater lives?” Austin asked, his eyes wide. He scrambled down onto the running board and then jumped with both feet to the sun-warmed asphalt.
His obvious excitement about seeing Jack again brought a lump to Annie’s throat. “You two, be on your best behavior,” Annie warned.
Why wouldn’t Melissa listen to me, Lord? How can she just step away from her sons?
Melissa’s accusation: “Why did you talk to Troy’s mother about me?” How unfair, still burned in Annie’s memory.
“We will!” Andy promised, jumping down to join his brother.
Annie’s dad caught up with them at the front of the blue truck. “Maybe we should have called first.” He ran a hand around his waistband, tucking in his already tucked-in, freshly ironed shirt. Annie heard voices from the backyard.
“No, they’re here. Sandy! Jack!” she called from the driveway. “It’s me, Annie...and company!”
With a heavy heart she led her “men” around the corner of the house to Sandy’s small patio.
Jack and his mother sat on lawn chairs at a round table. The cooling evening breeze riffled the rain-stained fringe on the faded umbrella and the leaves on the nearby maple trees.
“Mike! Annie! What a nice surprise!” Sandy greeted the group as they came around the corner of her house. “Mike, who do you have with you?”
Jack stood up. “Mike?”
Annie caught the confused expression Jack turned toward his mother, and paused for a moment. Hadn’t Sandy told him? “Jack, this is my dad, Mike Petrov. And you already know Austin and Andy.”
“Mr. Lasater! Hi!” The twins dropped Annie’s hands and charged Jack, wrapping their arms around his knees.
A palm on, Austin’s head, Jack shook hands with Mike and looked to Annie, a question on his face. “I didn’t expect to see you again today.”
Annie tried to smile, but his words only brought back the embarrassing scene. When Melissa had shown up, Annie had been forced to leave Jack alone with Cliff and step outside. She was sure they’d seen and overheard as much as everyone else at the Polska. Her sister had had no right to say what she had to Annie. Melissa had made it sound as if Annie was siding with Troy against her. I didn’t cause this problem, Lord.
More importantly how had her unexpected departure affected the business deal with Hope?
“Please sit down,” Sandy invited, motioning toward the remaining chairs.
Jack pulled out a chair for Annie and then sat back down. Without hesitation, the boys clambered up on Jack, each settling on a knee. Jack ruffled their hair and grinned. Jack was a good guy. The boys obviously recognized that intuitively. The sight caused a lump in Annie’s throat.
Handing Sandy a printed sheet, Mike dragged over a chair to sit right beside Sandy and her crutches. “I just wanted to bring over your building permit.”
“Building permit?” Jack echoed, consternation in his tone.
“You got it already?” Beaming brightly like the molten-bronze sun sinking below the treetops, Sandy accepted the paper. She acted as if she hadn’t heard Jack.
“Yeah.” Mike moved closer to Sandy, leaning over her to view the document now in her hand. “I’ll post it on a tree in your front yard and I’ll get started as soon as I wind up the final details on a couple of other jobs.”
Sandy gazed at the form, a broad smile on her face.
Ignoring a silent appeal from Jack, Annie leaned over and tied Andy’s loose shoelace. Jack, I’m not explaining this. It’s Sandy’s job.
“Mom—” Jack started.
“Isn’t this great, Jack?” Sandy turned to her son. “Mike gave me the best bid and even drew up the plans for the remodel for me himself.”
“I... You never said anything... I didn’t know you’d gone this far with your plans.” Jack looked displeased.
Annie glanced at Sandy, who was turning pink.
“You’re a busy man. And I can handle this.” Sandy tapped Mike�
�s arm. “Now, who are these two ragamuffins?”
Annie kept her attention on her dad. He had an odd grin on his face. She’d thought it was funny that he wanted to drop over here tonight.
“They’re my grandsons—” Mike began.
“We’re Austin and Andy!” Austin announced. “We came to see Mr. Lasater.”
Though Jack didn’t look happy, he jiggled his knees, bouncing the boys and making them giggle.
“Mr. Lasater bought us candy bars,” Andy confided.
“How nice.” Sandy looked over to him. “Jack, that reminds me. Would you go in and get some refreshments for our guests?”
“No, Sandy—” Mike started to object.
“It’s no problem, Mike,” Sandy said, touching his arm again. “Jack will do it while I get acquainted with your grandsons. It’s such a lovely evening and I’ve been cooped up here since Friday night with these crutches, though Jack has been keeping me company.”
“Sure. I’ll go get some iced tea,” Jack said in a disgruntled voice that he didn’t try to mask. He urged the twins down from his lap and stood up.
“Come here, boys.” Mike held out his arms and the twins scrambled onto his lap.
“I’ll help,” Annie offered.
Jack tried not to frown over Mike’s intrusion. The twins rushing to him had been as unexpected as it was satisfying. But how had this building permit happened without his knowing? And why did Annie’s dad have to sit so close to his mother? What was up with his mom?
Jack led Annie into the kitchen. He stood at the counter pouring milk into plastic cups for the twins and then adding ice cubes to tall glasses and pouring tea. A fragrance that whispered “Annie” was all around him.
“Are you wearing a new perfume or something?” he asked, letting out his irritation.
“No. In fact, I don’t wear any perfume.”
“Then, what do I smell?”
Annie shook her head at him. “It’s probably just my shampoo or soap.”
“Oh.” He wanted to say that it was a good scent. He liked it, but... He said instead, “You have the twins again.”