Second Chance Reunion

by Merrillee Whren

  Melody frowned. “And your parents had no clue?”

  “I’m sure if they had, my dad would’ve put an end to it, but both sets of parents were too busy with their own pursuits to notice.”

  “Did your parents approve of your relationship with Annie?”

  “Yeah. My parents loved Annie. They thought two good Christian kids were right for each other. They never imagined what we were doing.”

  “They never questioned anything?”

  Ian shrugged. “How was your date with Annie? That’s about the extent of it.

  “After college graduation we both got good jobs in Orlando. When we eloped without telling our parents, they weren’t very happy, but we didn’t care. We were living the high life. At least that’s what we thought.”

  “What happened?”

  “About six months after we were married, I had a business meeting one night and had a lot to drink. No one was keeping track, or they wouldn’t have let me drive home. I could hold my liquor and didn’t appear to be drunk, but I was. Way over the limit.”

  “So you drove drunk?”

  Ian nodded. “Not something I like to admit. Thankfully, I was the only one involved in the accident. On the way home, I was going too fast and failed to negotiate a curve. I slammed into a tree on a remote road. Someone finally drove by and saw my car lights in the woods. Somehow I managed to survive, and the accident served as a wake-up call.”

  “Did your parents finally know how you’d been living?”

  “Yeah, I confessed everything, expecting my dad to blow through the roof, but instead, he actually cried. He prayed for me and took time off from his pulpit. He stayed in Orlando until I’d recovered enough to go back to Atlanta at his insistence.”

  “What about Annie? Where was she during all this?”

  “I think the whole episode scared her, too. She was there for me. She quit partying on the weekends with our friends and moved back to Atlanta with me and got a good job. She helped me while I was going through the grueling physical therapy. She couldn’t have been more supportive.”

  Melody’s brow wrinkled. “So how did everything fall apart, or is this the part you don’t want to talk about?”

  “I feel responsible for her not staying sober.”

  “Why?

  “When I fully recovered, I decided to go to law school. My parents encouraged it, and even Annie seemed to think it was a good idea and said we could live on her salary. We even started going to church together.”

  “Sounds like things were going well.”

  Ian stared at the floor, then finally looked up. “Yeah, for a while. I think my going back to school was partly to blame for Annie falling back into her old ways. Those first few months of law school, I spent a lot of time studying with my study group. Annie was at loose ends and started going out with her coworkers after work. Pretty soon she was drinking again, but I wasn’t paying attention to her activities.”

  “You can’t blame yourself for what she did. She made her own decisions.”

  “I know, but if I’d paid more attention to my wife, things might have been different.”

  Melody shook her head. “You don’t know that. How do you feel about Annie being here?”

  Ian wondered how he could explain the emotions he was feeling. He didn’t want to reveal the hurt, the humiliation or the sense of failure Annie’s presence produced. “Let’s just say it’s complicated. I want to help her, but her broken promises over the years don’t inspire my trust.”

  “I’m beginning to see a lot of things.” Melody scooted forward in her chair. “After hearing about your relationship with Annie, I know this is a lot to ask, but I still think we need to give her a chance to prove herself.”

  “With our finances?”

  “Yes. I believe it will give her a sense of purpose and help with her recovery.”

  Ian gritted his teeth as he got up and walked over to his office window and looked out at this place he loved. Could Annie’s financial knowledge help save The Village, or would it only lead to more trouble? What a miserable set of circumstances he faced in an effort to put this ministry on a solid footing—dealing with his father and his ex-wife. Ian turned back to Melody. “You know I’ll do just about anything to keep The Village going. So I’ll go along with your suggestion about Annie, but you can believe I’ll be watching her every move.”

  Chapter Three

  The quiet of the massive church auditorium enveloped Ian as he walked down the carpeted aisle, his footsteps barely making a sound. The plush stadium seats reminded him of a theater. Thousands came to worship here each Sunday and hear his dad preach. Many people had come to know the Lord through this church, but Ian had never felt at home here while he was growing up. He wished he had. Then maybe he and Annie wouldn’t have drifted away from the church and wound up living ungodly lives.

  As a preacher’s kid, he should’ve been someone who led her away from the devastating behavior, but instead, he had joined her—both of them trying to escape the unhappiness with their family situations. She didn’t think her family cared about her, because her parents were too consumed with their jobs and were never home. He, on the other hand, hated being a preacher’s kid because everyone expected him to be faultless, like his two older brothers.

  Ian found the perfect companion in Annie. They shared a feeling of disinterest from their parents and siblings. Annie’s solution was to engage in risky activities. Ian had loved her as much as a sixteen-year-old boy could love a girl, and he feared losing her love if he tried to persuade her not to do those things. Maybe he could’ve saved her from self-destruction, but he never tried. Instead, he had joined her, and eventually they’d brought each other down.

  Annie’s reappearance brought back all those guilty feelings. She seemed to be on his mind at every turn. Maybe after he got her connected with another attorney and let his dad know that she was at The Village, he could quit thinking about her.

  Every Friday Ian and his dad had a lunch meeting. They’d been doing this ever since Ian had finished law school. He liked meeting with his dad, but Ian always wondered whether getting together was just an excuse for his dad to make sure Ian hadn’t fallen off the wagon. He could never quite shake the idea that he still hadn’t won his dad’s approval even after all this time.

  The suspicions were groundless, but they remained in the back of Ian’s mind like pesky dandelions that reappeared in the lawn every spring. During these lunches, he kept the conversation light because he wanted to avoid subjects where there was a clear disagreement. But today’s lunch would force him to discuss two of those subjects—Annie and The Village.

  Ian usually went straight to his dad’s office, but today he’d chosen to walk through the auditorium. He wasn’t sure why, but despite the immensity of the place, it offered a place of solitude where he could figure out how he was going to tell his dad about Annie.

  After all, his dad was the one who had suggested giving Annie the ultimatum that made her leave. How many times had Ian wished he hadn’t told her that she had to quit drinking or move out? She’d packed her bags right then and there. He had always regretted the decision to follow his dad’s advice. Annie might not have left if he’d tried to help her more.

  Ian sighed. He sank into one of the chairs in the rows near the front. Putting his head in his hands, he began to pray for Annie. Pray for his dad. Pray for himself. Lord, help me find my way. Please give me the guidance and wisdom I need with my dad and Annie.

  “Ian.” The sound of Jordan Montgomery’s voice echoed through the auditorium.

  Ian scrambled to his feet. “Dad, what are you doing here?”

  “I came looking for you. I saw your car in the parking lot and wondered where you were.” Jordan knit his eyebrows together above his gray eyes so similar to his own. “What
are you doing in here?”

  Ian lowered his gaze. What should he say to his dad? The truth might be a good idea. Taking a deep breath, Ian looked up at his dad. “I came here to pray.”

  Jordan smiled. “That’s good to hear. Would you like to share your prayers with me, so I can pray for those things, too?”

  “Let’s go to lunch. We can talk about them over our meal.” Ian turned toward the door. “I can drive.”

  “Okay. I’ve got to grab a few things from my office before we go. I’ll be out in a minute.”

  Ian wasted no time getting to his car. He got inside and pressed the buttons to lower the windows. While he waited for his dad, he figured he had a few more minutes to pray, but he barely had time to get into his vehicle before his dad appeared. “That was quick.”

  Jordan chuckled. “I may be getting old, son, but I’m not that slow. Where are we headed today?”

  “How about that mom-and-pop place just down the road?” His dad was still young at fifty-eight. He had a little gray hair at the temples and a few more smile lines than he used to have, but he could easily be mistaken for a man at least a decade younger. Folks were often surprised to know that Jordan had a son Ian’s age and even more surprised that he had two older brothers. “Suits me. I had a light breakfast, so I’m hungry and ready for lunch.”

  Ian didn’t say a thing. He usually would have agreed, but today his stomach was tied in knots. He wasn’t sure how much he could eat. With the hope of limiting any conversation, he turned on the radio, tuned to a Christian music station. That did the trick. His dad started singing along.

  When they reached the restaurant, they walked in silence across the parking lot. Inside the hostess led them to a corner table covered with a red-and-white-checked tablecloth and laid the menus on the table. Ian settled on the Windsor chair and picked up a menu. He looked it over, but all the choices swam before his eyes. He couldn’t focus because thoughts of Annie consumed his mind. The waitress took their drink orders and returned momentarily with them and took their meal orders.

  Crossing his arms, Jordan sat back in the chair. “Are you ready to tell me what you were praying about?”

  “Not really, but I suppose it has to be done.” Ian wondered whether he should start with Annie or the budget crisis at The Village. Neither topic was something he wanted to mention, but he wished to talk about Annie the least.

  A frown furrowed Jordan’s brow. “Have you fallen off the wagon?”

  Ian laughed halfheartedly and shook his head. “No, Dad, nothing like that. I need to talk to you about what happened at the board meeting on Monday.”

  Jordan grimaced. “Sorry I asked that question. I should’ve known better.”

  Ian hated that his dad had asked that question, but he understood his father’s rationale. He’d missed the signs of substance abuse before, and he wasn’t going to do it again. “I don’t fault you for asking. My former addictions are something I’ll always have to live with.”

  “So what happened at the board meeting?”

  “The board is threatening to close The Village because donations are down and the financial situation is critical. You know how much that place does for people and how much it means to me.” Ian gave his dad a recap of the board meeting.

  “So they asked you to tap us for more money?”

  “Yeah. I know you already give, but is there any way you could see clear to increase the amount and have the congregation become more of a partner with The Village?”

  Jordan steepled his fingers under his chin as he continued to lean back in his chair, his elbows on the armrests. “You know we’ve had our disagreements over the years about your work there, and we usually steer clear of the subject.”

  “Yeah.” Ian prepared himself for a lecture from his dad on how giving money to The Village was to spend more money on something that ultimately would never succeed. His dad was probably going to say he agreed with Bob Franklin.

  “You know that it isn’t really up to me. The church elders are the ones who allocate where money goes, but I can certainly call for more volunteers.”

  “You will?”

  Frowning, Jordan nodded. “Why does that surprise you?”

  “I thought you weren’t sold on what we do at The Village.”

  Jordan nodded. “In the beginning, I was skeptical that the concept would work, but I’ve had a change of heart. I’ve seen what you do and how much the center helps people.”

  “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

  Jordan shrugged. “I thought the fact that my congregation agreed to support the work spoke for itself. Guess you needed to hear that.”

  Ian nodded, realizing God had affirmatively answered one of his prayers. He hoped that boded well for his prayers concerning Annie. “What do you suggest I do to gain more support from your congregation?”

  “Talk to the elders.”

  “Really?” Ian would rather stand in front of a judge and jury. They might cut him more slack than the elders of this church. His past behavior hadn’t made him any friends on the church board.

  Jordan nodded. “I believe you’re capable of persuading them. After all, you’re a lawyer and good one at that. Plead your case.”

  Before Ian could respond to his dad’s praise and pep talk, the waitress brought their food. Jordan said a prayer, and then they ate in silence for several minutes. The whole time Ian’s thoughts were centered on Annie. Telling his dad about her was his next big hurdle.

  Jordan took a gulp of water, then looked at Ian. “Would you like me to put you on the agenda for the next board meeting?”

  “If that’s what it’ll take.”

  “I have confidence in you, son. They know you’re a good man.”

  Ian tried to keep the surprise off his face. “I thought they didn’t think much of me because of my former behavior.”

  “Not so anymore. They’ve seen how you’ve turned your life around.”

  “They don’t mind that I don’t attend your church?”

  Jordan shrugged. “Why should they? They know you work at The Village. It only makes sense that you would attend church there.”

  “That’s good to know.” Ian could hardly believe how this conversation was working out. Even though he’d been having a lunch meeting with his dad every Friday for years, they’d never talked like this. Why had he doubted God could turn what Ian had termed a difficult conversation into a conversation that enhanced his relationship with his father? This outcome gave Ian the courage to talk about Annie.

  “Then I’ll put you on the agenda for next week’s meeting.” Jordan took another bite of his sandwich.

  Ian took a drink of water, then cleared his throat. “There’s something else I need to tell you about The Village.”

  “You’re dating that pretty blonde who heads the women’s ministry.”

  Ian chuckled. “No, Dad, but it does involve a woman. Annie.”

  Jordan put down his sandwich and stared at Ian. “Annie? What does she have to do with The Village?”

  Trying not to convey any emotion, Ian quickly recounted how Annie had come to be there. Then he held his breath as he waited for a response. Ian had no idea what his dad thought about her these days.

  “You didn’t say how you’re feeling about Annie’s presence there.”

  So his dad wasn’t going to say what he thought about Annie. Instead, he turned the question on Ian. “It hasn’t been easy. That’s what I’ve been praying about. Since she’s shown up, I’ve had to tell Melody about my past. At least, I haven’t had to explain to anyone else.”

  “What did Melody say?”

  “She was surprised. That’s all. But she thinks Annie can help us with the funding crisis because of her financial consulting background.”

  “And you don’t?”
Jordan narrowed his gaze.

  “I have my reservations.”

  “Why?”

  Ian wasn’t sure he wanted to denigrate Annie’s image any further. Besides, the whole episode that sparked the deep distrust would make him look as bad as Annie. It was better left untold. “At this early stage in her residence at The Village, how can any of us really trust her? She’s been unreliable in the past. How can we begin to give her access to the financial dealings of The Village?”

  Jordan wrinkled his brow as he raised his eyebrows. “I can’t answer that question. Sometimes, you have to step out in faith. Have faith that God will help Annie stay sober.”

  Ian slowly shook his head. “The last time I saw Annie before she showed up at The Village she only wanted to use me. After that, I didn’t ever want to see her again.”

  “Is that how you still feel today?”

  “She’s a chapter in my life I’d like to forget. Now I can’t.” Even as Ian said the words, he wondered whether he was being completely honest with himself. He certainly wanted her to find her way to a substance-free life. He wanted her to succeed in every way. On a personal level, he couldn’t decipher his feelings.

  “I’m sure this has disrupted your life, but I believe the Lord will use this for your benefit.”

  “I wish I could see how.”

  “You will.” Jordan cleared his throat. “I think Melody has an excellent idea about using Annie’s knowledge of finances to help The Village.”

  “I can’t trust her.”

  “Pray about it. I’ve been praying for Annie every day since your divorce. She and I became very close while you were recovering from your accident. It broke my heart to see her slip back into her old ways.” Jordan’s voice cracked.

  Ian knew little about his dad’s real feelings. He’d refused to discuss these kinds of issues with the man for years because Ian feared disapproval. “How come we’ve never talked like this before?”