“Please don’t mention my lack of cooking skills.” Annie tried to keep a straight face, but a smile persisted. “I had a mother who rarely cooked.”
“I’d love to share some recipes with you.” Doreen touched Annie’s arm. “Would you like me to give you a few cooking lessons?”
“Mom, maybe Annie doesn’t want cooking lessons.”
Doreen looked quizzically at Ian. “Let Annie speak for herself.”
“Yeah, like she’s going to tell you she doesn’t want your interference.”
Annie stepped back as Ian and his mother argued—about her. Annie wanted to slink away, but before she could leave, Ian and Doreen both turned and stared at her. What could she say? Did she want to learn to cook? Yeah. For her kids. “I’d love some lessons.”
“You would?” Ian’s expression of disbelief nearly made Annie laugh.
“Yes.” Annie glanced at Doreen. “Thanks for offering.”
“My pleasure. I never had any girls to cook with, and I could never get my boys interested.” Doreen clapped her hands together. “So this will be fun. We can make arrangements to get together some evening or on the weekend, whichever suits you. I can hardly wait.”
Annie chuckled. “You might change your mind after you find out how helpless I am in the kitchen.”
“I like a challenge.” Doreen gave Annie a hug.
“Mom, since you two want to talk about cooking, do I have your permission to join the men?”
“Go.” Doreen waved him out of the room, then turned to Annie. “I’m sorry if I seemed pushy.”
“I don’t mind. Oh, I didn’t mean to imply you were pushy. I mean—”
“It’s okay, Annie. I understand what you mean. Don’t let Ian’s talk change your mind.”
Annie grimaced. “He knows I’m a terrible cook, so it doesn’t surprise me that he thinks I wouldn’t be interested in lessons.”
“Sounds to me like my son has a lot of preconceived ideas about you.”
“He knows me, or at least he knows the old me.”
“Is he getting to know the new you?”
Annie thought about the times he’d reminded her of past mistakes. “I’m not sure.”
Doreen looked over her shoulder as if she was checking to see who was there. Then she leaned closer. “I know Ian wouldn’t want me to ask you this. And probably I shouldn’t, but is there any chance you two might get back together again?”
Annie looked down at the golden oak plank flooring. It was almost as if Doreen knew the question Annie had been trying not to answer since she’d arrived at The Village. What could she say? She finally looked up and shook her head. “I don’t see that happening. Too much bad stuff has gone on between us.”
Doreen placed both hands over her heart. “I know this is wishful thinking on my part, but I would like to see it happen. I’m going to pray about it. You pray, too.”
Annie shook her head. “We’ve hurt each other too much.”
“That’s true, but I still see this spark between you.” Doreen nodded.
“But it takes more than a spark to repair a very damaged relationship.” Annie wished she was brave enough to tell her former mother-in-law how much she still cared about Ian, but it would only flame Doreen’s hopes. There was no sense in that, especially since Ian most likely didn’t want anything to do with her. But what about that almost kiss on the deck? Her imagination? She couldn’t rely on her own yearnings. She had to face reality. “I’m not sure we would be good for each other. We might bring each other down like we did before.”
“But this time your relationship would have God at the center.”
Annie wanted to put an end to this futile discussion, but she didn’t know how to tell Doreen without hurting her feelings. “I don’t mean to push your idea aside or say anything against Ian, but...”
“But you don’t believe he cares about you.”
“I didn’t say that.”
Doreen held up a hand. “I know you didn’t, but I saw what happened between you two after Ian’s accident. Yes, you were the one who walked out on him and filed for divorce, but I felt as though he walked out on you first. He spent his time studying with his law school study group. He didn’t talk to you. It was as if he forgot you were there. I know you felt abandoned. I should’ve done more to help you through that time, but I thought you would think I was interfering. I stood silently by while I watched your relationship unravel. Now I wish I’d stepped in, even if I didn’t know what I was doing.”
How had Doreen known Annie’s feelings so well? Could Doreen be the mother figure she’d been longing for? She wished she’d been a better daughter-in-law. “You shouldn’t put any blame on yourself. I’m not sure either Ian or I would’ve taken your advice. Sometimes, I think the only thing we had in common was the booze and drugs.”
“Do you still feel that way?”
“I don’t know how I feel, and I don’t know for sure what Ian thinks about me these days. I didn’t mean to say bad things about him. I’m the one who chose a life of self-indulgence and debauchery over him. How can he forgive me for that? How can you?”
“We all need forgiveness.”
Annie nodded. “I know that truth, but sometimes it’s so hard to accept that I’m forgiven when I’ve hurt so many people.”
Doreen patted Annie’s arm. “Just know that you are, and Ian knows he’s been forgiven, too.”
“He has been nothing but helpful since I crashed back into his life again. And I appreciate your help, but talk about Ian and me getting back together isn’t good.” Annie wrinkled her brow. “Do you still want to teach me to cook?”
“Absolutely.” Doreen sighed again. “I’m sorry I put you on the spot about Ian, but I couldn’t help myself. I didn’t want to stand silently by again if there was a chance that you could repair your relationship. You seem to be getting along so well, so I was kind of hoping. I’ll be praying about it.”
“Thanks.” Annie hugged Doreen, then stepped away.
“Think about what I’ve said. God can work miracles.”
Annie nodded but didn’t say another word. She couldn’t rely on false hope—hers or Doreen’s.
Chapter Eight
Annoyed with the circumstance that had him spending more time with Annie than he’d bargained for, Ian put his car in gear and backed out of his parents’ driveway. Time spent with Annie had him thinking about reconciliation. Was that wise?
He glanced over at her, sitting statuelike in the front passenger seat as he drove toward the main highway. “Did you enjoy your celebration?”
“Your parents were very gracious to host a party for me. You and your family have done so much for me. I can’t thank you enough.”
“They were glad to do it.” Ian believed the sincerity of her statement, but he recognized her discomfort with the whole situation—the same discomfort he was feeling. Should he mention it or keep quiet? His mom had occupied a lot of Annie’s time this afternoon. What did they discuss? Cooking? Kids? Him? Was he being paranoid? He had to quit thinking about it.
“Despite what you think, I’m really glad your mom is going to teach me to cook. I want to fix good things for Kara and Spencer. I want to be a mother they can count on. They have a worthless father. They should have at least one good parent.”
Annie’s statement came out of nowhere, but he understood that she probably hadn’t appreciated his comment about her lack of culinary skills. And her statement about the worthless father told him what he’d wanted to know about her relationship with her former boyfriend. She no longer had amorous feelings for another man. Maybe that wasn’t such a good thing. The knowledge could have him contemplating another chance with Annie, but wasn’t he already thinking that? “I didn’t mean to make light of your interest in cooking. It just surpr
ised me. I know you want to do what’s best for your kids.”
Looking over at him, she gave him a tentative smile, then turned away in silence. He had to concentrate on the road, not on her sweet little smile. She seemed so uncertain around him, not the vibrant young woman he’d seen talking with his parents. She would obviously rather be anywhere but with him. Her reaction to him ought to make it clear that she didn’t have any thoughts of rekindling their relationship. So why did he?
While he took the entrance to the freeway, he thought about how he’d almost kissed her when they were on the deck together. Thankfully, his common sense had returned before he’d let the attraction take over his brain and tempt him to do something that would have been a disaster.
“I’m a little nervous about Kara and Spencer coming to live with me. They’ve only seen me a few times in the past year. Do you think they even know I’m their mother?”
Thankful for something to steer his thoughts in another direction, Ian shook his head. “I don’t know what to tell you. Hopefully the transitional meeting will help with that. I’m sure there will be a period of adjustment, but everyone at The Village is there to help you and the kids adapt.”
“You, too?”
Why was she asking him that? One minute she seemed to be pushing him away with her uneasiness and the next she was trying to involve him in her life. “If you want, but I’m not sure what help I can be. I don’t know much about kids. Melody and the ladies in your Bible study group and even the senior ladies will be more help than I would be.”
“But you’ll be there if I need your help?”
Ian’s pulse rocketed even as his heart melted. “I can try.”
“Thank you.”
That tender spot for Annie grew a little bigger. He gripped the steering wheel tighter. Did he want to get that enmeshed in Annie’s life? After all, he’d spent the past few years trying to forget her and the past few weeks trying to figure out how to deal with her presence at The Village. Could he help her and still maintain enough distance to keep himself from falling for her all over again? Was God changing his heart, or was he being a fool to honor her request?
So many questions. They’d haunted him over and over again since Annie’s reappearance. As he neared their exit, he longed for another change of subject. “When we get back to campus, I think we should stop by the assisted-living facility and tell Cora and the group your news.”
Annie smiled. “That’s a fantastic idea.”
Trying to tamp down his reaction to her praise, Ian parked near the assisted-living center. Annie popped out of the car as soon as he stopped. She headed to the center without waiting for him. He quickened his pace and joined her as she signed in. When they reached Cora’s apartment, Ian knocked. They waited for a few moments. Then Ian turned to Annie. “Do you suppose she isn’t in her apartment?”
“Is there someone we can ask?”
“I’ll see if I can find one of the staff. Maybe they can tell us. Wait here in case she comes to the door.”
Ian returned in a minute. “Cora’s been moved to the nursing facility.”
“Has something happened?”
“She’s okay, but she had a fall late this morning and was taken to the hospital emergency room.”
“Did she break something?”
Ian shrugged. “They didn’t give me details. You know the privacy thing, but they released her to the nursing facilities here. They’re keeping her there at least overnight just to be sure she’s good to go back to her apartment. She can have visitors. Do you want to see her?”
“Absolutely.” Annie didn’t wait for him as she headed for the door.
When they reached Cora’s room, the door was ajar and a nurse’s aide had just delivered pitchers of ice-cold water to Cora and her roommate. Ian lightly rapped his knuckles on the door.
Sitting in the chair next to her bed, Cora looked their way. “Come in. Maybe you can talk these people into letting me go home. I’m fit as a fiddle. I took a little tumble this morning, and now they’ve got me in here.”
Ian stood next to her chair and patted her shoulder. “You’ll probably be out of here tomorrow.”
“I’d better be. We’ve got dominoes tomorrow night, young man. You missed last week. Are you afraid I’ll beat you this time?”
Ian saluted. “Yes, ma’am, I’ll be there. I’m not afraid you can beat me.”
“You’d better be there, or I’ll come and get you.” Cora waved her cane in Ian’s direction, then looked at Annie. “Come here, sweet girl. I want to give you a congratulatory hug. Melody stopped by and told me your good news. Ruby and Liz were here, too. So they know. We’re so excited to meet your children.”
“Thank you.” Annie stepped closer and gave Cora a hug. “Now you take care of yourself so you can go back to your apartment.”
Cora waved a hand in the air. “Ever since I had that little stroke a year ago, they overreact to everything. But if I have to be somewhere other than home, I’d rather be here than in the hospital. The nurses here are super.”
“Did I hear a compliment?”
Ian turned toward the door. Kirsten Bailey, one of the R.N.s at the extended-care facility, carried two small cups.
“You weren’t supposed to hear that.” Cora chuckled. “I need to keep you on your toes.”
“Oh, you keep us on our toes.” Kirsten handed Cora one of the little cups. “Time to take your meds.”
“Pills, pills, pills. What would I do without them?”
“We don’t want to find out.” Kirsten waggled a finger at Cora. “They keep you in good shape.”
“That’s what you doctors and nurses keep telling me.”
Kirsten grinned. “And we know what we’re talking about.”
Ian motioned toward Annie. “I’d like you to meet Kirsten Bailey. She’s Adam’s daughter and has recently come to work here after spending several years as a missionary nurse in Brazil.”
Annie shook Kirsten’s hand. “I’m glad to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too. I hear congratulations are in order.”
Annie nodded with that little smile curving her mouth. “It seems that news travels fast around here.”
Kirsten laughed. “Yeah. It’s like a small town. Everyone knows everyone else’s business.”
“That means we care about each other.” Ian wondered how many people knew about his marriage to Annie. Probably more than he thought. Someone somewhere had probably figured it out or heard from some outside source about it. He had thought his secret was safe when she’d first arrived, but now he wasn’t so sure.
Cora took her meds and handed Kirsten the empty cup. “That’s for sure. I trip over my own two feet, and I barely arrived at the hospital before the prayer team.”
“I’d say that’s a good thing.” Annie hugged Cora again. “I know your prayers helped me. And I’m going to need them even more once Kara and Spencer get here.”
“You can count on the seniors to pray for you.” Cora pointed to the small chest next to the bed. “There’s a photo album in the top drawer. I had Ruby and Liz bring that over for me because I was hoping you’d stop by today. I’ve got something to show you.”
Ian went to the drawer and pulled out an album with a battered brown cover. “Is this it?”
Cora reached for it. “That’s the one.”
Annie looked over Cora’s shoulder as she opened the album. “What do you want to show me?”
Cora thumbed through it. She stopped and patted her gnarled hand on one of the pages. “Remember me talking about my grandson? Here he is. Handsome, isn’t he? His name’s Brady Hewitt.”
Annie nodded, and Ian leaned closer to get a look. Was Cora trying to fix Annie up with her grandson? Ian didn’t like the idea much. He wasn’t sure he wanted to work t
hings out with Annie, but he didn’t want anyone else to have an interest in her, either. Maybe it was time to decide what he wanted. Though the thought of making a decision gave him a headache.
“I raised Brady after my daughter was killed in a car accident and my son-in-law became so depressed he didn’t take care of himself or Brady. I was a widow myself, so it wasn’t easy trying to deal with my grandson, who was suffering from the loss of his parents, especially when he became a teenager.”
“I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter. It must’ve been very difficult for both you and your grandson.” Annie sat on the edge of Cora’s bed as the older woman continued to talk.
“That boy took apart a motorcycle in my living room and ruined my carpet. I could’ve shot him, but I didn’t want to serve time.” Cora chuckled.
“I remember you said he was a good mechanic.” Annie patted Cora’s shoulder.
“Yeah, and I made him buy me a new carpet. That was the only thing good that came of it.” Cora’s expression saddened. “After that he left and dropped out of high school. I feel like I failed him, but I guess he’s getting along okay. I haven’t seen much of him in recent years. He calls every couple of months. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so hard on him.”
“You never know what’s going to happen with kids. You do your best and pray.” Ian thought about his own misguided youth. He’d had two parents who provided for his every need, but he’d chosen to rebel against their beliefs because he’d hated being a preacher’s kid, expected to do the right thing all the time.
“I pray every day for him.” Cora turned a page. “I didn’t bring the album out to talk about my grandson, but when I turned to his photo, I couldn’t help myself. Anyway, I want you to look at this.”
Ian leaned closer. “That’s a nice-looking car. Is it yours?”
“Yes. I asked Brady if he wanted it, and he said no. My neighbor drives the car about once a week so the engine won’t gum up. My house, which has been for sale since I moved here, finally sold. So that means I won’t have a place to keep my car. I was going to sell it, too, but then I thought of you.” Cora looked up at Annie. “I want you to have the car, so you have transportation to job interviews.”
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