Read Online Trust in Me by Kathryn Shay - Free Book Online Page B

town. I hope you’ll all give me a chance to show you that.”
    They didn’t have a choice. But Annie did.
    “Now, if we can get down to business.” He glanced at the clock. “I understand the Council meets on Fridays. I’ve acquainted myself with the procedures of the group—which, by the way, I believe is a sound, well-run committee.” He picked up a folder. “And I’ve read the file on Ronny Donovan.”
    “You gonna be able to be objective about the kid, Joe?” Mayor Hunsinger asked. “Wasn’t his father a good friend of yours?”
    Joe glanced at Linc. Annie saw Linc’s expression soften. He was always the most sentimental, the most forgiving, of them. The vise around her chest tightened. What if Linc sided with Joe?
    “We knew this would be an issue on the Council in general,” Linc said. “Because Glen Oaks is a small town, members would know or may be related to the teens who come before us. We haven’t had a problem with it before. And any time there was a question, we’ve worked it out.”
    “But Murphy’s in charge of this committee, like Marnie was. He has a lot of power.”
    “I think I can be objective, Al. My past experiences and training have taught me that allowing someone’s bad behavior to continue is not in their best interests. The old concept of tough love.” After more questions and a brief discussion of the case at hand, he glanced at the clock again. “If there’s nothing else, we can adjourn until Friday. I don’t intend to prolong meetings when it’s not necessary.”
    Everyone agreed. In minutes, the room emptied of all but Linc, Annie and Joe, who stood and faced each other. Someone closed the door, its snick loud and meaningful. Annie felt Linc squeeze her shoulder, then he turned to Joe. “This is a hell of a thing.”
    Joe shrugged. “I know it’s a surprise.” He looked directly at Annie. “I did it this way on purpose. I didn’t want to give you time to take off, or get a restraining order, without giving me a chance to show you I’ve changed.”
    Annie flicked her fingers against the résumé she’d picked up from the table. “A few degrees and some jobs working with kids isn’t proof you don’t hit women anymore.”
    Her comment had found its target. His face flushed and he cleared his throat. “No, it doesn’t. But I spent a full year in a Batterer’s Recovery Program in the city. I’ve also had three years of private counseling.”
    “You’re still a wife beater,” she said starkly.
    Raising his chin, he held her gaze. “I’m a recovered wife beater.”
    Linc leaned over and whispered, “Annie, you have options.”
    She blew out a heavy breath. “There’s no way I’m going to let you see your children unsupervised, or be alone with me and them.”
    Joe said, “I don’t expect—” He halted mid-sentence, stared blankly at her. Ludicrously his gaze dropped to her stomach, making her realize what she’d revealed.
    “Children?” His shoulders sagged and his confidence visibly receded. “You didn’t lose the baby that night?”
    Sighing, she averted her face and scrubbed her fingers over her eyes.
    Linc put a hand on her shoulder again. “He would’ve found out soon anyway, Annie.”
    Resignedly, she nodded.
    Linc faced Joe. Very simply he said, “You have a five-year-old daughter, Joe. Her name is Faith.”
    o0o
    BEFORE Joe could react, Roman Becker and Al Hunsinger came back in and asked to talk to him privately. Annie watched her ex-husband agree, turn and ask Linc and her to wait for him, then calmly follow the other men to the mayor’s office. She was stunned by his composure. For a man who’d just been told he had a second child, he seemed as cool as a winter morning.
    She and Linc tried to discuss the ramifications of Joe’s decision to come back to Glen Oaks, but they were both shell-shocked and didn’t have much to say. When Joe finally returned, she faced him, ready to do battle. Linc stood a little in front of her, as