Their Family Legacy. Lorraine Beatty

with Mrs. Shepherd this morning.

      Joey Mitchell caught the ball and started to run. David Clements grabbed him and knocked him to the ground.

      “David. No tackling, remember? Your parents would not be happy if anyone got hurt.”

      “Hey, coach.” Steve and Johnny Sanderson ran across the lawn, stopping in front of him. “I got the two new kids to come. They’re twins.”

      Jake stared at the boys. The Shepherd twins. He’d seen them coming and going from the Owens house. He had a sick feeling that this wouldn’t be a good arrangement. But he couldn’t turn them away. “Hey, fellas.” Maybe avoiding the niece wasn’t going to be as simple as he’d expected.

      Steve’s brother Johnny spoke up. “This one’s Ryan and that’s Tyler. Most people can’t tell them apart, but I figured it out right away.”

      “Welcome to the game. Glad you could join us.”

      “What are the rules?”

      Tyler met his gaze as he waited for the answer. His twin had already dashed off to join the others. “No tackling. Fair play and no calling names.” The boy considered that a moment and then nodded.

      “Okay.”

      Jake picked up the ball and strode across the lawn. He glanced at the Shepherd house but saw no sign of their mother. Did she know they were here? How did she feel about her boys playing ball with the enemy?

      He felt sorry for the twins because once she found out he was involved, they’d probably be forbidden to come again. It was out of his hands, but he hoped she wouldn’t deny her boys some fun because of something that happened years ago. Harley was the only one who knew the whole truth about the accident and he’d take that to his grave.

      “Okay, kids, we have enough now to make two teams. Let’s divide up.” He tossed the ball into the eager hands of the team.

      Maybe, God willing, someday the truth would come out, and then he’d be able to forgive himself at last.

      Until then, he’d stick with his plan and mind his own business. He had enough to keep him busy with teaching, coaching and working with the youth at church in hopes of keeping them from making the same dumb mistakes he had.

      * * *

      Annie straightened the collar of her blouse and inhaled a deep breath the next morning. Today was her first faculty meeting at her new school. She’d be teaching fifth grade and she’d made arrangements for the twins to attend the same school instead of the neighborhood school to which they’d normally be assigned. As a single mom, having the boys in the same building would simplify her life tremendously by cutting down on commute time and after-school care.

      Downstairs she picked up her purse and keys, and then pulled the front door behind her as she left. The twins were staying with Denise today so she could concentrate on her meeting. Butterflies took flight in her stomach. Her career as a teacher had kept food on the table and a roof over their heads after her husband Rick had died, but starting a new job was always nerve-racking.

      As she stepped onto the front porch she caught sight of Jake’s car backing out of his drive. She wondered where he was going so early and then quickly shut down that line of thought. Her mind had developed a nasty habit of presenting images of Jake Langford, accompanied with a growing list of questions. How long had he been in foster care? What happened to his parents? Why was he single? What had he been doing since the accident? What did he do for a living? There was no denying he was an attractive man. With his dark coloring and his athletically toned physique, he was the kind of man who turned women’s heads.

      Annie slid behind the wheel of her car and started the engine. Thankfully, now that school was starting next week, she’d have too much on her mind to entertain thoughts of Jake. There’d be homework and chores in the evenings and earlier bedtimes. Weekends would be spent working on the house and maybe, now that she had a little extra money, she could take the twins to the zoo or to the beach. All the things they’d been unable to enjoy before.

      Her spirits lifted as she drove across Hastings to Jefferson Elementary. Her gaze scanned the facility as she parked her car in a faculty slot. An old two-story brick building anchored the school, with two awkwardly placed additions jutting out behind. Despite the haphazard design, the structure had a certain charm about it.

      Annie made her way to the principal’s office, her spirits rising. She was starting another new phase of her life today. It felt good. Principal Winters was a robust black man with a bright smile and a deep voice that rumbled when he spoke. He greeted her with a warm handshake, and then she sat down to go over last-minutes details.

      “You’ll be in room 20C. That’s the last room at the end of the long corridor, where the fifth and sixth graders are located. You should have time to take a quick peek before the meeting starts. We’ll all meet in the library, which is right next door. I’d like to take you around myself but I’ve got some urgent things to do before the meeting.”

      “I can wander around on my own.”

      “But I don’t want you to get lost. It seems like a simple layout but it has some twists and turns that can be confusing.”

      He looked up and smiled, waving to someone outside the room. “Come in here. I want you to meet someone.”

      Annie glanced over her shoulder and froze. Jake Langford strode into the office. What was he doing here?

      Principal Winters shook hands with Jake and then turned to her. “Annie, I’d like you to meet Coach Langford. Jake, this is our newest faculty member, Annie Shepherd. She’ll be teaching fifth grade in your part of the school.”

      Stunned, she could only offer a slight nod. It was clear from the tight expression on his face that Langford was none too pleased to see her here either.

      “Jake, why don’t you give Mrs. Shepherd a tour, then show her to her room while I get ready for the meeting? In fact, why don’t you be her partner for the year? Show her the ropes. Mrs. Shepherd, we’re glad you’re with us. I hope you’ll be happy here.”

      She muttered an appropriate response and then followed him out into the hall. “Why didn’t you tell me you were a coach here?”

      “Why would I? I didn’t know you’d be teaching here.” He started down the hall, forcing her to catch up. “The cafeteria is down that way. The gym is at the end of the south corridor over there.”

      She grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop. “What are we going to do about this?”

      “Nothing.”

      He stopped and opened a door to one of the classrooms. “This is your room. I’m right across the hall in 18C. If you need anything just ask. Mary Gayton is in room 19C. She’ll be glad to help too.”

      Annie stepped inside her new classroom. It was large with lots of windows overlooking the playing field. The desks were old-style but still serviceable. Her desk was large and positioned at the front with file cabinets nearby. And on two walls, large blackboards took up most of the space. It was going to be nice working here. With the exception of Langford.

      “I’ll see you at the meeting.”

      He started to leave but she hurried forward. She hadn’t been paying attention to where they were going. She’d been too distracted by the shock of finding him here. “Wait. Mr. Langford, I don’t think I can find my way back.”

      He held her gaze. “Jake.”

      She swallowed past the sudden lump in her throat. “Annie.” He closed the door to her room and started walking.

      She tried to pay attention to the turns he made on the way, but lost track after the third one. His silence was wearing on her nerves. “You don’t have a problem working together?” The look he gave her left her puzzled. She couldn’t tell if he was incredulous, irritated or just plain angry.

      “Do you?”

      Oh,