Free Annie's Song by Catherine Anderson

with the child, I’ll see that it’s kept quiet and have it institutionalized, just as you originally planned. No gossip, no scandal.
    We’ll say the child died or that I sent it away to relatives.”

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    The older man shot him a warning glare, then glanced at his pacing wife, clearly afraid she might have overheard. He relaxed slightly when she continued circling the study, apparently oblivious of the exchange.
    “I don’t know,” he said under his breath. “If word got out, it could ruin me. I really think it’s best if we simply—”
    “I’m not giving you a choice,” Alex inserted.
    The judge’s pupils dilated, turning his irises nearly black. “Is that a threat?”
    “A promise,” Alex corrected. “Fight me on this, and you can kiss your chances for public office goodbye.”
    The man’s neck turned dull red. After staring at Alex for a long moment, he returned his gaze to his wife.
    “Edie, it’s the best solution we’ve come up with yet. Annie wouldn’t be with Alex forever, only for a few months.”
    Mrs. Trimble shook her head vehemently. “No. I’d rather do as we planned earlier and find someone out of town to care for her until she has the child.”
    That made absolutely no sense. His patience fraying, Alex settled onto a chair and fixed the judge with a relentless gaze. “There’s more to consider here than just Mrs. Trimble’s wishes,” he said carefully. “My plan would be better for Annie, certainly. And the child won’t be put into an orphanage.”
    Edie whirled on Alex, her eyes sparking with anger. “The child is not your concern, Mr. Montgomery!
    None of this is.”
    It was all Alex could do to keep his temper. “I disagree. The child is very much my concern, and if there’s a way to avoid its being raised in an institution, that’s what we have to do.”
    “Edie,” the judge said softly, “why don’t you go to the kitchen and prepare some tea?’’
    She made fists in her skirt. “Tea? You’re deciding my daughter’s future, and you expect me to brew tea?”
    “Yes.” Though softly spoken, the judge’s reply was an unmistakable order. “I’m still the man of this house. Ultimately, I must make the decision, and you must abide by it.”
    Turning a murderous glare on Alex, Mrs. Trimble swept from the room, her cheeks spotted with crimson, her mouth drawn into a tight line.
    Immediately after her departure, some of the tension in the study dissipated. Alex took advantage of the momentary privacy to relate to the judge what Dr. Muir had said, namely his assurances that Annie’s affliction had been caused by a high fever.
    “And if he’s wrong?” the judge asked.
    “What if he isn’t?” Alex countered. “A perfectly normal child stuck in an orphanage and tagged as unadoptable? The way I see it, I have to take the chance. And, like it or not, you’re going to take it with Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    me. This is your grandchild and my niece or nephew we’re talking about. We owe it at least this much.”
    Trimble considered that for a moment, then he finally nodded. “Just so long as you’re going into it with your eyes open. Muir means well, and I’m sure he believes what he’s saying, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t be wrong.”
    “Let’s pray he isn’t.”
    That settled, the two men discussed the particulars, and within five minutes, both had agreed that a marriage between Alex and Annie should take place as quickly as possible. When Edie returned to the room, the judge gently informed her of their decision about the marriage, which both men hoped would take place within the week, the only prerequisite being that Alex find a competent live-in nurse.
    When his wife began to protest, the judge cut her short with, “That will be enough, Edie. This is best.
    Trust me on that.”
    Defeated, Mrs. Trimble sank onto the