Second Chances

by Aaron Brinker

  She nodded her head, “I see. How much longer do you have until you are finished?”

  “About a year.” He smiled and took a sip of his coffee. “I’m anxious to be done and working in the field.”

  “I’ll bet.” She leaned forward. “Chaun. Chaun. Chaun!” Kat’s voice changed from hers to Michelle’s. “Chaun!” He was back in the present, still looking out the window.

  He sighed and blinked with the transition from memory to the present. “Yeah, Mom?”

  “You okay? I started to get worried when you weren’t responding to the conversation and weren’t sleeping.”

  “I’m okay mom. I was just thinking of the day Kat, and I met.”

  Michelle’s voice and facial expression softened. “I’m sorry hon, how have you been doing with that issue lately?”

  “Better than what I expected. It still hurts, and I have my hard times, but I think it really hasn’t sunk in yet. I think once I get home and actually sit and have familiar surroundings it’ll really hit.” He looked down. Michelle glanced over and noticed he looked overwhelmed. His thoughts were a disorganized mess. The only way to deal with them was as he came to them. “I’ve just had a lot going on the last few weeks. Between Doctors and nurses coming and going, you guys coming to visit before Sam left, and meeting Sam, I haven’t had much time to focus on my feelings about that night.”

  Michelle reached over and placed her hand on Chaun’s forearm. Her tone softened. “I understand, your father and I have a surprise for you.”

  Chaun looked up at Michelle. “What are you talking about?”

  “Do you still like to read?”

  Chaun began to laugh. He nodded, “Yeah mom, I still love to read.” He thought that maybe they probably bought him a few books.

  “We set up part of your room as a mini library. There’s a chair and two full bookshelves lined with books.”

  Chaun’s eyes widened. His voice was excited. “You mean some of the three-foot bookshelves?”

  Michelle shook her head and laughed. “No, the bookshelves are about six foot tall and three feet wide.”

  Chaun was stunned, “It would take me years to read that many books.”

  “We know, but we figured it would give you a variety to choose from. About a quarter of the books are children’s literature. Your dad and I thought it’d be good quality time for you to read to Sam before bed every night.”

  Chaun’s mouth closed. His eyes began to mist over. He looked back at Sam. With all the thoughts swimming through his head, none of them had been about him spending time with her. “Thank you. I will definitely choose a book off the shelf when I get home and set one aside to read to Sam tonight.” He smiled at Michelle.

  *

  As they pulled in front of Dave and Michelle’s home, Chaun was flooded with memories. There were so many times he hurt himself playing on the property. He remembered almost drowning in the pond towards the back of the land as well as sustaining that broken arm after falling out of the huge maple tree.

  Dave stepped out onto the front porch as Michelle turned into the driveway. He was grinning from ear to ear as he walked closer to the car. Michelle shifted into park. Dave opened the hatch on the back of the Navigator and removed Chaun’s wheelchair. Chaun noticed that they had installed a ramp leading to the front porch. After opening the wheelchair, Dave pushed it to the passenger door and helped Chaun out of the car. Chaun had never seen him this happy. Dave hugged Chaun with almost childlike enthusiasm. “How are you feeling son?”

  “Good dad. I’m glad to be home.” Chaun smelled a fragrance that was not normal for late winter. He looked around trying to pinpoint the location of the aroma. After he had noticed it was coming from the direction of the house, he looked up at Dave, “Do I smell something grilling?”

  Dave, still smiling, grabbed Chaun’s shoulder. “Yep, I’ve prepared one of your favorite meals. I figured after eating hospital food for the last few weeks it would be a nice change. Not to mention it’s been unseasonably warm this year.” Chaun hadn’t noticed until then, but the temperature outside felt like it was middle to upper 60’s. He nodded his head and looked around. For the most part, the grass was still brown. Here and there he could see a few hints of green blades trying to hide amongst the dead. Dave pushed him up the ramp towards the front door.

  “Did you put the ramp in?”

  Dave laughed. “This time of year? Hell no. I hired someone to install it. I kept the receipt though to add to the cost of your care. Hell, even if the lawsuit fell through I wouldn’t have minded paying out of pocket for it.” They entered the front door. Chaun was dumbfounded. They had installed a small elevator for him to get upstairs to his room. “We also had the elevator installed. I figured it would make it easier for you to get around, and we weren’t sure how long you’d be in the chair.”

  Chaun’s mouth fell open. “You didn’t have to go to these extremes, Dad. One of the chair lifts on the stairs would have been sufficient enough. Thank you, though, the gesture is much appreciated, and also for letting me stay here until I recover.”

  Dave’s voice softened. “You don’t have to thank us Chaun. We did it because we love you and want your recovery to be as easy as possible.” He pushed Chaun into the dining room and up to the table. “I’m going to leave you here for a few minutes. I have to go check on the food.” He walked out of the sliding glass doors and up to the grill. Chaun could tell he was flipping something over. Dave walked back into the house.

  Chaun never took his eyes off his dad. “Smells good, what are we having?”

  Dave smiled. “Steak, I know it’s always been one of your favorites.”

  Chaun grinned, “That it is. How’ve you been lately? I know we haven’t had much chance to talk since you brought Sam home.”

  Dave sat down across from Chaun. He rested his hands on the table and interlaced his fingers. “I’ve been good. Staying busy getting things fixed up around here.”

  “That’s good.” Chaun looked out the window. The trees in the back yard were larger than they were when Katrina and he were dating. He thought back to when she loved to be among those trees. She had one in particular that she would sit under with a book and stay there most of the day. He remembered walking up numerous times as she sat reading in the shade. He remembered a few times watching her from inside the house. The trees around her changed from a vibrant green to brown and leafless. Dave was trying to get his attention. Katrina looked up and waved at him. Chaun blinked, and she was gone.

  Dave said, “You okay Chaun? You seemed like you were daydreaming or something.”

  Chaun repeatedly blinked to make sure the image was gone. “Something like that. I was just remembering when Kat used to sit under her favorite tree reading.”

  “Yeah, that was a more peaceful and happier time.” Dave looked out at the trees then back at Chaun. He tapped the table between them to gain Chaun’s attention. “How are you holding up with everything?”

  Chaun looked at Dave and shrugged. “Good, I guess. That has been the second time today that I’ve remembered moments with Kat in the past. Maybe it’s my way of finally beginning to cope with her loss and moving past it. Maybe I’m trying to reflect on the happier times to experience stronger feelings regarding her death. I have horrible guilt about what was said. Her heartbroken face haunts me, and I see it often. Maybe the news hasn’t sunk in due to all the pain she put me through while we were together.” He looked down at the table and shook his head. “There has just been so much to take in after waking from the coma: The accident, losing Kat, Sam, my injuries, rehab, and the lawsuit. It’s just so much to sort through.”

  Dave’s voice was soft. “Chaun, look at me.” Chaun made eye contact. “I know it seems overwhelming. We’re here to help any way we can.” Chaun nodded. “I know you feel guilty about that night. You’re not heartless. A cruel person would have no remorse.” He looked down at his hands. His tone was serious. “I think you’re right, though, the happie
r times are the ones you will miss. Even though you feel guilt over what you said and the expression on her face, you have got to move on.” Chaun lowered his gaze to the table as Dave got up to check on the steaks again.

  13

  Dave walked down the stairs. It was morning. Michelle was up, and Dave’s nose told him that she had made coffee. He walked into the kitchen to find that she was sitting at the island reading a book. She looked up at him and smiled. “Morning sweetie…coffee’s fresh if you want any.”

  “Morning hon.” He walked over and kissed her on the cheek.

  She smiled and whispered, “We are having company later today.”

  Dave looked at her and smirked. “Oh really? And whom are we expecting?” He opened the cupboard to get his favorite coffee cup. It was camouflage with the Army Master Sergeant chevron on the side of the cup.

  “A certain nurse from the hospital. It’s a surprise, so Chaun isn’t to know.”

  Dave’s smirk changed to a smile. “Would that by chance be Ms. Parker?” Michelle nodded her head in response. “That’s great. How has she been?”

  “Good. She’s anxious about coming by today.” She looked at Dave and smiled.

  “That’s good to hear. What time are we to expect her?”

  Michelle looked at the clock on the stove. “I told her noon would be fine.”

  Dave poured his coffee. “Sounds good. I can cook up some grilled chicken or ribs for dinner. I’ll have to see what she prefers.”

  Michelle took a sip of her coffee. “Sounds like a plan. I’m wondering how excited Chaun’s going to be when she shows up.”

  Dave shrugged his shoulders. “Time will tell.”

  As agreed, Denise showed up a few minutes before noon. Michelle went out to greet her. Due to the warmer than usual weather for being the beginning of April, Dave sat out on the patio with Chaun. Chaun had his back to the sliding glass door. The sliding glass door opened, and Denise stepped through it. Thinking it was Michelle, Chaun didn’t bother turning. Denise walked up behind Chaun, put her head next to Chaun’s to where her mouth was right by his ear, and whispered, “Boo.” Chaun was so startled that he almost toppled the wheelchair.

  Denise could tell when he turned around that he was nearly as surprised to see her. He was all smiles. “What are you doing here?”

  She hugged him and smiled in return. “Your mom thought it would be a pleasant surprise if I came down to visit for a while. She figured it would give you someone besides them to visit with.”

  Chaun looked at Michelle. “Thanks, Mom. You didn’t have to set this up.”

  Denise’s brow furrowed and her eyes told Chaun she seemed slightly offended. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean I don’t mind spending time with you. It’s been nice without Katrina here dominating the conversation.” He looked at Denise. “Don’t take it like I don’t want you here. I do. I’m overjoyed you wanted to come and see me. It means a lot to me.”

  Denise blushed, “Thanks, Chaun. I wanted to visit sooner, but I have been busy at work lately. I do have the next few days off, though.”

  Chaun smiled, “That’s good to hear.”

  “Maybe you can crash here tonight since you don’t have to work in the morning.” Chaun and Denise looked up at Michelle in shock, then back at each other.

  She gently bit her bottom lip while looking at Chaun questioningly. She released her lip from its ivory clamp. “If Chaun’s okay with it, I can.”

  Chaun shook his head and smiled. “I don’t mind at all. Then you wouldn’t have to try and drive back to Ft. Wayne tired as hell.”

  “Well, we will go in the house and let you two talk for a while,” Dave said as he stood up to walk into the house.

  “Thanks, Dad.” Chaun watched as they walked into the house, and once the door was closed, he looked at Denise. “How have you been?”

  “Good.” She placed her hand on top of his then removed it. “How are you holding up? Has everything fully hit you yet?”

  He tilted his head a little to the right. “Yes and no. It’s still hit and miss. I have good days and bad.”

  “That’s weird, it should have sunk in by now.” She looked curious as if she was trying to mentally run through reasons why Chaun had not responded to his past. “Do you have any idea why it hasn’t?”

  Chaun shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. “Not a clue. I’ve been thinking about it for the last month, and I’m wondering if part of it was my being miserable most of the time while in the relationship. I didn’t want to break her heart, but I wasn’t happy.” His expression grew distant. “What I said to her that night can’t be taken back and the last look I remember on her face can’t be erased from memory. Granted, what I said was mostly out of frustration, but still, I did mean part of it.” He looked towards the trees as his voice quieted. “I realize that now.”

  “Yeah.” Denise’s voice was soft and understanding. “If you need anything when it fully hits I’m only a phone call away. Even if it’s in the middle of the night, I’ll be free to talk.” She patted his forearm. “Hell, if you need me to I’ll drive down from Ft. Wayne just so you can have a shoulder to cry on.”

  “Thanks, Denise.” He grinned. “Do you do this for all your patients?”

  She smiled. “No, I would never do this for a patient.”

  He gave a questioning look. “Then why the special attention for me?”

  “When you awoke in your room that day, I saw something in your eyes. There was a genuine character that I wanted to understand deeper. More on a friendship level than anything more.” He looked into her eyes. Her voice was completely serious and reassuring. “I wouldn’t try to pursue more than that unless later on down the road it happens that way. Your eyes just told a story of depth that I thought would be interesting to know.”

  Chaun shook his head. At that moment his respect for Denise was exponential. “Thanks for that. I haven’t received a compliment that nice in years. What would you like to know?”

  She shook her head. “What do you mean?”

  “You said you would like to get to know me more, which I took as to pick my brain to see what I knew.” He smiled. He tapped his fingertips on the table. “As far as the genuine character, that will have to be shown through interaction over time.”

  “I also could tell by looking at you that you were more intelligent than you let on.” She made eye contact and noticed Chaun’s coy grin. “How smart are you?”

  “My I.Q. was 131 fresh out of high school. What it is now after college and years more of learning, I couldn’t tell you.”

  She sat mouth agape and wide-eyed. “Wow, that’s almost genius level.”

  Chaun grinned, “Yeah, but don’t tell anyone. I like to keep that under wraps. The reaction when someone finds out is priceless.”

  Denise started laughing. “I can see why. Is there any particular subject you are more knowledgeable in than others?”

  Chaun tilted his head left and then brought it back to center. “Other than history, it’s pretty much even. For the most part, I don’t know a lot about a little, but a little about a lot.”

  “You know that could be dangerous on certain levels.”

  He laughed. “Yeah that’s true, but on the bright side, it does make it helpful at times. I’ve been told I’m a plethora of useless information.” Chaun laughed slightly. “One of the things I love most is knowing trivia or random facts.”

  “I can see where that would be helpful.” Her brow lowered. “Remind me never to play against you in a game of trivia.”

  Dave opened the door. Denise and Chaun turned their heads to look at him. “Dinner is almost ready. I already have the table set up.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” Denise pushed Chaun into the house and up to the dining room table.

  14

  Throughout the next month, Denise would visit regularly. The more she visited, the more the family started noticing more activity from the entity. Items around the house would se
em to get misplaced. They would turn up someplace totally out of the ordinary, only to be found a few days to a week later.

  At first, it lead to a few arguments between Chaun, Dave, and Michelle. On certain occasions, one would accuse another of moving or misplacing items. Due to not knowing about Sam’s trip home from the hospital and the incident when she stopped breathing, Chaun believed it was Dave and Michelle moving items. Dave and Michelle slightly suspected that it was the entity moving things around to cause chaos in the household. Dave set up a video camera in the living room to see if he could by chance, catch the culprit in the act. He did not tell Michelle, Chaun, or Denise. Dave placed the camera on top of the dining room table facing into the living room. The only entrance into the area that was not visible was the kitchen. He made sure the night mode was set and went to bed.

  Dave woke and walked downstairs to the kitchen. He got his cup and poured his coffee. Michelle said, “Why was the camcorder on the entertainment center and left on?”

  “I left it out to see if I could catch whoever was moving things around the house.” He paused for a second. Dave looked down at his coffee cup then back up at Michelle in disbelief. “Where did you say you found it?”

  “The entertainment center in the living room.”

  Dave’s jaw dropped as he walked to the hallway. He looked down the hallway at the entertainment center in the living room. No camera. “Where is it?” Dave had an urgency in his voice.

  “It’s back in the closet, and the battery is on the charger.” Dave ran to the closet and yanked the camera off the shelf. He ran back into the kitchen and snatched the battery off the charger. He quickly inserted the battery into the camcorder and turned it on anxious to view the footage. Michelle watched him the entire time. His actions began to worry her. “Why are you so fidgety?”

  He stared at the camera display with complete concentration. “I didn’t place the camera on the entertainment center.” He quickly scanned through the footage to see when the camera started moving.