One More Last Chance

by Cathleen Armstrong

  Brandon covered the hand on his arm with his own and moved it to his chest. “You could still come, you know. Just for the ride and to see where I’m going to be.”

  Sarah took her hand back and reached for the doorknob. “Good night, Brandon. I do wish you all the very best with your new life. I hope it’s everything you want it to be.”

  She slipped into the house and closed the door behind her. After a minute, she heard his BMW purr to life and glide down the street until the sound was swallowed by silence. As smooth and tasteful as Brandon himself.

  “Oh, Brandon.” Sarah slipped out of her shoes and wandered into the kitchen to put the kettle on. “Why do you need to complicate everything?”

  It had not been easy to reclaim her life when she saw it disappear into Brandon’s plans, but she had done it. And now, when she was finally getting everything arranged the way she liked, here he came again.

  By the time the whistle on her teakettle blew, she had changed into an oversized New Mexico State T-shirt and some gym shorts. She took her mug of tea onto the front porch and tucked one bare leg up under her as she settled into the rocker. Except for the whisper of the night wind through the cottonwoods, the night was silent. Even the crickets seemed to have gone to bed. Pushing the rocker into motion with the foot that still touched the porch, she took a sip of tea and offered a quick prayer of thanks that Brandon would be on his way tomorrow. She had been so sure of the way her life would go until he had turned up on her doorstep, and even now, she knew teaching here in Last Chance was what she really wanted to do. But Brandon had this way of stirring everything up and making it all murky again. She had promised him she’d keep an open mind and let things unfold as they would, but oh, she was glad he was going to be in Chicago.

  Sarah glanced at her watch. Nearly midnight, and the town had pretty much rolled up the sidewalks. How different from Chicago where the city never slept. Or was that New York? The only light on her silent street came from the glow of Elizabeth’s front room. Gran must still be up. On impulse, Sarah got up and padded down the street in her bare feet, still clutching her mug of tea.

  The curtain drew aside and Elizabeth’s concerned face appeared at the window at Sarah’s tap, followed almost immediately by the unlatching of the front door.

  “Sarah, what in the world? What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, Gran.” Sarah smiled as she came in. “I was on my porch and saw your light and thought I’d come say hi.”

  Elizabeth did not look at all reassured. “But you’re in your nightclothes.”

  Sarah looked down at herself. “They’re only nightclothes because I wear them to bed. They can be day clothes too, you know.”

  Elizabeth just stood in her quilted bathrobe and fuzzy slippers looking at her, and Sarah realized Gran was not going to buy the “zany visit in the middle of the night” story.

  “Okay, I’ve got a lot on my mind, and I was hoping we could talk.” She held out her mug. “More?”

  Elizabeth was a self-proclaimed night owl anyway, but even if she had begun to flag a bit, nothing could energize her quite like the promise of a heart-to-heart.

  “Of course, honey. Let me just cut that television off and I’ll put the kettle on.”

  Sarah followed her grandmother into the kitchen, and when Elizabeth turned from the stove, Sarah was already sitting at the kitchen table. Elizabeth got a box of cookies from the cupboard and joined her.

  “Now, what’s got you running barefooted up and down the street in the middle of the night?”

  By the time the kettle boiled, Sarah had told her story, ending with Brandon driving off to Chicago.

  “I knew we hadn’t seen much of Brandon since you got home this summer, but I just assumed it was because you were both so busy.” Elizabeth poured boiling water over the leaves and set the teapot on the table. “I have to admit I was surprised, though. In my day, when you were in love, you looked for every possible excuse to be together. I just figured things must have changed there too, like they have everywhere else.”

  “Nope, things haven’t changed all that much in that department. Which is why I tried to put distance between us.”

  “Well, I’m just as sorry as I can be that I messed things up for you. If I had known you weren’t seeing him anymore, I would never have invited him in for a visit. And I certainly would not have walked him down to your house.”

  “I know, Gran.” Sarah patted her grandmother’s hand. “I should have said something. But maybe it was for the best. Brandon says he’s changed and that I can have all the time I need to see that for myself. Maybe he is the one, and I would never have known it if you hadn’t brought him down.”

  “Well, I’d be the last one to say a person can’t change. I’ve seen it too many times.” Elizabeth refilled Sarah’s mug and poured a cup for herself. “But it usually takes a lot more than want-to. What’s Brandon’s relationship with the Lord?”

  “I don’t know. He went to church with me, and I do have to say he’s a good person, but it’s not something we’ve really talked about. Faith was just a given.”

  “Faith is never just a given, sweetie. You haven’t asked for any advice, but I’m going to give you some anyway. When you do start talking about the future, start with that. Because with a shared faith, even a Chicago city mouse and a New Mexico country mouse can make a nest. And I should know.”

  Sarah smiled. “That’s right. You’ve been here so long I sometimes forget that you came from Chicago. And you made it work.”

  “It wasn’t always easy, especially at first. We were as different as chalk and cheese, and without our shared faith, oh my, I likely would have been on the first eastbound train.”

  Sarah squeezed her hand, the one with the thin gold band almost embedded in her fourth finger. “I’m glad you stayed.”

  “Oh, I am too. I wouldn’t have missed the life I’ve lived for anything.”

  “I guess I should go. It’s awful late.” Sarah picked up her mug and got to her feet. “Thanks for the tea. And the talk.”

  “Anytime, honey. That’s what I’m here for.” Elizabeth picked up her cup too. “I think I’ll just take my tea into the front room. Hawaii Five-0 is fixing to come on. They have the best shows on late at night.”

  The sidewalk still felt warm against her bare feet as Sarah headed back home, though the night had turned cool. The days of August and early September could be among the warmest of the year, but the nights tended to whisper that summer was almost over and fall was on the way. Soon school would be starting and she’d be far too busy, she hoped, for all this emotional hand-wringing over Brandon. As if he sensed she was thinking about him, the phone in her pocket signaled a text: “DFILY.” Don’t forget I love you. It was a shorthand message they sent each other as texts, or left on untended computers, or even murmured when they parted all through college. Brandon was really pulling out all the stops. She almost smiled as she slipped her phone back into her pocket, but she didn’t respond.

  Across Last Chance, in the yellow-and-white singlewide, Chris shut down his computer and stretched. It was way too late and that alarm clock was going to go off way too early, but he couldn’t help that. Olivia had had a rough night, and even going online shopping with her and letting her pick out a new bedspread and curtains for the bedroom that was now hers didn’t help all that much.

  She was a tough little cookie, careful not to let anyone see her feelings, but good-nights were eventually said, the lights were turned out, and Chris had to leave her alone. After she went to bed, he tried again a few times to reach Kaitlyn, but his calls, no surprise, went straight to voice mail. Finally, fighting the urge to throw his phone through the front window, he took a deep breath and willed the calm into his voice. “Call your daughter. She deserves that.” Not trusting himself to say another word, he hung up and shoved his phone back in his pocket.

  On his way to his room, he thought he heard sniffling as he passed her door and stepped in her room to c
heck on her. She lay still and her eyes were closed, but her stiff little shoulders and the scowl on her face told him she was not asleep. He brushed the hair from her face and stooped to kiss her damp cheek.

  “It’s going to be okay, Livvy. We’re going to be fine.” His voice was low, barely above a whisper, and though his words were meant to reassure his niece, he found himself repeating them after he had gently closed her door and gone to his own room. Everything’s going to be okay. We’ll be fine. Just before he turned out his light, he put his face in his hands. Lord, if ever I needed your guidance, it’s now. I don’t know what I’m doing. Please don’t let me ruin that little girl’s life.

  15

  There are no secrets in Last Chance. Chris had heard the words almost from the day he arrived, but he was still astounded at how many people who came into the Dip ’n’ Dine already knew that Olivia would be staying. It had barely been three days, for crying out loud. Even Sarah had swept into the diner and carried Olivia off to the ranch for the afternoon. She seemed to think that an afternoon on horseback could help any situation, and from the way Olivia’s face had lit up, so did she.

  “Well, have you heard anything more from you-know-who?” Juanita, who prided herself on discretion, kept her voice low.

  Chris glanced around the dining room. Juanita’s whispers had a way of permeating every corner of any room she was in, but this time all the diners seemed intent on their own conversations.

  He had intended to deliver just the barest of facts—that Kaitlyn was going to be delayed and that Olivia would be starting school in Last Chance—but he hadn’t reckoned on Juanita’s ability to get to the bottom of things, another trait she prided herself in, and before he knew it, she had the whole story.

  “She’s talked to Olivia a time or two, but not to me.” Chris tried to keep moving so he wouldn’t have to talk about it, but when Juanita just raised her voice so he could hear her, he stopped to let her catch up.

  “Chris, you know I’m the last person to go around butting into other people’s business, but have you thought about taking legal steps?” This time she caught him by the sleeve and hauled him into the kitchen. And if she had actually lowered her voice, they might even have found some privacy there. “I know she’s your sister and all, but my goodness, Chris, our dog’s a better mother, and we had to lock her in the shed with those pups to make her feed them.”

  Chris just glared down at Juanita. He was getting accustomed to Juanita’s proprietary attitude toward any information she might come across, but she had stepped over the line here. Big time. He tried to push past her without answering.

  “Now, you just get off your high horse, mister.” Juanita blocked his way. “I’m sorry if I stepped on anyone’s toes, but you know as well as I do that if someone doesn’t take hold real quick, that child is headed for a world of trouble. She’s half wild right now, and it’s only going to get worse the older she gets.”

  “Excuse me. I need to get by.” Chris was head and shoulders taller than Juanita and his voice was like granite, but Juanita, not a bit intimidated, stood her ground. Faced with either shoving her aside or talking to her, Chris gave up.

  “No, I’m not going to take legal steps, at least not for the time being. Olivia doesn’t need more upheaval in her life right now.”

  “And if her mother turned up tomorrow and wanted to take her, you’d just hand her over?”

  “She’s her mother.”

  “Good night, nurse, Chris! If that’s not upheaval, I don’t know what is. You need to get legal custody of that child and see that she’s raised right. And you need to do it right now.”

  Chris smiled a half smile. “And you think a bachelor uncle is the one to raise her right?”

  “Well, if you were still in the city, I’d probably have to say no. But it’s different here in Last Chance. You’ll have all the help you need.”

  “I’m sure you’re right about that.” Olivia had only been with him about two weeks, and he’d already had way more help than he could appreciate, most of it in the way of advice offered by the woman standing in front of him. “But I still think the best thing for Olivia would be to be with her mom, and for her mom to be the one to raise her right.”

  “And I think it would be a good thing if the sky rained chocolate kisses. But I don’t think I can count on it.”

  Chris looked past Juanita to the dining room. He really did not want to talk about this anymore. “We’ve got a room full of people to take care of, Juanita. We need to put this aside for now.”

  Juanita gave him a look that said that he wasn’t fooling her one bit and that she had every intention of returning to the subject.

  “Wait, Juanita. There is something you could help me with.” Juanita had just turned away when Chris stopped her. “School’s starting pretty soon and I’ll need someone to watch Olivia after school. Do you have any ideas?”

  “Let me think on that. I’m sure I can come up with someone.” She headed out the kitchen door and almost immediately stuck her head back in. “I think I know just the one. Sue Anderson. She has a little girl about Olivia’s age and that child is just the sweetest, politest, most helpful child you’ll ever hope to meet. Just between you and me, I think she might be just the influence Olivia needs. I’ll give her a call for you.”

  “No, there’s no need for that. I’ll call her later.”

  “Don’t be silly, Chris. She doesn’t know you from Adam, except that you bought the Dip ’n’ Dine from Fayette. And it’s not like she’s advertising for children to take in after school. Let me call her first.”

  She was already reaching for the phone, and Chris gave up and let her call. Any other place and he would ask around, get references, and interview people. But this was Last Chance. Apparently things were done differently here.

  “They’re on their way to the dentist in San Ramon right now, but Sue said they’d stop by on their way home.” Juanita hung up the phone and turned around. “Do you think Olivia will be back by then? She wants to meet her before she makes up her mind.”

  “Did you tell her I was offering her the job?” This whole thing was moving a little fast for Chris. After all, he was the one hiring.

  “It’s not like you have a whole lot of options, Chris. And truthfully, if results are anything to go by, you can’t do better than Sue Anderson. Wait till you meet Emma. You’ll just love her.”

  Chris wasn’t sure he could say he loved Emma when she and her mother stopped by on the way home from the dentist, but he certainly had to admit her manners were flawless. And she was very clean to boot.

  “Well, look who’s here!” Juanita met them at the door. “Chris, come meet the Andersons.”

  Chris stepped in from the kitchen and shook Sue Anderson’s hand.

  She stepped back so she could look at him without craning her neck and smiled, while placing protective hands on her daughter’s shoulders. “So nice to meet you. This is my daughter, Emma. This is Mr. Reed, Emma.”

  “How do you do, Mr. Reed?” Emma extended her own hand.

  “Hi, Emma.” Chris took her hand and bent down to smile at her. “But you can call me Chris. I don’t think anyone has ever called me Mr. Reed.”

  “Mr. Reed has a niece about your age, Emma.” Sue Anderson’s message was clear. There would be no first-naming. She turned to Chris. “Is she here? We’d love to meet her.”

  “We’re expecting her any minute. She’s been out at the Cooley ranch with Sarah.” Juanita led them to a table. “Meanwhile, why don’t I bring you a dish of ice cream and a soda? It is hot out there today.”

  “No, thank you.” Emma slid into the booth and folded her hands.

  “No ice cream?” Juanita stopped on her way back to the kitchen. “Would you rather have pie?”

  “We don’t eat a lot of sugar.” Sue slipped her sunglasses into her purse. “And it’s getting toward dinner anyway. Do you suppose we could just have a glass of ice water? It is hot out there.”

/>   “What about a diet soda then? It’s sugar free.” Juanita wasn’t going to give up.

  Sue wrinkled her nose. “But there are way too many chemicals. Really, water is fine.”

  “Okay, water it is.” Juanita placed two glasses on the table. “How about some fruit? Carlos has been using watermelon slices to garnish today. I could bring you some of those.”

  “No, thank you. We don’t want to spoil our appetite, do we Emma?” Sue took a sip of her water and glanced at her watch. “Do you think Olivia will be along soon? We really should be getting home.”

  On cue, Sarah’s car turned off the highway into the parking lot. Sarah stopped her car and waved through the windshield as Olivia got out and ran into the Dip ’n’ Dine.

  “Sarah said to say hi, but she couldn’t come in.” Olivia didn’t acknowledge the Andersons in the booth by the window as she climbed onto a stool at the counter. “Can I have some lemonade? I’m about to croak, it’s so hot.”

  The contrast between Emma in her white sandals and crisp sundress and Olivia in dusty jeans and the lopsided ponytail she insisted on putting up herself couldn’t have been greater. Chris felt a surge of protective love well up for his motherless waif as Olivia’s gaze found Emma’s and the two girls sized each other up.

  “Olivia, come over here. There are some people I want you to meet. This is Mrs. Anderson and her daughter Emma. I think Emma’s going to be in your class when school starts.” Chris lifted Olivia off her stool and led her across the room. From Sue’s expression, he thought he’d better hold off a while before mentioning the after-school arrangement.

  Olivia yanked her hand from his and sauntered alongside him. Sue was smiling expectantly, but Olivia ignored her. “I’m going to be in Sarah’s class,” she said to Emma. “She takes me to ride her horses all the time. Whose class are you going to be in?”

  Sue’s smile had faded, but when she took charge of the conversation it was back, even if it did look a bit pasted on. “Hello, Olivia.” She reached for Olivia’s hand and shook it. “Emma’s going to be in Miss Cooley’s class too, so I imagine you’ll be friends.”