One More Second Chance

by Jana Richards

Alex got to his feet, too. “No problem. Thanks again for the sandwich. I guess I’ll see you at the next game.”

  “Sure.”

  “How are your mom and dad?”

  “About the same, I guess. Dad’s still deep in denial. He’s taken her to Dr. Willson for some initial medical tests, but he’s been putting off making an appointment with the neurologist Dr. Willson wants her to see. And my mom is still…”

  She looked away, on the verge of tears. Alex closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms.

  “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.”

  Holding her securely with one hand around her waist, he tucked her head under his chin. She held her breath as if to keep from crying, her hands clutching the front of his T-shirt, her body tense. He slid his hand up and down her back, trying to soothe.

  “It’s okay if you want to cry, Julia.”

  “I’m afraid if I start crying I won’t be able to stop,” she said, sniffing.

  “You don’t have to be strong all the time.”

  She sighed and relaxed against him. “Sometimes I feel about as strong as a wet noodle. Superwoman I’m not.”

  He held her a little closer, burying his smile in her silky hair.

  “I don’t know. With a cape and some tights, you could definitely pass for a superhero. You could be Super Principal, defender of defenseless students.”

  He heard her chuckle. She looked up into his face, her eyes smiling into his, even though they were wet with tears.

  “I couldn’t be Super Principal. I look terrible in a cape.”

  He laughed softly. “You couldn’t look terrible if you tried.”

  “Thank you,” she said softly.

  “For what?”

  “For making me laugh when I felt like crying.”

  “My pleasure.”

  Alex’s heart thudded against his chest as she stared into his eyes. He couldn’t look away. He lifted his hand and gently trailed his fingers across her full lips, her eyes, her cheekbones.

  Slowly, he lowered his mouth to hers, sighing at the feel of the softness of her lips. Her scent, something floral and sweet, surrounded him, intoxicated him. Need pulsed through his veins, but he held back, keeping his kisses light and tender when he wanted to mould her against him and explore every inch of her body with his hands and his tongue.

  She made a little sound of pleasure deep in her throat and, straining upward to wrap her arms around his neck, flattened herself against him, breast to chest, sex to sex. Restraint snapped. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. She opened her mouth to him and his tongue swept every corner, mating and dancing with her tongue. Placing his hand on her buttocks, he pulled her against his growing erection, rubbing against her mound. She moaned in response, moving against him.

  “Mommy, are you going to tuck me in?”

  Julia pushed away from him at Ava’s plaintive call from the top of the stairs. Shock registered in her eyes as she stared at him, her chest heaving with her labored breath. Arousal, exhilaration, and complete and utter surprise pounded through his blood. He hadn’t expected fire to ignite between them, hadn’t expected her response. Hell, he hadn’t even expected his own response. He knew he was attracted to her, but the need he’d felt, the all-consuming desire, had completely blindsided him.

  “I…I…should see to Ava,” Julia stammered, her eyes still wide with shock. Her hair was tousled, her lip gloss smudged. The taste of her was still in his mouth. He still wanted her, but instead he took a step away.

  “I should go.” But he couldn’t make his feet move any further.

  “Yes,” she whispered. She stayed rooted to her spot.

  He wanted to touch her again, to kiss her, but he knew if he did he wouldn’t be able to leave. They were both on the edge, and it wouldn’t take more than a touch to set the flames ablaze once more. And this time he didn’t think either of them could stop.

  He closed his eyes, his hands clenched at his sides. That might be okay for him, but he knew Julia wasn’t ready. She’d hate herself if she lost control and had sex with him now. Worse, she’d hate him.

  “Go see to Ava.” He heard the husky note in his voice, the unmet need.

  “Yes.” Still, she didn’t move.

  Their eyes met, desire dancing between them. It took every ounce of strength Alex possessed to turn away and walk out of her house. To walk away from her.

  ****

  The damp night air did nothing to cool his overheated libido. He walked into his house and went straight to the fridge for another beer. Twisting off the cap and tossing it aside, he guzzled half the bottle before stopping, as if it could put out the flames of desire roaring through him.

  He held the cold bottle to his forehead. That kiss. Just thinking about the way Julia had pressed herself against him, held him, opened her mouth for him, caused the heat to explode inside him once more. It was all he could do to keep from running back to her house and begging her to let him make love to her.

  He took a deep breath. Enough. He needed to think about something else.

  Carrying his beer with him, he walked into the small bedroom he used as an office and turned on his laptop. He brought up one of his favorite medical websites and punched in some of Melissa Maloney’s symptoms, such as the urinary problems and the fatigue. Some possible explanations came up, such as Type One diabetes or kidney infection. But the blood and urine work had already ruled those out.

  He tried a different angle. What about the rash on Melissa’s elbows? He did a search on skin rashes. A long list of conditions and diseases popped up. He scrolled through the list until one name caught his eye: Lupus, called The Great Imitator because it could often mimic other diseases. It was notoriously hard to diagnose because no two patients’ symptoms were exactly alike and symptoms sometimes came and went. But most of Melissa’s symptoms were consistent with known symptoms of lupus.

  After doing some more research on how best to diagnose the condition, he looked up Melissa’s phone number online and gave her a call. Her husband answered and handed the phone to her.

  “Doc? Don’t tell me you’re still at work. It’s kind of late, isn’t it?”

  Alex checked his watch, surprised to discover it was nearly ten p.m.

  “Sorry, I didn’t realize it was so late. I’ve been doing some research, and I think I might know what’s causing your problems, but we need to do more testing before I can be sure. Can you see me at the clinic tomorrow? I can stay a little later if you want to come after work.”

  She burst into tears. “Thank you, Doc. If you can help me, I’d be so grateful. Davy and I have decided that no matter how much money it takes, we have to find out what’s wrong with me. I can’t go on like this.”

  “I know. Call my office tomorrow. Bring Davy if he’s available. We’re going to beat this thing, Melissa.”

  “Thank you, Doc, thank you so much. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Alex turned off his phone. He hoped his hunch was right. With treatment, lupus could be controlled and Melissa’s quality of life much improved.

  With one mystery potentially solved, his thoughts immediately returned to the kiss he’d shared tonight with Julia. He had a feeling she would always be on his mind, no matter what he was doing or where he went.

  Chapter Ten

  Sometimes he loved his job, like when he made a breakthrough in a patient’s case, as he’d done with Melissa Maloney. Additional testing confirmed his lupus diagnosis, and they’d already begun treatment.

  But sometimes he hated his job. Like today, when he had to deliver bad news. The worst kind of bad news.

  Alex paused and took a deep breath before plucking Edie Cosgrove’s medical file from the rack on the door of the examining room and going inside. Edie sat on the examining table, and Aaron stood beside her, holding her hand. They both looked up when he entered the room, their anxiety palpable, a living, breathing terror.

  “Hi,” he said, as he closed th
e door.

  “Hi.” Aaron cleared his throat. “You have the test results back?”

  “Yes.”

  Alex opened the file and laid it on the small desk in the corner, before turning to face them again. “Edie, the biopsy we took of the lump in your left breast tested positive for cancer cells.”

  Aaron shook his head. “No, that’s not possible. For Christ’s sake, Alex, she’s only thirty-three.”

  “I know, but unfortunately, that’s what we’re dealing with.” He turned to Edie, who was pale with shock. “I’ve made arrangements for you to see an oncologist in Bangor. He’ll want to run more tests, and you’ll likely need another biopsy that removes more fluid and tissue so it can be tested to determine what kind of cancer we’re dealing with, and whether it’s still contained inside the left breast. Once all those things have been determined, he’ll discuss the best course of action with you.”

  She lifted her chin and looked directly at him. “What are my options?”

  “In the best-case scenario, you’ll undergo a form of breast-conserving surgery like a lumpectomy to remove the tumor in your left breast, which will leave a minimal amount of scarring. That may be followed with a course of radiation or chemo treatments, or both.”

  “And the worst-case scenario?” she asked.

  “Depending on the stage at which we’ve caught the cancer, and whether it has spread to the lymph nodes or the chest wall, it could mean a radical mastectomy followed by chemotherapy, and possibly radiation.”

  Aaron closed his eyes, his face twisted in anguish. “Jesus.”

  “What do you think, Alex? What’s my prognosis?”

  He didn’t want to scare her, or Aaron, but he wanted to be honest. They needed to brace themselves for what could be coming. “We don’t have enough information yet to make a prognosis. That’s why I want you to see an oncologist as soon as possible. You’re young and fit, and you’re in good health aside from the cancer. That’s in your favor. But there’s going to be a surgery of some kind in your future, and I’m reasonably sure your doctor will order a course of radiation or chemo to make sure we kill any cancer cells left behind after the surgery. Your surgery will be in Bangor, but we can do most of your treatments at the hospital in Bar Harbor. But you’ll likely have to see your oncologist in Bangor at regular intervals, so you have to be prepared to make that trip often.”

  “What about side effects from the chemo or the radiation? I’ve heard they can make people sick,” she said.

  “Yeah, that’s a possibility. It all depends on the drugs used, the amount used, and the length of the chemo treatment, but some of the most common side effects are hair loss, mouth sores, either loss of appetite or increased appetite, and nausea and vomiting. There’s also an increased chance of fatigue, bruising, and infection. The main short-term side effects of radiation therapy are swelling and heaviness in the breast, sunburn-like skin changes in the treated area, and fatigue, but most of those symptoms go away in a few months.”

  She lifted a hand to her hair and smiled ruefully. “I think I can cope with the other stuff, but I’m just vain enough to be worried about losing my hair. Silly, isn’t it?”

  “No, I don’t think it’s silly at all,” Alex said. He couldn’t help but think of Melissa Maloney.

  Aaron moaned in agony. Edie wrapped an arm around his shoulders and drew him close.

  “It’s okay, sweetheart,” she whispered. “It’s going to be okay.”

  Alex took a shaky breath as he watched them. How the hell was he supposed to remain objective and calm? How could doctors working in small communities cope with the emotional stress of treating people they knew and cared about? Since he’d joined the ball team, Aaron had become a friend. He was a good guy, someone he liked and respected. He didn’t know Edie as well, but he liked her. Judging from the way she was comforting her husband now, she had an inner core of strength. She’d need to tap into that strength in the months ahead.

  And she was a lifelong friend of Julia’s. He grimaced and briefly closed his eyes. She’d be devastated to learn that Edie was seriously ill.

  Aaron pulled himself together, pinching his eyes shut with his thumb and forefinger to stem the flow of tears. Edie faced Alex, one hand still rubbing her husband’s back.

  “So what happens now?”

  “I’m sending you to see Dr. Collins in Bangor immediately. He’s the oncologist I was telling you about. I’ve referred other patients to him, and I know he’s an excellent doctor. Like I said, he’ll want to do more testing, and then he’ll be able to figure out how he’s going to treat the cancer. My nurse has the details about your appointment with him.” Alex took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Edie, we’re going to hit this thing hard. We’ll do everything in our power to get you well again.”

  Her mouth quirked in a brief smile. “Thanks.”

  He took a sticky note from the desk and wrote down his home and cell phone numbers. Handing it to Edie, he said, “If you have any questions about any part of your treatment, feel free to call me, anytime. I know how confusing this is, and I know you’ll probably have questions when you leave here.”

  It occurred to him that he’d never offered his home number to a patient before, but somehow, in this situation, it seemed like the right thing to do.

  ****

  Alex hit some fly balls into the outfield in preparation for tonight’s game. Aaron was in Bangor this week with Edie while she underwent more testing. Softball was the last thing on his mind.

  So in Aaron’s absence he’d stepped in to fill his role of manager and chief organizer. In order to make it to the remaining games of the season, he’d had to trade shifts in the ER and make promises to work holidays and weekends until nearly the end of his time in Lobster Cove. But it was worth it to be able to help out Aaron and Edie. And to spend his evenings with Julia.

  Alex grinned as he watched her take batting practice, her bat held high and a “don’t mess with me” look on her face. She played ball like she kissed—with everything she had.

  Memories of kissing Julia flooded back, arousing him all over again. The thought of her soft skin against his hands, the taste of her kiss, the scent of vanilla and roses that was so unique to her, caused his cock to twitch to attention. He winced in discomfort. Getting a hard on while wearing an athletic cup was damn uncomfortable. He looked away from Julia in an effort to get his body back under control. What could he concentrate on to take his mind off the mind-blowing kiss he’d shared with her? Algebra? The periodic table? World peace? Nothing worked until he turned his thoughts to winter in Lobster Cove. Remembering frigid temperatures, mile-high snowbanks, and icy roads managed to cool him down.

  Their game against another team from Lobster Cove ended in a draw after three extra innings, when they were forced to call it because of darkness. As Alex packed up the equipment, he said goodnight to his friends, keeping one eye on Julia. When she started to leave the ball park with her daughter, he followed her.

  “Hey, Julia, can you wait up a minute?” he called.

  Both she and Ava turned to face him. Ava’s face lit with excitement. “Dr. Alex! Are you coming to our house for a beer?”

  He couldn’t help noticing the way Julia flinched and looked around to see if anyone had heard Ava’s question. Her discomfort at having anyone know he came to her house after games jabbed him in the heart. Was she that concerned about people talking about them? Or was it more personal? Would she have objected to the town gossiping about any man she might invite to her home, or just him?

  He focused his attention on Julia. “I don’t know, Ava. That depends on your mom. Maybe you should ask her.”

  “Mommy, can Dr. Alex come to our house? Please?”

  She sent him an annoyed glance. “I don’t know, honey. It’s pretty late.”

  “Please? I want to show him my new kitten.”

  “You got a kitten?” he asked in surprise.

  Julia shrugged. “One of my teach
ers took in a stray cat she called Fred. It turns out Fred was a Frederica and was with child. Or with eight kittens, as it turned out. She was desperate to find homes for them, so we are now officially pet owners.”

  “She’s beautiful,” Ava said, vibrating with excitement. “Please, Mommy, can Dr. Alex come see her?”

  Alex saw a flicker of annoyance cross Julia’s face, mostly directed at him, he was sure. But he also saw a touch of fear, and it gave him pause. What was she so afraid of? Was she afraid he’d kiss her again? Was she afraid he wouldn’t?

  “Julia—”

  “Come see our new addition,” she said. She looked up into his face, her blue eyes steady, as if she’d made a decision.

  “Okay.” There wasn’t anywhere else he wanted to be.

  Ava grabbed his hand. “Come on, let’s go!”

  Alex laughed. “Hold on a minute. I’ve got my car here tonight because I brought the team’s equipment. Do you want to ride with me?”

  “Yes!” Ava said, still holding his hand. He looked for confirmation from Julia. She gave a wan smile.

  “Sure, why not?”

  Alex put the equipment bags containing bats and balls and back catcher paraphernalia into the trunk of his car. Julia buckled Ava into the back seat, then slipped into the passenger seat beside him.

  “So how come you’re looking after the equipment? Where’s Aaron been the last couple of games?”

  He couldn’t tell her what was really going on with her friends. It was up to them when, and if, they told her about Edie’s cancer.

  “He’s been busy. He asked me to help out for a while.”

  Julia turned to look at him, a puzzled look on her face. She obviously expected more of an explanation. He didn’t like avoiding the truth, but the short account he gave her was all he could provide. He was grateful she didn’t press for more.

  In a couple of minutes they reached Julia’s house. Ava ran up the walk and opened the door, anxious to see her kitten.

  “Didn’t you lock your door?”

  Julia shrugged. “I guess I forgot. It’s not a big deal.”

  “Not a big deal? Aren’t you worried about being robbed?”