One More Second Chance

by Jana Richards

  Edie’s eyes were misty with tears. “Our friends did all this for us. It’s wonderful, isn’t it?”

  He put his arm around her shoulder. “You have great friends. You’re very lucky.”

  “Yes, we are.”

  “How do you feel?”

  “I actually feel very well, very rested. I haven’t had to lift a finger since my surgery, with so many people looking after us. I’ve gotten quite spoiled.”

  Alex squeezed her shoulders. “You deserve to be spoiled. I understand your radiation starts next week. Are you okay with that?”

  “I say bring it on! The sooner I get rid of all those nasty little cancer cells, the better.”

  Her attitude was remarkable. “Go get ’em, Tiger.”

  She stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Thank you, Alex.”

  “For what? All I did was send you on for further testing. You’re the one who found the lump.”

  “You took the lump seriously. At the cancer clinic in Bangor, I met a woman not much older than me whose breast cancer had spread to her lungs. She went to her GP about the lump she found in her breast, and he told her it was nothing, that someone as young as she was didn’t need to worry about cancer. By the time she sought a second opinion, it was too late. Her cancer was incurable. So, thank you, Alex.”

  He swallowed hard. “You’re welcome.”

  He didn’t know what else to say. All he knew was that he was profoundly grateful he’d investigated Edie’s lump when he did.

  Aaron shook his hand. “We should probably say hello to more folks. Thanks for coming, Alex. We’ll talk soon.”

  They walked off and were soon mobbed by more well-wishers. Alex smiled to himself. If anybody deserved to be looked after like this, it was Edie and Aaron.

  He spent the next hour mingling. People he didn’t know made a point of introducing themselves and of introducing him to others. There were people he knew from the hospital, a couple of fellow doctors, and many nurses and technicians. Maggie from Maggie’s Diner was there, along with her business partner Jill. Jill introduced her friend Marge, though he already knew Marge since she’d been cutting his hair at her hairdressing shop since he moved to Mount Desert Island. Beth, Julia’s secretary at the high school, was there with her kids and her husband Marty. Tracy’s brother Logan introduced himself, as did her parents, Opal and Leo Novak. He hoped there wasn’t a quiz after the party, because he wasn’t sure he’d remember everyone’s name.

  “Dr. Alex!”

  A familiar child’s voice drew his attention. Ava ran toward him at full throttle. She threw herself at him with her arms wide, and he picked her up and hugged her close.

  “I knew you’d be here,” she said in his ear. She smelled of shampoo and soap and sunshine. A tender emotion squeezed his heart. He knew Julia didn’t want him getting close to Ava only to break her heart in a few months when he left, but it was getting harder and harder not to fall in love with this child.

  “Where’s your mom, Sweet Pea?” The endearment came out of his mouth before he remembered he wasn’t supposed to call her that.

  “She’s busy, so I’m here with my Grandma and Grandpa.”

  Alex was surprised to hear that Paul Dawson had brought Dora here, until he saw an older couple coming up to him, and he realized she was talking about a different set of grandparents. The man held out his hand.

  “I’m Wyatt Stewart, Ava’s grandfather, and this is my wife Lily.”

  Alex shook hands with them, balancing Ava on his left arm. “Alex Campbell. Good to meet you.”

  Lily Stewart arranged Ava’s dress and straightened the barrettes holding back her blonde curls. “You certainly like Dr. Campbell, don’t you, Sweet Pea?”

  Ava turned to Alex. “See? Grandma calls me that, too.”

  “That’s because you’re so pretty, like a Sweet Pea. And you smell kinda good, too, at least sometimes.”

  Ava giggled and put her arm around his neck. He saw her grandparents exchange a look and wondered what it meant.

  “I understand you’ll be leaving Lobster Cove next February when your contract is up,” Wyatt said.

  At least he didn’t beat around the bush. “Yes, that’s my plan.”

  “Ava’s welfare and happiness is very important to us,” he said.

  “I’m sure it is. It’s important to me, too.”

  Wyatt smiled, though there was no warmth in the gesture. “I’m glad to hear you say that. I would hate for us to have any misunderstandings.”

  “Wyatt.” Lily Stewart’s voice held a note of warning for her husband. She placed her hand on his arm, her smile strained. “Let’s just concentrate on having fun with our granddaughter tonight. Please?”

  He sighed and placed his hand over hers. “Yes, you’re right.” He looked up at Alex. “I hear good things about your medical skills, Dr. Campbell. You’re a welcome addition to the community. It would be a shame if you left Lobster Cove just when we’re getting to know you.”

  He didn’t know how to respond. Luckily, Julia stepped up to the mike on the stage at that moment, preventing him from having to speak.

  “Can I have your attention, everyone? Our big auction extravaganza is about to begin!”

  Whoops of excitement filled the gymnasium. Ava whispered in his ear, “Doesn’t Mommy look pretty tonight? I helped her pick out her dress.”

  “You did a great job, Sweet Pea. Your mommy is very pretty.”

  The word “pretty” hardly expressed how Julia looked tonight. Gorgeous, sexy, delicious, sprang immediately to mind. Her pale blonde hair gleamed under the stage lights. She wore a sleeveless blue and white print dress that hugged her curves and ended several inches above her knees to show off shapely, toned legs. High-heeled sandals accentuated her well-formed calves. For a petite woman, she had legs that went on for miles.

  “Our auctioneer tonight is Jacob Wright from Wright Country Auctions in Bar Harbor. Mr. Wright is donating his services tonight, so I want you to put your hands together and give him a warm Lobster Cove welcome and a big thank you.”

  The crowd complied with generous applause. “There’s still time to purchase an auction paddle for a nominal fee at the ticket booth. Remember, you’ve got to have a paddle in order to bid on the fantastic goods and services we’ve gotten together.”

  Alex wasn’t sure if he was going to bid on anything, but he set Ava on her feet and stood in line at the ticket booth to purchase a paddle, number two hundred twenty-one. He wondered if it was his lucky number.

  By the time he got back to his spot next to Ava and the Stewarts, volunteers were carrying, or wheeling, the auction items onto the stage. Ava tugged at his pant leg.

  “I can’t see, Dr. Alex.”

  He picked her up once more, settling her in his left arm. “No problem, Shorty. I wouldn’t want you to miss any of the action.”

  She grinned at him before draping one arm across the back of his shoulders, and idly stroking the hair at the nape of his neck.

  The lights in the gym went on, signaling that the bidding was about to begin. First on the block was a fifty-inch flat-screen TV. Julia described the television’s make and model. “This TV was donated by Addison’s Furniture and Appliances in Bar Harbor. A big thanks to Merv Addison. And now, I’m turning the mic over to Jacob Wright. Take it away, Jacob.”

  “Thanks, Julia.” Jacob walked to the edge of the stage and addressed the crowd. “Okay, everyone! We all know we’re here to support one of our island families, so let’s all be generous. What do you say we put this fundraiser in motion? Let’s start the bidding on the TV at five hundred dollars.”

  Paddles shot up all over the gymnasium. In his auctioneer’s patois, Jacob Wright acknowledged each outstretched arm, until finally there was only one hand left raised. “Sold for two thousand five hundred dollars to paddle number seventy-five!”

  Alex was reasonably sure twenty-five hundred was above the retail price for the television, and he was also sure everyone
in the room realized that. But he knew the person who purchased the TV was okay with paying a little more if it meant Edie could afford her treatments.

  A long list of electronics went up for auction: another television, DVD players, laptops, tablets, MP3 players, and e-readers. The crowd bid enthusiastically. Alex stuck his paddle in the air for several of the prizes but was outbid every time.

  Next up were services donated by local businesses. Marge the hairdresser donated two prizes: a year’s worth of haircuts, and a year’s worth of cuts and colors. Maggie’s Diner offered three separate prizes: a catered sit-down dinner for up to twenty people, a cocktail party with hors d’oeuvres for fifty, and a meal a month for two for a year in the diner. The vet clinic donated a free spay or neuter for a dog or cat, as well as a year’s supply of pet food. A dentist in Bar Harbor offered free teeth cleaning for a family of four. Many other local businesses on the island donated their services. Paddles rose furiously. The Stewarts bid on both the haircuts and the diner meals. They were successful in their bid for the meals. Lily Stewart raised her arms in triumph at the auctioneer’s, “You bought it!”

  “Yay, we did it!”

  “Yay, Grandma!” Ava cheered with a pump of her tiny arm. Alex tightened his hold on her as she squirmed.

  “Now it’s time for the last two auction items to go up for bid,” the auctioneer said. “These are the items marked as surprise entries on your list of auction prizes, and we’ve kept them top secret to this point. So without further ado, let me bring out your first surprise auction prize!”

  He swept his hand toward the back curtain, and, after some rustling and shaking, the curtain opened and Tracy Novak stepped through. A murmur of surprise and lots of claps and cheers rippled through the crowd. She stood next to Mr. Wright and spoke into the microphone, talking directly to Edie, who stood with Aaron in front of the stage.

  “You’re the only person in the world I’d do this for, with the possible exception of Julia. I love you, Edie.” She threw her a kiss.

  “Tell the folks about your prize, Tracy,” Mr. Wright said.

  She took a deep breath that was clearly audible over the sound system. “I am offering a dinner and movie date with me as my prize. The location of said dinner and movie is the winner’s choice. I’m really hoping someone bids on my prize, aside from my relatives. And it goes without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway: Please, no bids from married men. Or women.”

  Everyone laughed. Alex knew Tracy well enough to realize putting herself up for display like this was not easy for her. Though very confident and competent in her work, she was actually quite shy. But tonight, her desire to help her friend had trumped her usual reserve.

  Perhaps he could boost her confidence a little while helping Edie and Aaron.

  “What do think, Sweet Pea? Should we bid on Tracy?”

  Her eyes lit up. “Yes! Can I hold the paddle?”

  “Sure. I’ll tell you when to stick your hand up.”

  Lily Stewart grinned at him. “Tracy doesn’t give herself enough credit. You’re going to have to do some serious bidding if you want to win a date with her.”

  “We’re ready, aren’t we, Ava?”

  “Yes!”

  Lily was right. Six other men bid on Tracy in rapid-fire succession, moving the price of her prize to five hundred dollars in a matter of minutes. Finally it came down to him and one other man.

  “One thousand dollars!” the man shouted from the floor.

  “That’s Rob Perkins,” Wyatt whispered to his wife.

  “Fascinating,” Lily replied. “I had no idea the school superintendent was interested in Tracy.”

  “Neither did I. But now the whole town knows,” Wyatt replied with a grin.

  It looked like Tracy needn’t have worried that no one would bid for her. Alex whispered in Ava’s ear. “Put the paddle down, Sweet Pea.”

  She obediently complied. A minute later the auctioneer pointed at Perkins and cried, “You bought her! Come and get her!”

  The gymnasium erupted in spontaneous applause, apparently approving the purchase. Perkins weaved through the crowd and bounded up the stairs to the stage. Tracy stuck out her hand to shake his, and he took it, then leaned in and gave her a brief hug. Hoots rose from the crowd. As they left the stage, he took her hand again to help her down the stairs. Alex noticed the shy smile she gave him, and he realized Tracy approved of the purchase, as well.

  When the crowd settled down, the auctioneer began speaking again. “We’ve come to our second top secret prize, the last auction item of the evening. I’ll turn the floor over to my co-host, the lovely and talented Julia Stewart.”

  Julia took the mic from Jacob Wright, and for the first time this evening, Alex sensed her nervousness. She took a step toward the front of the stage.

  “Like Tracy said, I wouldn’t do this for anyone but you, Edie. I’m not even sure I’d do it for Tracy anymore, since she was the one who talked me into this. In any event, my prize is an all-expense paid date with me. The winner has the choice of a round of golf at the beautiful Mount Desert Island Golf and Country Club, a day of sailing, or hiking in Acadia National Park. Our day of adventure will be followed by a lovely meal at Maggie’s Diner, and Maggie has promised to whip up something special that she doesn’t normally serve on the menu, so that should be a real treat. I guess that’s about it.”

  She handed the mic back to Mr. Wright. “Before we start the bidding, I just want to say that both these ladies have worked tirelessly the last few weeks to put this event together. Not only are we raising money to help Edie through her treatments, we’re having a lot of fun doing it. So please show your appreciation for Tracy Novak and Julia Stewart.”

  The crowd burst into applause once more. Julia raised her hand in acknowledgement, looking somewhat embarrassed by the praise. Pride for her swelled in Alex’s chest. He knew from Tracy that because of her schedule at the hospital, Julia had done the bulk of the planning. She’d had help from a lot of different people, including Lily Stewart, but she’d been the one to put it all together.

  The auctioneer began the bidding. “Can I have two hundred dollars to start? And remember, no married men or women need apply.”

  Dozens of hands shot up. “Can I have three, four, five, gimme six, now gimme seven.”

  Lily leaned close. “Why don’t you bid, Dr. Campbell?”

  He hesitated, not wanting to embarrass Julia. She’d been pretty clear about not wanting to be with him again. It still hurt.

  “I don’t think Julia would want me to.”

  “I think you’d be surprised. Trust me.”

  Something in Lily Stewart’s smile made him lift Ava’s arm into the air. She waved the paddle with enthusiasm, squirming with excitement in his arms. He wasn’t even sure where the bidding was at.

  “We’ve got nine hundred. A thousand anyone? Going once, going twice, sold to the good doctor for nine hundred dollars! You bought her! Come and get her!”

  Alex’s heart thumped painfully. As he set Ava on the floor, his gaze collided with Wyatt Stewart’s. Pain flashed across the older man’s face, and he wondered at its cause.

  “Grandpa, Dr. Alex won Mommy!”

  “I know, sweetheart.”

  People within earshot chuckled at Ava’s statement. Mr. Stewart smiled for his granddaughter, laying a gentle hand on her head. But there was no happiness in his face. Would he have objected to anyone dating his son’s former wife, or just him?

  Ava pushed at Alex’s leg. “Go get her! Quick!”

  “All right, all right.”

  He headed through the crowd, accepting good-natured congratulations and slaps on the back. His feet felt heavy and leaden. Would Julia be angry with him? He decided he wouldn’t push her to go on the date. He’d leave the decision to her. If she was interested in seeing him, she had to make the first move.

  He climbed the stairs to the stage and accepted Julia’s outstretched hand. Her smile felt strained, like he
was the last person in the room she’d wanted to win the bid. His heart fell. As he gave her a brief one-armed hug, he whispered in her ear.

  “I’m sorry.”

  But he couldn’t stop himself from breathing in her scent or squeezing her hand. She blinked at him when he stepped back, confusion flashing in her eyes before being replaced by a bland smile.

  Edie and Aaron stepped on the stage, and Edie wrapped her arms around Julia. Aaron shook his hand, his face full of emotion. Alex clapped him on the back in a gesture of support.

  Edie let Julia out of her embrace, but held tight to her hand. The auctioneer passed her the microphone. A hush fell over the crowd as she took a couple of minutes to compose herself before speaking.

  “I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight. I can’t tell you how much your support means to Aaron and me. You’ve turned one of the darkest times of our lives into one of the brightest.”

  The crowd cheered. When they quieted, she spoke again. “Lobster Cove is a very special community. We look after each other here. We care for each other. There’s no place else in the world I’d rather live, no place else in the world I’d rather raise my children. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

  Another cheer rose from the crowd. “I especially want to thank everyone who made this night possible, especially my two best friends, Tracy Novak and Julia Stewart. I can’t express how thankful I am for you two. I love you both.”

  She hugged Julia once more. Tears rolled down Julia’s face as she clung to Edie, and Alex knew she was hanging on to her composure by a thread. He fought the urge to go to her and pull her into his arms. She wouldn’t thank him for showing his feelings in front of the entire population of her hometown.

  He stepped off the stage as inconspicuously as he could, and made his way to the table manned by Jill from the diner and several other volunteers who were collecting the proceeds of the auction. Writing a check for his purchase, and adding an extra hundred dollars to make an even thousand, he handed it to Jill.

  “Thank you very much for your contribution, Dr. Campbell,” she said with a smile.