The Second Chance

by Ann Maree Craven

  “Since when do you work here?” I gave her a confused look.

  “Dad said I needed something to do.” She sighed. “He doesn’t understand that when I stay home reading on the weekends, I’m not bored. That I like it.”

  Her dad might be the polar opposite of mine, but they’d both been raised with the same Ashford work ethic. “He wants you to stop asking for book money, doesn’t he?” It was always about money with my dad.

  “I don’t think that’s why.” She tugged one braid over her shoulder. “It was more … he was worried about me.”

  I understood her in a way few people did. We were both avid readers, something some people—our fathers—took to mean loners or lazy. That wasn’t the case at all. “Well, I brought you a new book.”

  Her eyes lit up. “Please tell me it has a good romance.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Of course it does. Would I read it if it didn’t?” She was the only person I’d admit that to, but we’d been swapping books for years, mostly fantasy or science fiction. “I’ll bring it to you here tomorrow.”

  She scrunched up her face. “Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll still be working here.”

  “Why not?”

  “I’m kind of terrible at it.”

  I could imagine that. Emery wasn’t much of a talker until she really got to know someone. Wicked smart, she got along better with fictional characters and her brothers.

  “In that case, I’ll just take a coffee.”

  She looked behind her, her face scrunched. “Um, can you get something else?”

  “What’s wrong with coffee?”

  “We’re out.”

  “Of coffee? This is a coffee shop.”

  Emery sighed. “Fine, I’d have to make a new pot, and I don’t know how. Unless you want to wait half an hour for Cassie to get back from break, can you get like water or something? Ooh, or a bottled drink. I can totally make those.”

  I glanced at the cooler of bottled drinks, laughing at her insinuation she’d make one. Emery was probably right. This wasn’t the job for her. “I’ll take a seltzer.” I pulled out a can and handed her my card.

  “That’s twelve dollars.”

  I almost choked. “Em, I don’t think you rang that up right.”

  “Of course I did. This is the one part of the job I can do.”

  “Stop harassing the girl,” someone behind me said.

  I turned to tell them to mind their own business only to find a grinning Harrison. Could I go nowhere in this town without running into a million Ashfords?

  “Don’t you have a job?” I asked. He had many jobs, but the biggest was town mayor.

  Harrison slapped my back as Emery handed me my card and the seltzer I’d overpaid for.

  “Hey, Harry.” Emery smiled. “Can I interest you in an ice water?”

  Harrison gave me a confused look.

  “Just do it man or you’ll end up with a really expensive seltzer water.”

  Emery handed him a cup of water, and he followed me over to an empty table, taking a seat across from me. Emery, Harrison, and I all had different fathers but the same Ashford air about us that made the entire town tune in to everything we said.

  Even now, I saw Mrs. Abernathy and Mrs. Chapman at the next table over, cups of water in front of them. They kept sneaking glances our way, as if we couldn’t see.

  Seeing Mrs. Chapman made my throat constrict. I wanted to ask her if Harper had made it to town. If she’d asked about me. Anything. Everything. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her since the day I learned she was coming back.

  Years ago, we were inseparable. Then, everything broke, and she was gone. I never even got to say goodbye.

  Harrison sipped his water and studied me.

  “What?” I snapped.

  “You seem a bit jumpy today.”

  I wasn’t jumpy. Was I? I’d walked through town with my eyes constantly scanning, searching, looking for any sign of her, wondering if she was looking for me. Knowing she wasn’t. “I’m fine.”

  “That’s a line you give your brother.”

  “Yeah, well, are you honest with the great Conner Ashford about all things?” Not even Conrad confided in Conner. Harrison was probably the closest of all of us to Conner, but it was hard to be truly close to him. I thought my brother dating my best friend might change things, but all it really did was make me resent him more.

  I didn’t want Lena to love me, I just wanted my friend back.

  Harrison didn’t look happy with me. There was a reason everyone loved him. He was a reconciler, always needing everyone to get along. If our fathers didn’t hate each other, I was sure he could even charm my dad.

  “Why are you still single?” The question sort of just popped out of me.

  He laughed at that. “I have three jobs.”

  The bell over the door jangled, and I groaned as Conrad walked in. Weren’t there enough family members of mine in one place? This day was going to drive me crazy. Conrad walked past the counter and came straight for us, no smile on his serious face. He wasn’t stern like Conner. He had a different air about him.

  Conrad had never been good with people, finding it hard to speak to them. It was why he lived on an island surrounded by wild horses.

  Harrison lifted a hand in greeting. “Conrad, hi.” Conrad nodded to us each in turn, as if we were business associates rather than family.

  “Hey, brother.” I’d always wanted to be closer to Conrad, always envied the way he bucked the family to follow his passion. But I’d never found my opening.

  Conrad took an empty seat, his lean frame folding into it easily. “I heard Dad is making you work at the wine bar.”

  Harrison lifted a brow.

  I shrugged. “I’m actually kind of excited about it. No more showing up to those offices where his staff knows just how incompetent I am.”

  To my surprise, a small smile curved his lips. “Yeah, I know what you mean. I spent my fair share of time in those offices.”

  Any show of emotion from my brother was a win. “So, what brings you to town?”

  “I needed to meet with Harrison, actually.” He turned to Harrison. “I have an injured foal to care for over the next week and won’t be able to leave her side for any tours. And my assistant is visiting her sick mother.”

  Harrison nodded. “I’ll make sure to post a notice on the website canceling all tourist visits to the sanctuary.”

  “Thanks.” He stood. “I’m going to grab a coffee.”

  Harrison and I shared a look before I said, “Good luck with that, bro.”

  I watched him chat with Emery, laughing when he walked away with a water. Her co-worker joined her a moment later, and they spoke. Before I knew it, Emery was marching toward us and throwing herself into Conrad’s vacated seat.

  “I got fired.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Look on the bright side, you didn’t even want this job.” I offered her a smile.

  She scowled at me. “But my dad is going to be so disappointed. He’ll force me to find some hobby, as if reading isn’t a good enough hobby. It’s making me smarter than all the fools in this town.”

  Harrison hid a grin behind his cup and stood. “Well, as one of the fools in this town, I’m going to get an actual coffee and head to the firehouse.”

  Emery groaned. “He just has to point out that he volunteers as a firefighter even though he’s also mayor and runs his hardware store. My father wants us all to grow up to be him.”

  “Want to switch dads?” I stared at her until she really thought about it.

  “Ugh, I’m sorry. I’m complaining about my awesome dad to you, who has the biggest jerk in the world for a dad.”

  “It’s okay.” I checked the time on my phone. “But I do need to run. Some of us have jobs.” I sent her a wink as I stood.

  “Since when?” she called after me.

  Throwing my empty seltzer can in the trash, I’d almost made it out the door before
she stopped me, the very woman I wanted to avoid. There was a group of older women in this town who had a heightened interest in everything that went on, and one of them happened to be Harper’s grandmother.

  “Carter?” Mrs. Chapman joined me as I pushed through the door.

  I stopped on the sidewalk and turned to her. “Mrs. Chapman, hello.”

  Mrs. Abernathy joined her, and I was stuck. “Young man, where are you off to in such a hurry?”

  I wasn’t going to tell them where I’d be working. The town would know soon enough, but I didn’t need everyone showing up on my first night. “Headed home.”

  Mrs. Chapman didn’t look happy about that. “I was expecting to see you at some point today. Harper got in yesterday.”

  The words stole the air from my lungs, and I took a step back. Before now, Harper’s return was an abstract thing, something I didn’t have confirmation of. I’d looked for her, not thinking I’d actually see her.

  “Look what you did,” Mrs. Abernathy chastised her friend. “The poor boy is going all red. I think you broke him.”

  Mrs. Chapman gave me a kind smile. “Breathe, dear.”

  I sucked in a breath, trying to calm my frantic heart. “I need to go.” I turned and fled, but they called after me.

  “Make sure you stop by!”

  I’d only ever been in love with one girl, and that love had taken years to get over. Now, all that was left was the hurt she’d caused. The questions and confusion she’d left in her wake.

  Chapter Five

  I’d forgotten how interested everyone in this town was in everything. It was nearing seven when I reached the Ashford Wine Bar. A few people stood outside on the sidewalk in front of the red brick building, their eyes following my every move. I doubted many of them remembered me, but they watched strangers even more closely.

  And boy, was I a stranger.

  I didn’t want to walk inside by myself, so I checked my phone to see if I had any texts. Garret. He’d never stop. At this point, I didn’t know if he wanted me to come back and be his wife or just come back to work.

  I ignored his text and checked the time. I was a few minutes early. Nerves skittered along my skin, and I wasn’t sure why. It had been years since I’d seen my friends here, and I hadn’t said goodbye to any of them, but surely we hadn’t all changed that much.

  “Harper?” The moment I heard her voice, I turned, tears stinging my eyes at the sight of Lena Contreras. I’d never had another friend like her, and that realization came crashing down on me the moment she ran toward me, throwing her arms around my shoulders.

  I was so relieved by her reception I forgot to hug her back.

  “Oh gosh.” She pulled back, and I was surprised to see her wipe a tear away. “It’s just so good to see you.”

  When I could finally move, I pulled her back into a tight hug, the kind of hug I hadn’t had in a long time. “Hi, Lena.”

  Both of us were sniffling now and not even trying to hide it.

  “We’re such messes.” She laughed. “But that’s nothing new for me.”

  I had a hard time believing that. Lena’s dark hair was pulled into a high sleek ponytail that draped down her silk clad back. She wore dark skinny jeans and gladiator sandals. My old friend looked gorgeous.

  Me … I wore a blue summer dress I’d left in Grandma’s closet many years ago, looking more like my teenage self than adult Harper.

  A man walked up beside Selena, and my heart dropped. She’d brought her boyfriend with her to our girl’s night?

  She smiled up at him. “Harper, you remember Conner Ashford?”

  I stared at him dumbly. When I’d read in the Weekly Wine that Lena was dating him, it had been hard to believe. We’d spent our younger years hating him. “Hey.”

  He only nodded in that stern way he always had.

  Lena leaned in. “He’s not hanging with us. He’s meeting his brother here.” At my panicked look, she went on. “Conrad, not Carter. Apparently, there’s something happening here the two of them are dying to see.”

  Conner walked into the bar ahead of us, and I took it all in. This place had been a staple in Superiore Bay for a long time, but we were always too young to go in. We walked under a wooden archway into an expansive room full of warm colors and exposed beams. The back wall was the same red brick as the outside, and a giant fireplace sat unlit during the summer months.

  The oak bar wrapped around to our right, with patrons crowding onto stools.

  Chatter enveloped us, and the crowd’s energy rolled through me. This room breathed life.

  Lena smiled back at me. “I see a table. Come on.”

  I pulled myself onto a high chair, crossing my legs and scanning the room for familiar faces. The truth was, I didn’t remember many people from this town. And then, there were some I’d never forget.

  “What do you want?” Lena asked. “I’ll go get us some wine. On me.”

  I’d developed an appreciation for all things wine during my marriage. Sometimes, it was all that had gotten me through the day. “They only serve Superiore Bay wines here, right?”

  She nodded.

  “What’s their best?”

  Selena pursed her lips and dropped her voice. “Well, there’s a hybrid wine they started stocking without telling The Ashford. Conner made it. It’s a red, but I admit I don’t know much about wine, so all I can tell you is it’s good.”

  “I like reds.” I liked all wine.

  Lena smiled and left to get our drinks. I took the moment alone to check my phone again and found three more texts from Garret.

  Garret: Can I call you tonight?

  Garret: Where are you?

  Garret: Thinking about you.

  He really needed to stop, but no matter how many times I told him to back off, he wouldn’t give me space.

  When Lena returned, I slipped my phone back into my purse and gripped the glass, taking a long sip. “Oh wow, that’s delicious.”

  She stared at me and my already half-empty glass. “Okay then, we’ll be needing more sooner than I thought.”

  “Sorry.” I set my glass down. “It’s been a rough week.”

  There’d been a time I’d have told her everything and she’d have made me feel better, telling me it would all be okay. But that was then. Now, I knew it had all been a lie. Or naïveté. Sometimes, I wondered if people from my snooty world got to be happy.

  Like my parents. They stayed married for appearances, but I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen them even give each other an affectionate look.

  We worked jobs that were acceptable, stayed in marriages that were broken, and we lived and dined wherever the masses deemed it was appropriate.

  I just didn’t want to be a part of that we anymore.

  Lena stared down into her wine. “Well, I’m glad you’re here. It hasn’t been the same without you.”

  “Yeah.” I laughed. “Some people lost their minds and started dating the enemy.”

  She blushed. “It’s a long story, but he’s not so bad.”

  “You look happy.” I gave her a genuine smile. The first one I hadn’t had to force in a while.

  “I am.”

  “Then, I’m happy for you.”

  She reached across the table to grip my hand. “I really missed you.”

  I squeezed back. “I was afraid you’d hate me. I’m sorry we haven’t talked since …” Since I left. Since I didn’t say goodbye.

  Her lips turned down, but she didn’t let me go. “I know you probably had your reasons. That’s done and over with. The real question is, how long are you back for?”

  I shrugged. “I’m not really sure.”

  She smiled, releasing me. “Just say goodbye this time.”

  The thought of leaving so soon after I’d arrived wasn’t a good one, but I only nodded.

  There was a flurry of activity near the bar before something crashed, and glass shattered. Cursing followed it, and I snapped my eyes to where someone
kneeled by the broken glasses, his familiar voice reaching us.

  “What the …” Lena jumped from her chair. “Carter is here?”

  I couldn’t move except to drain the rest of my wine, barely tasting what I was sure Conner had spent a long time perfecting. Carter was maybe thirty feet away, with his back to us.

  Lena scowled as she met Conner’s eyes at a nearby table. “That’s why they insisted on coming here tonight. They knew Carter was working.”

  And they wanted to see what a disaster it was. It seemed nothing had changed between the Ashford brothers.

  Someone stooped down to help Carter sweep away the glass, and he stood, lifting his palm to look at it. Even from here I could see he was hurt, and I wasn’t the only one.

  Lena walked toward him, putting a hand on his back and looking at his hand. I didn’t know what she said, but before I knew it, she was leading him our way. When his eyes lifted to mine, his steps faltered. Then, he raised his chin and continued until he reached the table.

  I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth, waiting for him to say something.

  “Give me your hand,” Lena ordered.

  He obeyed, not taking his eyes from me as she dipped a napkin in water and wiped away the blood. “I’m fine, Lena.”

  That voice, so familiar, yet older, rougher. It sent a chill down my spine.

  He yanked his hand away from her, and she sighed. “Fine. I’ll be back in a minute. You two don’t kill each other.”

  Carter didn’t give me one of his usual charming smiles, nor his suave words. He’d always known what to say, how to act, to make me fall head over heels again and again. But this time, it seemed he was all out of words.

  Because it was my turn to speak.

  “So, you work here?” I cringed. Those were my first words to this man in years?

  “Seems so.” He crossed his arms. “I’m managing the place for my father.”

  “That’s great, Carter.” I offered him a smile as a peace offering, and some of the tension lifted from him.