Second Chance on St. Patrick's Day

by Mia Ford

  “Baby? Where are you?” He called out as I started to cry. “Are you okay?” Liam stepped into the bathroom and stared at me, running a hand through his messy hair.

  “It’s time, Liam. She’s coming.” I could tell that there was a pattern with the contractions now and his mouth opened and closed for a moment.

  “Fuck. What do you need?” He asked as he counted something on his fingers.

  “My yoga pants on the dresser?” I’d been sleeping in a large t-shirt lately, and he nodded and turned to get them. By the time he got back with the pants and a shirt to change into, I was making less of a mess, and I stood to change as he supported me. Liam gave me a huge smile as I pulled my hair back into a low ponytail, kissing me soundly. “We’re going to meet our daughter.”

  “We are. But let’s get to the hospital to do that. Deal?” I nodded and slipped my feet into flip flops before we made our way to the front door. Liam grabbed the bag and led me outside before locking the door. I slid into the passenger side of the Jeep and breathed deeply as pain washed over me, looking at Liam as he got in and started the car.

  “Are you sure that you want us?” I teased him as he threw back his head and laughed. There had been a proposal on the small deck when we were watching the stars one night, and I had a beautiful diamond ring on my finger now, even though Liam admitted to buying it a few months back. It was a beautiful band of diamonds with a center stone in the shape of a small heart, and I loved it.

  “I can’t wait to see her in your arms, Elena. I can’t wait to see her.” He pulled out of the lot and made the short drive to the hospital as I breathed in and out. I was scared, calm and excited as I reached out to touch Liam, clinging tightly to him. I couldn’t believe that I let him go to begin with.

  Epilogue Two

  Liam

  I watched as the light turned red, easing down on the brake before looking over at Elena. She looked sleepy, and her smile was bright as she breathed in and out. Her hand was clutching my arm, and I reached over to squeeze her thigh as our eyes locked. “Ready for this, Mama?”

  “Absolutely.” She’d sent a text to Marie and Ginger, who were both waiting as anxiously as we were and leaned back as she winced. “Lord, this hurts. I know I said I want to do it naturally, but I might give in to the temptation of an epidural. I can’t imagine how this must feel closer to delivery.” I saw the light turn green and hit the gas pedal as she held tighter to my arm.

  “You do anything that you need to do,” I assured her as I saw the hospital a few blocks ahead. I never wanted her to go through pain voluntarily, to begin with, and I would never understand women that did that. The idea of seeing her screaming in pain made my stomach knot up, and I made it through another green light as I nibbled my lip. I was feeling so many things right now that it was hard to sort through the different emotions. I let out a sigh when I pulled into the lot and parked as close as I could before helping her into the hospital. A lot of people looked up, and once they saw her stomach, a nurse came forward with a wheelchair and the roller coaster ride had begun.

  Elena was only dilated to two, so they set us up in a private room. It seemed like someone was checking on this or that every five minutes and I stared at Elena as they got an IV going and told her to rest up before the baby’s entrance into the world. I dropped into the seat beside her, kissing her hand as she looked over at me. “I love you so much.”

  “I love you,” she replied as she frowned. “Whoever would have guessed that we’d end up here?” I saw a look in her eyes that took me back to the time when she wasn’t sure if I would be happy or not.

  “I wouldn’t change anything apart from being away from you for a few months. I can’t wait to see her,” I told her softly as I held tightly onto her. Her phone chimed from the table, and I grabbed it with my free hand and laughed. “Aunties are getting dressed and on their way.” I looked at her. “Want me to call your mom or anything?”

  “Text her. I think they’re gone, but you never know,” Elena replied as she smiled weakly. They’d been getting so much closer over the last few weeks, and I pulled up her number to let her know that the baby was on the way before setting the phone down. We took in the moment and the surroundings for a moment, cherishing this time to ourselves. We both knew that life was going to change from here on and I looked into her beautiful face for a long moment. “I can’t believe that there’s going to be three of us soon.”

  “I know. I am going to be there for you every step of the way, helping any way that I can.” She smiled at me, showing me that she knew that.

  Nurses came in to check Elena’s progress, and even Elena’s doctor stopped by to chat before the delivery. She made me proud with how positive she was and more than that, brave. Elena was everything to me, and I couldn’t help but stare at her as she spoke and laughed with everyone.

  We heard squeals, and I braced myself for the arrival of Ginger and Marie. They burst into the room and hugged Elena in turn before jumping into my arms. It turned out that the three girls got along great and were close friends in the short time they’d known each other. I hugged each of them, kissing Marie on the cheek as she smiled brilliantly at me.

  Everyone settled into seats and Elena smiled at us as her phone chimed. She reached for it, and her eyes lit up as she read the screen. “Mom and Dad are in the car headed here now. They might make it.”

  “That’s good, baby,” I told her as I reached for her hand. I couldn’t stop touching her, and she gravitated towards me just as much. We were crazy about each other, and I think that showed when we were out together, though that got rare towards the end. I appreciated that we had friends that would help us as needed and give us time to be a couple since so much time had already been wasted while we were apart.

  I think time started racing by once she started to dilate. Elena was just done getting her epidural at six centimeters, claiming that the pain was driving her crazy when he parents walked into the room. Elena looked at her mom as she walked forward to hug her tightly, whispering something into her daughter’s ear. Her dad stood back, holding pink balloons and roses as he watched the women in his life together with a loving smile. Something about this baby brought them all together, and after we’d all met for dinner and they saw how happy Elena was, it seemed like they wanted to be around more. The travel slowed down, and the phone calls increased, and the love that they had for Elena filled the room right now.

  Ginger walked over to me, and I glanced at her. “She was so lonely when she started college. They were never home,” she spoke low and looked back at Elena and her mom. “Look at them now. You brought them together.”

  “I don’t know about that,” I said as she laughed.

  “You knocked her up, Daddy. It brings out the best in people.” Ginger winked at me as I smirked at her. Elena’s father stepped forward to hug her, making himself scarce once another nurse came in to check on Elena. He looked a bit pale, and I chuckled as he excused himself. The nurse told us that she was getting closer and the baby should be coming within a couple of hours, and people excused themselves to get coffee and stretched their legs, allowing me to kiss Elena. We snuggled together, whispering, and talking as we forgot about everyone in the room for a few minutes.

  I looked up to see her mom smiling at us as she set up the flowers at the small table across the room. Elena looked a lot like her and I looked back at her as I stared into her eyes. We didn’t have long before she’d be delivering Alanna and our lives would be so different.

  I thought back to the first time that I saw her and how much I was already drawn to her. I thought about the time we spent at the coffee shop, how beautiful and sweet she was as we got to know each other.

  I thought about the first kiss and how she felt the first time I was inside of her. No woman had ever felt so sweet and perfect to me before Elena. The fear that we had of being caught by anyone the first time around was a bad memory as well as the way that we split up before I knew about Alanna.


  It all came together in a rush of thoughts as someone announced that she was dilated and ready to deliver as my heart raced. This was it.

  Her mom was on one side with me on the other as she pushed. Elena was strong and focused as she listened to the doctor, and I looked down to see my daughter’s head. I held onto Elena’s hand as I bent forward, marveling at the miracle that was happening before me. Alanna had a head full of dark curls, and as Elena pushed her out, she started to cry right along with our daughter. When the doctor placed Alanna on her chest, I watched as Elena saw her baby for the first time.

  I knew that we were going to get married soon and that our life would begin, but for now, I wanted to memorize this moment. We were a family now, and I had never felt so full and happy.

  Love Addiction: A Never Before Published Romance Novella

  Blurb

  Jessica Clark had a rare gift for finding trouble. She looked after her father who was a known gambler. He had good days and bad ones. Jessica found solace with her paintings. She’s a recent graduate with a diploma not worth the paper it’s printed on. She has always looked for the easy way out and never found it. She gets a mysterious visitor. She meets Sebastian Cole and finds something she never expected…love.

  Sebastian Cole knows what he wants and always goes after it. This is the same with Jessica. It’s doesn’t matter how often she rebuffs his advances. Sebastian isn’t one to quit easily on anything in his life. He has learned a valuable lesson about having only one life to live. His passion is collecting rare antiquities. His first meeting with Jessica is concerning something of value she wants to sell. This leads to Sebastian wanting to know more about her. What happens when he learns too much?

  Chapter one

  Jessica

  The smell of tobacco was sickening and brought me back to a painful time in my life. The look across the table was one that was familiar to me. There were those trying to keep their jubilation in check and others stone cold sober. The cards were unpredictable. They were a reminder of how luck changes hands when you least expect it. It was a fickle mistress.

  My father was holding two pairs and he was betting the farm on the other players believing the smirk on his face. I tried to pull him back from the abyss too many times to count. My presence was to undermine the others by using my sexuality as a weapon. He was paying me half the take and I couldn’t say no. The money was good, but only if lady luck held true.

  I bent over showing an immense amount of cleavage to keep them preoccupied. It was a matter of one hand not knowing what the other was doing. I reached across and took a slug from the last of the beer bottle by Coughlin’s hands.

  “I don’t know why you keep the temperature in here like this. I’m parched.” I finished off the bottle with my head back and my chest thrust out.

  Men were easy when it came to seduction. They wanted to buy what I was trying to sell them. A brief glimpse at what could possibly be the best night of their lives. The table was littered with empty beer bottles.

  “I like it hot in here. The temperature has already risen and it has nothing to do with anybody trying to turn it up. Having you here is a blessing and a curse. I’m not immune to your charms. It was ingenious of your father to bring you along for the ride. You class up this joint by the mere scent of your delightful perfume.” Coughlin had always been flirtatious, but nothing ever came of it.

  Daylight was peeking through the curtains and my father was riding a winning streak. I tried to get his attention to let sleeping dogs lie. It was better to walk away before lady luck had a change of heart. Those in attendance were heavy hitters with money to burn. My father had rented out a suite in the casino looking to impress and it worked.

  “You do know that’s my daughter you’re talking to. I thought there was an understanding among gentlemen of about this kind of thing. I didn’t bring her with me to have you ogle her like a piece of meat.” His plan was to use me and my considerable assets to his advantage.

  “There’s no reason to be offended. I meant no disrespect. These games are usually very staid, but having her here helps to keep things interesting. A comely young blonde in the prime of her life has a lot to offer.” He wasn’t undressing me with his eyes, but there was interest in something more than this verbal sparring match.

  “Just make sure to keep it in your pants where it belongs.” My father had been admonishing him all night concerning his wandering eye.

  There was a cloud of discarded smoke thick in the air even with the window open. This was truly the city that never slept. New York had nothing on Las Vegas. It was gambling as far as the eye could see. Casinos were a dime a dozen. You couldn’t turn around without seeing the glitz and glamour of the lights.

  “I’m a little too old to chase skirts. It doesn’t mean I can’t admire the curves of a young woman. There’s no harm in looking. I always go home to the one that captured my heart.” This was a game of sport where one wrong move could see profit become debt.

  Coughlin had thinning gray hair, but he carried himself with distinction in custom-made Italian suits. His shoes were polished to a shine and his face was cleanly shaven without even a semblance of stubble.

  My father was wearing the same damn suit he wore during my mother’s funeral. It was the only one he owned which made him look like a high roller. It was a façade built on a stack of lies. The pyramid was teetering and the wind of fortune was barely being kept together.

  A couple of lightweights were sleeping off the effects of too many beers on the surrounding black leather couches. There were four left standing after 12-hours trying to match wits with each other. It didn’t come as any great shock the two making the most waves were Coughlin and my father. They were constantly at odds with this teeter-totter of success underneath their belts.

  “I don’t know how Meredith puts up with you. She’s sleeping soundly while you are staring at something that should be off limits. You could do me the courtesy of playing the game before you.” My father gave me an imperceptible nod signaling that it was time to pull out the big guns.

  I went into the same act where I was pretending to faint from the heat in the room. It wasn’t the first time we had resorted to these kinds of underhanded methods. It was all part of the routine we had mastered growing up fleecing people from one town to another. I had gotten out from underneath his thumb of influence by going to college. The degree wasn’t worth the paper it was printed on.

  “I’m going to tell you a little secret about Meredith. Having this time to imagine the obscene possibilities is my own personal Viagra. I don’t need the magic of the little blue pill. It’s getting late and I have a flight to catch in the next couple of hours. Let’s say we make this the final hand…winner takes all.” My father could have easily said no, but that one word was never used in his vocabulary.

  “I have no problem taking your money.” He didn’t have the same amount of funds leaving him short by $25,000.

  “Frank, I will lend you the money.” My father was understandably suspicious of his motives, but his pride was on the line.

  “You really shouldn’t have offered. Read them and weep.” His hand was a full house of Kings and Queens. It was very respectable.

  “I have a pair of fives and another pair of fives. A four of a kind beats your full house. I will be in touch about this marker you owe me. I’m sorry I have to take my winnings and leave. This was a lot of fun and we should do it again soon. Don’t look so glum. This just wasn’t your night. The next time will be different. I know where you live to collect the debt.” He motioned for his driver and they left together.

  The others stumbled out of the room mumbling incoherently. The sight was of the walking dead.

  50% of nothing was still nothing. I never had a real job in my life. I depended on my good looks and sexuality to get me far. My flaxen blond hair and 5’4 and 145-pound frame were like catnip to the boys. My green eyes made them take a second look.

  “I don’t
know what happened. I thought I was reading him all night. I should have known he had something up his sleeve when he propositioned the last hand being one where the winner was able to take all. I fell into his trap and you tried to warn me.” My father was despondent, but he was holding up remarkably well considering the $25,000 marker.

  “This is a hiccup and you will bounce back after you get this debt from around your neck. I might have a way to settle the score. Give me a couple of days and I’ll figure something out.” I patted his shoulder and thought of my sacrifice.

  Losing the one heirloom my mother gave me on her deathbed was going to kill me inside.

  I saw the writing on the wall 2-hours ago and had made preparations to meet with a certain antiquities collector. The broach was passed down from one generation to the next. I had already pawned most of my worldly possessions for my father.

  I was no stranger to getting into trouble at an early age. I didn’t want to become him, but our paths were the same. College was my one chance to turn things around.

  “I can’t always ask you to bail me out of trouble. This was supposed to be my chance to help you and not the other way around. I’m ashamed. I’m sorry you have a deadbeat father.” I couldn’t pick my family, but I could pick my friends.

  Sebastian Cole was going to get a rude awakening when I landed on his doorstep.