Her Second Chance Family

by Christine Scott

  A crash of plates hitting the floor interrupted her bald-faced lie.

  Cries of alarm sounded in the diner.

  Startled, Maggie whirled around and watched in horror as Bob Williams stood at the other end of the counter, clutching his chest in pain. Then, as though in slow motion, he stepped forward, teetering drunkenly on his feet Before she could will her frozen limbs to move, her special friend slumped like a rag doll onto the floor.

  Despite her shocked expression, Maggie reacted with a cat-quick response. She slammed the coffeepot onto the counter, sending a spray of the hot liquid into the air. Ignoring the mess, she scrambled around the counter and hurried to the fallen man’s side.

  Jason’s cop reflexes kicked into gear a second later, more in response to the urgency he saw reflected on Maggie’s face than for professional reasons. Pushing himself away from the counter, he hurried to join her, forgetting that only moments ago she’d done her best to discourage his efforts to get closer.

  The man lying on the floor was a regular at Mel’s. At the moment, his name eluded Jason. He looked to be in his late sixties, and Jason remembered him as a pleasant, quiet man, ready with a quick smile and a friendly conversation. Right now, however, this normally robust man lay very still. His face was deathly pale, with a bluish tint around his lips.

  “Bob...” There was a tremor in Maggie’s voice. Kneeling beside him, she repeated his name, her tone stronger this time, more insistent. “Bob, can you hear me?”

  When he did not answer, Maggie touched two fingers to the man’s neck, just below the hollow of his chin. “There’s no pulse.” She slipped a hand beneath his neck, lifting until his head fell backward. Placing her face close to his, she yelled, “He’s not breathing. He’s having a heart attack.”

  Not sure why he trusted Maggie’s quick diagnosis, Jason glanced sharply at the men nearby, who were only now rising numbly to their feet. “Get on the phone. Call for an ambulance.” As they stared at him without moving, Jason said, “Do it now.”

  One of the men nodded and hurried to do as he was bid.

  Maggie wasted no time. She pinched the bridge of Bob’s nose and blew four quick breaths into his mouth. Then, with more strength than Jason realized she possessed, she began chest compressions, counting aloud as she pushed down with her arms straight and the palms of both hands flat on Bob’s sternum.

  On the count of five, Jason took over the breathing.

  The man’s chest rose as his lungs filled with air.

  In a whoosh, the breath escaped as Maggie continued the compressions.

  They worked side by side for what seemed like an eternity, although in reality, it couldn’t have been more than a few minutes. During that time, the diner remained eerily quiet. All that could be heard was the sound of Maggie’s steady voice, counting off the compressions. When Jason heard the distant wail of a siren, it sounded heaven-sent.

  Although she was drenched in perspiration and her arms were trembling from the exertion, Maggie didn’t stop the lifesaving compressions. Not until the paramedics burst into the diner. Pushing her aside, the man-and-woman team went to work, taking over where she’d left off.

  Jason rose to his feet and stepped back to give them room.

  Maggie stayed on the ground, kneeling close by in case she was needed. She wrapped her arms around herself, looking cold and pale as shock settled in. It wasn’t until one of the paramedics announced, “We’ve got a heartbeat,” that she closed her eyes and drew in a shaky breath.

  Her distress was almost palpable. It took all of Jason’s willpower not to reach out, enfold her in his arms and comfort her.

  Metal locks clicked into place as Bob was lifted onto a gurney. The noise snapped Jason to attention. Knowing his job wasn’t over yet, he pushed himself away from Maggie, away from temptation.

  He approached the customers hovering nearby. “Does Bob have a wife?”

  A white-haired man, the one who’d called for the ambulance, shook his head. “Bob’s a widower. His wife’s been gone almost five years.”

  “Any other family?” Jason asked.

  “He’s got a daughter,” another man answered. “She lives in St. Louis.”

  “Does anyone know how I could get a hold of her?”

  The white-haired man nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got her address and phone number at home. Bob gave it to me in case of an emergency...” The words faded. The man gave a sharp humorless laugh, before shaking off his sense of irony. Softly he said, “I’ll call Bob’s daughter. It’s better she heard the news from someone she knows.”

  “Thank you, I’d appreciate that,” Jason said with a quick nod. Knowing he needed to get to the hospital to finish his report, he turned, searching the crowd of onlookers for the one person who concerned him most. He found Maggie alone behind the counter, cleaning the longforgotten spilled coffee.

  His approach went unnoticed until he placed a hesitant hand on her shoulder. Her reaction was quick and unexpected. She jumped and spun around, her eyes wide and startled.

  “I’m sorry,” Jason murmured, not sure why his best intentions always turned out so badly where Maggie was concerned. He searched her face, trying to understand the reason behind her skittish reaction. “Are you okay?”

  “A little shaky, that’s all,” she admitted. She inhaled deeply, pushing a wayward strand of strawberry blond hair from her eyes. Releasing the breath on a sigh, she said, “I just hope Bob’s going to be all right.”

  “He’s got a fightin’ chance. Thanks to you.”

  “No, not me. I didn’t... It was nothing,” she stammered. She rubbed her hands up and down her slender arms, looking chilled despite the heat of the diner. “I just happened to be in the right place at the wrong time.”

  He wasn’t sure why her dismissive manner bothered him, but it did. Even though he’d known her only for a short time—less than two weeks—he’d come to realize that calling attention to herself was the last thing Maggie wanted. He’d never met a woman so bent on blending into the background. This time, however, he wasn’t going to allow her to do that. She was going to get the credit she deserved.

  His expression stern, his tone stubborn, he said, “No, you saved his life. You knew it was his heart and started CPR before any of us had a chance to even think twice. You were amazing, Maggie. A trained medical professional couldn’t have reacted any quicker.”

  The color drained from her face. Her hand shook as it fluttered to her throat. “Anyone could have done just as much. I—I’ve taken a class in first aid. CPR was just one of the lessons they taught us.”

  Jason frowned, puzzled by her seeming so flustered at his compliment. “No matter, you should be proud of yourself.”

  “Look, I appreciate the compliment, but...” She waved a hand at the crowded diner. Bad news traveled fast in a small town. Curious townspeople were filling the place to catch up on the latest happening. “I’ve really got to get back to work.”

  Sighing, Jason pushed himself away from the counter. “And I need to get to the hospital to check on Bob.” He hesitated, glancing at her uncertainly. “If you want, I’ll give you a call later, let you know how he’s doing.”

  “I’d like that,” she said, her voice so soft he could barely hear her.

  He studied her before leaving. The experience had left its mark on Maggie. She looked so worn, so drained of her normal energy. He wished she’d allow him to do more to alleviate her shock. “Take care of yourself, Maggie.”

  The smile was faint but unmistakable. “Don’t worry, Jason. I will.”

  He hesitated again, then forced himself to move before he did something really stupid. Despite the grim circumstances that had dampened the day, there was a decided bounce in his step as he strode from the diner and out into the brilliant sunshine.

  It wasn’t much, he told himself, but it was a start.

  After nearly two weeks of coaxing, Maggie had finally called him Jason.

  It was her least-favorite task. A ch
ore she’d dreaded more than anything else during this past year and a half of hiding.

  Later that evening, after finishing her shift at the diner and sharing a light dinner with Kevin, Maggie set her mug of hot tea on the kitchen table and pulled out a map of the United States. Laying it flat on the tabletop, she smoothed a hand across the wrinkles of the well-worn document.

  Red circles dotted the miles between Wyndchester and California, marking the cities where she and Kevin had already spent time. Places to which she could never return.

  Her vision blurred with unwanted tears. She lifted her mug and sipped the hot tea, delaying the inevitable. After what had happened at the diner this morning, it was time to choose a new place to live.

  Maggie sighed at the fateful path her life seemed destined to travel. While thankful for the years of medical training that had saved her friend’s life, she knew she had revealed too much of herself today. In helping Bob Williams, she had put Kevin and herself in danger.

  The glint of curious admiration in Jason’s eyes had been unmistakable. She was such a terrible liar. And the police chief was no fool. It wouldn’t be long before he would question her fib concerning a first-aid class.

  It was only a matter of time before he knew the truth. That she wasn’t who she said she was.

  A noise startled her. The muted thump of something hitting the house drew her out of her pensive thoughts. She stood, squinting out the kitchen window where the sound had originated. There, in the backyard, she spotted her son scuffing his heels against the grass as he crossed the yard toward the house.

  With a frustrated expression on his face, Kevin stooped and picked up a fallen baseball. Knuckling his glasses back into place, he tossed the ball as high as he could into the air. It didn’t get far. But no matter, he managed to miss the easy toss. Once again, the ball arced away from the catcher, thunking loudly as it hit the house.

  Maggie sighed. Leaving the map on the table, putting off her decision for later, she joined her son outside. “Hey, Kevin. How’s it going?”

  “I’m busy, Mom,” he said, frowning in concentration, not sparing her a single glance.

  “I can see that.” She bit her lower lip to stop a smile. “Looks like you’re getting ready for baseball.”

  Embarrassment flickered across his young face. “Tommy’s dad says I need work on my catching.”

  Feeling totally out of her depth, Maggie hesitated. Then, clearing her throat, she asked, “Would you like some help? I could try throwing you a couple of balls.”

  Kevin shot her a doubtful glance. “You know how to play baseball?”

  “Well, no. Not exactly,” she admitted.

  The truth was, sports were not her forte. As a girl, she’d been an academic, a bookworm. The only child of an overly protective single mother, she’d always felt more comfortable with schoolwork than social activities.

  Unwilling to let the memories of her past interfere with helping her son now, she pushed the doubts from her mind. “I may not be a pro baseball player. But I could try.”

  Kevin heaved a long-suffering sigh. “Okay, Mom. Let’s see what you can do.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Maggie had to admit the truth. She wasn’t sure who was more awkward at playing baseball, Kevin or herself. Between the two of them, they got more exercise chasing all their misses than they did from actually catching and throwing the ball. They were so bad, in fact, she couldn’t decide whether to laugh out loud or to cry in frustration.

  She did neither. She was too afraid of upsetting the balance of Kevin’s precarious mood. It was times like these that she longed for a positive male influence in her son’s life.

  Emphasis on the positive.

  Experience had taught her that any man could be a father. A good father, however, was not so easy to find. As she knew only too well.

  An unwanted rush of guilt tightened Maggie’s throat. She swallowed hard, determined not to let Kevin see the doubts that haunted her. Not for the first time, she regretted the choices she’d made in her life.

  When her ex-husband had aggressively pursued her, she’d been terribly naive. He was smooth and polished, a charmer when he wanted to be. No wonder she’d been an easy target for him.

  Unfortunately the charm had been only a facade. Once they were married, his need to dominate emerged. So had the tirades, the abuse and the whittling away of her self-esteem. It had taken her a long time to find the strength to escape his control.

  Now she was left to pick up the pieces of her life and Kevin’s. A job that, in most ways, she felt confident to handle—until now. While she hated to admit it, no matter how determined she might be, there were some parental duties that proved to be impossible.

  The screen door opened at the house next door.

  Maggie glanced across the yard and saw Jason stepping out onto his porch. With an amused smile, he leaned a shoulder against the porch railing as he watched their attempt at baseball.

  “Wonderful,” Maggie muttered to herself. “My humiliation is now complete.”

  Momentarily distracted, she gasped as the ball whizzed past mere inches from her nose.

  “Mom, you’ve gotta pay attention.”

  Maggie gulped. “Thanks for the warning, Kevin.”

  The ball tumbled into the neighboring yard.

  Jason sauntered out onto the thick, green grass, and picked up the wayward ball Then he tossed it into the air with an ease Maggie could only dream of possessing. Slowly, without asking, he crossed the yard and joined them.

  He went directly to Kevin, handing him the ball. Taking Kevin’s hand in his gently, he showed him the proper way to hold the ball. “Put your first two fingers here, on top, along the seams. That’s it. Now, put your thumb right underneath, right there on the bottom seam. Good.”

  Bringing his throwing arm back, Jason turned Kevin’s small body so his front shoulder was pointed toward her. “Keep your weight on your back foot, your arm behind you, the elbow bent. That’s it. Now, keep your eye on your target.” He flashed another grin, giving Kevin a conspiratorial wink. “That’s your mother. Take a step forward, putting your weight on your front foot now. And let go of the ball.”

  Maggie ducked as the ball sailed past her with a speed and accuracy she’d thought her son would never attain. There was no way she could have caught that hand-burning throw.

  The chuckle of amusement coming from across the yard was unmistakably adult male.

  Hands on her hips, she glared at their uninvited guest. “If you haven’t noticed, I don’t have a glove. I’m at a disadvantage. I’d like to see you catch that thing without suffering bodily harm.”

  Undaunted by her show of ill temper, Jason slowly strode toward her. She saw the flash of even white teeth as his smile deepened. Maggie’s breath caught as he neared, stopping mere inches from touching her. Gooseflesh prickled her skin as he gave her body an appreciative scan. “It would be a shame if you were to get hurt.”

  Warning bells sounded in her mind, telling her to run, not walk, across the yard and escape his unnerving presence. But she didn’t. She couldn’t. She was frozen to the spot, waiting for his next move.

  A confusing mix of relief and disappointment churned inside her as he stepped around her and headed for the forgotten baseball.

  Ignoring the irrational grumblings of neglect stirring deep within her, Maggie scooted out of harm’s way. She took a seat on the top step of her back porch and she watched in amazement as Jason turned her clumsy little boy into a halfway decent baseball player. For the first time ever, their backyard was filled with hoots of laughter, words of encouragement and a healthy amount of teasing from all three parties involved.

  Maggie marveled at the change. Moments ago the situation seemed hopeless. Neither she nor Kevin knew the first thing about baseball. But all that ended with Jason’s arrival. He’d turned a dismal scene into one filled with promise and hope. Her son was given a chance to fit in, to be normal. For that, she would be eternally gra
teful.

  Time passed too quickly. Thickening clouds scudded past in the evening sky. An early twilight settled across the yard.

  Maggie stood, swiping a hand across the backside of her jeans. “Time to go in, Kevin.”

  “Not yet, Mom,” Kevin pleaded.

  Jason smiled and gave a helpless shrug.

  Maggie shook her head, moving toward the pair. “It’s getting dark, Kevin. I think it’s going to rain. Soon there won’t be enough light to see the ball.”

  “Aw, Mom,” Kevin whined.

  “I’ll tell you what, Kevin,” Jason said, heading off an argument. “As long as I don’t have to work, how about if we set aside a little time each night to practice?”

  Kevin’s face lit up. “Really?”

  “Yeah, really.” Jason glanced at Maggie. “That is, if it’s okay with your mom.”

  The smile on Kevin’s face faltered. As though bracing himself for disappointment, he raised an anxious brow and looked to Maggie for approval.

  Maggie bit her lip, stopping the refusal that lay on the tip of her tongue. Her protective instincts were telling her that she shouldn’t allow Jason to get any more involved in their lives. But the hopeful look in her son’s eyes swayed her better judgment.

  How could she say no? Not when he’d had so many disappointments in his young life already.

  “Kevin, why don’t you let me talk to Mr. Gallagher for a minute? You go inside and get ready for your bath.”

  “Aw, Mom.”

  “Scoot,” she said, her tone brooking no argument.

  Kevin dragged his heels as he headed for the house. The screen door banged shut behind him, making his displeasure clear.

  As soon as Kevin was out of earshot, Jason said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.”

  “You haven’t,” she lied, averting her gaze. “It’s just I—I don’t want Kevin to cause you any trouble.”

  “Kevin? Trouble? Far from it.” He shook his head, a ghost of a smile touching his lips. “The truth is, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a chance to play pitch and catch. I didn’t realize how much I missed it.”