A New Journey (Second Chance #3)

by Christina Escue

  A New Journey

  The Second Chance

  Series Book Three

  Christina Escue

  Copyright

  Copyright © 2015 Christina Escue

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means without prior written permission of the copyright owner. This is a work of fiction.

  Other Works by Christina Escue

  A New Beginning: The Second Chance Series Book One

  A New Hope: The Second Chance Series Book Two

  Acknowledgements

  I would like to start by thanking each and every one of you who is reading this. If not for readers, authors would have no one to write for.

  I’d like to send out a very special thank you to my beta readers for taking the time to read, comment and correct. Y’all are invaluable to me. Thank you all so much for your feedback. I look forward to working with y’all again.

  I’d also like to say a huge thank you to a few authors who have supported me along this journey. Erica Stevens, thank you for always being there to answer my questions, offer advice and for being an amazing friend. Even with your very busy life you are always there when I need guidance. Your friendship means the world to me.

  D.L. Colón, thank you for always being there. You have been a constant in this difficult and ever changing world. Your friendship and unwavering support is invaluable to me.

  To Gretchen, at Clarice’s Book Nook, thank you for taking the time to read and feature my books on your blog. You are awesome.

  To my amazing street team, The Krusaders, y’all are the best. Malinda, Gina, Nikki, Lainey, Kathy and Gretchen, thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives to promote and pimp my books. Y’all are my rock stars. Much love to all of my Krusaders.

  Finally I want to thank my beautiful daughters and the man who holds my heart, you have pushed me and guided me on this journey and your love and support mean everything to me. I love you to the moon and back!

  Chapter One

  “Manuel, you need to talk to her.” Karla said to her older brother as she sat on the couch in his apartment. “It’s been a week and she isn’t handling this silent treatment well.”

  “She should have thought about that before agreeing to marry a boy she barely knows.” Manuel told her. He stood from the chair he’d been sitting in and started pacing around the small living room. “She is too young to get married and I will not give her my blessing.”

  “Umm… Manuel, she is eighteen and doesn’t need your permission to get married. She and Jake have been seeing each other since you moved here so she isn’t marrying a boy she barely knows either.”

  Manuel looked at her like she’d lost her mind. “Are you telling me you are okay with this?”

  “I am. I think Kiara and Jake are great together and they are waiting a year before they actually get married. They’ve set a date for next June.”

  “They’re waiting a year?” Manuel asked in shock. “Why are they waiting that long?”

  “Because they want a proper wedding and they want to finish their first year of college before they get married. They are both going to be living in their separate dorms on campus and they are both going to get part-time jobs so they can pay for the wedding and get an apartment together. You would know all of this if you would just come over and talk to her.” Karla chastised him.

  “I still don’t approve of her getting married.” Manuel said stubbornly. She’s far too young.”

  “Manuel, she’s getting married whether you approve or not. Is your stubborn pride worth losing your sister over?” Callie said from where she was sitting at the small table in the kitchen. When he looked over at her she stood and walked to him. “I understand your concerns, but Kiara is eighteen and doesn’t need your permission or approval to get married. She’d be happier with it though. Don’t you want your sister happy?”

  Manuel stood there for a minute and looked at Callie dumbfounded. “Fine. You two win. I’ll go talk to her tonight.” Manuel finally conceded. “I’m still not happy about this though.”

  “If it means anything I think you’re doing the right thing.” Callie said and locked eyes with him. “She needs you more than she’d ever admit to anyone, herself included.”

  Karla watched them from her place on the couch and smiled. She loved them both and was thrilled that they were exploring their feelings for one another. She hated to interrupt the moment, but they had things to do. “Umm… guys? I hate to interrupt this moment, but Callie and I have practice and as a captain I can’t be late.”

  Manuel looked over at his youngest sister and smiled. “Okay,” he said and looked back at Callie. “Will I see you later when I go talk to Kiara?”

  “I’ll be there. She’s asked Karla, Rylee and I to be her bride’s maids.” Callie answered with a grin.

  “I will see you later then. Have fun at practice.” He said with a grin as he leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.

  Karla smiled and walked to the door. When she looked back Callie stood on her tip-toes and kissed Manuel’s cheek before she turned and walked toward Karla. Manuel watched them from the window as they got into Callie’s silver Honda Civic and pulled out of the apartment complex parking lot.

  After they were gone he checked the time and pulled out his cell phone. He needed to talk to someone and he knew just who to call.

  ****

  While Manuel was talking to his friend, Kiara and Jake were at Rosa’s apartment. “Mrs. Malendez, I understand your concern, but I love Kiara and I want to spend the rest of my life with her.” Jake said in a pleading voice, hoping she would give them her blessing. He’d marry Kiara without her brother’s approval, but for some reason he needed her grandmother’s blessing.

  “Young man, I understand what young love is, I have been there myself. But I also know that feelings change and in my eyes marriage is forever.”

  “Abuela, I love Jake and I want to marry him. I don’t want to do it without your blessing, but I will. It’s not like we’re getting married tomorrow, Abuela. We’re waiting a year so we can have the wedding we want and so we can finish our first year of college.”

  “Kiara, I know how you feel, but I still think you should wait a little longer.”

  “Abuela, we are getting married next June and I hope by then you’ll have accepted that. If not then I am sorry.” Kiara said and stood to leave.

  “Kiara, wait.” Jake stopped her when she started walking toward the door. “Mrs. Malendez, I love Kiara more than anything in this world, but I can’t marry her without your blessing. I may never get the blessing of Manuel, and I can live with that, but I cannot go into this marriage without you being okay with it.”

  “What?” Kiara asked with hurt filling her voice.

  “I’m sorry, Kiara. You know I love you more than anything, but your grandmother is the one who raised you and I need her blessing before I can marry you.” When Kiara’s eyes filled with tears Jake almost gave in and said it didn’t matter, but to him it really did matter. There were some things his father taught him that he ignored, but this was one thing he knew he needed to do right. “Baby, if we start our lives together without your grandmother’s blessing it could lead to trouble. I love you and I know you love me, but she has been there all your life and she is the one who matters most. Would you be happy if she wasn’t a part of your life?”

  Kiara thought about that for a minute and shook her head. “No, but this is her choice. She’s the one choosing to ignore our feelings and put her own ahead of mine.”

  “I love you, Kiara, but I cannot go through wi
th the wedding knowing your only family members don’t approve. I hope they come around, but until they do the wedding is off.” Jake kissed her forehead and walked out the door of the apartment. When it softly clicked behind him Kiara looked at Rosa with tear filled eyes.

  “Kiara, come sit.” Rosa said and patted the chair beside her. When Kiara sat down Rosa looked at her tear streaked face and sighed. “That boy really does love you.”

  “And I really do love him, Abuela.” Kiara replied in a weak voice as she looked at the floor.

  “If you can get Manuel to be okay with the wedding then you will have my blessing.” Rosa told her and Kiara’s head snapped up.

  “Really?” Kiara asked hopefully. When Rosa nodded Kiara gave her a watery smile. “I guess I need to talk to that pigheaded brother of mine then. I love you, Abuela.” Kiara stood up and kissed Rosa’s cheek before she walked to the door.

  “I love you too, Kiara.” Rosa said as Kiara opened the door and walked out.

  Chapter Two

  Later that night Manuel knocked on the Peterson’s front door and waited. When Karla opened the door she tilted her head to the side and gave him a puzzled look. “Why on earth are you knocking?”

  “Because I don’t live here any longer.” Manuel explained.

  “But you still have a key and you know the alarm codes, plus you’re family and you’re always welcome here.” Karla told him like it should be obvious that he didn’t need to knock.

  “Okay, I get it. Is Kiara around?”

  “She’s upstairs. She went and talked with Rosa today and Jake called off the wedding because Rosa wouldn’t give her blessing.”

  “He called off the wedding? Why would he do that?” Manuel asked in shock.

  “He said he couldn’t start their life together without Rosa’s blessing because Kiara wouldn’t be happy.” Karla explained. “He loves her enough to step back and not come between her and Rosa.”

  Manuel stood there in silence for a moment before he looked at the stairs. “I have to go talk to Kiara, but when I’m done here I have to talk to Abuela. I don’t like the idea of Kiara getting married, but I won’t say anything else to stop it. I want her to be happy.”

  “We all want her to be happy.” Karla told him then she turned and walked back into the kitchen to be with her friends.

  Manuel stood there for a few minutes and thought about what Karla said. He sighed deeply when he realized that his stubbornness was standing in the way of his sister’s happiness. “Manuel, you are such a fool.” He said out loud to himself before he turned and headed up the stairs to talk to Kiara.

  He knocked softy on her door and waited. When he heard a soft “come in” he took a deep breath and opened the door.

  “Manuel, what are you doing here?” Kiara asked in surprise. She hadn’t seen her brother since she announced her engagement to Jake.

  “I came to see you. To talk to you.” He answered and she dropped her gaze to the floor.

  “There’s no need now. Abuela is against the marriage too and Jake called off the engagement because he doesn’t want to start our life together with you and her against it.”

  “That’s what I came to talk to you about. I have thought about it and even though I still think you are both too young, I know that it isn’t my place to stand in your way. So I give you my blessing to get married on one condition.”

  “What’s your condition?” Kiara asked hesitantly.

  “I want you to finish college. That’s it, just get your degree.”

  “That was always the plan, Manuel. If you hadn’t got mad and ran out when I told you about the engagement you would have known that. Jake and I are both going to the same college, but we are going to live in the dorms this year and next year we are going to apply for campus housing for married couples.”

  “You two really have thought this through, haven’t you?” Manuel asked in awe.

  “We have. We both have goals in life, but we want to reach those goals together. It isn’t impossible to reach those goals married. People do it all the time.”

  “I know that, Kiara, but I still think you’re too young. I won’t stand in the way though and I will support you. I love you, Kiara and I don’t want my stubbornness to stop your happiness.”

  “I love you too, Manny.” Kiara stood and walked to her brother. “You need to talk to Abuela. She isn’t going to give us her blessing until you let her know that you’re okay with the wedding.”

  “I’m heading over there now to talk to her. You need to call Jake and let him know everything.”

  “I’ll do that right now. Thank you, Manny. You have no idea how happy you have made me.”

  “I do want to talk to Jake still.” Manuel said with a brotherly smile. “I need to welcome him to the family.”

  Kiara’s face lit up at his words and she wrapped him in a tight hug. “I love you, Manuel.”

  “I love you too, Kiara.” Manuel replied before he released her. “Now I have to go see Abuela. Wish me luck.”

  “Good luck, Manuel. I don’t think you’re going to need it though.”

  Manuel smiled and left the room. When he made it to the bottom of the steps he saw Callie sitting alone in the family room and he smiled. He’d been hoping to see her tonight. “Hey, Callie.”

  “Hey. Can I talk to you for a minute, please?”

  “Sure. I’m just heading over to talk to Abuela, but I have a few minutes. What do you want to talk about?”

  “Us,” Callie answered in a whispered voice. “I need to know where whatever this is we have between us is going.”

  Manuel was stunned by what she said. He wasn’t expecting her to say that, but before he could respond she continued talking. “We have been dancing around a relationship since my birthday and I think it’s time we moved forward or stepped back.”

  “Callie, you know how I feel about you, but I don’t think either of us are ready for that level of commitment. You’re only sixteen and there are a lot of things you need to experience that I’m afraid I would hold you back from.”

  “So you’re saying we aren’t moving forward into a real relationship?” Callie asked with a slight hitch in her voice.

  “Please don’t cry.” He said as he sat beside her on the couch and pulled her into his arms. “Callie Elizabeth Newberry, will you go on a date with me? A real date?”

  “I don’t want a pity date.” She said and tried to pull out of his arms.

  “Look at me.” He said and tightened his grip on her. When she looked up and locked her eyes with his he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “This isn’t a pity date. I cannot lose you, Callie. You hold the key to my happiness and I will not allow my stubbornness to stand in the way of my own happiness, or anyone else’s, any longer. Now, will you do me the honor of going on a date with me?”

  “Yes,” Callie responded and touched her lips to his. She was meaning for it to be a soft kiss, like the one he had given her, but when Manuel groaned she parted her lips and ran her tongue across his. He opened his lips to her and threaded his fingers into her long, dark hair.

  He could feel the heat rising between them and knew he had to stop before he couldn’t, so he gently pulled her head back and brushed his lips across her forehead. “One step at a time, sweetheart. I don’t want this to go too far too fast.”

  “I’m sorry.” Callie apologized and dropped her gaze to her hands.

  “Don’t be” He said as he placed a finger under her chin and lifted her gaze to meet his again. “I want it all with you, Callie. I just want to wait until we’re both ready for it.” When she smiled warmly at him he kissed her forehead again and released her. “Now I have to go talk to Abuela and see if I can get her to give her blessing to Kiara and Jake.”

  When they stood up Manuel pulled Callie into his arms and rested his chin on her head. “I really like you, Manuel” Callie said into his chest.

  He was taken aback by her words for a second before he smiled. “I
really like you too, Callie. I have since the moment we met. I was just too stubborn to admit it.”

  She smiled into his chest before she pulled out of his arms and placed a small kiss on his cheek. “Go get things settled with your grandmother so we can start making wedding plans. I can’t wait to wear a bride’s maid dress.”

  When Manuel kissed her briefly and walked out the door Callie ran upstairs and joined Rylee, Karla and Kiara in Kiara’s room. She couldn’t wait for her first real date with Manuel.

  Chapter Three

  When Callie burst through the door of Kiara’s room all three girls looked up from the bridal magazines they were looking through. “Manuel finally asked me on a real date” She announced in an excited voice.

  “Well it’s about time.” Karla said with a grin. “I thought you two were going to dance around it for the rest of your lives.”

  “I did too.” Rylee chimed in with a grin. “When’s the big date?”

  “I..umm…we never set a date. He had to go speak with Rosa so he left, but not before we shared a very steamy kiss.”

  “Lalalala…” Kiara sang out and plugged her ears. “I do not need details on Manuel’s love life beyond the fact that he finally pulled his head out of his butt and officially asked you out.”

  “I have to agree with Kiara, but I do want to add that if you need to talk about anything I’m here. He may be my brother, but you’re my sister and I’m always here.” Karla told her with a smile. “On that note, I vote we change the subject.”

  “I agree,” Kiara said with a smile. “I’m thinking yellow and dark blue for the colors. Yellow will look great on all three of you and we can do yellow and blue flowers. How does that sound girls?”

  “Sounds awesome. Now I think we should look at dress designs for you.” Callie said as she bent over and picked a dress magazine up off the floor.