Second Chance at Love

by Rhonda Laurel

  “OK. How do you feel about being away from Portland? You’re even farther away from the place where she’s buried…”

  “I won’t lie. It’s been a struggle. It was especially painful when I told her mom and dad we were leaving.”

  Her eyes widened. “How did that go?”

  “They were upset at first, but I told them about the new position and what it would mean for my career. They seemed to relax a little after that.”

  “It sounds like you came to a good resolution.”

  “That’s not all.” He put the slice of turkey down. “They asked about visitation for the kids. I think they thought I wouldn’t let them be in their lives anymore.”

  “Wow,” Charisma gulped. “How could they think that?”

  “I guess they were afraid I was moving away from the life I’d made with Rachel, as if I wanted to put her and their family out of my mind completely. I don’t blame them. I cut myself off from everyone for several months after her death. I can only imagine what they were thinking during that time.”

  “How do you feel about the kids going for visits?”

  “I told them I’d love for the kids to stay in touch and visit. They’re not strangers. They used to drive down to Portland from Washington State before, but we’re much farther away now. I’d be willing to let them go for a couple of weeks in the summer, providing Noah and Chloe want to go and we set some ground rules.”

  “I think that’s a nice compromise. Although I can’t imagine you being away from them for a couple of weeks.”

  “I’ll probably take some vacation time and hang out in the area. Just in case they need me.”

  “That must have been a rough chat to have.”

  “I’m glad we got it all out in the open. I explained to them that I didn’t decide to move to California on a whim. Portland was never the same after she passed away. There’ll be no one to check on our broken family. Like I’m some clueless guy who can’t take care of his kids. I hate pity social calls.”

  “You were off to a good start before the welcome committee stopped by with the food.” She motioned her head at the counter where he’d placed the containers from the neighborhood ladies.

  “Yeah.” He’d planned to empty them later on in the week and return them. That would be enough time for them to think his family had actually eaten the food.

  “If it’s any consolation to you, I think the food was an attempt to cast the net and see if they could reel in the new hot doctor before word spread around town. Some woman in a golf cart, Mona I think her name was, approached me yesterday when I came back from the store and asked me a few questions. I think she was trying to find out if I was your girlfriend. She looked relieved when I said I was a relative.”

  “Are you kidding me? As if they weren’t nosey enough when they swarmed over here like killer bees the other day.”

  “You’re a catch, Dr. Popovich.”

  “I can’t believe this.”

  “I blame television. There are plenty of dramas out there about hot doctors and their sexy hospital shenanigans.” She grinned. “You do know a doctor’s lounge is a passion pit?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Yeah. There’s nothing sexier than two people locking eyes while reviewing the chart of a patient with a communicable disease.”

  “OK. Clearly, you don’t have a future screenwriting in Hollywood.”

  “I guess I’ll be forced to make use of my medical degree.” He threw up his hands.

  Charisma came over and hugged him. “You are the bravest man I know. You’re standing in your new house about to embark on a new phase of your life.”

  “I’m here with my family. My kids are safe and happy. My adorable niece is sleeping in the other room like a construction worker who worked an eighteen-hour shift, and I start a challenging new job next week. There is a lot to celebrate.” He kissed her on the cheek.

  A few minutes later, Derek came in and asked if the food was ready. Everyone washed their hands and dug in. It reminded him of sitting around the table when he was kid. Only this time Derek was a grown, successful man with a family, not a girl-crazy teen. And Alex was the father of two great kids who’d been through a lot the past few years, but they were resilient.

  After lunch, Derek and the kids headed back out to the garage while he and Charisma cleaned up. Alexis woke from her nap, so Charisma went in and got her. He smiled when she came walking into the kitchen bouncing her daughter in her arms, who was wide-awake and anxious to get back into the action with the family.

  “Did you have a good nap, Lex?” Alex tapped her button nose. She let out a good yawn and smiled. He’d take that as a yes.

  “I’m going to feed her and change her clothes.”

  “OK. I’ll finish putting away the bar glasses.”

  Charisma turned to leave but stopped. “I have an idea. Why don’t we get a nice cedar chest to store Rachel’s things? We could store it somewhere in the house.”

  “That sounds like a good idea.”

  * * *

  Two days later, Alex felt sad seeing Derek, Charisma, and Alexis leave. He loved spending time with them, but he understood they had to get back to their lives in Philadelphia. The happiness his brother radiated was wonderful to see. He’d known married life and fatherhood would agree with him. He’d also talked to his other siblings, and Theo and Sienna had promised to visit soon too. It would be great if he could host the next family reunion here.

  They weren’t alone for too long after Derek and Charisma left. Another neighbor, Hannah Murphy, dropped by with her daughter Eliza. He’d met Hannah when he’d gone to the homeowner association office to find out where his mail was being delivered. Eliza and Chloe would be in the same class, and Hannah gave him the number of the gymnastics and dance schools in town in case Chloe was interested. Hannah seemed nice and, more importantly, she was happily married. She did give him a similar gossipy lowdown about the goings-on of the community as the casserole ladies had, but at least she wasn’t trying to hit on him. The girls had a shy exchange, but Chloe perked up when Hannah said she liked the butterfly barrettes in her hair. Chloe proudly stated that her Aunt Charisma had gotten them for her. The two girls continued to talk, so he invited Hannah in for some lemonade while the girls went into the backyard and sat on the porch swing.

  The ever-resourceful Patty had dropped off the school’s directory and another schedule of the community events and brought her son Sebastian along. The two boys hit it off, and when Sebastian saw Noah’s skateboard near the front door, he asked if they could skateboard in Patty’s driveway. Noah seemed excited, so he said yes. While Chloe was a little more outgoing, Noah was in danger of being the strong silent type like his dad. He’d been pretty quiet around his friends in Portland. Alex was hoping that would change here.

  The conversation he’d had with Charisma about Rachel still echoed in his mind. He hadn’t planned to touch Rachel’s boxes, but it was just as well. The suggestion of the cedar chest was thoughtful and would be a good place to keep the treasure of memories of his wife that he wanted to pass on to the kids. It had been a while since he’d rummaged through her things. Surely, it wouldn’t hurt to look at them again.

  Alex went into the garage and retrieved the box labeled Rachel and brought it into the living room. He poured himself a glass of scotch and sat in his armchair and stared at the box.

  After his second drink, he got up the courage to open it. He’d packed her jewelry box in with her favorite T-shirts, books, framed photos, scholastic achievement awards, and other odds and ends she held sacred. She’d kept the teddy bear wearing doctor’s scrubs he’d won for her at a carnival on their second date. Medical school had been grueling for both of them, but that date was magical. They roamed the fairgrounds, rode the rides, and he spent a hundred bucks trying to win that bear. He could’ve gone to a toy store and spent less money, but he thought it was symbolic of what they were both trying to achieve. They were both ambitious and determined to ma
ke a difference in the medical community no matter how hard they had to work to achieve it. He had his sights on being a top-notch cardiac surgeon, and she wanted to be the foremost authority on degenerative eye disorders.

  He smiled when he found the gold medal. He and the kids had been front and center at the finish line when she’d won the medal for finishing the 5K run in record time. He dug a little deeper into the box and found the blanket that was normally draped on the couch. He ran his hand over it gently and took a good whiff. It was faint, but he could still smell her perfume.

  He said he’d saved these things for the kids, but the truth was that he found them comforting. Derek was right. Rachel would’ve liked the new place. She was the adventurous one of the two of them. She would have insisted he take the new job and that they’d make a new life in Harper’s Grove and would fit right in. She had a tenacious spirit and positivity that was contagious. She would even have appreciated the nosey lady neighbors who seemed hyper-vigilant about keeping their community friendly and safe. She would’ve loved that the kids had plenty of room, but their bedrooms were right next to each other. The backyard, which was double the size of their old one and had an in-ground pool, also had a deck similar to the one they’d always dreamed of having. The huge deck had a cooking area that could fit two grills and a netted patio area that could easily seat fifteen people and a fire pit.

  He pulled her favorite blanket out of the box and draped it on the back of the couch. Then he went over to the bookshelf and placed the framed photos on it. He took a few more things out of the box, then sealed it back up and took it back to the garage and placed in on the shelf. He’d get started on a hunt for the chest in the coming weeks.

  He finished his drink while checking the doors and windows. Satisfied all was well, he punched in the alarm code and headed upstairs with the remaining items from the box. He peeked in on a sleeping Noah and Chloe, whose rooms were lit by the glow-in-the-dark constellation stars Derek had installed. It gave him a glimmer of hope that their futures were that brightly lit too.

  He went into his bedroom, stripped, and put on a pair of pajamas. He looked for the perfect place for Rachel’s jewelry box and settled on the tall dresser. He then looked at the T-shirt. It was a shirt with the name of Rachel’s favorite band. He’d taken her to see them perform five times. She was wearing it when they’d had their first argument and when he’d proposed to her. She said it was her lucky shirt and had even worn it when she took her med school exams and went into the labor with each of the kids. He got in bed and tucked the shirt under his pillow. Alex closed his eyes as he felt the material. This house was beginning to feel like home.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Peyton Colfax looked at the clock on the dashboard, then looked at the road. Why they’d decided to fix the pothole that had been on Main Street since forever, today of all days, was beyond her. She had an appointment to interview for the substitute art teacher position at the grammar school and being late would definitely be a strike against her. But why should today be any different? Chaos was the current theme in her life, and it didn’t seem to be going away any time soon.

  Life in Harper’s Grove was idyllic for most, but for her it was a temporary resting place. The picturesque community was an artist’s dream. Unfortunately, she’d had no luck drawing inspiration from her surroundings. Sure, the town could be a little ostentatious, with the average resident being more than well-off. The place was a weather vane for the moderately wealthy, and once you looked past the preening and airs, it was a pretty good place to live. It was no accident her friend Skyler fit right in. Skyler considered herself among the B-movie elite and moved here after hearing anyone who was anyone wanted to live in this tiny community bustling with artist and technology types.

  Skyler had insisted Peyton come to Harper’s Grove to lick her wounds after Peyton fled New York due to a bad breakup with her stockbroker boyfriend. The minute she laid eyes on Kevin, it had been lust at first sight. They had desire and scads of it. Their time together had been intense, passionate, and all-consuming, and within a matter of months they’d moved in together. For three years she lived with him and supported his budding ambitions, but he’d never been kind enough to show her the same respect about her career. He’d supported her painting and photography in the beginning, but as time wore on he’d become more concerned with building his firm’s client list. And what she needed was someone who had faith in her, especially on those hectic days when she questioned her own abilities.

  But a few years into it, she realized that as combustible as it was, there was a shallowness to their relationship that she couldn’t escape. And when Kevin wasn’t willing to change or commit to more, she finally ended it. Then she packed her things and made her way west into the comforting arms of her longtime friend. It was the perfect scenario. Skyler was always away shooting a film, so they didn’t get in each other’s way. They loved each other, but they were horrible roommates in college.

  The stress of leaving Kevin and New York had given her a wicked case of artist’s block, but coming to Harper’s Grove was slowly changing all of that. Or so she hoped. She’d taken her camera and walked a few nearby scenic hiking trails and sat in front of a blank painter’s canvas at night. Still waiting for the right inspiration to set her imagination ablaze.

  The sound of the horn beeping jolted her out of her thoughts. The traffic was moving again. She made a sharp left turn into the parking lot as a fancy SUV was trying to make a right. There was no room to move out of the way, and his bumper connected with the door of her old Woodie station wagon with a bang and a screech.

  She put it in park and got out. She cringed when saw the logo on the driver’s SUV hood. Crap, it was one of those expensive cars. Her heart skipped a beat when the driver opened his door. He was gorgeous. She could see his muscles under the charcoal gray suit he wore like it was a second skin, and he had the most intense blue eyes she’d ever seen. He had to be at least six two and had a thick, dark mane that was short and had not a hair out of place. It must have taken him hours to look that perfect. Too bad he was a crappy driver.

  “Are you OK?” the stranger said as he approached.

  “I’m fine, but my door wasn’t so lucky.”

  He examined his car. “I just have some scratches on the bumper.”

  “This can’t be happening.” She glanced at her watch. She had ten minutes to get into the school.

  “Insurance should cover it. We probably need to exchange information.”

  “Insurance?” Great. She didn’t need one more accident on her driving record.

  “Yes. And no worries, I won’t file a claim with your insurance company for my bumper.”

  Wait. What? She put her hand on her hip. “Why would you fill out a claim with my insurance company? It was your fault.”

  “You turned in here like you were doing a lap at the Indy 500. You should take those turns a little slower, especially in a school parking lot.”

  “Me?” She whipped her head in his direction. “You were the one doing sixty while making a right turn in that luxury bulldozer.”

  “Listen.” He looked at his watch. “I’d love to continue this enthralling discussion, but I am late to an important meeting. Can we just exchange insurance information?”

  “Aren’t you a little overdressed for your tee time?” She folded her arms across her chest. “The fancy suit and tie is a bit of overkill, isn’t it?”

  “I’m on my way to work. I don’t have time to golf.” He adjusted his tie. “Some of us have to work for a living.”

  “And you’re saying I don’t?”

  “Well, if running into people then accosting them is a job. I’d say you’re pretty good at it.”

  “You rich jerks are all the same,” she huffed. “No one else’s time matters more than yours.”

  Scowling, he took another look at her car. “Forget it. We don’t have to get the insurance companies involved. I’ll pay for the damage for both ve
hicles.”

  “Why?” She squinted at him. She distinctly saw pity in his eyes. “You think I can’t afford it?”

  “Good will.” He shook his head. “I’m new to this town and I don’t want my first impression to be an escalated accident.”

  “Forget it. I’ll pay for your precious bumper. I’d hate for you to dip into your country club fees.”

  “I’m trying to do the right thing here.” He took out his cell phone.

  “You wouldn’t know the right thing if it bit you on the ass. You seamlessly shifted from blame to condescension with ease. Your parents must be proud.”

  “I’m pretty sure I’d know if the right thing was nibbling on my ass.” He flashed a wicked grin. “What’s your number?”

  “There’s no chance in hell I’m giving you my number. But I definitely have yours.” She got behind the wheel and drove off. She had three minutes to get to the administrative office.

  * * *

  Alex shook his head as he drove off with his bumper all scarred up. Things had gotten out of hand so quickly. Not to mention they were blocking up the entrance. The last thing he wanted was to cause a scene, but the woman sure was relentless, even though she was dead wrong. Five cars had gone to the next available entrance to the parking lot because they were standing there bickering. He’d been having a perfectly good morning dropping the kids off for their first day at their new school until the belligerent soccer mom rammed him with a station wagon that belonged in an antique automobile road show. Then she had the nerve to read him the riot act for an accident that was clearly her fault. Who makes a left turn into a parking lot all fast and furious like a crazy woman? Someone who had a problem admitting she made a mistake, that’s who. He was totally in the clear when he made that right turn. OK, maybe he didn’t have his signaler on but still, she was going way too fast.