A SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE BOXED SET

by Lewis, Laurie

  He tossed and turned all night, wrestling with the guilt of having started this deception. He knew the girls needed to cut the old apron strings, especially Gina, but there were new developments, new factors to consider. He couldn’t leave the island with so many things unresolved. Perhaps it was already too late, but he had to at least know.

  Gabriel headed to the docks the next morning to inspect the latest shipment of greenery. After all the inventory was checked and loaded, a call came through on his cell phone. He looked at the screen, saw Manatee Realty, and tensed. “Hi, Bob.”

  “Gabriel, I just wanted to give you a heads-up. I contacted a broker friend up north to ask him to keep his eyes open for a place in the Washington area, and he wanted to know how far north to search. Would you consider a place in Baltimore, say in the Inner Harbor? It’s a lovely area with on-site boat docks.”

  Gabriel kicked at the wooden dock and blew out a rush of air. He ran a worried hand through his hair, realizing that balls were beginning to roll. “Uh, I don’t know. Yeah, I guess that would be fine. I’d like to keep my commute under twenty miles.”

  “Your job site will be in Laurel, right?”

  This was like a nightmare. “Yeah.”

  “The harbor area would be right around twenty miles, I’d say.”

  “Uh-huh.” Gabriel wished he’d never taken the job. He knew no one there anymore, and he felt the girls needed him more than ever.

  “And the rent on your place? Give me a high and a low amount.”

  Gabriel moaned and ran his hand through his hair again. “Gabriel? You sound tense. What’s up?”

  He searched his list of forty concerns for one of the least personal. “It’s the whole idea of strangers in my place. I’ve never rented it out before. It makes me a little nervous.”

  “There’s always a risk when you rent, but a huge place like yours? Well, you’ll get plenty of action even if you ask top dollar per month. People on the high end like that are usually good renters. Of course, there are some folks who feel that paying all that dough entitles them to get real relaxed in their rental, if you know what I mean.”

  “Good grief.” Gabriel lowered the phone and groaned.

  “Now if you could find a swap . . .” the agent rattled on.

  Gabriel didn’t believe he could feel sicker about the whole idea. “A swap?”

  “Yeah. That’s when we arrange to rent your place to someone in the area you’re traveling to. You just swap houses. People in that kind of situation generally take good care of one another’s places, and we check them out thoroughly to be sure you’re getting a fair exchange.”

  Gabriel’s worry increased exponentially. “The money isn’t as big an issue to me as making sure my home is cared for.”

  “Of course. Gotcha. Well, let me contact my friend again so he can put out some feelers. I’ll get back to you when I have something. See ya.”

  Gabriel closed his eyes and shook his head. “What have I gotten myself into?” He shoved the phone in his pocket. He had to face it. He was committed to this move for two reasons. First, as miserable as the plan was making his family, he knew his initial instincts had been right. His smothering love had been a hindrance to his girls in too many ways, and they needed the opportunity to succeed on their own. And second, the only way out of this mess was to admit he had lied to Gina when she called his move a “tough love” plan. He was in this for the long haul, but he had a new matter to attend to before he left.

  He pulled the phone out of his pocket and started dialing, amazed that he could recall the number so readily. Voicemail took over, and the familiar voice invited him to leave a message.

  “Mark. It’s Gabriel Carson. Listen, I . . . I, uh . . . I’d like to uh . . . Heck, I know you don’t owe me the time of day, but I was wondering if you would meet me at the Sandbar around noon. There’re some things I’d like to square with you. If you can’t make it, I’d appreciate a call back, but it would mean a lot to me if you’d come. I hope to see you then. Thanks.”

  He checked his watch and headed for the Star Fish Company to buy some stone-crab legs, the girls’ favorite, for their Thursday-night supper. He bought six extra to make dinner especially nice. After tossing the crabs into the company fridge, he asked his brother-in-law Tino to come in. The swarthy, squat, fiftyish man ambled in with a big smile on his face.

  “You want to talk with me?”

  Gabriel pointed to a chair. “Tino, I took that Maryland job.”

  Tino’s bushy salt-and-pepper eyebrows arched in surprise. “You really did it?”

  Gabriel tapped a pen against his desk planner. “Yep, I really did it.”

  “Wow. How are the girls taking the news?”

  “Not good. I told them a couple of days ago, but it didn’t seem real to me until today. Sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

  Tino waved a hand of absolution in the air. “For what it’s worth, my wife thinks your girls need something like this. As for me, I trust you. If you think it’s the right thing to do, then go. I’ll manage the place. We’ve got a seasoned crew, and if I get into trouble I’ll call you.”

  “You’re sure you’re all right with this? It seemed so right at the time, but now I don’t know. The more I think about it, the more it just seems like I’m being selfish—running away from my problems and leaving everyone else with the fallout.”

  Tino leaned way back in his chair and smiled at Gabriel. “You’re the least selfish person I know, Gabriel. If you felt it was right, it was right. In the end, you’ll see.”

  Mark Donovan sat in the parking lot outside the Sandbar, deciding whether or not to put himself through a meeting with his father-in-law. Father-in-law. He wondered whether that term still applied, considering the fact that his wife had packed up and left him nine weeks ago to run home to Daddy.

  At 11:48, Mark saw Gabriel pull into the parking lot and watched as he made his way to the door, glancing left and right. Mark knew Gabriel was looking for him, but the younger man made no attempt to signal his father-in-law. Once Gabriel entered the building, Mark considered leaving to avoid the confrontation that would surely occur if he unleashed the anger and hurt roiling inside him. He reached for the keys in the ignition to start the engine, and then released them, slumping back against the seat.

  What does he want with me, anyway? He had already run every possible scenario through his mind. In the worst case, he imagined Gabriel handing him some legal paperwork from Gina’s lawyer, laying out the groundwork for the divorce proceedings. He hit the wheel and reached for the keys again and stopped again just as quickly. Avoiding him won’t change the news. He sighed loudly, exited the car, and entered the Sandbar through the side entrance.

  Once inside the bar, Mark perched on a barstool near the door and glanced around. Gabriel sat at a two-person table in the corner. Mark saw the waitress take his order and then watched Gabriel rub his jaw, a comforting sign to the young car salesman. Gabriel’s upset. Good.

  The longer he watched, the more apparent it became that he was staring at a man in pain, and despite his own hurt, Mark couldn’t help but feel empathy for the man he once revered as a father. The clock read 12:17. He rose and headed for Gabriel’s table.

  When Gabriel looked up, Mark watched his father-in-law scan his appearance—the rumpled suit, the shadow of a beard, and his dark hair that sorely needed a trim. Mark immediately regretted not making an effort to disguise the toll the separation had taken on him. He saw the tension release from Gabriel’s jaw, only to be replaced by—was it pity? Satisfaction? No, Mark recognized that look. It was genuine concern. For a moment, Mark straightened his sagging shoulders and attempted to return some life to his expression. In the next breath, he surrendered again to his despair, allowing Gabriel to see that he simply didn’t have any reason to care much anymore.

  Gabriel began to rise, but Mark waved him off and pulled out a chair with dramatic deliberateness.

  “Thanks for coming, Mark.”


  Mark stared at him, nodded, and sat.

  The waitress came with a basket of bread and a bottle of Stewart’s root beer.

  “Give her your order, Mark. It’s on me.”

  Mark politely smiled at the waitress but declined the offer. “I don’t need your money.”

  Gabriel’s face fell. “How about bringing another root beer out?” he muttered to the waitress.

  She jotted it down and turned away while Gabriel hurried to fill the silent void. “I hope you still like Stewart’s brand, Mark. We tossed a few back a time or two, didn’t we?”

  Mark smiled wryly but made no other reply.

  “Can’t I order you a sandwich? A burger? They’ve got great shrimp salad.” He received no reply, and yet he added, “You’ve lost weight, son. You should eat.”

  “I lost my appetite when my heart got ripped out.”

  Gabriel stared at the bread basket and nodded as he tried to ignore the cut. “I already ordered. I waited around for a while. I wasn’t sure you’d come.”

  “I saw you arrive.” Mark’s tone was combative.

  “You did?” Gabriel’s head shot up and then lowered, signaling that he had gotten the intended message. “I see.”

  “Let’s just get to it. Why’d you call me here?”

  Gabriel brushed the crumbs from his hands, folded his arms, and leaned forward on the table. He looked into Mark’s eyes. “Because I believe I owe you an apology.”

  This scenario was not expected. Mark shifted in his seat and broke eye contact.

  “I realize I bear at least some responsibility for the problems in your marriage, and I’d like to help if I can—that is, if you still have any interest in mending things.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Mark snapped. He plunged an angry finger into his own chest as he snarled, “I’m not the one who quit! I’m not the one who ran home to Daddy! So now what? Do you want to spread some of your generous benevolence on me and fix everything?”

  Gabriel didn’t even try to defend himself.

  Mark leaned forward and lowered his voice, but the acrid tone remained. “That’s not the way I’m built. I don’t want a marriage that requires Daddy’s money to keep my wife content. When I was making my own way, washing cars at fourteen, you applauded my work ethic and said working for what I wanted was the only way for it to really mean anything. Being assistant manager of the dealership isn’t grand and glorious, but I make a good living and I’m respected. Why can’t Gina be happy with that?”

  The waitress dropped off the beverage and made a quick exit.

  Mark slumped against his chair and looked at Gabriel. “I’m sorry. You don’t deserve all this. It’s just that I thought loving Gina would be enough for her. I was foolish to think it would be romantic to struggle while we built something together. It’s not your fault you can give her everything she wants, but neither is it mine that I can’t yet.”

  “That shouldn’t be an issue, Mark.” Gabriel sighed loudly. “You know, Gina has never told me exactly why she came home. I can’t believe it was just because you couldn’t buy her things. She’s a little self-centered, but she can’t be that materialistic.”

  Mark dug his fingers deep into his eyes. “Things changed. I ran myself ragged to please her when we were dating. I barely slept. I’d work at least nine or ten hours a day then leave work and rush to your house because Gina would have every weekend or night packed with civic galas and dates she’d planned. Once we were engaged, I tried to explain to her that we couldn’t maintain that lifestyle. First of all, we couldn’t afford it, and second, it was killing me. All I dreamed of was the day when I would come home to Gina, share some supper, talk about our days, and snuggle on the sofa, but she was miserable. Either the routine was too boring, or the apartment was too bare and depressing, or I was too stingy.” He looked to Gabriel for understanding as his finger hit the table, accenting each word. “I was saving for our future! But she didn’t see it that way. She thought I was trying to control her. We had a terrible fight—said some horrible things to one another.”

  “You were right the first time, Mark,” Gabriel offered. “Gina’s shortcomings are my fault. I spoiled the girls. I thought it would give them self-esteem, make them strong. It didn’t. It crippled them. The terrible thing is that I never realized until it was too late—until after Gina returned home. I’m trying to remedy my mistake now, but before I can decide what to do, I need to know a few things. Is there someone new in your life, or do you still love Gina?”

  Chapter Seven

  Baltimore, Maryland, St. Patrick’s Day

  Chesapeake Realty’s employees hung out of the fifth-floor windows, watching for the parade’s arrival. Avery had worked herself into a tizzy worrying about the risks of drinking and leaning so far above the street. Since she wasn’t a drinking woman herself, she appeased her nerves by taking a third mini cheesecake from the tray, in violation of every one of her diet goals.

  “Here it comes!” squealed an inebriated secretary, soused on Rider’s free liquor.

  Teddie scowled at the young woman’s ridiculous antics. “Rider’s never been a drinker. Claimed it was bad for the reflexes, and if a bull rider needs anything it’s good reflexes. We started tipping the bottle back a little too frequently in the last year. Now I know why. We were trying to fill a place that was empty, but you can’t fill your spirit that way.”

  “Food was my crutch. It didn’t make me happier.”

  Teddie became thoughtful. “You know that feeling you get after you deliver a child and visiting hours are over, when it’s just you and the baby in your room, and it’s all quiet and dim? You know how you look at that baby and somehow know you’ve met before?”

  Avery nodded gently.

  “That’s how I feel about God again. I’m happier than I’ve been in a long while. Deep down happy. Looks like we both found our way home.”

  Avery’s eyes misted.

  “Did you think the Lord didn’t love you when Paul died?”

  Avery gave Teddie a tentative nod. “I didn’t consciously think He didn’t love me. It was more like I stopped noticing that He did.”

  “And now?”

  Avery squeezed her hand again. “I became complacent after Paul’s death. The truth is, I became lazy a long time ago, but hearing you makes me want to do better.”

  “It’s what we do in the tough times that shows what we’re made of. You’re made of good stuff, Avery. I’ll miss you when you leave, and I’ll die if you sell your place and leave permanently. Have you decided yet?”

  Avery turned to stare blankly at the wall. “I know you’re right, that I should probably rent it for a while and not make any rash decisions about selling this soon, but I can’t imagine being happy there again. Every room is so filled with memories, and instead of filling me with happiness, they remind me of what I’ve lost. I just want to get away from it.”

  She heard herself and felt a chill run up her spine. She suddenly understood what Wes had been trying to tell her, and she desperately wanted to call him and tell him so. She closed her eyes, hungrily missing her family. She was ready to head to Florida with Wes to help him heal.

  “Avery?” Teddie repeated for the third time.

  “I’m sorry. What were you saying?”

  “I wanted you to hear this before you decide if you want to list your place for sale. I got an interesting phone call from our broker before we left this morning. It seems he found a fellow who needs a six-to-eight month rental in the D.C. area. He’s offering to arrange a swap of his house for the unit up here.”

  Avery was curious but wary. “What does this have to do with me?”

  “Guess where his place is, Avery? Anna Maria Island! Can you believe that?”

  Avery’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Really? A house on the island?” Then her brow furrowed in disbelief. “Someone from Anna Maria Island just happens to be interested in swapping his place for my place up here?” She cocked h
er head to the side. “Right.”

  “I know how bizarre it sounds but I’m not kiddin’. And I didn’t arrange this to convince you not to sell, either.” Teddie’s hands went to her hips in frustration when Avery looked doubtful. “It’s on the up and up.” Teddie raised her right hand. “On my honor.”

  “Then his place must be a wreck. Even one or two-bedroom apartments on Anna Maria can get over to $3000 a week, depending on size and location. Per week, Teddie! That’s the rental I’d ask per month.”

  Teddie shook her head. “I know, but I’ve seen photos of this place, and I’m telling you, it’s a dream house. He must not need the money. He’s more concerned about finding someone who will take care of it. And who would take better care of his house than the person who has their own home on the line?”

  Avery allowed a little enthusiasm to creep into her heart. “I do think I need to go and be with my son for a while. What’s the place like? Where’s it located?”

  “It’s at the end of Magnolia Street. It’s got five big bedrooms and a huge wraparound porch. It’s right on the gulf, Avery, and it looks like a dream.”

  “And he’ll do a straight swap—my place for his?” She was still dubious.

  “Come here.” Teddie led Avery to her office computer and brought up the email with the information. Avery was silent as she read the home’s description, but when the photo came up she nearly gasped. “I know this place!”

  “You do? Do you know the owner?”

  Lost in the photo and the memories it conjured, Avery didn’t hear Teddie’s questions at first.

  “Do you know the owner?” Teddie repeated.

  “Not really. I’ve seen him. I know about him. But the man I’m thinking of might not even be the owner anymore. Can you print that photo out? Can you make it bigger?”

  Teddie frowned at Avery. “This excitement I’m hearing in your voice makes me think there’s a secret here. The kinda secret you should be sharin’ with your new best friend.”