Another Chance with You

by Jacquelin Thomas

  “I just wanted to be sure we’re on the same page, Jadin.”

  “We are,” she confirmed. “We are both committed to this marriage. Look, I know you want a real marriage—one that includes sex, but I can’t give you that just yet. I hope that you understand.”

  “I do.”

  Jadin smiled. “Can you say that with a little more conviction? Just a little?”

  He laughed. “I understand, sweetheart.”

  They made small talk while they finished their tea.

  Jadin stifled a yawn. “Oh, wow... I’m getting sleepy.”

  “That’s a good thing,” Landon responded. “Go on up. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

  She stretched and yawned. “How much longer are you going to be down here?” There was a part of her that wasn’t ready to leave his company, but it was getting late. She had to go into the office early because she was attending Millicent’s funeral tomorrow afternoon.

  “Not too long.” He walked over to her, grabbed her hand and raised it to his lips. “Good night.”

  Jadin met his inscrutable gaze. His hand was still holding hers, his fingers warm and strong and protective.

  Almost possessive.

  Her legs suddenly felt unsteady, her breathing patchy, her heart skipping a beat as she felt the magnetic pull of his tall, strong presence drawing her inexorably closer. Jadin’s acute awareness of Landon grew from deep inside her body, stirring all her dormant senses into wakefulness. Her inner core flickered with a pulse of sudden, insistent desire. It traveled through Jadin, making her aware of every part of her body, all the sensitive areas that longed for his touch.

  Jadin wondered if Landon knew how much she wanted him. Could he read it in her face? In her eyes? In her body? Could he feel it in the electrically charged atmosphere?

  “Do you want another cup of tea?” he asked.

  His question cut into her thoughts. “Huh?”

  “I asked if you wanted another cup of tea.”

  “Oh, no... I think I’ll just grab some water. I need something cool to drink.”

  Jadin thought she caught a flash of amusement in his gaze.

  Flushed, she opened the refrigerator and retrieved a bottled water. “See you in a few.”

  * * *

  Millicent Witherspoon-Herndon was laid to rest on a rainy Wednesday afternoon. The church was filled with family, friends and spectators. News reporters camped outside, under huge umbrellas and tents. The cameras flashed a few rounds as soon as a journalist pushed a microphone toward Jadin as she left her car and walked up the steps of the church. “No comment,” she said.

  Jadin glanced around the sanctuary. She half expected Landon to be there, but he was not. The detectives investigating the case were present, however.

  Jadin looked around for a seat, but the pews were filled. She locked eyes with a young woman with long ombré-colored hair in golden-honey shades of brown. The woman averted her gaze.

  Jadin returned her attention toward the front, where roses, other colorful arrangements and plants surrounded Millicent’s elaborate coffin.

  Blaine sat stoically throughout the service. A couple of times, she caught sight of him dabbing his eyes with a handkerchief.

  They left the church an hour later and traveled the short distance to the cemetery.

  Jadin waited until Blaine was the only one standing at the grave.

  He looked up as she approached. “Thank you for coming.”

  “Mr. Herndon, I’m so sorry for your loss.”

  “I can’t believe Milli’s gone,” he whispered. “I keep thinking that one day I’m going to wake up and find out that this was just a horrible nightmare.” He looked over his shoulder, then back at her. “I’m grateful I was able to get bail, or I wouldn’t have been able to attend my wife’s funeral.”

  He had been released after putting up two million dollars and surrendering his passport. “I am going to work hard to get this straightened out.”

  “I know you will,” he responded with a tiny smile. “You represented my friend Vincent Tomlin.”

  “Yes, I did,” Jadin said. She remembered the case. Vincent had been accused of embezzling money from his employer but was vindicated when the paper trail led to a disgruntled partner. He’d tried to cover his crime by trying to set up Vincent. “I thought I saw him earlier at the church.”

  “He was there.”

  “I have to get back to my office. I’ll give you a call in a couple of days.”

  “Thank you, Jadin.”

  * * *

  “How was the funeral?” Landon asked when she arrived home later that evening. “There were a lot of people there from the looks of it.”

  “It’s been on all the local news channels. Millicent was loved by a lot of people,” Jadin said. “Everyone had nothing but wonderful things to say about her. She touched so many lives.”

  “There was at least one person who hated her enough to take her life. The way Millicent was stabbed—it was done by someone filled with a lot of rage.”

  She agreed. Jadin just did not believe that that person was Blaine Herndon. She truly believed the man was innocent. She just had to prove it.

  * * *

  Jadin and Landon drove to her parent’s home on Sullivan’s Island for the DuGrandpre weekly Sunday dinner. They were in his SUV, and she could not help but appreciate the buttery softness of the leather as she melted down into the seat.

  “When is Jordin’s baby due?” he inquired.

  “She’s having twins. According to her doctor, they are due to arrive any moment.”

  “Wow.”

  “I’m so excited. I can’t wait to meet them,” Jadin gushed.

  Landon turned off the highway at the sign for Sullivan’s Island. “You’ve always loved children.”

  She smiled. “Wait until you meet my nephew, Emery. Landon, he’s so adorable. And I have the cutest little cousins, Kai, Amya and R.J. Just to warn you, they come to the house and spend the night at least once a month.”

  “I’m looking forward to hanging out with them.” When Jadin made no move to get out of the car, he asked, “You ready?”

  “Better get it over with, huh?” she said, but Jadin looked far from convinced of that idea as she stepped out.

  Landon took her hand in his as they stepped along the walkway.

  “We’re in this together.”

  Two little girls ran toward them with a little boy following close behind.

  Jadin gave each of them hugs as she introduced Kai, Amya and Emery to Landon.

  “This is Landon,” she told them. “He’s my hu—”

  “He’s your boo,” Amya interjected with giggles.

  Jadin glanced over at Landon, who threw back his head and laughed.

  “Young lady, what are you talking about? What do you know about a boo? Landon is my husband.”

  “And her boo,” he said. “I’m actually her boo-thang.”

  Kai and Amya cracked up with laughter.

  “Auntie Jay,” Emery said, “you have a husband? Where’s he been?”

  “I was in another state, working, but I live here now.”

  Emery looked up at him and asked, “What do I call you?”

  “You can call me Uncle Landon or just Landon—it’s up to you.”

  “I’ma call you Uncle Landon.”

  “They’re here,” her aunt bellowed from the porch. “Ryker, come meet Jadin’s husband. Girls...Emery, it’s time to go inside and wash up. C’mon now.”

  Jadin felt nervous laughter bubble up as the foyer quickly filled with her cousin Ryker’s muscular frame and Austin. They both stood as tall as Landon. He kept his arm around her, and she grabbed onto his hand as it wrapped around her waist, clinging to him as if he was an anchor.

  Her anchor.
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  She didn’t know what to say.

  When her father walked into the foyer, Landon extended his hand to shake hands with Etienne. “Sir, I’m sorry for the way I handled this situation. I wasn’t aware that I was taking everyone by surprise.”

  Her father smiled. “Welcome to the family, son.”

  Ryker seemed to relax slightly as they watched Etienne take Landon’s hand and shake it, while Austin said, “I knew I’d see you again.”

  Jadin led him into the family room, where the rest of the family had gathered. Her mother was in the kitchen with Aubrie. “I’m going to see if Mom needs any help.”

  “Come sit beside me,” Rochelle said to Landon. “I’d like to get to know my new nephew.”

  Jadin bit back a grin as she rushed into the kitchen. “Hey, y’all. What can I do to help?”

  Eleanor looked up. “Hon, can you prepare the potato salad? Everything is over there in the bowl.”

  “Where’s your hubby?” Aubrie asked as she mixed the macaroni and cheese.

  “He’s in there, talking to your mother.”

  She gasped. “And you just left him alone with her?”

  “Shush now,” Eleanor said. “You two behave. We’re all curious about this man.”

  “Mom, this man’s name is Landon. I know you’re disappointed in me, but can we please find a way to get past this?”

  “I just always thought we could talk about anything,” Eleanor responded thickly.

  “Mom, everything happened so fast and then it was over. I kept it to myself because it was too painful to talk about.”

  Eleanor surveyed Jadin’s face. “It’s clear that you loved him. Honey, I just don’t understand why you gave up on your marriage so quickly.”

  “I couldn’t handle him being in law enforcement. Back then, all I could think of was one day he wouldn’t come home to me.”

  “That was the only reason you left?”

  “I felt it was a big enough one,” Jadin responded. “When Giselle lost her husband, it was like there were cops being killed everywhere. Then I heard about the two FBI agents who were shot down in Florida—it was just too much.”

  “I actually understand where she’s coming from,” Aubrie said. “It’s why I don’t date men in the military or in law enforcement. I’m not cut out to handle all that comes with it.”

  “Well, I think you made the right decision in giving your marriage this second chance, sweetie. I liked Michael as a person, but I never thought he was the right man for you.”

  Jadin eyed her mother. “Why do you say that?”

  “It just seemed like you were always trying too hard to make the relationship work,” Eleanor said as she arranged a stack of rolls on a serving platter. “Michael is a sweetheart, but he’s set in his ways. He wouldn’t bend, so you always had to compromise. For example, our family dinners—if he was in town, you’d be with him instead of your family.”

  “Michael wasn’t a fan of being around a lot of people. Even when he goes to his own family gatherings, he doesn’t stay long.”

  “But that’s not how you are,” Aubrie interjected.

  “No, I’m not,” she admitted.

  “Since we’re being so honest,” her mother said, “I have to confess that I’m relieved you’re not marrying Michael. Once I got over the first shock, I thought that maybe this situation with Landon was God-ordained.”

  Jadin chuckled. “I don’t know if I’d say all that.”

  “If you married Michael, you’d be moving to California, right? You would be away from all of your family. That would have disappointed your daddy.”

  She nodded. “Mom, I was going to propose opening up a DuGrandpre law office out there.”

  “But you would still be away from your family.”

  “Yes.”

  Eleanor checked on the last of the chicken in the fryer. “Landon knows how important family is to you, so he moved to Charleston without even saying a word to you beforehand.”

  “Michael works with his uncle.”

  “There is an Alexander-DePaul Hotel here in Charleston. They are all up and down the East Coast,” Eleanor said. “I’ve met Malcolm and Barbara Alexander. They are as family-centered as we are. I’m sure something could’ve been worked out so that you could stay close to yours.”

  Her mother was right. The Alexander family was a close-knit one. They constantly tried to persuade Michael, but he had no interest. He was content seeing them during work hours and every now and then at family functions. His cousin Sage had once told her that Michael’s father was the same way.

  “Jadin, did you really want to move to Los Angeles?” Aubrie asked.

  “I wanted to be with Michael, and if that was in LA...I was going.”

  Eleanor wiped her hands on a towel. “Dinner’s ready. I guess you’d better go rescue Landon.”

  Chapter 8

  Landon sat next to Jadin at the dinner table, but he could not read her face as they all passed around bowls and platters, filling plates with her mom’s fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, potato salad and green beans. It was comfort food at its finest, and he wouldn’t mind coming to more Sunday dinners if the DuGrandpre women’s cooking tasted as good as everything looked.

  Etienne blessed the food.

  Landon sampled the macaroni and cheese. “This is delicious. I’ve never had any that had a little kick to it.”

  “It’s Aubrie’s recipe,” Jadin said. “She uses Colby, cheddar, Monterey Jack and cayenne pepper.”

  “Landon, do you golf?” Ryker asked. He was seated directly across from Jadin. “Austin and I are going on Saturday morning, if you’d like to join us.”

  “As a matter of fact, I do. Sure... I’d like to come.” He appreciated the effort her family was making in welcoming him into the family. His own family had not been as large, but they were also close. Losing his mother had been devastating, but Landon drew comfort in knowing that she had loved him dearly.

  “Did you make some plates for Ethan and Jordin?” Etienne asked his wife. “I told them that I’d bring dinner.”

  Eleanor nodded. “It’s already packed up and on the kitchen counter.”

  Rochelle cleared her throat softly before saying, “I’ve been trying to think of the best way to handle this little secret marriage situation—”

  “Mom...” Aubrie interrupted. “This doesn’t concern you.”

  “Yes, it does concern me and everybody in this room. Word is already getting around that Jadin’s married to the deputy prosecutor. And if that’s not enough, she’s representing Blaine Herndon—the man her husband charged with murder. We need to just host a lavish reception. It will give people something else to talk about and settle any speculation about your marriage.”

  “Rochelle might be right,” Eleanor said.

  Jadin glanced over at Landon, who said, “I agree. I think people need to see us as a couple first, especially since we’re on opposite sides of this case.”

  “This whole situation is going to keep us in the news all around,” Jacques said as he removed the skin from his chicken. “High-profile case, husband and wife on opposing sides... It’ll be good for business.”

  Rochelle looked at her husband. “Really? Is that all you think about?”

  A cell phone rang.

  “That’s Jordin’s ringtone. I’d better answer it.” Jadin pushed away from the table and rushed to get the phone from her purse.

  “Hey...”

  Minutes later, she hung up and said, “They’re at the hospital. Jordin’s water broke.”

  “I’ll stay here until the children finish eating,” Garland said, “then take them home.”

  Ryker looked at his wife. “I can stay with the kids if you want to go to the hospital.”

  She smiled. “You go. I’ll be fine.”
>
  Austin turned to his wife, who was five months pregnant. “What about you, Bree? You going to the hospital?”

  “I’d like to be there for Jordin.”

  “I can take Emery home with me,” Garland told them.

  Landon took Jadin by the hand. “Do you want me to go with you?”

  She nodded. “Yes. I’d like that.”

  Ten minutes later, they were on their way to Roper St. Francis Hospital.

  “You okay?” Landon inquired.

  Jadin nodded. “She sounded scared when I talked to her on the phone.”

  “I suppose that’s normal. This is a new experience for Jordin. She’s a first-time mother.”

  “Garland doesn’t really like hospitals because of what happened when she had Kai. She met Ryker because of a mix-up. Their children were switched at birth.”

  Landon’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Really?”

  “That’s why their daughters are the same age and have the same birthday.”

  “I just assumed they were fraternal twins.”

  “Ryker isn’t really fond of hospitals, either, but I know he’s going because he intends to make sure it doesn’t happen again. He’s going to watch those babies like a hawk.” Jadin gave a small laugh. “I’m sure the staff will be trying to figure out if he’s the father.”

  Landon glanced at her. “I thought babies stay in the rooms with the mothers nowadays.”

  “They do. This hospital encourages rooming with the mother. They also have a lot of security measures in place.”

  The twenty-minute drive ended.

  Landon and Jadin met up with the rest of her family in the hospital waiting area.

  “I’ll be out here if you need me,” he told her. “Go be with your sister.”

  * * *

  Jadin, Bree and her mother rushed to be at Jordin’s side.

  They found her with tears streaming down her face. “I have to have a C-section.”

  Ethan moved out of the way so that Eleanor could comfort her daughter.

  “Oh, sweetie...”