A New Beginning (Second Chance #1) (11 page)

Karla awoke the next morning and realized she’d slept later than she’d intended to. It was almost eight already and she was meeting her friends in two hours. She dressed quickly in blue jean shorts, a green t-shirt and green flip-flops then pulled her hair into a ponytail and headed downstairs.

She found Leslie and Andrew sipping coffee at the bar when she walked into the kitchen. Leslie looked up from her laptop when Karla walked in. “Good morning. Want me to fix you an omelet?”

“Good morning. No thanks, I’ll just have some cereal. I’m meeting everyone at ten and wanted to finish my algebra homework before then because I’m sure I’ll be over there the rest of the day.”

“Okay sweetie. How are you doing this morning?”

“I’m hanging in there. A little nervous about telling them, but I know in my heart that it’s the right thing to do.” Karla answered and sat at the bar beside Andrew. She glanced at his computer screen and saw that he was looking at caskets for Diane.

“Can I help pick it out?” She asked tentatively.

“Of course.” He answered and turned his laptop so she could see it better. They looked together as she ate her cereal and after a few minutes she spotted the perfect one. It was lavender with little white flowers.

“That’s the one.” She said as Andrew started to scroll down.

“Which one honey?”

“The lavender one with the little white flowers. It’s perfect.”

“Okay. Then that’s the one we’re going to get. It says it’s in stock, which is good because I have the grave side service set for three tomorrow afternoon. I hope that’s okay with you.”

“That’s perfect. Thank you Andrew. I don’t know what would have happened to me if you hadn’t been my doctor that night.” Karla said as a wistful expression crossed her face.

“You would have survived Karla. You had Bob, Mr. Jennings, on your case and he’s one of the best. No, he is the best.” Leslie said with a smile. Her older brother was the best.

Karla thought about that for a minute before she responded. “I don’t know. I still say that you two saved me. I’ve researched the foster care system and I was really lucky to find you. Most kids aren’t so lucky.”

“We’re the lucky ones Karla. We had an emptiness in our house and hearts. You’ve filled that emptiness. You’ve brought us more joy and happiness then we ever thought possible.” Leslie’s eyes filled with tears as she spoke. “Now why don’t you go do your algebra? You have about fifty minutes before you have to leave to meet your friends. I’ll drive you over when you’re ready.”

“Thanks Leslie. I love you both.” Karla smiled and left the kitchen after rinsing her bowl and spoon and putting them in the dishwasher.

Half an hour later she had finished her homework, brushed her teeth and was headed back downstairs when her phone signaled a text message. It was from Callie:
We’re all here waiting for you. Hurry up!! Lol!! ;)

Karla laughed before she walked into the kitchen to let Leslie know she was ready.

Five minutes later Leslie dropped her off in front of the Newberry’s house and she was immediately greeted by two large dogs. She cracked up at Conner when he ran out of the house and waved his arms over his head yelling, “KANE, ABEL!! DOWN BOYS!!”

“Kane and Abel? Really?” She couldn’t help but laugh again.

“Yeah. They’re my brother’s dogs, but since he’s away at college I’m stuck taking care of the mutts.” Conner said as he lovingly patted their heads.

“Mutts huh? Seems like you genuinely like the mutts.” Karla grinned and bent over to pet Kane and Abel’s heads. “They seem like big sweeties to me.”

“They are.” Callie said when she came out the front door.

“And they love making new friends.” Rylee added when she joined them.

They played with the dogs for a few minutes before they headed inside.

“Mom! Karla’s here.” Callie yelled when they walked through the door.

A tall, thin woman with long, jet black hair and sapphire eyes walked into the room. Karla instantly knew where Conner and Callie got their looks. “Hello, Karla. Welcome to our home.”

“Thank you Mrs. Newberry. I’m happy to be here.”

“Conner and Callie have talked endlessly about you. I was thrilled when they said you’d be joining us today. The whole family is here, except Dylan who is away at school. Kelsey’s fiancé, Jason, will be here in about an hour and a half. Why don’t y’all go upstairs to the game room until he gets here?”

“Sure thing mom. Is there anything to drink in the fridge up there?” Conner asked.

“I have no idea, but Kevin’s been up there all morning so probably not.”

“Great. Thanks mom.” Conner rolled his eyes and led the group upstairs.

When they made it to the game room it was empty so Conner closed the door, grabbed them all a Coke from the fridge and sat in the chair across from the couch the girls were sitting on. “Okay Karla, the floor’s all yours.”

Karla took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them she said, “My mother died last night.”

No one spoke as Karla told them everything that had happened to her, including what happened with Tony. Rylee and Callie both moved closer to her on the couch and put a supportive arm around her. Conner stayed in his chair across from them and looked at the floor.

When she was finished Conner got up and went into the bathroom. He was back out in seconds and handed Karla a box of tissues. She took them with a watery smile and he sat on the floor at her feet, his shoulder pressed against her legs in silent support.

“Do you want us there tomorrow?” Rylee asked Karla once her sobs had subsided.

“I won’t be able to do this without you guys. The three of you, and your parents if they don’t want you going alone, Andrew, Leslie, Mrs. Jones, Captain McGraw, Detective Greeves, Mr. Jennings, his wife Meghan and their son Harvey are the only ones I want there, except for my brother and sister, but they can’t be here. There isn’t anyone else in my life, and even if there was they wouldn’t matter like you all do.”

“We’ll be there. Do you want Callie and me to stay with you tonight? It may be easier if you surround yourself with the people who care about you.”

Conner, who still sat at Karla’s feet, turned to glare at Rylee. “You two are not the only ones who care about her you know.”

Callie instantly picked up on Conner’s emotions. “I think I’ll stay home with Conner and we’ll just come over in the morning. Is that alright Karla?”

Karla nodded. “Yeah, it should be. Let me call Leslie and make sure though. I’ll be right back.”

Once she left Callie turned to Conner. “Con, you alright? You look kind of pale.”

“No, I’m not alright Cal. I have no idea what has happened, but when Karla was telling us about everything I had this overwhelming urge to hit something. You both know that I don’t have a temper, but something about Karla makes me want to hurt anyone that has ever hurt her.”

“Wow!” Rylee said. “This is so not like you.”

“Con, I really like Karla, but if you two start dating then break up, it’d be awful.”

“Yes, I know this. That’s why I haven’t said anything about it before.”

“Okay,” Karla said as she walked back into the room. “Leslie said it was alright if you all stay. She’s going to set up the entertainment room with sleeping bags for all four of us.”

“I never thought about that.” Rylee grinned. “I’ll call mom right now and make sure it’s okay with her.”

“I’ll run down and ask our mom, but I already know she’ll say yes.” Callie smiled as she got up.

“Why don’t we all go down? I bet Jason’s here by now. I’m starving.” Conner said with a grin that caused his sapphire eyes to sparkle. He was okay now that he knew he could be there for Karla.

The girls burst out laughing and followed him downstairs and outside.

Once outside Callie and Conner found their mom and asked about staying with Karla and Rylee called her mom. While they talked with their moms Karla walked around the yard and looked at everything they’d set up to do. There was a volleyball net and horseshoes on one side of the yard and a large below ground pool on the other.

She didn’t know how to swim, so her lack of a swimsuit wouldn’t be a problem.

“Hey.” Rylee bounced up to Karla. “Mom said yes. I’m raiding your closet because your clothes are nicer than mine.”

Karla grinned “You’re always welcome to my closet. I’m glad your mom said yes.”

Conner and Callie walked up just then “Our mom said yes too. Can Mrs. Peterson pick us all up after the cookout?”

“She said she would. I’ll text her so she knows to bring the SUV instead of Andrew’s Mustang.”

“YAY!!” Callie bounced and clapped her hands. “Now let’s have some fun. Karla did you bring a swimsuit?”

“Ummm…. No. I didn’t know you had a pool. You guys go ahead and swim though.”

“Nonsense.” Callie said and shook her head. “I have like six swimsuits and we’re the same size so you can just borrow one of mine.”

“Oh..ummm…ok.” Karla wasn’t sure how to tell them she couldn’t swim. She’d never been swimming before, she’d never been given the opportunity.

“Karla, what’s wrong?” Conner asked.

“I…ummmm….” Karla started, then stopped and took a deep breath. “I can’t swim.”

“The pool is only five feet deep Karla. You’ll be fine. Plus I’m a really strong swimmer. I’ll save you if you start to drown.” Conner said with a wink and a wiggle of his eyebrows.

Karla burst out laughing at Conner and nodded her head to Callie. “Ok, sure. I’ll borrow one of your swimsuits. Let’s go get changed.”

“Yay! I have the perfect one for you. Let’s go.” Callie looped her arm through Karla’s and led her upstairs as Conner and Rylee followed.

Chapter Thirty-Four

A little while later Karla was in an emerald green and blue tankini and Conner couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She was beautiful. “Hey Con. Who’s the cutie?” Kevin asked Conner as he watched Karla play pool volleyball with Callie, Rylee and Kelsey.

“Her name is Karla. Back off Kev, she isn’t your type.”

“Not my type? When have I ever had a type? She’s hot and hot is always my type.” Kevin grinned and continued, “I think I’m going to talk to her when they’re finished with the game.”

“Kevin, please don’t. She’s one of mine and Callie’s best friends and if you make her uncomfortable she may never come back.”

“She’s a smart kid? But she’s beautiful. Someone that beautiful cannot be one of your smart kid friends. I mean Ry’s cute, but she’s like another little sister. Karla is….WOW!!”

“Karla is Dr. Peterson’s foster daughter. Do you really want your games to get back to mom and dad?”

“Backing off. Backing WAY off. Backing so far off I’m not even in the yard anymore.” Kevin shook his head and turned to look at Karla again. “But DANG she’s hot.”

With that Kevin walked over to the food table and Conner went back to watching the girls play. When Karla missed the ball and caused water to splash her and Rylee, her laughter rang out and a smile crossed his face. “Conner, come join us.” Jason yelled; he, Kevin and their uncle Mike, their dad’s twin, were playing horseshoes. “We need a fourth person.”

By the time it was time to eat Conner had worked up a sweat. He and Mike had won two out of three games of horseshoes and he was feeling pretty good about himself. He went in and washed up, but when he came back out his mood instantly turned darker. Kevin was sitting at the table beside Karla. Conner kept his mouth shut and sat between Rylee and Callie. Kevin smiled across the table at him and he glared back at his older brother.

“Con, you okay?” Callie asked, sensing Conner’s change of mood.

“Look at Kevin. He’s doing it again Cal. I cannot let him do her like he does every girl he dates. She’s too fragile.”

“Con, look at Karla. She’s completely brushing him off. She has absolutely no interest in him whatsoever.”

When Conner looked at Karla he realized his sister was right. Kevin kept trying to get Karla’s attention, but she was talking to Kelsey and completely ignoring Kevin. “You’re right, she’s completely ignoring him.”

“He isn’t happy about it either. Look at him.”

A huge smile crossed Conner’s face when he saw the look on Kevin’s. He was fuming at being ignored. Since he’d turned fifteen he’d gotten any girl he’d wanted. He wasn’t used to being rejected.

After watching Kevin try for a few more minutes Conner smiled when Kevin got up and moved beside Mike. Once Kevin was gone Karla looked up at Conner and smiled. She was completely unaffected by Kevin’s charm and Conner was thrilled.

****

Kevin was nothing like Conner, Karla thought to herself when Kevin finally gave up and left her alone. She had intentionally ignored him because he’d made her uncomfortable. She was glad when he’d finally given up and moved to the other end of the table. When she’d met Conner’s eyes she’d noticed that they were clouded with something she couldn’t explain.

After she finished eating she got up and went inside to the bathroom. When she came out Conner was waiting for her. “You okay?” He asked softly. “I hope Kevin wasn’t bothering you too much.”

“Yeah. I’m fine. He backed off when I started ignoring him. He isn’t used to being turned down though is he?”

“Not at all. He considers himself a ladies man.”

Karla grinned at the memory of Kevin’s face when she’d told him she wasn’t interested. “He was struck silent when I told him no. I didn’t think he’d ever give up, but I’m glad he did.”

“Me too. I’d hate to have to say something to him. He’s my brother and I love him, but he can be a pain in the butt some times.”

“No Conner. I don’t want to be the reason for a fight between you and Kevin. Family is too important for that. Promise me that you’ll never choose anyone over family.”

Conner looked at the pained expression on her face. “I’m sorry Karla. I didn’t mean to upset you. I was only saying that I know how Kevin is and I don’t want to see you get hurt by him. He’s a player and we all know it. I’ll always love him, no matter what he does, but I can’t promise to stand by and watch him hurt someone I care about.”

“He isn’t going to hurt me because I’m not the kind of girl to fall for smooth words and a sly grin. I’m glad you were concerned though. It means a lot to me knowing you care.”

Rylee and Callie walked up just then. “Karla, Dr. and Mrs. Peterson are here. They said they tried calling you but didn’t get an answer so they were worried.” Rylee told her             

“Shoot. I left my phone upstairs with my clothes. I’ll go talk to them now.” Karla said and ran out the door.

“What’s going on Con?” Callie asked. “It seemed like you two were having a very serious discussion.”

“I was talking to her about Kevin. She looked upset when she left the table and I came to check on her.” Conner answered. “It was a pretty serious discussion. She wanted me to promise to never put anyone before family, no matter what. I couldn’t make that promise to her and that kills me, but I cannot and will not stand by and watch Kevin do her like he does every girl he dates.”

“I completely understand and I won’t stand by and watch it either. I love Kevin, but he’s a player and I won’t let Karla get played.”

“Neither will I” Rylee chimed in with her opinion. “Now let’s go see why the Petersons were trying to get ahold of Karla so bad.”