A New Beginning (Second Chance #1) (13 page)

The next morning Karla woke before the others. When she went to get out of her sleeping bag she noticed that Conner had moved closer to her while she’d slept and she wondered if she’d been talking in her sleep. She’d had a horrible dream and was surprised she didn’t wake the entire house. When they’d went to sleep Conner had been on the other side of Callie, who was on the other side of Rylee, who was beside Karla. Now he was beside her. She sat there for a minute and watched him sleep. His dark hair was sticking up on his head and his jaw was relaxed so much his mouth was slightly open and he was snoring softly.

After a few minutes she got up and headed down stairs. It was barely seven, but Leslie was already in the kitchen on her laptop. “Morning Leslie.”

“Morning Karla. Everyone still asleep?”

“They were when I came down. Thank you for letting them all stay.”

“You’re very welcome. They’re great kids. I do have a question though.”

“Sure, anything.”

“Is there something more than friendship brewing between you and Conner? I know he has a crush on you, but what are your feelings about him?”

Karla sat down beside Leslie before she answered. “I like Conner. I like him a lot. I’m just so scared. I don’t want to do anything to upset our friendship and I’m afraid that if we take it out of the friend-zone it’ll mess up our whole group. It just isn’t worth it.”

“Can I give you some advice?”

“Please. I know I need it.”

“Sometimes best friends make the best boyfriends. Just keep in mind that maybe he has the same fears.”

“He does.” Rylee said as she entered the room. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I can tell you that Conner really likes you Karla. He’s just as scared as you are though. I think you’re both crazy, but I understand your points. Give it time and it’ll all work out.”

“What do you suggest I do in the meantime?”

“Just be yourself and maybe pay attention to some of the other guys that are vying for your attention.”

“Other guys? Like who? I haven’t noticed any other guys.”

“Of course you haven’t. You’ve been too busy noticing Conner. There’s James, he’s the guy with dark hair and glasses that sits beside you in Algebra. Then there’s Austin, he’s the tall blond who keeps accidently bumping into you during P.E.”

“Maybe I will talk to them. I just hope it doesn’t upset Conner.”

“Hey, if he isn’t going to act on his feelings, and if you aren’t going to act on yours, then you both need to move on.”

Karla was quiet after that. She thought about everything Rylee had said, but she knew she’d never be able to do what she suggested. She just wasn’t brave enough.

Leslie broke the silence a few minutes later. “You girls hungry? I was thinking about making waffles.”

“Oh…YUM!! I love waffles.” Rylee’s eyes sparkled as a smile crossed her face. “I’m going to go drag Callie and Conner out of bed, wanna come help Karla?”

“Oh yeah. That sounds like fun.”

They ran up the stairs and into the entertainment room. Callie and Conner were both still sleeping soundly in their sleeping bags. Rylee held up three fingers and silently mouthed “On three. One…Two….Three.” When she held up the third finger Karla grabbed Conner’s sleeping bag and she grabbed Callie’s. They both pulled hard and flipped them out of their sleeping bags. Conner was instantly awake. “Hey! What was that about?”

Karla was laughing so hard she could barely talk. “Leslie…waffles…downstairs.” Was all she managed to get out between laughs.

Conner started laughing with her and soon Rylee and Callie were laughing too. When Andrew came in a few minutes later to tell them breakfast was ready they were all still laughing. “Hey guys. Leslie has waffles and bacon ready if you’re hungry.”

Conner immediately stopped laughing. “Food. I’m starving. Let’s go.”

The girls erupted in laughter again and followed Andrew and Conner downstairs.

“What in the world has gotten into you three this morning?” Andrew asked them as they walked into the kitchen still laughing.

“I have no idea.” Karla managed to get out, causing more laughter from Rylee and Callie.

“Waffles and bacon everyone. Let’s eat. It’s going to be a long day.” Leslie said with a smile at the girls. “Girls, after breakfast I’m taking you all shopping. I need shoes to wear today. The ground’s a little muddy and I’m not wearing my heels.”

“Conner you and I are going to hang out here if that’s okay with you.” Andrew added, hoping that Conner would agree.

“Sounds like fun sir.”

“Please call me Andrew. That goes for all of you.”

“And please call me Leslie. Dr. and Mrs. Peterson sounds so formal.” Leslie added. “Now let’s eat.”

At two o’clock they all loaded into Leslie’s SUV, all the playfulness from that morning was gone. They rode in silence to the funeral home, Andrew needed to look over everything before Diane was transported to the cemetery. When he pulled into the cemetery parking lot he turned around and looked at Karla in the middle seat. “Do you want to come with me? Just to make sure everything’s the way you want it?”

“Yeah.” She whispered softly and unbuckled her seat belt.

“We’ll be back in a few minutes. This shouldn’t take long.”

When Andrew met Karla at the back of the car he took her hand and walked with her into the funeral home. “You okay honey?”

“I don’t know. I was okay this morning when I wasn’t thinking about it, but now I just don’t know. She terrorized me for six years and I know I should hate her, but right now I can’t find that hatred.”

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with that Karla. You’re feelings are yours and no one has the right to judge them.”

“Thanks Andrew. This is all just so confusing. One minute I think I hate her and I’m glad she can never hurt me again, then the next I know that I don’t hate her and, even though she hurt me like she did, I love her and I really hate that she’s never going to get the chance to realize that.”

They walked through the doors and while they waited for the funeral director Andrew looked at Karla and smiled a little. “Sometimes I almost forget that you’re only fourteen. You’re always so grown up. Listen to me for a minute. Your feelings are completely normal and being confused is a normal part of dealing with anything, especially something like this.”

Before Karla could respond the funeral director walked out of his office. “Good afternoon Dr. Peterson. Are you here to look over everything?”

“Yes Mr. Yates. This is Karla, she’s Miss Hall’s daughter.”

“I’m sorry for your loss Karla. If y’all will follow me I’ll show you everything, then we can transport her to the cemetery for burial.”

As they followed Mr. Yates Karla reached over and took Andrew’s hand again. He looked down at her, squeezed her hand gently and smiled. Inside he was bursting with joy that she’d confided in him and leaned on him.

“Here we are. This is the casket you ordered online Dr. Peterson. I hope it’s what you were wanting.”

Karla looked at it for several seconds before she walked over and ran her hands along the top. “It’s perfect,” she said in a soft voice. She turned to Andrew with tear filled eyes, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome Karla. Would it be okay if I hugged you?” When she nodded he walked to her and gathered her in his arms. “I will always be there for you for anything you need. Never forget that.”

Karla nodded into his chest, unable to speak past the emotion that had built inside her.

“It’s perfect Mr. Yates. We’ll meet you at the cemetery at three. I have a car full of teenagers to get back too. You ready Karla?”

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

When they got back to the car everyone was quietly waiting for them. “Everything okay?” Leslie asked. “You were gone longer than I thought you would be.”

“Yeah,” Andrew answered and looked at Karla in the rearview mirror. “Everything’s fine. Mr. Yates will meet us there.”

Once everyone arrived and they had Diane unloaded and placed over the grave, Mr. Yates started talking. “Friends and family. We are here today to say goodbye to Diane Virginia Hall. She was entered this life on November 20, 1983 and departed this Earth on August 15, 2014. She was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Barbara Hall, and is survived by her daughter, Karla. Is there anything anyone wants to say before we lay her in her final resting place?”

Karla took a hesitant step forward. “I would please.”

“Go ahead.”

“All of you, with the exception of Mr. Yates, know my past. You all know that Diane wasn’t a good mother and what she did, or allowed others to do, to me. Despite that I don’t hate her. I still can’t find it in myself to forgive her, but in a way I do love her.” Karla paused and wiped her tears with her hands. Conner walked over and handed her a tissue. She smiled a little and mouthed “thank you” before she continued. “In her own way she loved me too. She loved me enough to leave me with Grams and Pops because she didn’t want the responsibility, but most of all she loved me enough to have me. For that I will always love her. I hope that someday I can forgive her, but for now just knowing I don’t hate her will have to be enough.”

When she was finished she walked over to where Leslie and Andrew stood with her friends and nodded to Mr. Yates to continue. She stood there, surrounded by the loving support of the family she’d found, and watched as her mother was lowered in the ground and covered with dirt.

When she turned to leave a movement in the tree line caught her attention. She focused on it and grabbed Andrew’s hand hard as fear radiated through her body when she realized who it was. “Andrew, can you get Detective Greeves’ attention please?”

Picking up on the fear in Karla’s voice Andrew immediately signaled for Trent. “Are you alright Karla?”

She just shook her head and squeezed his hand harder, unable to speak past the fear that clogged her throat. It was him, she knew it was him.

When Trent was in front of her she focused on where she’d seen the movement. “Garrett’s here.” She said in a whisper as fear ripped through her again. “He was in the tree line watching the service. I don’t know where he is now, but I know that was him. I’d be able to spot him anywhere.”

Karla was sitting in Leslie’s car with the doors locked when Trent and John returned a few minutes later. Trent knocked on the car window and Karla jumped and screamed before she realized who it was. She opened the door and got out as John approached. “We didn’t find him, but I have uniformed officers looking everywhere for him. If he’s still around they’ll find him.”

She nodded her head and turned to Andrew. “Can we please go home now?”

“Of course we can honey.” Andrew waited until Karla was in the car again before he turned to John and Trent. “Can you please let me know when you find him? I doubt she’ll sleep much until you do.”

“Sure thing. Get that girl home, she’ll feel safer there. If ya notice anything off at home just give me a call. Ya still have my card right?”

“I do and I will. I’ll do anything to keep her safe.”

“Y’all be careful driving home. It looks like it’s gonna storm.”

“Will do.” Andrew responded before he got in the driver’s seat, started the car and pulled out of the cemetery.

“Can you guys stay with me for a while?” Karla asked her friends

“I can. I finished all my homework Friday night so I’m good.” Rylee answered.

“We can too.” Conner said before Callie had the chance to respond. “Mom wants us home for dinner, but that isn’t until six-thirty.”

“Thank you all. I have to Skype Manuel and Kiara later, but I just don’t want to be alone right now. After burying Diane and seeing Garrett I need the people I love around me. You are five of the seven most important people in my life and I’d be lost without all of you.”

When they pulled into the driveway at the house Andrew noticed a beat up Ford Tempo parked on the street a few houses down from them and it struck him as odd because the car was severely out of place in this neighborhood. He opened the garage door remotely and parked inside, closing it before turning off the car.

“Karla, when we get inside I want you to go upstairs and look out the window on the landing. There’s a car parked a few houses down on the right and I want to know if you recognize it.”

“Umm… sure. I’ll look.” She was confused, but knew Andrew had his reasons.

When Karla reached the top of the stairs, with Rylee, Conner and Callie right beside her, and looked out she gasped. “That’s Diane’s car. Detective Greeves told me they couldn’t find it the night Diane was arrested and assumed Garrett had taken it. I guess he was right in that assumption.”

Andrew, who was standing on the top step, immediately pulled out his phone and called Captain McGraw. “Captain, I think Garrett is parked on our street watching the house. When we got home there was a car parked a couple houses down from us and it looked odd and out of place to me so I asked Karla to look out the window and she says it’s Diane’s car. I don’t know how Garrett figured out where we live though.”

“I’ll send Greeves out to the house right now and have patrol cars positioned on every street that can be used as an exit street from yours. I don’t know how he got your address either, but I’ll be finding out when I question him. Sit tight and keep the doors locked. Trent will be there in about five minutes.”

When Trent knocked on the door a little while later Karla and her friends were in her bedroom, watching Garrett out the window. He’d opened the car door and stepped out. He was staring at the house, but hadn’t noticed them watching him. When Trent had pulled in the drive way Garrett had gotten back in the car, but didn’t leave.

“Karla” Andrew called up the stairs to her. “Can you and your friends come down please?”

When they were downstairs and in the kitchen Trent looked at Karla, “Are you alright?”

“Not really, but I will be once he’s gone.”

Just then they heard shouting from outside. Trent ran to the front of the house and looked out the window. The patrol officers had closed in on Garrett and had him on the ground beside the Tempo. “They got him. Wanna see Karla?”

“Definitely,” she said as she walked to the window and looked out.

“Is that Garrett?” Conner asked from beside her.

“That’s him. Detective Greeves I have a question.”

“You can ask me anything Karla.”

“What’s going to happen now? I know he’ll go to jail, but what am I going to have to do too make sure he stays there?”

“You’ll have to testify in court, but that’s it and you can do that remotely if you want so you don’t have to face him.”

“Okay. I can do that.” Karla released a breath she didn’t know she was holding and hugged Trent. “Thank you for coming today. I don’t mean right now, I mean to the service. It meant a lot to me having you, Captain McGraw, Mrs. Jones and Mr. Jennings there.”

“I’m glad I could make it. I’ve gotta go and get him processed in. I’ll call and check on y’all later.”

“Bye Detective and thanks for coming by.” Andrew said and shook Trent’s hand.

As Trent walked out the door Karla and her friends went back upstairs to talk before they all had to leave.