A New Beginning (Second Chance #1) (24 page)

They still had an hour and a half before they could check into the hotel so Karla called Manuel and asked if they wanted to meet for lunch. Manuel agreed immediately and told her the name of his favorite restaurant and how to get there from where they were. Fifteen minutes later they pulled into the parking lot of a small restaurant.

As soon as they walked in Karla spotted Manuel, Kiara and Rosa sitting at a large round table. When Manuel looked up and saw them his face broke into a huge smile and he nudged Kiara before he rose to his feet. Karla paused for a second before she took a deep, steadying breath and walked to the table.

When she stopped in front of them Manuel put his hands on her shoulders. “You’re smaller than I thought you would be.”

Karla laughed and looked up at him. “Well you’re a lot bigger than I thought you’d be.”

When Kiara stood and joined them Manuel put one arm around her and the other around Karla and turned them to face the dining room. “Hey everyone. I would like you to all meet my little sister, Karla.”

Several people shouted out greetings to Karla as she looked at the floor, embarrassed at all the attention. “Manuel you are embarrassing her.” Kiara scolded him.

“I am sorry Karla. I did not mean to embarrass you. I just wanted to introduce you to the people I work for and with.”

“It’s okay Manuel. I’m just not used to the attention.”

“You always seem so confident that I forget that you are actually kind of shy.” Manuel led her around the table and sat her down between him and Kiara before he took his own seat. “So how are you liking Puerto Rico so far?”

“What I’ve seen of it is beautiful.”

“We’ll show you around tomorrow and then you can tell us what you think.” Kiara told her. “Now I’m hungry so why don’t you get Kimberly over here so we can order lunch.”

Manuel looked at Kiara and grinned. “Gladly.” He waved the waitress over and introduced her. “Karla, this is Kimberly, my girlfriend and our waitress. Kimberly, this is my baby sister Karla.”

“Nice to meet you Karla. Manuel has told me all about you. I’m so glad to finally meet you.” Kimberly told her with a smile.

“He’s told me about you too. I’m glad we’re finally getting to meet.”

“What can I get everyone to drink?” Kimberly asked with a smile.

“I’d like a Coke please.” Karla answered with a warm smile. She noticed that Kimberly was addressing them all, but her gaze never left Manuel.

After they placed their drink order Kimberly smiled warmly at Manuel and walked off to get their drinks. “Manuel, remind me again how long you two have been dating.”

“Five months, why?”

“She couldn’t take her eyes off of you. Even when she was talking to us she was looking at you.” Karla grinned at her brother and he burst out laughing at her.

“Very astute observation Karla.” Andrew said from across the table.

“Yeah, very astute.” Manuel said with a grimace as Kimberly came back with their drinks.

“Here you go everyone.” She said and passed out the drinks to everyone. “Now what can I get you to eat?”

“Am I the only one here who can’t speak Spanish?” Karla asked and everyone at the table grinned at her. “I guess so. Leslie, you know what I like so can you order me something? I can’t even read the menu.”

“Sure honey, but you can just ask for what you want in English and we can tell you if it’s on the menu.”

Karla smacked her forehead and everyone laughed. “Sorry everyone. I’m taking Spanish classes starting next semester so I won’t be lost long.”

“If Karla wants to learn it she will.” Manuel said to Kimberly. “She’s extremely intelligent and highly motivated.”

“I work hard and when I set a goal I do what I need to do to obtain it.” Karla told her with a smile. “I do have a great memory though and once I learn something I tend to remember it always.”

“Wow. Impressive.” Kimberly said in a sarcastic tone. “Now what can I get you to eat?”

“I’d like a grilled chicken wrap with lettuce, tomato, onion and mayonnaise please.” Karla said sweetly. She didn’t miss the tone of Kimberly’s voice. “Do you have that here?”

Manuel noticed the tension surrounding Karla and intervened. “Yes Karla, they can make that for you. Right Kimberly?”

Kimberly caught the look in Manuel’s eye and backed off. “Yes they can make that for you. What can I get everyone else?”

After they’d all placed their orders and Kimberly left Karla looked at Manuel. “What was that about?”

“I have no idea Karla. Kimberly has never acted like that before.”

“She’s mad at you for coming here. She knows that while you’re here she won’t get to see Manuel much and she’s used to seeing him almost every day, even if it is just here.” Kiara told her.

“Oh.” Karla said softly and looked down at the table. “I’m sorry Manuel. You can spend time with her if you want. Kiara and I can hang out without you some.”

“Karla look at me please.” When Karla looked up Manuel continued. “You are far more important to me than she is. You are my sister, my blood, and I am looking forward to our time together. If she cannot understand that then that’s her problem.”

“Manuel, she’ll be here long after I go back to Tennessee. You shouldn’t push her aside for me.”

“That’s true, but you are only here for a week. If she cannot deal with me taking time away from her to spend it with the little sister I never even knew existed then she is not the girl for me anyway.”

“Is that how you really feel Manuel?” Kiara asked him.

“It is. I care about Kimberly, but you, Karla and Abuela will always come first.”

“Thank you Manuel. That means a lot to me.” Karla told him and laid her hand on his arm for a second.

The moment was broken when Kimberly came back with their food. Once she was gone everyone ate and talked about happier things. Time passed quickly and soon it was time for Karla, Andrew and Leslie to check into their hotel. Before they left they made plans for Manuel and Kiara to pick Karla up at the hotel and show her around the city. Leslie and Andrew planned on hanging out at the hotel pool while Karla was gone. Karla hugged Kiara and Manuel then got in the car and Andrew pulled away. On the way to the hotel Karla thought about her brother and sister. She couldn’t wait for their day together tomorrow.

The week passed very quickly. Karla spent every moment she could with Manuel and Kiara. They showed her around the town. They all hung out on the beach and Manuel taught Karla how to swim in the hotel swimming pool. Karla learned that Kiara’s allergic to shrimp and Manuel hates broccoli. She also learned that she has their father’s memory. He’d died when he was only twenty five years old, but was already a well-known lawyer in the firm he’d worked for. Like her, he’d been very advanced, but unlike her, he’d taken the chance and graduated high school at fifteen, college at seventeen and law school when he was nineteen.

They exchanged their Christmas gifts. Kiara loved her necklace and Manuel was thrilled that his sisters had gotten him a PlayStation 3. They had gotten Karla a small gold bracelet with her name engraved on it and a gift card to her favorite store.

Karla also learned that Kiara’s birthday was November 22
nd
and Manuel’s was February 27
th
so they had a little party by the hotel pool to celebrate their birthdays.

Manuel and Kiara took Karla to their house so she could see the stuff they had from their father and Manuel gave her their father’s signet pinky ring. His mom had gotten it for him when he’d graduated law school and Manuel and Kiara had decided to give it to Karla because she had nothing of his.

On the last night of the trip Kiara, Manuel and Rosa joined Karla, Leslie and Andrew in the hotel dining room for dinner. “I’m really going to miss you little sister.” Manuel said after they’d eaten and were just sitting there talking.

“I promise to visit again as soon as I can.”

“Manuel, Kiara, how would you two like to come visit Karla this summer?” Andrew asked.

“We’d never be able to afford it sir. The plane tickets alone would take all of my savings and then we’d still have to pay for a hotel.” Manuel responded sadly. “I would love nothing more than to see where you live, but I just don’t see how we could.”

“Well I was thinking I could buy your plane tickets and you could come for Karla’s birthday. It’d be a birthday gift for her.” Andrew told them. He knew that if he didn’t tell them it was for Karla they’d never agree to it.

“Oh that’d be awesome Andrew.” Karla gushed in excitement.

“Thank you Dr. Peterson. We would be happy to come to Tennessee for Karla’s birthday. With you paying for the plane tickets then I have enough for a decent hotel room for us.” Andrew said with a smile.             

“That won’t be necessary either. There aren’t really any hotels close to us so we thought you could stay with us.” Leslie told them. “We have three bedrooms that aren’t being used and would love for you to stay with us. Rosa, you’re more than welcome to come too.”

“I’ll leave the traveling to the young ones. I did my share of it with my Manuel when he was in the military.” Rosa told her with a far-a-way look in her eyes.

“Manuel, I need to talk to you about something.” Andrew said as he looked Manuel in the eyes. “Privately if you don’t mind.”

“Sure Dr. Peterson.” Manuel got up from the table and followed Andrew from the dining room and into the hotel lobby. “Is everything alright?”

“Everything’s great. I just wanted to ask you something. Leslie and I are wanting to adopt Karla, but since you are a legal adult and a blood relation we’re going to need you to sign a paper stating that you aren’t wanting legal guardianship of her.”

“Oh, wow. Does she know yet?”

“No. We’re going to have the papers prepared when we get back home, but I was told that you’d need to sign off on it before we could do anything because you are her closest living relative. Your aunt will need to sign a paper about it too.”

“I’ll gladly sign whatever I need to. There’s no way I could support her. I work part-time waiting tables and go to school full-time. My aunt will sign too. She couldn’t afford to take on another child, which is why Abuela took Kiara and me.”

“Great. I promise you that Karla will have nothing but the best from me and Leslie. We couldn’t love her more if she was our biological daughter.”

“I can see that. She loves you the same and even if I could financially support her I would not fight you two on this. She is where she needs to be.”

“Thank you Manuel. I’ll have the papers sent to you and your aunt as soon as possible.”

Once they were back in the dining room and seated Andrew asked everyone if they wanted desert and then called the waiter back over when everyone nodded. They ordered desert and talked for another hour before Rosa spoke up. “Kiara, Manuel, they have to get up early in the morning to drive back to San Juan. I think it’s time we said good night so they can rest.”

After a teary goodbye with many promises to email and Skype as often as possible Manuel, Kiara and Rosa left. Andrew signed off on the bill and they headed up to their suite to get some sleep. Karla laid awake for hours thinking about the past few days and how much she was going to miss her brother and sister.

The next morning Karla carried her suitcase out of her room and placed it beside Andrew’s and Leslie’s before she went back and grabbed her laptop case and backpack. She sent Manuel and Kiara a text telling them they were about to leave and that she loved them and was going to miss them then she headed down with Andrew and Leslie, loaded everything into the car and left for the airport.

The drive to the airport was quiet and once they were on the plane Karla lost herself in reading. By the time they landed in Nashville she’d read the third and fourth books in the series.

She was in a somber mood as they waited for Dr. Newberry. Karla looked up as she heard her name being called and was instantly pulled form her mood when she saw Callie, Conner and Rylee walking toward her. “OMG!! I have missed you three.” She said when they got to her and wrapped her in a group hug.

“We came with dad to pick you up because we’ve missed you too.” Callie told her as they broke apart.

“Well then let’s go. I have so much to tell you.” Karla said as they all linked arms and walked to the waiting SUV. She missed Kiara and Manuel, but she was happy to be home.

The next few weeks passed quickly. Karla and her friends started their new classes and were excelling as usual. The hospital charity event went great and a lot of money was raised for the new children’s wing. Leslie had taken Karla shopping for formal dresses and she’d gotten an emerald green one for the charity event and an ice blue one for the Valentine’s Day Gala. She’d wear one of them to the Valentine’s Day dance at school too.

On Callie and Conner’s birthday Karla baked cupcakes and took them to school. They had a little party during lunch and after school they had another party at their house. There were just a few people there, but they all had a lot of fun.

The day of the Gala Leslie picked them up from school, rather than having them ride the bus home, and took the girls to get their hair and nails done, just as she had with the charity event. When they were done she took Rylee and Callie home so they could get ready. When they got home Karla went upstairs to her room and slipped on her dress and wedge heeled shoes.

When she was dressed she walked downstairs and into the kitchen. Andrew was standing at the bar looking immaculate in his tux. He turned at the sound of Karla’s footsteps and his jaw dropped. “You look stunning Karla. I wasn’t sure that color would look right on you when Leslie showed it to me, but I was wrong.”

“I told you she’d look awesome in it.” Leslie said from behind Karla. She was wearing a floor length black chiffon dress and had her long blonde hair swept up with a cascade of curls flowing from a silver clip.

“I’m sorry I doubted you my love. Speaking of looking awesome, you take my breath away.”

“You aren’t so bad yourself handsome.” Leslie said with a grin. “Now I think it’s about time to go.”

“Yes. It starts in about a half hour and I need to be there when it starts. I have to deliver the opening speech.” Andrew told them as they headed out the door and into the car. They arrived at the hotel where the Gala was being held about twenty-five minutes later and Andrew immediately excused himself to go talk to the head of the hospital board of directors.

“Wow Karla, you look amazing.” Rylee said from behind her.

She turned around and gasped. Rylee was wearing a navy blue strapless dress. “You look pretty amazing yourself.”

“Thanks.” Rylee said with a giggle. “Have you seen Callie and Conner yet?”

“No, but they should be getting here soon. Andrew is making his speech any minute now.”

As soon as the words left her mouth the Newberry’s walked in. Conner was wearing the same tux he’d worn to the charity event and Callie was wearing a sapphire blue dress cut in the same style as Karla’s. Karla waved to them and they immediately walked over to her and Rylee.

“Wow Karla. That color is amazing on you.” Callie said and Karla grinned.

“Thanks. I love your dress.” She giggled and caused Callie and Rylee to giggle too.

“You girls all look stunning.” Conner told them, but he was looking directly at Karla. “Karla I have to agree with my sister. That color is amazing on you.”

“Thank you Conner.” Karla responded shyly. It was one thing to get a compliment from Rylee and Callie, but a completely different thing to get one like that from Conner.

Before any of them could say anything else Andrew stepped up to the podium and started his opening speech. He thanked them all for coming and told them what the money from this year’s Gala would be funding. When he was finished the head of the board of directors asked everyone to find their seats so dinner could be served.

Andrew and Dr. Newberry had arranged it so their families, along with Rylee’s family, were all seated close during dinner so they could all talk with each other. After dinner and desert the tables were cleared and moved so people could dance. Conner immediately asked Karla to dance.

“Having fun tonight?” He asked her as they moved around the dance floor.

“Of course. I’m spending the evening with some of my favorite people.” She laughed a little at the expression that crossed his face.

“Karla..ummm..I was..ummm…” Conner stopped and took a deep breath. “I was..ummm… wondering if you’d…ummm…”

“Conner just spit it out already. It’s not like you to be at a loss for words.” Karla interrupted him. “You know you can ask me anything.”

He took a deep breath and looked Karla in the eyes. “I was wondering if you’d go to the Valentine’s Day dance with me tomorrow night.”

“Oh.” Karla looked down at their feet for a moment before she looked back up and locked eyes with Conner. “I would love to.”

A huge smile lit his face and his eyes sparkled with happiness at her words. He hugged her and twirled her around for a second before he pulled her off the dance floor to where Callie and Rylee were sitting. “She said yes.”

Callie and Rylee both smiled and stood up. “That’s great Con. We told you she would.” Callie told him.

“So what are you wearing?” Rylee asked Karla.

“Well I was planning on wearing my green dress that I wore to the charity event, but I don’t know now. I may find something else.”

“Shopping in the morning?” Callie asked her.

“Maybe. I’ll talk to Leslie later and let you both know. The dance is formal and I don’t want to buy another formal dress.”

“You don’t have to.” Rylee told her. “I think I have the perfect thing. Come over in the morning and you can look at it. My mom bought it for me to wear to the charity event, but it looked horrible on me. It’ll look awesome on you though.”

“Sounds perfect. I’ll be over early so be up. Now Conner, would you like to finish our dance?”

“I would love to.” He answered with a smile and spun her back onto the dance floor. They danced off and on until it was time to go home.

“Conner asked me to the Valentine’s Day dance tomorrow night.” Karla told Andrew and Leslie when they were heading home.

“That’s wonderful honey. It’s about time that boy asked you out.” Leslie said with a huge smile.

Once they were home Karla immediately went upstairs and changed into her pajamas then she sat down and typed out a long email to Kiara telling her about everything that happened tonight. When she was done with that she pulled the hairpins out of her hair and brushed it out, then crawled into bed and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.