Romance: The Second Chance - Contemporary Romance (Romance, Contemporary Romance, Suspense Romance Book 1) (13 page)

             
T
he past two weeks had been incredible. Eli and Abby were inseparable. He’d been taking her out every day after work, and only once she stepped inside of his truck would they decide on what to do next. They lived spontaneous and free, and he loved it. But he’d love just about anything as long as he could do it with Abby.

              The more he was with her, the more he returned to his former self. The happy, funny, spirited man he’d been when he first came to Treasure Bay with Hannah. The people around him started to notice—Kirsten, Ricky, even Rudy. The dog tagged along on some of their adventures, and loved every minute of it, always whining and sad when Eli dropped Abby off at her grandmother’s at the end of the evening. Eli never intruded her privacy. He never asked if she wanted to come back to his place, or rushed things along. He knew that a lot of the things he missed having in a relationship were things Abby hadn’t even experienced yet, and he wasn't about to scare her off by forcing her into put a smile to his face.

              She was so beautiful. And she always denied it. He didn’t even mind that she smelled of fish when he picked her up after her job at Chuck’s Bait & Tackle; he’d lived next to the sea for years. His heart still swelled with the same love it had held the first day he laid eyes on her, and if anything, that love was growing. It got to the point where he couldn’t imagine life without her—or rather, he could, and he never wanted to experience that hopeless pit of grief again.

              Today Eli had done things a little different. Instead of deciding what to do with Abby once they were together, he had already planned a little get together for the two of them and Rudy. He had put together a packed dinner, and planned to drive out to Jericho Beach a few miles out of town. It was a bit of a drive, but that meant that the beach was empty, and the seclusion would aid in both the romance and privacy for them.

              Abby didn’t object to any part of the plan. She just turned up the radio, then kicked her feet up on the dashboard, her silky brown hair blown wildly against the rolled-down window.

If he’d changed over the past few weeks, then so had she. When he first met her she’d been withdrawn and defensive, barely able to trust even the soil beneath her feet. Now she was a lot more easygoing, and not nearly as hesitant to try new things or go new places. She was finally enjoying life the way she deserved to. She was making him a better person, yes, but maybe he’d given her new hope, too.

              At the beach they walked hand and hand, down the shore a ways, the water twirling around their feet. No need to speak, their emotions doing all the talking. Eventually they decided they had gone far enough, and Abby laid out the blanket above the tide. Eli brought out the food he had made, and they sat together, eating and watching the waves come in and out. Nearby, Rudy hounded a group of seagulls until he tired, then trotted out to inspect the succulents growing just above the shoreline.

              She had to be an angel, Eli thought, looking at Abby. An angel sent down just for him, to save him from the life he’d once given up on. Hannah's death; the safety on the gun; the rope breaking; even the events that took place that allowed him to save that family. So many things he used to blame himself for, but now realized he’d been giving himself too much power. That everything happened for a reason. If he could control his life, what was the point of living it? He hadn’t had any control over losing Hannah, to be sure, but he hadn’t had any control over meeting her, either—or meeting Abby.

              Thoughtlessly, Eli reached out and gripped her hand. The spark of adrenaline was just as intense as the first time they’d touched. He turned towards her and spoke the three words he never thought he would ever mean again.

              “I love you.”

              He said them freely. Without needing her to repeat them back to him. They were a gift. He simply wanted her to know how she made him feel. But then she turned back toward him.

              “I love you, too,” she said.

              Eli stared at her, dumbfounded. It had been easy to say but, for some reason, it was difficult to hear.
How could someone love me?
He needed to see if it was true. Needed to test the limits of their strength. He leaned in, and pressed his lips to hers. Fireworks.

              He pulled back.

              And before he could do anything else, she moved towards him.

              Something she rarely did. Not because she didn’t love him but rather, he suspected, out of a deep feeling of insecurity. An idea that she wasn't good enough, wanted, or loved. An idea Eli was trying desperately to get out of her head. Not just for her, but for their future together.

              She pressed her lips back against his, more forcefully than he would ever do to her. The force knocked him onto his back, and Abby followed him. Keeping their lips locked, her chest resting on his. He could feel her every breath. Feel her heart beat against his. He listened as their two hearts united, syncing together to become one. Her hair hung down and tickled his face, but he would lie here for a million years, or longer. He would lie here until she asked him to take her somewhere else.

              When Rudy finally began to bark, breaking their trance, Abby simply smiled, getting up and making her way toward the dog. She picked up a stick and threw it. Just as she was getting too far to make out properly, she stopped and turned back toward him. He hadn’t stopped watching her. He wanted never to stop watching her. She smiled, one hand shading her eyes from the sun, and bent to accept the stick Rudy was trying to press upon her.

             
Perfect.
Eli thought.

~*~

              It was late. The sun had set long before they finally made their way back towards town. Casting a dark shadow over the earth. Though they were still together, and they had just had a marvelous time, Eli couldn’t banish the awful feeling in the pit of his stomach. It had slowly crept in as they had entered the truck, and only had intensified as they drove. It was almost as if he could
feel
the darkness of the night, and was somehow aware of the evil it brought with it. He tried to shake it off, but it still lingered.

              He looked over and smiled at Abby, “You warm enough?” he asked her.

              She nodded, and smiled. “Yep.”

              “Good.”

              Just then his cell phone rang. He reached into his pocket and checked the name. Molly. His brow furrowed. “What does
she
want?”

              “Who?”

He turned the phone towards her, and she took it in her hands. Flipped it open.

              “Molly? Hey, it's Abby. What's—”

              Silence filled the cab. The awful feeling in Eli's stomach grew stronger.
Something's wrong.
He pulled the truck off to the shoulder, waiting for her to speak. To say something. To move, even. Her face had gone pale, and she hadn't said a word since she’d first answered the phone.

              “What is it Abby? Is everything OK?”

              She dropped the phone into her lap without even saying goodbye. Her eyes were wide open, pupils tiny and trembling. Her breathing became shallow and irregular. Eli took both her hands in his. Cold. He pulled at them to get her to attention.

              “Abby.
What's wrong.”

              She looked at him, eyes glossy and swelling with tears.

              “Melody....” Her voice was barely audible. “She... she's had a heart attack.”

              Eli dropped her hands and roared the engine back to life. The tires squealed as they sped over the pavement, heading straight for the hospital.

             
M
elody’s hand was cold and weak between Abby’s own. There were tubes and wires running everywhere. The heart monitor beeped slowly at the bedside.

Beep.........beep.......... beep..........

             
Abby couldn’t stand the sound, but would fall to pieces if it stopped. The grief would be more than she could bear, even when Eli got here. He’d dropped her off at the door, then gone to find a parking spot. He’d been gone a while now, but she couldn’t spare a thought to wonder what was taking him so long.

              Molly had been the one to call 911. She’d also been the one to explain to Abby what had happened. Apparently Melody had ordered clam chowder from Splash Cafe, but it was too busy for either Ricky or Kirsten to bring it by. Molly, who had just finished eating dinner with a friend, volunteered to deliver it on her on her way home. She’d found Melody unconscious on the kitchen floor. Blood trickling from a gash in her head from the fall, barely breathing. As they waited for the ambulance, Melody’s heart had stopped. Molly performed CPR on her and kept her alive long enough for the paramedics to arrive and stabilize her. She had literally saved Melody’s life, and for that Abby would be eternally grateful.

              Even so, Melody’s condition wasn’t good. Her heart had suffered an enormous amount of stress, and was very weak. The doctors said there was only a 20 percent chance of recovery, and gently suggested Abby use the time to say goodbye, just in case.

              But Abby still couldn't believe it. Her childhood hero lay pale and still on the bed; how could she not have seen this coming? This was all her fault. She’d came here to spend time with her grandma, and gotten swept up in some dumb romance instead. Consumed by herself, her own feelings. She’d completely failed to realize what was going on around her. If Melody didn't pull through…. Abby shuddered. If Melody didn't pull through, Abby would never be able to forgive herself.

              The door opened behind her, and she heard footsteps. A hand landed softly upon her shoulder. She knew who it was but the connection, the spark, had vanished. How could she possibly enjoy herself with the very man who’d distracted her from the person who
really
needed her?

              Eli bent down and kissed her on her forehead. She wanted so badly to return his affection. To accept his sympathy and comfort herself in his compassion, but she couldn't. Not now. Maybe not ever.

              He bent down and looked into her eyes.

             
Nothingness,
she thought.
Empty space.

              And yet, even now….

She knew she must look terrible. Make-up destroyed by tears, hair a mess, bags sagging underneath her eyes. And still there was love in his eyes. She knew he would do anything for her, and she longed to go with him, to leave and live their lives, together, but she couldn't. Not while her grandma lay in the hospital. Not when Melody needed her most. Abby had already let her down once, and she couldn’t do it again, even if it meant giving up on a relationship with Eli. She owed her.

              She told Eli that she just needed some space, and though she could see the pain it caused him in his eyes, he nodded, and closed the door quietly behind him as he left.

~*~

              Abby spent the next 24 hours at the hospital, leaving her grandmother’s side only for bathroom breaks. Molly brought her food and coffee; she drank the coffee, but couldn’t so much as look at the food. She didn’t sleep. She kept one eye on her heart monitor, the other on Melody’s gently rising and falling chest. She rubbed her hands. She talked, sharing words of encouragement and hope and then just begging.

              “How are you doing?”

              Abby whipped her head around, startled. It was Eli. She turned back toward her grandmother.

              “Fine,” she said, but it sounded flat and insincere, even to her.

              He walked over to the other side of Melody's bed. Checking over her before pulling a chair up too. He didn’t say anything right away, but just his presence was irritating. It technically wasn’t his fault, but he had distracted her. He was distracting her now. She didn't like him intruding like this. This was
her
special time, maybe her
last
special time, with her grandma, and she didn't want to share it with anybody. Even—especially—him.

              “Molly says you haven't left since yesterday.”

              “She needs me.” Abby said firmly. Her eyes never wavered from Melody’s face.

              “Why don't you get some rest? Just for a few hours at least. I can watch her, make sure she's—”

              “No, Eli,” she snapped, voice angry and harsh enough that he flinched away from it. Why couldn’t he understand? “No!
I
was the one who should have been there with her.
I
should have noticed the signs. And if she dies—” She couldn't hold back the tears. “If she dies,
I’ll
be the one to blame. I can't leave her. Not again.”

              All her anger had left her, swept away in a rush of tears. She was openly sobbing, now, but when Eli stood up to comfort her, she pushed him away.

              “Eli, please! Please just leave me alone.” She lowered her voice. “I need space right now.” Hurt flashed across Eli's face, but she ignored it. Ignored the way his mouth came open, as though about to plead with her. He didn’t say anything, just closed his mouth again and went slowly towards the door..

              “Go!”  And then he paused.

              “Go!” she said. And this time he did.

              And then she succumbed to the tears and pain that had threatened since the day she arrived, and was engulfed in a cocoon of misery.

~*~

              He understood Abby's grief. He did. He had been through this too, the bedside vigil, the clutching of hands as someone he loved slipped inevitably away from him. But he had hoped that it would bring them closer together rather than tear them apart. He’d thought he could help. He wouldn't try to talk her through it but he was willing to be what she needed, which was what he had needed when Hannah had passed. Someone to lean on. Someone to hold onto for support and encouragement. To walk through the chaos by his side. And when it was time to talk or cry, Eli wanted to be there for her then, too. Ricky had done it for him. Without Ricky by his side Eli would have put that gun to his head again, and again, as many times as it took, and he longed to provide this kind of support for Abby. To bring her comfort and carry some of her pain with her. To become a beacon of hope and a tower of refuge when she needed it. Showing her nothing but love and patience as they worked through this together. But maybe it was too much.

              He understood her pain but didn't appreciate her directing her anger out towards him. It caused him anguish. He needed her, and wanted her to need him, too.

              In the end, Eli decided to give her time to think, and process. Hopefully allowing her to heal and work through her inner demons alone. It isn't what he wanted, but who was he to stand in her way? He didn't want to cause any unnecessary pain by acting on what
he
wanted. That would be selfish. It wouldn’t be love.

              He would wait and leave her be, for however long she needed. hoping that when it was over they would be able to go back to the way things had been before.