Second Chance for Love (9 page)

“Thank you for coming,” Chase said softly.

“Of course, I had to come, Chase. Nothing would’ve kept me away. I’m so sorry.”

“Don't be,” he replied. “I'm not mad at you. I expected you to leave.”

“Why?”

“Because you were hurting. You had just lost your father and I should’ve known better than to fall into bed with you while you were grieving.”

“Yes, I was grieving. That doesn't change how I feel,” I said, taking his hand. “I've never stopped loving you, not for one day. Not even for one damn second. What happened when we were kids was bad. There's no denying that. We did what most people would do. We both took the easy way out, or at least what we thought would be the easy way. We made bad choices.”

Chase chuckled. “That’s an understatement.”

“I know, baby, I know,” I said, leaning in close to him.

I rested my forehead against his and studied his blue eyes. After a few deep breaths, I found the courage to continue speaking.

“Things are messed up. So freaking messed up right now. Your accident and our parents. I don't know what to make of them. My mother's lost her mind and I don't know what to do about her. Part of me believes I should just go back to the city and tell her to fuck off, but I can't. I can't go back to the city and stay. You're here. I'm not saying I'm perfect. I'm not saying it's going to be easy, but I want to try again. It's been six years since we've split up and I can't get you out of my heart. I don't want to. I know you've got no reason to give me another chance, to give us another chance, especially after the shit I pulled the other night, but I really want to try.”

Tears were falling down my cheeks and it was becoming pretty hard to speak. I knew I had to keep going.

“Chase, please, let's give it one more try,” I begged.

Chase was quiet for a moment and I feared that he wasn't going to give me another chance. Hell, maybe the concussion had knocked some sense into him.

“There’s nothing I want more,” he finally said.

A sigh of relief escaped my lips and Chase laughed.

“Did you honestly expect me to say no?” he asked.

“Maybe…after everything that's happened.”

“After everything that happened? That's the very reason I know we have to try again. I mean death seems to be everywhere. Your dad died and then I almost died. It’s a miracle I didn’t die if I remember the accident correctly. I think the odds were against me living at least. I couldn't imagine if I’d died without being able to tell you how much I love you. If I never got the chance to sit here with you and talk things through.”

I brushed my lips against Chase's and he pulled me close to him with his good arm. His tongue darted between my lips and I held on for dear life. Our movements were slow and tender and I savored every second. When the kiss broke, I rested my head against his chest gently and took a deep breath. I knew there was still a lot to deal with, but at least I was back with Chase. As we sat there together in the silence it felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

“Do you still have my class ring with you?” he asked.

“Always do,” I said, holding up the chain it was on.

“Can I see it?”

“Okay, give me a minute.”

I feared after six years of being worn that the clasp wouldn't open. It took me a few tries to get it undone.

I placed it in his palm. “Here you go. Why do you want it?”

Looking at the ring brought back memories of the night he’d first given it to me. Chase had said that it was a promise to our future and I’d held onto it even after it looked like our paths would never entwine again.

Smiling, Chase took my hand and pressed his lips against it. “Talk about déjà vu. I want to promise you a future, our future,” he said. “It won't be perfect and it most likely won't be peaceful if our families have anything to say about it, but it will be ours. I want you to know, I've never quit loving you. I don't think I ever could. The odds may still be against us. At least now though we’re old enough to make our own rules.”

Chase slipped his class ring back onto my finger just like he did when we were teenagers in high school. Tears of joys replaced my fears and I kissed him again. This time it was more passionate and I couldn't stop smiling.

He reached up to touch my face tenderly. “I can't wait to see your smile again,” he said.

Chapter 20: Chase

The next three days passed more slowly that I would’ve liked. The second day, I was finally allowed to eat something besides hospital food and my mother and Jetta nearly got into an argument. Jetta wanted to pick me something up from the diner and my mother wanted to cook me dinner. I hated to take sides between them and wondered if this was what I was setting myself up for.

I decided a fast trip to the diner was easier for everyone involved. I was glad that my sight still hadn't fully returned so I couldn't see the dirty look my mother gave me.

Every day after school, Abby came by and spent time with me. Her jokes and stories were a welcome break from the arguments and forced civil discussions the women had at my bedside. Twice the nurse threatened to make one or both of them leave if they couldn't get along. I wished my mother would just go home, but I didn't have the heart to ask her to leave.

On the third morning, I woke up to my mother and Jetta having yet another fight. I sat up and opened my eyes. My vision was perfectly restored and I could see their angry faces as they yelled back and forth.

“Ladies!” I shouted, interrupting them.

Both of them stopped talking and turned towards me.

I grinned. “Just thought you guys would want to know that I can see again,” I said. “You can go back to your arguing now.”

“Oh Chase!” Jetta sprinted across the room to wrap me into a hug.

Instinctively, I turned the embrace into a kiss. I was so thrilled to have my sight back that I didn't care what my mother thought. Before the kiss was done she had stormed out of the room.

“I should go tell the doctor,” Jetta said. She ran out of the room.

I sighed, leaned back against the pillows, and closed my eyes. The hospital hadn't been a very quiet place since I had woken up and I was going to enjoy the small moment of peace that I’d been given. I heard a knock on the door and guessing that it was one of the nurses or the doctor, told them to come in.

“Hi Chase,” my dad's voice said.

My body went tense. I didn't move. I didn't speak. Hell, I don't even think I even breathed. I didn't want to see him.

“I know you most likely don't want to see me, but I've been worried about you,” he said, sitting down in the chair next to the bed.

“You're right,” I said. “I don't want to see you.”

“Aren’t you at least going to hear me out?” he asked.

“Why should I?”

“Because it wasn't easy for me to come here today, Chase,” he said.

“I’m sure it wasn’t.”

“I'm sorry,” he started. “I know that doesn't make anything better, but I felt like I needed to say it. You're still young, Chase and I don't think you understand all the hardships that come from marrying someone of a different race.”

“Oh, I think by now I do. It's not about marriage, it's about love, Dad.”

“So, you're really going to go through with it, then?” he asked.

“Go through with what?”

“You're going to get back together with Jetta?”

“I already have.”

My father shook his head and sighed.

“Why the hell does it matter so much to you?” I yelled. “In case you don’t know this, I don't want to be like you. You've never been happy a damn day in your life!”

“Yes, I have!” he shouted. “You can believe what you want, but I was happy with your mother. I was happy when you were little!”

“Then why don't you want me to be happy?” I demanded.

“It's not that I don't want you to be happy, Chase,” he said.

“Then what the hell is it?”

“It’s Abby. What's she going to think?”

“This isn't about Abby, Dad.”

“It will be,” he said matter-of-fact. “You can't be with someone without it affecting your kids. The fact that Jetta is black is going to bring a whole heap of problems down on Abby some day. Just you wait and see.”

“Abby likes Jetta,” I replied.

He shrugged as if I were a lost cause. “Fine. Don’t say I didn’t warn you and don't expect me to come to the wedding.”

“Good because you’re not invited.”

“Fair enough,” he said before getting up.

Anger boiled in my gut as I watched him leave. I couldn't believe he even bothered to show up here. By the time Jetta arrived back with the doctor my spirits had been dampened beyond repair.

Three hours later, I had my release papers in hand along with an appointment card in a week for a follow up. That evening I suffered through dinner at my mother's house. I almost bailed out until Jetta told me that her mother and Destiny had been invited as well. I was thankful that at least one of my parents was willing to put aside their feelings about my relationship with Jetta. I wanted to take time soon to tell my mother that very thought so she’d know I appreciated the effort.

As usual, Abby dominated the dinner conversation and I was happy to let her talk. No one would be able to argue if she was keeping them busy laughing. After dessert, my mother put Abby to bed and we were left alone with Jetta's family.

“Have you two decided where you're going to live?” her mother asked. “I mean, have you decided whether you're going to live here or in the city?”

I opened my mouth to say we hadn't talked about it yet. Jetta beat me to it.

“We’re going to live here, Mama,” she said. “I'm going to stay with you for awhile if you’ll have me, until we're ready to live together. That way I can make sure you're okay too.”

Helen's face lit up with delight and I realized I’d never seen her look so happy. She looked like a different person.

“I'd like that,” she said with a big smile. “You and Bosco can keep me company. He'll have to do until you can give me a real grandchild.”

Jetta laughed. “That may take awhile.”

“I know,” Helen said. “At least Bosco doesn't wake me up in the middle of the night for cookies like your nephew does whenever he stays over.”

“No, Bosco's a little more behaved than that.”

***

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Abby moved in with me after I was given a clean bill of health and we adopted a German Shepherd, whom she named Doughnut. Six months later, Abby began to ask when Jetta was going to live with us.

Somewhere during the course of events, Abby had begun to call Jetta “Mommy.” At first I was horrified, because I didn't know how Jetta was going to react. She seemed honored that Abby thought highly enough of her to consider Jetta a mother figure.

Jetta’s mother warmed up to the idea of Abby as another grandchild right away and starting inviting her over for cookie baking dates and sleepovers.

Helen even agreed to watch Abby when Jetta and I wanted to take advantage of a long weekend. I had a surprise planned for Jetta and hadn't told her where I was taking her.

Chapter 21: Jetta

I've never been the type of girl who likes surprises. I was only willing to play along with Chase because I loved him so much. It seemed everyone knew where we were going except me.

“You're really not going to tell me?” I asked Mama.

“Child, don't you know the meaning of surprises?” she replied.

“I do, but I don't like them. They make me uneasy.”

“You'll like this one, girl, trust me.” She grinned. “You better go get dressed. Chase will be here soon.”

“What should I wear?” I asked, hoping for a hint.

“Something pretty!” she teased.

Sighing, I sprinted up the stairs and dressed in my favorite jeans and a blue tank top. I was waiting outside with my suitcase when Chase pulled up. He’d bought a new truck yesterday and it was my first time seeing it.

“Nice,” I said when he got out.

“I know,” he agreed. “I like it even more than my old one.”

“It has airbags right?”

“Oh, yes,” Chase said.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave him a quick kiss.

“Come on, if we're going to make it there in time we have to leave now.” He lifted my suitcase into the bed of his truck.

“So where are we going?”

He grinned. “You'll see soon enough.”

I spent most of the drive trying to convince Chase to tell me where we were going, but he wouldn't even give me a hint. A few hours later the smell of salt water filled my nostrils and I knew we were near the coast.