Second Chances (Fairshore Series Book 1)

by Christina Butrum

  “Makes sense.” Bailey nodded and took a drink of her water.

  “And his personality was amazing. He told jokes that were hilarious. He had great manners. He was a gentleman.”

  “Sounds like a man of any woman’s dreams. What went wrong?”

  “We started dating. We went on a few double dates with Katie and Jake. Then we started going on our own dates. We connected and the chemistry was crazy from the get-go.” Amelia smiled at the memories. “So we became a couple. I never went to college, but I understood how much work was involved in it. Besides, I had just started working at Susie’s, so I was busy myself.” Amelia walked to the sink to fill up her glass with water and took a drink. When she sat her glass down on the table, she continued where she left off. “He lived on campus in a dorm room. I thought it was awesome. On days and weekends I had off from work, I would go visit him. If I stayed, he had to sneak me in because it was against the rules to have people stay.”

  “How long did he stay on campus? Did he ever get his own place?”

  “He lived on campus for two years or so. When he got his own place, he invited me to move in with him. Of course I accepted and I moved in. His house was a few blocks from the University, but Bellford was about thirty minutes from Linford. I had to drive back and forth to work.” Amelia glanced at Bailey, who sat quietly and waited to hear more. “We noticed after a year that it was a bit much for me to drive back and forth.”

  “A year? Hell, I would’ve noticed after a week.” Bailey interrupted. She smiled and stated apologetically, “Sorry, just saying.”

  “Anyways, he started telling me to get a job in Bellford. To do this and to do that. When I told him no, he’d get mad. This went on for another year. Finally, I told him I was moving back in with my parents.”

  “What’d he say about that?”

  “Actually, he was understanding and helped me move out.”

  “Is that when you broke up?”

  “No, we broke up a while later. Things didn’t work out with the distance between us.” Amelia took a drink and swallowed hard. “One day, I drove to his place to tell him I was pregnant, he had another girl there. He admitted he’d been with her for the last year that I lived at my parents’ house.”

  “Oh, no!” Bailey placed a hand over her mouth. “That’s horrible!”

  Amelia held up her hand. “Oh, just wait, it gets better. I told him I was pregnant and he got all mushy on me. He told me he was sorry. He apologized for an hour. He told me that he’d never cheat again. He also told me he didn’t love her, he loved me.”

  “Wait, so he went from not giving a rat’s ass if you caught him, to being completely apologetic and loving?”

  “Yep, pretty much. And being young and naïve, I believed him.”

  Bailey placed her palm against her forehead. “Oh, no.”

  Amelia nodded. “So things were back to normal for us, or so I thought. He went to the doctor appointments with me. He heard the baby’s heartbeat with me.” Amelia’s face twisted in anger as tears streamed down her cheeks. Bailey reached over and grabbed her hand, which gave Amelia just enough strength to continue. “The day I miscarried, I tried calling him. He didn’t answer. I had my mom take me to his house. As I knocked, I heard a girl’s voice. I didn’t think anything of it, until he answered the door and the expression on his face said it for me.” Tears continued to fall down her cheeks. “I told him that we were through. I was so angry. I told him he could celebrate now and screw anyone he wanted.”

  “I’m so sorry you went through that.” Bailey wiped the tears from her eyes. She stood up and gave Amelia a hug.

  “I thought I was fine. I thought it wouldn’t affect me. I was proved wrong. I had to have therapy for the last year. I just got told a couple months ago by my therapist I was cleared from scheduled visits. I can go back to therapy as needed, but I’m not required to anymore.”

  “Amelia, I’m sorry. That’s horrible.”

  Amelia shrugged. “I told you I’d eventually have you return the favor. This is my meltdown.”

  Bailey hugged her tighter. “So this all happened and ended last year?”

  Amelia nodded. She wiped the tears from her face with a napkin.

  “Well, I’m here for you. I’m glad we have each other.”

  “I told you my life’s far from perfect. That’s when I learned that some of the lollipops in my once ‘perfect’ life taste like shit.”

  They cracked up. Tears streamed slowly down Amelia’s cheeks. She wiped them away with the back of her hand.

  Bailey sat back down. “For the record, I wasn’t trying to offend you when I said what I did about rainbows and unicorns.”

  “I know that.” Amelia smirked. “Besides, for the record, my life was full of rainbows, unicorns, and cute shit like that until Ryan messed it all up for me. I was so innocent.” Amelia made a pout face, and then she burst out in laughter like a lunatic.

  Bailey grabbed Amelia’s hand and said, “This, my friend, is why we’re friends.”

  Amelia responded, with a smile on her face, “I agree.”

  “Well, on that note, maybe you should take time and not rush things with Zach.”

  Amelia raised an eyebrow. “Who’s rushing it?” She pointed a finger at Bailey.

  Bailey playfully shoved her finger away. “Time will tell.”

  “You’re right, though. I’m not ready for a serious relationship just yet. And yes, time will tell.”

  Bailey glanced at her watch. “Hey, I need to get home. I need to let Bella outside.”

  Amelia gave her a confused look. “Who’s Bella?”

  Bailey waved a hand at Amelia, which indicated she wanted her to follow her to her house. “Come on. You’re about to find out.”

  Amelia followed. She anticipated the opportunity to see Bailey’s house, and to find out who Bella was.

  They crossed the street and walked through the front gate. “Your flowers are so pretty.”

  “Thanks. Yours are too.”

  As Bailey opened the front door, she turned to Amelia and said, “It might be a little messy. I haven’t taken any time to clean lately.”

  As they walked in, they were met by Bella, a Golden Retriever with a bright hot pink collar with rhinestones. “This is Bella.”

  Amelia patted Bella on top of the head. “Nice to meet you, Bella.”

  Amelia glanced around. The house was similar to hers, except the staircase was right by the front door. The staircase divided the living room and the dining room. As Bailey showed Amelia upstairs, Amelia realized how alike their houses were. “This is so much like my house.”

  Bailey nodded in agreement, and they made their way downstairs. Amelia noticed the white carpet in the dining room and living room. As they made their way to the living room to go to the kitchen, Bailey stopped in her tracks. “Bella, what have you done?”

  Amelia looked down in front of Bailey. She saw multiple sets of chocolate paw prints on the white carpet.

  “I hope that’s chocolate and not something else.” Amelia snickered.

  Bailey continued the journey to the kitchen. In the middle of the floor sat a chocolate pie tin with the majority of it smeared on the kitchen floor.

  “Guess that answers that.” Bailey said as she bent over to pick the tin up and throw it in the trash. “I must’ve forgot about it and left it on the table. She knocked it down and had a heyday with it.”

  Amelia grabbed some paper towels. “I’ll help you clean up this mess.”

  Bella laid down at the bottom of the stairs and watched them as they wiped up the chocolate and mopped the kitchen floor. When they moved to the living room, Bailey pointed at Bella and said, “Look at that face! She’s so cute.”

  Amelia looked at Bella, who had her head down and avoided eye contact. “She’s guilty. She knows she’s not in trouble, though.”

  “Of course! She’d get by with murder if she was a person! She’s spoiled rotten.”

  Ameli
a could tell it was the truth. The dog had her own bed and a basket full of toys. “I can tell she’s spoiled. That’s a good thing, though.”

  Bailey laughed. “Sometimes. There are many times she has used being spoiled against me.”

  They grabbed the scrub brushes and scrubbed the carpet.

  “Well, at least it’s chocolate! I was thinking it was poop!” Amelia busted up in laughter.

  “No kidding! I was nervous until I remembered the chocolate pie.” Bailey said while she stood up. “Oh, I forgot to check her paws to see if she needs a bath.”

  As Bailey walked towards Bella, Amelia hollered out behind her, “I’m sure she licked them clean!”

  Bailey walked back into the living room. “Yep, clean as a whistle.”

  Amelia threw her head back and laughed. “I knew they’d be clean.”

  Amelia stood up and looked at the living room floor. There was no evidence of chocolate pie anywhere. “All clean.”

  Bailey gave Amelia a high five. “We’re awesome! Thank you for your help.”

  Amelia smiled. “I’d say we’re getting used to this business of returning favors.”

  “You bet we are. That’s what friends are for.”

  “Of course.” Amelia said. “I better get over to my house and relax. You can stop over later if you want to.”

  Bailey watched Amelia as she crossed the street and walked into her house.

  Chapter Six

  The phone rang and woke Amelia. She glanced at the alarm clock – 8:35 a.m.

  Amelia threw the covers off and hopped out of bed. She stumbled her way downstairs and into the kitchen. She grabbed the phone as it rang in its cradle.

  “Hello?” Amelia yawned while she rubbed her left eye with her hand.

  An older woman’s voice responded through the phone, “Is this Amelia Edwards?”

  Amelia thought she recognized the voice. “Yes it is. Can I ask who this is?”

  The woman cleared her throat. When she spoke, her voice was clearer and a little higher. Amelia could hear her better. “This is Anna, from Anna’s Deli. You filled out an application the other day.”

  Amelia nodded her head and said, “Hi, Anna.”

  “I’m sorry that it has taken me so long to get back to you. My grandson was sick and needed my help for a couple days.”

  “No worries, Anna. Not a problem at all.”

  “How would you like to come in for an interview? I’d like to get to know you better.”

  “I’d love to!” Amelia could not contain her excitement.

  “Can you come in this morning? Say about ten?”

  Amelia glanced at the clock…8:45. “Yes! I can be there by ten.”

  “Okay, dear, see you then.”

  “Okay. Bye.” Amelia hung up the phone and placed it into its cradle. She had a little over an hour to get ready for this interview. She ran up the stairs, and skipped every other step.

  She opened her closet and shoved her normal clothes to the side. Her closet was not small, but it was crowded and completely stuffed with her outfits. Half of the outfits she rarely wore. She found her maxi skirt outfit on the far left side of the closet. She grabbed the white hanger and pulled the outfit out of the closet. She laid it on the bed. She carefully removed the blouse and skirt from the hanger.

  Once she was dressed, it took her less than thirty minutes to wrap her hair into a bun, brush her teeth, and put makeup on. She took a quick peek at herself in the long bedroom mirror that hung on her closet door.

  “Perfect!” she shouted as she spun in a circle. She grabbed her mini purse and walked downstairs. She walked to the closet by the front door and picked out a pair of high heels. She strapped them on and reached for her keys. She did one last glance around the house before she opened the front door. She sprinted out to her car and tossed her purse into the passenger seat. She looked at the dashboard clock. She had roughly fifteen minutes to get to Anna’s Deli. She sprinted across the street. As she walked to the front door of Bailey’s house, she saw Bailey smile at her through the bay window.

  By the time she reached for the door knob, Bailey opened the door.

  “You probably shouldn’t run in those things. They can be dangerous.” Bailey said as she pointed to the high heels. “You look amazing, by the way.”

  “Thanks. I figured I’d come over and tell you Anna wants me there for an interview at ten.” Amelia announced, while she bounced with excitement.

  Bailey smiled. “Good luck! Even though I’m pretty sure you have the job. I’ll see you tonight when I get home from work. I work ‘til seven.”

  “Okay, thanks. I’ll see you later!” Amelia walked briskly across the street as she hollered back to Bailey, “I’m so excited!”

  Bailey hollered back, “I know you are! I am too! Good luck!”

  Amelia drove to Anna’s Deli and parked her Taurus close to the door. Her feet were already sore from wearing the high heels.

  As she walked into the store, Anna met her at the counter by the door. “Hello, Amelia.”

  “Hi, Anna.”

  Anna led her to the back office. A cluttered wooden desk, surrounded by three chairs, sat in the center of the room. “Don’t mind the mess. My organizing skills are lacking lately.”

  Amelia smiled and sat in the chair across from Anna.

  Anna opened a manila folder and removed the application. “You say you just moved to Fairshore? Where’d you live prior to moving here?” Anna reached for a pad of paper and a pen. She prepared to take notes.

  “I was born and raised in Linford. I lived with my parents.”

  “That’s quite a ways from here.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “What made you move here?”

  Amelia swallowed hard. She had not expected this kind of question to come up in the interview. She could feel the jitters in her stomach. She debated on telling Anna the truth. She contemplated the pros and cons of telling Anna the reason she left Linford was to escape a past love. To escape a past love that had fractured her soul and tormented her daily.

  “New beginnings,” she finally answered. Not a lie, just not the full truth. She did not feel comfortable with sharing that fragile piece of her life with just anyone.

  Anna nodded and smiled. “I’m glad you’re here. I’m sure they’ll miss you at Susie’s.”

  The thought of her friends and boss at Susie’s brought a sudden blanket of sadness and guilt over her. She hated leaving them. They were all so great to her.

  She nodded in agreement to Anna’s statement. “I’ll miss them just as much, if not more. But, I promised each of them I’d keep in touch and visit when I have the chance.”

  Anna’s face wrinkled as she smiled. “I’d like to welcome you to work here. Full time. You’ll stock the shelves and work at the counter and check people out. Does that sound like something you’ll enjoy doing?”

  Amelia’s face beamed and she accepted Anna’s offer with excitement, “Yes, ma’am!”

  Anna stood and clasped her hands together. “Great! I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Say eight-thirty? I’ll have your schedule and a name tag ready for you.” She reached over to Amelia, grabbed her hand, and patted it. “Welcome aboard.”

  Amelia wrapped her hand over Anna’s and smiled. “Thank you. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  On her drive back home, Amelia recalled a memory from a few months ago. She had told her parents she felt lost. She had told them she felt like a failure. She had been unsure of her future and of herself.

  She was still unsure of her future, but it looked brighter today than it had a week ago. She knew this was something to be proud of and she was very proud. After the bad break up, she found herself to be insecure and doubtful. Today, she looked at herself in a new light.

  She glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror. A young, beautiful woman looked back at her with a confident smile and brightness in her eyes.

  This week marked a new beginning for her. The s
tart of a new chapter.

  Chapter Seven

  Amelia held the phone to her ear and waited impatiently for one of her parents to answer the phone. Finally, after four rings, her mother answered the phone.

  “Hello?” Her mother’s voice sounded tired.

  “Did I wake you?” Amelia glanced quickly at the clock – 7:30. “I’m sorry if I did.”

  “No, honey, you didn’t. I must’ve fallen asleep while reading.”

  So I did wake you, Amelia thought. “I’m calling to share some good news.” Amelia blurted into the phone. She did not wait for her mother to question what the good news was. She immediately said, “I got the job at Anna’s Deli. I start tomorrow morning!” she exclaimed.

  “What? Really? That’s great!” her mother replied. Amelia heard her father in the background. He asked her mother what the commotion was all about. Her mother’s voice, away from the phone, answered, “She got the job!” Her parents hooted and hollered in the background. They seemed more excited than Amelia.

  Amelia waited while her parents celebrated with their hoots and hollers. She envisioned her parents doing their happy dance around the dining room.

  After a couple of minutes passed, her mother returned to the phone. “Honey, that’s great news! We’re so happy for you! So proud of you!” She sounded out of breath, which confirmed Amelia’s thought of them doing the happy dance. “Well, we’ll have to celebrate this the next time we see each other. Very soon, I hope.”

  Amelia chuckled. “Yes, very soon.”

  She hated the fact her mother acted as if they would never see each other.

  “Any other exciting news?” Her mother encouraged her daughter to share. “Has a young gentlemen caught your eye?”

  “Nope.” Amelia decided not to tell her mother about Zach. She found no reason to.

  “Really? Not even one?” Her mother persisted.

  Amelia enjoyed her mother’s persistence. No matter how much her mother insisted there had to be at least one young man in Amelia’s new town that had caught her attention, Amelia denied it.

  To no avail, her mother gave up. “Okay, if you say so.”