Second Chances (Fairshore Series Book 1)

by Christina Butrum

  “Okay. Let’s roll down the windows, turn up the music, and just drive.” Amelia said as she tapped the power window button. All four windows rolled down. A cool breeze flowed in. The day was perfect. The sun shined bright and warm, and had melted the snow. Amelia guessed the temperature to be at least high sixties or low seventies. The sun filled the car with warmth. There were a few clouds in the sky, but the sky was mostly clear and light blue.

  Amelia turned the radio up and said, “It’s a perfect day for a road trip!”

  The radio station played a mix of eighties and nineties music, ranging from Def Leopard to Ace of Base to Ricky Martin.

  As they drove, they belted out each song. When a slow song came on, Amelia would turn the station and say, “Nope, too slow.”

  They continued to listen to upbeat music until they arrived in Bexley. The town was bigger than they had expected it to be. This town had every popular restaurant they’d heard of. Amelia drove into town on Summit Dell Avenue, which provided them with five main restaurants. An Arby’s, McDonald’s, and Hardees were located side by side on their left as they drove east into town. On the right side of the road, smaller restaurants, including a couple of family owned diners, were located a block away from each other.

  “Business competition at its finest,” Bailey stated sarcastically. “It’s like larger restaurants on the left versus smaller restaurants on the right. I wonder if the family-owned restaurants even have a chance.”

  Amelia understood the point Bailey made. In smaller towns, like Fairshore and Linford, small family-owned businesses had no competition. The families who live in small towns depended on business owners to supply what they needed, as much as business owners depended on their customers to help pay for their expenses. The function of a family-owned business is hand in hand with its customers. Here in bigger towns, there is competition and greed. This makes it difficult for smaller restaurants and businesses to thrive.

  Amelia could see a small gas station up ahead. “Let’s stop up here at this gas station and fill up on gas. We can ask for directions to your mom’s house, too.”

  As Amelia pulled in, she noticed how busy the station was. People walked in and out of the store. The door never completely closed.

  The clock on the Taurus’ dash blinked 12:20. Amelia made a mental note it had taken two hours and twenty minutes to get to Bexley.

  “Must be rush hour. Look at all these people,” Bailey stated in amusement.

  “Welcome to the big town life.” Amelia put the car in park as she waited for a gas pump to be open.

  “So much activity going on right now,” Bailey said.

  From a distance they could hear conversations between people. Cars honked, sirens screeched, and people shouted.

  “This town is definitely a sensory overload. Can you say migraine?” Bailey said while she looked around.

  Amelia chuckled. “I’m sure we’ll get used to it by the time we leave.”

  “I hope my mom lives out in the country. Far away from all of this noise.” Bailey laughed even though she was serious.

  “Getting used to the noise will be a challenge.” Amelia saw a woman drive a black SUV away from the gas pumps. “Finally,” Amelia said as she shifted the car into drive and drove up alongside the pump. She looked at Bailey and asked, “Are you going to brave the hordes with me?”

  Bailey’s eyes grew wide and she said, “And chance getting stampeded? Nope. You’re crazy.” She looked out the window and back at Amelia. “Crazy to think I’d let my best friend go it alone,” Bailey quickly added.

  Amelia shook her head and laughed. “You crack me up. Let’s go. It won’t be that bad.” She opened the door and before she got out of the car, Bailey pumped the gas.

  They walked inside the store. Inside was crowded. People were lined up at the counter in a single file line, which wrapped around the counter. Amelia guessed there were at least twenty people in the store. Amelia and Bailey grabbed snacks and drinks. They stood in line for a few minutes. The man at the counter was in his late twenties.

  He greeted them as they approached the counter, “How are you girls doing today?”

  Bailey smiled wide and replied, “Good. How are you?”

  The man’s eyes lit up as he looked at Bailey and replied. “Busy.”

  Bailey smiled. “It appears so.” Bailey put their snacks and drinks on the counter. The clerk rang them up. “Your total is $5.68. Would you like a bag?” he asked while he reached for a plastic bag.

  Bailey shrugged. “Sure.”

  The clerk took his time as he put the items into the bag. “What brings you two here?”

  Amelia opened her mouth to answer his question, but Bailey beat her to it. Bailey replied, “We’re here to visit my mom. I haven’t seen her in years.”

  Amelia grabbed her water and watched the conversation between the clerk and Bailey. She looked at the man’s name tag. Benjamin. She focused her attention on his features while Bailey talked to him. He was tall, about two heads taller than Bailey and her. He kept his slim face held forward, focused on Bailey in a steady gaze. When he smiled, dimples appeared and his blue eyes lit up. He ran a hand through his sandy blonde hair. She had seen part of a tattoo on the side of his neck, which peeked out from the collar of his red shirt.

  “Isn’t that right, Amelia?” Bailey asked.

  Amelia looked at Bailey. She had no idea what they had said. She smiled and hoped Bailey wouldn’t call her out. Instead, Bailey said, “I guess we should get going.” Amelia caught Bailey’s smile. Bailey was focused on Benjamin. “It was nice meeting you, Benjamin.”

  Benjamin smiled and nodded. “Same to you. And please, call me Benny.”

  Amelia chuckled when she saw how giddy Bailey acted. She politely interrupted their conversation. “Would you be able to give us directions?”

  Benjamin nodded. “Sure. What’s the address?”

  Bailey replied, “1245 Cinder Drive.”

  Benjamin pulled a map from behind the counter. He unfolded it and showed them the map. He grabbed a red pen from his pocket and marked an x where the gas station is. “We’re right here.”

  He studied the map. He found Cinder Drive and outlined it with his red pen. “Here’s Cinder Drive.”

  Bailey smiled and folded the map. “Thanks. This will help us. Thank you for helping.” She tucked the map into her back pocket. “It was nice meeting you.”

  Benjamin nodded. “Same to you.”

  Amelia grabbed the rest of the snacks and drinks. They walked out to the car.

  Bailey smiled ear to ear. Amelia glanced at her. “What are you all smiles about?”

  Bailey blushed. She shook her head. “Who, me?” She pointed a finger at herself. “Nothing.”

  Amelia shook her head and smirked. “You can’t lie to me.” She opened the car door and sat in her seat. When Bailey got into the passenger seat, Amelia looked at her as she turned the key in the ignition. “You like him?”

  Bailey’s face turned beet red and she laughed nervously. “What? Him? No.”

  Amelia shrugged her shoulders. “I think he’s cute.” She buckled her seatbelt and shifted the car into drive.

  Bailey laughed. “Okay, you busted me.”

  “It’s completely obvious.” Amelia chuckled.

  Bailey turned in the seat to face Amelia. “How so? I think we had a connection. There aren’t too many men I connect with right away like that.”

  “It appears that way.” Amelia smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m not judging.” Amelia wiggled her eyebrows at Bailey.

  Bailey busted out a laugh. “Good.”

  Amelia pulled the car out onto the street. She was glad that this Benjamin guy relaxed Bailey. Meeting him had taken Bailey’s mind off of visiting her mother. It had calmed Bailey’s nerves too. “Here we go. We’ll be there in a few minutes. Are you ready?”

  Bailey smiled and said, “Yes.”

  Amelia was happy Bailey’s mind was preoccupied. She was nerv
ous for her. “Are you nervous?” Amelia asked as she turned the car onto Lincoln Avenue. “I know I am.”

  Amelia could tell Bailey was nervous. Her face was expressionless. Amelia knew Bailey was thinking about her mother now.

  “You have no idea.” Bailey said. Bailey shifted in her seat. “My stomach is in knots. I don’t feel good.”

  Amelia reached over and grabbed Bailey’s hand. Her hand fidgeted and was wet with sweat. “I’ll be right there with you. There’s nothing to worry about.”

  Amelia regretted saying there was nothing to worry about as soon as the words left her mouth. She knew there was a lot to worry about. Bailey’s mother might dislike Bailey. She might not want to see her. Bailey had a lot to worry about.

  Bailey looked at the map. “This says her house is one street to the right and a few blocks east. So take a right and one street over, take a left.” Bailey showed signs of being nervous. She fidgeted in the seat and her breathing had increased. When she tried to talk, she stuttered. “I…I don’t…I can’t do this, Amelia.” Bailey looked at Amelia. She pleaded, “Let’s not go. We still have time to turn around.”

  Amelia pulled the car over at the curb. On the white house, by the front door, hung four numbers. 1245. The ranch style house had a manicured lawn with a unique landscape. Flower pots hung from hooks. Amelia wondered if Bailey’s mother landscaped her yard herself or if she had hired someone. An alcoholic wouldn’t be able to do all of this by themselves, would they? Amelia thought.

  Bailey must have thought the same thing because after she looked at the house, she said, “I wonder who she has to do her yard work.”

  After they sat in the car for more than ten minutes, Bailey said, “Okay, I’m ready.”

  Amelia and Bailey walked up to the door side by side. Bailey pushed the small buttoned doorbell once.

  “Coming!” A woman’s voice hollered.

  A minute later, the large oak wood door opened and a woman appeared. There was no mistaking she was Bailey’s mother. Bailey and this woman looked identical. The only difference was this woman was an inch or two shorter than Bailey.

  The woman’s eyes grew wide and filled with tears. “Bailey Lynn Thomas, is that you?” The woman opened the screen door and threw herself at Bailey. She wrapped her arms around Bailey and did not let go. Bailey had not expected this reaction from her mother. Her mother asked her, “Where have you been?”

  Amelia guessed Bailey’s mother to be in her late fifties or early sixties. Before Bailey could answer the question, her mother ushered them inside. The house was homey and had an open floor plan, which made the house appear much larger than one would expect it to be, based on judgment from outside.

  Pictures lined the walls. Old photographs and new photographs hung in frames scattered along the walls. The walls were painted comforting colors. The whole house was inviting. The smell of cinnamon apple filtered through the air. Amelia looked around the house in search of a candle. On the counter, which connected the kitchen to the dining room, a cinnamon apple candle burned.

  “Come in. Sit down.” Bailey’s mother guided them to the living room and directed them to sit on the couch. She looked at Amelia. Amelia could tell she tried to figure out who she was. Amelia held out her hand and said, “I’m Amelia Edwards. I’m Bailey’s neighbor.”

  Bailey’s mother shook Amelia’s hand. “I’m Linda Thomas-Peterson. Nice to meet you.”

  Amelia noticed she had a second last name, but kept the observation to herself. “Same to you.”

  They sat in silence in the living room for a while. The tension was thick in the room. The situation became awkward while no one talked. Bailey sat next to Amelia. She sat forward with her elbows on her knees. She busied her hands, and turned her bracelet around her wrist.

  Linda broke the silence. “Bailey, I want to say I’m sorry.”

  Bailey spoke and her voice shook. “Do you still drink?”

  Linda shook her head. “I quit drinking two years ago.”

  Bailey wiped away the tears from her cheeks. “How’d you quit? Who helped you?”

  “I went to meetings. Alcoholic Anonymous meetings.”

  “What’s Alcoholics Anonymous?”

  “It’s a support group.” Linda stood up and walked over to a shelf. She came back to the couch with a binder.

  “How could a support group make you quit when you wouldn’t quit for your own daughters?” Anger flashed across Bailey’s face. Amelia grabbed Bailey’s hand and cupped it in her hands. She needed to comfort Bailey and this was the only way she could at the moment.

  Linda fought back tears. “It wasn’t like that at all.”

  Bailey turned her head to the side. Her eyebrows furrowed. “Then how was it? Because I want to understand. Help me understand.”

  Linda swallowed hard. “The group follows a twelve step program.” Linda handed the binder to Bailey and Amelia. They opened it and looked through the paperwork. “In that binder you’ll see my papers. That’s proof of my struggle, my determination, and my success. I don’t deserve to be interrogated.”

  Bailey’s face twisted in anger. Her face turned beet red and she clenched her jaw. She slammed the binder shut. She stood up and pointed at Linda. “You don’t deserve to be questioned?” Amelia grabbed Bailey’s arm. Bailey sat down. Linda sat silently. She fought to hold back tears. “Maybe you don’t, but I deserve to know what the hell happened to my mom for the last six years of my life! Six years! I was without a mom! I have every right to ask you questions! I deserve to know!” Bailey shook her fist and pointed her finger wildly.

  “Bailey, please, stop yelling.” Linda raised her hands. “What I meant is I don’t need you interrogating me like I’m a criminal. I’ve made mistakes. Plenty of them. I regret a lot of things I’ve said and done, but I don’t deserve to be questioned and yelled at.”

  Bailey sat back in the couch. “So I shouldn’t be upset? Or hurt? I shouldn’t expect answers? But you ask for me to forgive you? Like it was nothing?! Like you haven’t been gone for six years of my life?!”

  Amelia felt the tension. This situation was stressful and very tense. The emotions were raw. They were uncovered but deep like scars unseen. Bailey had held this anger and hate deep inside of herself for the last six years.

  Bailey’s tear fell uncontrollably down her face. She did not bother to wipe them away. Amelia glanced at Linda. She sat in the chair, tears smeared her makeup.

  Linda’s voice cracked and trembled as she said, “I don’t want your forgiveness. I need your forgiveness. I have accepted my mistakes. I came to terms with my addiction. I faced it head on and I overcame it.”

  Bailey sat quietly.

  Linda continued on, “I have many regrets. Regrets from mistakes I have made. Choices that were free for the taking, but cost me more than I bargained for. I have plenty of excuses, but no way to explain why I did what I did six years ago. Plenty of regret, but no explanation for why I chose the path I did.” Linda walked over to the couch and kneeled in front of Bailey. Bailey looked away. She wiped the tears from her cheeks. Linda placed a hand on Bailey’s knee. Bailey jerked her knee away. “Bailey, I need you to forgive me. Please?”

  Bailey wiped her tears with the back of her hand. Slowly she nodded.

  Linda grabbed Bailey’s hand as she waited for a response from her. “Isn’t this why you came here? To mend our relationship?”

  Bailey sighed and looked away from her mother. “This is so hard. Every piece of me wants to forgive you, but I need answers. I don’t understand how you just up and left your family like you did. Leaving Kim and I alone after Dad died. All for alcohol?”

  “Addiction’s an ugly thing, Bai. I can’t help you understand because all I know to blame is the addiction to alcohol. I couldn’t cope with losing your dad. I felt alone.”

  “You didn’t lose Dad. You left him when you divorced him,” Bailey said while anger turned her face red. “And you weren’t alone. You had us!”

 
; Linda frowned. “I know, honey.”

  Bailey shook her head and interrupted her mother. “No, you don’t know. You have no clue!”

  Bailey ripped her hand out of her mother’s grip. Linda stood up and walked to her chair. She sat down on the edge of the chair and faced Bailey, her face somber. “I realized it too late. I learned that after the bridges were already burnt.”

  Bailey shook her head. “But it wasn’t too late. You found help two years ago. Why didn’t you find me then?”

  Linda shrugged. She tried to hold back the sobs, but they escaped. They escaped and were uncontrollable. Linda sobbed. Each sob shook her body. Soon Amelia wiped tears from her own eyes and hugged both Bailey and Linda as they hugged each other.

  “I needed you.” Bailey said softly. She sat back. Amelia did the same.

  Linda nodded. “I know you did, honey.” Linda wiped her face with a tissue. “I contacted Kim shortly after I started my meetings.”

  Bailey raised an eyebrow. “You did?”

  Linda nodded. “She wouldn’t give me any information. I asked her for your addresses. I wanted to come see you guys. She wouldn’t tell me.”

  “Why not? How could she keep that away from me?” Bailey crossed her arms in front of her.

  “It was for your best interest. She was just looking out for you.”

  “I get that. She could’ve told me, though. After all of these years of me thinking you never cared or never tried to contact me or find me. Who was she not to tell me?”

  “She wanted to protect you and hurt me like I hurt you guys.”

  Bailey shook her head. “I can’t believe she never told me. I mean, seriously, how old are we?!”

  “It’s okay. You found me. That’s all that matters now.”

  “We even called her. She had your address and phone number. She’s had it all this time and pretended she had no clue.”

  “Kim and I haven’t talked since that day I called her and asked for your addresses.”

  Bailey shook her head. Her eyebrows furrowed. “So she has had your information for the last four years?”

  Linda nodded. Amelia could see the anger on Bailey’s face. Amelia knew Bailey felt betrayed. First her mother and now her sister. Amelia wondered how Kim hid this so well for so long.