Second Chance Christmas--A Clean Romance

by Rula Sinara

  It wasn’t his voice in his head. It was Lucas, urging him on. Damon swam harder, his muscles burning while the cold waters numbed his skin. He could see Duck reaching Sara and holding on to her.

  “Good girl! Take her in!” He looked around but couldn’t spot Caden. Sanjay and Kiko were intercepting Duck and helped her haul Sara to safety.

  “Caden!” The wind blew harder and the whitecaps bigger. Then a head came up feet away. He swam toward his son. He couldn’t tell if he was too late. “Caden!”

  He reached for him and put the buoy around him and started swimming parallel to the shoreline to escape the riptide. He could see the patrol boat heading their way. The boy coughed and sputtered up water. “Hang on. I’ve got you.”

  Then he saw it coming. The driftwood riding the next wave. And everything went black.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  ZURI NEVER THOUGHT it was possible to be alive and dead at the same time, but that’s exactly what she was experiencing. She couldn’t breathe or swallow or feel her body, but she was running and she could hear herself screaming.

  Sara was going to be all right. Duck had saved her, along with some help. Paramedics were on the beach giving her first aid and her parents were going to ride to the hospital with her. And Zuri thought she’d see Damon bringing Caden in next, but instead she saw him disappear just as Caden was pulled out of the water and onto a boat. Then she saw Mark dive in and the minutes it took before she saw him reemerge with Damon seemed like an eternity.

  She paced in the sand, frantically waiting for them to make it ashore, and ran like mad when the second team of paramedics helped pull Damon’s listless body from the boat. They lifted Caden, wrapped him for warmth and put him on a stretcher.

  “He’s alive.”

  That’s all she heard but she didn’t know who said the words. Caden whimpered and she wanted to hold him, but the emergency crew ordered her to let them stabilize him first.

  “He’ll be okay. Just hold on.”

  But Damon...they were pressing down on his chest, yelling at him, telling him he wasn’t allowed to give up. Zuri’s life flashed before her...all that was important and all that wasn’t.

  Then ocean water spewed from him and there was movement and cheers. But she wasn’t cheering yet. He had to be okay.

  “Let’s go.”

  They were leaving for the hospital. She climbed in with her nephew and held his hand. And all she could do was swear that she loved them both and promise that she’d never leave them if only they could both be okay.

  * * *

  DAMON WALKED UP the steps to his house, wincing when he moved his shoulder the wrong way. He had dislocated it and had to keep it in the sling until his follow-up visit. He was lucky that he wasn’t killed and luckier that his son was going to be okay. Caden had a busted eardrum that would take a few weeks to heal. Zuri had been given antibiotic drops to use on him.

  All three of them, and Sara and her family, ended up riding out the storm at the hospital. He hadn’t seen the aftermath—the littered road and broken shingles and a few windows—until they were headed home. Zuri had driven his truck and Duck had stayed with Faye and Carlos down the street. They said they’d bring her by later.

  He looked behind him as Zuri helped Caden up the steps. The boy was still washed-out and weak. It would take time. That kid had gone above and beyond. He had seen Caden making that split-second decision to go after his friend, which spoke to his bravery, but Damon had given him a lecture. He’d put both kids on the spot in front of his crew when they visited them at the hospital, not to shame anyone, but to drive a point home. There was something to be said for rules and thinking before doing. Caden may have helped save Sara by keeping her afloat a few minutes longer, but he created a situation where more people had to be saved.

  Damon wasn’t happy that they had been playing dangerously close to the water during a red flag either. In fact, he was pretty mad. They had endangered themselves and his rescue team. He knew kids, especially as they entered the teenage years, were prone to risky behavior—heck, he knew that firsthand—but that didn’t make it okay. Zuri had told him he couldn’t predict the future, but he was predicting a lot of father-son talks in Caden’s.

  “You need to lie down. The doctor said you need a lot of rest. I’ll make you something to eat,” Zuri said, ushering Caden down the hall and into the spare room she had used just days before. She returned as Damon lowered himself gingerly onto the couch.

  “Do you need pain meds? I have your prescription in my purse,” she said, grabbing a throw pillow and trying to help him get comfortable. He shook his head. Pain meds messed with his head. He wanted to be able to think straight. She touched his cheek and inspected the blue welt on the side of his forehead.

  “Are you sure? Between your head and shoulder, you’ve got to be miserable.”

  He used his good hand to guide her onto the couch next to him. He laced his fingers in hers.

  “Thank you for being here,” he said. It wasn’t enough.

  “Thank you, for saving Caden and Sara and for not dying on me.” Tears welled in her eyes.

  He lifted her hand and kissed it, letting his lips linger as he closed his eyes and tried to find the right words to apologize and make up for the secrets he kept and for all she’d been through. But with all he could try to say, he realized there were only three words that mattered. He moved her hand to his chest and held it right where his heart beat...for her, for Caden, for family...and said the one thing he meant more than anything else in the world. Just three words that held the power of the world, much like a drop of water could hold the spirit of the seas.

  “I love you.”

  She covered her mouth and tried to dry her eyes but it wasn’t happening. He wiped his thumb across her cheek.

  “I mean it. I love you and always have. And I love Caden and can’t imagine life without us as a family. The three of us, Zuri.” The corner of his mouth quirked up. “Unless Caden wants a sibling. Didn’t he say something about not wanting to be an only child?”

  Zuri pursed her lips.

  “Did he now? I’m not sure I recall that.”

  “I’m sure he did. We could ask Duck. Maybe he mentioned it to her.”

  Zuri chuckled then gave him a long sobering look.

  “Damon, I love you, too. And life’s too short to waste it apart any longer. We both know that. We’ve been given a second chance...third, really, after nearly losing you both...and I want to take it. With every cell of my body and breath I take, I want us to be a family, too.”

  “We’ll figure it out. So long as we’re together, we’ll figure out how.”

  “While you were sleeping, in the hospital, I made a call. I was offered the kind of next step in my career that I always thought I wanted. But I realized it wasn’t. At least, not as it stands. I’ve scheduled a meeting to see if they’ll be willing to have me work from here, but still in connection to the university and with the tenure track I was offered. Gray is going to put me in touch with a local scientist he said was studying water contamination and I’m going to see if we can get a joint grant and maybe set up a satellite research lab. My department in Boston could even send students to me for field study experience. Either way, I’ll find a way to make it work because I’ve decided to move to Turtleback Beach. For Caden. For us. We can talk to Caden about it to be sure he transitions smoothly and is okay with it all, but I know my heart is here.”

  “But what if they don’t agree? You can’t give up a career move like that.”

  “The truth is I wasn’t really happy. I miss field work and being outdoors. If they don’t agree to a satellite site out here, then I’ll get a grant and do it myself. I can always work with this guy Gray knows or affiliate myself with a North Carolina university. I’ll make it work.”

  Damon kissed her and the way she kissed him back was b
etter than any pain prescription a guy could ever take. She kissed him with promises and love and trust.

  “Are you sure? Because I’d give this all up for you,” he said.

  “I know. But I don’t want you to. This town is home in ways I never felt before. I want to be a part of it and I’m sure Caden will, too.”

  “You got that right! So, this means we’re staying forever? I can go to school down here and Duck will be my dog, too?” Caden appeared from the hallway where he’d been eavesdropping. So much for getting that boy to rest. Zuri and Damon laughed.

  “Yes, she’s your dog, too. I’m pretty sure she already decided that when you two first met. And this is your home. Our home.”

  A real home for the first time. And a family forever.

  EPILOGUE

  New Year’s Eve, one year later...

  CADEN FILLED A second glass of fruit punch and carried it over to where Sara was standing watching the bride and groom dance. She looked really pretty tonight in her wine-red bridesmaid dress. She had told him that he looked good in a tuxedo, as well. The suit wasn’t comfortable, but he liked that she liked him in it. Sara’s grandmother, Miss Melanie, had gone overboard with taking photos of the two of them and commenting on how cute they looked. His dad helped him pick out the tux. Damon wore his formal navy attire and his aunt Zuri had on a white dress. Sara kept saying that it was the prettiest dress she’d ever seen, but most wedding dresses looked the same to Caden. They were all white so why did the rest matter?

  Damon and Zuri finished their dance and raised their glasses to the room, which was basically a bunch of fancy tables, chairs, flowers and desserts all set up under the protection of a giant, heated party tent. They had planned to have the wedding outdoors, but winter weather came into play.

  “Happy New Year! Here’s to hope and new beginnings. May this next year bring happiness, good health and love to all,” Damon said. He turned to his bride and kissed Zuri. Again. Caden had never seen his aunt so happy. It was nice. It made him happy. His dad and his aunt together were the best thing that had happened to him for as long as he could remember. Well, getting to know Sara, too.

  She had returned to Turtleback Beach last summer and they had spent most of it together. His dad made sure that they were both strong swimmers by the end of summer and, the best part, Caden asked Sara to be his girlfriend—he didn’t really mind that she was an older woman, having just turned fourteen while he was still thirteen—and she said yes.

  Best. Moment. Ever.

  Caden and Sara raised their juice glasses to the toast.

  “Let’s dance,” Sara said. Thank goodness his dad had given him lessons in that department, as well. The entire dance floor filled with everyone they knew in town.

  He took Sara’s hand and led her into the middle, not far from the bride and groom. His dad had been huge about rules on how to treat women. He had drilled in proper behavior and respect for women so many times that Caden wondered where it had all come from.

  Sara rested her cheek on his shoulder and Caden felt his cheeks heat up when he caught his aunt and dad smiling over at them. Whatever. Grown-ups made things weird.

  His grandmothers had been making things extra weird, talking about babies all the time. Funny thing was that his parents—he liked calling his dad and aunt that—told him that Caden’s grandmas used to hate each other. Now the two finally had a common goal that they couldn’t stop trying to plan for. Another grandchild.

  It wouldn’t be so bad. Caden kind of liked the idea of someday being a big brother and showing a younger bro or sis the ropes. Kind of like Duck had been doing since Christmas.

  Caden couldn’t believe that he actually got a puppy for Christmas this year. The fluffiest, cutest golden retriever ever. He named him Chase, after the book hero...and because he liked to run after the birds on the beach. Damon said he’d teach Caden how to train him. His aunt was extra fond of the puppy. Especially since it was still small, though she had gotten pretty used to dogs. Her department back in Boston had agreed to give her tenure track while also allowing her to set up and pursue her research in the Outer Banks. In fact, she had just gotten another grant with a local scientist. She was spending more time outdoors than she ever did back in Boston. She smiled a lot more, though that probably had a lot to do with his dad, too.

  Caden was definitely happier. He missed his mom, but he knew she’d be happy that he was in a good place.

  The music stopped and Sara gave him a peck on the cheek. It always made him feel taller when she did that. He really wished he’d have another growth spurt so that he could catch up to her. She didn’t seem to care though. She was the coolest girl ever.

  “I see my mom waving me over. I’m going to go see what she wants and I’ll be back,” Sara said.

  “Okay. I’ll get us more cake,” Caden said.

  Damon and Zuri came over and his aunt wrapped her arms around him and gave him a huge hug. His dad put his arms around them both.

  “Thank you for being such an awesome kid,” Zuri said.

  “Ditto that,” Damon added.

  “Aw seriously, guys. You’re gonna embarrass me. But I guess I’ll let it pass, it being your wedding and all. And New Year’s.”

  “Happy New Year to you,” Damon said.

  “I hope it’s full of good luck for you,” Zuri added.

  “Are you kidding me?” Caden looked up at the two of them. “I’m the luckiest kid on earth. Sure, I’ll always miss Mom, but right now I have the two of you, a new puppy and Duck, and a great girlfriend. And double the grandparents than I used to have. Not to mention, I get to read every future Chase Falcon book before it’s ever released. What more could a kid want?” He headed toward Sara but glanced over his shoulder at them and grinned.

  Damon had his arms wrapped around Zuri and they were kissing again. He could tell that his dad was head over heels in love because his latest Falcon book ended up having Chase fall in love. Damon’s sales had skyrocketed because of it. There was something about this romance stuff. He was going to have to get used to Damon and Zuri being all lovey-dovey. Maybe he’d spend more time outside with Duck and Chase...and Sara. He didn’t mind one bit.

  Sara smiled at him from across the room.

  Life was good.

  * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Bride on the Run by Anna J. Stewart.

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  Bride on the Run

  by Anna J. Stewart

  CHAPTER ONE

  “WHAT AM I doing getting married?”

  Sienna Fairchild stared at herself in the full-length mirror and wondered if she was real. She pressed damp palms against her colorless cheeks. The neatly arranged cascading raven curls perfectly framed her expertly made-up face. The diamond choker sparkled against her pale throat. The weighty emerald engagement ring that dragged her down like an anchor sparkled against the late afternoon sun. The rays streaming through the bay window of the bridal suite at the San Diego Empire Yacht Club. She’d grown up here, spent countless hours exploring the boats and dock where first her grandmother and then Vincent Fairchild, Sienna’s father, had served as president.

  “Nana, where are you when I need you?” Tears of grief stung the back of her throat. It had been two months since her grandmother had died; two months that had passed excruciatingly slow and yet flashed by in the blink of an eye ever since Richard Somersby had proposed.

  Richard Somersby, her father’s latest business partner, and someone who could ensure the Fairchild fortune for generations to come, should have been a dream come true. Handsome, wealthy, charming. Oh, so charming. Too charming? S
ienna frowned.

  Richard had turned his attention on Sienna the instant he’d seen her at her father’s birthday party, which had happened not long after her grandmother’s funeral. Richard had been exciting and different and...her head had spun, given his interest, and her normally distant father had been thrilled.

  She had most definitely been charmed. She’d also been neck-deep in sleepless grief over having lost the only parental figure she’d really had growing up.

  Winnifred Fairchild, teenage bride, WWII factory worker, former CEO of Fairchild International, mother of four sons, only two of whom had lived past childhood, would have moved heaven and earth for Sienna; had moved it, in some respects. Before Winnie’s death, Sienna’s father never would have considered pushing Sienna into marriage, let alone into one that would solidify his business connections.

  Nana never would have allowed it unless she was convinced it was what Sienna wanted.

  It had been what she’d wanted, Sienna thought now. At least it had been until fifteen minutes ago, when she’d looked at herself in the mirror.

  And didn’t see a trace of herself.

  “I need help, Nana.” The whispered plea echoed in the empty room, against the brocade curtains, the striped gold wallpaper and the silver tray that housed a champagne bucket and glasses. The one-of-a-kind designer gown felt like a straitjacket despite the strapless corset top. The sweeping, elegant tulle skirt with satin lining brushed against the floor. Embroidery, beads, rhinestones and appliqué added intricate patterns of perfection any bride would be thrilled with. Yet all Sienna could hear, even above the lapping waves of the marina and the cries of seagulls, was her panicked breathing and the voice screaming in her head that something wasn’t right.

  She gripped her skirt in her fists and moved to the French doors overlooking the marina. The ocean. Peace instantly settled over her; the water always had provided solace. It had been her grandmother’s coping mechanism, as well, one Winnie had embraced fully a few years before when she’d purchased a cozy home on the beach less than ten miles from where Sienna currently stood—a house Sienna was poised to inherit now that Winnie had died.