Second Chances

by McKay, Kimberly

  Maya threw her arm around her big sister’s shoulders and said; “Now if that isn’t a welcome home – I don’t know what is.”

  Paige smiled and kissed her little sister’s cheek. “Love you, Maya.”

  “You too. Now let’s get to work.”

  Sam watched his sisters take the steps to the U-haul and smiled. The idea of Nick and his sister still had his mind swirling with possibilities. They both were fresh from a bad relationship, and that probably wasn’t great timing, but it couldn’t hurt to arrange an accidental meeting.

  Paige looked up to her brother, who was still standing on the porch.

  “You coming?” She wondered why he looked so smug.

  “Yup. I got this,” he said with an extra spring in his step. He had this indeed.

  Chapter 6

  Paige pulled her suit jacket off and tossed it on the couch. She slumped down into her wingbacked chair, wishing she’d remembered to go to Wegman’s on the way home. She could use a glass of wine after the day she’d had. Sighing, she pulled her heels off and dropped them to the floor next to her briefcase.

  Her eyes dropped to the case and out of frustration, she kicked it toward the coffee table. As it landed a few feet away, resumes scattered out and slid across the wood flooring.

  Great, she thought. She raised an eyebrow at the mess she made but wasn’t about to pick them up. What did it matter? Nothing she’d been interviewing for had worked out. After a week of trying to get her foot in the door at multiple local businesses, she quickly found out that she was either too old or didn’t have enough experience to be considered. Not that anyone told her that in so many words – but what they didn’t say that spoke volumes.

  “Knock, Knock!” She heard a voice from outside her screen door. Paige looked up and smiled for the first time in hours.

  “Oh my gosh! What are you doing here?” She jumped up, as a familiar face peered inside. It had been years since she’d seen her childhood friend and was glad to see she still had the same infectious grin.

  “I’m come bearing gifts.” Natasha lifted a full vase of daisies, thinking Paige looked more forlorn than she could remember.

  “Natasha Chappell! It is so good to see you!” Paige immediately perked up and pushed open the porch door. “Get in here and give me a hug!”

  Natasha lifted an arm to receive a warm embrace and was grateful she could make Paige smile. She pulled back and searched her eyes.

  “I meant to swing by last week when I heard you were moving back to town, but I’ve been busy. You know - family, kids, work …”

  “How did you know I was coming?” She stepped back to let her friend through.

  “Oh, Sam didn’t tell you? We’re next door neighbors.”

  “Of course.” Paige laughed. She should have known better. She looked Natasha over from head to toe, thinking she didn’t look any older than when she’d left. “You look great - just the same. I’d have recognized you anywhere.”

  “Thanks.” Natasha facetiously batted her eyes and laughed. “I try. Heck, if it weren’t for the twins and my oldest – I’d be sitting on the couch every day. They keep me busy.”

  Paige wondered what life would be like if she’d had children. Would she be a good mom? She looked to Natasha and tried to stuff down that familiar twinge of jealousy.

  “Listen to me. I’m going on and on. What about you? You’re living here now. Wow!” Natasha’s eyes went wide.

  What her friend didn’t say was written all over her face. She could tell she was dying to know what happened with her marriage.

  “Yeah.” Paige retreated toward her living room and motioned her friend to sit. She set the daisies on the table and reached down to shove roughly the resumes back into her briefcase.

  “Sorry.” She grinned, putting the case back in place before sitting across from Natasha.

  “No, it’s okay. I’m sorry for barging over without calling. I just saw these and knew they were your favorite.” She nodded toward the vase.

  “You remembered.” Paige’s heart warmed. “Thanks again. That’s very sweet.”

  “So, catch me up. How has Granite been treating you?”

  Paige appreciated that she hadn’t asked about Davis, even though she knew Natasha was curious.

  “It’s okay. I never thought I’d be here … divorced at forty and looking for work. Davis always kept me taken care of, so I didn’t have to worry about finances. He preferred the focus be on him …” Paige sighed and looked around to her hodge-podge furniture. “Heck, most of this isn’t even mine. Since his family gave us all our stuff, he took the majority of it once he left me.”

  Natasha settled into the couch and crossed her arms, unsure of how to react. She hadn’t seen Paige nor Davis since their senior year, but Paige had been her best friend. She thought they’d have stayed in touch after college, but once married, they moved to Alexandria shortly after. Once there, Paige became immersed in their life, which didn’t leave much time for ties back home. She never really resented Paige for it, as life goes on, but she still missed her. Now that she was home, it was all a bit surreal to be sitting here like old times.

  Natasha looked around to the mixed matched furniture and sadly smiled.

  “Do you need anything? Pots … pans? Better furniture?” She half laughed, hoping it was okay to crack a joke. The girl she’d known would have gotten her humor, but she wasn’t sure now. When Paige busted out in a deep laugh, Natasha joined her - happy to see she was still true to her roots.

  Paige took a deep breath, grateful to have someone she could let down with. She let out one more soft chuckle, and said, “Thanks, I needed that.”

  Natasha’s eyes sparkled. “I was serious about the furniture.”

  “No, it’s okay. My parents hit a few garage sales the weekend before I came back and this is what I ended up with.” Paige looked the room over, and continued, “And, truth be told it’s a sentiment of how much they care and that’s a good thing.”

  Natasha nodded, as her eyes dropped to the briefcase. “You have any prospects? Sam told me you’ve been looking. Have you had any luck at the paper? You know - Graham is a manager there now.”

  Paige grunted at the reference to one of their school friends, whom they both worked with when they started at the paper, as fresh-faced twenty-somethings ready to take on the world.

  “What? Why the face? What happened?” Natasha frowned. “With your history there, you’d be a shoe in. They loved you.”

  “You’d think, huh?” She grimaced, and stood. “Would you like something to drink?”

  “I’m fine. Sit back down - finish.” Natasha tilted her head and said nothing.

  Paige clamped her lips, not knowing where to start.

  She blew a stray hair that fell across her eyes and adjusted to sit Indian style on the couch next to her friend.

  “Graham was all hot to trot to interview me. He said I was exactly what he needed, as I knew the industry already and he wouldn’t have to train me. He even referred to my successful history, as I’d always won sales contests before. You know?”

  “Well, that sounds good.” Natasha nodded.

  Paige raised her eyebrow and shook her head. “He was all talk and no action. He told me whatever I wanted to hear and said he planned on hiring me, but he needed one more managers approval. I guess they had a few more people they had to interview.”

  “Okay?”

  “Turns out after he talked about how much he’d love to bring me on to his team they end up hiring a recent college graduate named Candi. She’s young and completely inexperienced, but looks good in a short skirt.”

  “Whoa. Really?” Natasha pouted. “Bummer. How’d you find out?”

  “Maya knows someone that works there. What’s worse is when I finally got in touch with Graham, he lied about it. He said they hired someone from within, who had the digital experience they required for the position.”

  “I’m sorry,” she offered.


  “It’s okay. It obviously wasn’t the right fit for me, but I can’t shake the feeling that boiled down to my age.”

  “So, now what?”

  “I don’t know. Maya has this friend, who works at some new restaurant. She said they needed help. I called her on the way home this afternoon after striking out with yet another interview. She said I could start next week.”

  “Poppie? Maya’s friend, Poppie?”

  Paige blinked, wondering if Natasha was listening. “That’s what I just said.”

  Natasha covered her smile. “I just wanted to make sure. Did either of them tell you about this restaurant, where you’d be working?”

  Paige’s heart skipped a beat. She wondered what she’d gotten herself into. She wrinkled her nose and said, “She said it was a restaurant, just outside town.”

  “Yeah, I know the place. It’s called ‘Tight Ends’ and it’s in a new shopping center, near Woodbridge.” Natasha laughed at the mortified look on her friend’s face.

  Paige groaned and waved her hands. “Nuh, uh. No way. What did my sister do to me?”

  “Stand up.” Natasha nodded.

  “What?” Paige narrowed her eyes.

  “Do it! And turn around.” Natasha giggled, as Paige apprehensively stood up and turned. “Okay, you’ll do just fine.”

  “What does that mean?” The look on Paige’s face was full of horror, as she spun back to sit across from her.

  Natasha laughed. “You’ll see.”

  Chapter 7

  Nick Granger rolled up his sweatpants in preparation for his appointment and grinned when his buddy came in wearing a polo and pressed khakis.

  “You clean up good, Sam.” Nick teased from the therapy table.

  Sam chuckled, put Nick’s chart on the counter, and grabbed for the electrical leads.

  “Be careful or I’ll turn these things up to full capacity.”

  “What?” Nick laughed. “I was being honest. It just throws me for a loop when I see you at work when the Sam I know prefers shorts and a tank top.” Nick looked around the physical therapy office, where Sam had been treating Nick for his injured knee for almost a year. “It’s so official looking.”

  “Life changes ... It took me a while to get used to you on national television, in the big game. It was even more surreal when I got the chance to see you play.”

  “You came to my games?” Nick’s eyes went wide. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I could have given you tickets down near my family.”

  Sam waved him off. “Nah. It was more exciting with the fans. That way if you screwed up, I wasn’t harassed for coming to see you.” He laughed and placed the leads on Nick’s leg.

  Nick gave him a look but said nothing. He just smiled, knowing how lucky he was that Sam was still his friend after all these years.

  “Lift your knee.” Sam placed a round pillow underneath for support, and then turned the dial up on the machine before asking, “Is this strong enough, or do you think you go up some?”

  Nick nodded his head.

  “Tell me when the electric pulses become too much.” Sam continued to dial it up until Nick lifted his hand.

  “Thanks.”

  “No problem. It’s what I do.” Sam smiled and lifted the patient chart from his counter.

  “No, I mean thanks for everything. When I moved back here, after the divorce. I was a mess. You were there for Katie and me.”

  Sam wondered if this was his chance to bring up his sister’s arrival to town. He’d seen so much healing within his friend over the last six months and wasn’t sure if he’d be open to a friendly suggestion.

  “Like I said,” Sam paused. “It’s what I do. Apparently it’s what I do a lot.”

  “Hey, man – I’m sorry. If I’ve taken too much of your time. I know you have your own family.” Nick instantly felt bad for the way he’d imposed on his friend since moving back.

  Sam sat across from him and patted his arm. “No, it’s not you I’m referring to. My sister is recently divorced, and has moved back to town.”

  Nick’s heart skipped a beat when he heard the news.

  “Paige is back?” His throat went dry.

  “Yup.” Sam pursed his lips to keep from smiling, as he entered some notes on his computer. “I’ve been helping her move in and get adjusted to life back home.”

  Nick spaced for a minute, thinking about the crush most of the guys had on her – himself included. With her fiery red hair and spirit to match, she stood out from all the others, but since she was Sam’s kid sister, no one dared approach her. He wondered if that rule still applied or if

  enough time had passed that Sam would allow Paige to live her own life. He blinked and wondered how to approach the subject without being obvious.

  “How long has she been divorced?” He asked casually. “Didn’t she marry that guy on the golf team, the one who thought he was better than everyone else?”

  Seeing his friend’s peaked interest, he slowly turned his back to him and pretended to look through his file while he secretly grinned out of view.

  “Yup, she did. So, tell me about your workout today. How tired did you feel afterward?”

  Nick lifted his hand with a dismissive wave. “I felt just fine. So how long has she been back in town?”

  Sam contained the smile that was pulling at the corners of his mouth. He cleared his throat and composed himself before spinning his stool back around to face his friend.

  “Only a few weeks. She’s been searching for a job. The bastard left her with nothing, so she’s starting over.”

  Nick’s gut churned, as a mixture of pity and anger spread through. She was always a nice girl. The Knight family was known for their compassion. From what he knew of Paige, she strived hard to make things work in her life. She always excelled in school and imagined it would be the same for her marriage.

  “That’s too bad. Is she doing okay?” Nick’s heart went out to her.

  “Yeah, I think she’s turned a corner after the shock of it all wore off. She even found a part-time job.” Sam waited.

  “Oh yeah?”

  Sam held back from saying anything further until he heard what he’d been hoping for.

  Nick raised his eyebrows, and carefully asked, “Where’s she working?”

  Sam knowingly smiled as the wheels were put in motion. “Over at that new shopping complex, at Tight Ends.”

  “I know that place. The owner approached me to do an appearance.” Nick paused. “That reminds me. I need to get back to him to set something up.”

  “Yeah, that sounds fun.” Sam nodded casually. “Listen, I’ve got to check on another patient. Take care and be careful with that knee.”

  “Sure thing. See you around, Sam.” Nick lifted his hand as he watched his friend leave.

  As Sam stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind him, he pumped his fist, and softly said, “Yes!”

  He practically handed him a gift-wrapped box and told him to open it. Now the rest was up to his sister to see what Nick could find inside. He just hoped she’d be open to a chance with a nice guy this time around.

  Chapter 8

  Paige timidly stepped from the employee bathroom and cringed at her reflection in the glass that separated her and the manager’s office.

  “Aw, come on. It’s not so bad. It’s not like you work at Hooters. Everything is almost covered up.” Her new co-worker, Poppie, giggled at her face. “You look good!” She said, admiring Paige’s body in her new uniform.

  Paige raised an eyebrow. Maybe Poppie was right. It wasn’t too revealing. The only thing showing was her belly button and a little bit of cleavage.

  She turned back to the bathroom and faced the mirror. From the waist up she loved what she saw. She had on a form fitted female version of an athletic jersey. She felt sporty and sexy all at once, which was a combination she wasn’t used to. It was the lower portion of her uniform that had her doing double takes, which was probably the point.
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  “They’re so tight. You can almost see through these things.” Paige twisted around to glance at her backside in the mirror. “I’m just glad I lost weight with the divorce!”

  Poppie laughed. “They’re like football or baseball pants … but a bit tighter.” She stood from the wooden bench, which was a duplicate of what you might find in an athletic locker room, and nodded toward Paige. “Come on, lock up your personal things. You’d better be light on your feet, or Linley will come after us. Trust me – you don’t want that.”

  Paige’s eyes went wide in reference to her new boss, who seemed like a combination of a gladiator and a primadonna. She had a very small but firm frame and tried a bit too hard with her hair and makeup. She wasn’t someone Paige would think of as warm or gracious. Everything about the woman screamed, ‘I’m the boss’ and the last thing Paige wanted to do was get on her bad side.

  Paige tilted her head and grabbed for her purse and street clothes to push them in an empty locker.

  “Here.” Poppie tossed a lock to her. “The combination is on the back. Memorize it, peel it off, and throw it away.”

  Paige promptly studied the combination and locked it all away. She thought it was neat that they provided a break room in the back for the employees, especially one that looked like an authentic athletic locker room. It was a small, cramped space, but it gave the employees a secure place to call their own.

  Poppie watched Paige eyeing the room, and explained. “Most restaurants don’t invest in space toward the back of the house, but the owner was gracious to understand that if we stay happy – we’ll keep his customers happy.”

  “So is this a chain restaurant? I’ve never heard of it before?”

  “No.” Poppie explained further, “Moe is a local sports fanatic, who won a bunch of money in the lottery. He invested it in his passions: food, women, and sports. He even has some local celebrity out today for a ribbon cutting ceremony. Some guy who used to be a football player in D.C., but lives nearby now that he’s retired. Since we’ve only been open for a few weeks, it was something Moe felt would draw a crowd.”