Fair Chances (Fairshore Series Book 3)

by Christina Butrum

  “It’s not that I don’t want her to help with the wedding,” Bailey explained. “She’s going through a hard time financially and is in a rut. It’d stress her out to know she couldn’t afford to help with my wedding, so I’m letting Benny’s mom handle it.”

  Amelia felt a ping of guilt as she thought of how her mother would feel once she found out she had been left out of everything. “You’re going to have to explain why you left her out,” Amelia told Bailey. “It’s going to hurt her.”

  Bailey hesitated before she responded to Amelia’s statement. “Amelia, you know I don’t want to do that, but what choice do I have?”

  Amelia peeked around the corner of the doorway at Zach. He flipped through another magazine he had found on the table next to her pile of junk mail. “Just be honest with her. Go over to her house and explain how you feel and the circumstances.”

  Bailey chuckled.

  “What are you laughing about?” Amelia questioned her.

  “Since when did you start giving me advice?” Bailey asked with a chuckle. “Usually it’s the other way around.”

  “Well, I guess I’m getting pretty good at it lately, ain’t I?” Amelia asked. “So…are you agreeing with me?”

  “That you’re getting good at giving advice to others?” Bailey asked. She laughed and said, “Yes, I agree with the advice you gave me. I’ll give my mom a call after ‘while and talk to her about it.”

  “Maybe instead of calling, you should go to her house and sit down and talk about it.”

  Bailey chuckled and said, “Okay, now you’re getting carried away with this advice stuff.”

  “Is there anything that I can do for your wedding?” Amelia asked. She did not want to ask Bailey flat out, but she needed to know.

  “I’ll be in touch,” Bailey stated. “I’m sure there’s something that you could do.”

  “Okay, sounds good,” Amelia confirmed.

  “Hey, while I have you on the phone,” Bailey said. “I need addresses to people you want to invite to your baby shower.”

  Amelia looked at the counter where her notepad sat in front of her. She flipped through it until she found the page with the list of who she wanted to invite. The list was incomplete.

  “Can I get back to you with that?” Amelia asked. “I have a list started, but it isn’t done yet. I promise I’ll work on it tonight and get a completed list to you soon.”

  “Okay, I can handle that,” Bailey stated. “I’ll need the list by the end of next week for sure.”

  “I can do that,” Amelia promised. “While I think about your wedding and how not to go into labor while attending it.”

  Bailey let out a loud, dramatic laugh. “Amelia, I’m telling you, you have nothing to worry about. Let’s take it one day at a time.”

  “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you if my water breaks when you’re saying your vows.”

  Bailey chuckled and said, “I’ll talk to you again soon. Take it easy and don’t worry so much.”

  “I’ll try, but I can’t promise anything,” Amelia said with a huge smile on her face.

  She hung up the phone and walked to the table. Zach looked up and flipped the magazine shut. “What’d you find out? Anything interesting?”

  Amelia shook her head. “You’re the only man I know who reads womanly magazines.”

  Zach shrugged. He reached out and grabbed her arm. He tugged her close to him. She landed in his lap. “What did Bailey have to say?”

  “Not a lot actually,” Amelia explained. “But she did say she’s not changing the wedding date and told me not to worry about anything.”

  “That’s good that she told you not to worry,” Zach said as he massaged her shoulders. “You have enough to worry about.”

  “Like going into labor at my best friend’s wedding?” Amelia asked and stood up. She grabbed a chair and sat down next to him.

  Zach shook his head and ignored her question. “What was it that we needed to discuss?”

  Amelia grabbed her other notepad from under the pile of junk mail and flipped it open.

  “What in the world is this?” Zach asked. He picked up the notepad and studied it. Amelia watched him as he read through the whole page before he put it down on the table.

  He looked down at what she had written and looked up at her. She sat quietly while he deciphered and analyzed what she had written.

  “Amelia, when did you write all of this?” Zach asked as he pointed to the paper.

  Amelia shrugged. “The last couple of weeks.”

  Zach’s jaw dropped and he said, “Wow.”

  “What? I’ve had plenty of time on my hands lately,” Amelia stated. She looked at the list of things she had written down. The list included every detail of her five year plan. The list started with the birth of their little girl and ended with buying a bigger house to raise their children. “It’s too much?”

  Zach was in shock. “I’m amazed you have thought about all of this.”

  She watched him as he reread her plans for them.

  He pointed to the paper and asked, “This is really what you want in five years?”

  Amelia shrugged her shoulders. “Is it too much?”

  Zach ran a hand through his hair. He shook his head and grinned. He was speechless. Amelia watched him struggle for the right words to say.

  “Maybe I shouldn’t have shown you?” Amelia mumbled. “Too much too soon.”

  Zach sat back and held his hands in front of him. Amelia watched as the smile on his face grew wider. He stammered and struggled through his words, “I just…I can’t believe…”

  Amelia encouraged him to say what he thought, “Just spit it out.”

  Zach tipped his head back against the chair. He ran a hand through his fine blond hair. He sat up straight and looked into her eyes. “I’m not used to this. I’m at a complete loss of words to say right now.”

  Amelia nodded. “I can tell.”

  Zach picked up the notepad and plopped it on the table. He grinned and explained to her, “I’ve never had anyone, and I mean anyone, ever take the time to sit and figure out what they wanted from me.”

  Amelia shrugged. A part of her was embarrassed and the other part of her was ecstatic she had been the first to do this with him. She smiled as she waited patiently for him to tell her what his thoughts were.

  He clasped his hands together in front of him. She realized he was as nervous as she had been when she had first thought of sharing the plan with him. He looked up at her and she could see the excitement as it radiated from him.

  “Tell me what you’re thinking,” Amelia demanded.

  He poked a finger into his chest. “What I’m thinking?”

  Amelia nodded.

  He grabbed the notepad and scanned it with his eyes. “I think everything sounds great,” he stated. “But, I do have just one question.”

  Amelia’s eyes widened. “What’s your question?”

  He leaned forward and smirked. “Just how many kids are you really wanting to have?”

  Amelia’s heart pitter-pattered and sweat beaded on her forehead. She wondered what answer he was looking for. What if I give him the wrong answer? What if he doesn’t agree with my answer? She sat up straight in her chair and relaxed into it. She smiled wide and said, “As many kids as you want to have.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Amelia woke to the phone as it rang. She stumbled through the house to answer it.

  “Hello?”

  “Amelia,” her mother’s voice answered.

  “Hi, Mom,” Amelia greeted. “How are things going?”

  “Your father’s doing better,” her mother said.

  Amelia was relieved to hear the good news about her father. She had worried about him for the last week. She had waited for her parents to call her. She and Zach had waited a couple of weeks for her parents to respond with an answer to Zach’s plan. Amelia wondered whether her mother would be able to answer that question now or not.r />
  “The doctor said he’s recovering fine, but he still doesn’t want him to go back to work,” her mother informed her. “There’s a high chance your father will return to work at the grain elevator, just not right now.”

  Amelia swallowed hard. She had anticipated her parents moving to Fairshore. She had expected them to say they would. Now she was worried if she had expected it a bit too soon.

  “Okay,” Amelia said. Her voice was soft and almost a whisper.

  “I’ve talked with your father about your plan,” her mother stated.

  Amelia’s gut knotted and twisted with nerves. She was nervous to hear what her parents had decided to do.

  “After a long discussion, and I mean a long one,” her mother stated. “We’ve decided we’ll move to Fairshore.”

  Amelia gasped. She covered her mouth. “Mom, are you serious? Dad is agreeing to move here?”

  Her mother choked on emotion and said, “Yes, we’re going to put our house on the market and try our hardest to sell it.”

  “That shouldn’t be too hard. It should sell in no time,” Amelia stated. She could not contain her excitement. She bounced on the balls of her feet. She could not wait to tell Zach the news. “I’m sure there are a lot of people who would love your house.”

  Her mother was silent. Amelia wondered if her parents would have any doubts before they moved to Fairshore.

  “Are you sure it’s what both of you want to do?” Amelia asked her mother.

  “Yes,” her mother stated. “We discussed it for hours and hours the other night.”

  “I’m so excited, Mom!” Amelia shrieked. “I’m pretty sure you’ll both love it here!”

  “I’m not so sure your father will ever get used to not living on the farm.”

  “It’s going to take time,” Amelia said. “I’m sure he’s going to miss it. But hopefully not for long.”

  Amelia thought about Anna’s estate. She wondered if Zach would allow her parents to move into it. Either way, she would be thrilled to have her parents live close to her. She made a note to discuss the possibilities with Zach later when he would be home from work.

  “I mentioned watching the baby for you and Zach while you both are working,” her mother said. “Would that be okay?”

  “Mom, that would be great!” Amelia said. The thought of her mother babysitting their little girl made her happy and relaxed. “Now I don’t have to worry about who I’ll get to watch her.”

  “I’ll be glad to help out wherever I can,” her mother stated. “One thing I’m sure of is I don’t want him going back to work at the grain elevator. I’m not sure I could stomach that. Knowing what happened to him could eventually happen again.”

  “I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that,” Amelia said.

  “Why do you say that, dear?”

  “Zach mentioned having Dad help out at the furniture store.”

  “That would be great, Amelia!” her mother said. “I’m sure your father would enjoy that.”

  * * *

  “You’re not going to believe what I’m about to tell you,” Amelia told Zach as he walked in the front door.

  He shrugged out of his jacket and hung it on the hook next to the door. He slipped off his shoes and left them on the rug in the entryway. He kissed Amelia on the forehead and walked past her. He grabbed the newspaper from the table and sat down on the couch. He opened the paper and asked, “What is it that I won’t believe?”

  Amelia sat down next to him and pulled the paper out of his hands. She folded it neatly and set it on the table. “You can look at this after ‘while. We need to discuss some things first.”

  Zach raised an eyebrow and gave her his undivided attention. He nodded to encourage her to tell him what she needed to.

  On his cue, she told him, “My parents have decided to move to Fairshore.”

  Zach’s face lit up and his smile widened. “Are you serious? They’re really moving here?”

  Amelia clapped her hands and nodded. The smile on her face was so wide, the muscles in her face were sore.

  “I’ll be damned,” Zach said. “Amelia, that’s great!”

  “My mom isn’t sure how my father will take to not living on the farm, though,” Amelia explained to Zach. “She’s not sure of a lot of things. But she told me they have discussed moving to Fairshore and have both agreed on moving.”

  Amelia looked at Zach. She could tell he was in deep thought. After a minute he said, “Maybe we can give them the option.”

  Amelia raised an eyebrow. “What option?”

  Zach leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees. “Maybe we could allow them to see both houses and let them decide which house they would like to move into.”

  Amelia smiled. The idea sounded perfect. Her parents would love to be able to choose their next house. She was sure her mother would choose Bailey’s old house across the street, but her father might choose Anna’s estate since it was on acreage. Her parents’ house was similar to Anna’s if they were to compare them side by side. Amelia nodded and said, “I think that’s a good idea. I’m not sure which one they’ll pick, but it’ll be interesting to find out.”

  “I’ll get my grandma’s property information for them as soon as I can,” Zach stated. “Did your mom mention when they would like to make the move?”

  Amelia shook her head. “No, she didn’t. I don’t think they have discussed it or planned that far ahead.”

  Zach nodded. “I’ll run into town quick to Sandy’s office. She’ll be able to give me details on both houses,” Zach stated as he stood from the couch. “Either way, your parents won’t have anything to worry about. We’ll take care of their expenses for their move.”

  Amelia nodded. She loved how caring Zach was. Her parents were his parents – he had already told her that. She had learned to sit back and allow Zach to do what he had planned. His plans seemed to always work – with care and without flaw. Something like her life had become since the day she had met him.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “You’re invited,” Amelia read aloud. “Benjamin Madsen and Bailey Thomas along with their parents would like to invite you and yours to celebrate their wedding at two thirty at the Olive Grove in Bexley on Saturday, February twenty sixth. RSVP by the end of January using the enclosed card.”

  Amelia set the card on the table and looked at Zach. Zach had just stuffed a bite of breakfast pancakes into his mouth. “What?” Zach attempted to ask as pancake fluffed from his mouth.

  Amelia shook her head. She pushed her chair back from the table and stood up. She walked to the calendar. “I can’t believe they rescheduled their wedding date.”

  Zach stretched his arms above his head. He scooted his chair away from the table. “They probably needed more time to plan it.”

  Amelia’s gut knotted. She felt sick to her stomach with worry. “I hope they didn’t move the date up because of me.”

  Zach shook his head. “Why would they do that? What could it possibly have to do with you?”

  Amelia explained, “I had told Bailey when she had called to announce her wedding day that I did not want to go into labor at her wedding.”

  Zach was confused. He seemed to be in his own world. “Okay, so…”

  Amelia mumbled under her breath, “Men.” She grabbed the calendar off the wall and sat down at the table. She took a pen and crossed off the writing on the square for October twenty sixth.

  “I’m sorry I don’t understand,” Zach said. “I mean, I understand that her old wedding date was two days before our due date for the baby, but what I don’t understand is why she would change the date because of that.”

  Amelia shrugged her shoulders. “Either something came up or she’s one of those friends that do everything they can to make things perfect for everyone, including rescheduling her wedding day.”

  Amelia frowned and picked up the phone. Zach walked into the kitchen with his breakfast dishes and placed them into the sink. �
��You’re not going to call her, are you?”

  Amelia hung up the phone before she could dial Bailey’s phone number. She furrowed her eyebrows. “I was going to call Bailey, yes. You don’t think I should?”

  Zach shrugged. “It’s up to you if you want to call her or not.”

  Zach walked into the other room. Amelia followed him with her eyes. She had no idea why he had acted so uninformed with everything. She picked up the phone again and dialed Bailey’s phone number.

  “Hello?” Benny answered the phone. His deep voice boomed through the other end of the phone.

  “Hey, Benny, is Bailey there?” Amelia asked.

  “Bailey, it’s for you,” Benny said into the background. “It’s Amelia.”

  Amelia smiled when she heard Bailey shriek in the background. She was excited to talk to Bailey. It seemed to be forever and a day since they had last talked on the phone, even though it had not been that long ago.

  “Amelia?!” Bailey said when she grabbed the phone from Benny.

  “Hey, Bai!” Amelia reciprocated the excitement back at Bailey.

  “What’s new?” Bailey asked.

  Amelia wondered where she should start. She decided to tell her the big news first. “My parents have decided they’ll be moving to Fairshore.”

  “Really? Amelia, that’s awesome!” Bailey stated.

  “I couldn’t believe it when my mom told me,” Amelia said. “Zach mentioned giving them the choice between your old house and Anna’s house.”

  “They would love either house,” Bailey insisted. “Anna’s house would be perfect for them if your father still wants acreage.”

  “That’s exactly what I told Zach. I told Zach that given the choice, my mom will want your old house and my dad will probably want Anna’s,” Amelia explained. “Either way, Zach’s fine with whichever one they choose.”

  “Is he going to buy my old house for them if they choose to move in there?” Bailey asked.