One More Last Chance

by Cathleen Armstrong

  “I can see that.” She put the check on the table and picked up the empty plates. “Well, I hope you all come back soon, and try to be hungry next time, you hear?”

  “Well, that’s embarrassing.” Sarah slipped her jacket over her shoulders and headed for the door with Chris’s hand gently resting in the small of her back. “Even the staff is commenting on what a pig I made of myself.”

  “No greater compliment than having someone scrape the design off the plate. And I speak as a professional.” Chris took her jacket off her shoulders and held it so she could slip her arms into the sleeves.

  She shivered when they went back into the mountain night, and he put his arm around her and held her close. “I’ll get the heater on and we’ll be warm in no time.”

  The ride back home seemed so much shorter than the ride to Papa’s, and the conversation was even easier. Sarah watched Chris’s profile, gently lit by the lights from the dashboard. She was glad they could be friends. She still had no idea what the final outcome with Brandon would be, but she had promised to see that through, and she intended to do just that. She hoped that didn’t mean giving up this new friendship. Brandon had seemed to think that’s exactly what it meant, but Sarah was sure once he knew Chris, he’d have to like him too. After all, what was there not to like?

  As if he could feel her looking at him, Chris glanced over. He grinned. “What are you thinking?”

  “Oh, lots of things. I was thinking that life can get so complicated when all you want is simple. I was thinking that someone a long time ago took a branding iron from the ranch and burned our brand into the wall, and I was trying to picture that night. And I was thinking that my jeans are about to cut me in two, and if you will kindly keep your eyes forward, I’m going to unsnap them so I can breathe.”

  A little later, when they stood on Sarah’s front porch, she found that she wasn’t quite ready for the evening to end.

  “Can you come in for a cup of coffee?” She smiled up at him. “I’ve got pie.”

  Chris shook his head. “It’s getting late, and I need to go rescue your grandma. Maybe next time.”

  “Gran’s a real night owl. She’s never in bed before midnight.” Chris’s comment about “next time” had not gone unnoticed. “Why don’t we get the pie and take it down to her house? I can’t wait to tell her about Papa’s and the brand.”

  Despite everything Sarah thought of to prolong it, the evening had finally come to a close. Chris lifted a pajama-clad Olivia from the bed in Elizabeth’s guest room and draped her over his shoulder.

  “You know, it would be the easiest thing in the world to just let her sleep.” Elizabeth took the purple and lavender afghan from the back of the sofa and handed it to him to drape around Olivia. “I could give her some breakfast and she could ride to school with Sarah.”

  “I need to get her home.” Chris smiled down at Elizabeth over his purple and lavender bundle. “But I can’t thank you enough for letting her come over tonight. I think she was more excited than I was, and that’s saying something.” He winked at Sarah.

  Sarah walked with him back down the street to his Jeep and stood next to the car while he propped Olivia up in a corner of the backseat and fastened the seat belt around her. When he straightened up and turned to her, she knew he was going to kiss her. She could read it in his eyes.

  “No, Chris.” She placed her hands on his chest when he took her in his arms. “I can’t. You know that.”

  He took a deep breath, and she watched his face change. “Yeah, that was the deal, wasn’t it? Sorry if I stepped out of line.”

  “No, listen.” She couldn’t let him leave thinking even one thing had gone wrong with the evening. “This was the nicest time I’ve had since I don’t know when. I loved every minute of it. Really. I hope we can do this again.”

  “Sure. I’ll give you a call.”

  Chris had changed. Sarah saw it in an instant. He waited by his car door until she reached her porch, and when she stopped to give him a last wave, he waved back and then drove away.

  Not knowing whether she should be mad at herself, or Brandon, or even Chris, Sarah let herself in the front door. She just knew that what had started out as the world’s most perfect evening had somehow gone south. Fishing her silenced phone out of her bag, she saw there were three missed calls and two messages, all from Brandon, and the first had come in at about 9:30.

  “Nine-thirty, Brandon? For crying out loud.” She carried the phone back to her room with her and tossed it on the bed. “You can just wait till tomorrow. It’s late.”

  She heard the phone while she was brushing her teeth, and by the time she got back to her room, it had gone to voice mail. That would make message number three. She had a feeling that those messages would just keep coming all night till she took a call, so she stabbed at her phone with one finger and waited.

  “Where are you?” Sarah couldn’t tell if Brandon sounded mad or just worried.

  “Right here, Brandon, at home. And it’s past midnight. Why are we talking?”

  “You said you’d call when you got home.”

  “No, I don’t think I did.”

  There was a long pause, and Sarah was just about to say good night when Brandon spoke up again. He seemed to have decided to drop the attack.

  “So, did you have a good time?”

  “I had a great time. We ate at this little steak place up in the mountains that I didn’t even know was there.”

  “Tell me about it.” Brandon’s cheerful interest sounded forced and also plain weird for 12:30 in the morning, actually 1:30 his time.

  “Another time. I have school tomorrow and I need to get to sleep.”

  “Shall I call you tomorrow night?”

  “Yes, do. I think we have a lot to talk about.”

  There was another long pause. “Okay. Sleep well, and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  Sarah had turned off the light and snuggled under the covers when her phone signaled an incoming text. As she groped for the phone and turned it over, the glow of the tiny screen lit the room. “DFILY.” Don’t forget I love you.

  When Chris saw Sarah wave good-bye and go inside, he would have kicked himself if he could have managed to do that and drive too.

  You couldn’t leave a perfect evening alone, could you, Reed? She laid all her cards on the table before she even said she’d go out with you, and you agreed to it. Then you had to go and ruin everything.

  He tried to picture this Brandon she was trying to work things out with. Smooth and sophisticated, no doubt. Made for the city. A man with a brilliant career and a bright future, and ready to lay it all at her feet.

  A loud snort from the backseat drew his eyes to the rearview mirror. Olivia was slumped in the corner with her head thrown back, mouth hanging open, and a trickle of drool finding its way down her chin.

  And what did Chris have to offer? A diner that made its way from month to precarious month while consuming his every waking hour and, at least for the time being, a wounded little girl who owned his heart and beat people up on the playground.

  Some contest. He parked in the carport next to the yellow-and-white singlewide and opened the back door of his Jeep to carry Olivia inside.

  22

  Sarah kicked off her shoes at the door when she got home Monday afternoon and went to put the kettle on for tea. Sometime between now and the time she went to bed, Brandon would call, and she needed to think about what she was going to say to him. It would be so helpful to have someone to talk to, but her options in Last Chance were pretty slim. Chris was a great listener but hardly the right person for this conversation. She liked Megan, but Megan always did a whole lot more talking than listening. And then there was Gran—warm, wise, never judgmental . . . and her grandmother, for crying out loud. Who went to their grandmother for advice about men?

  Me, I guess. Sarah sighed and dug for her phone.

  “Hey, Gran.” She tried to make her voice light and casual. Gran cou
ld spot a problem at a quarter mile. “Say, I thought I might come over after dinner for a little while, if it’s okay with you. Maybe have some more of that pie, if you and Olivia haven’t finished it off.”

  “Sure, honey. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong.” She laughed lightly. She tossed her hair too, for effect, but of course Gran couldn’t see that. “I just wanted to come over for a bit.”

  “You can come right now if you want. Olivia’s busy with her homework, but we can go out on the porch if you need some privacy.”

  “Gran, I don’t need privacy.” Well, yes I do. Olivia’s the last one I’d want to overhear me, which is why I’m not coming till after she goes home. “I just want to visit. Now that school is taking up so much of my time and Olivia is taking up so much of yours, I don’t get to see you as much as I’d like.”

  Sarah was starting to feel uncomfortable. What had begun as hedging was turning into outright fibbing, and fibbing to Gran had never been a good idea.

  But Gran was ready to let her off the hook. “Okay, dear. I’ll save you a piece of pie and see you after dinner. We’ll have us a talk.”

  After scrounging around in her refrigerator for something to call dinner and eating it while leaning against the counter, Sarah walked down the street. Gran was in her recliner watching one of her old detective reruns and crocheting. She smiled when Sarah came in.

  “Hello, sweet girl. I’ve been waiting for you.”

  Sarah collapsed onto the sofa. “Oh, Gran, things are in such a mess.”

  Elizabeth rested her hands on the afghan in her lap. “Cut that television off for me, will you, darlin’? And then why don’t you tell me what’s in such a mess. I bet we can get something figured out.”

  Sarah did as she was asked and then plopped back on the sofa. She tucked her bare feet up under her and blew a gusty sigh. “I had such a good time last night.”

  Elizabeth just nodded.

  “We just went as friends, of course.” Sarah stroked Sam, who had jumped up next to her when she sat down. “But I think Chris would like for there to be something more.”

  “And what do you want?”

  “That’s just it. I don’t know. I mean, I told you that when Brandon came over that time, I promised him I’d give things another try, just taking it a day at a time. I’m going to go see him Thanksgiving.” She shot a quick look at her grandmother. “Don’t worry, Gran. I’m staying in a hotel.”

  “It never occurred to me that you’d do otherwise.”

  “But now,” Sarah went on, “I don’t know what to do. Chris is such a great guy, and I have such a good time with him. I think I want to see where things go with him too.”

  “Do both men know about each other?”

  Sarah nodded, feeling miserable.

  “And what do they think?”

  “Well, Chris accepts that I’ve made a commitment of sorts to Brandon, and he says he’s willing to just go out as friends. But Brandon hates that I went to dinner with Chris last night. He called five or six times before I got home, and we sort of argued about that. He’s going to call again tonight so we can talk things over some more. And really, Gran, I’m about ready to tell him I don’t think we have any future together and he should stop calling.”

  The silence in the room grew until Sarah broke it. “So what do I do, Gran?”

  Elizabeth picked up her crocheting again. “Well, you didn’t ask who I thought was the better man for you, so I’m not going to say anything about that. But as for the predicament you did mention, as I see it there are several different issues. First, you made a commitment to Brandon. I’m not saying it’s carved in stone, but the first thing you need to decide is what you’re going to do about it. If you’re sure Brandon’s not the man God has for you, then tell him so plainly and let him get on with his life while you get on with yours.”

  “But that’s just it, Gran. He might be the one. I’m just not sure yet.”

  “Well then, find out. Talk on the phone, write letters, go see him, and encourage him to come spend time with your family. Do a lot of praying on it. You thought he was the one at one point. And if you find his faith is real and not just a given like you said, maybe he is.”

  “But what about Chris?”

  Elizabeth sat back and looked at her. “Honey, I just don’t see how you can have it both ways. Brandon wants to marry you, and you have given him reason to think that might happen someday. So going around with Chris and pretending to yourself he’s just a friend isn’t right. It’s not fair to Chris, and it’s not fair to Brandon, and it’s sure not fair to you. It’s just tearing you up. So here’s my advice, for what it’s worth: go ahead and talk to Brandon tonight. If you decide to continue with him, then give it everything you’ve got until you know. That’s the only honorable thing you can do. And that means no more dates with Chris Reed until you’ve decided one way or the other. If you decide to end things once and for all with Brandon, why, I can’t think of a finer man to spend time with than Chris. Oh, shoot, I said I wasn’t going to tell you which man I favored, and then I went and did it.”

  “Don’t worry, Gran.” Sarah’s smile was sad. “It didn’t come as a complete surprise.”

  Elizabeth went back to her crocheting. Sam laid a paw on Sarah’s leg and hooked a claw in her jeans to remind her of her petting duties. After rubbing under his chin and scratching his ears for a few silent minutes, Sarah sighed again and got to her feet. “I just wish life didn’t have to be so complicated.”

  Elizabeth just shook her head. “Well, it is, darlin’. And there you have it.”

  Sarah leaned over her grandmother’s recliner and kissed the cheek Elizabeth turned up to her. “I think I’ll go on home. I need to do a lot of thinking before I talk to Brandon.”

  “Don’t you want any pie?”

  “No, I guess not. I’m just not in the mood for pie.”

  “Okay then, sweetie. Just be sure to spend some of that thinking time praying.”

  “I will.”

  “And don’t forget, I’m right here if you need me.”

  Sarah stopped with her hand on the door latch and smiled at her grandmother. “You always are.”

  “Are we having macaroni and cheese for dinner?” Olivia wandered into the kitchen and leaned against the counter.

  “Nope.” Chris didn’t look up from his cutting board.

  “Awww. Why?”

  “You know our rule. Macaroni and cheese once a week, and it’s not due till Thursday.”

  “Mom let me have it any time I wanted it. Every night, even.”

  “Yeah, well . . .” Chris let his thought fade away without finishing it. “Why don’t you set the table for us? Dinner will be ready in a minute.”

  “I want to eat on the coffee table and watch television.”

  “What’s with you tonight, Livvy? We eat at the table, you know that.” He turned toward the refrigerator and waited an instant for Olivia to move out of his way. She just stood there, looking at the floor.

  “Livvy? Something wrong?” She sniffed, and Chris saw her shoulders heave. He squatted on his heels and waited for her to look at him. “What is it, honey?”

  Her eyes were squeezed shut against tears that were finding their way out anyway, and her face was a mask of misery. At his touch, the floodgates opened. “I miss my mom.”

  Chris drew her into his arms and held her while she buried her face in his shirt and sobbed. After a couple minutes, he became aware that he was either going to have to stand up or going to fall over, so he picked her up and they moved to the sofa. Olivia hardly ever cried, and when she did, it never lasted, so it wasn’t long before she was resting quietly against his chest, sniffing. Chris handed her a tissue.

  It was the most natural thing in the world that a little girl would want her mother, and Olivia’s stay with him had never been intended to be permanent. In fact, when Kaitlyn first took off, he’d found the arrangement to be inconvenient at best, as much as
he loved Olivia, and heading downhill from there. But the two of them had done just fine, hadn’t they? There had been a few rough spots, sure, most notably the fight at school, but things were looking up. She was doing better in school, loving her riding lessons, even making friends. She was happy, or least Chris had thought she was.

  He leaned his head back against the sofa. What do you know anyway, Reed? In less than twenty-four hours, you’ve managed to get both Sarah and Livvy heading for the hills. The only thing you haven’t fouled up is the diner, but give it time. There’s always tomorrow. He straightened up and shook his head to clear it. But you are pretty good at feeing sorry for yourself, I’ll give you that.

  Olivia looked up at him to see what was going on, and he gave a straggly lock of her hair a little tug. “So you think we need to tell your mom it’s time for her to come home?”

  She nodded.

  “Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. Just this once, we’re going to have our dinner on the coffee table and watch television. But you need to set it with place mats and everything.”

  “And have macaroni and cheese?”

  “No. Don’t push it, kid. And then, after dinner, we’ll try to call your mom. But you have to remember that she’s already told us she’s not coming back till spring. So she’ll very likely say no. Got that?”

  “Yep.” Olivia jumped off his lap and ran for the place mats, as if hurrying dinner would hurry her mom’s return.

  Chris watched her go. He realized he hated the thought that Kaitlyn was going to return and take Olivia back home to Scottsdale. Kaitlyn was immature, selfish, and careless, but she did love her daughter, in her way, and would eventually want her with her. He didn’t want to think about what that would mean for Olivia, both in the near and distant future. And if he were honest, he didn’t want to think about what that would mean to him either.

  When her phone rang at 11:00, Sarah was ready. She had thought, considering the way they left things the night before, that he might call earlier, but Brandon was not a random kind of guy. He called at 11:00.