Second Chance Draft: A Second Chance Sports Romance (Pass To Win Book 6)

by Roxy Sinclaire

  “Oh,” I said. “You know, it was a long flight. I think I’m just going to lie down for a while, if that’s okay.”

  “Are you sure, dear? I would love to spend some time with you,” Theresa said.

  I smiled at her. “I promise we’ll have lots of time for that this week. You know how bad jetlag can get though.”

  She nodded. “Well, I think Amy and I will go out and see what adventures we can get ourselves into.”

  “I’ll come with you guys and give her some time to sleep in peace,” Aaron offered.

  Grinning, I closed the door behind me. It wasn’t that I wanted to rest, but everything was happening so fast. A week ago, my biggest concern was whether my mother would poison me, but today, I knew I’d never face that peril again. I hadn’t had the chance to touch base with her doctor since she’d been admitted, but I did have over twenty missed calls from her private line in her bedroom at the mental hospital. I didn’t want to listen to them and hear what she had to say. After the initial twenty-four hours of seclusion, she’d been granted phone privileges, though I knew they were being monitored.

  I played the first message.

  Julia. You need to get down here at once. The doctor is trying to tell me some cock and bull story about you locking me up! I’ve told him that’s a lie but the damn man won’t listen. I need you to call me at once.

  I winced and listened to the rest. By the time I reached the end, my hands were shaking with fear and beads of sweat had started to appear on my forehead despite the crisp air conditioning in the suite.

  It is apparent to me at this time that you’re not coming for me. I can’t say I’m surprised. You were always such a selfish child. Your father died because of you, and now I find myself at the end of my life and you’re out whoring around or something. This is my last attempt to save you, Julia. Call me at once or you will not be welcome in my home again.

  “Jeeze,” I muttered as I set the phone down. It seemed to sense the silence and it started to ring. The area code was the same but the number was different. I knew that it was her doctor calling this time and not her. I answered the call at once. “Doctor? How is she?”

  I listened as he sighed. “I wish that I had some positive progress for you, but she seems to be slipping even further into the dementia.”

  “Yes, she left me a few messages. Should I be worried about her?”

  “No, of course not. This is pretty normal for a patient dealing with the scope of dependency that she has. She was able to feed off your father’s illness for so long and then yours when you came.”

  “Won’t she just find someone in there?” I asked.

  “We’re monitoring her closely. Her only interactions are with those who don’t understand the scope of reality. She has no chance of finding another victim.”

  “Thank you, Doctor. Is your prognosis still the same?”

  He hesitated. “It is even more so proven that she is safest in here. My staff has found her trying to fish batteries from radios, the lead used in phones, and even her own medication. We’ve had to take some added precautions. Now, all of her time on the phone is being monitored, but you should know that yours isn’t the only phone number she’s been calling.”

  “I’m not?” I said in shock.

  My mother wasn’t a social person by nature. She would chat with the people in her neighborhood but never invited them over. Growing up had been strange, to say the least. My friends were not allowed to come to our house but I could leave. Of course, by doing so, I would upset her. I would come back and spend days begging for her forgiveness until eventually, I just stopped leaving altogether. It was when I met Aaron that my life started to change. It had been my father who’d pushed me to run away with Aaron and never look back.

  “No, she has been trying to reach out to a woman, though I don’t know much else. She started making the calls before we monitored her, and now, they mostly use code. The woman is young, but I can’t offer you anything besides that. I plan on speaking with her today about it at our next session.”

  “That’s strange,” I muttered. “Please keep me updated on her progress.” The door to the bedroom slowly started to open. “I have to go. Thank you.”

  I hung up the phone just as Aaron peeked his head inside. “I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t wake you.”

  “No,” I whispered. “I was just making a few phone calls before lying down. How is Amy doing?”

  Aaron’s boyish grin surfaced. “Are you kidding me? You’re here and her grandmother whom she adores. Her favorite people all in one place, she is having a blast. I just forgot my sunglasses.”

  “Maybe now would be a good time for us to talk, don’t you think?” I offered.

  He looked back into the hallway, “I don’t think so, but you really should join us. Mother met a fellow on the upper deck, and it’s looking like Amy and I will be on our own at the pool.”

  “Just you and Amy?” I asked hopefully.

  Aaron nodded. “That’s right.” He shifted. “But you know you will have to talk to my mother at some point, right? I mean, you can’t avoid her for an entire week.”

  “I know,” I muttered. “I just don’t know what to say to her. You told me on the phone that they both think I’ve been working, but how does that work? How do you keep up that lie for five years?”

  His eyes grew cold but not before I saw the glint of sadness in them. Our separation had been years ago, but it was obvious that those feelings still lingered. I wanted to know just how deep they went, but it wasn’t the right time to ask him for either of us. Diving into that well would take time and privacy, neither of which we had, I realized as I heard Amy come running into the suite.

  “Come on, Dad! You promised me the pool, and Grandma just wants to sit there and make noises,” she said as she bounded into the room.

  Instantly, she jumped on the bed and curled up next to me. I couldn’t help but wrap my arms around her. “Grandma’s making noises?”

  Amy rolled her eyes dramatically and nodded. “It’s like she’s laughing but it sounds all funny.”

  I held in the snort. “I think that means she likes him, honey.”

  “Will you come down to the pool with us, Mom?” she asked me. “I know you’re tired, but I promise I won’t bother you.”

  My chest tightened as I wrapped her into my arms again. “Oh, honey, you could never bother me, and yes, I would love to come down there with you.”

  “Julia, if you’re tired, you can tell her ‘no’,” Aaron interjected. “She knows what a pushover adults become when she pouts like that.”

  “Oh yeah?” I said as I cocked my head at her. “Well then, missy, you’ve got another thing coming. Who do you think you got that from? I am a professional at pouting.”

  Her eyes grew wide. “Really? I never knew that.” She turned her attention back to her dad and gave him a stern look. “You never told me that.”

  His expression softened at once. “Well, now that she’s back here for good, you have all the time in the world to learn about each other. So why don’t you and I go jump in that pool, and I’m sure your mom will be up soon?”

  “Okay,” Amy said as she leapt off the bed. “See you soon. Love you, Mom.”

  “I love you too,” I said as she ran from the room.

  The tears were threatening to break through once again. I wouldn’t be able to hold them back if Aaron kept watching her that way. I’d been gone for five years, but it was evident in that time that he’d stepped up as a parent and taken care of everything she needed. She didn’t lack for anything. Guilt washed over me again as I went over the millions of things that I’d missed by not being there with my family for so long.

  “Hey,” whispered Aaron as he reached out and touched my leg. “Don’t start falling apart on me now, okay? You missed a few things, yes. But you’re here now, and that’s what matters.”

  “Thank you,” I said, covering his hand with my own. “I will adjust. It’s just been
a rough few weeks.”

  “Why don’t you tell me about it poolside? I know there are a few things that we need to talk about. Your story, for one. Amy is already asking questions, and it’s just a matter of time before my mother wants a face-to-face with you.”

  “Right,” I said as I withdrew my hand and stood up. “I forgot why I was really here.”

  “Julia,” he whispered. “That isn’t what I meant and you know that. I’m thrilled that you’re here. All it takes is one look at Amy and you should know that.”

  “That’s for Amy, but what about for you? And us?” I asked.

  He took a step forward, and Theresa’s chipper voice came from the main hall. “Yoo-hoo? Is anyone still here?”

  Aaron looked around the corner. “Hey, Mom.”

  I grabbed ahold of the door and stopped. “I’ll be out in a second. Will you wait for me?”

  “Sure,” he said with a grin. “We’ll talk later, okay? I promise.”

  I shook my head. “Don’t worry about it. Let’s just get the story straight and be done with it. I’m not going anywhere after that. We can talk then.”

  “Are you sure? I do want to talk,” he said quickly.

  “I’m sure. Whenever you’re ready, okay? I don’t want to rush you. Give me a second to change.”

  “All right, I’ll be right downstairs,” Aaron whispered. “I’m not going anywhere if you aren’t. I promise you that.”

  “Thanks,” I said as I closed the door.

  There was an unfamiliar voice from just down the steps but I ignored it. Theresa had a way of quickly making friends. I changed into my swimsuit, trying to ignore the way my cleavage popped out of the suit. It seemed fine when I bought it, but I couldn’t deny I was more self-conscious around Aaron. Grabbing my swimsuit cover, I tugged it over my head and took a deep breath before opening the bedroom door again.

  Aaron

  My mother and her guest disappeared into the kitchen after being reassured that we were not going to be staying in the suite. Amy was still patiently waiting for me in the small living room. She looked up and smiled when I walked into the room, but it wasn’t at me. I turned to see what had her awestruck and quickly found myself enamored and hiding a growing erection in the process. Julia was standing on the steps smiling across at us. The thin sheath over her swimsuit did little to hide the figure I’d fallen in love with years before.

  “Wow,” I whispered.

  Amy ran forward and grabbed Julia’s hand. “You look pretty, Mom! Are you ready to go?”

  Julia nodded and shot me a grin as they headed for the pool. My gut shifted as I quickly followed behind them. It seemed so natural to have Julia there holding Amy’s hand. For a brief second, I’d forgotten about the years of betrayal and pain that her absence had caused. As soon as the sun hit our faces, Amy dashed off to the slides and Julia took a seat under a large umbrella. She was amazing, as almost every man around quickly noticed.

  I sat down protectively on the end of her lounge chair and the smile from watching Amy at once fell away. “I guess we need to talk now?”

  “I think it would be best if we didn’t wait any longer. Amy is pressing and so is my mother.”

  “Well, what do you want to tell them then? Or rather, what lie have you already been telling them over the years?”

  There was a little twinge of judgement in her tone. I reacted without thinking. “A story that didn’t make you seem cold and heartless to my daughter. I’d rather she didn’t know that you abandoned her.”

  Julia sucked in a sharp gasp. Instantly, I regretted my words. I tried to say something, but she jumped in before I could. “Well, by all means, don’t mince words. I knew this was a bad idea from the beginning. I should have waited for you in Arizona.”

  “No, Julia,” I said quickly. “I’ve told them you’ve been working with the refugees overseas. It explained why you couldn’t ever bring Amy to visit. I was just careful about everything else—only inviting Mom when I knew you would call Amy so she didn’t start to wonder, that sort of thing.”

  “You’ve been carrying around this lie the whole time just to protect Amy?”

  “It’s what you do as a father. I didn’t want her to grow up and hate you. Even despite everything you’ve done, I know you love her.”

  “I do,” she gushed. “With everything I am. Thank you for what you’ve done. I think I can play along with that. Before all of this, I loved volunteering.”

  It was the first time she’d spoken of the past. I knew that I was going into dangerous waters, but I wanted to know more about her. She was different from before but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Something inside her was fearful. She still carried so much worry even though she was the one who had called me.

  “Did you volunteer while you were helping your mother?” I asked carefully.

  Julia shook her head. “No. There wasn’t any time. My mother was a full-time job.”

  “On the phone, you told me she was in a hospital. What happened to her? I would think you’d stay with her if it were an injury.”

  I could almost see the wall going up between us as she shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about that. How have you been?”

  “Good,” I said as I took the chair next to her. “There have been some rough patches, but we always got through okay. I’m teaching at Amy’s school now. I haven’t taught her, obviously, but it’s a great job.”

  “That’s wonderful!” she said. “I always wondered if you continued to teach after . . .” Her face started to blush. “Well, I guess now I know. I bet Amy loves that.”

  I grinned, watching Amy making new friends in the pool. “She does most of the time, but she’s reaching that age where I’m getting a little out of my league. Before, she was always such a tomboy.”

  “No thanks to you, I’m sure,” Julia said with a grin.

  “True. But now, she’s starting to grow up a little. I don’t know about makeup and what new trends are.”

  “No, but I do. Now that I’m back, I will make sure to help her as much as I can through all of this.”

  I shifted uneasily. “Right.”

  Her body stiffened at the sarcasm in my voice. “You know, I am trying here, but you aren’t making this easy.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said honestly. “I really am. I wish that I could keep my mouth shut, but it’s hard for me to trust you when you won’t tell me about anything that’s happened. I have a lot of questions but you just keep shutting down on me.”

  “I am here for Amy, okay?” she hissed as Amy approached.

  “Hey! Are you gonna swim or what?” Amy asked Julia as she stood in a quickly forming puddle in front of us.

  “I absolutely am!” Julia exclaimed as she jumped up. “I bet your dad could use some sun anyway. Let’s go for the slides.”

  Amy grabbed her hand and started to pull her away. I was about to follow when Julia shot me a look laden with daggers and I slumped back down into my seat. Once again, she had managed to avoid the conversation entirely. I knew what she was telling me, but I wouldn’t give up on us so quickly. There was something behind the fear in her eyes and I was going to figure out what that was. It was the only way I would get her back. Never would I have thought that having her in my life again would be possible, but it seemed that fate had given me a second chance and I wasn’t going to ruin things again.

  I could have changed everything that night, but instead, I let my stubbornness ruin my marriage.

  “You don’t have to do this,” I whispered to her, trying not to wake Amy.

  “You aren’t giving me any other options. I don’t want to leave, but my mother needs my help.”

  “Then we’ll find her some help, okay? You have a family and a good life here. I didn’t like the way she spoke to us when we were there.”

  “Oh, please,” she scoffed. “You didn’t like my mother from the day you met her.”

  “Yeah,” I joked. “Because she never liked me. Please don’t tu
rn this around. We can find her someone to help out around the house. There are people who are skilled in working with elders and do this for a living.”

  “You make her sound old and decrepit. I promise that she is neither, but she needs me right now and I have to respect that.”

  “Damn it, Julia, why are you forcing my hand on this one? Your mother is playing you, okay? You know how manipulative she can be.”

  “You know, she said you would say something like that. I told you, I don’t want to pick between my family and my mother. I am going to stay with her for a couple of weeks and then I will be back and we can work something out.”

  “Something that requires us to uproot our lives to go help her? I know things have been rough around here, but it will get better, I promise.”

  She smiled at me. “This has nothing to do with you, okay? My mom needs me right now. I’ve waited too long to go see her, okay? Unless there is something life-threatening, I’m going to go.”

  It hit me like a brick to the head when my phone started to vibrate. The conversation was put on hold as I looked down. It was Mike Vincent, the dean of the private school where I worked. I looked back at Julia, and she nodded for me to answer the phone as she went to pack up her bathroom things. I quickly answered the phone, anxious to get back to the conversation at hand.

  “Hey, Mike, this is a really bad time,” I said quickly.

  “Well I’m sorry, Aaron, but they are about to get a whole lot worse. Do you know a student by the name of Jenny Thompson?”

  My stomach sank instantly. “Yeah, Mike, she’s the one I filed an incident report on last week. Same one we talked about yesterday. Why?”

  “Well,” he said carefully. “I brought her into the office yesterday like you asked. A student with a crush can sometimes lead to a lot more headache, and I’m sorry to say that this is one case of just that.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “I’m sorry to do this, but I’m going to have to place you on administrative leave until the charges she’s pressing have been dealt with. It’s nothing personal. I hope you know that.”