She placed her hands on her hips. “What’s this?”
He slid into the chair at the end of the counter and patted the stool next to him. “It’s only the greatest combination ever invented.” He took a swig from his own glass. “Ah...whole milk and chocolate syrup. There’s nothing better.”
She took a seat and her lips hinted a tiny smile while she kept her eyes on him.
He tilted his head. “What’s so funny? Haven’t you ever seen a grown man drink chocolate milk?”
Melanie laughed. “You’ve got a chocolate mustache.”
Jackson leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. He’d finally gotten her to laugh. She was a tough cookie. Determined to make friends, he had to convince her to give up her idea. “That’s better.”
She raised her eyebrow. “What is?”
“You seem happy. You have a great laugh and your smile—it lights up your entire face. You should show it off more often.”
“Sometimes there’s nothing to smile about.”
Jackson leaned in closer. “I have an idea.”
“And what might that be?”
“Let’s celebrate the end of our first day working together.”
“Celebrate? How?”
“After we close, come to the fair with me—it’ll be fun. We can go on the Ferris wheel.”
She shook her head. “Oh no, I’m afraid of heights.”
“You can keep your eyes closed.”
“What’s the point in going on the ride if I keep my eyes closed?”
She had a point. “Well, you can keep them shut until you feel comfortable.”
“I don’t think that’s possible. I’ve always been afraid of heights,” Melanie said, taking a sip of her chocolate milk. “Yum... It’s really good.”
“When I was a kid, I called it happiness in a glass.” He smiled and took a sip from his own cup. “You know, Rebecca is afraid of being up high, too. I hope today she’ll move past her fears.”
Melanie swirled her straw. “It’s not so easy.”
He studied her face. “What?”
She held his gaze. “To move past your fears. You make it sound like it’s as easy as deciding what shoes to wear.”
Jackson was well aware of how difficult it was. After his ex-wife left, his fears had paralyzed him. He didn’t know anything about raising a one-year-old on his own. If it hadn’t been for his faith and Phoebe, he never would have survived the first year. “I didn’t say it was easy. It’s just doable. If you lean on God and you have supportive people in your life.”
She shook her head.
It was obvious her faith wasn’t as strong.
“Just don’t push Rebecca if she’s not ready, Jackson.”
He nodded. “I won’t. But I think she’ll be able to conquer her fear today.”
“How so?”
“She went to the fair with Mary Whiteside, and she plans to ride the Ferris wheel. Of course, that could change once she sees the size of it.”
Melanie took another sip and dabbed her mouth with a napkin. “She might surprise you.”
He nodded. “It wouldn’t be the first time. So, what do you say? Will you come with me?”
She placed her finger under her chin. “Yes, I’ll go, but I can’t guarantee you a ride on the Ferris wheel.”
“Never say never. Let’s lock up and hit the road. First we’ll swing by and check on Phoebe.” His pulse sped and beat against his eardrums. The thought of spending more time with Melanie excited him, but it also had him questioning her motives. Was she being nice, or was it all an act that played into her plan? Whatever the case, an afternoon with her, outside of The Bean, put a pep in his step as they strolled into the parking lot.
Inside the truck, they fastened their seat belts. “The fair is in Harrisonburg. That’s around fifteen miles from the hospital.” He yanked down the visor. The sun was blinding. When he reached over to the glove compartment to grab his Ray-Bans, his hand brushed Melanie’s knee. She flinched as she pulled her sunglasses from her purse and slid them on.
Jackson was anxious to learn more about Phoebe’s beautiful niece during the ride. “Tell me, what made you decide to become a lawyer?”
“There was nothing else I could be.” She smiled. “I come from a long line of lawyers.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Both of my parents and all four of my grandparents were attorneys.”
Jackson laughed. “Well, I guess the family was safe if anyone got into any legal trouble.”
“One time when I was in high school, I mentioned to my father that I was considering becoming a doctor. You would have thought I told him I wanted to rob banks.”
This was nice. He enjoyed this relaxed side of Melanie.
Her smile faded. “When my father got ill, I knew I had to go to law school. It was his dream for me, and I couldn’t disappoint him. He passed away two days after I graduated.”
Jackson felt her pain. “I’m sure he was very proud of you.”
“I miss him.”
A comfortable silence lingered before Jackson’s phone rang.
They were at a red light, so he felt safe slipping the phone from his shirt pocket and looking at the screen. “It’s Larry Whiteside.” His heart beat a little faster. “Excuse me, but I need to take this call.”
He pushed the button to answer. “Hey, Larry, what’s up?”
Through the phone, Jackson heard faint music and muffled voices. Then he heard crying and knew right away it was Rebecca.
“Larry! What’s wrong with Rebecca? Why is she crying? Is she hurt?”
“Calm down, Jackson. She’s not hurt, but I think you need to come over to the fair.”
“I’m on my way now. Can you put her on the phone?” Not being able to put his arms around her while she was obviously upset was more than he could handle.
“She won’t get on the phone, Jackson.”
A lump formed in his throat. “Tell her I’m coming. I’ll be there as fast as I can.” He ended the call, took a deep breath and then released it.
Just as the light turned green, Melanie turned and placed her hand on his arm. “Jackson, what is it?”
“It’s Rebecca. Larry assured me she’s not hurt, but I heard her crying.” He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “I have a feeling she got scared on the Ferris wheel. I should have been there riding with her. I hate that she’s upset and I’m not there to help her.”
Melanie removed her hand from his arm. “We’ll be there soon. She’ll be okay.”
She stared out the window while they were stopped at an intersection. She appeared fixated on the two young boys tossing a baseball in the parking lot of an antiques shop.
A large gray cumulus cloud took the sun hostage. Jackson glanced at Melanie again and saw she’d removed her glasses and was wiping away a tear that had escaped through her eyelashes.
“What’s wrong?” He placed his hand on hers. “Why are you crying?”
She pulled a tissue from her purse and dabbed her eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it. Rebecca needs you now.”
Jackson nodded. She was right—Rebecca was his priority—but Melanie’s tears worried him. When the sun emerged, Melanie put on her sunglasses once more, but he knew it wasn’t to block the light.
* * *
The last few miles of the trip seemed endless. An awkward silence had filled the air after Jackson had caught her crying. She hated to get emotional in front of anyone, especially when the person was practically a stranger. Yes, he might think that he knew her, but he didn’t have a clue about her life. Or the choice she made that cost her her family. If he knew the truth, that she couldn’t protect her own children, he’d want nothing to do with her.
Reli
ef took hold when Jackson zipped his truck into a grassy field, lined with cars. She sprang from the truck as though she’d stepped on a hornet’s nest.
“Let me call Larry’s cell phone to see where they are. Otherwise we’ll be trampling all over the place.” Jackson pulled his phone from his pocket.
This wasn’t your normal small-town fair; there was a lot going on. She smiled at the clown who approached her, pedaling fast on a unicycle. He handed her a rose before he rode away, his red clown curls blowing in the breeze. She scanned the area, and as far as she could see, there were carnival rides, booths with various games, even a structure of some sort in the distance.
Her stomach twisted as she spied a face-painting booth. Her girls had loved to have their faces painted. A few years ago, Melanie hired a face painter for their birthday party. She could still hear their giggles. Goose bumps rose on Melanie’s arms when she pictured the scene.
“Mel, are you alright? Your face is as white as a cotton field.”
She pushed away the thoughts. “I’m fine.” The strap of her purse slid from her shoulder. “Did you find out where Rebecca is?”
“Wait a minute. Are you sure you’re okay?”
Melanie nodded. “I just got a little light-headed, but I’m fine now.” She wasn’t fine. She’d never be fine.
Jackson raised a dark eyebrow. “If you feel dizzy again, let me know.” He turned and walked at a brisk pace. “Larry said they’re over in the food pavilion.”
A small plane buzzed overhead with a banner trailing behind. Melanie couldn’t make out the advertisement, but it reminded her of the planes that flew along the beach. She recalled the first time her girls had spotted a low-flying plane while building sand castles along the shore. They’d sprung to their feet, jumping up and down, pointing. “Look, Mommy,” they’d both exclaimed. Wearing their matching polka-dot sun hats and white sunglasses, they’d never looked more adorable.
Melanie folded her right arm across her stomach. There were those knots again.
When they entered the food area, the sweet smell of cotton candy and funnel cake didn’t do much for her queasy stomach. Mobs of people of all ages snaked through the roped-off areas in a quest for their favorite treats. She wasn’t a fan of crowds.
“There’s Larry.” Jackson pointed toward the blue-and-yellow booth with a corn-dog sign draped across the front.
There was no sign of Rebecca, but Melanie did see a group of five grown men participating in a hot-dog eating contest. It was something she’d probably never see again.
Jackson’s pace slowed when he approached Larry from behind. “Larry, where’s Rebecca?” His voice trembled.
“She locked herself in the women’s bathroom. Mary’s been trying to get her to come out.”
Melanie followed as Jackson took off running toward the bathrooms located at the back of the building. “There’s Mary.” Jackson pointed. “Mary! Where’s Rebecca?” Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
Mary glanced up at her best friend’s father. “I’m sorry. I’ve tried to get her to come out. She got scared, and then some stupid older boys from our school teased her,” she said, her lip quivering.
Without hesitation, he knelt and took Mary into his arms. “It’s okay. This isn’t your fault.” Jackson stood when Larry’s brother, George, approached, and Jackson made the introductions.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Melanie, ” Larry said.
Melanie offered her hand. She noticed the resemblance between the two brothers. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“I’ll be right back,” Jackson announced as he headed toward the door of the women’s restroom.
Melanie grabbed his arm. “You can’t go in there, Jackson. You’ll frighten every woman and child inside.”
His face flushed. “I guess you’re right, but what am I supposed to do?” He looked up and exhaled a deep breath. “She’s hurting.”
Melanie’s heart ached for Jackson. She knew what she had to do. “I’ll go in and talk to her.”
As soon as the words escaped her lips, she wanted to take them back.
What was she thinking? She couldn’t do this.
He rested his hand on her arm, his eyes full of gratitude. “You would do that?”
Melanie’s skin tingled under Jackson’s touch. “Of course I will. I’ve got to pay you back somehow for rescuing me.” She turned toward the bathroom with thoughts of his touch welded to her brain, along with the fear of what she’d face behind the door.
As she slowly opened the door to the restroom, her shoulders were tight. She was so nervous, and she knew exactly why. The painful memories would once again bubble to the surface, and she’d be the one in tears. How could she think she’d be any good for Rebecca? Melanie bit down on her lip and stepped through the doorway.
As she peeked around the bathroom, the bright yellow walls were blinding. Water droplets echoed from one of the two sinks. There didn’t seem to be anyone inside. It was so quiet, Melanie wondered if Rebecca was even still there. Then she heard the tiny sniffles.
“Rebecca.” The sounds led her to the middle stall. She gently knocked. “Rebecca, it’s Miss Melanie. Will you please open the door?” This would be more of a challenge than she’d anticipated.
After a few moments of silence, the whimpers resumed.
“Please, sweetie. Your daddy’s worried about you.”
The lock clicked, and Melanie’s shoulders dropped. One step at a time was how she’d handle it. If only she could apply that technique in her own life.
“It’s okay. There’s no one else here.”
As the door slowly parted, relief washed over Melanie. A lump formed in her throat when she spied a little blue eye peeking through the slight opening. Rebecca stepped from the stall, her porcelain complexion covered in red splotches and her eyes puffy.
She lowered her head and rubbed her eyes. “Is my daddy here?”
There was a special bond between a little girl and her daddy. Her girls had had it with their own father, too. Many nights they demanded he tuck them into bed rather than her. An ache pierced Melanie’s heart. Maybe they would have wanted her to tuck them into bed if she’d been home more often.
“Yes—he’s outside.” Melanie brushed her hand over Rebecca’s wild blond curls, savoring the feeling. “He really wants to see you. Are you ready to go?”
She shook her head. “I’m embarrassed to go out there.”
“Why?” Melanie knelt to listen.
Rebecca twirled a strand of her blond hair around her middle finger.
“You can tell me.”
Her lip quivered. “This morning I told Daddy I would be brave and go on the Ferris wheel.” She looked down at her fingernails. “He’ll be disappointed in me.”
Melanie opened her purse and pulled out a package of tissues with tiny pink carnations on the packaging. She removed one and handed it to Rebecca. “I don’t think you could ever disappoint your daddy. He loves you too much.”
“But he’ll know I was a chicken, just like those icky boys said.” She dabbed the tissue under her nose and blew.
“Do you want to tell me about the boys?”
She gazed at the ground and scuffed her foot across the tile floor. “Those mean boys from school. They were in line behind me and Mary. They’re bigger—they called me a chicken girl when I stepped out of the line.” A tear slid from her eye.
Melanie took another tissue from the package and wiped Rebecca’s cheek. Her hands felt clammy. How long had it been since she’d wiped a child’s tear?
“There’s nothing wrong with being afraid, Rebecca. Everyone is afraid of something.” Being alone with Jackson’s daughter was igniting fears of her own. What made her think she could help this little girl when she’d abandoned her own family?
“Are you afraid, Miss Melanie?”
After the accident, she’d lived in constant fear. The first night she’d been alone in the house, she hadn’t been able to go into the master bedroom or the twins’ room. For several days, she’d gathered up blankets and had slept on the floor in the dining room. Her family rarely used the room, so there were few memories to haunt her sleep. Spending time with Rebecca would only intensify the ache she felt over losing her daughters. She’d have to keep her heart closed to any emotions.
“Of course I am. I’ve always been afraid of heights.”
A tiny hint of a smile formed. “Really? Me, too.”
“I know. Your daddy told me about it earlier today.” Her heart beat faster thinking about the ride. “I’ve never been on a Ferris wheel, either.”
“You haven’t?” Rebecca’s small smile turned into a big grin. “Daddy’s tried to get me to go on it before...but it’s so high.”
This little girl tugged on her heart. Rebecca’s presence made her feel better than she’d felt in a long time. But she didn’t deserve to feel good. “Yes, it is.”
Rebecca glanced up with a serious look on her face. “It’s because it goes up to heaven.” She blushed. “Well, it looks like it does.”
“I have a great idea.” At least, Melanie thought it was. What happens if it backfires?
Rebecca jumped up and down. “What is it? Tell me.” Her eyes lit up like lightning bugs on a warm summer evening.
Melanie reached for Rebecca’s hand and led her to the sink. “I was thinking—since we’re both afraid of heights, and we’ve never been on a Ferris wheel, what if we conquer our fear together? We can show those mean boys and your daddy we’re not afraid.” Melanie turned on the water and squirted soap from the dispenser.
“You mean, ride together?” Rebecca stretched her arms and held out her hands for a squirt of soap. “Today?” She looked up with dread in her eyes. She scrubbed her hands for a few seconds and reached for a paper towel.
Melanie cupped the little girl’s chin and tilted her head. “Trust me, we’ll be fine. As long as we’re together, we can do this.”
Second Chance Romance Page 6
