Second Chance Girl--A Modern Fairy Tale Romance

by Susan Mallery

  She didn’t want to read too much into his words. They’d had a great time, they were both still recovering from the aftershocks. While she wanted to believe he was all in, her head warned her to be careful. Mathias didn’t believe in long-term relationships—not the romantic kind. She knew all the reasons and while she could dispute them, what she thought didn’t matter. He was the one who had to be willing to change his mind.

  Her phone chirped. She pulled it out of her pocket and glanced at the text from her sister.

  Got a second?

  Sure. What’s up?

  Ulrich proposed. Just now. Okay, an hour ago. He loves me and wants to marry me and I said yes! I’m happy. So happy.

  Carol stared at the message. Her heart neatly split in two with one half thrilled for her sister and the other half already missing her. She began typing before the disparate sides could reconcile.

  OMG! Seriously? That’s fantastic. I’m so happy for you. I hope he knows how lucky he is to have you.

  He does. I’m a little worried about moving so far away. Tell me it’s going to be okay.

  Baby sister, it’s going to be magical. We’ll all come visit and you’re going to be like the queen!

  LOL. Not exactly the queen, but the woman Ulrich loves, which is even better. Talk soon?

  Yes. Spend the day with your hunky, English fiancé. I’ll see you tomorrow at the wedding.

  You know it. Love you.

  Love you, too.

  Mathias checked the chain, then walked over to her. “Do you ring a bell or something? How does she know the buffet is open?”

  “It’s a timing thing. The animals all get fed about the same time every day.”

  She pointed and he turned. Millie walked around the trees, moving toward the pole with her leaves.

  “She’s something,” he said, taking her hand.

  “She is.” She waved her phone. “I heard from Violet. Ulrich proposed and she said yes. She’s moving to England.”

  Mathias looked at her. “You okay? I know you’re close to your sister. You’re going to miss her.”

  “I am, but she sounds really happy and with Skype and email, we’ll still stay in touch.”

  It wouldn’t be exactly the same, but it would be close.

  Mathias put his arm around Carol. “I’m happy for her,” he said. “Maybe you’ll get to wear a tiara at the wedding.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that, but you’re right. I’d look good in a tiara.”

  He chuckled. “Yes, you would.”

  He kissed her and they walked back to her golf cart. She supposed he could have been freaked out by the news. Would she expect the same of him or something like that? But he’d taken it in stride. What she couldn’t figure out was why that was. Because he was comfortable with her? Or because he knew taking things that far was never going to happen to him?

  * * *

  “BUT I DON’T want to,” Mathias grumbled. He knew he sounded like a toddler being told to eat his vegetables, but he didn’t care. There was no amount of broccoli in the world that compared with having dinner with his family.

  Carol’s expression was kind but firm. “It’s the rehearsal dinner. You have to be there. What will Del think if you don’t show up?”

  “Logic is for men.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “I know you’re dealing with a lot right now, so I’m not going to punish you for saying that.”

  “Thank you.”

  He sat next to her on the sofa, tugged her close and kissed her. “I know a better way to spend the evening.”

  She kissed him back before easing away. “No.”

  “But there wasn’t a wedding rehearsal. We don’t need a dinner.” Del and Maya weren’t having any attendants, unless he counted Sophie.

  “Are you always like this when you don’t get your way?” Carol asked.

  “Mostly. Is it charming?” Because the last thing he wanted to do was have her questioning whether or not she wanted to be with him.

  “Yes, but it’s still not going to work. You need to go to the dinner.”

  “Come with me.”

  “No. It’s a family dinner.”

  “Maya’s going to be there.”

  Carol sighed. “Nick isn’t bringing Pallas and they’re engaged. You and I are only sleeping together. I’m not coming with you.”

  He wanted to argue the point, but had a feeling doing so would impact his charming status. Still, he felt compelled to add, “Pallas can’t come because of work. She still has a few things to do for the wedding. You’re done with work.”

  “I am and that doesn’t change anything. I’m having a quiet dinner at home. You can join me when you’re done, if you’d like.”

  He kissed her again. “You’re stubborn and bossy.” When her smile never wavered, he sighed. “Fine. I’ll go, but I won’t like it.”

  “This dinner isn’t about you. It’s about Del and Maya.”

  She was right, but that didn’t make walking away from her any easier.

  At three minutes to six, Mathias drove the short distance to his house. For reasons not clear to him, the family had decided to eat in. Maya and Elaine were going to cook and then they would all gather around the large table in his dining room. He walked in to find Nick and Ceallach standing toe to toe in the living room.

  “You could have been great,” Ceallach yelled. “Instead you work with wood. It’s ridiculous. Do you know I found out you help out at that wedding place? What’s wrong with you?”

  Mathias stood in the doorway. It would be so easy to back out, to pretend he’d forgotten about the meal. Then he remembered what Carol had told him—this was about Del and Maya. He had to do his best to keep the peace.

  “Hey, Dad,” he called.

  His father glanced at him, then turned back to Nick. “Even your brother still works with glass.”

  Nick’s expression hardened. “Even, Dad? You always have to put down Mathias. You think we’re fooled, but we’re not. We all know who’s better and it’s not you.”

  Ceallach’s face reddened. “He makes dishes.”

  “Because of what you did. You couldn’t stand he’s more talented so you destroyed his work. You’re a hell of a father.”

  Mathias moved to Nick’s side. “It’s okay,” he said quietly. “I’m done fighting that battle.”

  Ceallach turned on him. “You never tried. You never took me on. You’re nowhere near as good as me, but you could have been something. Instead you gave up.”

  Mathias glared at him. “You’re saying that it was a test? You did what you did as some perverse test of my character?”

  Ronan walked into the living room. “Elaine said to stop yelling.”

  “Yeah, that’s gonna work,” Nick muttered. He looked at Mathias. “He’s just saying that. You know he’s still messing with you.”

  Mathias did know. He might not fully understand his father or the damage he’d done, but he could grasp the broad strokes of what had happened. He would have sworn that after all this time, he would be better at handling it, but his father still had the ability to get to him.

  “You three have disappointed me,” Ceallach said. “I expected more of my sons.”

  “Not nearly as much as we expected of you,” Nick shot back.

  “You have two other sons,” Mathias added. “They’re good men with great characters. You know what, Dad, I think the reason you don’t want to deal with them is that you know you had nothing to do with who they are. At the end of the day, you’re still an asshole and they’re still good guys and you can’t stand that.”

  His father started for him. “You dare to speak to me that way?”

  Mathias had never been one to fight, but right now he was more than willing to t
ake on his father. “I dare a whole lot more than that.”

  Ceallach raised his fist. Nick got between them. Mathias had no idea where this was going but before he could find out, Ronan grabbed his arm and dragged him back.

  “There’s no win in this,” his brother told him. “Not for you.”

  Because Mathias had never been the fighter in the family. That job was Nick’s. Maybe it was time for things to change.

  “We all need this to end,” he growled.

  “Maybe, but not this way. The only person you’re going to hurt is yourself.”

  Elaine walked into the living room, her eyes filled with tears. “Stop it!” she demanded. “Stop fighting. This is supposed to be a happy dinner. Del and Maya are getting married tomorrow. You have to stop fighting all the time. We’re a family. We should be nice to each other.”

  “Kids learn from their fathers,” Nick said as he glared at his father. “Tell him to quit ignoring his two oldest sons and quit browbeating the rest of us.”

  “Stop being a girl,” Ceallach said disdainfully.

  Nick lunged for him. Both Ronan and Mathias pulled him back. Aidan and Del appeared and got in front of their father.

  “I won’t have this,” Elaine shouted. “Stop it. Do you hear me? Stop it!”

  “She’s right,” Mathias told Nick. “There’s no point. You’ll never win. You won’t break even. Worse, she’ll side with him and you’ll be the bad guy. Don’t bother. That’s the advantage of growing up, bro. We don’t have to care about him anymore.”

  Their mother hurried forward. “Don’t say that,” she told Mathias. “He’s your father. He can’t help who he is.”

  “You believe that, Mom?” he asked. “Do you actually believe the mighty Ceallach Mitchell can’t change his behavior?”

  She looked from her husband to her son. “I just want us all to get along.”

  Mathias felt the flood of emotions. He took a couple of deep breaths, then let the feelings wash over him. Regret, he supposed. That was the biggest one. Not so much for what had been lost but for what could have been. Imagine if they’d been a family, if he and his brothers had grown up supported by their artist father. They could have been great together. Instead each of them had been forced to make his way alone.

  No, he corrected. Not each of them. Until a few years ago, he and Ronan had had each other. They’d been a team. The twins.

  He looked at his mother. She was getting older. She’d battled breast cancer a couple of years ago and had beaten the disease. That took courage. But she’d never been able to stand up to her husband. Not for herself and not for her sons.

  “What?” his mother demanded, glaring at him. “What are you thinking?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Tell me.” Her lower lip trembled. “You think this is my fault, don’t you? You think I should have stood between each of you and your father. You think I betrayed you.” She raised her head. “I didn’t. I made sure you were all right. I was a good mother, but at the end of the day, Ceallach is my husband.”

  And that matters more.

  She didn’t say the words, but then she didn’t have to. They all knew what she was thinking. Worse, the sentiment wasn’t a surprise. Each of them had known it all their lives. Dad came first, even when that meant the back of a hand across the face...or shattered glass on the floor.

  “Leave her alone,” Ceallach growled before Mathias could respond. “She’s done more than enough.”

  “It only took thirty-five years for you to defend her, Dad. Impressive.” Nick’s voice was thick with sarcasm.

  Ceallach lunged for him. Mathias pulled his brother back. He was exhausted—from not sleeping, from dealing with his family, from the fight that never seemed to end.

  “Let it go,” he told Nick. “He’s not worth it. That’s what we never saw. He’s not worth it and he never was.”

  “Mathias.” His mother’s expression turned pleading. “Don’t say that.”

  Mathias ignored her. He waited until Nick nodded slightly, then glanced at Aidan and Del. They both nodded their agreement. Finally he looked at Ronan.

  “I don’t have a dog in this fight,” Ronan said lightly.

  Fury built up inside of Mathias. Fury born of too many questions and too much uncertainty.

  “Damn you,” he growled. “Do you have to be a jerk?”

  “I learned from the best.” He looked at their father. “At least I have that.”

  Meaning what? That he wasn’t like the rest of them because Elaine wasn’t his mother? That there was no repairing what had been broken? That they were never going to be close again?

  “I’m out,” Mathias said as he walked toward the door. He reached for the handle, then turned back and met Del’s gaze. “I’ll be at the wedding tomorrow. I promise.”

  “I never doubted that,” his brother told him. “It’s okay. We’ll be fine.”

  Mathias made his escape. As he walked to his car, he wondered if Del and Maya had already counted the hours until they got to escape to their honeymoon. He doubted they would be encouraging a family reunion anytime soon.

  When he started his car, he thought about where he should go. Back to Carol’s made the most sense and yet...

  He hesitated before heading into town. Work was safe, he told himself. If the glass cut him or burned him, he was at fault, not it. People were different. They couldn’t be trusted. People who were supposed to love you betrayed you. He’d always known that and nothing he’d experienced in the past few weeks had changed his mind.

  * * *

  CAROL TOLD HERSELF everything was going to be fine. The trick was believing it. Something had happened to Mathias at the family dinner the previous evening. Somewhere around ten he’d texted her and told her he was going to be working through the night and that he would see her at the wedding. All of which should have been fine, but wasn’t. Why hadn’t he come over? She wouldn’t have cared if it was four in the morning. She loved him and she wanted him in her bed.

  It wasn’t just sex, she thought as she walked into the wedding venue and made her way to the bride’s room. It was about being close to him and knowing he was okay. Right now she wasn’t sure what was going on, but she knew in her gut something had happened. Something bad. The question was what it was and how it had affected Mathias.

  She turned the corner and saw her sister walking toward her. Violet caught sight of her and started to run. Carol did the same and they met in a big hug.

  “How are you?” Carol asked, her concern about Mathias pushed aside for a few minutes. “Are you happy? Excited? I hope so because I’m really excited for you. Have you decided when you’re flying to England? Have you told Dad? Have you told Mom? Did Ulrich ask Dad’s permission to marry you? Do I have to call you my lady? Is there a ring?”

  Violet laughed, then hugged her again. “That’s a lot of questions.” She drew back and held out her left hand.

  Carol gazed at the flower-shaped diamond setting. The style had an elegant, old-fashioned air and totally suited her sister.

  “It’s beautiful,” Carol breathed. “Are you happy?”

  “Over the moon,” her sister confessed. “I’m so excited. Ulrich is flying home tomorrow and I’ll join him in a couple of weeks. I talked to Mom this morning and she’s flying over to England next month. We’ve been to see Dad and yes, Ulrich asked if he could marry me. It was very sweet and Dad nearly cried. Uncle Ted so lost it.”

  Carol grinned. “Did you take pictures?”

  “Of our uncle sobbing? No. It seemed tacky.” She hugged Carol a third time. “Leaving you is the worst part. I love us living so close together and hanging out. You have to promise I’ll still be your favorite sister and that we’ll talk all the time and text and Skype and visit.” There was humor in her voice, but als
o worry.

  “I promise. You will always be my favorite sister.” They walked toward the bride’s room. “I’ll help you pack and I have room for you to store your stuff until you can send for it all. What about your place?”

  “I’m not ready to sell it. I think I’m going to lease out the shop and the loft above. Thursday night Silver mentioned she was looking for a small office and a new place to live, so we’re going to see if we can work something out. I’d love to rent to a friend.”

  “Silver would be a great tenant.” For all her wild ways, she was a responsible business owner.

  They knocked on the door to the bride’s room. A voice called out for them to enter. They found Elaine helping Maya with her dress, two older women Carol didn’t recognize and a whining Sophie with her leash tied to a chair. Her brown eyes begged for help as much as her howls of outrage.

  “She was getting underfoot,” Elaine explained. “There’s just so much dress. I didn’t want her getting tangled or tearing lace.”

  “She’s not taking it well,” Carol said, walking over to the dog. “Don’t worry. I’m happy to be the beagle wrangler. Violet, where’s her dress?”

  “Right here.” Violet pulled the beagle outfit from her tote bag and passed it over.

  Carol took it, then turned to the older ladies. “Hi. I’m Carol and this is my sister, Violet. We’re friends of the family.” Which wasn’t exactly true. They were more friends of three of the brothers and Carol was sleeping with Mathias, but none of that seemed like a good introduction.

  “I’m Eddie and this is Gladys,” the shorter of the two white-haired women said. “We’re with the bride.”

  “They’re my flower girls.” Maya smiled. “My best friend is ready to go into labor any second and couldn’t make the wedding, but I’ve known Eddie and Gladys for a long time, too. They’re my family.”

  Eddie and Gladys exchanged a look. “I never thought we’d be family again,” Eddie said, her voice thick with emotion. “That’s very sweet, Maya. Now which of your future brothers-in-law are still single?”