Life's Second Chances: The Show Me Series: Book One

by Anne Stone

  “Well, when you put it that way.” She drank a glass of wine while he prepared their meal. Swirling the wine in her glass, she said, “The kids really enjoyed the trip. I can’t believe how well they listened. We had absolutely no discipline problems.”

  “That’s good. I know how hard it is to sometimes control them outside of the classroom.” He served their salads while the main course finished cooking. He reached for his glass of wine and told her how he’d finished his presentation. “I wish I wasn’t going to have to be out of town next week.”

  “You’ll be back for Thanksgiving won’t you?”

  “Yeah. I just wanted to be here for you. If I would have realized that Thanksgiving was the same week as this conference, I would’ve turned down the speaking engagement.”

  “Alejandro, I’ll be fine.”

  “I know. I just wanted to be here, that’s all.”

  They ate their dinner and cleaned up the kitchen. He poured them each another glass of wine and led her to the couch in the family room. They sat down and he pulled her into his arms while she placed her head on his shoulder.

  “This feels so good,” he said.

  “It does… Now, what did you want to talk to me about?”

  “Yesterday, you said you wanted to tell your mother about your infertility.”

  She nodded her head while he stroked her forearm.

  “I want to run this idea past you.”

  “Okay.”

  “I was thinking that probably both of our families need to know.”

  She nodded again.

  “What do you think about having our parents to dinner next week? I think they both should hear the news at the same time.”

  “It’s going to be hard any way we tell them. I think it’s a good idea since I’ll only have to deal with this once. Our parents can then pass it along to everyone else.”

  “We can cross that bridge when we get there. We might want to tell them ourselves later on. But, I thought by doing it this way, we’d do it together. I want them to know that I’ve been through this with you from the beginning—that I’m fully aware of your condition and I support you.”

  “When do you want to have them to dinner?”

  “It’s up to you.”

  “Let’s do it the day before Thanksgiving. Depending on how that goes, maybe we can tell the remainder of the family on Thanksgiving.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “Yes. I have a lot to be thankful for. I know this isn’t the best news in the world but I’ve kept it from them for a year now. I’ll be fine as long I have you by my side.”

  He hugged her close and brushed a kiss on the top of her head. “Always,” he said.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Alejandro called Angelina’s parents the next morning and invited them for dinner the following Wednesday. Then, he called his mother. “Mom, what’re you doing for dinner next Wednesday?”

  “Preparing for Thanksgiving. Why?”

  “I’d like you and Dad to join Angelina’s parents for dinner at my house.”

  “Alejandro, what are you thinking? You know how busy that day is for me.”

  “Mom, I need you to be here.”

  Sighing deeply, she said, “Okay, Alejandro, we’ll be there. Whatever the reason, it must be important to you…”

  Alejandro gave her a time and explained that he would be out of town the first part of the week. “I’ll see you Wednesday?”

  “I just hope I get everything accomplished before we come over.”

  “Get Gabriella to help you. You know she will.”

  “I know. I just thought I’d just give you a little trouble, that’s all.”

  “Just think of this as a relaxing evening before a big day. You need it, Mom.”

  *****

  Alejandro made it through his presentation and took an early flight home. He wanted everything to be perfect for their dinner. He wasn’t sure how Jackie would take the news. He knew there’d be questions as to why she didn’t tell them before now. He knew it was Angelina’s decision, but he feared Jackie would lash out at him. He’d been the one to diagnose her condition and had known about it all along. He feared she would accuse him of feeling sorry for her daughter and not really loving her. He wondered if he felt guiltier than he previously thought. He had to get these thoughts out of his head because before he knew it they’d be sharing this with both of their families. He didn’t worry about his parents, but dealing with her parents just troubled him.

  Everyone arrived on time and the pre-dinner conversation focused on the wedding and upcoming holidays. Parties were being planned, and even Alejandro offered to throw a pre-holiday party.

  Jackie kept reiterating how happy he made her daughter. “I haven’t seen Angelina this happy in years. You’re good for her Alejandro.”

  Alejandro served Caesar salad, roasted chicken, parsley new potatoes, and roasted asparagus for dinner. Both Jackie and Maria complimented him on a fabulous meal.

  When dinner was over, they moved into the living room for after dinner-drinks. Alejandro shifted his gaze to Angelina. He walked over and placed his arm around her. He led her to one of the couches and sat beside her. She reached for his hand. Clasping it for strength, she turned to her parents. “Mom, Dad, Maria, and John, I need to tell you something.” She looked up at Alejandro and took a deep breath.

  “My dear, what is it?” asked Maria.

  “I have to share something with you that I’ve known about for some time now.”

  “Angelina?” her father asked.

  “Dad, please. Let me continue. This is hard for me.” Alejandro squeezed her hand. “Remember last year when Colleen had her transplant?”

  “Yes, how could we forget,” her mother said.

  “Well, after that I got that infection… Well, I was a lot sicker than you knew.”

  “Angelina. Are you sick again?” her father asked.

  “No, I’m not. But I have to tell you something. Something that I’ve kept from you for the last year… Something that has begun to eat me up inside. I realized with Alejandro and I getting married that I have to share this with you. If I don’t, I won’t be able to go on as the wedding gets closer.”

  “Sweetheart, what is it?” Jackie was becoming unglued while she sat on the couch.

  Angelina looked down at her hand intertwined with Alejandro’s. “First of all, I want you to know that Alejandro and I truly love one another. I’ve loved him since the moment I first laid eyes on him. What I’m about to share with you, I could never have begun to go through without him by my side. He’s been my rock and I just want you to know that.” She smiled up at him. “Any decisions made, were made by me and I don’t want you to think Alejandro played a part in any of it.”

  Everyone was sitting on the edge of their seats, holding their breath.

  “At the time of my infection, Alejandro was my doctor. We hadn’t begun to date. I had feelings for him but I didn’t really know what they were. I guess after my diagnosis it all started to come together. He was my… Well I’ve already told you how important he is to me.”

  John reached for his wife’s hand. He had a feeling he knew where this conversation was headed. He glanced at his son and gave him a look that was returned. Jackie continued to stare at the couple. She had no idea what her daughter was about to say, and she definitely wasn’t prepared.

  “Last Thanksgiving, I was pretty sick. I’d sent you and Dad home to spend the rest of the day with the family. Colleen was… Oh never mind… Alejandro had spent the entire time at the hospital from the moment the ambulance brought me in. He was unbelievable. He never left my side. He knew I had the infection, but he also knew that there was something else wrong with me.”

  Alejandro unclasped his hand from hers and drew her close. She looked up at him. He nodded at her to continue.

  “After you left me that day, Alejandro came in and shared the news with me.”

  John again caught hi
s son’s eye. He gave him “the look” and nodded. Yes, his beliefs were true. He just waited to hear it confirmed from her lips.

  “The infection was a lot worse than he’d first thought. It had spread.”

  “Spread where?” her mother asked.

  “To my…” she swallowed. “To my fallopian tubes. As a result of the infection, I can’t have children.”

  Jackie gasped and started crying. Maria looked at her husband with tears in her eyes. Ben just stared at his daughter… And Alejandro.

  Alejandro held onto the love of his life. He brushed a kiss to her temple and whispered to her that he loved her.

  They sat there for a few moments before his father spoke. “Are you sure?”

  Alejandro nodded. “Yes, there’s nothing that can be done.”

  “Why? Why did you keep it from us?” her mother cried.

  “Because it was about me. Because… I guess I couldn’t deal with it. And if I couldn’t deal with it, how could I expect you to?”

  “But, Angelina. We’re family. Who else knows about this?”

  “No one. Only Alejandro.”

  Jackie glared at him.

  “Jackie, I couldn’t tell you. I was her doctor and she wanted no one to know.”

  “Why tell us now?” her father asked.

  “It was getting more difficult for me. I thought that I’d dealt with it, but I realized last week that I hadn’t. I needed to tell you so I could move on with my life… Our life. I have a lot to be thankful for. I have a wonderful fiancé and a great family. I just needed to get it out.” She clasped her hands and continued. “I want to share this with the rest of the family tomorrow. This is hard enough for us, and I want you to promise not to say anything to them. For my own sanity, I have to be the one that tells them. I know it will be difficult—”

  “Dear, don’t worry about that,” Maria said as she stood and approached her. “Can I give you a hug?”

  Angelina stood and was enveloped in a warm embrace. His father followed. “Angelina, I’m sorry to hear this. But I know you and Alejandro will work through it.”

  She smiled up at her future father-in-law and said, “Yes, we will.”

  Alejandro returned to her side and forced her to glance at her parents. They were in shock. Alejandro walked over to them and said, “I want you to know that I did everything that I could. The infection moved so quickly…”

  “But that wasn’t enough. You’re—”

  “Mom, he’s not responsible. He did everything he could to make me well.” She reached for his hand. “Mom, Alejandro has enough guilt himself. He wished he could’ve done more, but it just wasn’t meant to be. I had an infection and that’s it. I’m well now. I just have to deal with the fact that I can’t have my own children. You’ll have grandchildren, they’ll just be adopted.”

  Jackie looked at them. “I know you did everything that you could, Alejandro. I’m just sad for Angelina. She’s wanted to be a mother her whole life.”

  “And she still can. The only difference is that they won’t be our own biological children. I want you to know that we’ll have children. We’ll still love them as though we created them ourselves. Children are important to both of us and we’ll never give up that dream. It may challenge us, but I want you to know that we’ll see our dream fulfilled.”

  Angelina’s parents were the first to leave. Jackie hugged her daughter and told her she’d see her at home. She’d promised not to mention it to her siblings. It was her news and she needed to share it. John and Maria stayed longer. John cornered Alejandro in his office while Maria helped Angelina clean up. “Son, I’m sorry to hear this news. Have you looked at—”

  “Dad, there’s nothing that can be done. She has extensive scarring. I was too late. Just too damn late…”

  “Son, don’t blame yourself. You did everything that you could.”

  “I know. I’m just sad. That’s the only word I can use. She’s wanted children her entire life.”

  “I know, Alejandro. You’ll have them. Someday. Now, I’m concerned about your guilt.”

  “Dad, yes I have guilt. Guilt that I didn’t realize until just recently, but we’ll get through this together. I’m just concerned about Angelina. I hope that by sharing this she got some closure. I don’t expect her to ever get over it. I just want the pain to lessen to where she can deal with the sadness a little more.”

  “I understand.”

  “Thanks, Dad. I knew you would.”

  “Angelina, honey. Thank you for sharing this with us.”

  “It was important for me to share it with both of our parents at the same time, just as it was with Alejandro to share our engagement. You’ll be my mother-in-law soon. I couldn’t leave you out of this conversation. You’re too important to me. I know my mother’s not too happy with me for keeping this from her, but I wasn’t ready to deal with it.” Pausing, she continued, “I’m ready to deal with it now. Maria, thanks for understanding. I can’t wait to call you my mother as well.”

  “Oh, dear, thank you. I’d always wished for another daughter, and now I will have one.” She hugged Angelina and that’s how Alejandro and John found them moments later.

  “What’re you two doing?” asked John.

  “Oh, just having a ‘mother-daughter’ talk, that’s all.”

  John walked over to them and reached out for Angelina. He gave her a hug and kiss. “I can’t wait to have you for a daughter, too. You’re a special woman, Angelina. We both love you very much.”

  Angelina looked towards Alejandro. “I love you both as well. I can’t wait to be a part of your family.”

  Alejandro smiled. He’d truly found a remarkable woman in Angelina. They had one more hurdle to face and then they’d be on the home stretch.

  *****

  Angelina and Alejandro decided to attend the Thanksgiving Day parade that was held downtown and asked Wyatt, Colleen, and Gabriella to go with them. James was planning to participate in a touch football game with his college friends, and Kelly was driving in from Atlanta and wouldn’t be expected until early afternoon. Gabriella declined since she needed to help her mother. Wyatt thought it was too cold outside, but Colleen elected to go. She’d never been to the parade and made a big deal about seeing Santa. Angelina laughed at her and Alejandro went along with the fun.

  Alejandro drove and all Colleen could talk about were the upcoming holidays. Since she hadn’t been able to enjoy the holiday shopping the year before, she was anxious to begin. In previous years, she and Angelina had shopped together. The first Saturday of December, Angelina would treat her to lunch and they’d shop. Last year, neither was able to partake in their ritual, but this year both of them were well.

  “Hey, Doc?”

  “What?”

  “Angelina and I take one day during the holiday season and shop together. What do you think about joining us? Start to make it a tradition that we can share?”

  “That sounds like a fabulous idea. You need to let me know when you’ve planned for your day of shopping so I can clear my schedule.”

  Angelina looked back at her sister, smiled, and winked at her. Angelina mouthed a “thank you,” for including him in their special day—it meant a lot to her. Alejandro would fit into their family without any problems, just as long as her mother didn’t try to continue to blame him for her infection. She acted as though she didn’t, but after last night’s quick exit, she wasn’t too sure.

  The three of them enjoyed the parade. Colleen loved Santa Claus’s parade down Main Street. “I think we should go see Santa when we all go shopping.”

  “Come on now, Colleen. Are you kidding?”

  “Would I kid about something like that?” she said with a huge smile on her face. “We need to have our picture taken with the big man.”

  “Whatever you say, Colleen,” Alejandro said, laughing.

  The parade was over by noon when they piled back into Alejandro’s car for the return to her parents’ house and Thanksgi
ving lunch. Maria had invited Angelina’s family to dinner where they’d share their news with the remainder of the family. Lunch went well, then Angelina went over to Alejandro’s parents’ to help with the last minute preparations. His parents greeted her with hugs and she smiled at them. They asked how she was doing.

  “I’m having a good day. We had a great time at the parade.”

  “That’s good, dear,” replied Maria.

  “I made Alejandro bring me by early so I can help you. After all, we did interrupt your preparations with our dinner last night.”

  “Dear, think nothing of it. I intentionally gave Alejandro grief. I knew I’d have all the help I needed between John and Gabriella. Alec and Joe… Well, they’ll just show up to eat. Now, why don’t you rest? I’m sure you’re worn out.”

  “I’m fine. I’d rather not think about it. The hardest part was telling our parents. That part’s over. Don’t think that it’s not going to be difficult telling our siblings because it is… It’s going to be especially hard telling Gabriella.” Smiling at Maria, she continued, “I’ll be fine—”

  Alejandro interrupted her. “You’ll be fine? What’s going on?” he said, concerned.

  “Nothing, dear. I was just having a conversation with your mother, that’s all. Everything’s good.”

  He gave her a funny look and walked out of the room.

  “Angelina, he worries about you. You realize that.”

  “Yes, I know he does. He has his own guilt for not diagnosing my illness sooner. Deep down, he blames himself. I wish he wouldn’t, but I think that’s just the doctor in him. He wants to cure everyone, but that’s just not possible. I definitely don’t blame him. I love him and know that he would never do anything to hurt me.”

  Gabriella entered the room just as Angelina finished talking. “Hey, there. How’s my sister-in-law to-be doing today?”

  “Great. We just came back from the parade. Colleen, Alejandro, and I watched Santa Claus arrive.”