A Chance with You

by Yahrah St. John

  As he rang the doorbell, he was bothered by that the most, that she could disregard his feelings for her without saying anything back to him. Perhaps she didn’t feel the same way and he was standing out on the ledge alone?

  Raina answered the door. Despite how hurt he was, a smile instantly came to Spencer’s face. She looked as beautiful as ever. She was dressed simply in black jeans and a long-sleeved black-and-white tunic, but she could have been wearing a sack and she still would have looked as sexy as hell to him.

  “Come in,” she said and led him to the living room to wait.

  They stood awkwardly, staring at each other. Spencer wasn’t sure of what to say.

  Raina wrung her hands. “Um...Zoe is just about ready,” she finally said, lowering her head. “I should go check on her.” She reached for the banister, but Spencer touched her arm.

  “Raina.”

  “Yes,” she said, turning around to face him.

  What could he say that he hadn’t said? Sure, he could pour his heart out some more. Tell her she was the only woman for him. But he couldn’t do it. He refused to humiliate himself even further if she didn’t feel the same way. “Nothing,” he said and returned his hand to his side.

  “I’ll be right down,” Raina replied and rushed up the stairs.

  Spencer used the few minutes he had to compose himself. He had to get control of his feelings. As much as it pained him, he wasn’t going to keep chasing after Raina. She was going to have to come to him and tell him how she felt. He just prayed that it was sooner rather than later; otherwise he was going to lose his mind.

  Seconds later, Zoe glided into the living room in a red sleeveless dress with lots of sparkle. “You look like a princess,” Spencer said, bending down to Zoe’s height.

  “Thank you.” Zoe beamed. “You look very nice, too, Uncle Spence.” She tugged at his necktie, which he seldom wore.

  “I thought no one had noticed,” Spencer said, glancing up at Raina.

  She blinked nervously and licked her lips, making Spencer want to rise to his feet and take both sides of her face in his hands and kiss her until she admitted that he was more to her than a bed partner. But he didn’t. Instead, he reached behind him and produced a wrist corsage for Zoe.

  Zoe’s eyes grew large with excitement. “For me?”

  “Who else?” He removed the corsage from the plastic container and slid it onto her tiny wrist. “There, now you’re perfect.” He rose to his feet and glanced at his watch. The time read 6:00 p.m. “You ready to go? Doesn’t the dance start at seven?”

  “Sure does,” Raina answered. “You should get going.”

  Spencer and Zoe walked to the door. When they reached it, Raina touched his arm. “Thank you for doing this, Spencer. This means a lot to Zoe.”

  “And to you?”

  Raina nodded. “We’ll talk soon. I promise.”

  “I’m holding you to that,” Spencer said on his way out the door.

  The father-daughter dance at the elementary school was quite charming. If anyone had told him five years ago during the height of his fame that he would be accompanying a six-year-old to a school dance and enjoying every minute of it, he would have told them they were lying. But he did. He enjoyed picking Zoe up and dancing with her on the hardwood floors of the gymnasium. He enjoyed drinking too-sweet punch from one of the frazzled teachers that was chaperoning the night’s events with a bunch of six-year-olds.

  Spencer only wished that Cameron could have been there to see what a beautiful young girl he’d created with Alexa. Zoe really was quite special. Pretty, smart, creative, charming, a total delight, just like her aunt, thought Spencer.

  When the evening came to a close and he’d safely tucked Zoe into the backseat, Spencer was almost sad to see it end. No matter what happened with him and Raina, he hoped to share many more such nights with his niece.

  Those were the thoughts that were going through Spencer’s mind just as he turned onto an intersection of a major roadway and a pickup truck sped through the red light, hitting the passenger side and sending his Bentley into a tailspin. Everything faded to black.

  Chapter 15

  Raina’s heart was in her chest as she raced through the emergency room to the front desk. She was out of breath and coatless. “Zoe Martin, Spencer Davis, they were in a car accident.” She rattled off the names to the nurses’ attendant. “Where are they? Are they okay? I need to see them.”

  When she’d gotten the call that Spencer and Zoe had been in an accident, she’d dropped everything and rushed to the hospital. On the way, she’d called her parents, who were distraught but en route.

  “Ma’am,” the nurse said. “Please try and calm down.”

  “My...my...my niece.” Raina’s voice cracked. “Is only six years old. And she just lost her mother, my sister, five months ago and her father is dead. Dear God!” Her hand rushed to cover her mouth and the sob that threatened to erupt.

  “I’ll take you to them,” the nurse said immediately. She swiftly walked in front of Raina and led her to a room in the E.R. Raina peered through the glass and saw Spencer lying still on the cot. A bandage was around his head.

  “Is he, is he...” Raina couldn’t get the word dead out of her mouth.

  “No, no.” The nurse shook her head and touched her arm. “He survived with a pretty bad bump on the head. He was unconscious for a bit, but he’s okay. Has a broken rib and some minor cuts and bruises, but otherwise he’ll be fine.”

  “Thank God!” Raina didn’t wait for permission and rushed into the room to Spencer’s side. When she reached him, she grabbed his hand in hers and surveyed the damage. He had several lacerations that would add more character to his already handsome face. He didn’t look too worse for wear and Raina was thankful that he’d survived. She only hoped that Zoe was the same.

  She squeezed his hand and brought it to her lips. Spencer’s eyes flickered open. “Hey, you,” she said, giving him a halfhearted smile. “How are you feeling?”

  “As if I was hit by a truck.” He attempted a joke.

  “I believe you were,” Raina replied. “Or at least that’s what the police officer said you told them before they carted you off in the ambulance.”

  As if suddenly remembering where he was, Spencer tried to sit up. He looked alarmed, and his eyes darted around the room, “Zoe, where is she? Is she okay?” He looked around but didn’t see her.

  “I don’t know,” Raina said softly. “They brought me to you first. And I’m hoping Zoe is just a little banged up like you are.”

  When Spencer didn’t look her in the eye, a horrible dread began to seep through her veins. “Spencer, what’s wrong? What’s wrong with Zoe?”

  His eyes filled with tears and Raina gave a muffled cry. “No, not my niece, not Zoe, too,” Raina began backing away from him in fear.

  Spencer instantly reached for her and grabbed her arm. “She’s alive,” he said. “Barely.” He said the word underneath his breath.

  “What was that?” she asked, coming closer.

  He looked up into Raina’s teary eyes, “It’s bad, Raina. The car was hit on the passenger side. Zoe took the brunt of it.”

  “Oh God.” Raina touched her chest. “Where is she now?”

  “They took her up to ICU, and then I heard a doctor mention something about surgery, but then I passed out.”

  “Surgery?” Raina was horrified. “I have to find a doctor.” Without another word to Spencer, she rushed out the double doors in search of a doctor. She found one and stopped him.

  “I’m Zoe Martin’s aunt,” Raina said, touching his arm. “I’d like to know about her condition.”

  The doctor stared at her, perplexed for a moment, before saying, “Oh, yes, the little girl from the car accident.”

  “Yes, yes
, that’s her,” Raina said. “I want to know what happened.”

  “We all do.” Suddenly her parents materialized at Raina’s side. She hadn’t even seen them come in, but she was glad they were there. “What’s the prognosis, Doctor?”

  “Well, Zoe suffered the worst impact from the crash because the truck hit the passenger side.”

  “Oh, Lord!” her mother exclaimed. Raina thought she might pass out, but her father wrapped his arms around her middle and held her up.

  “And?” Raina prodded him for more information.

  “She suffered a concussion from the impact of the air bag, but the major injury is a ruptured spleen from crushing her pelvis,” the doctor said. “Caused a lot of internal bleeding.”

  “What are you going to do about that?” Spencer said from behind them.

  Raina was shocked to see that Spencer had moved from his bed to find out about Zoe when he had a head trauma himself. He was barefoot and wearing a hospital gown and had a bandage around his head, but he didn’t seem to care.

  “Sir, you need to get back in bed,” the doctor said and started ushering him back toward the room he’d just left. “You suffered a serious concussion and loss of consciousness—we need you to rest.”

  “Not until I know about my niece,” Spencer said, pulling away. “So finish telling us what you’ve done and what you’re going to do.”

  Despite his injury, Spencer commanded attention with his voice and his height and the doctor acquiesced. Raina went to Spencer’s side so he could lean on her as the doctor spoke.

  “Well, she suffered a lot of internal bleeding from the crash. We did a physical exam that showed some abdominal tenderness, so we’re doing a CT scan to see the extent of injuries.”

  “And what do you think it’ll show?” Raina asked.

  “Your niece will need surgery,” the doctor replied. “Most likely to remove a portion or all of her spleen.”

  “Oh, God.” Crystal turned to her husband and began sobbing, so Anthony quietly moved her away from the group.

  “Does Zoe need her spleen?” Raina inquired.

  “She doesn’t need a spleen to survive, but being without your spleen increases the risk of serious infections,” he answered. “But I think it’s the best course of action in this situation.”

  “That sounds serious,” Raina said. “Zoe is only six. Isn’t there some other noninvasive measure you could take?”

  “We could keep Zoe in the hospital to observe her condition and provide nonsurgical care, such as blood transfusion, but surgery really would be the best option.”

  “Raina,” Spencer said, “surgery is what’s best for Zoe.”

  “What if I disagree?” Raina replied, facing him. “Surgery is a big step.”

  The doctor must have figured they were Zoe’s parents, because he stepped away. “Why don’t you both talk about it and let me know what you’d like to do.”

  Once he’d gone, Raina began to speak, but Spencer pulled her into the room he’d vacated. “This is my decision,” Raina began.

  “No, it’s not,” Spencer said as he slowly made his way back to the bed. “I may not be Zoe’s legal guardian, but you know as well as I do that like you, I’m the closest she has to family.”

  “But surgery?” Raina said and began pacing the floor. “What if something goes wrong? Oh, my God, Spencer, I can’t take that chance. I can’t bear to lose her, not after losing Alexa. And my parents, they would—”

  “Come here,” Spencer said and Raina allowed herself to go into his comforting arms. “I know surgery is scary.” He lifted her chin, so she could look up at him. “But do you really want a wait-and-see approach and Zoe could get worse and worse? If they do the surgery now, she’ll be on her way to recovery.”

  “I guess you’re right,” Raina replied. “I’m—I’m just scared. She’s so young.”

  “I know, sweetheart,” Spencer said. “And it’ll be okay. I promise. I promise.” He kissed her forehead, then her cheek and then brushed his lips across hers.

  It wasn’t a kiss meant to illicit passion. It was a comforting kiss letting Raina know that Spencer wasn’t going anywhere. He was there for the duration. She could count on him.

  * * *

  The next several hours as Raina, Spencer, her parents and even Summer and Ryan waited for Zoe to come out of surgery from her splenectomy were some of the worst Raina could remember. She’d thought she’d endured the worst of what life had to offer when she’d watched Alexa waste slowly away until she was a shell of her former self. But Zoe was young and full of promise, with so much living ahead of her. It was devastating for Raina to think her short life could be snubbed out in an instant.

  Raina paced the floor of the waiting room, wishing, hoping, praying, until Summer finally whisked her off to the small chapel in the hospital to say a prayer with her. Spencer had tried to stay with her, but the doctors and nurses had been adamant that he lie down for a bit or risk injuring himself. Raina had promised to get him the moment she heard anything. It had been a struggle, but he’d relented and gone to bed.

  Raina sat in the chapel first and then she kneeled at the small altar and made deals with God that if he could just spare Zoe’s life, she would ensure she grew up to be an exceptional human being. Then she’d gotten angry and told God that it wasn’t fair and he couldn’t take away another person she loved.

  “Believe, Raina,” Summer said, coming to Raina’s side and squeezing her shoulders. “If you believe it, it can come true.”

  Tears streamed down Raina’s cheeks. “I’m trying, Summer, but it’s not that easy. I almost lost the two people I love most in this world.” She wiped her runny nose with the back of her hand.

  “Two people?” Summer asked softly, squeezing Raina hands.

  Raina rose to her feet and nodded. “Yes, two people. I love him, Summer. I was just too scared to admit it. And...I—I almost lost him tonight.” Raina covered her mouth to smother a sob. “And if I had, he would have never known how I truly feel.”

  “Then you’re very lucky,” Summer said. “You get another chance to make things right, to tell Spencer how you truly feel about him. Not many people get that chance. And I’m sorry I gave you a hard time about Spencer. I just wanted you to be sure and I didn’t want you to get hurt.”

  Raina nodded in agreement. “I know, but is it too much to ask God for another miracle? That he spares Zoe and that she’s okay? I need to be able to tell her how much I love her and that I’m happy to be her mother.”

  Summer’s voice was choked, but she managed to say, “No, it’s not too much to ask. And I believe it’s going to come true.”

  They bowed their heads in prayer again. Raina didn’t know how long she and Summer sat together in the chapel before her mother rushed in with her father at her heels.

  “Zoe’s okay,” her mother said, flying toward Raina and pulling her off the bench. “She made it through surgery and she’s going to be okay.”

  “Oh, thank God!” Raina said and enveloped her mother in a hug. Summer and her father joined in and Raina’s entire family shared hugs.

  When they released each other, Raina asked, “Has anyone told Spencer?” She looked from her mother and then to her father.

  “No, baby girl,” her father said with kind eyes. “We thought you might want to tell him the good news.”

  Raina smiled. “Thank you. I’ll do that.” She squeezed her father’s hand and looked him in the eye. He didn’t have to say a word, but she knew that he’d finally come to terms that Spencer was a permanent fixture in their lives.

  Raina started for the door, but Summer shouted out, “And you’ll tell him what we discussed? Because there’s no better time than the present.”

  “I will, I will.” She couldn’t wait to tell Spencer that she loved him wi
th all her heart.

  * * *

  She found Spencer sleeping soundly in the private room that they’d had to browbeat him into on the fourth floor. He hadn’t wanted to leave her side in the waiting room, but he’d complained of dizziness and a headache and Raina knew he had to rest. He couldn’t risk making his injuries worse just to stay by her side. She was a strong woman; she would be fine. Plus, she’d had her parents and Summer by her side.

  She pulled a chair closer toward Spencer’s sleeping form. Then she reached across to grasp his large masculine hand in hers. His hands dwarfed her small ones, but he was a gentle giant that she’d come to love dearly.

  Spencer’s eyes fluttered open. She watched him try to focus on her. He assessed her eyes for some sign of sadness and when he saw none, she saw him visibly relax.

  “She’s okay, Spencer,” Raina assured him. “And is in recovery. They’ll have to monitor her over the next twenty-four hours, but she has an excellent diagnosis for a full recovery and to reclaim her spot as the most audacious little girl ever.”

  Spencer smiled. “I’m so glad, baby,” he said drowsily. “And you? How are you?”

  Raina swallowed. “I’m okay now that the both of you are safe and sound.”

  “Well, I’m an ox,” Spencer said. “It takes a lot to take me down.”

  Raina laughed. “I see that.” She watched him wince when he tried to move on the bed. She patted his hand. “You just get some rest. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

  Spencer eyed her suspiciously for several moments as if he didn’t believe her. “Promise?”

  “I promise.” Raina used her index finger to cross her heart.

  “Okay,” Spencer said and his eyes drifted shut again.

  Raina released a deep sigh of relief. He and Zoe had pulled through the accident. She was a lucky woman, and when Spencer was coherent enough to listen, she wouldn’t waste a second longer to tell him how she felt.