Page 13 of Her Senator's Second Chance

Chapter 5

Adam sat in the car for only a few minutes before Jenny emerged from the mansion.

She climbed into the car next to him. “What just happened in there?”

Adam shook his head. “Can we not talk about this right now?”

Jenny clamped her mouth shut with a frustrated scowl. But Adam didn’t care. She’d overstepped too far this time. His heart felt like it had been ripped in two, and he had to get some space and time to think.

She stayed silent until they got to their parents’ home. He got out of the car and went into the house. The smell of bacon cooking filled the air, and his mom looked up from the skillet when she saw him enter.

“Adam? Is everything okay?” She set the spatula down and walked toward him.

“Do I look that bad?” he asked.

“Jenny’s been keeping me in the loop. She shouldn’t have locked you up all night. But I’m glad you’ve finally talked things over with Natasha. You’ve had unfinished business with her for far too long.”

“I don’t know what to do, Mom.” It was an unusual feeling for him. He spent his life with a well-thought out plan for everything he did. But loyalty was more important to him than anything. And he’d made a promise to Darla.

“What’s the concern?” She turned off the stove and pulled out a chair and took a seat. “The bacon can wait. Sit. Let’s talk.”

Adam hesitated. He’d planned to go straight to the shower, but maybe talking to his mom would help him clear his head. He pulled out the chair next to her and settled into it. The words poured from his mouth. He told her everything that had happened from the moment Natasha spilled the water on him to the last moment he saw her when she’d declared her love for him.

“Adam, I knew that girl still loved you. I’ve seen it for years.”

“Why did you let me get engaged to Darla then?”

“Like we could have done anything to stop you. When you get your mind set to something, you’re like a freight train headed for your next goal. All we really want for you, son, is to be happy. Do you think Darla will be the woman to bring you joy for the next sixty years of your life? Because that’s what this is about. You don’t need her to bolster your career. You got elected the first time without Darla. You can do it again.”

“I made a promise to Darla. I can’t break that promise.”

“Adam, I think Darla is in love with the idea of having the big wedding she’s always dreamed of. When the honeymoon is over, she may have a rude awakening. And so will you.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that Natasha left me once over her father’s death and her inability to allow herself to get too attached to another person. What’s keeping her from running away again after when she realizes how much she cares?”

“I think she just realized that this morning when she told you she was in love with you.”

“And I didn’t even give her a chance to make things right,” Adam mused.

“If you’re not willing to take risks, then how will you ever discover the best this life has to offer?” his mom asked.

“You’re saying I’m being too cautious?”

“I’m letting you know that sometimes you have to put yourself out there and know that love is scary and powerful. It can completely crush a person or to bring them deep, lasting joy. If you aren’t willing to put your heart on the line, then you may miss out on the love of your life. You deserve that. Everyone deserves that.”

“And Darla deserves to be with a husband who loves her.” Everything clicked into place for him in that moment. Natasha was in love with him as much as he’d been and still was in love with her. Opportunities like that came once in a lifetime. And that meant he needed to break things off with Darla.

For once in his life, he threw caution to the wind.

* * *

Two weeks later,Adam returned to Maple Creek. This time he came alone. He’d broken off his engagement the night before. Darla was pretty upset, but he later realized that she was more disappointed about losing out on her over-the-top wedding than she was about losing out on him.

After a call to Mrs. Wheaton, he got in contact with her daughter Aubrey, who worked for Natasha. Between the two Wheaton women he was able to launch his plan into action, hopefully without Natasha finding out.

He pulled up to the Whitmore House and met Aubrey out front.

“Hi, Senator Larson!”

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