Page 1 of Accidentally Sliding Into A Second Chance

Chapter One

David

WhatwasIthinking,telling my daughter we could finally get the dog she’s been begging me for since her sixth birthday?

Duncan and Ava are never going to let me live this down.

“Emmy can be a bit of a handful,” Jade Davis, the coordinator for Mile High Mutts Rescue says, as I finish scribbling my name under owner on the adoption papers. Emmy, a fawn colored greyhound ‘mix’, is proving her right by barking for all she’s worth. Scarlett, my eight-year-old daughter, is yelling the dog’s name and trying to give her treats. “But she is very sweet and will be great with your little girl.”

Shutting my eyes, I breathe deeply and force the corner of my lips to lift. “Greyhounds are couch potatoes, right?”

Jade huffs out a laugh, and I whip my gaze to her, panic gripping me. “Yes, they’re supposed to be couch potatoes.”

As I watch Scarlett with the pup, her joy washes away any doubt I’m making a mistake.

Her face is glowing, and Emmy is staring up at her with her tongue hanging out. My cheeks pull up for real and warmthradiates from my chest. Scarlett’s excitement makes all of this worth it, even if I am in over my head.

“I want you to know that you’re never alone,” Jade continues, smiling kindly. “We offer all forms of help for families to adjust to their new circumstances. Adding a dog to your life can turn your entire world upside down for a short time while everyone gets adjusted.”

She slides a paper across the desk, listing the rescue’s support programs. “Sign up for Tuesday’s training session,” she says, circling one. “It’ll help.”

A groan spills out. “Is this necessary?” I grumble.

“If you want to survive, it is.” An amused glint dances in her eyes as she chuckles softly. “No, it’s not really necessary.”

The tightness in my shoulders eases. Thank goodness. I have no idea how I’d handle all of this on top of everything else with the season just around the corner.

My brother Duncan will have some time to help, but hockey is in full swing now, too. And even though Ava, my best friend, will be around, I’m not sure what her schedule will look like once she starts auditioning again.

I don’t even know if they’ve figured out their new situation, or where they’ll be living. I have no doubt they’ll make it work. But they only got married yesterday. I’m pretty sure they haven’t spent much time talking about what their living arrangements will look like. In fact, I’m positive that conversation didn’t make it anywhere near the top of the list of things to do.

A longing so deep leaves an ache in my chest, I wish Fiona were here for this. She always wanted Scarlett to have a dog. The two of us could have made this work without a hitch. But me? By myself?

“I know this will be hard without me, David.” Fiona squeezed my hand weakly. “But remember you’re stronger than you think, and I believe in you. You’re the best father I know.”

Tears stung the back of my eyes, my heart breaking. “How am I going to live without you?”

Crystal blue eyes had shone back at me as she lifted a hand to my cheek. “The only way you know how. One step at a time and lots of practice.”

Covering her hand with mine, I turned and kissed her palm, savoring the warmth of her touch—a touch that would soon be gone.

“Oh, and remember to get Scarlett a dog.” My groan came out as a rumble against her hand making her chuckle. “For me? It will change both of your lives in the best of ways, I promise.”

“Fiona…” Grumbling, I gazed into her eyes knowing there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for this woman. Even trade places. She should—

“David,” Jade reaches out and touches my forearm, bringing me back to the present, “if you don’t think this is a good idea—”

At that exact moment, Scarlett’s laughter lights up the room and the worry gripping me disappears, washing away any lingering doubt. “No,” I say, shaking off the doom and gloom surrounding me and remembering Fiona’s request. “We can make this work.”

I turn toward my daughter. Her arms are wrapped around Emmy while the dog’s snout is tucked in the crook of Scarlett’s neck. A slew of emotions squeeze my chest.

Wewillmake this work. Whatever it takes.

Twentyminuteslater,andone loose dog, my confidence in handling my new life circumstances is fading like the afternoon sun.

“Emmy!” I scream in a futile attempt to get my greyhound to come back to me. “Scarlett, can you please stop chasing her? It’s not helping.”

This dog is fast! I mean ridiculously fast. The times she’s raced past me, I swear I’ve heard paws thundering on the ground.

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