Page 3 of Final Chance At Love (Chance At Love Duet 2)

Gosh, that felt lifetime ago, like it happened to a different person. I felt like there was me before Kristoff and me after Kristoff. And I liked the me after Kristoff better, although I was bleeding on the inside.

Rick was right. I didn’t cry when I went to him and Betty with a large bruise on my face and my arms because of Jack.

I rarely cried, and I always cried alone. How was it possible that one argument with Kristoff got me so upset?Why am I letting this argument make me cry? I am stronger than this.

“Did Kristoff do something to you?” Rick asked hesitantly.

I didn’t want to go into it with him. And I certainly didn’t need witnesses to my humiliation of another rejection. “No, honestly it is nothing,” I said in what I hoped was a strong voice.

Rick looked pensive. “I’ll pretend I believe you,” he finally said. “But if he hurts you, I’ll make him sorry. And, if you ever need me, no matter where and when, promise you’ll call me.”

“Ok, I promise,” I whispered. God, he was a good man! Why couldn’t I find one of those?

“I’m going to go,” Rick reluctantly agreed. “If you’re sure you just want to be alone.”

I took a step closer and hugged him. “Thank you. I don’t know what I’d ever do without you.”

He kissed me on the forehead. “You’ll never have to be without me.”

We stood like that for a second, and before I could risk getting mellow again, I gently nudged him out the door. “Ok, you have to get home to Betty and kids. Thank you again, Rick.”

He bent his head and gave me a smooch on the cheek. “Remember, if you need me, just call.”

I watched from my porch as he entered his car and drove off, then went back into the house, and locked the door. I was not hungry at all, but I forced myself to eat at least a can of Progresso vegetable soup. The house was eerily quiet without my girls.

Thinking about them, I went in search of my cell phone to call their grandma and touch base. I looked on the kitchen counter, bench at my entrance, I searched the entire entrance and kitchen area, but I couldn’t find it.

To hell with it,I thought and went to my house phone that I hadn’t used in over a year, if I had to guess. Thankfully I knew my mother-in-law’s phone number by heart so I dialed it up.

“Hello,” she answered.

“Hi there,” I replied, forcing a cheer into my voice that I did not feel.

“Gemma? Is that you? Did you get a new phone number?”

I exhaled. “No, I didn’t. I can’t find my cell phone so I’m calling from my house phone.”

She chuckled. “No wonder Sienna said she couldn’t get to you.”

“Is everything ok?” I asked, alarmed.

“Yes, yes,” she said fast. “We just tried to call and ask if the girls could stay all next week. There is no school next Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, so we wanted to see how you felt about taking a mini vacation to Florida.”

How did I miss no school for most of next week,I pondered.

“Oh, I don’t know if I can take a whole week off, Laura,” I mumbled. What a liar I was! I didn’t even have a job anymore.

“I figured, but you are more than welcome to join us if you can.”

I remained silent, not sure what to say to that. I didn’t want to be without the girls for over a week, but I knew they would enjoy their time. They loved hanging out with their grandmother and loved visiting her house in Florida.

“I don’t know,” I answered unsure. “I didn’t pack their clothes to cover the whole week.”

“That’s not a problem at all,” she exclaimed. “I’ll stop at Target and get them stuff they need. I looked at flights and we could fly out early in the morning… if you’re ok with it. I think we all need it. They said they missed it and it reminded them of Jack.”

Her voice quivered at the end, and I felt bad. She lost her only son and grieved after him. Although I never shared Jack’s behavior with her, I had a feeling she guessed about it, some of it anyhow.

“Please, Gemma,” she pleaded. “You could use a break too.”

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