Page 3 of A Second Chance

Avery tore her attention from Nick’s tonsils. “Hey, how was your day?”

“Busy. I’ve finally gotten the hang of making glass beads.”

“That’s great,” Avery said. The way Nick watched Avery with pure love written across his face, made Gwen ache… a little. She wasn’t jealous of her sister, exactly; Gwen had given up on relationships by her own free will. After a humiliating incident four years ago, she decided that men were not worth it. She’d waited on a guy to come home from war and he blew her off. She was naïve then, but wiser now at twenty-eight.

“There aren’t any that are ready for prime time, but I’m getting there.”

“I’m sure they’ll be amazing.”

Gwen smiled – Avery might be the most positive person in the world. It was a gift to be that cheerful and carefree. Avery suffered a traumatic experience, but she hadn’t let it close her off, the way Gwen had.

“Thanks,” she replied, “I’m gonna grab some food.” Gwen headed through the living room to the kitchen.

She could try to date again. There were no candidates at the moment. And she’d gone for a time turning down any invitations, but perhaps it was time to be more open to possibilities.

“Where’s Mom?” she called to Avery.

“Baby delivery.” Their mom, Natalie, worked as a midwife. The old-school hippie grew up on a commune. She’d brought up her daughters in a commune for a time, and the other part traveling the country, delivering babies in rural communities. When Gwen moved them all to White Oak for the job at Llewellyn’s, Natalie set up shop. Life worked out for them in the little town of White Oak at the foot of Monteagle Mountain. Her only real problem? Men.

***

Jason and Bobby stood outside the VFW where the group was having their last town stop before the finish line. As with all stops, they took advantage of the provided laundry and shower facilities and the opportunity to restock supplies. The only difference this time was that, in the morning, they’d start their last five-day stretch of the hike. Bobby had charged his cell phone during the meal and held it out for Jason.

He sighed and retrieved the device, trying to pick which woman would yell less. He decided on Autumn, though it would be a toss-up. After several rings, he worried that she might not answer an unknown number. Then Daniel answered. Dan was his childhood best-friend who knocked up his sister. Jason discovered this and spiraled to the lowest point. It turned out Dan loved Autumn and married her, but he had a difficult time with it, at first.

“It’s me,” Jason said.

“Holy shit! About time you called.”

“I’ve been hiking the Appalachian Trail on a wounded warrior hike. I’m about five days out from completing the whole thing.”

“You realize maybe a little heads-up about six months ago would have been appropriate.”

“Yeah, I do now. Sorry about that. How’s Autumn, Danny, and my parents?”

“Other than worried sick about what happened to you, they’re all fine. Danny’s three and he’s growing like a weed.”

“Where’s Autumn? Should I talk to her?”

“You should, but she’s in the shower.”

“Don’t disturb her. Just tell her I’m okay… doing much better now.”

“Come home,” Dan said.

“I am. I have to fly back to Nashville and get my stuff out of storage—”

“Fly back into Knoxville instead and we’ll go get your stuff after you come home.”

“Scared I’m not gonna come back?”

“I never thought you’d disappear on us like you did.”

“Look man, the docs were releasing me from the program and the shrink signed off on letting me go. I still didn’t feel like I had my head on right. I had to do this.”

“That I don’t doubt. I’m glad you’re doing what you need to get well, but not telling us to begin with is a dick move.”

“Yeah, it was. Hey, I’m using my buddy’s phone, I don’t have one anymore. So, I better go. Tell them I’m better and I’m coming home.”

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