Page 70 of Rip Ryder's Second Chance

“To hell with all those pesky details.” She waved her hand through the air.

“Have you changed your mind?” Sadie’s heart pounded fast.

“I haven’t changed my mind, but I have some stipulations too.” She plopped down on the couch and slung her legs over the ripped arm.

Sadie tapped her toe. “And? Are you going to tell me what they are?”

Dorothy opened her mouth to answer but the pitter-pattering of bare feet in the hallway made her clamp her mouth shut. Ruby burst into the room and flung herself into Sadie’s arms. Her heart melted. “Morning, sweetie.”

“Am I going with you?” Ruby gave a little wobbly bounce and a twirl of her Harry Potter nightgown that Sadie had bought her last week. The child had a fascination for the fantasy character. Subtly, Sadie examined the scars on Ruby’s face and leg. They were still pink, but the doctor said they wouldn’t heal much more. The specialist said the process of learning to walk with a limp would take time and Sadie was hopeful by the time Ruby started school next year she’d be more confident in her physical changes.

“No, you’re not going with her,” Dorothy huffed. “Time’s a wasting, Sadie. If we’re more than ten minutes late the office will cancel her appointment.”

“Follow me down to the parking lot and I’ll give you some money.” Sadie gave Ruby a smile.

“Go get dressed,” Dorothy said to Ruby.

“Bye, Sadie.” Her bottom lip puffed out.

“I’ll pick you up soon and we’ll go to the park,” Sadie promised.

“Go!” Dorothy demanded.

Ruby marched down the hallway.

On their way downstairs, Sadie asked, “Have you been using the healing ointment the specialist gave you for Ruby’s scars?”

“Shit. You’re a broken record.”

Sadie took that as a “no”. “Well, what are the stipulations you mentioned?”

“I’d rather talk to the attorney about them. After all, she’ll be the one writing up all the paperwork, right?”

Sadie wasn’t sure how much patience she had left in her before she exploded. Biting her tongue, she grabbed a couple of bills out of her purse, handed them over, and reminded Dorothy she’d be by in a few days to pick Ruby up for their weekly outing. Without a response, Dorothy counted the cash and gave Sadie a half-hearted wave.

She left before she forgot her manners.

Chapter Two

Driving downtown, Channing found a parking spot on Main and climbed out of his truck, lifting the collar of his lined jacket higher on his neck. He didn’t mind the cooler weather, but most Texans didn’t care for it and why the benches along the sidewalk were blessedly vacant. He didn’t want to engage in idle chit-chat.

He stopped at the hardware store then the post office, and strolled up the street, looking at all the festive holiday decorations in the store windows, the stringed lights hanging from lamp posts, and lit trees with angel toppers on each corner. Up ahead he saw that the ice-skating rink was set up near the park entrance with a Santa Claus house too. Christmas was just four weeks away and the one thing townsfolk had in common was their abiding love for all-things holiday. Soon, the streets would be packed with shoppers, carolers, and those folks who just loved getting out and sharing the spirit of the season.

Channing landed somewhere in the middle. He wasn’t a die-hard fan of Christmas, but he didn’t mind it either. He guessed the holiday would look much different this year with all his brothers spending time with their own families, Franny Maw in the rehabilitation center, and his ma, Candy, dating a man she had yet to introduce her sons to. Oh, she denied the truth, but Channing wasn’t dumb. The signs were all there. He couldn’t be happier for her though. She deserved a man who treated her right, and of course, whomever he was, he’d have to pass the Dawson test of approval.

He strolled through the quiet streets, making a mental note of the items he saw in the shop windows. The Dawsons liked to make a big deal out of Christmas, buying gifts for everyone. Not expensive presents, but thoughtful ones. They were finally getting back to happiness—a version of happiness—after Cade’s death. Nothing would ever be like they were once upon a time, but they were learning to move forward and embrace the new normal.

Rounding the corner, the savory smells of a satisfying meal made his mouth salivate and his stomach growl. He hadn’t eaten a solid meal since dinner the night before and he’d worked up an appetite back at the cabin. He could use a large coffee too.

Coming to a stop in front of the large diner window, he peered through the snow-painted glass. Only a handful of people were inside so they weren’t busy. Opening the door, a belljingledabove him, bringing the attention of patrons. They waved and he returned the gesture, swiped off his hat and jacket, then hooked them on the coat rack.

“Some weather we’re having, huh, Dawson?” Old man Wheeler said around a mouthful of bacon. “I hear we’re in for a bad one this year. Probably a couple inches of snow too.”

Every year someone started a rumor that the area was in for severe weather, but in all Channing’s thirty-three years he could count on one hand how many years it had snowed in Texas.

He decided on a stool at the counter and picked up a plastic-covered menu from the reindeer holder. He wasn’t sure why he bothered looking because he always ordered the same. The Pig Plate with biscuits and a coffee.

“Hey, honey. How are we doing today?” The fifty-something, bubbly server, May Doyles, came bustling out from the swinging double doors, smoothing her hands down her tight-fitting grey uniform that showed off her voluptuous curves. He liked May. She always wore a friendly smile and talked about growing up in the foothills of Tennessee before she moved to Dove Grey with her now ex-husband. Today she hummed along to the Christmas tune playing from the corner speakers.

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