Page 2 of Rip Ryder's Second Chance

“Yes.” A familiar sadness came over Noelle. “You see, I didn’t tell anyone after I was seen at the emergency department because I didn’t think I was brave enough to face the scrutiny. To have others look at me in a different way. Now, I live in regret wondering if he’s done this to anyone else since. What would my life look like had I faced my situation head on? I can’t tell you what to do. You must make up your own mind whether to tell or not, but you’ve done nothing wrong and have nothing to be ashamed of. You’re allowed to recover at your own pace, but I see such a strong young woman in you.”

“But…” Marley lowered her eyes.

“But what?” Noelle encouraged.

She lifted her chin. “Since this is our last session, what will I do if I need to speak to you?”

“I’ve referred you to a wonderful therapist who specializes in sexual assault. And, you have my cell number if you ever need to reach me.”

After a jerky nod, she blurted, “Thank you. I wish you weren’t leaving, but I understand.”

“Sometimes even people my age have to spread their wings.” Noelle felt a heaviness trickle down her spine.

Once the teen left, Noelle stayed at her desk in the stillness, watching raindrops pelt the window, as she made her notes on Marley’s case. As a counselor, Noelle had heard story after story that touched her deeply, but no other life experience had triggered her like Marley’s had. The circumstances were so similar. Noelle couldn’t tell the teen what to do, whether to tell her family or not, but living in regret could sometimes be as painful as the assault itself.

After placing her diary into the top drawer of the desk, locking it, Noelle made her way out of the office above the garage and over to the small house with the FOR SALE sign standing in front. She’d bought the place five years ago with dreams of helping others and in one fell swoop she had no other choice but to sell. Soon another family would be calling the it home.

Walking through the side door into the kitchen, she listened but the house was unusually quiet.

“Sammie?” she called out. “Ollie?”

“Come and find us,” came her sister’s prompt.

“Oh, we’re playing hide and seek, huh?” Noelle shrugged off her sweater and laid it on the back of a kitchen chair. “Where are you?”

She heard faint giggles as she peeked under the table, behind the door, then suddenly a loud squeal erupted in the room. Her two-year-old son jumped out from his hiding place in a bottom cabinet and came running to wrap his tiny arms around her legs. She scooped him up and gave him a tight squeeze.

Noelle loved coming home to his warm hugs.

Sammie, Noelle’s stepsister, popped into the kitchen, shaking her head. “Ollie, you’re supposed to let Mama find you.”

Ollie clapped his hands. “I found her,” he babbled.

Noelle laughed. His energy made her day better. She set him down on his feet and he was gone like a flash of lightning. The kid had a lot of umph.

“I brought my dress. You did say you’d alter it for me.” Sammie gave Noelle a pathetic, pleading look that worked. Always had. Although there were ten years of age between them, they had always been close. She’d been more like a mom to Sammie.

“Go put it on and I’ll take a look.”

“You’re the best sister I have.” Sammie kissed Noelle’s cheek.

“I’m your only sister, but thanks.”

Chapter 1

“Ouch!”

“Hold still, Sam” Noelle looked up the train of the elegant satin and lace wedding gown that cost more than her house and car payment combined. She’d been pinning the delicate material until her eyes were going cross. The things she did for the people she loved.

Her sister stared down at her with a twisted frown.

“I’m tired of standing here,” Sammie huffed.

“When you choose a dress that’s as extravagant as Princess Diana’s this is what you get. It takes forever to pin.” Noelle didn’t want to sound too harsh but since Sammie had announced her engagement six months ago, they’d been wrapped up in the Sammie-Wedding-Show and Noelle had a dozen other things on her plate. The roof was leaking which had to be fixed before the sale would be finalized. Bills were overdue. And her sewing machine made a terrible grinding noise which meant she could end up hand sewing the hem of the wedding gown.

“There will be three hundred people at this wedding. It’smyday and I want to look like a princess,” Sammie said without an ounce of embarrassment. Growing up in the lap of luxury, she didn’t have a filter when it came to being snobby.

“Stop right there!”

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