Page 5 of Rip Ryder's Second Chance

Her relationship, if she could call it that, with Gavin had left her exhausted. She met him through a mutual friend and, although she’d been leery about his intentions, being a drummer in a band that played internationally, she’d enjoyed his company and his Australian accent. What had been a casual fling when he was in town soon turned into a positive pregnancy test. He conveniently disappeared after she announced the impending arrival of the baby then miraculously showed up again after Ollie turned one, asking for parental rights. She’d done the visitation trial with him, giving him a chance to be a father, but after a handful of no-shows, and later a tense legal battle, the judge ordered full custody to Noelle when Gavin failed to show up for the final hearing. She wasn’t surprised. He lived his life in the fast lane, which didn’t provide a sidecar for a toddler. Although she hated that Ollie might never know the love of his biological father, Noelle would make up for it by being both mom and dad.

“You say that until loneliness creeps in and you need a man who knows how to—”

“Stop.” Noelle’s cheeks warmed. “That’s how I got into trouble with Gavin. I’m not focusing on any more men, not until Ollie’s a teenager. And maybe not even then.” When Sammie laughed, Noelle sighed. “I’m being serious.”

“Let me get this straight.” Sammie tilted her head. “You’re going to put your love life on the back burner for the next eleven years?”

“Why do you look so shocked?” Noelle turned her attention to opening the premade salad bag.

“You’re a beautiful, brilliant, caring woman who deserves to be romanced by a real man. One who would rather hold a woman’s body than a pair of drumsticks.”

“In his defense, he did have that career before I met him and I never asked, nor assumed, that he’d give it up. We were never in a committed relationship.”

“Will you do me a big favor at least? Stop dipping into Ollie’s drink stash and get your own adult fruit punch.”

“I’ll work on that.” Noelle playfully smacked her sister on the bottom. “Don’t let those burgers burn.”

Once the food was finished, they took their filled plates outside on the patio.

Noelle loved sitting in the back and watching the sun set. It saddened her to think that soon this would all be gone.

“I received an offer on the house.”

“You did?” Sammie frowned.

“It’s a fair price.” She dipped a fry into ketchup, making swirly shapes.

“What will you do? Where will you go?”

“Good question. I guess I need to start figuring that out.”

“That means you’re going to accept the offer?”

Noelle nodded. “Yes.”

“You could move in with your mom and her new boyfriend, Rico. You know as well as I do, he won’t be around much longer. They’ve reached their fifth month of living together anniversary. That’s almost to her six-month cutoff.” Sammie rolled her eyes.

“No, thank you. I love her but I never want to live with her again. She’s a big help when it comes to Ollie, but sometimes that’s the way it works. People can be better grandparents than parents.” She dug into her burger, forcing herself to eat. The apple she’d eaten for lunch had long since petered out.

“Then come and live with Danny and me.” Sammie’s expression lit.

Noelle blinked. “That would be worse than living with Mom. A toddler and a sister-in-law living under the same roof as newlyweds would ruin your marriage before it even got started.” A telltale sadness climbed up her chest. “Don’t worry. Ollie and I will be fine.”

“Maybe this is all a good thing.”

“How?” Noelle asked then popped the ketchup drenched fry into her mouth.

“The custody battle was exhausting for me so I can only imagine how draining it was for you. Think of how a new start could breathe life back into your life.”

“Are you saying that I’m not living and breathing?”

“I’m only saying that since you got pregnant you’ve dedicated yourself to Ollie and helping others. It’s okay for Mama to want a little fun every now and again herself.”

“I’m perfectly fine with being alone. And I’mnotalone. I have my son who keeps me busy. He’s on the go from sunup to sundown. I also love working with my clients.” From the time she learned that she was pregnant, she’d fallen madly in love with her son. When the doctor placed Ollie into her arms for the first time, she’d known she’d never need anything but her child. Yet, in all truthfulness, there were some stark voids in Noelle’s life that being a mother could never fulfill. She missed the embrace of a pair of strong arms. Someone to ask her how her day had gone.

“When you start making statements like that it’s a sure sign that you have complete mommy brain. Honey, we all need a little side hustle, if you get my drift.”

“That’s the last thing on my mind.” She shrugged, tossing a fry to a bird that paced nearby.

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