Page 32 of Second Chances

“Have you heard from her?” Liam looked up at him, his blood-shot eyes filled with what could only be despair, and Henry was concerned with his appearance. Normally he was immaculate, from shaving to clothing to the amount of gel he used in his chestnut-colored hair, but today he was a mess.

“No. It’s over. She can’t forgive that I’m Josh’s cousin. Can’t look past the fact that she’s a surgeon, and I’m a two-bit car salesman. Why would she? And why should she?” Voice wavering, eyes glistening, Liam whispered, “She’s incredible, Henry, and I’m⁠—”

“Hey, stop that!” He put an arm around his shaking shoulders. “You have the biggest heart in the family, but you’ve always sold yourself short in everything that matters.” His nephew had relied on his looks and charm to get him through life, and it had worked. Until now, when the one thing he wanted, the love of Lana, was beyond his reach. “Just look at how you’ve grown the dealership here in Beverley since you started managing it. While teaching business classes at the community college, I might add. And you’re assisting Effie with coaching the track team. You’re loyal, with integrity and empathy.”

“But I’ll never measure up to Josh, not in Lana’s eyes.” Liam looked at him through watery lashes. “You know she had feelings for him when they worked together?”

Henry hesitated, carefully choosing the words he wanted his nephew to hear. “That wasn’t love, Liam. Sometimes our hearts mistakenly see love, when what we truly feel is friendship, duty…companionship. Especially when the other person doesn’t feel the same. Trust me, I should know. Only now am I—” He stopped himself from putting too much weight on his date with Charlotte.

“I’m sorry, Henry, I came in here wrapped up in my problems when you should be thinking about Charlotte. She’s phenomenal with her students, you know.”

“You know her?”

“Oh, yeah. Effie roped me into helping move sets around after track practice one day, so every once in a while I pop into one of her play practices to see if she needs anything.” Liam stretched and rose from his chair. “Thanks for the pep talk. I can’t always talk to Mom and Dad about stuff like this, ya know? Not when they’ve been married forever and still act like newlyweds.”

Henry nodded, understanding all too well. “You’re okay?”

“Yeah. I’ll get over Lana someday. It helps that she’s not coming to Josh’s wedding, though. Couldn’t bear to see her again.” Liam poured himself a cup of coffee. “For the road,” he told Henry before sauntering out of the office.

“Make sure you bring the cup back this time!” Henry called after Liam.

Henry emptied the remains of the coffee pot into his own mug, glass clattering against ceramic. “All good in here?” Juan poked his head in. “Careful there, you’re getting coffee on the desk.”

“Why am I jittery? I was feeling fine until a minute ago; now I’m afraid I’m going to pass out.”

“Those are just signs that you’re invested in the outcome tonight.” Juan hung his freshly washed cup on the mug tree. “I’m sure you’re nervous.”

“I am,” he paused briefly. “I haven’t mentioned it, but Melanie has been calling again.”

“That woman cannot take a hint! She’s acting like you’re the one who left her! She was silent for twenty-five years, but now she can’t get enough of you? What is her damage?”

Henry shrugged. “I can’t help but have a sense of foreboding. You know, the first time Charlotte and I really connected, at the fair, I had spoken with Melanie that day. And there’ve been a couple of other times when it’s like she knows about Charlotte, she calls.”

“Well, don’t blame only Melanie. There’s been all that bullshit with DD, too, keeping you from pursuing Charlotte.”

“I know, I know. But I swear, everything with DD is tied up.”

“So no other incidents like her showing up here after hours with a bottle of wine?” Henry shook his head. “Good. Just keep in mind that Charlotte is nothing like DD or Melanie. I don’t know DD that well, only talked to her probably once in the almost twenty years I’ve worked here. But from the day I met Melanie, something told me that girl was going to be nothing but trouble. She couldn’t tell the truth to save her life. I didn’t say anything back then because we were kids. Hell, my own family warned me not to marry Angie, but did I listen? No. Our saving grace is that no kids came from that disaster.”

“Josh is the only good thing⁠—”

Juan raised his hands. “Not saying anything about your son. Josh is phenomenal. But leave your ex in the past. Leave DD in the past. Both women twist you up in knots, and not in a good way. Getting a second chance with Ashley was something I wasn’t sure I deserved, and I get down on my knees every day to show my gratitude to her. You, without a doubt, deserve happiness. Love. Peace.” Juan clamped his hand on Henry’s shoulder. “Now, get the hell out of here. I’ll lock up. Go home and get ready for Charlotte.”

At home, Henry collapsed onto his bed. Charlotte, Charlotte, Charlotte, he groaned, her face drifting into his mind. She’d been gorgeous this afternoon, her dark hair glinting with snow, the charming dimple in her cheek flashing when she smiled, her deep brown eyes sparkling behind her glasses. Their pasts were so similar: each of them married right out of high school, each young parents, each divorced. Juan was right: Charlotte was nothing like Melanie, no double talk or manipulation, wearing her expressions openly on her beautiful face. At lunch with her, he lost track of time as they discussed books, TV shows, jigsaw puzzles, until Phil texted, threatening to send the sheriff out for him.

In his mirror, Henry held up a tie, trying to figure out if it accentuated his eyes or clashed with the sage green button-down shirt he’d chosen because it would complement Charlotte’s dark eyes. Tossing the tie aside, he sighed in frustration just as his doorbell rang. Hurrying out of his room, he flew down the stairs, finding Effie and Josh in his living room.

“Ooh, Henry, don’t you look handsome!”

“Dad, what’s going on? We rang the bell twice.”

Henry pointed out, “I see that didn’t stop you from coming in.”

Josh ignored his father’s sarcasm. “Why are you all dressed up?” Since when had his son become so observant?

“Babe,” Effie addressed Josh, “I think it looks like your dad is going out this evening.”

Josh picked up a tie Henry had thrown on the bed. “With some of the guys from the shop?”