Page 96 of Second Chances

Once the four of them got to the fair, Amy and Trixie wandered off to look at some exhibits, leaving Henry and Charlotte to amble hand-in-hand through the streets until they got to the midway. “Let’s ride the Ferris wheel first, Henry,” Charlotte suggested.

“Sounds perfect.” After a kiss to her forehead, he bought a strip of tickets from the nearest booth.

As soon as they were in their bucket, he draped an arm around her shoulders, and she snuggled into his side as they began their ascent. “I remember the moment, two years ago, when I saw you from up here,” she told him. “I had lived in Beverley for a month and hadn’t seen you around town, not since that first day outside the shop. I was so disappointed, but then here I was, with Amy, and I looked down and you were right there.”

He shook his head. “I couldn’t believe it either. You had haunted me since then, too. It’s funny that neither one of us knew we saw each other that first time, but then ended up finding each other not in Beverley but at the fair.”

“It’s fate…all of it,” she said quietly. “We’re so lucky to have found each other, to be together now at our age.”

“I agree.” Henry cupped her face in his hands. “That’s why I don’t want to spend another night alone, without you. Move in with me, Charlotte.”

“What?” He stunned her with his request, but it was what she wished for, more than anything.

“Unless you think it’s too soon?” Was he rushing things? He didn’t think so, not at their age, as she’d pointed out. But, he reminded himself, she had only been divorced a couple of years. He’d had years of living alone, enough to know he didn’t want that anymore, but maybe she liked it?

“Too soon? No, I just…I thought you’d need time to adjust after living alone for so long.”

“That’s why I don’t need time. I don’t want to spend another minute alone, without you. But if it’s too soon, that’s-”

“Yes! Yes, of course I’ll move in with you. I don’t want to be without you, either.” Taking care not to rock their cart, she turned her face up to his to meet his mouth. “I’m so happy,” she cried, smiling against his mouth.

After they broke apart, he said, “And just so you know, if you’d rather not live at my house, we could find our own place, or live in yours—I’m open. Whatever you want. I just want to be with you. This morning, waking up without you next to me, not seeing your face smiling at me, hearing your voice say my name, feeling your heart beating?” Henry’s palm encompassed Charlotte’s pounding heart. “It was torture, and I never want to endure that again.”

Charlotte captured his mouth with hers again, assuring him, “Never. I want to spend every night with you, too. Your house is perfect.”

Holding her chin in his hand, he said, “Our house. Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. All the love you’ve put into that house? All the memories it has, for you and Josh, rebuilding your life? It speaks to who you are, Henry.” Behind her glasses, her endless brown eyes held tears, causing his own eyes to well up. “Your strength, your hope, your goodness. But also your mistakes. I want the perfect, the imperfect, all of you.”

“It took you blowing into Beverley, into my life, for me to have the courage to take the chance to love again. But it was your patience, your optimism, and your heart that got us here.”

“When I moved, I never expected this. I didn’t know what would happen, just that I needed a new start.”

“We both got one, you and I…together,” Henry promised her. “Charlotte, I am in this, with everything in me. I didn’t get it right before, but the two of us⁠—”

“—are right.” Charlotte finished for him. “We are right.” Linking her hands with his, she continued, “When my marriage ended, all I wanted was to find out who I was and what I needed out of life. I thought that was freedom. What I discovered was that I really wanted the freedom to choose. And I choose you, Henry Livingston.”

“You know, they say love is sweeter the second time around,” Henry informed her. “What do you say we take another spin on this?”

“I’d say it sounds perfect.” Too wrapped up in each other, they didn’t notice various friends and family members watching them from below, none of whom knew any of the details but recognized the commitment being made and a second chance at love fulfilled.

Two Months Later

In the dress she’d worn to Josh’s wedding, Charlotte was in their bedroom packing when she glanced up to find Henry leaning against the door frame watching her, so desirable, still in his clothes from work. With his hands behind his back, his shoulders straining against his shirt, he stole her breath. Tomorrow they were leaving for a long weekend at Lake Tahoe, and she tingled at the idea of just the two of them there, with no friends or family popping in, as they liked to do at their house in Beverley. His deep voice asked, “Do you know how beautiful you are?” After crossing the room, one powerful arm enfolded Charlotte.

“Well, when you text me that we’re having a fancy evening out, I respond appropriately.” She dropped the sweater she held as his tongue swirled in a sensitive spot between her neck and her collarbone.

“And you know I love how you respond,” he whispered, with a kiss to her neck. “I have a surprise for you.” He produced a package wrapped in purple paper, tied up with a silver ribbon whose bow adorned the top. He soaked up the wonder in her chocolate eyes as she blinked behind her glasses.

“Henry, what’s that?” Charlotte squealed in delight—she loved a surprise, especially from him, and he excelled at giving them.

“Open it and find out,” he teased, placing it on her dressing table.

With extreme care, she untied the purple ribbons holding the handles closed. “The wrapping is so lovely.” Pulling out a handful of tissue paper, she withdrew the item from the bag. “What in the world? Is this a Ferris wheel?” With brightly painted wooden cars and tiny lights, the structure was slightly over six inches tall. Struck by the craftsmanship, Charlotte touched one of the cars with her manicured finger. “Oh, Henry, it’s gorgeous! Did you make this?”

He nodded. “I started it the morning after Josh’s wedding. I needed something to do while I thought about everything, worried that I had messed it all up.” He kissed the top of her head. “Watch this,” flicking a button on the back. Pride swelled as her mouth dropped when the wheel began slowly spinning.

In awe that his beautiful hands could create something so magnificent, his gift mesmerized her so much that it took her several minutes to notice something glinting from the center. “Wait, what’s that?”