Second Chance (Cold Springs Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

living room.  Sam stopped him before he could disappear.  “I can’t stay.  I just wanted to ask you about Aunt Jean’s things.”
    Burt turned toward her, his expression troubled.  She felt as if she’d said the wrong thing and felt immediately guilty.  “What do you want to do with everything?”
    “It’s your place now.”  He turned and continued on to the living room.  “I’ve got TV to watch.”
    His tone was sharp.  Avoidance.  That was why Aunt Jean’s things were still there.  Sam should have known.  Of course, she’d known.  What else had she expected?
    “Well, maybe I’ll just box things up,” she called into the living room.  “You can go through them when you’re ready, okay?”
    “Dammit, I told you, they’re not my things!”
    Sam jumped back, feeling as if Burt had slapped her.  Rarely had she heard him swear…well, except when there was a punchline attached to it.  He’d certainly never sworn at her.  She realized where it had come from, that it wasn’t Burt, but grief talking, but it still hurt. 
    Sam started to leave, realized that Ian’s gaze was on her and tried to avoid making eye contact.  “Well, I suppose I could take her clothes to a thrift store or something.”
    “We can put them in the back shed.”  Ian motioned toward the back of the house.  He caught the door as she opened it and followed her outside.  “What are you doing tomorrow?”
    “Tomorrow?”
    “I’ll have time in the morning.  I’ll help you box and load up everything.  We can use my truck.”
    Ian’s voice was like warm chocolate, and Sam felt warmth rush to the pit of her stomach.  Sam was both shocked and surprised by his eagerness to help.  She wondered how Ian had gotten to know Burt.  Sam had known Burt her whole life but she’d never known Ian to follow in Burt’s or Jean’s lives. The only place Sam had ever known Ian was from school.
    She wondered how Ian’s life had unfolded since high school. Obviously, he hadn’t left Cold Springs which was a fine path to take with his life, although she couldn’t help but feel a little envious, which was stupid. 
    She didn’t even know where that had come from.  No one had forced her to leave Cold Springs or forced her to lose touch with the people she grew up with.  She only had herself to blame for that.
    “You don’t have to do that.”
    “No, it’s okay.”
    “You barely know me.”
    “I know Burt.” He was quick to answer. “I know he wouldn’t want Jean’s things thrown out, and I know he certainly thinks a lot of you.”
    Sam didn’t see any point in arguing. She needed the assistance, and Ian was right. Burt wouldn’t want Jean’s things thrown out. Maybe in time he would want to go through them himself. If they were stored in his shed, he’d have his own timing and he’d have no rush to do it. Maybe it would make things easier on him.
    “All right.  Tomorrow then, if you’re sure it’s no trouble.”
    “No trouble at all.”
    “Okay, well. Thank you.”
    She got in her vehicle and drove back to the diner.  All the while, she wondered how odd it was that someone would offer to help when they barely knew her. Plus there was nothing in it for him. No one ever did anything like that in the city.
    Of course, Cold Springs had always been friendlier than New York City. That was one of the reasons why Sam wanted to come back. There was no personality in the city. Nothing was personal. Here everyone had their nose in everyone’s business, and while it was often annoying, sometimes it was just…nice. In the ten years she’d been away, Sam had missed nice. Nice felt good again.
    It was dark by the time she let herself in and made it back upstairs to the apartment.  She had every light turned on and it still didn’t feel right.  She was an intruder here. On one hand, it was as if Aunt Jean would come around the corner any minute and welcome her with open arms into her home, and on the other hand, Sam