Second Chance for Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

at me, and I would remember what a dick I’d become over the years.
    She sniffled and wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. “I'd like to meet Abby,” she said.
    I helped Jetta up and we walked out of the church hand in hand. It felt as if time hadn't passed while we were apart. I would’ve liked to believe that we could pick up right where we left off, but I wasn't that stupid. Jetta turned loose of my hand and went off to thank the preacher for the service.
    I called Abby's school and told them I would be about fifteen minutes late because I was coming from a funeral. On the way there, we swung by and picked up Bosco. He rode in the backseat, because Jetta was afraid to have him ride in the back of the truck. I thought it was a bit odd to be so overprotective of a dog.
    “Abby will like sitting with him anyway. She’s a big animal lover,” I said to make conversation.
    “I saw you at the cafe with her. She looked really happy.”
    “She is for the most part. She’s always off in her own little world, which makes me worry,” I admitted.
    “I wouldn’t worry too much. All little kids do that.”
    “Really?”
    “Yes, really,” she said, rolling her eyes at me. “Maybe girls do it more than boys. Don't you remember pretending to be a superhero or something?”
    “No, my brother and I used to play cowboys and Indians though.”
    Jetta shrugged. “Same thing.”
    When I picked Abby up, I told her that she would be meeting my friend, Jetta before she went to her grandmother's. She seemed excited to meet someone new.
    “She has the big dog right?” Abby asked.
    “Yes,” I told her. “His name's Bosco. He’s a Golden Retriever. And he’s in the truck.”
    “Really? Can I get a dog?”
    “You already have a dog. At Grandma's house,” I said, taking her hand to cross the street.
    “But what about at your house, Daddy? Can I get a dog for there?”
    I sighed. “We'll see.”
     
     
    Chapter 11: Jetta
     
    It shocked me at how much Abby looked like Chase. When his blue eyes looked up at me out of this little girl, it took me completely by surprise. Abby talked excitedly about the type of dog she wanted to get, and about how pretty Bosco was.
    I was worried about Abby sitting in the backseat with him since he wasn’t used to children. To my surprise Bosco handled it pretty well. He let Abby pet him and scratch behind his ears then stuck his head back out the window.
    Chase was on edge for the duration of the drive and I could tell he was eager to hand Abby over to his mother. I wondered if he was always like that with her, or if today was different because of me.
    His mother invited him in for dinner and he refused. She looked at me with such disdain that it made me nauseous. Did she still hate me that much after all this time?
    I sighed in relief when we pulled out of the driveway.
    “She still hates me, doesn’t she?”
    “Mom doesn't like many people these days. If you're not Abby, you're evil.” He laughed. “She's been that way since her and Dad split.”
    “They split up?” I asked in disbelief.
    “Yeah and then he cut me from the will,” Chase said as he pulled into the parking lot of the diner.
    My stomach flipped over and I felt a wave of anger wash over me.
    “What the hell?” I demanded, “After everything he put us through...”
    I was at a lost for words.
    “I know,” Chase said, shaking his head. “He’s a real jackass.”
    I could tell Chase didn't want to talk about it, but I sure as hell did. I’d spent the last six years in the city imagining him happily married and successful, making big money at his father's law firm. I knew Chase probably stood to inherit hundreds of thousands of dollars when his Daddy passed away.
    “What happened? What was his excuse for cutting you out of the will this time if it wasn’t me?” I refused to get out of the truck until he gave me some answers.
    “Look, Jetta,” he said. “I don't want to talk about it right now.”
    I