Second Chances Read Online Free PDF

to her heart.”
    â€œShe’s always been that way. Tish tells us everything, at least.” And his smile was fond.
    â€œThat’s true.”
    â€œHow are they taking it? Ruthie seems pretty excited, actually.”
    We were conversing normally for the first time in nearly a year. I felt a ribbon of relief stream through me as I replied, “She is, now that a little of the shock has worn off. Tish is still dealing with the fact that this means her big sister had sex.”
    When Jackson cringed visibly at my words, I added, “Sorry.”
    â€œShe’s my baby,” he said softly. “And she’s having a baby. It’s too much. I wasn’t ready for this yet.”
    â€œNone of us were.”
    â€œIt’s how our folks felt back when.”
    â€œBut we won’t make them get married.” About that I was adamant.
    Jackie turned his head to face me in the gloaming light. He asked, his voice soft again, “You wouldn’t have married me back then?”
    I kept my eyes from his as I said, “I don’t know, Jackie. But the decision was out of our hands. We can’t change that now.”
    He looked away and said, “Yeah, it was. But I will make that kid pay her child support.”
    I felt a rush of gratitude that he was taking this in stride, ready to stand up for his daughter. Despite his failings as a husband, he had always been a good father to our girls and for that I was grateful. From above, up on the porch, the screen door suddenly creaked on its hinges and Tish called, “Dad! Phone’s for you in the café!”
    Jackie and I both turned to look over our shoulders to see Tish framed in the door, holding it open with one shoulder, the porch light bathing her in a yellow-orange glow. He called back, “Who is it? I have my phone right here—” he reached for his pocket and then added, “Guess I don’t.”
    â€œCaller ID said Chicago,” Tish informed.
    â€œBetter get that,” Jackie said low, rising to move around me.
    I didn’t bother to respond, instead reaching for the zillionth time to touch my own cell phone, imagining how close I was to hearing Blythe’s voice, if I dared to dial that number. My heart pounded hard, sending anxious blood and concentrated longing through my body; I missed him so much it hurt. Soon, soon, soon. Soon I’ll see him . I rose and followed in Jackson’s wake, but headed around to the far side of the porch to see if Mom was free; we had to discuss a few things too.
    It was 10:30 and Ellen had locked up the café, leaving Jilly and me on the porch. Mom and Gran were already home, along with Ruthie and Camille, who could barely keep her eyes open an hour ago. Tish, Clint and Clint’s friend Liam were sitting around the fire pit with the dogs, roasting marshmallows. Their conversation, punctuated by an occasional laugh, was a pleasant murmur in the background. The air was yet motionless, save for the constant hum of mosquitoes buzzing near our ears; I sat with my feet propped on an adjacent chair while Jilly leaned her hips against the railing, blowing lazy smoke rings at the lake.
    â€œJustin’s coming over in a bit,” she said after we’d enjoyed the night in relative silence for a while.
    â€œI’m glad, Jills, so glad for you guys.”
    She smiled around her cigarette and then roughed up her spiky blond hair. Her eyes were blue as sapphires, clear as crystals. I’d always been jealous of those eyes, fringed in naturally thick, dark lashes. Eyes I knew as well as my own. She blew a long trail of smoke and said, her voice sweetly sincere, “I never thought I’d feel like this again.”
    Christopher Henriksen, Clint’s father, had been Jilly’s husband for just a few short years before he died in a snowmobile accident the winter Clint was three. I’d been living in Chicago then, but Jilly’s grief had been