Second Chances (7 page)

"You know, there are a lot of daycare centers here in town. We could see what their needs are. And I wonder where the school board buys their supplies? We could wholesale their materials and still supply to the public." Susan hopped from foot to foot, unable to stand still in her growing excitement. "Just think, I'd be home part-time and could still bring in some money." She stopped for a moment considering. "Well, maybe. I guess we wouldn't make much money in the first year, would we?"

"That would depend on what our competition is and on startup costs. If we worked for a lower rate than if we went out to work, we'd be able to bring some home. If we can't make enough to live on, I can't do it. I have a little money set aside but I couldn't handle waiting one full year before drawing a salary from the business." Karina's mind buzzed as figures clicked rapidly in her head.

The idea excited her, and that was a first.

"You do realize that we'd both have to work long hours at the beginning," she continued. "However, instead of you having to go home, if our location was right, your children could come to you at the store. If you needed them to, that is."

Susan looked at her, hope dawning in her eyes. "Do you really think we could? I think you're better at making changes than you think."

Was she? This seemed like a good idea. It felt right. But they were a long way from starting.

Karina shrugged dismissively. "How do you think your husband will like the idea?"

Thoughtfully, Susan said, "I think he just might. He'd be concerned about the size of the investment and the amount of time that I'd be away from the family. If the location were close to home and if the children could come after school or maybe on a weekend for a little while, that would help."

"When you have your own business, you get to make some of your own rules. You never know, maybe I'll get married and have a family one day. I'd like to think that the children could be with me some of the time at least." She backtracked a bit. "Obviously it wouldn't work all the time. But if the children know where you are and that they can come to the store if they need to, it might be enough to make the difference. What ages are they again?"

"Sara is eleven and Michael is eight. Which means they both need someone at home after school." Disappointment crept over Susan's face.

"That's not necessarily a problem. Maybe you could leave at the end of the school day or have the children come to the store after school and all of you go home together. You might be able to work one evening instead. I could work until six and then a half-day on Saturday. I don't know. This has some real possibilities, Susan."

The women looked at each other, hope growing between them in leaps and bounds.

"We'll have to do a lot of research first," warned Karina "And we'd have to find the right location." A niggling thought popped into her head. "Susan what did you say your husband does for a living?"

"Paul's in advertising! He could be a real help to us. If he wanted to, that is…" She looked over at Karina, determination on her face. "I'm going to talk to him tonight."

"By the way," Karina asked curiously, "why did you stay at the hotel last night? Couldn't you have driven home instead?"

A faint pink dusted Susan's cheeks as she grinned. "Yes, I could have. On Friday night, I did. But with the late lecture last night and the early-morning start today, my husband suggested that I stay overnight. That was my first night away from the children in over a year."

"And did you enjoy it?"

"It was blissful to get a good night's sleep, but honestly, I missed all of them. Sometimes, that's the trouble with family—you can't live with them and you can't live without them." She laughed at herself. With a shake of her head, she added, "I really do love them, you know."

Karina smiled. How lucky Susan was. She had a husband who loved her and two wonderful children. In addition, she was at a place in life where she could choose a completely new path for herself.

Could they make a business work? Did they have what it would take?

Maybe they did.

"Susan, why don't you do the research for Victoria and I'll do the Internet stuff and some of the money crunching from my place in Vancouver? We can compare notes over the phone in a couple of days."

"It's a wonderful idea! My sister manages a children's clothing store in my neighborhood. You never know what ideas she might have. It's in a neat mini-mall. What a good location that would be." Susan opened her notebook to a clean page, jotting down some of their ideas. "Karina, any idea what square footage we'd need?"

"Need for what?" interrupted a deep male voice.

"Paul!"

Karina turned in surprise to see her friend engulfed in a stranger's arms.

"What are you doing here?" Susan asked.

The tall, attractive man seemed almost embarrassed; he shrugged and pulled Susan tightly against him. "I came to pick you up. Grandma has the kids so I caught a bus across town, thinking we could drive home together. Maybe we could stop for a special dinner on the way home. If that's okay, that is." He peered closely into her eyes. Whatever he saw seemed to satisfy him. He broke into a wide grin and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Maybe you should introduce us," he said. "Your friend doesn't look very sure about me."

Reassured by the delighted smile on Susan's face, Karina grinned. Her friend looked very well adored. "You're her husband, I hope." She smiled warmly as she reached out to shake his hand.

Susan just laughed as she introduced them.

"Susan, if I had known that there'd be beautiful women here, I'd have come too," he whispered loudly. "She's gorgeous!"

Karina laughed. Glancing around, she noticed Mark and Brian were rapidly approaching, questioning looks on their faces.

"Hi guys." Susan beamed up at them. "This is my husband, Paul. He's just here a little early."

Brian held out his hand. "A pleasure to meet you. We've had a little excitement here today. As such, we're being a little more careful about strangers."

Paul thanked him. "Obviously the 'excitement' involved the seminar. I'm grateful to you both for keeping Susan and all of your other attendees safe. Honey, walk with me to the coffee shop. I'll wait there until you're finished." The two walked away, heads together, deep in intimate discussion.

Karina studied the pair as they walked away. Paul seemed so solid, safe. Dressed in jeans and t-shirt, with his jacket tossed casually over his shoulder, he looked very normal and dependable, and the affection he had for Susan was obvious. With a sigh, she turned back to the two men, who were also watching the couple walk away.

"He surprised me at first, yet another stranger." Karina admitted. "But the instant I learned who he was I realized I was totally safe."

"I only saw him from the back. With the end of the seminar, there could be a lot of strangers coming in." Mark studied the crowd.

"Karina, I'll drive you to the airport once we wrap things up. Just give me a bit after I close this down." Nodding at Mark, Brian touched Karina briefly on the shoulder and headed in.

Mark followed his progress, speculation in his eyes. "That's unusual."

Karina looked over at him curiously. "What is? I mean, we do have a bit of a history, but I haven't seen him in a long time."

"He doesn't normally go out of his way for conference attendees." He grinned down at her. "You never know." He tucked her arm through his and guided her through the crowd. "Maybe this time you'll work things out."

Unable to immediately formulate any kind of response, Karina just laughed. Really, she didn't know what to think. She hadn't come here looking for a happily-ever-after. She'd just wanted some closure, at the very least. But having seen Brian again, and having spent time talking with him, she couldn't help but consider the possibility.

***

A bit rushed, and not quite as dramatic as he'd hoped, but enough to disturb the seminar and shake Brian up. Good. He hadn't planned more. Just a simple disruption at this point.

Besides, he hadn't really had time to set a plan in motion. His trip to the hotel had been more to see how these so-called workshops functioned, and just who the people in Brian's life were.

This was to show Brian that he had no intention of bowing out gracefully. He just needed a little time to figure out a way forward. To find justice in a world that seemed to be lashing out at only him.

Brian couldn't be allowed to ruin all these lives without feeling the repercussions in a personal way.

No one should.

And Ian was going to show him the error of his ways. Karina just happened to be a bonus. How perfect that they were both there at the same time. Talk about a two-for-one special.

Maybe he'd get some payback after all. Besides, he had to do something while Mary was 'finding' herself. And having a target for all that anger helped. All that hate needed a target. He smiled.

He wondered just how Brian was going to enjoy the reminder that he was still out there.

Watching.

Waiting.

B
rian loved it when he came to the closing address. The weekend might be ending but those who'd spent the time with him this weekend would be taking the information that he'd shared away with them forever. It was what he wanted for these people. To help them take control of their lives. To be the captain of and steer their lives in the direction they wanted to go. Not be a victim of fate tossed about uncontrollably by circumstances, never finding happiness or fulfillment. To get on with the lives they were meant to live.

He spoke quietly, firmly, with confidence as he tried to inspire them. Another half an hour, then, finally, it was over.

Every time he finished a weekend seminar, he said it would be the last time. But only after a few weeks of recuperation he was already planning the next one. They exhausted him and they exhilarated him. When he gave the seminars everything he had, he always came away with more than what he'd brought.

This weekend was different. The threatening letters he'd received before the seminar, Ian's disruption and the king of all disruptions—or should he say Queen of all disruptions—Karina.

An event that both delighted and unnerved him.

He didn't like surprises. And her presence was a huge surprise. One he knew would have a long-reaching impact on his life—if he let it.

Listen to him. He hardly knew the woman. And what he did know…he shuddered. God, she'd been the hottest thing he could have imagined. He wanted that again. And those memories.
Damn
. Now he didn't think he'd ever be able to look at her again and not want her. Her upturned nose, those luscious, smiling lips combined with her brilliant blue eyes… Hell, they set him off every time. Her curls—they never lay properly, always crying out to be stroked. Bedroom hair is what he'd call it, always looking like she'd just been made love to.

That memory had been both a delight and a torment. An unforgettable night and his very unforgiveable behavior.

He had much to make up for.

"Goodbye Brian. Thanks so much for an informative weekend."

He turned to see who spoke, but calls were coming from all around him as people headed back to their own lives.

Good, soon he could leave, too. He wanted to go and walk his restlessness out on the beach. Hug Chelsea and listen to her squeals of joy. Return to his normal life and think.

A staff member crossed his line of vision and disturbed his musing. The young man walked up to him, carrying a large florist's box. "Sir, this just arrived for you."

Reading the nametag on the man's shirt, Brian said, "Thanks, John. Does it say who it's from?"

"No. There's probably a card on the inside. Do you want to open it here or take it with you?"

"I'll take it home. Would you mind putting it over there, with the cartons stacked up by the double doors?" He nodded at the spot. Even from here, he could smell the heavy scent wafting towards him. Roses.

He swiveled quickly, searching for Karina. Would she have sent him flowers? No, that wasn't her style. She'd have handed them to him, wouldn't she? He spotted her in the crowd, chewing on her bottom lip again. Damn it. Brian grinned as he realized Karina's eyes were following the path of the box. She was also frowning. Good, let her wonder.

Why should he be the only one tormented?

Their eyes met. She said something to the group she'd been standing with and walked toward him. A smile was trying to poke through, but didn't quite succeed.

"A gift from an admirer, Brian?" Her gaze swiveled to the florist's box again. "As long as it isn't from Ian."

Again, part of her bottom lip disappeared into her mouth. Damn it, she
had
to quit doing that.