Second Chances (115 page)

Staring at them from behind the darkly tinted glass of his limousine, Evan watched their every move.  He saw how Brian wasn’t letting Sarah out of his sight, saw how she stayed within arms reach, and saw that they constantly touched one another for comfort. 

“Sir?”  There was a quaver in James’ voice as he tried to draw back Evan’s attention.

Evan’s focus turned to the cell phone in hand.  He sighed.  He could feel that this wouldn’t work.  “Abort,” he said simply.  “We’ll design a plan B.  We’ll reschedule in a couple of weeks.”  He pressed a button to roll down the divider that separated him from the driver.  “Home,” he ordered.  He was in a foul mood that showed no sign of improving.

Brian flagged down a taxi and directed the driver to their hotel.  They checked in and entered their hotel.  Chloe called dibbs on the bed nearest the window and plopped down on it.  “Mine,” she murmured.  “All mine.”  She was excited since she couldn’t remember the last time she had stayed at a hotel.

Sarah and Brian weren’t nearly as relaxed in their new setting, however.  Brian paced while Sarah searched for a note or message that would indicate her itinerary for this trip.  Finding nothing, she turned and raised her hands to signal her results to Brian.  Just as she had given up, the phone rang.  They both jumped.  Brian collected himself first. 
Relax
, he urged, then nudged her toward the phone.

Instantly, Sarah recognized the voice to be that of the man who contacted her initially.  She frowned while she listened intently.  “Sure, I understand,” she replied.  “Of course.  I should have left you a number.”  She listened a few more seconds.  “Thank you for the offer.  You’ll mail the information to the college?”  More silence on her end.  “I look forward to hearing from you.  Goodbye.”  She hung up the phone, sighed, and sat on the bed.  Even Chloe waited to see the outcome of the phone conversation.  “Well,” she began quietly, unsure of how Brian will react.  “It seems that the seminar has been canceled.”  To her relief, Brian smiled warmly.

“How come?”  He asked.

“Well, the attendance was going to be too low.  They were offering more than one session this summer and have instead decided to combine the sessions.  They would like me to speak at the other one if I’m still interested.”  She paused and exhaled slowly a mixture of relief and release.  “Am I still interested?”  She looked at him with a childlike expression.

“Sure,” he said, without even thinking.  Yet the moment those words escaped his lips, he felt a huge sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.  “Let’s spend a few days here and then rush back to the beach,” he said.  “Where should we go first?”

They found Boston to be more humid than they were used to, which made the city even easier to leave after some exploration.  They visited some of the outskirts, saw The House of Seven Gables, Sarah’s dream; visited the harbor and toured Old Ironsides, Brian’s wish; and ended with a lengthy tour of the Museum of Science, where Chloe was in her glory.  For obvious reasons they decided to pass on any of the museums or venues that would detail the history of the Salem Witch Trials.

And at last they were back in the air, flying to Myrtle Beach.  “Is there anything special you want to do here?”  Brian asked as they held hands.

“I just want to relax, swim, and work on my tan,” Sarah said honestly.   “I have been really tense lately.”

“I know,” Brian admitted.  “I could tell, and so could my father.  We spoke about it.”  Sarah’s brow furrowed.  “We care about you.  We want you to be safe.”

I know,
Sarah thought.  “I’ll be better now,” she said quietly.

Brian sighed.  “It has nothing to do with that.”  He gave her a grim look.  “You are always good.”  He sighed angrily.  “Sometimes I could throttle Josh,” he grumbled.

Sarah’s eyes grew wide.  “What does Josh have to do with any of this?”

“He is the reason you can’t trust in my feelings.  He’s the reason you don’t believe that you can rely on me.  And when your defenses do come down and you do begin to believe, you feel guilty about it.”  He stared at her with a scowl on his face, awaiting her reaction.

She opened her mouth to object.  She was going to refute everything he had said, but she knew she couldn’t.  Brian could see inside her soul.  He knew her in a way no one else had.  And he only spoke the truth.  “I never thought of it that way before,” she said quietly.  “I’m sure that I have made it very difficult for you to love me sometimes.”

Brian lifted her sinking chin, forcing her to face him.  “Not at all,” he murmured.  “It is in those times that I love you even more, if that’s humanly possible.”  He held her fiercely to him.  And they remained like that until the plane landed.

Sarah got her wish.  They spent the next few days frolicking on the beach.  Much to everyone’s relief, she was a changed woman.  Gone was the edge in her voice, a product of her perpetual fear.  Gone was her quivering soul that jumped at every unfamiliar sound or unexpected touch.  All of her negative qualities evaporated upon her return to what she jokingly referred to as the Waite Compound.  Now everyone was able to bask in the warmth of her true self.

Mr. Waite pulled his son aside on their second evening back.  “So, she seems much better.”  He waited for Brian to elaborate.

He nodded fervently.  Brian wanted to say more, but he was spent.  It was exhausting worrying and watching over her, yet it was also a burden he wouldn’t forgo for anything.

He opened his mouth to speak, but fearing his emotions would get the better of him, he snapped his jaw shut.

Marveling at his son, he said with awe, “You really love her, don’t you?”

At that, Brian gulped.  “Yeah.”  He looked at the ground and kicked a stone with the toe of his shoe.  Having pulled himself together he faced his father once more.  “Yeah.  I really do.  I was drawn to her from the moment we met, but I just thought it was your basic attraction.  Now that you’ve had the chance to get to know her, you must understand why.”

Smiling, he responded, “I knew what an incredible person she was from the first day she arrived while you mother was…ill.”  Thinking back he added, “She pulled us together and helped us create something special at a horrible time.  I will always love her for that.  She’s already family as far as I’m concerned.”  He stared at his son, waiting for him to realize the magnitude of his father’s words.

“I’d mate for life with her, if that’s what you want to know.”  He had a sheepish grin on his face.

“I thought so,” Mr. Waite responded.  He threw an arm around his son’s shoulder as they walked back up to the house.

Sarah was lying on the flagstone patio surrounding the pool, close enough for one leg and arm to dangle lazily in the water, a picture of perfect relaxation and bliss.  Brian wanted nothing more than to capture that moment.  He stared at her lovingly with just a hint of lust.  She wore a brown two piece with bikini bottoms that hugged her hips and a matching halter top that accentuated her lush bosom. 
God, I want you,
he thought carelessly.

Sarah opened one eye and stared directly at him.  His face flushed. 
Then you shall have me,
she countered.  And the blood drained from his face and traveled south of his waist band.