A Second Chance Page 2

  “Sure. Oh, by the way, Mom says there’s still room for two more at the table on Thanksgiving. You and Matt are welcome to come.”

  “Thank her for me, will you? I think I’ll just have a quiet Thanksgiving at home. I’ll bring the kids by on Thursday morning after we watch the parade.”

  “The parade. Still your most favorite thing on TV?”

  “And it always will be,” she said, smiling, thinking about the time Carlos had maxed out every credit card they had to make sure she witnessed it live on the streets of New York. That was a lifetime ago, she reminded herself. Too bad she’d fought him over it instead of realizing the sentiment behind it.

  She touched his arm as she walked past him, and then hurried out to her car where her children waited for her. Their smiles took away the pain she’d been feeling. Even when everything around her seemed to be shattering, she still had her children.

  Panic suddenly filled her, and she fought back the emotions that were clawing at her. She wondered how long she had left to be their mother.

  Carlos waved as the car disappeared down the long drive. The pain that ripped through him each time they passed off the kids was back. It had been five years. He’d thought it would get easier, but it never did.

  They’d had a family together. That was supposed to be forever.

  As he walked back into the room, Regan stirred awake. “Did I fall asleep?”

  “Yeah. Tyler graduated from college yesterday, and now he’s getting married.”

  “Smart–ass.” She laughed as she sat up. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep while she was here. That was rude of me.”

  “That’s what she said.”

  “Liar, she’d never say a mean thing ever.” She looked down at her son and smiled. “He’s so perfect.”

  “He really is. When will Zach be home?”

  “He’s finishing up a meeting with John Forrester. He’ll be home in an hour or so.”

  “Will you be okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Go if you need to.”

  He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “Kathy’s making a special dinner tonight.”

  “Things are going well between the two of you?” Regan tucked her feet under her and smiled up at him.

  “Yeah. It’s been long enough. It’s time for me to move on, don’t you think?”

  “Only if you’re ready.” Her voice was soft and all too knowing.

  He had to be ready. It still hurt to watch Madeline live a happy life without him. He was dying inside, and he needed to find that kind of love again. “I’m ready, Reg. It’s been five years. I’m tired of wondering what happened to my perfect marriage. She moved on. She remarried. I need to fall in love, and I need to move on.”

  “And you’re in love with Kathy?”

  “I didn’t say that.” The word love twisted his gut. “I’m just willing to feel it out. I like her a lot.”

  “She’s a nice woman.”

  “Good, I have my little sister’s blessing.” He bent to kiss her on the cheek. “Take care of my little man. Uncle Carlos will come back out tomorrow.”

  “You’re worse than Mom,” she called after him as he left the room.

  “Bite your tongue,” he hollered back.

  The drive back from Regan and Zach’s was long and loud. The kids had been with their father for the week. Even though she’d spoken to them each night, they all had their own set of stories they wanted to tell her, and all at the same time.

  Clara had aced her spelling test. Christian scored twelve points in his basketball game. Eduardo had only two hundred and forty-five days until he could drive. She smiled at him and shook her head.

  “That’s only if your father and I agree to it.”

  “He’ll agree. I’d be able to help out. Just think about it, Mom. I could get everyone to school and back and forth between your house and dad’s house. Really, Mom, I’m only thinking about you.”

  She reached across the car and laid her hand on her son’s arm. These were the moments she had to fight for. “Son, you are the most thoughtful thing.”

  “Kathy says that by the time he’s got his license, maybe she’ll be in the market for a new car,” Clara offered.

  Madeline swallowed hard. Kathy. She could feel the tears stinging her eyes behind her sunglasses, and she forced them back.

  She was more than familiar with the name. Clara had taken to the woman, and the boys thought she was nice enough. In her heart, she knew she should be happy for her ex-husband, but she just couldn’t be.

  She’d been the one to remarry less than a year after they’d divorced. Even worse, she’d married his best friend and ruined that relationship. Now she was alone, and Carlos had finally found happiness. She deserved that, she decided. Karma was a tricky thing. You might have thought what you did was right, but in the end you end up alone and dying.

  “Mom, are you okay?” Eduardo reached his hand to her shoulder.

  “I’m fine, sweetie.”

  “You’re spacing out. Want me to drive?”

  “You can drive me home in two hundred and forty-five days,” she said, feeling the tension in her shoulders build as they turned into their neighborhood and drove into the driveway.

  Matt’s car was gone, and she wondered how long it would take for one of them to notice that so was everything else Matt owned.

  It took exactly sixteen minutes.

  “Mom! Where is the Wii?” Christian called from the family room.

  Madeline squeezed her eyes tight and took a deep breath as she stood over the sink in the kitchen.

  “It’s gone. It’s all gone! The Wii, the games, the guitars!” He ran through the door to the kitchen. “Mom, even Matt’s chair is gone. I think someone broke into the house.”

  Clara was right on his heels, and Eduardo flew down the stairs from his room when he heard the chaos.

  Madeline sucked up her courage and straightened her spine. When she turned, three sets of dark eyes watched her. “Why don’t you all sit down? Let’s talk.”

  They didn’t say another word. Madeline knew they could see the pain in her face. She’d explain everything about Matt, but until she had a solid path toward treatment, she wasn’t about to mention the cancer.

  She sat down at the kitchen table with her children and set her clasped hands on the top. “Matt moved out.”

  They said nothing, but their eyes were open wide. Clara began to cry.

  Madeline swallowed hard. “He’s asked me for a divorce. I have the papers and I just have to sign them.”

  Eduardo reached across the table and touched her hand. “Mom, why? Did we do something wrong?”

  Heaviness filled her chest as she looked into her son’s apologetic eyes. “Oh, no, honey. This has nothing to do with you at all. He loves you. He was most worried about all of you.” She patted his hand and reached for Clara’s. “Matt and I, well, we’ve just grown apart. After your dad and I got a divorce, we seemed to need each other. I just don’t think we ever loved each other like a man and wife should. We loved each other like friends.”

  Clara flew from her seat and into Madeline’s arms. The strength that she’d been holding on to collapsed, and she sobbed with her daughter against her chest. The softness of Clara’s hair brushed against her cheek, and the strawberry scent reminded her how young her children still were. How precious. How innocent.

  Eduardo stood and walked to his mother and sister. He wrapped his arms around both of them. Christian sat strong across the table and watched, as she’d known he would. He was the strong and silent one. He’d break down in his room with the door shut. When he did, she would go to him.

  And when it was time, she went to him.

  She’d gone to each of them. She’d kissed and hugged them and tucked them all into bed. Even at fifteen Eduardo hadn’t protested.

  With the house quiet, Madeline closed the door to her bathroom and locked it. She ran the bathtub as full and as hot as she could. Then
she took the pamphlets she’d received from the doctor’s office out of her bag. As she sank into the hot bath with bubbles and candles surrounding her, she read about the cancer that was eating away at her body.

  Her doctor had told her that her chances for survival were almost one hundred percent. But it was the word almost that had her nervous. She’d supported breast cancer research with donations and by walking in charity events. She’d even known a handful of women who had gone through it, including her boss. Never in a million years did she imagine she’d be going through it. Worse yet, she was going through it alone.

  There was no reason to alarm her children. Until she had to, she’d keep it from them. Matt was gone. The end of her marriage only needed finalization from the courts. He’d even told her he was planning to take a job in Kentucky to put some distance between them. So certainly, she wasn’t going to call him and tell him.

  She closed her eyes and began to sob.

  The one person she knew she’d be able to count on would have been Carlos. But then she recalled all of the stories her children had come home with. Each and every one of them had Kathy’s name attached to it. He’d moved on. It was only a matter of time before Carlos found happiness and remarried. It had always surprised her he’d stayed single for so long.

  He’d take care of the children if he had to. They seemed to like Kathy a lot. Perhaps she’d be a good mother to them if she…

  She didn’t want to think about Matt, cancer, or Carlos anymore. She dropped the pamphlets on the floor next to the tub and dropped her head under the water, waiting till her lungs burned with the need for oxygen before she came back up. It didn’t help clear her thoughts of Carlos.

  Chapter Two

  Carlos watched Kathy set the table for dinner. She fit right in with the domestic lifestyle, he thought. She smiled when she caught his glance. “How is your sister?”

  “Happier than I’ve ever seen her.” He pulled a slice of carrot from the salad bowl and bit it in half. “Tyler is the love of her life.”

  She filled their glasses with the red wine he’d brought. “I never thought anyone would edge out Zach.”

  Carlos watched her as she moved the rest of the meal to the tiny table where he sat. She was so different from his ex-wife, Madeline. Thick blonde hair skimmed her shoulders. Her eyes were crystal blue and her figure was slim and fit. She was tall and leggy. She was what every man had dreamed of when he was younger.

  Madeline, on the other hand, was curvy and barely cleared five-foot-three. Her hair had been long when they’d fallen in love, but after each child was born, it got a little shorter. He liked the way she wore it now. It was a classic bob, as his daughter told him once. Madeline’s eyes were as dark and rich as his were. She was full-blooded Italian and he was Puerto Rican. It had made for a beautiful mix in their children.

  Kathy touched his arm and he looked up into her worried eyes. “You seem preoccupied. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. I already miss the kids.”

  “You’re a great father.” She dipped her head down and brushed his lips with a gentle kiss. “Now what’s really wrong? This isn’t your usual I-miss-my-kids look.”

  They’d been together for almost six months, but in that time, she’d learned to read him. He couldn’t hide anything from her. “Madeline was there.”

  “How is she?” She set the casserole dish on the table and then sat in her chair.

  He kept his eyes on her. She really was something. There wasn’t even a hint of jealousy in her voice. That couldn’t be normal, he thought. Wasn’t the woman who came after the wife supposed to be bitter and hateful toward the ex?

  “I don’t think she’s feeling very well. She set Tyler back in his bassinette and almost passed out.”

  Kathy’s head snapped up. “Oh, no. What do you think is wrong? Did you call Curtis? Did he see her? If you think something is wrong, you should get her some help.”

  A smile crept across his lips.

  Kathy’s eyebrows rose. “Why are you smiling? People just don’t pass out if they’re healthy. You need to get her some help. Call Matt and see what’s going on.”

  “I love you.” The words had flown from his mouth before he’d had time to consider them.

  She sat back in her chair and kept a cautious eye on him. “Excuse me?”

  “I love you.”

  “I heard you, I just…”

  “I know I’ve never said it, but I’m saying it now.” He took her hand in his and kept his eyes steady on hers. “You’re amazing. You just sat here and completely worried about my ex-wife.”

  “Oh, Carlos.” She pulled her hand from his and stuck the spoon into the casserole. “She’s a lovely woman. The two of you get along very well, and she’s never been anything but nice to me. Why shouldn’t I care about her?”

  “Because she’s my ex-wife.”

  “And the way you’ve always talked about her, I’m not sure why that is.”

  How many times had he heard that? The thought had him squirming in his seat. “Point is that’s what she is. She’s married to my ex-best friend, and they live in my ex-house.”

  She laughed. “And she’s the luckiest woman to have you as a friend.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Now eat.” She spooned casserole onto his plate, and he caught her arm. “What?”

  “Move in with me.” He felt her pulse rise under his fingertips.

  “What’s gotten into you?”

  “I want us to be together.”

  She pulled her arm back. “We are together.”

  “You know what I mean. I have never said, ‘I love you,’ to anyone but Madeline. I love you. Does that mean anything to you?”

  Kathy sat back and studied him.

  He cocked his eyebrow “You’d better answer me or I just might ask you to marry me.”

  Her eyes widened. “Okay, okay! I’ll move in with you.”

  “Good.” He tugged her arm until she slid out of her chair and onto his lap. “We’ll start with that,” he said as he pressed his lips to hers and they became pliant and warm.

  Madeline walked from the doctor’s office. Her knees were weak and her breast was sore where they had taken the biopsy. There was no option to walk all the way to the car before she broke down. She found a chair in the waiting room at the hospital and sat. Tears streamed down her face, and she tried to brush them away as they fell.

  She’d undergo a double mastectomy in three weeks. She’d check in two days after Christmas. She’d begin a rigorous treatment schedule of chemo. If she was lucky enough and the cancer was gone, she could have reconstructive surgery and have her breasts recreated. As it was, it was too much to think about.

  The first thing she would do would be to ask Carlos to take the kids for a few extra weeks. Maybe she could tell him she’d be out of town. Until she knew if they could get the cancer, she didn’t want anyone worrying about her, especially her kids. She was doing that enough for everyone. Her boss had been through this stupid thing called cancer, twice. She knew she could lean on her for the support she’d need. Madeline thought of herself as a strong enough person to get through the surgery, and if the kids were with Carlos she’d have time to recover. Her parents could be there in case she needed them. But her plan was to keep it as far from her family as she could, until she absolutely had to tell them.

  She waited until she was home and seated at the kitchen table with a glass of water and an icepack on her breast before she called Carlos. Breathing exercises she’d learned in yoga classes weren’t doing much to calm her as she dialed his phone number.

  “Hello.” Kathy answered, and the discomfort in Madeline’s chest increased, though it might have been heartbreak that caused it.

  “Kathy? It’s Madeline.”

  “Madeline! How are you? Carlos said you weren’t feeling well before Thanksgiving. Are you feeling better?”

  She swallowed hard and batted away more tears that tried to push their way thro
ugh. She should have known he’d have been worried enough to say something to Kathy. Truth was, she was surprised she hadn’t had a visit from his brother, Doctor Curtis. “I’m doing much better. Must have been trying to catch something.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.”

  Madeline swallowed hard. “Is Carlos there?”

  “He just went out to the truck to get a few more boxes.”

  “Boxes?”

  “He asked me to move in.” Kathy’s voice rose in a delighted pitch. “We’re unloading all my junk right now. I can’t believe how much stuff I have. And neither can Curtis. He must have commented on it a thousand times while he was loading it for me.”

  Madeline forced a laugh. “Leave it to Curtis.”

  “Can I have him call you back?”

  “Oh, I can catch him later. Congratulations on your new living arrangements.” She choked on her own words.

  “Thank you. I think he’s thinking about getting married.” Kathy’s voice had dropped to almost a whisper.

  Madeline gripped the phone tighter and squeezed her eyes closed. “I’m sure he is. He’s a very lucky man.”

  “That means the world coming from you,” she said, and Madeline heard the voices of men in the background. “Oh, wait. Here he is. Madeline is on the phone for you,” she heard Kathy say and then the obvious jumbling sound as the phone was passed off.

  “Maddie?” he said, and she smiled. It had been a long time since he’d called her that, and she wasn’t comfortable with how it still melted her inside. “What’s up?”

  “Oh, I didn’t mean to bother you. I hear you’re getting a new roommate.”

  “Yeah. About time, don’t you think?”

  “Uh-huh.” A twist of nausea hit her stomach. “You know, I can talk to you later.”

  “No. What did you need?”

  “Well…” She tried to keep her voice light and happy. “I’m taking a trip out of town. I was wondering if the kids could stay with you for about three weeks.”

  “Wow. That must be some trip.” His voice lifted, and she knew he was happy for her. It broke her heart that it was all a lie. “Early Christmas present from Matt?”