Page 11 of Accidentally Sliding Into A Second Chance

My stomach churns at the same time my heart leaps. This is the first time since my wife passed that I’m even a tiny bit interested in another woman. And it’s not just any woman, it’s the first girl I kissed. The girl my twelve-year-old self thought he’d spend forever with. Until she left, and Fiona came into my life.

I exhale and bite the inside of my cheek.

“Work only it is,” she chuckles nervously, fiddling with her keys and throwing a thumb over her shoulder. “I have to run or I’m gonna be late.”

I watch as she rushes over to the driver’s side door and pulls it open. “Cat,” I slap my hand on the tailgate of the SUV, my decision made. Her wide blue eyes meet my gaze, and something settles in my chest. “I’d love to catch up.”

Relief floods her eyes, and her cheeks pull up. “Perfect. I’ll text.”

I watch as she slides into the car, a slew of emotions swirling, leaving me confused. Walking to my truck, unbidden thoughts race through my mind.

“David?” I turn toward Cat’s voice to find her head sticking out the open window, a shy smile on her face. “I’d be happy to find some place where you can bring Scarlett and Emmy.”

I dip my chin, and give her a thumbs up. She waves as she drives past and I lift my hand in return.

“This isn’t a date, it’s just work,” I mumble. Shoving my duffel in the back and hopping in the driver's seat. Running a hand through my hair, I pull down the sun visor and look at the picture of my wife and daughter smiling back at me.

Tracing their faces, a sad smile lines my lips. This picture was taken the morning of my season opener, before we found out Fi was sick. Looking at this, you would never know she hadn’t felt well for weeks, had been to various doctors, and had a multitude of tests done without any clear conclusions.

Or that our lives would forever change the following Monday.

My throat tightens as I remember the steady decline. The brave face she put on every day for me and Scarlett. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss her. I’m not sure there will ever come a day where that ache goes away. And I’m pretty sure that isn’t fair to someone else.

My phone buzzes, and I glance down to see Ava video-calling me. I push down the lump in my throat and quickly check my reflection before answering the phone. I made a promise that Scarlett would never see me sad.

“Please tell me my house is still in one piece,” I tease. One thing I learned after Fi’s death is that if you shift the focus from yourself, people will follow where you lead them. The majority of the time, anyway.

“The house is still intact, right, Scarlett?” Ava moves the phone over so I can see the kitchen counter, where Scarlett is getting Emmy’s dinner ready. The smile she beams my way has my chest squeezing and the back of my eyes burning.

I haven’t seen her this happy in a very long time.

“Right, Aunt Ava!” She turns back to scoop food into the dog bowl and yells over her shoulder. “Isn’t Emmy being good, Daddy?”

“So good, peanut,” my voice comes out hoarse, and I clear my throat. “I’ll be leaving the stadium shortly and will be home soon. Are you and Duncan going to have dinner with us?”

I shift away from my voice being unsteady, but I can’t fool Ava if her knitted brows say anything.

“Are you okay?” She asks, walking into the dining room so Scarlett doesn’t overhear.

“I’m fine!” I start the car, hoping that movement will keep her from digging. When I shift my attention back to the screen, I see a questioning look in my best friend’s eyes. “Really. I’m totally fine.”

“Are you sure?”

I stare at her for a moment, debating on telling her everything. Everything? What does that even mean? What am I going to tell her? That I’m working with my middle school crush, and I’m starting to feel things I haven’t felt since her sister?

No. That’s crazy. It’s been less than a day. Instead, I tell her the truth that I can understand.

“I’m missing Fi today,” I say softly. “I wish she was here to see Scarlett and Emmy. She really would’ve loved it.”

“Yeah, she would have.” Ava gets a faraway look with a soft smile. “Did you know Fi mentioned talking to you about getting a dog in the letters you give Scarlett every year on her birthday?”

Surprise runs through me, and once again, my throat tightens. “No.”

Fiona wrote Scarlett letters to be given to her every year on her birthday. Now, Scarlett’s hounding over the last two years for a dog makes perfect sense. I thought it was because Duncan was bringing her to High Mile Mutts with him, but nope. It was my wife.

A grin crawls up my face, and a chuckle falls from my lips.

“She told me on the way to school today. It’s so very Fiona.” Her eyes shine, and she grins at me. My pulse races, and I take a deep breath to steady it. “She would be proud of you, David. Being a single dad is hard, but you’re really great at it.”

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