Page 26 of Second Chance Wedding
Ben said something to his mom when she arrived, and Ana’s hands fisted at her sides.
“Sir, is everything okay?” the waitress asked. “You forgot to pay for your drinks.”
“Sorry about that.” He kept his gaze locked on Ana and Ben as they exchanged heated words, but grabbed his wallet and pulled out some cash, barely glancing away from mother and son long enough to hand over two twenties.
“I’ll get your change.”
“Keep it.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Ana entered the store, and Ben glared at Cole from the distance before following his mother.
Cole turned to exit the building, more than a little shaken up by Ana’s revelation. As she’d gushed out her apology, his heart had squeezed with newfound empathy. He’d known her parents were against her getting married so young, but none of that mattered then. Not to him.
He’d been selfish, not even thinking of Ana’s dreams because he’d considered his dreams astheirs. Like she’d said, he’d focused entirely on his path and the military career he’d wanted to build for them—but mostly for himself.
He’d carried the pain of her betrayal for fifteen long years, but suddenly…it was gone. Wrecked by the awareness of just how wrong he’d been in how he’d gone about things.
He slammed the door of his Jeep and punched the start button but didn’t move. Couldn’t. Analise had neutralized all the anger and animosity he’d felt for her with her words. All because she’d opened his eyes to her perspective. One he should have realized long ago.
He’d moved on. Dated off and on when time, interest and leave allowed. He’d lived his life.
But where did that leave him now?
ChapterSeven
Sunday arrived with Benji complaining at having to work that afternoon for the Blackwells. It was only six hours under Gage’s supervision, but it would give Analise a much-needed break from the constant diatribe of how Benji considered life unfair.
But Cole made a valid point. A lot of good points, actually, but one in particular stood out. A busy teenager was a teenager who stayed out of trouble.
She hoped. “Let’s go. It’s a pretty day, so traffic will be heavy.”
Every day at the beach was a good day, but when the early November temps were in the high seventies and the sun blazed in the sky, all the locals and the tourists tried to find some sand.
Ben had barely turned four when she’d lucked into her small house just over the bridge in southern Wilmington. It wasn’t in the best of neighborhoods when they’d first moved in, but after COVID when everyone working remotely wanted to move to the beach, a lot of the area’s property changed hands. Her less-desirable neighborhood was now as popular as the next.
Ben continued to grumble, but they made their way to her small SUV and then played the waiting game to exit the road, cross two lanes of speeding traffic and make a U-turn to head toward the island and the man who consumed her thoughts.
She’d barely slept because Cole’s warnings repeated themselves in her head. She’d be lying to herself if she said she didn’t sometimes fear Benjamin’s explosive anger. Especially after he’d thrown his phone at her with such force. Would he ever lose control of himself to the point he’d purposefully hurt her?
The thought shook her to her core. Last night, Benji had gone straight to his room to watch television before bed, and she’d found herself angry and anxious, denying the need to do any of the things Cole had suggested to safely secure herself against the worst.
She told herself there was no need. Not from her child. But…
As she drove down Dow and rounded the curve that led to the pier stretching over the Atlantic, her attention snagged on a long, stretch limo parked outside of Ace’s garage. She’d gone to school with the Cohen sisters, and when Frankie had returned from the military, she’d purchased the garage to put her mechanical training and skills to work. Everyone knew she did quality, honest work. If Frankie said the repairs were fifteen thousand, they were. Frankie wasn’t the type to rip anyone off.
In the bright light of day, Ana saw the streak of yellow paint on the front, passenger-side fender as well as the dent covering most of the area.
She took her foot off the gas and slowed to eye the vehicle further until a horn honked behind her. She glanced in the rearview mirror at the driver gesturing with his hands and then picked up speed once more before sneaking a look at a stoic Benjamin.
Analise made the turn that took them to the rental building and parked in the tiny space connecting the two.
“You don’t need to get out,” Benji said.
She hesitated but then shook her head. “When you act like a child, you get treated like a child. That means walking you in like a kindergartener to make sure you don’t try to ditch your responsibilities.”
Ana held her son’s livid gaze with a determined one of her own. She’d said what she said, and she meant it. She had to be the mother he needed even though he might hate her for it in the end.
