Their Second Chance

Autumn Pov:     It’s been eight years since I graduated high school and explored the world. I took a gap year and traveled to London, Italy, France, Scotland, Alaska, Canada, Greece, Spain, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico and many more cities. After that I settle in Italy where I went to art school in a little town called Vernazza, a total of 1,000 population. I was close to Switzerland, Greece, Monaco, France, Spain, Germany, Romania and many more. Still the town is so small that it looks like a little dot in the maps.     After those three years I move to New York, and for the past five years I’ve been leaving here. Not anymore. Going back to my hometown for a month it’s the best and worst thing that can happen. I miss my town and my family too much. The only reason I’m moving back to California is because of grandma. She has had two mini strokes in the past 5 months. The last one three and a half weeks ago.     I want July to go by in a blur and move to LA. When I’m home I don’t want to see or bump into Ashton. I just want to have a calm month. I close my eyes and open them, seeing the place that’s been my home for the past five years. It gave me good and bad memories. But most of all it brough me someone special in my heart.     “Ms. Maverick.” I turn and see Julius opening the door of the backseat of the rental car. “You have to get going or you’ll be late for your flight.”     “Give me a minute Julius.” I look back and ask myself one more time if this is a good decision, to move back to the other side of the country. I exhale, this is for the best. I whistle and call Sammy to come. A four-year-old and two months golden retriever comes running and sits in front of me. “Come on, boy.” We exit the apartment and I lock the door. Sammy walks beside me to the car.     “You sure you can’t come with me now?” I motion for Sammy to get in. “I’m sorry Ms. Maverick I can’t. I still have some things to deal with here. I’ll be in LA in a week. I’ll take care of the house and make sure all the preparations and remodeling is done for you by August.” I smile and give him a kiss on the cheek.     “Okay. Thank you Julius. Call me if something happens at the house. I’ll see you in a month.” I sit in the backseat of the car, and he gives tells the driver where’s he’s driving me to.     “Tell miss Anna I miss her.” I nod at him and wave goodbye after the guy drives away from my street. Sammy whines and looks back out the window at Julius. I pat him on his head and down his throat. I started kissing him and he licks my cheek. “How long have you have him ma’am?” I smile at his question. “Four years and one week.” The driver smiles at Sammy. “Wow, really specific.”     I don’t answer him. I remember when I went to the animal shelter to do some volunteer work and they told me that the little puppy was going to put to sleep in two days if he stay in the pound. Sammy came that day to the animal shelter when one of it’s worker got him out of the pound for that same purpose, but they didn’t have the space for him there either. I thought it was the universe sending me a signal.     So that same day I adopted him. If it wasn’t for him Anna wouldn’t have been in my life either. One week later in the middle of the night he started to crawl and howl at my bedroom door. I thought he wanted to pee or something. By that time he was still a puppy, so I put his leach on and I put a coat on. When I open the door I found something in my doorstep I never expected.     I smile at the memory. Julius send me a text, You’re mother called me. She wants you to call her. Apparently you weren’t answering your phone. I dial my mom and she answer fast. “Hey mom.” Sammy puts his head on my lap. “About damn time you answer. Are you on your way to the airport?” Ever since I started to travel around the world eight years ago, she’s been extra protective and over barring of me. “Yeah, my flight leaves at 10:45 am and it lands at 4: 50 pm. Who’s going to pick me up?” I hear some noise on her end. “Goody six hours of traveling. You’re in first class right?”     “Yes, mom. I’m not going to travel for hours uncomfortable.” I have like ten minutes until we get to the airport. “Ok. You brother is picking you up. Is Sammy traveling with you?” He looks up at me at the mention of his name. He is a great listener. “Yep. He’ll be traveling in the cargo bay. I feel a little sad. My poor baby.” Mom chuckles at this. “What? No. It’s in the kitchen. Okay. Yes?” I hear her talking to someone. “Ana says that she misses you and loves you a lot.”     “Tell her I miss her and love her more. Give her a kiss for me.” After that we ended the conversation. “We are here, ma’am.” I thank him and he helps me with my carry on and Sammy’s cage. I send everything I needed a week ago to my parents house. I gave him a tip for his services, he was grateful. He told me that no one has done that before. Some people are just spoiled and inconsiderate of others. They don’t look at the world around them.     Sammy whines because he has to get in his dog cage. He’s never been in one of those in his entire life and the first time, it’s for seven hours maybe more. I’m waiting by the VIP seats that the airport has. I’m reading a steamy book of a girl who has three guys as mates when a girl and a woman walk to me. “Are you Autumn Maverick?” I nod my head and the girl smiles. “Can I have your autograph?” She must be a fan. I nod and she gives me her little notebook.     “What’s your name sweetie?” She hides her face in her mom’s leg. “Her name is Clara.” I sign it and write her a little something for the future. Clara, thanks for being a fan. Never stop believing in your dreams. Go for them. Her mom read it and said thank you. They sit down a little far away. Clara wave at me and I wave back.     A lot has happened to me over the years. Like I have a butler, I’m an author, I’m a painter, and an owner of two galleries and the co-owner of a restaurant. I mostly write kids books. The restaurant it’s in LA, it will open in three months and the other owner is Sarah. Julius is my butler; well he likes it more when I introduce him as our mayordomo. Sarah is now engaged to Kenneth. They bump into each other two years ago in New York and hit it off when he was here for some work.     I’m glad she’s happy and found someone special. They are getting married in a month and a half. They wanted to get married before the opening for the restaurant so that they can enjoy their honeymoon. Ashton and I broke up almost six years ago. It was a complicated and hard break up. Five years ago he came to find me in New York wanting to try again, but I knew it wasn’t going to work out. The long-distance relationship tore us apart.     Also we weren’t willing to move a cross the country for each other, our careers to important and I wouldn’t want him to leave everything and start over for me. We we’re young and our life was chaotic. The last time I saw him it was five years ago when he came. I so wanted to say yes to him, to be a couple again, but the time wasn’t the right one. Seeing him again brought all those feelings back.     So I decided then to bury them as deep as I could. I know that is the wrong thing to do, but I didn’t know what else to do. I still have the tulip necklace he gave me. I don’t wear it anymore, but I could’ve get rid of it or his other stuff and presents. I let those thoughts linger a little more and then push them back down. I may have change and I’m more mature now, but I’m still the same. My hair is shorter now, it’s long, but not like when I was a teenager. I got ride of my belly ring five years ago and I now have two tattoos.     My eyes and hair are still the same color. My eyes attract every male around me, and I hate them for it. Ever since Ashton I’ve been on many dates, but they never get to be more than that. But ever since that night five years ago I don’t know anything of him or where he is. Kenneth or Sarah haven’t mention him in front of me and I was glad.     “Passengers in first class of flight DL2973 from New York to California please proceed to get aboard. Thank you.” I get up and walk to the gate. Six hours of flight, I’m glad I have a book with me and tv in the plane. It doesn’t take long for all the passengers to board the plane and we are in the air. I feel asleep for most of the flight. Too tired from all the packing and working this past weeks. Six and a half hours later we landed in California. I look out and see the sunny sky. I’ve miss the air and sky.     I have a big smile on. “It’s a beautiful place, right? First time coming here?” I turn my head to the right and a guy is sited on the middle aisle. “Why do you think that?” The man smirks. I look at him and his really hot and handsome. He has brown hair, brown eyes, and have a fit body. He definitely works out. He looks about six feet tall. But no guy compares to Ashton.     “I’ travel for a living. I know when a face sees a place for the first time. They have the same sparks as you.”     I chuckle, “You should go check your eyes out because you’re wrong. I was born and raised in California.” My phone rings and Parker’s photo appears on the screen. “Boyfriend?” I don’t answer him and answer the call. “Where are you? I’ve been driving for over twenty minutes.” I roll my eyes at him. “Hello to you too. Still on the plane. Park or something, using all that gas is bad for the environment. I’ll call you when I have Sammy.”     He ends the call. I heard the frustration in his voice. I don’t know why he’s so work up over nothing. I stand up at the same time as the man. “I’m Roger. You?” I don’t answer him and move along getting my things. “Has anyone told you that you have the most beautiful, captivating green eyes?” Yes and you won’t be the last. “Marabella. And yes they have. Goodbye.” I take my carry on and leave the plane. I hate my eyes; they always attract people. I know I was cold, but I didn’t want to talk to him anymore.     I know I used my middle name, but I don’t the man. He can be a stalker or worse. It’s better to lie and be precautions than be truthful sometimes. I felt weird with him looking at me. Also he was hitting on me, and I didn’t like it. I find Sammy in twenty minutes, and he starts running in circles inside of his cage. Oh, my baby wants to get out. I open the door and sit on the floor. He jumps in my lap and starts licking my face. “Okay. Okay, buddy. I’m here. I know it was a long and horrible flight.”     I get up and he follows me like a puppy. Like I promised Parker, I called him, and he came in eight minutes, that was fast. I see the guy that introduced himself as Roger getting in a cab and watching me. He smiles at me. It felt weird and like a creeper was watching at his prey. I give him a tight smile. I forget about the man when the backdoor of the car opens and a little girls runs to me. She hugs me and looks up at me.     “Hi mama.” I smile and pick her up. “Hi, sweetie. What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be with grandma and grandpa?”     “She insisted that she had to come with me to welcome you.” Parker gives me a hug and a kiss. That’s why he sounded desperate on the phone. Anna was talking his ear out. “Hi little sis.” I hug him back. “Hi, big brother.” I drop Anna to the floor so she can pet Sammy. He starts circling and barking at her. He’s saying hello. “Where’s Glenda and Cole?” He takes my carry on and puts it in the trunk. I get in the passenger seat after putting Anna in the car seat. Sammy is sitting behind Parker looking at the front like a guard dog.     Ever since Anna came into our life he has stick to her like glue. Parker gets in and puts the car in drive. “Back at mom and dad’s. Cole is ecstatic that aunt Auty is coming. He misses you; we all have.” I smile remembering when Glenda gave Parker the news that she was pregnant. It was thanksgiving the year after their wedding, and he started crying. He became an overprotective dad. I guess it runs in the family.     “Mommy I want ice cream.” Parker look at her through the mirror. “You already had ice cream princess.” I turn and see her pout. “You know the rules Anna.” She dramatically sighs and pets Sammy. She whispers something in his ear, and he barks back. She looks out the window with a smile on her face. “You like the colors?” She nods and starts telling Sammy the names of the colors she sees.     “How was the flight?” I look at Parker. “It was good, until we landed, and a guy try to flirt with me. He mention that my eyes are beautiful. Like I don’t know that.” I scuffed. “You need to stop being cold to the male species. By the way Jen and Glenda want to set you up on a blind date. Just a heads up.” They want to what? This woman I can’t with them. They’ve been trying for the past year to get me to get a boyfriend.     When my dates aren’t more than that they get frustrated and annoyed that I haven’t have a relationship since Ashton. But really I don’t want anybody. My focus is Anna, no one else. Sammy barks two times. Sometimes I think he can read minds. He too, is my focus. “I don’t want any blind date or to meet someone new. My life is Anna and Sammy, that’s it.” I look back at Anna and see her beautiful brown wavy hair and her blue eyes. She has a few freckles in her cheeks. Every time I see her eyes they remind me of Ashton’s.     “If you say so. But just know that when you’re ready to start a relationship with someone I’m here. I won’t give him a hard time or threaten him. I promise.” I smile at Parker. “Thanks.” We stay silent the rest of the drive. He parks in front of our parents home, our childhood home. We get out and I open Anna’s door. “Mama how long are we staying here?” She asks me with her cute voice while I unstrap her. “A month. Why?” She gets down and shrugs her shoulders. “Just asking.”     She runs to the house with Sammy following her. I take out my carry on and Sammy’s cage. Parker carries it. I look at the house and take a deep breath. It looks the same, except mom change the colors. It’s now a light brown, but not the nude kind more of a cappuccino. I walk in and mom is by the door waiting for me. “Oh, your home. I miss you. Don’t you ever move to the other side of the country again.”     I give her a little laugh. “I won’t mom.” Dad runs to Anna and picks her in his arms. “Did you have fun with uncle Parker?” She puts her finger in her chin and thinks. “Not much. He’s a little boring, but he bough me ice cream.” I chuckle and Parker gasps. “You heard that honey? You’re niece said I’m boring.” Glenda walks out of the kitchen. “Nah. She’s just playing with you. You’re her favorite uncle.” Parker gives her a kiss on the lips.     I go to dad and kiss his cheek. “Welcome home, precious.” I take Anna from him, and she goes outside to play with Cole and Sammy. Glenda gives me a hug and a welcome home too. “Where’s Jen?” I look around and I don’t see her. “Upstairs with grandma.” Mom takes me to them. Grandma is in Asher’s old room in a bed. I hate seeing her like this all still and pale. Jen is sitting at her side with a book. She’s reading her Pride and Prejudice.     A few days after that night in the hotel room seeing Asher’s video I went in his room for the first time ever since he died. We cleaned it up and pack his stuff up. We donated some of them and kept some. We put it in storage, but I think they are now in what used to be my art studio. Grandma’s beach house is being rented to a family over the summer. They are talking of putting it up for sale, I don’t want to. The cabin is in my name now and I rented it out over the holidays and summer vacations.     But now that I’m back on this side of the country I may stop that. “Look who it is. Our princess is home.” They treat me like I was exile or something. I go to grandma and kiss her in the cheek. Jen and I hug for a long time. She isn’t with Laura anymore, they broke up. More like Jen broke up with her after finding out that Laura cheated on her. It wasn’t a one-time thing. Laura had an affair with different people. It’s her lose not Jen’s.     Jen’s has a wife now; her name is Delilah. They’ve been together four years and got married two years ago. They want to adopt kids. They don’t want to get a surrogate or do the whole artificial insemination because they are many kids in the world that are waiting for a loving family. It’s a long process they entered. I walk down the stairs after talking to grandma and Jen some time. Anna and Cole are still playing with Sammy. I walk to mom. “Did she feed Sammy?”     “Yes.” I sit on one of the chairs in the patio and she does the same. “Where’s Ruby?” I hear mom chuckle. “Out with Selene and the triplets. Mason is their chauffeur. I pity the guy. They said they were going shopping.” Oh, lord. That’s going to be endless of bags. “You still have you’re foster license?” I look at mom with worry. Why is she asking me that? “Yeah. Why?” She shakes her head.     “Just in case Ruby needs to go with you.” I’m genuinely worry of her reason behind asking that question. “Mom what’s going on?” She dismisses me. “Don’t worry. I’m just being a worry wart.” Mom made Parker and Jen get a foster license after I left in case something happen to them. She didn’t want grandma to have that pressure of taking care of Ruby. Then when I came back she made me get one too.     “Okay.” I reluctantly tell her. Something more is going on, but I won’t push it.     I hear the door open and someone screaming. We turn to look inside and see Ruby. She drops her bag on the floor and runs to me. I get up and open my arms. “You’re home. I miss you.” I laugh. “You saw me two weeks ago.” She traveled to New York to stay for a week and fly with Anna back here. “Not the same.” Ruby is almost as tall as our dad and Parker. The only woman in our family that tall. She’s 5’6 and the way she’s going she can be a model if she wants with her looks and weight. She’s taller than me, I feel like the little sister and not the older one.     She has some light blond highlights in her brown hair, that’s the only thing mom let’s her do to her hair. And those hazel eyes of her are as beautiful as ever. The triplets walk to me and smile. “You remember us?” I nod and hug them. They have the same appearances and features as they did eight years ago. They’re tall too, but shorter by two inches than Ruby. I see a big muscle guy with a lot of bags in his arms and hands. He looks exactly like Ashton was at that age but with yellow eyes.     Mason drops the bags on the entrance and groans. “Ruby I’m not carry them all the way to your room. You are going to help me. I’m not your porter.” She rolls her eyes and walks over to him. She takes some and walks up the stairs. He fixes his shirt and takes some bags from the floor. I walk over to him. He really is a mini-Ashton. “Hi Macy.” He looks up at me and a big smile breaks on his face.     He drops the bags again and gives me a hug. He crushes me and lifts me a little from the floor. “You’re hurting my mom.” Anna runs to us with Sammy and starts hitting him in the legs. Sammy barks at him thinking he’s hurting me. “Let her go.” He looks down at her and his eye widen. He puts me down and keeps his eyes on her. So I guess he hasn’t seen or meet her. I hear footsteps and a ‘s**t’. “Who is she?” He asks us. The triplets see her and widen their eyes too.     I close my eyes. This is not what it looks like. “I thought you were going to go out with Anna, so I let them spend the afternoon here. They’ve been begging for weeks to hang out here. They thought it was weird that we stop.” Ruby tells me in my ear. “Anna sweetie, he wasn’t hurting me. He was giving me a hug. He’s a friend of aunt Ruby and mommy’s.” The four of them widen their eyes more.     “Oh. Sorry I hit you.” She ran back to play with Cole and Sammy.     I turn to Mason. “Can I talk to you?” He nods and we enter my dad’s study. “It’s not what you think.” He paces around the study. “No? She looks exactly like him. You kept her from us, from him. Her father.” I close my eyes and take deep breaths. “How old is she? Five? Four? She has to be four.” He looks in my eyes. He’s waiting for me to answer him. I won’t until he calms down. After some minutes he sits down. “She’s four. Five on January of next year.”     “Explain everything, please.” And I did. Half and hour later we exit the room. “Bye, Autumn.” He gives me a side hug and leaves. He’s more calm now, but I know he’s still a little overwhelm about what I told him. “So?” Cirilla asks him. “Let’s go.” He doesn’t say anything to them, he gives me a tight smile and leaves. “What did you tell him?” I looked at Ruby. “The truth.” She bites her lip. She looks a little down.     “Don’t blame yourself. It was bound to happened. Imagine if Ashton sees Anna. He’ll react the same way.”     I squeeze her shoulder and left her there. From what just happened I think my life just became a rollercoaster.