A Second Chance

Chapter 17

Evan had been a nervous wreck all day. He watched as his team members filed in and out of Ally’s office. Everyone seemed in good spirits as they exited, so that was encouraging. As the day came to an end, a meeting invite for them to meet the next day. No sooner had he accepted it, he saw Ally walk with purpose to the elevator bank. He accepted the invite and then packed up to leave as well. He made his way down to the lobby in time to see Ally walking out with Jake and Josh.

Josh had been giving him basic intel on her for years. He just wanted to know if she was safe and happy. It tore him apart when he discovered he may have saved Ally from the media, but he left her heartbroken. He loved her, but he thought he had to leave her behind. She was left with the pain and so many questions. Josh relayed how Evan’s actions stirred up old insecurities and fear. Evan was sure she was confused. Two months before they broke up, he stood by her side when Nana died. He protected her when her mother tried to barge in and make it about her. He promised to always be there. Instead he was just gone.

He learned she threw herself into work, and became laser focused on her career. Josh once mentioned in passing that she was dating someone, but he never elaborated. Coriene and his mom had dinner plans. Miranda had called to be working late. Kiana was supposed to have dinner with Kyle, so he thought he would have the house to himself. Instead he returned home to find Kyle frantically banging on the door.

“Kiana, please come back out,” Kyle pleaded.

Evan chuckled. “What set her off this time?” he asked. Kiana was usually less than enthused about going to Kyle’s, but she typically obliged with the court order.

“Lisa happened,” Kyle replied. Lisa was Kyle’s wife. When it came out that Kyle and Lauri were having an affair, she put on the face of the woman standing by her man. Really she was looking for a pay out. Kiana was in Lauri’s car when it was hit by the drunk driver. She was seriously hurt, and needed a blood transfusion. Evan’s blood type was not a match, and neither was Lauri. Kyle then stepped in and volunteered his.

Kyle later admitted that he suspected Kiana was his. Lisa pushed for a paternity test and then pushed for full custody under the guise she could not bare children. She claimed she wanted to be a mother, but really she thought she found her payday. Her thought was either Evan would pay them to call off the court proceedings, or that he would be ordered to pay support. Her true intentions came to light, but not before she came to blows with super defiant Kiana. Once Lisa was out of the picture, Kyle and Evan agreed to have Kiana spend time with Kyle, but to keep her with the father she knew.

Kyle ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “Lisa showed up to intercept us before we left. She was begging for forgiveness again. Kiana mistook my politeness for willingness to take her back and stormed off…well she stormed off after giving Lisa a piece of her mind. Seriously man, if she is this defiant at ten, I’m not sure how either of us survive her teenage years.”

Evan missed his friendship with Kyle, but his trust in him still needed some time to heal. The affair with Lauri paired with his initial custody battle proceedings had taken a big toll. His old friend was right. The teen years were going to be rough.

He unlocked the front door and found Kiana in her room. Evan convinced her to go with Kyle. Soon after his mother, sister and brother-in-law arrived and retired for the evening. He had to admit it was odd that both he and his sister had returned to their family home. Evan and Lauri had their own apartment, but after the accident it just seemed safer for him and Kiana. He eventually sold the apartment and opted to stay. Coriene and Steve had moved back in “just until they found a place.” That was four years ago. The house was big enough that they all really had their own space, so it wasn’t as odd as it could be.

Evan sat up waiting for Miranda to return. He heard a car in the driveway, and he went to the door thinking it was her. Instead the car continued down the front driveway towards the guest house. Evan watched from the window as she popped out of the car and towards her door. She disappeared into the guest house. He looked that way for a while until he felt his phone vibrate. Miranda wouldn’t be home tonight. This sometimes happened. She would need to stay late and she would stay at her old place downtown instead of making the drive to the Gold Coast. Evan decided to call it a night, but his mind kept jumping ahead to his meeting with Ally. If anyone could piece together a plan to save his team, it was her. He knew this was a Hail Mary, and she was their best bet.