Second Chance:

[Pop_45]

Thank you Grand. Once again, an incredibly good story.

[eeyore]

Grand thanks again, hope everything has worked out with your homestead.

[Ozarks Lady]

Oh Man!! I like this new addition to the story.
Pay backs can be glorious.

Thanks Grand

[sewbeit221]

Oh I got so excited when I got the e-mail saying Second Chance! I think Snarlbuckle has a great idea making this into a TV series I would watch it! Thanks for such an entertaining story!

[errn]

lost you for a while,
But now you're found and all is well with the world.
Thanks for continuing this excellent story.

don

[tech]

Out-freaking-standing Grand. The CONUS move has not diminished your writing skills one bit

Thank you for the new chapter.

[barfife]

excellent as always. very enjoyable.

[RVN11B]

Reading these last few chapters I have experienced something I have not felt in forty years. That building rush as my gear is checked, blades sharpened, and weapons cleaned. Man how I missed that!

Thanks for the memories!

[jrain]

Outstanding work!

[Grand58742]

Things are coming along a lot quicker in the story, just about finished writing everything. Just a few more selected parts and everything will be wrapped up. So I'll probably be posting the remaining chapters a little quicker than I had before.

[Grand58742]

CHAPTER 54



“You okay?” asked Erica as she saw the concern on Charlie’s face.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” said Charlie with a brief smile.

“You sure?” asked Erica again with her eyes showing concern herself.

“I’m just worried,” said Charlie.

“About?” asked Erica.

“Well, it’s been far too quiet since Cindy’s story broke. Nothing from Nashville, nothing from New York, nothing at all,” said Charlie.

“We didn’t expect anything to happen overnight you know?” asked Erica reasonably.

“I know, but you never know. I just expected something to happen by now,” said Charlie.

“Do you trust the State to make sure nothing happens to her?” asked Erica.

“Trust a politician?” he laughed.

“Yes, trust they have her best interests at heart,” said Erica crossly.

“I guess I could,” he said and looked out the window as Cindy came back in from a run.

“She’ll be just fine,” said Erica. “She has a good man watching out for her.”

“I suppose,” said Charlie who was still concerned at how things were going. Cindy bounced upstairs after a quick “Hi!” to grab a quick shower and change her clothes.

“But I do have one question,” said Erica.

“Anything,” he said.

“How do you think our relationship is going?” she asked, fairly pointedly.

“I guess it’s going okay,” he said and wondered why she would ask.

“Guess?” she asked.

“I suppose it is going just fine. We haven’t argued that much at least and we seem to get along pretty well,” he replied.

“I was just wondering since we’ve been together for a while now,” she said and let her voice trail off.

And this was the conversation Charlie had dreaded for some time now to come up. He knew where Erica was going, but had a hard time finding the courage to actually talk about it. His feelings for her were clear enough, but he was just like most men when it came to discussing his emotions. Additionally, he still reserved a small part of his heart just in case it got broken again. However, he had fallen in love with Erica and he was fairly sure she felt the same way. But again, getting up the courage to say anything was the hard part.

“Okay, we have been,” he said evasively. “And?”

“Well, I was just wondering if you felt…anything,” she said and peered at him with intense blue eyes.

“Well, I do have some feelings for you,” he said.

“Such as?” she asked with the same intense gaze.

Before he could answer, the telephone rang. Holding up his finger, he crossed the room to get the cordless phone sitting on the desk.

“Hello,” he said, glad for even the most momentary pause in the conversation.

“Hello, is Cindy there?” asked a younger sounding female voice.

“May I ask who’s calling?” asked Charlie.

“It’s Portia Foster,” said Portia.

“Okay, hold on,” said Charlie as he handed the phone off to Erica. “Can you take this upstairs? It’s for Cindy.”

“Who is it?” asked Erica as she cupped the receiver.

“Portia Foster,” said Charlie.

“Okay, and when I get back, you owe me an answer,” said Erica with a wink.

“And answer for what?” asked Charlie.

“For the conversation we were just having before the call came in,” said Erica, knowing she had trapped Charlie. She went upstairs where she heard Cindy was finished with her shower and handed the phone around the door. Cindy asked who it was before taking the set with a “hey girl!” And the two teenage girls started talking while Erica headed back downstairs to collect her answer. She was almost to the bottom of the steps when Cindy stopped her.

“Portia wants to know whether or not I can come spend the night on Friday,” said Cindy.

“I’ll ask Charlie,” said Erica as she played the relay. “Charlie? Is it okay if Cindy goes over for a sleepover with Portia?”

“You think it’s okay?” asked Charlie, always worried when Cindy was out of his sight for more than fifteen seconds.

“It’s perfectly normal and probably a good thing. She needs the social interaction with other girls her age,” said Erica.

“I didn’t think they got along,” said Charlie.

“Girls make and break friends almost by the minute when they are that age. It’s a normal thing,” said Erica.

“Well, if you think it’s a good idea, I suppose I’ll go with your advice,” said Charlie.

“Cindy? It’s okay,” said Erica.

“Cool!” exclaimed Cindy as she went back to her room and continued talking on the phone with Portia about everything under the sun. Erica returned to the downstairs where Charlie was busy putting up the dishes that had dried that morning.

“So?” asked Erica as she stood in the kitchen doorway and effectively blocked his escape route.

“So, yes, I have feelings for you,” he said.

“Such as?” she asked.

“Good feelings, not bad ones,” he answered evasively.

“And?” she asked with a wave of her hand.

“Better to be good feelings rather than bad ones,” he said with a grin.

“Too soon to be asking?” she asked.

“No, I wouldn’t imagine so,” he said. “But I guess it’s just not having the courage to say what I feel.”

“I don’t want you to feel pressured, I was just curious,” she answered.

“No, I think you deserve to know,” he said. And before he could continue, his cell phone rang. Crossing out of the kitchen, he earned a slap on the behind and a devilish grin from Erica on his way out. Turning around, he gave her a smirk and roll of his eyes before answering the call from Mitch.

“Hey Mitch,” he answered as Erica came over in a playful mood. She decided it was playtime and started trying to tickle him while he was on the phone. He swatted at her hands while she looked for an advantage into her poking.

“Hey Charlie, ready for more inspections?” asked Mitch.

“Inspections?” asked Charlie as he flinched from a poke from Erica.

“Yeah, the State is still building its case for when the Feds get involved. They are inviting other States’ social workers in to make sure we are doing things by the book,” said Mitch.

“And the call was made by who to allow this?” asked Charlie and added an “Ouch!” after Erica found an opening to strike.

“You okay?” asked Mitch.

“Yeah, it’s mating season or something,” said Charlie as he poked back at Erica.

“Mister Gray! How dare you insinuate such a thing!” she protested with an impish smile and was overheard by Mitch.

“She’s good for you,” laughed Mitch.

“So you keep saying,” said Charlie with a grin and a swat at her behind as she walked away with her nose in the air.

“Anyway,” continued Mitch. “We are looking at bringing in some neutral States to observe the home life of one Charlie Gray and Erica Chase. Should this present a problem?”

“No, as long as Erica behaves herself, everything should be just fine,” said Charlie.

“I’m very well behaved Mister Gray,” said Erica with her nose pointed skyward and was overheard by Mitch.

“Domestic bliss brother, get used to it,” he laughed.

“Sure worked for you, speaking of which, have you set an exact date yet?” asked Charlie.

“Yes, didn’t you get the invitation?” asked Mitch.

“Nope, must have missed it,” said Charlie.

“Well then, I guess I’ll just have to ask you now, wanna be my best man?” asked Mitch.

“I don’t know, I have a reputation to uphold,” laughed Charlie.

“So I can put you down,” laughed Mitch.

“I couldn’t think of any other place in the world I’d rather be,” said Charlie.

“Okay, I’ll give you a heads up on when the inspectors will show up,” said Mitch.

“Okay brother, you take care,” said Charlie as he hung up the phone.

“I’ve got to head over to the house to grab a few things,” said Erica as she started out the door.

“Hey sweetie, one more thing,” said Charlie.

“Hmm?” asked Erica as she turned.

“I love you,” he said with a smile.

She immediately blushed up, but brightened at the same time. She had heard the words from him before, but knew it was more of a charade at the time to fool the Child Services Agents. But know, seeing his face, she knew it was true and said from the heart. Completely flabbergasted, she couldn’t think of a response except to reciprocate the same feelings with “I love you too.”

He beamed another smile at her as she walked out the door with a slight swagger, beaming and smiling at her situation. She had finally broken through his protective shell and gotten into his emotions after such a long time. But she felt he was worth the wait and time she had invested in him as he was a good man and one she felt she could be happy with for the rest of her life. Driving off, she knew there were only two more steps until she could be completely happy for the rest of her life.

After Charlie had spoken the words, he knew they were true as well. He hadn’t planned on looking for any serious relationship, but sometimes the Lord just put things in front of you and let you decide. And he had decided Erica was good for him and someone he could be happy with for the rest of his life. He also felt it was long past time for him to move on with his social life. Heading upstairs, he took the picture of his wife from the nightstand and gave it one long look, knowing she would probably be happy he had moved on as well. Annie never wanted anything more than for him to be happy in his life and he felt she probably would have approved of the woman he picked out. Taking the picture across the room, he set it inside the dresser drawer, still nearby to remind him of his former happiness, but far enough away not to be a distraction to his newfound love.

As he went back though the house, he heard Cindy continuing to chat with Portia. With little to do, he headed downstairs and sat down at the computer. Seeing everything was just so, he grabbed at his cell phone once again. After one final look, he dialed a long unused number from memory and waited as the phone rang.

“Alliance Publishing,” said a female voice on the other end of the phone.

“Michael O’Donnell please,” said Charlie.

“May I tell him who’s calling?” asked the voice.

“Charlie Gray,” said Charlie.

“Just one moment sir,” said the voice. Charlie heard the line click and a new voice came on.

“Marketing director’s office,” said another female voice.

“I was looking for Mister O’Donnell, can you let him know Charlie Gray is calling,” said Charlie.

“Yes, sir. Please hold,” said the voice. Charlie heard the standard music played until the line clicked back on.

“Marketing, O’Donnell speaking,” said the voice on the other end.

“Boy, they’ll push up anyone in the chain of command these days,” laughed Charlie.

“Charlie Gray, you old goat! How are you doing?” asked O’Donnell.

“Pretty fair. And you?” asked Charlie.

“About the same. Got a new job as you can see,” said O’Donnell. “What made you pick up the phone and call me?”

“Just can’t say hi to an old friend?” asked Charlie.

“You’re always welcome to do that sort of thing, but you’ve never called me at work and it has been over five years since we talked,” said O’Donnell.

“I’ll give you that,” said Charlie. “How are Heidi and the kids?”

“Ummm, Heidi and I divorced three years ago. Kids are good though, living with their Mom. I’m engaged again,” said O’Donnell.

“Sorry to hear about that,” said Charlie. “Not about the engagement part, but the divorce.”

“It was the best for us both,” said O’Donnell. “So seriously, why did you call?”

“Had a few ideas I put down to paper and figured I’d give my old agent a call,” said Charlie.

“A new book?” asked O’Donnell.

“I think so, it’s coming along nicely I think,” said Charlie.

“Got a preview?” asked O’Donnell.

“Sure, got the same e-mail address?” asked Charlie.

“Yeah, send it through,” said O’Donnell. Charlie attached the file to the e-mail and sent it out to his old publisher. After the sent items updated, O’Donnell got back on the line. “Okay, I got it.”

O’Donnell paused for several moments while speed reading through the first ten pages, just hitting the highlights and saving the in depth reading for later. He saw Charlie’s ability to write hadn’t been lost in the past seven years and was already being pulled into the storyline from the little he read.

“Charlie, this is dynamite! And I think you’ve even improved since your last story!” exclaimed O’Donnell.

“Just got a yen one day and started writing,” said Charlie.

“Charlie, you haven’t pecked out anything in seven years. Why the sudden inspiration?” asked O’Donnell.

“My life kind of turned around,” said Charlie.

“What’s her name?” asked O’Donnell with a laugh.

“Their names are Erica and Cindy. Kind of a package deal,” said Charlie with a laugh.

“Two women huh. You old dog,” laughed O’Donnell.

“Not like that you perv,” laughed Charlie. “One’s a young girl we took in and the other is a nice doctor.”

“Well, they seem to be good for you. This is potential top ten material if you keep going with it,” said O’Donnell, referring to the New York Times Best Selling List.

“You think the publishers will bite after so long?” asked Charlie.

“They haven’t forgotten your name around here and your books still sell. This could be a marketing frenzy if we stage it right,” said O’Donnell thinking the matter through. “Don’t call it a comeback; he’s been here for years. How’s that sound?”

[Grand58742]

CHAPTER 54 CONTINUED

[Pop_45]

Thanks Grand, this is such a marvelous story, I'll hate to see it come to an end.

[huckridge]

Grand this a great story, thanks for sharing.

[Ozarks Lady]

Oooooh something is gonna happen and I don't think it's going to be good.

Thanks Grand