Second Chance:

[jpr9954]

Well I finally got caught up with this great story. You've been busy Grand. Thank you so much.

I have always worried about Cindy and her going running. I don't think, knowing her father and his "friends" are looking for her, that I would let her out of sight to run a mile or two. Scary...... :-)

I was thinking the same thing especially with the Sheriff being there and Charlie's attention being diverted.

[shooter]

Great work Grand!!!! please keep them comming as your schedule allows.

[Grand58742]

CHAPTER 66




“Wow! Charlie, you have good taste!” remarked Erica as she checked the gown out.

“Sometimes,” he chuckled. “Annie used to tell me my taste was entirely in my mouth.”

“She wouldn’t have objected to this,” said Erica. “And speaking of dresses, what kind of a date are we looking at?”

“Hmmm, summertime maybe?” he asked. “June or July?”

“That sounds fine, gives us plenty of time to plan everything out,” said Erica. “And of course get my folks up here to meet you.”

“I have to go through that again?” he laughed.

“Don’t worry, Dad won’t threaten you on the first meeting. He typically waits for the second dinner to do that,” she laughed.

“Want to come with me? I have to meet Jimmy Kellogg,” he said.

“What for?” she asked. “He’s a lawyer right?”

Charlie explained for several minutes what his plan was. In the end, she summed it up perfectly.

“I think that’s probably the best thing for all concerned,” said Erica.

“So you think it’s a good idea?” he asked.

“I wholeheartedly support this,” said Erica. “But honestly, it’s not your decision to make.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“Well, you should consult her before doing this. She needs to have the final say,” she replied.

“Good point,” said Charlie. “Want to ask her together?”

“Absolutely,” said Erica as she gathered Cindy from the computer. “Charlie and I want to talk to you.”

“Okay,” said Cindy as she bounced out of the chair and into the kitchen. “You two look serious about something.”

“Well, it’s a serious question,” said Charlie.

“No, I’m not sure if I want UT or not,” she chuckled, trying to break the tension.

“It’s not about that,” replied Charlie. “It’s about a serious matter.”

“More serious than your football? This has to be good,” she laughed, again wondering where the conversation was going.

“Erica and I have a question for you. You don’t have to make a decision right now, but something to think about,” said Charlie.

“Okay,” she nodded.

“We would like to adopt you and Stacy,” said Charlie, being direct.

“I…wow, put me on the spot won’t you,” she said, letting the words wash over her.

“But it’s your decision to make,” said Erica. “And you’ll want to talk to Stacy as well.”

“I don’t…I just…it seems kind of fast after my mother was killed,” said Cindy, not realizing he had been almost six months. But she was still getting over it and the only thing that would help again was time. The heinous nature of her murder still weighed heavy on Cindy’s mind.

“We have as long as you want,” said Charlie.

“But you and Erica aren’t technically married yet,” said Cindy, avoiding a decision right then.

“Close enough that one Linda Cantu says we are at the top of the list,” said Charlie.

“I…wow, this is a lot,” said Cindy.

“Not much will change besides us being your legal guardians…I mean we more or less are already, but this makes us completely responsible for you,” said Erica.

“And you weren’t before?” asked Cindy with a grin.

“No, before we could drop you off on the nearest corner with a sign ‘will work for food’ and I mean a lot of food,” chuckled Charlie.

“Can I think about it and get back with you?” she asked, forgetting she was going to ask Charlie about the prom offer from Toby.

“You take as much time as you would like. And speak to Stacy as well. You two are a package deal, so where one goes, the other follows,” said Charlie.

“She’ll go wherever I go, but I’ll speak to her about it,” said Cindy.

“Just let us know. And we are going to start the preliminary paperwork if that’s okay,” said Erica.

“Sure, I guess that’s okay,” said Cindy, letting the news wash over her about being adopted. While she was comfortable here with Charlie and Erica, she wasn’t sure it was a home yet.

“We’ve got to run to town, will you be okay for a little while by yourself?” he asked.

“I’ll have the party cleaned up by the time you get back,” she grinned.

“Right,” said Charlie and grabbed his things to head into town to meet Jimmy.

********************

“We should know something soon,” said Abdul Ali. “My contact within the State says Haseena and Nawar are both being listed as orphans that can be adopted.”

“While Haseena is a lost cause, there is still hope for Nawar. We should find her and bring her out with us,” said Mohammed Hassan.

“It will be tricky, but it can be done,” said Ali. “We will have to find out where she is exactly.”

“The infidels are hiding her?” asked Hassan.

“Not necessarily, but she is in a hospital getting treated for several things,” said Ali.

“But Haseena is our first priority,” said Hassan.

“You will have your honor restored, I promise it,” said Ali.

“And afterwards?” asked Hassan.

“We have plans to go to a neutral country for some time. It will require you to get a new passport, but we can work that as well,” said Ali.

“Which country?” asked Hassan.

“Not sure yet, but probably somewhere in Europe for the time being,” said Ali.

“And we can just blend in?” asked Hassan.

“I have the codes to the Imam’s accounts. With enough money it is easy to blend in,” said Ali.

“And papers for Nawar?” asked Hassan.

“Will be easy as well. We just need to get her away from the hospital after Haseena is dealt with,” said Ali.

“Allah will be pleased when I have restored my honor,” said Hassan.

********************

“Need anything else?” asked Charlie.

“No, I think I’ve got everything,” said Jimmy. “This could take a while.”

“How long is a while Jimmy?” asked Charlie.

“Couple of weeks, maybe a month,” said Jimmy as he closed the folder to his front. “But this is probably the happiest I’ve ever been with work in a while.”

“Just as long as it goes through okay,” said Charlie. “And Cindy hasn’t made her decision yet.”

“It should go through, I mean, with everything that’s happened, there shouldn’t be a problem,” said Jimmy. “And I figure she’s gonna pick the couple that’s taken care of her this long.”

“Probably, but she has her own mind,” said Charlie.

“For the record, I think what you two are doing is completely righteous. You both are great folks for doing this,” said Jimmy.

“Knowing your wife, she would be in the adoption line as well,” said Charlie.

“She already spoke to me about it,” laughed Jimmy.

“We called dibs,” laughed Erica.

“I couldn’t think of two better folks in the world to take her in. I don’t really know you, but Charlie thinks you’re special and that means a lot,” said Jimmy.

“She’s special all right,” he laughed and received a smack in the back of his head as a reward.

“Don’t mind him Erica, he’s actually the happiest I’ve seen him in a long time,” laughed Jimmy, glad his friend was back to what he remembered.

“I’ll keep him for the moment,” she said and rubbed at his shoulders.

“I’d better be getting an invitation to the wedding,” said Jimmy.

“I don’t know, you know what happens when you get a lawyer involved with anything,” laughed Charlie.

Jimmy sighed and conceded defeat. He knew Charlie was on a roll and wouldn’t stop until he finally got someone’s goat. But again, it was good to see the old Charlie back in rare form once again. He finished putting the necessary paperwork into a folder and packed up his attach

[Yeti]

I tell ya that guy Cliff keeps hanging around he is going to get whupped up on. :D

[brokebronco]

Dang you are good. You are in the same league as Clancy and WEB Griffen!

[jbriii]

Oh hell no Grand!! Come on, now this cliff hanger is too much :)

[sewbeit221]

ARRRRGGGGHHHHhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! Hurry tomorrow get here so I can read more...

[Momma Sue]

Long as we're droppin author's names, I'll rate you up there with FOTH (Chris)
Awesome!

[Grand58742]

Long as we're droppin author's names, I'll rate you up there with FOTH (Chris)
Awesome!

I take that as a compliment. Chris is a talented writer

[eeyore]

I hope you have something spectacular planned for the father and his friend. Thanks again

[snarlbuckle]

I'm on the edge of my seat too Grand, you are doing a great job.

[blkhwk8]

Thanks for this story as it is one of the best I have read on any forum.Keep up the great work.

[Gwynmael]

Thank you Grand. Finally got caught up.
Dang, that jerk Cliff sure has been skulking around a lot of places lately!

[castleman]

Grand....Have been following this story. Thank you for a very well written and enjoyable story. Just one question though... by burying Cindy's Mom in the family plot..would that not allow for a very quick trace to where Cindy is? Just curious. Thanks again for a great story...you do good!!

[jsteih]

I'm so glad I was able to find this story, after not being able to see it on that other site.

It's a great story, and I hope that you're able to get it published!