Second Chance Mom. Mary Kate Holder

from the same side of the fence, Annie, so you had better know that now…before we go any further.”

      If she told him about her past he would turn and walk away. If she stayed silent about her past, Annie would have to reconcile it within herself and deal with the consequences the lie would bring…and they would come.

      With a prayer in her heart, she made her decision, already feeling the first tentacles of guilt wrap around her. “Then I guess we had better make it one of those topics we agree to disagree about.”

      “You won’t ever change my mind on the subject.” His tone told her it would be a waste of time trying. “Tomorrow is Friday. I’d like to pick you up and take you back to Guthrie for the weekend. I’d bring you home Sunday. You need to meet the kids, spend time with them. I can’t really make a decision before I see you with them in their environment.”

      Annie swallowed all her reservations and concentrated on why she was doing this. For Sara and James. For three children who were a family.

      “Friday sounds fine.”

      He ushered her out of the elevator as they came to her floor. “I almost forgot.” He extracted three wallet-size photographs from his pocket. “These were taken at Sara’s birthday party a week before she…died.”

      “Thank you. It was thoughtful.”

      He nodded. “I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon about four? We can be home for the dinner my mother will no doubt cook.”

      “I’ll be ready and waiting.”

      “Be sure to pack a pair of sturdy boots and maybe a pair of jeans, too. The kids like nothing better than playing outside. I’ll be seeing you.”

      Annie went inside her apartment and shut the door. Kicking off her shoes and tossing her purse onto the sideboard, she looked down at the photograph that was on top.

      Caroline was beautiful even at age nine. Hair so blonde and eyes so blue she would one day have some man wrapped around her little finger. Luke’s dark hair was curly and his big brown eyes were filled with life. His smile shone through…infectious and wide. He was seven.

      Annie hesitated as she came to the last photograph in the pile, turned facedown. She put it right side up.

      She had counted every day of the last eighteen months. In the silence of her apartment, her heart hammering like a runaway freight train, she sat and stared into the beautiful face of the little boy who was her son.

      The son she’d given to her best friend to raise.

      Chapter Two

      “Has she changed very much?”

      Jared loved his mother dearly, but just the fact that he was entertaining the thought of getting married—and to Annie—had her smiling every time she saw him these days.

      “She’s older.”

      Eve placed her hands on her hips. “Very funny.”

      “Don’t go getting mushy.”

      “My son shows the first sign of interest in a woman in more years than I care to count and he expects me not to be happy about it?”

      Jared sipped the coffee she’d poured for him, the homemade chicken pot pie settling warmly in his stomach.

      “I was honest with Annie,” he told her. “She knows what kind of marriage this will be if we decide to go along with it.”

      Eve came back to the table to sit opposite him. She reached over and touched his hand. “I want you to be happy. Life is…so short.”

      Since the tragedy they had all leaned on each other a little more, drawn their strength from their faith, from God and the love and closeness of family.

      He’d never seen his father cry until the day they’d buried Sara and James. They had all known the first year was going to be the most difficult. They’d had no idea it would mean fighting the system to keep their family together.

      He marvelled at how his mother never looked any older. Her curly light brown hair was cut in a style that flattered her. Her blue eyes were as kind and gentle as he’d always known them to be. Her smile could warm any heart.

      “Keeping Sara’s family together will make me happy.”

      “You took a lot on yourself when your father got sick. You gave up your life in the city to come home and run the farm. We appreciated that. And now what you’re doing for the children is wonderful….”

      “But…?”

      “You go through life with such a single-minded determination, caring for everyone else.” She shook her head. “I thought things would work out with Melanie.”

      Jared hadn’t thought of his ex-fiancée in a long time. The sad thing was that her leaving had barely caused a ripple in his life.

      At the time, he’d accused her of wanting too much out of their relationship. Now he realized any woman he became involved with would be like Melanie.

      They would want the parts of him that he dared not share, parts that he had locked away a long time ago. They would want him to make himself vulnerable and to trust them. He hadn’t trusted his heart and soul to anyone in so many years. He didn’t believe he ever would again.

      He wanted what his parents had, but was unwilling to pay the price…opening himself up completely to the love of another person.

      His mother sighed into the silence. “We hoped when you got married it would be for love…like your father and me. Like Sara and James.”

      “I’ll be fine, Mum. I promise. Besides, there are reasons other than love to get married. Good, sound reasons.”

      She didn’t reply but her expression told him she thought it was a load of hogwash. “Just be kind to this young woman, Jared. She has a very loving heart to want to do this for the children. Annie was always very sweet.”

      “You’ll be happy to hear that she hasn’t changed in that respect.” He finished his coffee. “I’m going to take the kids home.”

      “It’s so quiet in there. I can almost guarantee your father is asleep.”

      When they entered the living room, Jared smiled at the scene. Caroline was sprawled on her stomach in front of the television. In the armchair, Mick Campbell cradled both his grandsons, one on either side. Luke’s eyes were closing slightly as he fought sleep. Toby had given up all pretense and was snoring softly.

      His father had always been a tower of strength—active and energetic. Then as he’d fought cancer Jared had watched him fade to a shadow of the man he’d been…at least on the outside. On the inside, the fight of his life had made him so much stronger.

      Eve went over and began waking the boys, her husband stirring instantly.

      “Sorry I fell asleep.”

      “You need your rest,” Jared said. “Besides, it kept the boys quiet.”

      Caroline turned around and she smiled at her uncle. “Can we get a scarecrow?”

      “How about we get a lion and a tin man, too?”

      She sat up, brushing long strands of hair over her shoulder. “That would be silly,” she told him, her expression one of infinite patience. “We have nowhere to keep a lion and what good would a tin man be on the farm?”

      “I’ll think about the scarecrow.”

      His mother cleared her throat. “You do realize she thinks that is as good as a definite yes.”

      “I know. But the day will come when she’s asking for a car. I figure I’ll indulge her while I can afford it.”

      Caroline was already starting to get the boys’ things together. It took ten minutes to get slippers on feet, robes