21 comments/ 56730 views/ 8 favorites Second Chance, Book 01 By: coaster2 My thanks as always to my editor, ErikThread. He's a very patient man. Chapter 1: He wasn't looking forward to this luncheon. He would be forty years old tomorrow and some of his fellow salesmen had decided that he would be entering the twilight of his sexual life, and on this, his last day of potency, they would regenerate his sex drive with a visit to a notorious strip club. Perhaps it was supposed to be a comment on his modest lifestyle. Whichever, he had never been one to frequent those places. He found the atmosphere to be smoky and uncomfortable, the music unreasonably loud, and the women generally unattractive. All-in-all, it wasn't his particular "cup of tea." It left nothing to the imagination and the audience wasn't likely to be found at the opera the next night. It wasn't that the women weren't blessed with beautiful bodies. It was just the predictable form that the so-called entertainment took. He lived in a city where the dancers were permitted to be completely nude as long as none of the patrons touched them. Naturally, the rules were stretched to the limit in order to maximize the audience, and of course, the tips. Lap dances were permitted as long as the dancers wore at least a bikini bottom and top and still, no touching. Again, the definitions of bikini and touching were broadened to the maximum, or perhaps more accurately, the minimum. It was in that frame of mind that Brent Gordon pulled into the small parking lot adjacent to the Wagon Wheel Club at noon on a Wednesday, reluctantly joining eight of his fellow employees at the noon show. His best friend, Adam Richards, had been made responsible for insuring that he would show up. Brent had a customer meeting at eleven that morning, and promised Adam that, although he wasn't delighted, he would arrive at noon or close to it. As he looked around for the guys, he saw that they were front and center, and he walked over to the three tables that had been pulled together, finding a seat had been saved for him that faced directly toward the main stage. He sat down and was immediately presented with a glass of beer. He looked around the table and took note of who was in attendance. He was surprised, and a bit unhappy that Ron Dixon was sitting in the group. They had history and it wasn't pleasant. He knew that almost everyone at the table was aware of that, but somehow someone thought it appropriate to invite him. He was sure Dixon hadn't just shown up on his own, but he decided to let it slide. He was supposed to enjoy himself. The dancers had already started their predictable routines, and after a while, he found them boring and quit watching. He looked around and could see that the place was almost full. It was obviously a good business. The customers were pretty subdued so far. None of the girls had stirred their interest, but if he remembered correctly, the headliners would be coming along shortly before one o'clock, and the noise level would undoubtedly rise then. Adam, Johnny Martin and Brent were taking turns swapping stories about aging and what it felt like. At that point, they were able to hold a conversation without having to yell at each other. He had managed to nurse his first beer for almost 45 minutes before another appeared before him. He was determined not to overdo it this afternoon. He would have a hard time explaining to Jeanette why he stunk of beer and cigarettes in the middle of a work week. They had been served some bad sandwiches at what were undoubtedly inflated prices, but since he was the "guest of honor," he wouldn't see the bill. The sound level was increasing as the first of the headliners appeared. He managed to finish his sandwich and sat back in the chair to watch what the so-called premier performers had to offer. It was a case of more of the same with bigger boobs and smaller g-strings. The crowd seemed to be more inclined to approve however, as the catcalls and whistles were building quite nicely for her second set. He quit watching, and for a while he and Adam could still converse. The girl on stage finished her routine, and after a five minute break the announcer returned with his next introduction. He wasn't paying attention until Dave Terry called to him. "Hey Brent. Here's one especially for you. She's a real knockout, and just your type." He shot Dave a funny look, and then Ron Dixon jumped in. "Yah, Gordon, this one definitely is your type. I hear she's something special with the blow-jobs. That's why she's called "BeeJay!" He was laughing, but it wasn't a humorous laugh. There was something else in his expression. He turned toward the stage and the next dancer appeared from behind the curtain and moved out to the center stage. He was looking at her body and thinking that she was another of the very good looking women that danced at this club. "Hey BeeJay, look who we brought to watch you today!" It was Dave again. Then Dixon piped up. "Yah ... BeeJay ... show us your pussy!" Brent just shook his head, and looked up at the dancer to find out what all the fuss was about. It took him a couple of seconds to process the information in his brain. The woman on stage was not young. She was about his age and as he'd already determined, she had a very lovely body. But it was the face that stopped him cold. There on the stage, preparing to dance before the crowd, soon to be completely nude, was his wife, Jeanette. He lost his ability to breath, to hear. He knew there were catcalls and crude remarks being fired from all directions, including their table, but he had lost all capacity to comprehend. He looked up again and there was no mistake. It was Jeanette, his wife of eighteen years. He looked around the table and while Adam and Johnny and several others were looking shocked, Dave Terry and Ron Dixon were laughing and pointing at him and at the stage. He had to get out of there. He had to go, and go now. He stood, knocking the chair back as he did. He turned and began to work his way through the tables, weaving unsteadily as he tried to find the way out. He was unaware that Adam was beside him until he held his arm as they lurched through the door. He stood on the sidewalk, gasping for breath. He couldn't comprehend what he had just seen. Johnny had joined Adam. "Brent, let me drive you home. You shouldn't drive. You don't look good." It was Adam's voice, but he wasn't able to respond. Finally, he took several deep breaths. He had to get some space, some time to think. He turned to Adam and Johnny. "I take it you didn't know anything about this?" he gasped. "No ... you know better than that," Adam said in a sad voice. "What are you going to do?" "I don't know. I'm going to go home and I'm going to have to decide what to do. I don't know. I just don't know." "Don't do anything crazy, Brent. If you need anything, you only have to call. Just don't do anything crazy ... OK?" It was Johnny, being Johnny. If Adam wasn't his best friend, Johnny would be. He looked around. No one else at their table had come out to see what was happening. Only the two guys he knew he could count on had made the effort. "I'll see you guys later. I'll be OK in a while. I just need to have some time to think." He was beginning to get control of his emotions, and he wanted to be alone to try and reason out what he would do. He was supposed to celebrate the fortieth birthday of Brent Charles Gordon, and in a few hours it would go down as the worst day of his life. Chapter 2: He drove home in a trance. He had no recollection of anything along the way. He had no memory of the traffic lights or stop signs or trucks or changing lanes. None of it registered. He was lost in the jumble of his thoughts. What to do? There was more than himself to think about. Their children, Andrea and Scott. One way or another, whatever he decided, they would be affected. What to do? He needed time and space, and more than anything he needed to be alone. He couldn't live in his normal environment. He sure as hell couldn't live at home until he knew what he was going to do. By the time he reached his driveway, he had made a decision. It wasn't much, but at least it was something he could act upon. He parked the car in the garage and closed the big double door. He didn't need nosy neighbors poking around in the next hour or so. He went to the basement and pulled out his suitcase, and took it upstairs. He threw it on the bed and began to pack it with his clothes. He didn't have the patience to fold all the shirts, but he didn't care. He just wanted a good supply of clothes. He wasn't sure how long he would be gone. By the time he'd packed the suitcase he had everything he thought he would need, including toiletries and medicines. He hauled it downstairs, and lifted it into the trunk of his car. He went to his little office area and collected up all the business materials he could manage, including his laptop, camera, business records, and notebooks. He put them in the car's back seat and went back into the house. He took a sheet of paper from his printer and wrote two words, then folded it in half. He placed it in the middle of the kitchen table and stood there looking at it. Finally, he decided to get Jeanette's undivided attention with a symbol. He looked around one last time to see if he had forgotten anything important, and then it dawned on him. He was leaving his own home. He had decided to abandon his family. He felt a wave of nausea and rushed to the little powder room in the hall and rid himself of the beer and that wretched sandwich. He did not want anything left from that place of horror. His memories would remain as the permanent souvenir. He went back to the kitchen, and poured himself a glass of milk. Perhaps it would calm his stomach, and with any luck, his nerves as well. It was time to go. He opened the garage door, backed the car out onto the street, closed the door, and drove away. Brent Gordon had left his family behind, burdened with a sense of shame and drained of optimism. He had no idea what he would do, except he would have to expunge this part of his life. His plans for himself and his family were destroyed and he wondered if he would ever be able to put them back together again. Chapter 3: When Jeanette Gordon arrived home just before four, she rushed into the house and headed straight for the shower in the ensuite. The stink of that place was on her and her clothes. She knew she would have to put them in the wash before Brent got home and got a sniff of them. It was a routine she had recently adopted, one made necessary by her new job. This wasn't something she dared share with Brent or the kids. It was so completely foreign to her nature that she couldn't believe she was actually doing it. She worried about how long she could keep this secret from her husband. Thank god he didn't frequent places like that. She showered and put on fresh jeans and a t-shirt over her underwear. The kids would be home in a few minutes and she needed to get her clothes into the washing machine. She hurried downstairs with the clothes and went straight to the laundry room, throwing them into the machine, adding a bit of detergent and turning on the machine to "quick wash." It would be good enough for this small batch. Breathing a sigh of relief, she walked to the kitchen for some ice tea to quench her thirst, and a couple of Tylenol to relieve her headache. As she started for the fridge, she noticed the objects on the kitchen table and stopped dead in her tracks. A ring was sitting on top of a piece of paper and slowly, almost in fear, she approached it. There was no mistaking, it was their wedding ring. She looked at her hand and saw hers and knew it could only belong to one person. Her hands were shaking as she reached for it. She had a horrible feeling inside. Intuitively, she knew this was going to be bad, very bad. She picked up the sheet of folded paper and opened it. The two words jumped off the page and hit her as if they were a club. "Wagon Wheel." She sank into a kitchen chair and felt herself crumble into pieces. He knew. And the ring. What did that mean? The realization struck her immediately. He had left her. He was gone. He had learned her secret and he had left her. There was no other possible explanation. She panicked. She ran to the phone and dialed his cell. She had to stop him. She had to get him back. He couldn't just leave her. She had to explain -- try to make him understand. The phone rang and finally she heard his voice. It was his voice mail. "Brent, it's me. Please call. I need to explain. Please, Brent. You can't leave me. Please talk to me and let me explain. You need to understand. It was just a job. Call me. I beg you. Call me." She set the phone back on its cradle and stood, looking at nothing. Her life was falling apart around her and she could nothing to prevent it. How could she have been so stupid to think this was a good idea? Her thoughts were interrupted by the bang of the screen door on the porch as one of their children arrived home from school. "Hey Mom. Anything to eat?" It was Scott, the perpetual hunger machine. She didn't answer him immediately. She was still in shock and trying to gather her thoughts as well as her wits. "There's some cheese and crackers. Don't eat too much. Dinner will be at six." It was an automated response. Each day it was the same question and each day it was the same reply. She heard the screen door slam again and Andrea announced her arrival. "Hi Mom. What's new?" "Ah ... nothing much. Uhmmm ... your dad won't be home for dinner tonight," she managed. "Another rubber chicken dinner, eh," the young girl said with a grimace. "I guess." Jeanette didn't want to get into a discussion right now. Her mind was racing, trying to understand what had happened and what she could do about it. The headache was getting worse. Chapter 4: There hadn't been any tears yet. He was still in shock, and the heartbreak of his discovery had not yet overcome his protective shell. What he had seen was beyond his understanding. There was nothing in the twenty years that he had known Jeanette that would have even hinted at this kind of behavior. What she likely wouldn't understand was the impact of her discovery on their lives, and in particular, his business life. He was the natural successor to Lloyd Bruton when Lloyd moved up the ladder another notch. That was expected in the next year. He would become the Sales Manager of Mountain Pine Paper and it would have been the crowning moment of a long, hard climb. Now, he knew that couldn't happen. The men he was expected to lead had seen his humiliation. They had seen his sickened expression when he saw his wife on that stage. They would always know, always remember that moment. All of his hopes had been blown away in those few seconds. He would resign. It was the only decent thing to do. He knew Lloyd and Henry's expectations. They wouldn't tolerate improper behavior from their employees. They held a high standard for their people, and now he had crossed the line. It wasn't his actions, of course, but the actions of the wife were, by transference, the actions of the husband. It was a straightforward code, and he understood and endorsed it over his eight years at Mountain Pine. The emptiness of the moment was overpowering. He had friends that had only been acquired because he worked at Mountain Pine. His reputation was enhanced merely by being an employee. He wondered which of them would still be called friends when the word got out. He checked into a small motel in the valley that wasn't far from home, but no one he knew would think to look for him here. He didn't unpack except for his toiletries, and he plopped the suitcase on the luggage stand in the corner and flopped down on the bed. He couldn't get the image out of his mind. His wife, standing above him, not yet naked, but she inevitably would be. He knew it was Jeanette, but the look on her face was like none he had ever seen before. Her eyes were alive and it appeared that she was enjoying herself. How could she? He had no appetite that evening. The sour taste of bile from his earlier eruption was still with him. He walked outside to the soft drink machine and purchased a soda and went back to his room. He switched on the TV and surfed through the channels before settling on a baseball game. It required no involvement on his part and he could pay attention or ignore it without missing anything. He couldn't get his mind off the images and his thoughts of the consequences of what he had seen. He tried to reason what his options were, but he couldn't complete anything. It was a jumble of thoughts without a linear progression. He slept little; tossing and turning throughout the night. Twice, he got up and wandered around the little motel room. He had turned his laptop on and surfed the web for a while. He wondered just how he could Google the subject of his distress. Was there help or a resolution on the Internet? How would he form the question? He tried several ways, exhibitionist wife, then naked exhibitionist wife, and then secret naked dancer wife. The results yielded nothing except pornographic sites and bizarre fiction. There was no easily found solution. Finally, at six-thirty, he rose, showered, shaved, dressed, and left the room, driving to a nearby restaurant. He had the beginnings of an appetite, but he chose his breakfast with care, not wanting to upset his already fragile balance. Juice, fresh fruit, muffin, coffee. Nothing greasy or heavy. He paid the bill, took a coffee-to-go, and drove back to the motel. He had some things to do this morning, things that would change the course of his life, but would still leave him in doubt about his future. When he arrived back at the motel, he pulled open the curtains to let the maximum of light into the little room. He picked up the telephone and placed a call to the plant. It was after eight and the receptionist recognized his voice. "Hi Brent. How are you this lovely morning," she chirped. She clearly hadn't heard anything yet, and he was relieved. "Lloyd please, Susanne." The phone rang only once when the deep, reassuring voice of Lloyd Bruton answered. "Good morning, Lloyd here." "Hi Lloyd, its Brent," he began. "Hi Brent. What's up?" He hadn't heard either, Brent concluded. "Uhhhmmm ... I need to meet with you in private, away from the office, Lloyd. It's important," he said uncertainly. "What's this about, Brent? Why do you want to meet?" he asked, obviously curious and with a hint of concern. "It's a private and personal matter, Lloyd. I need to talk to you and explain before ... well ... we need to talk," he concluded. There was silence on the other end of the line until Lloyd responded. "OK ... where do you want to meet?" "Well, I realize I'm not giving you much time, but ... how about the park in Montrose Estates, at noon. I'll look after the lunch, if you can meet me around noon?" There was another pause and then, finally, "OK, Brent. The park at Montrose. I'll see you at noon." "Thanks, Lloyd. I really appreciate this. I'll see you there." And with that, he hung up. He had three and a half hours to kill between now and then. Three and a half hours to decide what to make of his future. Chapter 5: Jeanette was a mess. She hadn't slept a minute that night. The tears had come when the kids were in bed and she could finally let herself go and indulge in self-pity. There hadn't been a word from Brent. Where was he? Had he left for good? It didn't seem possible. He loved his children and Jeanette couldn't bring herself to believe he would just walk away and leave them. She had reasoned that he had left to try and understand what he had seen, and decide what to do. That was just like him. Don't do anything without thinking about it first. But the ring? The ring terrified her. She tried to imagine his pain, his thoughts, and his anger. She had wounded him deeply, and she didn't know if she could make it better. Second Chance, Book 01 She had tried to keep things normal that morning. Brent was usually up an hour before the children and would be gone before they rose. For once, she was grateful. There were no explanations to be made. It was a Thursday, and she dreaded Saturday, or for that matter, the next two nights. What excuse would she have for his absence tonight and Friday and then finally, the weekend. She thought about telling the children the truth, but they were so young and innocent. They would never understand; especially Andrea. There had to be something she could say ... there had to be. As Andrea and Scott left for school, Jeanette picked up the phone and called The Wagon Wheel. There was no answer at this early hour, and she left a message on the answering machine that she wouldn't be in today and that she would call later to explain. She was deeply afraid that if Brent had left her, she would have to provide for herself and the children and she would need a job. This one, as bad as the situation was, paid very well and since she had no other skills, she would need to keep it for as long as she could. It was the worst of all solutions and yet the only one that she could think of. She thought of phoning Lloyd and asking if he had heard from Brent, but rejected that when she thought of the questions that it would generate. She had tried his cell again and again, but no answer. She had left several messages, but there was no answer. Was he ever going to talk to her again? There had to be someone she could talk to. Think girl, think! She couldn't call Elaine. Adam was Brent's best friend and she would die of embarrassment if Elaine knew what she had done. There had to be someone. Finally, she knew there was only one person she could call who wouldn't blow the whole mess wide open. Her sister, Joanne. "Jo, it's me, Jeanette. I need to talk to you. It's bad, Jo. Brent has found out. He knows and he's left me. I don't know what to do, Jo. I need to talk to you. Please!" She hung up. She hated answering machines. They were so impersonal and unresponsive. She would just have to wait for her sister to call back. She would understand. She was the one who had got her into this mess in the first place. She poured her third cup of coffee and sat at the kitchen table with her head in her hands. She felt almost barren of hope. Chapter 6: Adam knocked on Lloyd's door frame and the big man, currently on the phone, waved him in. Adam closed the door behind him and Lloyd's eyes widened in surprise. He finished his conversation quickly and hung up. "What's up, Adam?" "I'm afraid we've got a problem, Lloyd. Something horrible happened yesterday and I don't know what to do about it." Lloyd had sat up in his chair to pay close attention. "What happened?" Adam began to tell the story of the birthday lunch and what had spawned it and how they were having a bit of fun until that fateful moment. He related with pain the moment that Brent had recognized Jeanette on the stage and the aftermath. Both Adam and John were very worried about their friend and both had tried to call him on his cell with no result. Adam had called the house, but it just went to the answering machine. He was afraid to call after the supper hour because he didn't know what had happened when Brent went home. He finished his story and sat waiting for Lloyd to respond. "The poor bastard. No wonder he wants to meet with me privately." Lloyd was looking down at his desk, lost in thought. "He does? Where are you going to meet him? I need to be there! We've got to help him!" Adam exclaimed. "Adam, I think it's better if I meet with him alone. He doesn't sound very good, and I don't want to overwhelm him. He must be in shock, and maybe angry. I need to find out what he's thinking and what he wants to talk about. I know you're his good friend, but he called me and I think it's a good idea to let him have his say. Maybe we'll know more when I get back. In the meantime, I want to talk to the sales group, specifically the guys that were at that lunch yesterday." "Lloyd, someone invited Ron Dixon to that lunch. I have no idea who or why, but he and Dave Terry knew what was going to happen. Both of them knew Jeanette was going to be on that stage and they set this up. Those two assholes are going to answer to me before this is over," Adam spat. "Cool it, Adam. I assume she was there of her own free will. I don't have any time for Ron, and Dave should know that's not how we act in this place, but just the same, it was Jeanette who chose to be on that stage. Let me find out where Brent is coming from and we can talk then. In the meantime, let's try and keep this from getting all over the place." "Too late for that, boss. Ron has been telling everyone and anyone about it. He's out to fuck Brent for that problem at the last Christmas party. He now has the perfect way to get even and he's sticking it in to the hilt. I thought he should have been fired last year, but I see that's not part of the corporate doctrine. Groping another guy's wife is allowed, I guess," Adam said in a disgusted voice. "Cut it out, Adam!" Lloyd said, raising his voice uncharacteristically. "You know better than that. He didn't get away with anything. He's been reprimanded and it's on his record and he knows that the next time that he as much as farts in public, he's gone!" "Well, show me then. If this isn't the most destructive thing he could do to an employee, I don't know what is. If he gets away with this, he's going to gloat for years about how he didn't just get even, he got ahead." Adam turned, opened the door and stormed out of the office, almost banging into Henry on his way to his office. "What's got into his bonnet?" the rotund general manager asked. "Close the door, boss. I've got a sad tale to tell you," Lloyd began. They were behind closed doors for over an hour while Lloyd told the story Adam had given him, followed by the ensuing discussion of the likely consequences. In the end, Henry let it be known, in no uncertain terms, that he would be with Lloyd when they met Brent at the park that noon. Lloyd knew from experience that there was no talking him out of it. He wondered to himself just how much would be accomplished at this meeting. Finally, at a little before noon, the two men left the office and drove toward Montrose Park. Chapter 7: Brent wasn't surprised to see Henry with Lloyd when their car pulled up next to his. He was sitting at a picnic bench and stood as the two men approached. In front of him were a bag of deli sandwiches and several cans of ice tea. "Mornin' Brent," Lloyd said in a serious tone, but with his hand extended. "I see you needed a partner on this call," Brent said with a faint smile. Henry shook Brent's hand and looked him straight in the eye. "I heard what happened yesterday. I can't guess what's going through your head right now, but I'll bet it isn't good." "Adam told me," Lloyd explained. "Figured he would. It wasn't going to be a secret anyway. I'll bet Dixon is having fun with it, though. I wondered why he was there," the grim-faced salesman said. "Fuck Dixon. I'll look after that bastard. I let H.R. talk me out of firing him last Christmas and now look what's happened. He's gone ... take it to the bank!" Henry spat. "Yah, well, it was Jeanette on that stage, Henry. I'm still trying to understand what in hell would make her think that was OK." The bewildered look on his face mirrored his every thought. "There's only one way to find out," Lloyd said. "Ask her. You won't know anything until you talk to her. You guys have been married a long time. Strange things can happen to people. She may be able to make you understand. You'll only know if you talk to her." "Yah, well ... I know I'm going to have to sooner or later, but I can't handle it right now. I'm too fucked up to think straight and I'm not sure I wouldn't do or say something I couldn't take back later. I need some time to cool off." His voice was steadier now and he had better command of his thoughts. "What can we do to help?" Lloyd asked. "Well ... I guess this won't come as a big surprise, but I've decided to resign." With that, he reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew an envelope. "Here's my letter." "Hey ... whoa ... you can't quit now. You're one step away from my job. You know it's there for you," Lloyd exclaimed. "Lloyd ... think about it. How am I going to run a sales department after what happened yesterday? I'll never have the respect of the guys. What about social events? Jeanette wouldn't be able to show her face. The gossip, the stories -- you know better than I do how people will react." Brent spoke with the voice of finality. He had thought it out and he was convinced there was no alternative. It was Henry who brought some clarity to the discussion. "Look, Brent, I want you to do something as a personal favor to me. I want you to take a paid leave of absence. It won't be common knowledge and I can't let it go on indefinitely, but whatever comes from this, you still have a wife and family to look after. Give me some time to think too. Give me a chance to look at what options we've got. The last thing I want is to lose a good employee. This is a rotten situation, but let's not assume it isn't fixable. Can you do that?" "Yah ... sure ... I can do that. I appreciate what you're doing, Henry ... Lloyd. I hate like hell to leave, but I don't see any other way and still have some self-respect. I'll let you know where I'll be. For now, just call my cell." "In the meantime, this letter will remain in my desk, unopened. I just hope it stays that way," HENRY said. They ate their sandwiches almost in silence as the warmth of the sun helped improve the atmosphere of the meeting. They exchanged small talk and Brent reviewed what was urgent on his agenda. Adam, Johnny, and Lloyd would look after the work. They had already volunteered. Brent smiled as he thought of his friends. At last, the lunch was over and Brent stood up. "I'll be in touch, Lloyd. I'm pretty sure I will go back home in a day or so. I'm sure Jeanette is upset and the kids will be too. I can't leave them like that. I just need to get my act together so that I can try and talk to Jeanette and see what we do next." The three men shook hands solemnly and walked to their cars. Brent sat down again and watched the two senior managers drive away. They didn't appear to be talking. That wasn't a surprise. He was sure they would be thinking about what they had just heard. As he sat there, he wondered when he would be able to talk to Jeanette and not explode or attack. When would he have the self-control to try and listen and understand? In the meantime, he needed to talk to someone who didn't have a vested interest -- someone who was a friend, and yet not intimately involved in their lives. There was only one person he could think of -- Walter Francis. Chapter 8: Joanne O'Leary had intended to call her sister back early in the afternoon. She was surprised that Jeanette was home, but since her sister's message made it clear that Brent had found out about the new job, perhaps she should not have been. Jeanette sounded distraught and Joanne decided to drive over to her house and talk to her in person. She had barely removed her finger from the door buzzer when the front door swung open and a harried looking Jeanette pulled her in. "Thank god you're here, Jo. I don't know what I'm going to do. Brent's left me. He's gone and I haven't heard a word from him. He's not answering his cell phone. I don't know what to do," she cried. "Calm down, Jeanette. This isn't going to solve anything. Let's try and figure out what happened and then maybe we can decide what to do," her sister said in an authoritative voice. Joanne was three years younger than Jeanette, but somehow had assumed the leadership role for the two sisters. She was the decisive and positive one. She was the one to remain calm in the heat of battle. She was also the one who got her into this mess in the first place. "God, if only I hadn't listened to you. I didn't need that job. It was supposed to be a bit of harmless fun. What the hell was I thinking? Now everyone will know. I won't be able to face anyone," she wailed. The headache had returned. "Well, you can blame me or anyone else you like, but it was your decision in the end, and what's done is done. Now you have to figure out what to do about it." There was no sympathy in her sister's voice, and Jeanette looked at her strangely. She was beginning to get angry. "Who was it encouraged me to audition? Who was it thought it would be good for my 'middle-aged ego'? Who was it said Brent would never find out because he didn't ever go to places like that? You've got a very convenient memory, Jo." "Oh grow up, Jeanette. You're a big girl now. You've fucked up, so live with it. Besides, he's likely just gone off to sulk for a while. He'll be back. He too domesticated to be on his own for long." It was an almost sneering voice on the younger sister that set Jeanette off again. "Jesus, Jo, he's my husband, not some one night stand that you so happily play with. We've got two kids and a mortgage. He's got a good job. I may have cost him that. Maybe you don't think that's a big deal, but I do. If you don't have anything constructive to contribute, then go back to your home and count your alimony payments, or whatever it is you do to amuse yourself in the daylight hours. I thought you were my sister, but I'm beginning to wonder if you give a damn about anyone else but yourself," she yelled loudly. The headache was getting worse. "All right, all right, calm down. I'm sorry if I don't sound very sympathetic, but I think you're making too much of this. You wait, given a bit of time, he'll see the funny side of this, and it'll all blow over. Like I said in the first place, it was just a bit of harmless fun. It was at that point the phone rang and Jeanette literally jumped up to answer it. "Hello, Brent?" she asked hopefully. "No ... sorry Jeanette, it's me, Lloyd. I wanted to talk to you and find out some things about what happened yesterday." Lloyd's normal kindly voice completely disarmed Jeanette. He was so easy to talk to, more like a father than her husband's boss. "Yes, yes, Lloyd. I'd like to talk to you about it. I've been going crazy all day wondering who I could talk to. I should have called you earlier." Jeanette had begun to wander toward the den and hoped that Joanne wouldn't follow her. She wanted at least a bit of privacy with this conversation. Joanne remained seated in the living room as Jeanette entered the small, private room Brent had used as an office. "Jeanette, Henry and I talked to Brent today." "You did! How is he? Is he alright? Do you know where I can reach him?" Jeanette exploded. "We can reach him on his cell. We just leave a message and he said he'll call us back." "Oh no, he's not returning my calls, Lloyd. I must have left ten messages until I finally gave up. He won't talk to me. I don't know what to do," she wailed. "Neither does he, Jeanette. He's confused and hurt and trying to decide what to do. He tried to resign, but Henry asked him to put that on hold until he had a chance to see what options were available. In the meantime, he's still on the payroll and the checks will still get deposited twice a month until a final decision is made." "Thank you, Lloyd. Please thank Henry for me too. I'm just so sorry I've caused this whole mess. I'll never forgive myself for it. I can't believe how stupid I've been." "Well, it's all water over the dam. All you can do now is try to repair the damage as best you can. I know Brent still loves you, and he would never leave the children, but he needs some time to work all this out in his mind. I think the best thing you can do right now is give him that time. I know he's going to call you, and he's going to want to talk to you, but I just don't know when that will happen." "Thank you again, Lloyd. You've been a big help. At least I know he's OK and he's not far away. I guess I'll just have to wait for him to call. It's all I can do," she said sadly. "Goodbye, Jeanette. Keep your chin up. Somehow, this will all work out. He's a good guy and he'll find a way," Lloyd ended optimistically. Jeanette hung up the phone and sat in the office chair, staring at the framed photograph on the desktop. It was the four of them, taken last Christmas and the look of happiness on their faces was genuine. If she had damaged or possibly even destroyed that happiness, she didn't know how she would be able to live with herself. She turned in the chair and saw Joanne standing in the doorway with an unhappy expression. "I'm sorry, Jeanette. I guess I haven't been very helpful to you, have I? I know you're hurting and all I can do is try and help if I can. Just tell me what you need and I'll do my best to make sure you get it, OK?" It was the first sign that her sister was beginning to understand the seriousness of what had happened in the last twenty-four hours. Maybe she wasn't an insensitive bitch after all. Second Chance, Book 02 As always, my thanks to ErikThread for his editing skills. Any errors are mine. * Chapter 9: "Come in, Brent. It's so nice to see you again," June Francis said with a genuine smile. "Walter's in the living room, as usual." "Thanks, June. How's he feeling?" "Not too bad today. Yesterday wasn't so good, but you know, that's how it is -- some good days and some bad ones. I'll get you two your usual tea and bring it in." "Thanks, June." Brent walked into the living room to greet his friend and former customer. "Afternoon, Walter." "Afternoon. What brings you over here this afternoon? Missing out on the usual cribbage game?" he laughed, and then coughed a deep, hacking cough. "Yah, well, you know me. I can't resist relieving you of your pension money." "You wish!" Walter wheezed. It was the typical banter of two friends who had known each other for the eight years that Brent had been employed at Mountain Pine. When Walter was the purchasing manager for their largest client, he and Brent had hit it off very early on, as Brent was anxious to learn from the experienced older man and Walter was pleased to oblige. When Walter was diagnosed with lung cancer a year ago, both he and June knew it was inoperable and ultimately terminal. He accepted his fate with dignity, and Brent had visited him many times during his various hospital stays. They would play "crib" and talk about almost anything except the cancer. In earlier days, Jeanette, June, Walter and Brent would get together for picnics, dinners and barbeques. With the twenty-three year difference in age, it was much like a father-son relationship, and it was on that basis that Brent visited Walter today. He needed his advice and guidance more than ever right now. Maybe Walter could help him right this ship, he thought. Walter pulled the cribbage board out from under the table and set up the pegs while Brent shuffled the cards. It only took a few minutes for Walter to ask the first question. "So, what's bothering you, young fellow? That fortieth birthday thing got you depressed?" he laughed lightly, trying not to start another coughing fit. "No, nothing that easy, Walter." Brent sighed and leaned back in his chair, looking at his cards but not seeing them. He finally looked up at the patient face of his friend and began to tell him the story of yesterday's bombshell. Walter's face mirrored the shock and pain of Brent's discovery and he shook his head afterwards. "I'd never have guessed Jeanette would ever do anything like that," he said. "It's so uncharacteristic of her. What got into her? Have you talked to her?" "No ... not yet. It just happened yesterday and I'm still trying to digest it myself. I don't even know how to begin to talk to her about it." It was June who came up with a suggestion. "Brent ... what if I were to phone her ... talk to her and see what she can tell me about it. Maybe it will give you a starting point," she proposed. He thought about June's offer for a moment. "Look June, I don't want to involve you in our family problems. I have to figure a way out of this. I appreciate the help, but I think it's asking too much of you." "Nonsense. We're friends and I know Jeanette well enough to know that this isn't the real 'her.' Please let me try, and then we can see where to go from there." Brent looked at June for several moments before answering. "Alright, June. It can't hurt. I guess I need all the help I can get right now," he confessed. "Thank you. It's a very kind thing to do." "Do Lloyd and Henry know?" Walter asked. "Yes, I met with them today. I offered my resignation, but they've put it on hold to see if they can't come up with an alternative. I don't know what that could be. I'm sure the word is all over the company by now. The gossip-mongers will be having a field day." "I'm sure they will," the older man nodded. "Have you thought about what you would do if you resigned?" "Not really. I guess I'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it. I'm not too worried about finding a job -- it's just that ... this was the job I loved and companies like Mountain Pine are few and far between," he said sadly. "Yah ... you're right about that. I guess the only advice I can give you is to make sure to find something you genuinely want to do. You can afford to be choosey with your reputation, and when you're starting over, you want to make sure you like what you're doing and who you're doing it for." Brent nodded in agreement. In his thoughts, he wondered if he would get the chance to pick and choose where he would work. When he recalled why all that was a necessary concern, he got angry at Jeanette. At forty years of age, he would be starting all over again and if he were honest with himself, Jeanette was entirely responsible and he wasn't very happy with her. Chapter 10: Jeanette rushed to the phone as it rang for the third time. Surely it would be Brent. It had to be Brent. "Hello?" she said, expectantly. "Jeanette, it's June Francis." "Oh ... hi June." She was afraid to ask her if she had heard from Brent. "Are you OK, Jeanette? I know what happened. Brent was here. He wanted to talk to Walter. He's very upset and uncertain right now. He doesn't know what to say to you." With that, Jeanette broke down and began sobbing, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Oh, June, I don't know what to do. I've been so stupid and I don't know how to fix it," she wailed. "No ... I'm sure you don't," the older woman said sympathetically. "Do you know what you will tell Brent when he asks you why?" "I'm not sure. I don't even know how to answer that to myself. Is he ever going to call me? Will he ever come home? I can't take much more of this, June." Her voice was cracking and she was on the edge of control. "Yes, Jeanette. He isn't running away. He's trying to understand how to handle this. That's why he came here. He's mystified and angry, I think. He doesn't know what to do. He knows he has to talk to you, but he's trying to get a grip on himself. You know what he's like. He wants to be calm and rational. He wants to understand. You need to think about what you can tell him about your actions. You must have thought about it before you did it. You must have known it was a risk. If you don't know what got you up on that stage, then I don't see how Brent would be able to understand either." Jeanette was quiet and lost in her thoughts when June finished. "Are you alright, Jeanette?" "Yes ... yes ... I was just thinking about what you said. I need to understand for myself. I need to remember how it all happened. He needs to know, doesn't he?" "It won't be easy, Jeanette. Try and stay calm and remember something very, very important -- Brent loves you very much. That hasn't changed. He's angry and in pain and turmoil, but he still loves you. That much I know for sure." "Thank you, June. I'm so glad you called. You've helped me a lot. Now ... I just have to wait for Brent. I hope he'll come home soon. I need him. The children need him. I don't think I could go on without him." "He'll be there soon, Jeanette. He'll call you and then you two can start to put things back together again. Don't get down on yourself, Jeanette. You'll work it out together. I know you will," the older woman encouraged. As Jeanette hung up the phone, she slumped back in the chair and wondered just what she would tell Brent when he came home. How could she make him understand that it wasn't the real Jeanette on that stage? The real Jeanette would have never considered any such thing. The real Jeanette didn't need to prove anything to anyone about how she looked or how she felt about herself. There was another Jeanette, hiding inside her. The other Jeanette needed to prove something to herself. She needed to know that at her age, she was still desirable and men would still want her. On that stage, she knew that the men in that audience wanted her. She just had to make Brent understand. She walked slowly to the bathroom and took two more Tylenol from the container, washing them down with water. Chapter 11: The time had come. He couldn't put it off any longer. In the morning, after the kids were off to school, he would call Jeanette. He would talk to her and likely agree to come home. He wouldn't rush her and he wouldn't get mad. He would just let things happen when he called her. He was certain she wanted him to come home. She must know that it would be a very dispirited and disturbed husband who would return to her. By now, she must have thought about what she would say to explain why she was on that stage on Wednesday. Tonight would be his second night away from home - away from his wife and children. It wasn't anything like a business road trip. He couldn't sleep, even though he knew he was exhausted. Would he get the answers he needed tomorrow? Would everything become clear then? Not likely, he guessed. The more he thought about it, the more he was certain that this was the turning point in his life - both his business life and his personal life. The strength of their marriage would be tested to its limits now. The guilt and blame and anger and damaged pride would all be out in the open. It truly would be starting all over again. And what about the children? Andrea was sixteen and more worldly than he thought possible. The internet, television, and movies had made sure of that. Scott was thirteen, immature, and just now beginning to show signs of sexual awareness. He appeared to have discovered girls, his mother revealed recently. What would they make of all this? If they moved, they would have to uproot the kids and that would be hard on both of them. How would they explain what had happened? Were they too young to understand? Not likely. What would they think of their mother when they found out? He shook his head. They wouldn't be very happy with her. He would sleep fitfully once more. The motel room was noisy from the nearby traffic. People came and went at all hours of the night with doors slamming and cars starting. He lay on his back, going over the possible scenarios of the next stage of his life. He tried to imagine living in another city and working for strangers. It wasn't that difficult, he remembered. Eight years ago he had returned from the East Coast and had found this job. With good people to support him, he could work anywhere. But what about the rest of the family? What about the grandparents? How hard would it be for them to adapt? The unknown and the unknowable. Surges of resentment passed through him from time to time. At some point he drifted off into a shallow sleep. He was in and out of consciousness over the early morning hours. Finally at six he got up, turned on his laptop and headed for the bathroom. The shower temporarily gave him some clarity. He always was a morning person, but he would need an hour or two of rest sometime later today. He couldn't keep operating on adrenalin. He looked between the curtains and spotted a pancake house across the road from the motel. He dressed, put on his jacket and walked across the road to the restaurant. He had been sitting on the bed in front of the phone for several minutes. Each time he went to pick up the receiver, he would stop and replace it. What would he say? How would he even begin the conversation? Should he wait for Jeanette to begin? He was tense, and afraid that even the light breakfast he had eaten might not stay down. Finally, as if it were a last resort, he picked the receiver up, pressed nine for an outside line, and then his home phone number. "Hello?" It was a tired and dispirited Jeanette that answered that morning. "Jeanette, it's me." "Brent ... oh god ... I'd given up hoping it would be you. Where are you? Are you OK?" The words spilled out half in excitement and half in fear. "I'm OK. I'm at a motel in the valley, about an hour away. I guess we need to talk." His voice was level and unemotional, and yet inside, he was in turmoil. "Yes, Brent, yes ... we do need to talk. Please come home. I need you so much. I need to talk to you. I can't handle being here alone ... without you. Please come home." The desperation was clear now. "Alright, Jeanette. Are the kids in school?" "Yes. We can be alone. Is that what you want?" "Yes. We need to talk. We don't need them to hear this." A bolt of fear went through her. Was he telling her something? Was this the beginning of the end? "OK, Brent. I'll be here ... waiting for you," she finally managed. Jeanette rushed around the house, making the beds and cleaning up the kitchen. She wanted Brent to think that everything was normal in the house. She looked at herself in the mirror. Lack of sleep the last two nights had taken its toll on her and she couldn't hide it. She brushed her hair and put on fresh lipstick and a clean t-shirt over her jeans. It was the best she could manage at that stage. She made a fresh pot of coffee just to have something to do, waiting for her husband to arrive. She was trembling and unable to sit still for even a moment. She finally ended up standing in the front window, waiting for his car to appear on their street. Finally, she saw it turn the corner and then into their driveway. He didn't open the garage door and drive in as he normally would have. Again, that fear returned. Why wasn't he doing what he always did? She watched the car door swing open and Brent step out slowly. He looked as haggard as she did, she thought. She wanted to run to him and take him in her arms, but she dared not ... not yet. She waited as he slowly walked up the front steps and opened the unlocked door. As he stepped inside, she waited for him to acknowledge her, even to come to her. She stood, rigid in fear ... fear of the unknown. At last, she could take no more and she began to break down. Her arms came up to cross her chest, her hands clenched in bloodless fists, eyes wide in terror and her shoulders shaking as she lost the ability to maintain any semblance of calm. As Brent watched Jeanette and saw the almost immediate disintegration of her composure, he knew he could not resist his most basic urge to comfort her. He made the three steps to her and wrapped his arms around her and held her as she came undone. He lost track of how long he held her like that, neither of them saying a word. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, she began to calm down and regain some her self-control, he loosened his arms and leaned back to look at her tear-stained face. "Why don't we go and sit on the sofa, Jeanette. We'll be more comfortable there," he said softly. "I don't want you to stop holding me, Brent. Please, just hold me. I'm so scared," she confessed between sobs. "I know. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. I would never hurt you ... you know that. I just needed to ... I had to have some space to think. I would never leave you like this, Jeanette. I still love you, and somehow we'll figure out how to get through this. Whatever happens, don't think for a moment that I don't love you." She began to cry again and pressed herself once more into his body. She held him tightly to the point where she was hurting him as she gripped his arms fiercely. "Oh, Brent. I'm so sorry. I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am. I don't know if I can ever explain this to you. I don't know if I even understand it myself. I'm so screwed up. I'm just glad you're home. You are home ... aren't you? You will stay? Please," she begged. "My stuff is in the car and I've checked out of the motel. I can't leave you on your own and I can't stand being away from the kids. I guess we're stuck with each other." There was a hint of resignation in his voice. "Oh, thank god. I don't think I could have stood another night alone, not knowing where you were and what you were doing. I was so worried and frightened." "What have you told the kids?" he finally asked. "Nothing. I didn't know what to say. I thought about telling Andrea, but I chickened out. I decided it could wait another day. She just thought you were at business meetings. Scott just wanted to make sure you would be here for his soccer game on Saturday." "OK, we can leave that problem for now. Let's talk about what happened and what it means to us as a family," still with a quiet, calm voice. "Yes ... yes ... we need to talk," she agreed. "I know what I saw, Jeanette, but I don't know why. Tell me." "I don't know if I can, Brent. I'm not sure what I was thinking about. It was supposed to be a job. I wanted something to do, and I wanted to earn some money for a nice, family vacation for us. I can't type fast enough for an office job, and I didn't want to have a full time job with the kids. When Jo showed me ..." "Jo?" Brent interrupted. "Your sister Joanne is involved in this?" he asked incredulously, raising his voice. "Yyyesss ... she showed me the ad in the paper. She said she was going to have a look at what it was about and I should too." Jeanette had that frightened look in her eyes again. Brent had reacted strongly to the mention of her younger sister. "For Christ's sake, Jeanette. Of all people to be listening to, she's the last one that would steer you in the right direction," he snarled. Brent had never been fond of Joanne. She was thirty six, twice divorced and had gone through enough men to form a brigade. Her morals, such as they were, were the polar opposite of her sister and it seemed every time they got together, something haywire would happen. She was trouble, and had little regard for who might get hurt in the process, even her sister. This was just another example of it. "I know you don't like her, Brent, but she was only trying to help. The ad was for 'mature female entertainers, age 35-50 years.' It made us curious and so we answered it. I didn't know it was for exotic dancers until we got there. Then this man, he was telling us how beautiful we were and that we could be the star of the show. I didn't know then what it involved ... I mean, being completely naked. Maybe if I had watched the show, I would have walked away, but he was offering a lot of money for just three hours a day and four days per week. I had to find out what it was about." She was rattling the explanation off as if it was being pushed out of her. "When did you figure out what was involved?" Brent asked in as calm a voice as he could manage. "He introduced us to some of the girls and they all seemed pretty regular ... I mean, not hookers or sluts or anything. Some of them had kids too. It made it more ... acceptable, I guess. The girls all said I was perfect for the show. I was the right age and they thought I looked beautiful. It made me feel good to have a bunch of people I didn't know tell me that. I'm nearly forty too. It made me feel good." "So then what happened?" he demanded. "Then, they kind of showed me how the routines would go ... you know ... the first dance and then the second. How much would come off in the first and then ... you know ... how to act." Her voice was beginning to fade away as she lost confidence in her story. "Go on. How did they get you to take all your clothes off in front of an audience of strange men?" "The girls kept encouraging me. They took me out on stage when no one was in the club and when they turned the lights on, I couldn't see anything besides the stage. I couldn't see anyone in the audience. It made it easier. I couldn't see the eyes looking at me. It gave me the courage to try it. The girls showed me how to move, and at first I was pretty stiff, but after a while it was easier and I felt like I was alone up there. I was on stage. I could hear the whistles and some of the voices, but they didn't seem to be real. It was like being in another world. It ... it was ... exciting. Oh Brent, I can't explain it. It doesn't even make sense to me, but it was exciting." Second Chance, Book 02 She could see Brent's face beginning to darken and knew it was the sign of building anger. She prepared herself for the worst. "Did you ever give a thought to what your friends and family would think if they knew you were up there ... displaying yourself ... your privates ... in front of a bunch of drunks and perverts?" He had worked himself up and his voice had risen with each syllable of his question. "Do you have any idea of what your parents might think about it? Your children? Your friends? Never mind me, I'm only the husband. I don't count!" he spat. Jeanette's face dissolved again, and she bent her head to her hands and began to cry once more. Brent just sat and watched her, not inclined to comfort, but more tempted to scream his outrage at her. It took every bit of his self control not to do the latter. He tried to digest what she was saying and why she would so easily fall into this trap. It wasn't just once ... she was a regular performer and had been for three weeks. It explained the shaved privates she told him were a special surprise for him. That was a lie! "So Jo is doing this too?" he asked, fighting for control. "No ... she didn't want to," Jeanette said, shaking her head. "Jesus, Jeanette! When a hair-brain like Joanne doesn't want to, doesn't that tell you something?" he snapped. "I don't know, Brent. It was just so ... so ... exciting. I was a performer on a stage and it wasn't real. It was make-believe. I could be someone else, not the little Jeanette Gordon mousy housewife person." Brent sat with a stunned expression. She was rationalizing what she had done and now it was acceptable in her mind. It wasn't real, it was just acting and therefore it couldn't hurt anyone. She had been unable to separate the real from the imaginary. This was serious and he needed to do something about it. The question was what? He rose and went to the kitchen. Luckily, there was coffee ready and he poured himself and Jeanette a cup and returned to the living room. She nodded her thanks and leaned back into the sofa and Brent sat beside her once more. "Jeanette ... do you understand what you've done to my career at Mountain Pine? Do you understand the consequences?" he asked, his tone indicating his struggle regaining control of his emotions. She shook her head, afraid to speak. "I offered my resignation and unless something unexpected happens, they'll probably accept it. I don't see any place else in the corporation that I could go that wouldn't carry the ... stigma of this with me," he said in an angry tone. Jeanette began to sob again, looking down at her hands in her lap, afraid to look at her husband and the reality of their future. What now? "I'm sorry, Brent. I never meant for this to happen. I'm a fool. I should have thought more about what I was doing. I just wanted to put some money away for us to take that special vacation with the kids. I never dreamed it would backfire like it did." He looked at her with a mixture of disbelief and anger. She had, for whatever reason, done something so bizarre and so destructive, he had a hard time believing it had happened at all. He was shaking his head in wonder and trying to collect his thoughts. Punishing her verbally wouldn't accomplish much, he thought. He needed to have her see the consequences of her actions. What it would mean to all of them. It wasn't going to be pleasant and she had to understand that. "I talked to Walter this afternoon and he gave me a piece of advice that hit home. He told me to make sure I found something I truly wanted to do, something I really liked. I'm forty years old and there are only so many times you can start over again. We aren't that old, but we need to look further down the road. The kids will be grown up and gone, and sooner than we think, we are going to be on our own. We will have some freedom to do what we want to do with our lives. I just hope this isn't the end, Jeanette. I want us to get another chance." Brent's attempt at optimism held out a flicker of hope to Jeanette. She began to think there was at least a little chance for them. She lifted her head and offered a faint smile to her husband. He was a brave man. He had overcome his anger and hurt and had thought about what was important to them. She reached for him and wrapped her arms around him again and held him tightly to her. It felt good to have him back again. She had clung to the belief that somehow, someway, things were going to work themselves out. Chapter 12: Ron Dixon's firing caused barely a ripple at the plant, but plenty of ripples at headquarters. Dixon had reacted badly to the message delivered personally by Henry Cullen and had immediately promised suit for wrongful dismissal. Henry knew he had a case, but didn't care. He wanted him gone and gone he would be. It was only a matter of the cost, and nothing else. There was silent applause when the staff announcement was made and his successor named. There would be no going-away party for Ron Dixon. Terry Timple, the reluctant Human Resources Manager, was frightened this would be a black mark on his record, but Henry told him to "suck it up and do the paperwork because Ron Dixon was fired, no matter what." Timple naturally complied. The greater problem was Brent Gordon. What could be done to salvage the situation? Henry had given the problem his almost exclusive attention since the noon meeting on Thursday and he was no clearer on alternatives than he had been then. He had talked continuously with Lloyd and some of the area managers for Mountain Pine. A few had possible placements, but they were for less demanding jobs and there was no promise of promotion in the near future. He got the impression that some of the managers were looking to take advantage of the situation. There had to be a place for someone of the quality of Brent. He hadn't, however, been able to uncover anything that suited his particular skills, and was becoming more and more resigned to the probability that Brent would leave the company. There was no thought Brent would go to a competitor. He knew him well enough to know that would never happen. It was simply the loss of a very good employee that bothered the general manager. When the inevitable promotion opportunity came later that year, it would now be Adam Richards that would succeed Lloyd. He was young, bright, capable, and energetic. He wouldn't be a second choice in most situations. The company wouldn't suffer with him at the controls of their successful sales department. They were the dominant player and they would remain so, barring the unforeseen. Walter Francis had called him and passed along his conversation with Brent. Walter was another old friend, and Henry kicked himself for not dropping in now and then to see his former customer. Brent had formed that same special relationship with him and had the wisdom to learn from the senior man. Henry was aware of Walter's illness and Brent's regular visits. Business didn't always have to be cutthroat and heartless. There was always time for the human side. It was something he and Lloyd had preached for many years and he was convinced it was one of the core elements of their success. Now, he may be on the verge of losing one of those disciples, and it would hurt ... personally. It was Lloyd who brought forward a possible solution late Friday afternoon. It was one Henry should have thought of, but hadn't. What about placing Brent with a customer? Someone he knew and respected, in a job where he could both enjoy and prosper. It was a question of whom and it was there that Lloyd demonstrated his exceptional value. He knew his customers and he knew their strengths and weaknesses. He also knew their people - whom he could talk to in private and not have to worry about the information getting around. "Henry, I had a quiet conversation with Charlie Verano this afternoon. He's someone who can keep a confidence and I told him about Brent and what happened. He nearly jumped out of his chair when he thought there was a chance of Brent being available. I had to calm him down, but he would love to have him on his staff. He's been looking for some leadership and even though Brent doesn't call on him, Charlie knows about him from conventions and trade associations." Lloyd had a thoughtful, almost detached look as he related the conversation to Henry "He's not local, Lloyd, but maybe that's not such a bad thing. I'm thinking Brent might want to put some distance between himself and these memories." Henry was thinking out loud again, a habit Lloyd had become used to over the years. He wasn't looking for interaction, he was trying to sort out the plusses and minuses. "We'd have to be careful how we pitched it to him. We don't want him thinking we are trying to steer him, just give him an option." The two men were quiet as both were deep in thought. "I guess it's all going to depend on what Brent tells us. I'm guessing he'll be using the weekend to decide, and knowing him, we won't have to wait long on Monday morning to find out what he thinks," Henry said finally. "Can anyone figure out what Jeanette was doing up on that stage? I just can't get my head around it. We always knew she was a fun kid, but this is something different altogether. I just don't get it," he said finally. Lloyd shook his head in agreement. Chapter 13: The weekend had been hell for Brent and Jeanette. He had gone with her to their parents' houses to explain what had happened in general terms and what the consequence would be. At first, Jeanette didn't want any part of revealing what she had done to his or her parents. It would be a humiliation at best and could cause a family rift at worst. "Why are you making me do this?" she cried. "Because I'll be damned if I'm going to explain to your parents, my parents and our kids what the hell you were doing on that stage," he shouted. "On top of that, with all the gossip-mongers in the world, how long do you think it will take for someone to tell them about it ... not necessarily factually, either! You were the one on that stage -- you face the music, lady!" Jeanette shrank back from his blast, cowering as she nodded her acquiescence. With Brent's insistence and with him by her side, they went to each house and explained in as vague terms as possible what had happened, and what the consequences might be. It was no surprise to Brent that both sets of parents were mostly supportive and generally non-accusatory as they heard the story. Jeanette was only partially relieved, but understood that it meant there were no secrets to be revealed in surprise from some other person. Everything was out in the open. Brent was also adamant that Jeanette should seek professional assistance to help her understand what provoked her decision. Whether that would be a psychiatrist or a psychologist was undecided, but Brent was unyielding in his insistence. Again, Jeanette was reluctant. "Do you think I'm crazy?" she asked incredulously. "No, I don't. But I think you did something so completely out of character that you and I both need to know why or what caused it," he said adamantly. "How do you know you won't be tempted to do something different, but just as ... bizarre again?" Again, it wasn't open to negotiation and Jeanette reluctantly gave in. She was feeling a bit stronger and slightly more confident, but she would have to be careful not to undo all the repairs that had been made to their relationship in the past three days. What had brought her some confidence was the desire by Brent to make love to her. He was always an attentive and thoughtful lover, but now he seemed to be a bit more aggressive with her. She didn't understand his need to do that. She was happier with the "old Brent," but she wasn't about to complain. She was just grateful they were back together and that their relationship seemed to be more stable. Brent understood that his thoughts were jumbled up with his confusion over Jeanette's behavior. Was she insecure and uncertain of her looks or his love for her, or something else? She was one of the most attractive women of any age, and more often than not she was the focus of attention at social gatherings. She had a bright and carefree manner about her and was one of those "life of the party" people that hosts and hostesses count on to liven things up. She just made things that much more fun. How could she possibly be insecure? It was with these thoughts that he put even more effort into making sure she knew that he found her very desirable. As they sat together after dinner on Sunday night, Jeanette knew that Brent had made a decision. He would tell her about it and ask for her opinion, but he had made a decision. That was his strength. It was the reason he would have been promoted to Sales Manager, but now ... now she thought sadly ... that was all gone. They would be starting again. "Jeanette, I want to know if you can face a move ... to another place ... maybe another city?" he asked. "Oh ... I hadn't thought about that. I don't know. I guess so," she said tentatively. "I'll be happy wherever you are, as long as I'm with you. If we have to move to find a new life, then we have to move. We've lived on both sides of this country already. You can't move much farther than that," she said cautiously. "Yah ... we have. Both the kids were born on the Atlantic Coast, so I guess that means we're pretty portable," he said. "All I can do is try not to make it too far away from our folks." He lapsed into thought as Jeanette watched his face for hints of his mood. Is this something he thought was inevitable, or was it necessary to escape what he thought was shame -- shame brought on by her actions. She couldn't bring herself to relax. She was still tense, wondering what would come next. Was there more pain to follow? "Well, Jeanette, I guess I'll talk to Lloyd and Henry tomorrow. I can't see my staying with Mountain Pine and I need to start my search for a new job. In the meantime, I'll see if I can get some advice on who we can see about some professional help," he said with a resigned voice. "We?" she asked tentatively. He turned to her with a quizzical look. "Of course. You don't think I'm going to leave you on your own with this, do you? We're in this together, girl," he said emphatically. Jeanette virtually leaped at him. "Oh god, Brent. I love you. You are so good to me. I've been so stupid and you still ..." Her voice trailed off as the tears began to flow once more. This time, however, the tears were not of sorrow, but of hope and gratitude. She remained wrapped in his arms with her head on his chest. They were quiet for a while until Andrea unexpectedly walked in from her room. "Hey guys, what's up?" she asked with questions written all over her face. "Have a seat, Andrea. We have something to tell you," he father said seriously. Andrea sat in one of the two large wing chairs, her attention fully on her parents. Her instincts told her this was serious and she waited for one of them to begin. "Something happened the other day that you need to know about," her father began. "I was taken to a strip club for a fortieth birthday lunch and got a big surprise. Your mother was one of the ... entertainers." Andrea's sharp intake of breath was all the confirmation they needed that she was paying full attention. "Unfortunately, I didn't know anything about it and it was a huge shock. It has a big effect on my career at Mountain Pine and I've offered to resign. That will likely happen soon and I will begin looking for another job." He had said it in as a-matter-of-fact way as he could manage. He was looking to avoid shock, but he could tell immediately that he had failed. "Mother! Oh my god. Did you really do that? I mean, were you actually naked in front of all those men?" She seemed to be hoping that her mother would deny it. She was to be disappointed, as her mother nodded her affirmation. "Oh wow. I would never have thought ... I mean ... jeez mom. You're hot for your age, you know ... but ... wow!" she finished, wide-eyed. Jeanette finally summoned her courage and spoke to her daughter. "It's not something I'm proud of, Andrea. I did something very stupid and I hurt your father very deeply. I'm going to try and get professional help to find out why I did it. I can only apologize to him and to you. I don't know what tomorrow will bring. We'll just have to wait and see. We just want you to know what happened and that we love you and will do anything to help you understand." She had delivered her comments in a quiet and almost sorrowful voice. "What does it mean to you, Dad?" "Well, as you can imagine, it will change how people will react to me, and to us. I think it will be very difficult to stay here and work at Mountain Pine. I guess what we are telling you is that there is a possibility that we may have to move. It depends on where my next job is. That's all I can tell you right now," he said calmly. Andrea nodded her understanding. Inside, she was distraught. She would be leaving her friends behind again, but she was determined not to let her mother see her pain. Mom had enough to worry about. Brent read his daughter's face like a book. He was stunned at how mature she was and how contained she had been with her emotions. Like any sixteen-year-old girl, he knew she would be heartbroken at leaving her friends and home. He was unable to hide the smile he offered her in secret. It was confirmation of his pride in her. She saw and averted her eyes for fear of breaking down in tears. She had to be there for her mother. She would need her support. Telling Scott had not been quite so easy. He didn't understand the implications of what his mother had done and was very upset at the prospect of moving. All his thinking was centered around himself and he was angry that his mother may have ruined his life for him. What about his friends and his teammates on the soccer team and all the things that he had become used to in the last eight years? He was only five when they moved into this house, and he barely remembered it. His whole life was focused on where he was now and the people he knew here. It was Andrea that came to the rescue. As hard as Brent tried to make Scott understand, he was unable to reach him. He understood his son's anger and frustration about what might happen, but he couldn't force him to accept it willingly. At some point, Andrea had intervened and perhaps because she was in the same situation as Scott, he could relate to her better. She had a lot to lose herself, and he was willing to listen and try to understand. It didn't lessen his anger and he vowed he would never talk to his mother again, but in his heart, he knew that he was going to have to accept whatever happened. Brent once again recognized the special qualities of his daughter; wise beyond her years he thought. With Jeanette preoccupied preparing dinner and Scott off with his friends, he chose that moment to ask his daughter to go for a walk with him. She readily agreed. It would be the private time for them to talk and try to understand what might happen next. "I'm very proud of you, Andy," he said, using his pet name for her. "You've grown up in such a hurry. I know this hurts and I guess what I want you to do is tell me what you're feeling ... what you're thinking." "Why did Mom do this ... thing, Dad? I don't understand. I can't imagine her taking off all her clothes and dancing in front a bunch of men. I just can't understand it," she said. They were holding hands as they walked down the street in their subdivision. "Well, I don't either, but more importantly, I don't think your mother does. That's why we're going to try and get some professional help for her. If we can understand what made her think it was OK to do this, then we can deal with it," he said in a calm and level voice. Second Chance, Book 02 "Wow. Do you think she's ... like ... having a mid-life crisis ... or something?" "Hah! Where do you learn all this stuff?" he laughed. "It's possible, I guess. When you get older, you have to accept that here are things about yourself that have changed. Some of them are physical and some of them are mental. If I showed you a picture of your mom when she was your age, you might get an idea of what will change for you. You mother is still a very beautiful woman, Andy. But you'd be surprised at what people see in the mirror sometimes. That's the mental part. You and I and everyone else think she's very beautiful, but maybe your mom doesn't see the same person as we do. Do you understand?" "I think so. I used to obsess about not having breasts or being too fat or having acne. You know ... the usual kid stuff. I'm sort of getting over that now. I just have to be patient and things change on their own," she said seriously. "I know you always tell her how great she looks, because I've heard you. You tell her every day. How can she not believe it?" Brent shook his head in wonder. How did she get so smart, so fast? "Sometimes, you need to hear it from someone else, someone who doesn't have any interest in who you are and what you feel like. Strangers telling you that you're beautiful can sometimes mean more than friends and family." "Do you think that's what happened?" she asked. "I don't know. We'll find out, though. I'm going to leave it to the professionals. They'll figure it out and then we can do something to help." "Dad ... I'm ... I'm scared. I mean ... I'm scared for Mom," she said, beginning to tear up. Brent put his arm around his daughter as they walked. "I know, Andy. I am too. We just have to trust that we can figure all this out and help your mom get back to where she was. I'm having a hard time thinking that it's a serious problem. I think she did something on the spur of the moment ... you know ... without thinking. It's like doing something crazy when you're drunk. You'd never think of doing it you were sober, but you might if you were drunk. Follow me?" "Yah ... that makes sense. She great in every other way ... for a mom, I mean." Brent laughed again. "Glad to hear it. I think so too." They walked in silence for a while before Andrea spoke. "Dad, what kind of a job will you look for?" she asked. "Well, I'm a sales and marketing person. That's what I know how to do. So, I'll look for a job that lets me sell a product or a service I truly believe in and for a company that I can trust. That's what I had from Mountain Pine and my friend Mr. Francis reminded me that that's what I need. In any job, you have to do what you genuinely want to do and for people you like and respect." "Do you think you'll have trouble finding that kind of job?" "I don't know. I have a good reputation and anyone at Mountain Pine is well respected, so ... I'm guessing I should be able to find something I like. You have to be optimistic about these things, Andy. I guess that's what sales is all about ... optimism," he smiled. Second Chance, Book 03 My thanks as always to ErikThread for his skillful and timely editing. Any errors are my responsibility. Chapter 14: Lloyd Bruton arrived at the office earlier than usual on Monday morning. There was quite a bit to do before he could call Brent Gordon. Brent had called him at home on Sunday evening and asked him for some help finding a psychiatrist or psychologist for Jeanette and perhaps himself. He said he was worried about how he was dealing with the problem and maybe he might need some help as well. In addition, Lloyd wanted to talk to Charlie Verano again and get more specifics about what type of job he might have in mind and what the compensation and benefits would be. Lloyd already knew the custom millwork business to some extent, but he was being cautious before suggesting Brent talk to Charlie. Lloyd had also phoned Henry last night after he had hung up with Brent, and passed along their conversation. The more the two men thought about it, the better they liked the idea of finding a good placement for Brent with someone they trusted -- someone like Charlie Verano. The reality was that they had almost given up any hope that they could keep Brent at Mountain Pine. There were no openings for someone of his skills that would be satisfying to him and offer the kind of future he had with his present job. Lloyd had never encountered this type of problem in all his nearly thirty years at Mountain Pine, and it was taxing his skills. By nine o'clock he had contacted the human resources department at headquarters and had been e-mailed a list of doctors used by the corporation when problems of a "non-physical nature" arose. A dainty way of putting it, Lloyd thought. He scanned down the list and a familiar name popped out at him -- Dr. Virginia Meldrum, M.D. He remembered her when he and Diana had gone through her cancer scare a few years ago. The fear in his wife had greatly upset his home life and personal equilibrium. The woman doctor had been the right solution to their mutual problems. As it turned out, the cancer had was remission for over ten years now and according to their oncologist, unlikely to reappear. However, it had been a bad time for a few months, and Dr. Meldrum had made a positive difference. Henry volunteered to talk to Charlie Verano. They knew each other well, and could talk in a very straightforward manner without couching their language. Henry had one objective – make sure they were steering Brent Gordon in the right direction. Everything hinged, of course, on the idea that Brent would like working for Charlie and his company. They were a long-established custom millwork company with an excellent reputation for high-quality work and on-time delivery. They produced windows, doors, kitchen cabinets and specialty millwork to custom order. Nestled in the western side of the Rocky Mountains, they were not ideally situated for the big city customer, but their good reputation and the large number of local ski and sun lodges provided more than enough work for the growing firm. Giancarlo Antonio Verano was the only son of Giancarlo Massimo Verano, an Italian immigrant of the early 1950's. They had come from a small town near Torino, and had left the economic and political wasteland of post-war Italy for a better life in North America. The elder Verano brought with him only a few tools and his pregnant wife, Carlotta, when he made his journey. They landed in Montreal, and after giving birth to their son, put all of their combined energies into finding a home in the west, near mountains like the ones they had so loved in their homeland. The elder Verano anglicized his name to Carl and easily found work in a millwork shop in Castlegar, British Columbia. Within two years, they had the down payment for a small bungalow and their future was secure. The younger Verano, now known as Charlie, loved the smell of the wood in his father's shop, and it was almost a foregone conclusion that he would follow in his father's footsteps. When his father bought into the small firm he was working for, that future was a certainty. He learned what he needed to know at his father's side and the young teenager never doubted what his future would be. However, he had bigger dreams and could see the day when Verano & Son would be a much bigger company, hopefully with many employees. It was a dream he would hold to and see realized in his father's lifetime. Verano Custom Millwork now employed forty people. Over the years they had grown, modernized the equipment more than once, computerized, and thrived in their mountain home. The ski lodges of Rossland, Castelgar and the surrounding areas provided a steady workload for the spring, summer and fall. The people who came from Vancouver and Calgary and Edmonton to ski, saw the workmanship and soon, Verano Custom Millwork was supplying products to homes in Alberta as well as the coast, and on a couple of occasions, into the United States. With his father's guidance and conservative outlook, they had carefully expanded without putting their finances in jeopardy. They operated on a line of credit that was more than they needed for their day-to-day operations. They paid their bills on time and they backed their work with a personal guarantee of satisfaction. As a result of their growth and potential, Charlie recognized he couldn't do it all himself. His father, now nearing seventy five, was slowing down and was entitled to pace himself. His father and mother's health was still good, but Charlie wanted them to enjoy themselves in their later years and not have to worry about the business. It also meant that Charlie needed some professional management help. He had already found a top-notch accountant and was more than satisfied with his three supervisors on the shop floor; one for each division. What he lacked was sales management, someone to coordinate their efforts and make sure they were getting the right kind of business for the right kind of margins. When Lloyd Bruton subtly let him know that Brent Gordon might become "available", Charlie was genuinely excited. Mountain Pine's wood division was a major supplier of his raw material, interior White Pine. Additionally, their corrugated paper division was supplying their wrapping and packaging needs for shipments from the plant to the jobsite. Last year, Verano Custom Millwork had purchased over a half million dollars in corrugated packaging for their kitchen cabinets and wrapping for their windows, doors and custom millwork. The two companies were virtually joined at the hip. To add someone with the credentials of Brent Gordon to his staff would be an exceptional coup. "Charlie, how's your wretched golf game?" Henry began without introduction as soon as Charlie had answered the phone. "Not as good as yours, I'll bet. Some of us have to work for a living, Henry" Charlie was used to the aggressive openings of his business friend's phone calls. No "Hi ... how are you" in this conversation. "Thanks for that, asshole! I think I'll raise your prices five percent." "Yah, well I think I'll call your competition and see how bad they want my business," Charlie threatened in mock anger. "How's your mom and dad, Charlie?" Henry finally asked. "They're great, thanks. I'm trying to get them to take an Alaska cruise this summer. I think I've almost got them convinced." "Good for you. They've earned it after having to raise a son like you." "Ha Ha, very funny," Charlie shot back. "What's on your so-called mind, Henry?" "Lloyd told me he mentioned that Brent Gordon might be available. Are you interested?" "Of course I am. He's just the kind of guy I'm looking for. What's happened to make him available?" Henry gave an outline of the story of Jeanette's indiscretion, and Brent's reaction. Charlie listened in silence as the tale unfolded. "I can't guarantee anything, Charlie. I know he knows about you and your company. I think he'd be a great fit, but it's his decision. All I can do is get him to think about calling you. I won't do that without your OK," he concluded. "It's more than OK. I'd just like to have a chance to talk to him. Living up here is something special, as you already know. I think it would be the perfect place for him to get away and put this thing behind him. You know my daughters aren't interested in the business and neither are their husbands. I could find a way to have someone like Brent buy into the business just the way my dad did all those years ago. It could be the chance of a lifetime for him." "I was hoping you'd feel that way. He's a great guy and this is a shitty situation for him. A fresh start for both of them would be a big help." "Is this something his wife is prone to do?" Charlie asked carefully. "No ... not at all. She's a fun girl and a joy to be around, but this was so far off the beaten path, none of us knows what to make of it. Brent's going to get her into counseling or therapy or something. I don't think she's likely to repeat what happened. I guess you'll have to decide if it's a big risk or not. Don't think I'm trying to pressure you either, Charlie. I won't do that. This is strictly me letting you know what's happening, OK?" "Yah ... I understand. What happens next?" "I'll talk to Lloyd and see if we can get Brent to give you a call. After that, the ball's in your court." "Fine, I'll wait to hear from him. Have Lloyd call me if he decides not to discuss it, OK?" "You bet. Say hi to Gerry for me. Tell how sorry I am that she had to marry an ugly guy like you," he laughed. "I'll pass that along. It'll make her day. Take care, Henry. Thanks for calling." Charlie hung up the phone with a smile on his face and some hope that he may just have a chance at adding to the staff of great people at Verano Custom Millwork Inc. Chapter 15: Brent and Jeanette waited in the ante-room of Dr. Virginia Meldrum, both nervous and uncertain of the next step. Brent had insisted that they begin these sessions together in order that he fully understand what the psychiatrist was telling Jeanette. At ten a.m. the inner door opened and a tall, slim, gray-haired woman came into the lobby and smiled at them. "You must be Mr. and Mrs. Gordon. Won't you come in, please." The Gordon's rose and walked into the woman's office, finding it large and very formal. They sat in large, leather wing chairs facing a heavy walnut desk. The doctor sat, leaned forward and folded her hands in front of her. "I have some notes from our telephone conversation the other day, so let's begin by telling you what I want to do in the next little while," she began in a clear voice. "The very first thing I want to do is for Mrs. Gordon to have a full physical examination. That may sound strange, but as a doctor, I know that some behavioral issues are caused by physical problems and we need to eliminate that possibility before we pursue the emotional aspects. Is that understood?" she asked carefully. The Gordon's nodded their acceptance. "Good. The physical will be quite comprehensive and I have included an M.R.I. scan as well. When the results are in we will have some sense of direction for our meetings. In the meantime, I would like to get some background on both of you, if you don't mind?" For the balance of the hour, Jeanette and Brent answered questions about themselves and their life together. There were no testing or controversial probes, and that put both of them at ease. As they wrapped up the first session, Dr. Meldrum added a request. "At some point, I will want to talk to you separately. I'm sure you recognize that you have inhibitions when you are together and in order to accomplish what I think we need to accomplish, I want each of you to have some privacy for your thoughts." Brent wasn't surprised at this request, but Jeanette seemed uncomfortable with it, although she said nothing. They left the doctor's office and were advised their next appointment would be three weeks hence, when the medical test results were complete. "Well, that wasn't so bad," Brent offered as they waited for the elevator. "Why does she want to talk to you alone?" Jeanette asked with a frown. "I don't know. She said it might get rid of inhibitions we have when we are together. I might hold back something because I don't want to hurt your feelings. You know ... that sort of thing." "What couldn't you say in front of me?" he asked, again with a look of concern. "Oh, I don't know ... maybe how you like to giggle when we make love." he said with a straight face. "You wouldn't dare ... would you?" "It could be important, you know," he continued, teasing her. "What's it got to do with my being crazy?" she asked seriously. "Now stop that!" Brent said sternly. "You aren't crazy and this isn't about that. It's about finding out why you did what you did on that stage. Nothing more! Understood?" She cringed, then nodded shyly as they rode down the elevator in silence. Over the next two weeks, Jeanette was subjected to a variety of tests, providing blood, urine, stool, and vaginal samples. She was x-rayed and finally, underwent a full body M.R.I. The tests weren't particularly unpleasant, but they were time-consuming and left her with doubts about all the things that might be wrong with her. She was relieved when they were finished, but anxious about the results. In the meantime, Brent had met with Lloyd and discussed the possibility of an opportunity with Charlie Verano in Castlegar. Brent was encouraged for several reasons. He had some knowledge of the millwork business from his previous job in the building materials industry. He knew of the solid reputation that Verano Custom Millwork held and both he and Jeanette loved the interior mountains. He felt it wouldn't be that difficult to relocate and they would be only a day's drive from the coast and their parents. When he broached the subject with Jeanette, she seemed enthusiastic. It would be a nice place to live and it would give both of them a fresh start; both in business and personally. The children were somewhat more subdued in their enthusiasm, but they too acknowledged that it wouldn't be as big a wrench from their current life as moving to the Prairies or even further east. With the family's endorsement, Brent called Charlie Verano and set up an appointment to meet him. They had agreed to wait for a few days until Charlie would be on the coast and they could spend more time together without disrupting the family. Charlie wanted to meet all of them, explaining that it was a family business and that he valued strong families in his employees. He suggested a Sunday night supper and made the reservations at his hotel's restaurant for six p.m. Brent's preliminary meeting with Charlie left him with a very good feeling about the opportunity. He was much like the people at Mountain Pine, and that gave Brent confidence that this might be the right move. As they sat down to dinner on Sunday night, Charlie immediately put everyone at ease with his friendly manner and light banter. He told the whole family about how they left Italy and came to Canada, finally settling in Castlegar. He talked about his parents and the beginnings of their business and how hard his father had worked to get it going and make a life for his family in their new land. Brent watched the reaction to Charlie by Jeanette, Andrea and Scott. He was surprised and pleased at Scott's reaction. He was interested and took part in the conversation, asking questions and laughing along with Charlie at his stories. One down, two to go, thought Brent. Jeanette was quiet, but smiling. She seemed to be lost in her thoughts and he wondered what they were. Time enough for that later, he decided. Andrea was paying very close attention to Charlie. It was as if she were analyzing his words and behavior. Brent wondered what she was thinking, but there didn't seem to be any negatives at the table. He could talk to his wife and daughter later and get their impressions. He knew he couldn't force them to like the situation. He just hoped Charlie was as good a salesman as Brent thought he was. One thing was for certain, Charlie was in full sales mode that evening. At the end of the evening, Charlie proposed that Brent come to Castlegar for a day the following week to survey the operation and meet some of the people. There was a flight arriving from Vancouver at nine in the morning and another returning at three twenty in the afternoon. It was plenty of time to look over the plant, have lunch with some of the staff and still be home for dinner that evening. In the meantime, he would send Jeanette some information on the housing market and services in the town and the nearby towns of Trail and Nelson. When Brent arrived back from his day trip to Verano Custom Millwork, he was almost certain he would take the job that Charlie had outlined. It was what he did well and more importantly, it was a product he could believe in and people he liked. The lunch had gone very well, even though it was clear that the men and women chosen to join him were on a sales campaign of their own. He was flattered that they thought enough of his reputation to want him to be part of their company. In private, Charlie discussed the structure of the company and his hopes for the future. He felt he might be the last Verano to be involved and he wanted to insure a future for business that would prevent them being absorbed into some faceless corporation and then, likely disappear. Charlie sketched out his thoughts about syndicating the ownership among the committed management of the company which would include their Controller, one senior supervisor who would become Operations Manager and a nephew who might be joining the company. Including Charlie and Brent, that would be a group of five that would ultimately share the ownership and steer the company in the right direction. Brent could hardly believe what he was hearing. Ownership? It was almost too good to be true. He would need to talk to Henry and get his take on this offer. It was beyond anything he could have expected. He could barely contain his excitement, and it was all he could do to remain coherent when he told Jeanette about the meeting and the people and the proposal. Jeanette was beaming as she recognized how energized and enthusiastic Brent was. She was also relieved. Somehow, despite her destructive adventure, everything might turn out all right. It was about the best she could have hoped for. Chapter 16: Dr. Meldrum ushered Brent and Jeanette into her office at two o'clock on Friday afternoon. Her facial expression betrayed nothing, and both the Gordons were nervously anticipating what the physical tests had revealed. "I know you've been anxious to find out the results of the tests and I have them all here. I can tell you that all the blood, urine, stool and other swabs are fine. In addition, there was nothing on the X-rays to attract our attention." She paused for a moment before continuing. "However, the M.R.I. did turn up something. Something I was not expecting." Brent could feel Jeanette stiffen in anticipation and he reached for her hand. "The Magnetic Resonance Imaging detected a spot on your cerebral cortex ... in this case, the surface of the brain. We think it might be a tumor and I am going to refer you to a neurological specialist for further examination." Brent heard and felt the sharp intake of breath from Jeanette. He turned to her and saw look of pure terror. "What does this mean?" Brent asked carefully. "It's too early to tell. It may be benign and therefore can be surgically removed or dealt with by radiation therapy." "Or?" he asked. "Or, it may be malignant and more aggressive treatment would be required. It's just too early to tell. However, it looks like we've found it in the early stages. That's always a good thing," she concluded. Second Chance, Book 03 Jeanette had been holding her breath and looked like she was about to burst. The look of intense fear had remained and Brent quickly turned to her again, holding her as she gaped at the doctor in disbelief. Finally, she managed a few words. "Am I going to die?" she asked in a faint voice. "Mrs. Gordon, you must let the specialists help you get better. They are the experts, not I. These types of tumors are not often fatal and treatment is getting more sophisticated and effective every day. We have one of the finest hospitals in the land to deal with your condition, and you can count on getting the very best of treatment." Jeanette was clearly unable to speak as she absorbed the magnitude of the diagnosis. The tangible grip of fear in her body was like a vise, squeezing her innards. As she attempted to rise, she felt faint and then slumped back in her chair, unconscious. Brent held her as she began to regain consciousness. Dr. Meldrum had quickly brought a cold, damp washcloth from her powder room in the office and she responded to it rapidly. "This is a big shock for both of you, Mr. Gordon. Are you alright?" she asked. "I'm not sure. It's an enormous shock. I guess we never thought this could happen. What do we do next?" he asked, bewildered. "I'm going to refer you to Dr. Danny Chen. He's a top neurosurgeon and he will conduct some more tests to determine just what the M.R.I. saw. You're going to have to be optimistic, Mr. Gordon. Your wife will need your support. It's understandable she is frightened, as I'm sure you are as well. All you can do is put your trust in Dr. Chen, and I'm confident that everything will work out." Brent looked at her, wondering just how confident she truly was with that statement. He had his doubts. After Jeanette had recovered, he helped her out of the office and into the elevator down to the parking garage. They were silent, but he held her close, knowing she needed all the reassurance he could provide at this moment. Telling the children was delayed for a day while Jeanette gathered herself. She had insisted that she would be the one to explain to Andrea and Scott what was happening and what it would mean. Brent was proud of the courage that his wife demonstrated, particularly when he knew just how devastating the news had been to her. He hoped he would have the necessary courage himself in the coming weeks as they learned her fate together. Brent phoned Lloyd and Henry to tell them of the results and what was to come. He said he would phone Charlie and explain that for the time being, he wouldn't be able to accept the job offer, at least not until Jeanette's medical condition was clarified. As he hung up the phone, Lloyd slumped back in his chair and covered his face with his giant hands. Henry sat facing him on the other side of the desk, staring off into space. After a while, the older man rose, walked back to his office, closed the door behind him and called Charlie Verano. "I can't believe how god-awful this had all turned out, Charlie. This shit shouldn't happen to good people," he moaned. "I know what you mean. It's just not fair," he agreed. "Henry ... I'm not going to do anything about that job anyway. I was looking only half-heartedly when Brent's name came up. I can wait and see how this all comes out. We've got time," he volunteered. "Thanks, Charlie. I don't think he needs any more disappointment right now. I know he was truly enthusiastic about your offer. He told both Lloyd and me how impressed he was and how much he liked your people and your product. You have your guy, if this all works itself out." "I'll keep my fingers crossed, Henry, both for Jeanette and for his family. My needs come third right now." "Yah ... that's what I'm thinking too. I don't know what I'd do if it happened to Marge." "Take care, Henry. Keep me informed. I'll call Brent and let him know I know what's going on. I'm sure he's got a lot on his mind right now." Brent was sitting on the back porch, nursing a beer when Jeanette came out to join him. "Do you want to barbeque tonight?" she asked. "Sure. What do you have. Some chicken breasts?" "Yup ... boneless too. Just like me right now," she grinned. "I don't think so, babe. You've got lots of spine, and that's bone, you know." he offered in admiration. Jeanette had adopted a new persona since she had learned of her condition. Brent had marveled how she had recovered from the terrified state of Friday afternoon and had faced her uncertain future. She was showing strength he did not know she possessed. From that strength, their children found the courage to live with the unknown future of their mother. Scott had suddenly become very protective of his mother and had taken to doing work around the house that she would normally do, not the least of which was maintaining an unusually tidy bedroom. He dried the dishes and put clothes away in their drawers and generally tried to help his mother in any way he could. He must have been feeling the pain and fear, Brent thought, but he was finding ways to cope. Andrea too, found more to do that would help her mother. She assumed some of the cooking duties, even though Jeanette would have preferred to look after it herself. To Andrea, it was a statement to her mother that they loved her and they were going to do everything possible to help her. What they could not know was Jeanette's belief that they were preparing for her absence, either temporarily or permanently. Their meeting with Dr. Chen had been brief and to the point. Jeanette would be scheduled for a biopsy to determine the nature of the growth and then a decision would be made on what action should be taken. The biopsy was put on the urgent list and performed only ten days after the initial diagnosis had been made. They were summoned to Dr. Chen's office on Monday afternoon to discuss the results. "I have the results of the biopsy, Mrs. Gordon. I'm afraid the news is not good. You have a Mid to High Grade Astrocytoma and it is malignant. We can operate to remove most of it and then follow up with radiation therapy and even chemotherapy. I won't sugar-coat it though. This is an invasive operation on a tumor that has a tendency to spread rather rapidly into surrounding tissue," he said solemnly. Brent felt Jeanette stiffen, but she remained stoic and unflinching as the doctor continued his comments. Brent felt the bottom drop out of his stomach. His wife was in dire jeopardy, and he didn't have any idea what he could do to help her beside comfort her. The doctor had continued talking, but Brent hadn't absorbed what he was saying. It was Jeanette that asked the question. "When will you operate?" "As soon as I can get you scheduled into neurosurgery. We consider this the highest priority, so it could be within a couple of days. My office will call you as soon as we have an opening. We'll let you know what you need and how to prepare," he concluded. "What are my chances?" she asked in a clear voice. "I can't answer that, Mrs. Gordon. I won't know until we operate and we begin the secondary treatment. I don't want to give you false hope, but we will do everything in our power to bring you out of this with a good result." "Thank you, Dr. Chen," she said quietly, turning to Brent. "Let's go home, darling. We have some planning to do." Brent sat stunned and immobile in the chair. The prognosis and the calm conversation between this doctor and his wife had been almost surrealistic. It was if he was watching it from afar. He felt no connection to it. This couldn't be happening to them. It couldn't! Chapter 17: In the days that followed, Brent felt he was in a trance. His beloved Jeanette had been scheduled for brain surgery a mere four days from their meeting with Dr. Chen and as he sat by her side in the hospital, he struggled to grasp the meaning of what had happened to their family in the past month. The incident at the Wagon Wheel was almost forgotten now with the knowledge of Jeanette's affliction. He was frightened, he admitted to himself, and he couldn't conceive of a life without her. They had tried to talk about the "what ifs" after their meeting with the neurosurgeon, but only Jeanette seemed to be able to handle the concept. Henry had reinstated Brent to full active status and had assigned him a product development role for the paper group. He would operate mostly from home, but there were enough legitimate projects for him to work on that he could convince himself that it was a valid job. He was reporting directly to Henry, but he would make sure that Lloyd knew what he was doing, if for no other reason than courtesy. At first Brent was doubtful that he would be able to concentrate on this new job, but he found instead that it was the escape he needed from the reality of his and Jeanette's uncertain future. If he did nothing, he would dwell on her problems and fret over the unknown for himself and their children. He began to think of himself as selfish, thinking more of the effect that his wife's disease had on him than on her. He wasn't very happy with himself, but he refused to surrender to hopelessness. Andrea and Scott needed him to be strong, and strong he would be. As he watched the unconscious form of Jeanette lying next to him, her head swathed in bandages, he wondered how he had ever managed to capture a woman so beautiful. The first time he met her, at a University mixer, he immediately categorized her as out of his class. She was not just pretty, she was gorgeous. Her clothes suited her posture and her demeanor. She smiled and laughed easily. Her auburn hair fell just below her ears and looked like she never had to care for it. Her lovely blue eyes and bright smile were everywhere he looked that night. She had a tendency to hide her teeth, either with her hand or upper lip and discovered that she was trying to mask their slightly imperfect alignment. "A-hah!" he thought. "Perhaps she isn't perfect after all." He had been leaning against the wall, listening to a conversation between two seniors about their future in the business world when he felt a presence beside him. He turned, and there she was, looking up at him with that smile. "Hi," was about the only thing that came to mind quickly. "Hi, I'm Jeanette O'Leary," she said brightly, holding out her hand. Brent took it gingerly and replied, "I'm Brent Gordon. Nice to meet you Jeanette." "Are you a senior, Brent?" "No, I'm in third year Business Admin." "I'm in second year Arts," she said, still with that smile and unwavering eye contact. They talked for some time before realizing it was late and time to move on. Brent awkwardly asked for her phone number and was given the number of her dorm payphone with the assurance that someone would let her know he had called. He gave her his apartment phone number, telling her that he shared it with two other students, so just leave a number or a message. Somehow, he'd get it. Brent phoned her the next day and Jeanette agreed to a date that coming Saturday night and thus began their courtship. By the end of the semester, Brent was smitten and had pretty much made up his mind that this was the woman he would marry and with whom he would spend his life. Jeanette was a bit more cautious, and although they had become intimate, she wanted to be certain of her feelings before making such an important commitment. By the following year, Jeanette was confident of Brent, and when he asked her to marry him after she had graduated, she happily said yes. It would be a two year engagement, but they were sure of each other and the only remaining step was for Brent to ask permission of her parents and then inform his. It was an old-fashioned principle that Brent knew of, but wondered if anyone actually subscribed to. He had met Mr. and Mrs. O'Leary on several occasions and they seemed to be quite pleasant and accepting. He had purchased a ring with some money his Grandmother had given him when he told her of his plans. She was delighted as she had met and immediately embraced Jeanette. She thought it was a perfect match for her grandson and the money was a pre-wedding gift so that the expenses wouldn't cripple Brent's limited finances. There was still a year of University to complete. Brent was visibly nervous as he sat in the living room of the O'Leary home. He hemmed and hawed and generally beat around the bush before coming out with it. "Mr. and Mrs. O'Leary, I'm ... uh ... here to ask for your permission to marry your daughter," he finally managed. "Which one?" Kevin O'Leary asked with a sly grin. Brent was caught completely off-guard. It wasn't the response he was expecting. "Why, Jeanette, of course," he stumbled. "What took you so long?" her father quickly returned, still with the funny smile. "Uh ... well ... we wanted to wait until ... uh ... she was finished university," he answered nervously. "Brent Gordon. This has to be the worst kept secret in town." Kelly O'Leary laughed. Kevin stood and walked over to Brent with his hand extended. "Welcome to the family, Brent. I'm afraid we're Irish stock, so you'll have to bear with that too," he said with a genuine smile. Jeanette's mother rose and moved to her daughter, embracing her and then to Brent. "I'm very happy for both of you. I think Jeanette's a very lucky girl." "Thanks, I ... it's a big relief to know you feel that way," he admitted. After graduation, Brent had established himself with a large building supply wholesale company that had branches coast-to-coast. He had risen from the customer service ranks within months and had been rewarded with a junior sales territory. As Jeanette finished her final year, they planned their wedding for June and a brief honeymoon on Vancouver Island. Brent had already surprised Jeanette with the news that he had been offered a full territory, but it was in Nova Scotia, four thousand miles from home. Jeanette had been shocked at the idea of moving so far away from their families, but in the end, she wanted to be with her new husband and more than anything, she wanted him to be happy. By the end of the year, they had moved to Dartmouth. Andrea was born a year after they had arrived in the east. She was named after Jeanette's grandmother, Andreatta, and she was as cared for and loved by them as much as any child could possibly be. Scott came along two and a half years later, and he too was a gift to the young parents. Both healthy, happy and handsome, Brent had fond memories of their time on the Atlantic coast. He had risen to senior sales representative within the company and they had saved enough to buy a three bedroom bungalow in the suburbs. It seemed they had a perfect life in every respect except for the distance between their home and their families. Nine years after arriving in Dartmouth, the Gordons received a nasty shock. The job that Brent had worked so diligently to develop was in jeopardy. The company had been sold to a British concern, and they had different ideas about how it should be run and who should run it. Brent was at first surprised and then, demoralized. All his efforts were forgotten or unrecognized. He was just another faceless employee in a sea of others. It called for a re-think of their future. It didn't take them long to decide. Within a month, they had put their house up for sale and began the laborious process of packing and preparing for a move. They had decided to return to the west coast. If they had to move, they might as well go where they really wanted to be. He told no one at work, except for his best friend, Alex Graham. Less than three months later, the house had been sold, the movers called in and finally, he handed in his resignation. His boss, Louis Dufresne, understood perfectly. He was an ex-patriot Edmontonian and would likely return there himself in the near future. They landed back in Vancouver in the early summer. They were staying at the O'Leary home until they could find a place to live for themselves. They had used the equity from their Dartmouth home to pay for the move and with what was remaining, he would be able to survive for several months while he looked for a job. As it turned out, it wasn't necessary. His father's golf partner was one of Mountain Pine's big customers and with a word in Henry Cullen's ear, Brent was quickly granted an interview. It often happens that it's better to be lucky than good. In this case, a long-time sales representative had died suddenly of a heart attack and Mountain Pine was in the middle of interviewing candidates for his job. With the unspoken endorsement of their customer, Brent's résumé went to the top of the pile and within ten days, was hired as their newest sales representative. Within six months, both Lloyd and Henry were patting themselves on the back for being so perceptive as to hire Brent Gordon. He was very good at his job and liked working at Mountain Pine. What was left of the equity could now be used to purchase a house, but with the huge disparity between the east and west coast housing costs, there wasn't enough for anything other than a modest townhouse in Langley. It didn't matter. They were thrilled to be back on the west coast and near their parents again, and better than that, Brent had a job he liked with a company he truly enjoyed and respected. Their life was definitely back on track. Two years later, they purchased a split level home not far from the townhouse and settled in to their perfect lives. As he sat by Jeanette's side and listened to the machines that monitored her existence, those memories were floating through his mind in a random pattern. She hadn't awoken yet from the induced coma that had been part of the precautionary post-operative procedure. He knew she wouldn't awaken that evening and she was probably unaware of his presence, but he held her almost lifeless hand in his and inwardly prayed for her recovery. He wanted his wife, his companion, his lover, the mother of their children, to return to him. Was that too much to ask? Second Chance, Book 04 Again, my thanks to ErikThread for his insightful and helpful editing. * Chapter 18: Brent Gordon was by nature an optimist. He believed that somehow, someway, Jeanette would beat back the cancer, and they could resume their normal lives. But what was normal any more? Radiation therapy once a month, and chemotherapy if no progress were made after that? Was that to be normal? Was her disease responsible for her crazy decision to take a job as a dancer at a strip club? She didn't seem to know herself. Somehow, she had created logic to support her reckless choice. Brent went back to work, burying himself in his new office in the bowels of the paper converting plant. If he wasn't reclusive, he was certainly not very visible. Few, if any of his fellow employees did not know of his humiliation at hands of Ron Dixon on Brent's fortieth birthday, but he shook off the early stares and whispers and concentrated on his job. Product development was important to Mountain Pine, and he had ideas to develop and concepts to test. It helped only slightly to take his mind off Jeanette and her gradual deterioration. When her doctor recommended they switch her treatments to chemotherapy, Brent and Jeanette both knew that the cancer had progressed. There was a finality about the decision. It was their last hope for a cure, or at least some remission. Jeanette continued to show her strength as she underwent the cruel and painful consequences of the aggressive treatments. She was brave, never complaining and always optimistic that this time, this time it would work. Her loss of hair had occurred with the surgery, and that it did not grow back was a side effect of the 'chemo' treatments. At first, Jeanette wore a scarf tied around her head, but after a while, when she no longer could go out in public, she didn't bother. If she were cold, sitting on the deck and trying to enjoy the outdoors, she would wear a wool stocking cap pulled down over her ears. Her appetite dwindled to the point where she was eating only what she was forced to eat when the doctor threatened to hospitalize her and feed her intravenously. The smell of food cooking in the kitchen was enough to make her nauseous. She no longer had favorite foods. They were all the same, an unpleasant necessity. The children faced the decline in their mother with a stoic determination, but it was eroding their spirits as well. Andrea appeared to be the most controlled, tending to her mother at every opportunity, sitting by her side and talking to her when Brent was not there. Scott, on the other hand, was almost avoiding his mother. He was having difficulty facing her, seeing the visible signs of her illness and declining health. He would force himself to spend time with her, but afterward he was withdrawn and moody, unable to come to terms with the inevitable. As the weeks passed, it became clear that neither regimen of treatments had halted or even slowed the progress of the tumor. Jeanette's weight declined from a healthy one hundred twenty pounds to barely one hundred, then fell even further into the low nineties as time passed. At that point the doctor stopped weighing her. It was the signal that Brent had dreaded. The doctors had given up. There would be no rescue, no last minute reprieve. He was going to lose Jeanette. He took another leave of absence from Mountain Pine as the end came near. Brent sat by her side, holding her frail hand as she drifted in and out of consciousness. Her eyes had sunken into her skull and the dark surrounding flesh made her look otherworldly. Brent had hired a live-in nurse, tending to her as best she could, but time was running out. On a cold autumn morning in October, Jeanette O'Leary Gordon, failed to wake up. It was over. Brent sat in his rocking chair beside the bed, holding her cold, lifeless hand, his eyes closed, rocking back in forth, wondering what would come next. How would he carry on without her? Andrea was on the floor, beside the bed, weeping silently in her grief. Scott was in his room, racked with sobs and the pain of the loss of his mother. He, like his father, had hoped that his mother would recover, but now he knew that it wasn't to be. -0- Brent sat in the front pew of St. David's Anglican Church, listening absently as Reverend Oliver Thomas gave the eulogy. Beside him were Andrea on his left and Scott on his right. His eyes were dry and his mind was blank. He had used up all his tears in the last seven months. It was over and his beloved Jeanette was gone. To the very end he held out hope for a cure, or at least remission. It never happened. When Jeanette died, he lost the one thing that had allowed him to carry on, his sense of hope. He had always been one to have faith in the future, but that faith had now abandoned him. Andrea was holding Grandmother O'Leary's hand as she sat quietly during the service. She could still cry for her lost mother, but she had a new role to play now. Her father and brother needed her. They couldn't do it alone and she would have to be the strong one. She grieved for her mother, but she feared for her father. He seemed so lost now. She had to help him in any way she could. That's what happens when people die, other people have to take over. She had no doubt that it was her responsibility. Scott sat, head bowed, between his father and Grandmother Gordon. The three were holding hands as if it would keep them from disappearing or drifting away. The death of his mother wasn't a surprise, but it was a shock. He had, like his father, clung desperately to the belief that she would recover and be his mother again. Now he knew that could not be. She was gone and the pain was deep inside him. Andy was here to help him, but it wasn't the same. She was good to him and she understood, but it still wasn't the same. She was only seventeen and he was fifteen. She wasn't old enough to be the new mom. Joanne sat by herself, absorbed in regret over the relationship with her sister. She had envied Jeanette. She had everything; a great husband, two terrific kids, and a nice home. They hadn't ever been close, in truth. Joanne didn't want that kind of relationship with her older sister. But now it was too late. Now she knew what she had missed. She wept for her sister and for herself. She would never have the chance to tell Jeanette she loved her and idolized her. The reception was held at the O'Leary home. Kevin and Kelly O'Leary had insisted that Brent not be burdened with that responsibility. They could see the pain and despair their son was suffering. He didn't need this on top of all the grief that he had accumulated. The two sets of parents had met some weeks ago to discuss just how to help Brent and the grandchildren when Jeanette was gone. The O'Learys had been very realistic about her chances, and set about making sure one tragedy didn't turn into another. The two families had bonded as surely as if they were blood relatives. They would do everything humanly possible to help their heirs get past this moment. Children are resilient. Over the next weeks, they endured the loss of their mother, and gradually began to rebuild their lives. They were hurting emotionally, but each day was minutely easier to face. Andrea had a mission, and it was the duty she needed to carry on. She had appointed herself the replacement for her mother and she took her responsibilities seriously. It was her stoic attitude that helped restore Brent's optimism. Scott struggled the most. Brent had no idea that he was so attached to his mother. It wasn't something that he outwardly displayed, but his grief at her death and the difficulty of coping with that fact, slowed his recovery. He got up each morning and went to school or off to play games with his friends, but there was a sadness about him that lingered long after Jeanette's passing. From time to time, Brent would get lost in memories of Jeanette and their good times. He would find himself daydreaming of the past and smiling involuntarily until the reality of his loss would catch up with him. He had a job for now, but he began again to think of his future. He knew the role Henry had given him was merely a way to keep him on the payroll and make sure their health benefits looked after the incredible costs associated with Jeanette's illness. That was over now and with Andrea and Scott's support, he decided it was time to make a move. "Brent's here to see you," Suzanne announced. Henry and Lloyd rose from their chairs and walked to the front foyer. They shook hands warmly and Henry led them back to his office, closing the door behind him. "Guys, I can't tell you how grateful I am for everything you've done for me and for my family. I wouldn't have been able to get through this without your help. I won't ever forget it," Brent said sincerely. "I'm just glad we were able to help," Henry replied. "I talked to Charlie yesterday. We talked about the job he had offered, and it's still there for me. I think it's the best thing, guys. A fresh start in a new place. No old memories to haunt me." "Charlie called me last night," Henry said. "He was pretty sure you would be joining him. I know he's pleased about that. Lloyd and I are happy for you too, Brent. It's a great company and he's a great guy. You can trust him." "Yah ... I got that impression. I'm looking forward to it. Maybe if I'm any good, your sales will go up," he laughed. Lloyd had said nothing, but was relieved to see Brent laugh again. It had been a long time since he had seen any happiness in his eyes, and this was perhaps a sign that he would be OK. It was less than a month since they had sat in the little church and said their final farewell to Jeanette. They had lost a lovely lady, and Lloyd wondered if Brent would ever be lucky enough to find someone to take her place. He was a good man and he deserved a better fate. Chapter 19: Brent had no ambition to pack up everything for the move to Castlegar. He decided to leave it all to the movers. He had sold the house in less than three weeks for a price he thought was well above what buyers in their right mind would pay. It was a big relief and allowed him to concentrate on finding a home in their new town. Andrea and Scott accompanied him to every viewing. He wanted their approval too. They found their new home just off Crowsnest Highway, southwest of town, in a new subdivision. It was a three bedroom ranch-style house with a walk-out basement and was half the price of their home in Langley. All three agreed this was the ideal house. Andrea had her driver's license now and was teaming with her dad to get Scott where he needed to go. Scott was counting the days until he was sixteen and could get his license. Andrea had inherited her mother's Toyota Corolla, and was enjoying her new-found freedom. She had made a decision about her future, and it was time to share it with her dad and Scott. "Dad, you know how we talked about me going to university next year?" she began. He father nodded as he slowly chewed his dinner. "Well, here's what I've decided. I want to go to Selkirk College here in town for two years and then I'll decide which university. Is that OK with you?" "Sure, as long as you can transfer and you can get the courses you want," he said positively. "I want to be near home for a while. You guys need me around until we get settled. Somebody has to know how to cook," she smirked. "Uh, yah, but ... to tell the truth, I was thinking about hiring a housekeeper to do that. Someone who can clean and cook and do the washing ... that sort of thing. You'll have your courses and homework. I don't want you to be tied down being the house-mother here," he said, pausing to let them digest what he had just implied. "Well, that's OK, I guess. I'll still feel better if I'm around to keep an eye on things," she said with finality. "OK, Ma," Brent laughed. He marveled at how seriously she had taken her role as the female head of the family. He was enormously proud of her, and he thought it wouldn't be that many years when some young guy would be coming to ask him for her hand in marriage. She was seventeen, going on twenty-seven. She had grown up in a big hurry. "Look, Andy ... this is the time of your life to enjoy yourself. You'll get more than your share of housekeeping practice in the future. I want you to go to school and enjoy your friends and see what's going on in the outside world. I don't want you tied down here like some live-in domestic. Is that clear?" he asked in a serious tone. Andrea looked at her father and understood he was very serious and that he was releasing her from her self-imposed responsibilities. She smiled at this man who had lost so much and yet had so much to give. She stood, went to him, embraced him and kissed him. Nothing more needed to be said except, "Thanks, Dad. But I want some input on who we hire, agreed?" "Agreed," he said reluctantly. He looked to Scott for acknowledgement and received a shrug in return. Brent wondered how difficult it would be to hire someone who could live up to Andrea's exacting standards. Woe betide the person who failed to meet them. They found someone. Her name was Ludmilla Dubrinski and she was of local, Dukhabor origin. She was a sturdy woman with a round face, blonde hair, and a big smile. Her husband was a farmer and she kept house to provide the extra money they needed to help their children get a good education. Her ambition was to see all three of them attend university for at least two years. Her husband, Petr, thought wasting good money on their daughter, Tanya, was complete foolishness. She would marry and bear children for her husband and have no need of a college education. Their sons, Marcus and Adrian, needed the education more than Tanya. It was old-world values against new-world realities. It was a conflict that Ludmilla and Petr had waged in gentle terms for several years now. He knew he would lose, but he had to make sure his wife had no doubt about his opinion. Brent had embraced his new job with enthusiasm. He loved the workmanship and beauty of the pine millwork. The windows and doors in particular were almost works of art. They featured thirty different door designs and their windows and custom window-walls were graceful, structurally sound, and could be configured to whatever design the customer required. Brent had already discussed replacing the vinyl double-hung windows in his home with the slim casements that suited the existing openings. He would wait until the business was less hectic and he could find someone to do the installation. His sales plan was to co-ordinate his efforts around the three main customer locations - Edmonton, Calgary, and the local mountain resorts. His secondary plan was to develop a new market on the coast; particularly in Whistler. The Winter Olympics would bring in millions of development dollars and he wanted Verano Custom Millwork to be able to take advantage of the resulting boom. Charlie endorsed the plan with the proviso that they didn't take on more work than they could handle. He had little doubt that Brent could bring in new business. A large part of their sales-promotion budget was made up of the three big home shows in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. They were costly events, but they produced significant orders if they were manned and worked properly. Brent's job was to make sure the money was well spent, and the resulting sales would be a measure of that. As he grew into his new job, he understood he would be travelling more. He wanted regular contact with his sales reps in the three major cities and with their dealers. His sales people accounted for about one-third of their direct sales, while the balance came through the dealers. Brent wanted some time to think about what sales method was best for the company. Brent knew that his success in finding and developing new business was pressuring the production staff to meet deadlines, and the growing waiting list and delivery times were a concern. He studied the problem, consulted with their controller, Gary Takahashi, and then went to Charlie. "I have a suggestion for a long term strategy, Charlie. I want to farm out the low-end ClearSeal volume to someone else. It doesn't produce the margin that our top quality product does, and that's where I'm concentrating my sales efforts. The low end may not be necessary soon. We might even sell the ClearSeal name to someone else. It will free up production time, and our profits should be better almost immediately." "How much time will it free up compared to the loss in revenue?" "Gary and I have made some estimates on this. It looks like our loss in revenue would be about fifteen percent of current volume. Our loss in profit, however, would less than five percent - a pretty good trade in my books. Plus, I'm sure we can get a decent price for the ClearSeal name and current inventory." Charlie smiled to himself and then at Brent. His new sales manager had just told him that he worked with his head accountant to develop his business plan. If Gary bought into it, it must be OK. That's what you get when you hire good people, he thought. "Go ahead. It's your plan. Do you want some help with the disposal of ClearSeal?" he asked. "Let me try a couple of contacts and see how they react, Charlie. If that doesn't pan out, then yah, I could use some help," Brent said. Within three months, the ClearSeal name, designs and inventory had been sold to a large millwork firm in Winnipeg, well out of their sales area. The revenue generated was immediately plowed back into a production expansion in the primary millwork facility, speeding up wood preparation and treatment. Fixing the most significant bottleneck in the operation would produce the most rapid results in increased productivity. Less than a year after Brent's arrival, sales had increased almost 20%, even though wood usage was only up 14%. It meant more dollars per board foot, and that was the clear sign that their value-added component had improved significantly. Working with Gary, Brent had projected further growth for the following year and improved profits over and above their gross sales dollars. The new plan had only been in effect for four months, and already was showing positive results. The notoriously slow-paying building industry demanded higher profits and more importantly, strong cash management. This was Gary's area of expertise, and he and Brent worked together to weed out the more undesirable customers who were using Verano Custom Millwork as their bank. Again, it didn't take long for cash flow to improve. Brent, Gary, and Charlie had become an inseparable trio around the plant when Brent was in town. Brent developed a strong respect for and a genuine friendship with Gary. They worked well together, and their problem-solving and attention to detail assured the growing company of continuing financial success. Charlie Verano went home every night to his wife Gerry with a happy disposition. He had a fine business with outstanding people to run it for him. All the hard work that had gone into Verano and Son in the early days had paid off. The last piece of the puzzle was Brent Gordon, and the difference he made almost immediately showed an enormous positive influence on the business's performance. Brent wasn't a conventional thinker, and he was smart enough to know that guys like Gary Takahashi were just as important to his personal success as all his sales skills combined. It was the teamwork that left Charlie feeling comfortable with the future of their business. Brent went home to his son and daughter and an empty bed. He had been so absorbed in learning and developing his new business, that he had almost forgotten the loneliness and the loss of Jeanette. The pain was still there, as he was sure it must still be with his children. He wondered if he would ever be able to find someone to share his life. I was a thought that had visited him occasionally in the past few months, but one which he was able to suppress during the working day. He would never forget Jeanette as he missed the companionship and comfort of her at the end of the day. Second Chance, Book 04 Chapter 20: A great deal had happened in the three years that the Gordon family had lived in Castlegar. Andrea, now twenty, was finishing her second year at Selkirk College and would be moving on. She had decided on the University of Lethbridge and would enroll in the Commerce Faculty. She hadn't shared her ambitions with her father yet, but she secretly hoped to work in her father's company. She could see the growth and the resulting success, but just a much, she loved the products they manufactured. Almost as importantly, she liked the people, especially the handsome, dark-haired nephew of Charlie Verano, Sam Fiorento. She and Sam had shared several classes together at Selkirk College, and he was going on to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary to study operations management. They both had the same goal, be a part of Verano Custom Millwork in their adopted hometown. Her current dream was a "partnership" with Sam and V.C.M. Scott, now seventeen, had obtained his long sought-after drivers license, and as a reward for obtaining a B average in his schoolwork, his father bought him a used, mid-sized pickup truck for transportation. Brent remembered the day a year or so ago when he was on his way through town and spotted Scott walking hand in hand with Tanya Dubrinski, Ludmilla's comely daughter. He had a smile on his face as did she. They were a handsome couple, he thought. He never mentioned it to Scott, but later quizzed Andrea and learned that the two had been "going steady" for a few weeks. He was about to say something about having a talk with Scott, when he recognized it was too late. They weren't children any more, they were nearly adults. Brent recalled a conversation with Ludmilla a few weeks earlier when he had arrived home in the early afternoon from a road trip, and the stocky woman was still there cleaning bathrooms. "Mr. Gordon, I can talk to you? About Scott and my Tanya?" she asked as she finished her work. "Of course," Brent replied. "Scott is goink to Selkirk College next year, yah?" she asked in her thick Russian accent. "Yes, that's what he's decided," he answered, thinking he knew where this conversation was going. "My Tanya ... she goes too," she stated emphatically. "Petr say it waste of money, foolish! I don't think so! What you think?" she asked. "Well, times have changed, Ludmilla. Many young woman want a career, even when they are married," he replied. "Yah, but Petr say she get married soon, and have babies and stay home. He is old man in head," she stated emphatically. Brent laughed. He couldn't help it. "I'm sorry. I'm sure it isn't funny, but you know, old family values are hard to overcome. If that's the way it was when you and Petr were married, then he probably thinks that's the way it should be for Tanya," he explained. "Yah ... he is old man in head!" she repeated. "I new-age woman!" she said, then turned to me and laughed. "Yup ... I can see that," he grinned. "You know Scott and Tanya good friends?" she asked, turning serious again. "Yes, I found out a while ago. Andrea says they are 'going steady.'" "Yah ... he is good boy. He will be good for Tanya. She will follow him," she said directly. "What do you mean?" Brent asked. "He is not fool. He wants education first, married second. He treat Tanya right," she said, nodding her conviction. "I hope so, Ludmilla. I'd be very disappointed if he didn't treat Tanya like a lady," he said. "My Tanya, she is young. Not so ... smart with boys yet," she said with a worried look. "Scott is good for her. He's not let her do foolish things." She was nodding her head with conviction. "I'm very glad to hear that Ludmilla. He is growing up fast. He was very hurt when he lost his mother," Brent said, reflectively. "Yah ... very sad. But, he's OK now. I talk to him. He's OK," she said, nodding again. -0- The spring home show in Calgary was upon them, and Brent had been preparing the team for the grueling four days ahead. Along with local rep, Chuck Duguid, Edmonton rep, Scott Hurst, Charlie, and himself, they would have two women hired as greeters and who would be responsible for making sure the visitors to the booth were looked after and steered in the right direction. Compressing these shows into three and four day events had intensified the crowds, and the most frustrating thing for a visitor was to have questions go unanswered because the staff was busy with other people. It was a chronic problem for all the major booths, but Brent and Charlie had learned to lessen the pressure with a couple of attractive women, usually of middle age, who could handle the simple things. The two women arrived an hour before the show opened on Thursday afternoon. They introduced themselves as Myra Tompkins and Bonnie Simpson. Brent and Charlie looked them over and approved. They were attractive without being models or sex objects. They were dressed conservatively and yet there was no mistaking that they were good looking women. Brent reminded himself to thank the agency for following his instructions to the letter. Brent briefed the two women on the product line and the company. He was surprised when Bonnie asked a number of pertinent questions about the products. "Can you make any size?" she asked. "Almost. There are standard sizes, and they are all listed in the catalogues for each type. However, we can make any size in between our smallest listed and our largest in two inch increments, so it's almost any size. They're special order of course, but it's very important in the renovation part of our business," he said. "What about those big front windows you see in the really fancy homes these days?" she continued. "Yes. Those are called window walls, and we can do pretty much anything the customer wants, provided it's structurally sound ... and the customer has the money," he grinned. She was genuinely interested, Brent thought, as she openly admired the workmanship and design of the samples on display. Brent smiled and nodded in satisfaction. She would do just fine, he thought. She was paying attention. Myra, on the other hand, was more of a social coordinator. She could manage the crowds and keep things moving. She had a lively disposition and no shortage of self-confidence. All-in-all, these two will do well if they have the endurance to last the four days, Brent thought. By Thursday evening, Brent was convinced they would have a good show. The guys were well-prepared and with the lightest of the crowds on Thursday, they had plenty of time to practice their presentations, and more importantly, to qualify the customers. Were they "tire-kickers," or were they genuinely in the market to buy? It was an acquired skill that came with experience, and not every salesperson grasped it. Myra had done a great job of bringing people into the booth, but it was Bonnie who caught Brent's attention. At one point, when the booth was crowded with people, he looked around and saw her demonstrating the newest kitchen corner-cabinet hardware to a potential customer. She had it down perfectly, and the wife of the couple was nodding approvingly. "Nicely done Bonnie, that's just who we were trying to capture," he thought. The only no-traffic time in the booth was the hour before opening. Thursday was occupied with orientation and training the ladies. Friday gave them a few minutes to relax and talk to each other. As they had on Thursday, Myra and Bonnie arrived almost an hour early, this time bearing gifts; coffee and donuts. As they stood by the kitchen counter display, Brent had a chance to talk to Bonnie for a few minutes. "I saw you handling that couple in the Heritage Kitchen display last night. I was impressed. Well done!" he smiled. Bonnie Simpson blushed at the compliment. "Thanks. I love that design. I wish I had it in my house," she replied. "Well, no reason you can't. Maybe your husband can install it and save a bunch of money," he suggested. "Ah ... no ... I'm on my own and I don't have those kinds of skills. I'll just have to be patient and save my pennies. It's such beautiful workmanship. Everything here is truly wonderful. You must be very proud to represent this company." "Thank you. Yes I am. I consider myself very lucky to work for Charlie." "Do you have these cabinets and windows in your house?" she asked. "I have the casement windows, but I haven't replaced the kitchen cabinets yet. That's on the list for the future." "Oh, I'm surprised. Usually the wife decides on the kitchen first, and then the other places," she chided. "Well ... like you ... I'm on my own. The house is fairly new and I don't spend much time in the kitchen, so I guess my choice was predictable," he grinned. "Ah ... I'm sorry ... I didn't think when I said that." "It's OK. When my wife died three years ago, we moved up to Castlegar, and it's been a great new life for us," he said without hesitation. "Oh ... I'm so sorry. Do you have children to look after as well?" "My daughter is getting ready to head for Lethbridge University this fall, and my son will be graduating from high school this spring. I think he'll hang around home and go to Selkirk College for a couple of years. "Do you have children?" he asked. "Yes, I have a son. He's fifteen and just starting to assert his independence. I could use some tips on handling him, if you've got any," she chuckled. "Well, to be honest, my daughter Andrea kept Scott in line at that age. I think the loss of his mother tempered a lot of the rebelliousness he might have felt. We all grew closer together in the past three years, and I guess that saved me from the kinds of problems I otherwise might have faced." Bonnie nodded her understanding. It must have been difficult for him, she thought. He handled it well and he seemed to be a well-balanced man, the kind of man she was attracted to. She smiled at him involuntarily as she exposed her thoughts. The smile was returned and she looked away to see what was going on in the other parts of the big booth. As she walked away, Brent thought just how striking she was. Not an exotic beauty, but a mature, elegant and clearly bright lady. She had curly shoulder-length dark blonde hair, and her face featured a wide, slim mouth and pale blue eyes that sparkled in the light. She had one of those classic Roman noses that he thought added to her unusually attractive face. She was a large woman, easily five foot ten inches and blessed with a voluptuous body that only enhanced her appeal. It struck Brent that she did not look anything like Jeanette in any respect. He had her business card, and it was safely tucked away in his wallet. The women proved to be equal to the task of enduring the four long days on their feet. Brent had set up a schedule for the booth that gave each of them some time off to sit and relax in the exhibitor area. The only person not on the schedule was Charlie, who would freelance the show, schmoozing with both suppliers and competitors alike. He was there to see what was going on in the industry. What were the new trends and where were the customers spending their time. He would work the booth, but on his own schedule, which was random and unpredictable. By Saturday evening, the fatigue was beginning to show. There would be a short day on Sunday, beginning at noon and ending at five in the afternoon. Brent would stay behind to supervise the tear-down and packing of the displays. They had too much money tied up in the units to allow a careless worker to damage the goods. They would be returned to Castlegar, examined for any marks, scars or dings, and after clean-up, would be stored for the next show, six months distant in October. Bonnie approached Brent at nine Saturday evening and waited until he had finished with a potential customer. "Some of us are going over to the Palliser for a drink after the show closes. I think we've earned one," she suggested with a smile. "You certainly have. That sounds like a great idea, especially since I'm staying at the Palliser," he grinned. "Only one stipulation, though. No one drives home. I'll look after the cab fare for you and Myra, including tomorrow, understood?" he stated emphatically. "Understood," she smiled. "I guess that means I can have a second drink and not worry then," she said, arching an eyebrow. "I guess it does," he laughed. He looked at his watch and saw that they would be closing in less than an hour. He would look forward to a bit of socializing with this group. They were good people and they had worked hard. All he had to do now was let Charlie know what the plan was. The entire crew except Chuck and the girls were staying at the Palliser, the elegant old landmark hotel located just a couple of blocks from the show building. At 10:20, the group of six slid into a big, high-backed booth in the Palliser Bar and was almost immediately approached by a waiter. The first round of drinks arrived and Brent felt himself relax as the banter around the table developed. He was seated between Bonnie and Chuck and although tired, he was enjoying time with the group. As he leaned back against the booth, he found himself staring at Bonnie, and more particularly, at her face and hair. He found his mind wandering, and he lost contact with the conversation at the table. At some point, Bonnie also leaned back and Brent became aware of her fragrance, a mix of some light perfume and that special female scent that had once been so familiar. His right arm was resting on the top of the back of the booth and Bonnie was leaning back within inches of his arm. She turned to him and smiled as something in the conversation was directed at him. "I'm sorry, I guess I wasn't paying attention," he said lightly. "I was wondering if you are heading home on Sunday or not," Charlie asked. "No ... I'm going down to Lethbridge to see Andy and then home sometime Monday. I may just go crazy and take a day off," he smiled. Bonnie was watching him and smiling. Unconsciously, Brent moved his hand and his fingers began to tease her hair and stroke the back of her neck. He seemed completely unaware of his action and no one at the table beside Bonnie seemed to notice. He was conversing with the people in the booth, but his hand gently wrapped the curls of her hair around his fingers. Bonnie leaned slightly toward him and back, her arm now in full contact with his. Brent suddenly realized what he was doing and jerked his had away, putting it back on top of the booth seat. Again, Bonnie turned and looked at him, still smiling, but flushed. Chuck had excused himself after finishing his first drink and headed for home, saying he would see them the next morning. A second round was ordered and Brent injected himself into the conversation, hoping to prevent another embarrassment. Bonnie, for her part, had not moved and was still in contact with him. She added to the conversation, and she too was enjoying herself, but for an entirely different reason. Myra had maintained her status as the life of the party, and was keeping the laughter content at a high level. The whole table was having a good time. Finally, as the second round was consumed, Myra stood and walked toward the washroom with Bonnie in tow. "Typical women," someone said. "Can't go to the john by themselves." Scott Hurst then rose, stretched and excused himself. He said he'd see them all Sunday morning - if not at breakfast, then at the show. Charlie was next to follow. He was a notorious early riser and wasn't much of a night owl. That left Brent and the two ladies. He waited patiently for the women to return and when they did, Myra immediately asked if he could call her a cab. Brent summoned the waiter and asked him to arrange the transportation and passed him a five dollar tip. "Myra, just get a receipt for your cab rides and I'll look after it tomorrow morning. Is that OK?" "That's fine, thanks. I've got to go rescue my sitter and get some sleep. Thanks again for this," she said happily. Brent waved and Bonnie said goodnight, leaving the two of them alone in the booth. "Can I tempt you with another drink?" he asked. "Only if you go back to playing with my hair," she said, looking at him with a sly smile. "Oh ... uh ... I'm sorry. I wasn't even aware I was doing that. I'm embarrassed," he confessed. "Do you know how close I was to having an orgasm in front of everyone?" she asked, teasing. Brent almost snorted his scotch out his nose. There was no snappy rejoinder to that question. He decided to say nothing for the time being. "Cat got your tongue?" she teased some more. "Ah ... yah. I honestly didn't know I was doing that, you know," he said, hoping she would believe him. Their waiter came and he ordered two more drinks. He didn't want this evening to end just yet. Bonnie had shifted and turned her body toward him. She placed her hand on his thigh and looked searchingly at him. Brent's hand came off the top of the booth wall and rested on the back of her neck, lightly caressing it with his thumb. Bonnie leaned toward him and their lips met in a quiet, soft kiss. "You've been watching me for three days now, Mr. Gordon. I'd be interested in your opinion," she challenged. "Hmmm ... no hiding place for me, huh?" "Nope. I want to hear what you think." "I think ... for the first time in a long time ... I ... I've felt something ... uh ... happening. I'm guess the truth is, Bonnie ... I'm attracted to you. You're very attractive, but I think what gets my attention is your ... style. You are very elegant and composed. You picked up on our products right away and you ... you ... oh hell. I guess the truth is I think you're really sexy," he finally blurted out. She laughed quietly as he stumbled through his confession and then, leaning into him once more, kissed him with more passion, her hand on the back of his head, pulling him into her. The kiss went on for some time. "I think you're pretty sexy too, Brent. I wasn't kidding when I said I almost came when you were playing with my hair. I was damn close." "I didn't think I had that kind of affect on women," he grinned. "Oh yah ... you certainly do. You definitely know how to turn me on, anyway," she admitted. "Do you mind if I try again?" he asked tentatively. She turned again toward him, kissing him again. "I'd be disappointed if you didn't." "Would you prefer some place more private?" he asked carefully. "Such as?" "My room?" "Lead the way." They rode up the elevator in silence, holding hands. The short walk down the hallway of the tenth floor and Brent slipped the plastic card into the lock, opening the door of Room 1016. Bonnie glided past him and walked into the elegant suite. It was used as one of two hospitality suites when needed for entertaining customers and suppliers. Charlie's suite was full on Friday evening and would be again on Sunday afternoon. In the meantime, Brent's was exclusively his for this evening, and he planned to enjoy the space and the company. "This is lovely, Brent. Is this how you treat yourself on road trips?" she grinned. "Nope ... this is Charlie's way of say thanks for all the long hours and extra effort. So enjoy. Tomorrow night I'm in my usual single room at the Heidelberg in Lethbridge." She moved to him and wrapped her arms around him and kissed him with a growing intensity. He responded, running his hands along her bountiful body from her glorious backside to her shoulders. She tilted her head back, looking at him closely and then closed her eyes and moved to kiss him again. Brent could feel the heat being generated by their bodies and was becoming light-headed as they stood in the middle of the room, making out like two teenagers. Second Chance, Book 04 At some point Brent stopped, looked at Bonnie intently, and then began to undress. First his jacket, then his tie. He moved to her and took her jacket from her shoulders. She looked at him with a noticeable longing and reached for his shirt buttons, undoing them as she watched his face. He undid the four large buttons on her blouse and opened it to reveal her large breasts, confined in an attractive, lacy bra. "Bonnie, it's been a while for me. I hope I don't disappoint you," he said intently. "It's been a long time for me, too, Brent. I'm guessing we can manage though. If you can get me all worked up over a little teasing of my neck, I don't think you'll have any problem tonight." "I just remembered, I didn't even think of having a condom." "Stop worrying. It'll be fine. I promise. You're not in danger of knocking me up, kid," she smirked. "Oh good. I feel so much better," he laughed in genuine relief. "Why don't we just look after undressing ourselves and then we can play," she suggested. "You are so smart, I think that's the first thing I noticed." "Baloney! You've been ogling my tits and ass the whole time. I know what I've got, and I know how to shake it. I'm no kid, you know." "Well, that makes two of us. But you're right, I did notice your ... prominent parts." "Prominent parts! What the hell kind of compliment is that?" she growled in mock indignance. "Didn't come out quite right, did it?" "No ... it sure didn't. But I don't care. I know you were admiring me from all angles, so I'm still flattered. OK?" "Yes ... OK. I didn't want to upset you, Bonnie. I just don't know how to handle myself with beautiful women these days. It's like starting all over again." "I know ... I know. It's not much different for me. I haven't been with a man for so long, I've almost forgotten what it's like. I'm not very sure of myself." "I have a feeling that we'll be OK, Bonnie." They were standing near the bed, naked, and Brent was caressing her as he had earlier, with his hands running along her back toward her lovely backside and up to her neck. He pulled her toward him once again and they kissed. His hand dropped to her breasts and he fondled and cupped one as they kissed, casually running his thumb over the nipple. He heard her soft moan, and her hand dropped to his swelling manhood. He led her to the bed, pulling down the covers and sliding into the bed, welcoming her with his arms. It might have started out being just simple sex, but somewhere along the line, it changed into making love. Brent began with an exploration of her body from head to toe. He played with her nipples, bringing them to their extended state and eliciting more moans of satisfaction from Bonnie. He worked his way down her body and lingered at her navel, bringing a more intense reaction from her has his tongue flicked into the little cavity. He continued to move down and finally found that secret place in the nest of crinkly hair on her mons. She was already moist, seemingly anticipating his moves. He looked up at Bonnie and saw that she was watching him intently. He smiled and bent to his task. He began to massage her labia with his fingers and then, gradually insert first one and then two fingers into her. She was responding spasmodically as her hips rose to him. Finally, he moved his mouth to her private place and blew gently on her lips, barely touching her clitoris with the tip of his tongue. She reacted immediately, thrusting her hips upward, seeking a release that she could not yet find. His tongue began to stroke her now-sensitive nub and her vocalization became more pronounced. He lifted his head and his two fingers deeply probed her vagina, seeking that special spot. Her eyes were now closed and her head was moving from side to side in an uncoordinated manner. "Now, please, Brent, now!" she begged. He rose to her and she guided him in and they began slowly, matching each other in their movements, then building to Bonnie's first orgasm. She arched her back and let out a quiet, long, slow groan of relief as it washed over her. It had been a long time since she had enjoyed that special feeling that could only come from having a man inside her. Brent rested beside her, but still ready, waiting for her to recover. He pulled her on top of him and she came willingly. She pushed herself up and then lowered onto his hardened shaft, slowly taking in his full length. Her hands were on his chest and her eyes were almost closed as she once again began to move her hips in that timeless motion. He watched as her pace quickened and dragged him along with her toward their shared bliss. He knew it wouldn't be long before he would surrender, and he concentrated on lasting as long as Bonnie. He was hanging on as her elbows began to bend and her body slowly lowered itself onto him. He lost it then, pumping deeply into her and willing himself to continue as he felt her tense once again and let out a deep sigh with her breath. He had survived and she had completed. He was happy for her and relieved for himself. He had almost forgotten the exquisite pleasure of satisfying a woman, then receiving pleasure in return. She lay on top of him as he held her in place, unwilling to allow her to roll off. Her breathing began to return to normal and her head was beside his, facing him. He felt the soft touch of her lips on his cheek and the stroke of her hand as her fingers combed his hair. "That was lovely," she whispered. "Yes ... very." "I must be crushing you," she said softly as her head came up. "Stay right where you are. This is too good to let go." "Hmmm ... " "Bonnie ... will you stay with me tonight?" "You want me to?" "Yes ... I can't think of anything I'd like more than to wake up in the morning with you beside me." "Hmmm ... sounds perfect." "Then you will? Oh, I didn't even think about your son," "He's at a friend's for a sleep-over. I always do that when I'm on one of these jobs. I never know when I'm going to get home." "Oh ... should I be jealous?" he asked, almost seriously. "No, of course not. This is a first." "So then, I can order breakfast in bed for us, and then I can drive you home to change, and back to the show. We'll have all morning together." "You want that?" she asked, surprised. "I want that and more. I want to get to know you better. I want to spend some time with you, assuming you feel the same way," he ventured cautiously. Her head came up again and she was watching him with a surprised look. "Yes ... I mean, I want to be with you too. I want to get to know you better too. You aren't like any of the other men I've dated in the past." "So ... tell me about the men you've been dating," he teased. "No! Absolutely not! I don't kiss and tell," she shot back with her now recognizable mock indignancy. "Aw ... come on. I just want to know how not to behave," he grinned. "Don't give me that. You know perfectly well how to behave. You've already proven that." "Thanks, I think." Second Chance, Book 05 As always, my thanks to ErikThread for his editing skills and advice. * Chapter 22: Bonnie Simpson was a thirty-seven-year-old single mother who had never married. She was a young receptionist at a major distillery in Calgary when she met Eddie Parker. He was a salesman for a national label company calling on the distillery's purchasing department, and by all accounts was doing very well. After he had been in a few times, he asked Bonnie out on a date, and she agreed. It was the beginning of her first serious relationship since high school, and they had sex on their third date. Eddie had a very nice apartment in a downtown high-rise and dazzled Bonnie with his charm, good looks and apparent success. Bonnie thought she could get used to this very easily. Four months later, Bonnie discovered she was pregnant and revealed her condition to Eddie. He wanted no part of fatherhood and immediately broke off the relationship. Bonnie was unhappy, but as she thought about it more, she knew she was not in love with Eddie, and would not have married him. She went home to her parents to confess her condition, and while they were not pleased, they took her in and gave her the emotional support she needed. Bonnie's father was not about to let it end there. He contacted their family lawyer and sued Eddie Parker for child support, and were granted a court order describing just what Eddie's responsibilities were. Eddie was angry, but could not deny the child was his. Bonnie went back to work when her son, Timothy, was almost two. She had some experience in public relations with the distillery and she enjoyed it. She put in her application at several local P.R. firms and was hired on a contract basis by one of the larger ones. Her work produced an erratic schedule, but along with Eddie's support payments, and some generous neighbors filling in as babysitters, it gave her enough to re-establish her independence. As young Tim grew, Bonnie resigned herself to a single life. She hadn't dated very frequently, and the men she was seeing weren't future husband material in her opinion. She had sex with several, but it was recreational rather than emotional. All that changed this past Saturday night at the Palliser Hotel. -0- Brent arrived home in Castlegar mid-afternoon on Monday and immediately flopped on his bed and fell asleep. He was tired from the show, as he always was, but the tension and excitement of Bonnie and the long drive from Calgary to Lethbridge and then home had finished him off. He slept for two hours before waking and taking a shower to bring himself around. He was back on Pacific time, an hour behind Alberta. He looked at the clock as he threw his laundry into the washing machine and wondered if it was too early to call Bonnie. She wasn't working today, he remembered. He started the washing machine, walked into the kitchen, extracting a beer from the fridge, and picked up the phone. "Hello?" "Hi, Bonnie ... it's me, Brent." "Oh, Hi Brent. You get home alright?" she asked in a bright voice. "Yes, I'm fine. I had a short visit with Andy, and I got back here about three this afternoon. I took a nap and then decided I needed to call you." "That's nice ... I'm glad you called. I've been thinking about you too," she admitted. "Oh ... were they good thoughts?" "Very good thoughts. Very satisfying thoughts." "Me too. I don't quite know how to say this ... uhmmm ... These past few days ... they were very ... important to me. Something very nice happened. I'm not sure where it will go yet, but I want to find out. Are you OK with that?" he asked carefully. "Brent, we had this discussion on Sunday morning. You know I do. Whatever happened, happened to both of us ... not just you. It was just as important to me ... believe me." "Good ... I'm happy you still feel that way. I just wanted to make sure you didn't have second thoughts," he admitted. "No ... no second thoughts. When will I see you again? You didn't tell me when you'd be back here." "I'll be back the week after next. I'll let you know what my plans are. Do you have any conflicting assignments?" "No, not yet. You never know, but don't worry about it. We'll find a way to be together," she said confidently. "Good. I can't promise the Palliser again, but we'll find someplace nice." "I don't care if it's a sleeping bag in a tent, as long we're together," she blurted. "Oh ... well ... I think I can do a little better than that. Uh, unless, that's what you'd prefer." "Now don't be a smart-ass, Mr. Gordon," she chided gently. "OK, no smart-ass as long as you'll be a bare-ass," he laughed. "Ha ha, very funny," she returned. After Brent had hung up, he smiled to himself and took stock of his feelings. She had captivated him. She had grabbed him and held on and he was hers. He wondered if she realized that yet. His thoughts were interrupted by the bang of the screen door and Scott's arrival from school. "Hi Dad. Did you have a good show?" "Yes ... very good. I'll know exactly how much better than last year when the orders flow in, but it was worth the effort." "Good. Are you home for a while?" "No, down to Vancouver for Thursday ... back to Calgary the week after next." "Calgary? How come so soon?" he asked, recognizing the change in pattern. "Oh well ... I've got some things to do," he answered vaguely. "Huh!" "Everything OK with Mrs. Dubrinski?" he asked, changing the subject. "Yah ... except she feeds me too much food. No wonder Mr. Dubrinski is as big as he is." "Now that surprises me ... you complaining about too much food," his father laughed. "Oh well, it doesn't seem to affect Tanya," he said slyly. "Huh? What do you mean?" he asked, surprised. "Oh, come on, Scott. I know you've been seeing Tanya. This is a small town. You aren't invisible," he laughed. "Oh ... is it ... I mean ... is it alright with you?" Scott asked carefully. "Yah ... its fine," his father smiled. "Her mother knows and she approves. Just make sure you treat her properly and act responsibly. You catch my drift?" "Uh huh," the young man smiled. He hadn't wanted to tell his dad about Tanya yet because he didn't know how he felt about her. She was very sexy, and a lot of the guys were envious, but he wasn't in the mood to get too involved just yet. He was only seventeen and heading for college next fall. A lot of the guys he went to school with were out looking for jobs, and some of them were even thinking about getting married. That seemed way too soon to Scott. On the other hand, Tanya was a beauty and fun to be with. Her mom and dad were pretty strict, and worse than that, her mom was around Scott's house everyday. He wasn't going to be able to get away with anything, he thought. They had done some heavy petting in the truck a few times, but that was about it. She had let him feel her breasts under her bra. Tanya was already well developed there, and it was a very arousing experience for him to touch her there. Apparently, it was a very arousing experience for her too. Now his father had found out about her, so that was two sets of eyes watching. Just like parents to spoil all your fun, he thought. Brent's trip to Vancouver had two objectives. He was unhappy with the performance of his Vancouver representative, Will Franzen. They hadn't been making the progress he wanted to see in comparison to their Alberta results. True, it was a different and very competitive market, but Will seemed more price conscious than Brent would have liked, and Will was quite upset early on when they disposed of the ClearSeal division. It represented the bulk of his sales. Brent had thought that Will would adapt, but so far, the results weren't forthcoming. He needed to make a decision on this important territory. The Winter Olympics would spur the high end Whistler market for sure, and he had to make sure V.C.M. got its share. He also wanted a top builder in his stable, and that was also on his list. He had worked with Will several times and while he liked the man, it was clear that he was having difficulty selling value. Brent didn't want to change representation at this point, since he didn't have anyone ready to replace him. Inevitably, it would fall to him to give Will more support while he looked for alternatives. It had been almost four months since Brent had seen Henry and Lloyd, and longer still since he had been with Adam and Johnny. It was last Christmas, he recalled. He had tried diligently to stay in touch, and yet three or four times a year seemed to be the most they could manage. When they were able to get together, they never failed to at least have a drink, often dinner. Brent didn't mind the late night and would catch the early flight to Castlegar the next morning. There was nothing regular about his work hours this past three years. Without Jeanette, and with Ludmilla looking after Scott during the day, he adopted a work-dominated existence. Now, Bonnie was on his mind, and he wanted to tell someone about her, someone he knew. "Well, here he is, at last," Adam chirped. "Hi guys," Brent said amiably, as he surveyed the foursome sitting in the booth. "Last one in buys a round still?" he grinned. "Nope, your money's no good here," Henry said in mock seriousness. "Oh well then ... I'll have a double," he laughed. "Just how do you order a double beer?" Lloyd asked, laughing. "I'll figure something out," Brent replied. It was as comfortable as slipping on well-worn slippers. He was among his friends again, and they were right back where they were three years ago. They spent the first few minutes trading stories and the occasional insult, with everyone smiling in the easy familiarity of the group. There would be four for dinner, since Lloyd had a social engagement with Diane that he couldn't skip out on. Lloyd left just before six, shaking hands first, and then giving Brent an almost bone-crushing hug. They left the bar when their table was called in the dining room and enjoyed a sumptuous meal. Nowhere along the way was Brent permitted to pick up any share of the cost. He was an important client and Henry made it clear that he would be treated as such. Brent learned that their business with Mountain Pine had increased almost twenty percent, despite the sale of the ClearSeal Division. He had deliberately stayed away from purchasing decisions to avoid any conflict of interest. He was pleased that his old employer was very happy with the changes at his new company, and had been following his career through Charlie. Sometime after ten, the group began to break up. Johnny headed home, and Adam wasn't far behind him. Henry had arranged for a cab while Brent could walk to his hotel from the restaurant. "So, how's it going," Henry asked. "Fine ... I love the job and I really like Charlie and the people at VCM. I owe you and Lloyd a lot for helping me find this." "Well, I just wish it was under better circumstances. That was a crazy, heartbreaking time for you, Brent. I'm still amazed you came out of it whole." "Henry, I'm the first to admit I wasn't much use for that last few months. I couldn't get my head around the fact that I was going to lose Jeanette. I just couldn't admit it was going to happen, and when it did, I wasn't ready for it," Brent admitted. "Yah ... I don't think any of us were. Did they ever figure out if her thing at the strip club was related to her illness?" he asked carefully. "No ... we'll never know for sure. It's possible, but who knows. There didn't seem to be any other symptoms at that point. Anyhow, I've forgotten all about that. It was just a bad moment among a lot of good memories. I still miss her, but it's gotten a bit easier in the past couple of years. "You're lucky you are so close to Andy and Scott. Is she still the mother hen?" "Oh yah ... nothing's changed. She's still Scott's mother too," he laughed. "I think Scott's just grateful she's in Lethbridge and he's in Castlegar." "God, those kids grew up so fast," Henry said in amazement. "I know. I'm still trying to get my head around Scott going to college in the fall and Andrea graduating next year." "Has she decided what comes next?" "Well, she's being a bit coy about it, but a little bird named Charlie told me she's been asking him a lot of questions about the business and what opportunities there might be." He had been smiling as he revealed his daughter's interest. "How do you feel about that?" "Pretty good. I was hoping she might want to get involved. It's a bit of a mixed blessing though," he admitted. "On the one hand, I'd love to have her there. On the other, I wonder if that would be fair to her or to Charlie," he admitted. "I guess I'll have to see how it all spills out." "She got a boyfriend yet?" "That's another little secret she's thinks she's been keeping from me. She been seeing Charlie's nephew, Sammy, off and on. He's at S.A.I.T. in Calgary and they have a long-distance relationship on the phone, e-mail, and occasionally a visit." "You think it's serious?" Henry asked. Brent shrugged. He clearly didn't know. "Time will tell. She's mature beyond her years. I just don't worry about her because she's so solid ... you know?" "You're lucky. It must be great to have kids like that in this day and age," the older man offered. "I wish they had a chance to grow up like other kids. They got a lot dumped on them all at once," Brent said sadly. "They must be pretty strong, you know. They've gone through a lot and come out the other side as terrific young people. What more could you ask for?" Henry asked. Brent smiled and nodded his agreement with his former mentor. He was right of course. He had nothing to complain about when it came to his children. They were going to be well prepared for their adult lives: much better than he had been, in fact. Almost as an afterthought, Henry reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a card and passed it to Brent. "I heard you were looking for a primo builder to work with. This guy is top of the mark. He did some of the renovations on my place a couple of years ago and I haven't met anyone he's worked for that doesn't sing his praises. He'd be worth talking to," Henry suggested. "Thanks. Tom Blanton. I see he's in West Vancouver. I'll give him a call and let him know you suggested it. Thanks, Henry" he said sincerely. "Happy to help," he said, rising to go. They walked out to the foyer of the elegant restaurant and waited for Henry's cab. "It was great to see all you guys again. I wish it could be more often. I miss the gang, and tonight was a lot of fun. Thanks for taking the time tonight, Henry" They parted on the sidewalk as Henry left in the cab, and Brent walked the two blocks back to his hotel. It had been a pleasant evening, and he realized he had said nothing about Bonnie to any of them, but maybe that was just as well. It was early in their relationship, and there was no rush. Chapter 23: Brent sat with pride at Scott's graduation ceremony. He had made his promised B average again for the second year in a row and was qualified to attend almost any accredited university in Canada. That he had chosen to follow his sister's choice of Selkirk College in Castlegar was a minor surprise. Brent wondered if Tanya was the big influence in that decision, since she too would attend the local college. Andrea sat beside him, holding his hand and beaming with happiness at her brother's accomplishment. "I don't see Tanya?" she noted. "In the light blue dress in the middle of the second row. She's the blonde babe," her father kidded. Andrea snickered at the reference as she craned her neck to see the girl who had caught her brother's attention. She would get a better look when they were called to the stage to receive their diplomas. When Tanya Dubrinski's name was called, she walked confidently up the five steps and onto the stage. "Wow ... she's a babe all right! Scotty did alright for himself," she said in surprise. "She doesn't look anything like her mom." "You noticed that too," her father smirked. "Maybe she was adopted." "Dad!" she elbowed him in admonition. "It's a good thing Granma and Grampa didn't hear you." Brent sneaked a look at his parents on the left of Andrea and watched as they anticipated Scott's name being called. The O'Leary's had been unable to attend as they were out of the country on a European vacation, but sent their best wishes, and a very nice check for Scott to spend on whatever he chose. Finally, the announcer called Scott Gordon and he stood and walked up the stairs and onto the stage. Brent felt something close to tears as he watched his son, smiling at the assembled crowd, stand tall with his classmates. It was the same emotion he felt three years earlier when Andrea had received her diploma. His children had turned out very well, he thought. Much of the credit should go to their late mother. She was the one who was always there for them and helped manage their day-to-day lives. Jeanette would be bursting with pride on a day like this. He hoped somehow, that she knew how well her efforts had paid off. He shook himself to put a stop to the maudlin mood. It was a day of achievement and celebration, and that's what it would be. In the two months since the home show, Brent had been to Calgary four times; twice on business, and twice with no other reason than to be with Bonnie. Their relationship had deepened in that time, and they began to talk about what might come next for them. He had met her son Tim, but she had not met either Andrea or Scott. Andrea had a summer job at one of the big-box home stores in Trail. It was an attempt by her to familiarize herself in the industry she was seriously thinking of entering. Scott was in the lumber-sort area at VCM. It was a menial job that paid well because that's what Charlie had decided. Scott was bored, but recognized that the paycheck allowed him a lot of freedom that summer. His tuition and books were looked after by his parents' long established education fund. That meant he had a substantial entertainment fund to spend on Tanya. Neither of his children was enthusiastic about a vacation trip that summer. Andrea wanted to get the most she could out of her work experience, and suggested to her father that the Christmas break might be a better time for a family vacation. Scott felt the same way, but his reasons were much simpler. He wanted to be close to Tanya and make sure some other guy didn't move in on his turf. He was playing defense. Brent just shrugged and recognized that his offspring were almost adults and didn't depend on him as much anymore. It left him free to plan some time with Bonnie without having to worry about anyone else. He picked up the phone and punched in her number from memory. "Hi babe, how was your day?" he asked lightly. "It just got a whole lot better," she said. "How's my guy?" "Fine. Just thinking about you, I'm fine." "That's nice. I like to hear that," she cooed. "Say ... that job of yours ... do you get any time off?" "Well, I can have all the time off I want. I'm a contractor. If I'm not here, I don't work. Simple, huh!" "How about a vacation with me?" he asked tentatively. "Sounds wonderful. What do you have in mind?" "Have you ever been to the Oregon coast?" "No ... that sounds lovely. When do you want to go?" "Whenever you can get away. I'll let Charlie know. I've got nothing special planned over the next two months, so I'm pretty flexible." "I know I'll have some work Stampede week, so why don't we plan to go after that?" she suggested. "Perfect! Let me look after the arrangements and we can have a couple of weeks to ourselves." he said, then stopping for a moment. "I'm sorry, Bonnie. I forgot all about Tim. What arrangements do you need to make?" Second Chance, Book 05 "Same as always. My neighbors are very good about it. They've suggested if I ever wanted a vacation, they'd be happy to have Tim stay with them. He and Nick are very good friends and are with each other every day. I don't know what I'd do if weren't for them," she admitted. "That's terrific, but here's something I want you to think about. We should try and come up with something special for them as a thank-you. We have a few weeks to decide, so give it some thought," he insisted. "That's very generous of you, Brent. I agree. That would be something we could do as a big thank you for all the times they have helped me." "Good ... it's settled then. In the meantime, I'll start looking for some love-nests for us," he said on a sly note. "Why you naughty man. Are you suggesting that I'm a woman of loose morals?" "Of course not! You're just a gorgeous babe in the company of an unprincipled cad." "Oh ... well ... that's different." she laughed. "Brent?" "Yes?" "I can't wait. I'll be counting the days." "Me too." Chapter 24: Brent had made contact with Tom Blanton, and they had arranged to meet when he was next on the coast. It would be two weeks before Stampede. He hoped that Blanton Construction would be interested in his product line and recommend it to their customers. A little research by phone had confirmed that Blanton was the right choice for a leading builder endorsement. By all accounts, they were the front-runners in the renovation and luxury construction market in the very exclusive North Shore market. Exactly what he was looking for, he thought. Brent met Tom Blanton on one of their jobsites, and they sat in the cab of his truck with a coffee from the mobile unit that serviced the various sites. "Thanks for taking the time to see me," Brent began. "Yah, well, sorry it couldn't be in a more comfortable location, but I've got a lot on the go right now and this is our busiest time of the year. I can tell you, though, that my experience with your door and window products has been good. I've used them a couple of times and I like the quality and the finish. The fact that you can custom fit to almost any opening is a big feature in the renovation part of our business," Blanton said positively. "I'm pleased to hear that. My intention today was to invite you and your lead supervisor to our plant for a tour, and to meet our key people. My ambition is to have Blanton Construction recommend and feature our products on their jobs as your first choice. I think we have the product that best meets your needs, and a look at our operation should give you some confidence that I'm not just blowing smoke." "How much time would it take?" Tom asked. "Just one day. We'd fly you up to Castlegar on the first flight and bring you back on the early evening flight. That would give you a full day to see the operation, meet the people, have lunch and dinner ... and we'll cover the costs." "OK, I think we can find a day somewhere along the line. It would be in the mid-week, if that's OK." "Definitely. Just let me know who you would like to have attend and we'll arrange the tickets." "Great. Well, my lead guy is Robbie Delgado, but if it's OK, I'd like my brother Vinnie to come along as well. He does all our framing, and I want him to know what your structural requirements are on the larger window-wall units." "Absolutely. Great idea, and one I should have thought of," Brent admitted. "OK, well, I'll talk to Vinnie and Robbie and we'll let you know which days look best for us." "You have my card, so just call my cell and you'll find me no matter where I am," Brent concluded. The two men shook hands and Brent climbed out of the cab of the big truck and headed for his rental car. Mission accomplished! He had every confidence that the visit to Castlegar would convince Tom Blanton and his people that they had the best product for their application. He waved to Tom as he pulled out of the yard and turned toward the road to the village below. He had a good feeling about Blanton Construction, and their future with Verano Custom Millwork. He also had a good feeling about his future two weeks with Bonnie along the Oregon coast. If he could arrange the Blanton visit for mid-July, his decks would be clear for an uninterrupted vacation for the first time in four years. In the meantime, he had a couple of other issues to deal with. One was to come to a decision about Will Franzen. He had an idea that had been rolling around in his head over the past couple of weeks and he needed to talk to Henry. His second objective was to have Bonnie meet both Andrea and Scott. He wanted them to know that she was an important person to him. He was worried that they might have trouble accepting her in place of their late mother. He was unsure just how they would react. He needed to know. "Hey, babe, how are you?" he crooned. "I'm good ... even better when I hear your voice," Bonnie replied, softly. "That's my girl. You sure know how to make me feel good," he smiled. "Are you still coming here next week?" she asked, suddenly concerned. "Absolutely! I wouldn't miss a date with the finest looking woman in Calgary." "I can't wait. I miss you so much. Every day seems like a hundred days when you're not here." "I know. I feel the same. I'm just lucky to have enough work to distract me now and then," he admitted. "Listen, Bonnie, there's something I want to do that's important. I want you to meet my kids. I want them to know we are ... involved. I mean ... that it's serious for us. You aren't just a girlfriend," he said tentatively. "Are you sure, Brent? I mean, I'd love to. I think it's important too. How do you think they'll react?" she asked, "I'm not sure. I'm worried they might resent you trying to replace their mother. I hope not. It won't change how I feel about you, Bonnie. I promise you that. We're adults and they will be too, soon. I think we can be a bit selfish and find happiness for ourselves. I don't want anything to come between us, but I owe it to Andrea and Scott to tell them the truth and not hide how important you are to me. Does that sound sensible to you?" he asked, again a bit tentatively. "Yes, of course it does. I've waited so long for someone and now you're here, I'm not giving you up for anything," she stated unequivocally. "OK, then. There's only one flight per day from Calgary to Castlegar and it's at one in the afternoon. I'll get you a ticket for Friday and then back to Calgary on Sunday afternoon or Monday, if you can stay an extra day." "I'd love to stay until Monday, but I'm afraid that would be taking advantage of the Verriers'. They have been so good about letting Tim stay over so many times. I feel guilty each time I ask," she said, apologetically. "Well, we'll find a way to thank them, Bonnie. In the meantime, I'll take every minute with you that I can get," he admitted, happily. "You'll be sleeping in my bed this time." "Oh ... are you sure about that?" she asked, worried. "Very sure. They're mature young adults and they have to know that you are someone very special to me. I don't want either them or you to have any doubt about that," he said forcefully. "I ... I have no doubts, Brent. If I haven't told you yet ... I love you." There was a silence on the other end of the line for what seemed to be an interminable length of time. "Brent? Are you there?" "Yes ... yes ... I'm here. I'm just trying to absorb what you just told me. I was hoping, but I wasn't sure. You just hit me with something I had been unsure of. I guess I just wasn't ready for it," he confessed. "Does it frighten you? I mean ... have I rushed you?" she asked in a worried voice. "No ... no. I just ... I wasn't ready. Bonnie ... I love you too. I'm just so surprised ... I mean, that you're sure. I didn't expect that. After all the years that you've waited ... I thought you would be very ... cautious. To hear you tell me that you love me was a big surprise. A big, happy surprise," he finished more confidently. "I think I'm just as surprised as you are. I've been thinking about us so much lately and I can't remember when I've been so certain of anything. I can't remember when I've been this happy. I just wish I could be with you more. I want that more than anything, Brent." "I know. I feel the same way. I think about you every day and especially at night. I dream you are in my arms and we are together and I'm inside you. I dream that when I wake, you'll be there beside me." There was a silence on the other end of the line and he thought he might have heard her sob. "I've got to go," he said quietly. "I'll call you tonight after I've got the plane ticket arranged, OK?" "Make sure you do. I need a regular fix of your voice when I can't have your body." "Hmmmm ... cut it out ... you're makin' me hard." "What a waste," she laughed. "You'd better beware this weekend, young lady. I'll be loaded for bear." "Ohhhh ... that sounds promising," she teased. As they hung up, Brent smiled at the thought of having Bonnie near again. He wasn't insincere when he told her he loved her, and that he thought of her every day and night. She had consumed his thoughts almost from the moment they had met, and especially after their interlude at the Palliser. It was an almost instantaneous attraction. She was so terrifically different and refreshing. He tried hard not to compare her to Jeanette. It was so unfair. She was nothing like Jeanette, and yet he felt that same magnetic pull that his late wife had exerted on him. He wondered again how his children would react to Bonnie. He could only hope they would accept her. He wasn't prepared to let her go. That wasn't going to happen. Second Chance, Book 06 My continuing thanks to ErikThread for his expert guidance and editing skills. Any errors are my own. Second Chance: Chapter 25: Bonnie walked briskly from the Dash 8 toward the small, modern Castlegar terminal on the sunny and warm Friday afternoon. She followed the other passengers through the door and immediately saw Brent waiting for her. She ran to him and they wrapped themselves in each others arms, kissing and hugging. "Hi," Brent said finally. "Hi. It's so good to be here. I can't wait to see the town and your home. It's all I've been thinking about ... besides being with you, that is." "Well, now you're here," he said, taking her hand and leading her toward the baggage area. It was a short wait until her single bag arrived, and they walked hand-in-hand toward the parking lot and his car. "Andrea and Scott will be at the house for dinner, and they are expecting you. Andrea's working at Builder's Supply in Trail, and Scott's at V.C.M. We'll have the afternoon to ourselves." He turned to her with a sly grin. "That gives us about three hours alone. What would you prefer? A tour of the town, or ... something else?" "Of all the silly questions," she laughed, slapping him on the arm. Brent drove directly home. Both of them had one thought in mind. He parked his car in the garage and led Bonnie into the house. She looked around and was clearly pleased. The house was immaculate and brightly decorated. It wasn't anything like she expected for a single father and two young adults. "Between Andy and Mrs. Dubrinski, this house looks pretty good, don't you think," Brent asserted. "Yes ... yes ... it's very nice. It's very nice and almost ... what .... rustic-modern?" she asked. "Well, I've never heard of rustic-modern, but I think that fits. Anyway, we all agree we like this place, so you'll just have to put up with it," he smiled. "Well, count me as one who approves. It's lovely and the scenery ... is spectacular! We're right in the heart of the Kootenays. What's not to like?" she asked with a big grin. "So, come with me." He took her hand again and led her to the back of the house. "This is where you'll be sleeping, so you can leave your bag at the end of the bed," he said. "I'm afraid that with both children home, you'll have to share the bed with me. I hope that's not inconvenient." "Oh ... I'm sure I can manage ... somehow ... with a bit of help," she laughed. "Is the bed comfortable?" "I think so, but then, I'm the only one who has been sleeping in it, so I guess we'll have to try it together and find out," he smirked. "Yes ... that's the only way ... isn't it?" Brent sat on the edge of the bed and Bonnie joined him. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him for a deep, passionate kiss. Brent's abdomen was tense and vibrating, anticipating the next few moments. He reached under the light sweater she was wearing and began to remove it. Bonnie waited until the sweater was off before she undid his belt and pulled the zipper down on his slacks. She reached inside and ran her fingers over his growing erection. In a matter of a minute, they were disrobed, lying back on the bed, caressing each other while kissing gently. It was Bonnie who took the initiative and slipped her way down his body with one target in mind. Her tongue flicked out and Brent was jolted with the electricity of her touch on the glans of his rigid member. Bonnie had never enjoyed giving oral sex, but she was determined to please him. She was sneaking the occasional look at Brent's face, happy to see the look of pleasure she was creating. She loved the oral gratification that Brent so happily gave her, and it seemed only fair that she return the favor. As Bonnie slowly and gently worked on Brent's erection, she watched him as he laid his head back and closed his eyes, enjoying every minute of her efforts. Soon, however, he reached for her arms and pulled her up over him. They kissed as he brought his knees up, spreading her legs and opening her to him. She helped him prepare to enter her, and in a moment they were completely joined. Their lovemaking was slow and sensual, as it so often was. There was no sense of urgency, and each could bask in the sensations the other created for them. They lost track of time and neither cared. Their prolonged erotic journey was so completely perfect that they didn't try to end it. Bonnie knew that this was what she had been waiting for. She had no doubt. Brent was the right man for her, and she wanted them to be together for the rest of their natural lives. Now, it was just a matter of Brent coming to that same realization. She had waited twenty years for this. She could wait a little longer. Both had drifted off to sleep afterwards. Brent awoke first and glanced at the clock radio, seeing that it was nearing four o'clock. He lay beside Bonnie, watching her naked body move as she breathed. She was such a beautiful woman, he thought. He was sure of himself now. He would ask her to marry him. He had to have her in his life. He had lost one love and he swore he would not lose a second. There was just the little matter of the timing. He slipped out of bed, trying hard not to disturb her. They had another hour or so before either Andrea or Scott would be home, and with the excitement and tension of her meeting his offspring, he was happy to let her rest. He quietly closed the door on the ensuite and turned on the shower. As he shampooed his hair, he was aware of the door of the stall opening and looking over his shoulder, saw Bonnie join him. She wrapped her arms around him, still drowsy, but content from their lovemaking. He reached back and clasped her bottom and pulled her to him. He could feel her breasts push into his back and her hips on his butt. He turned in her arms and they kissed, long, slow, and passionately as the warm water cascaded over them. Brent felt his cock hardening again and he took her hand and guided it to his manhood. She smiled as she understood, and she turned her back to him, placing her hands against the tiled wall of the shower stall. She spread her legs, and looking over her shoulder, invited him to take her from behind. He didn't need to think about it. He aimed his rigid member at her waiting opening, grasped her hips, and entered her in one slow, continuous push. As she moaned her pleasure, he began to stroke into her, and she responded by pushing back at him. It quickly became a more sexually charged union, and she was demanding an aggressive lover this time. He pushed harder and pulled her back against him with more force, driving his cock relentlessly into the warm, wet center of his woman. Her head snapped back as she began to orgasm, while he continued to pound into her relentlessly. Her cry of surrender understood, his actions became less demanding, and he slowed his pace to spare her discomfort. A moment later, she collapsed against him. It had been a remarkable few minutes of pure, unadulterated carnal release, completely different from anything they had experienced before. Breathing hard, Brent clutched the sagging form of Bonnie to him as she recovered. He nuzzled into her neck and began placing little kisses on her ears and shoulders. Bonnie's head flopped back on his shoulder as she reveled in his embrace. It had been her most uninhibited adventure, and she was completely sated. "That was amazing," she gasped. His hold on her loosened as she turned toward him, her arms wrapping around his neck. "I've never felt anything like that before -- nothing that dominating. You outdid yourself, mister." "Uhhhmmm ... it was pretty good, even if it didn't last very long," he grinned. "Glad you liked it." "Best ever, lover -- best ever!" "I think we better get dried off before anyone shows up and wonders what we've been up to," Brent suggested. "Darn ... just when I was starting to have some fun," she giggled. "Later, babe, later." As they awaited the arrival of Andrea and Scott, they held hands, sitting out on the deck, sipping their wine and taking in the spectacular view. The snap of the screen door announced the arrival of one of the youngsters. Scott appeared at the patio door and walked out on the deck, sporting what might have been interpreted as a knowing smile. "Hi," he said, tentatively. "Hi Scott. This is Bonnie Simpson, from Calgary," he said simply. "Nice to meet you Ms. Simpson," he acknowledged, his eyes flicking back and forth between his father and Bonnie. He glanced again at both his father and Bonnie, and decided retreat was the appropriate move. "I'll catch you later. I need a shower and some clean clothes," he said, turning to head for his bedroom. "That was quick. I wonder what that means?" he asked thoughtfully, turning to Bonnie. "I think he was a bit uncomfortable," she grinned. "Yah ... I suppose he was." "Don't worry, Brent, I didn't pick up any negative vibrations," she said lightly. "But I've seen that look before on my son's face," she said with an arched eyebrow. "What look?" "The one that says 'I bet I know what's going on here, but I'll just keep it to myself' look," she grinned again. "Hmmm ... how do you women figure these things out, anyway?" "You forget, I have a teenage son not much younger than Scott. I've seen most of their 'looks,' and it's surprising how well I've come to be able to read them." She was enjoying her recognition, and not at all worried about the reaction of his son. They went back to enjoying the wine and the scenery for a few minutes until another screen door entrance was heard. Seconds later, Andrea appeared on the porch, and spotting Bonnie, broke into a broad smile. "Well, I finally get to meet the mystery lady. Hi ... I'm Andrea, but most of my friends call me Andy," she announced brightly. "Hi Andrea, I'm Bonnie. Nice to meet you at last," she replied in an equally upbeat tone. Brent watched the two greet each other and saw no hint of reluctance on Andy's part. It was a relief, and he smiled at his precocious daughter, now holding court on their deck. "OK, Andy ... 'fess up. Just how did you know about Bonnie?" he asked, genuinely curious. "Oh, a certain person told me that a certain person told him that you two met at the home show in Calgary and it was love at first sight," she said in a cheeky tone. "Hmmm ... sounds like Charlie was the source. I didn't think he was paying attention," Brent said looking at Bonnie. "I hear you two showed up on Sunday morning looking like you'd just stolen the crown jewels and had gotten away with it," Andrea said mirthfully. "OK, OK, that's quite enough, young lady. You'll treat Ms. Simpson with respect." he said in a semi-serious voice. "It's OK, Brent. And I'm Bonnie, not Ms. Simpson, Andrea," the older woman said with a smile. "Thanks, and like I said, its Andy to my friends, and any friend of Dad's is a friend of mine," she stated simply. Brent breathed an audible sigh of relief as the two women exchanged hugs. Now, about Scott, he wondered. He had hardly gotten the thought in his mind when Scott reappeared wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and sandals. He glanced quickly at his sister to see how she was reacting and then back at his father. He seemed reluctant to say anything. "I'm going to go shower and change," Andrea said abruptly. "I won't be long." She moved quickly off the deck into the family room and disappeared into the back of the house. Scott was clearly uncomfortable with Andrea's leaving. He didn't know what to say and decided that very little was better than the wrong thing. "I'm just going to grab a Coke. Does anyone want anything?" he asked politely. "No ... we're fine, thanks," his father answered, smiling at the nervous young man. "He's a bit flustered, Brent. He doesn't want to say the wrong thing or ask the wrong question. I think he was surprised that Andy left so soon. He was counting on her doing all the quizzing, I'll bet." Again, Bonnie didn't seem worried or nervous about meeting his son and daughter. She had more confidence than he had at this moment, he thought. Brent and Bonnie sat beside each other in the deck chairs and waited for Scott to reappear. It took an unusually long time for him to retrieve a soft drink from the refrigerator. Finally, he stepped carefully back onto the deck and sat in the chair furthest from the two adults. "I have a son not much younger than you, Scott. His name is Tim and he'll be sixteen this year. He's anxious to get his driver's license, like almost every boy is," Bonnie said conversationally. "Yah ... that was a big deal for me too," Scott said tentatively. "I was lucky. Dad got me a pick-up for getting good grades last year, and that was a real surprise," he said, starting to show signs of loosening up. "In my day, we still had drive-in movies. That's when you needed some 'wheels' for a date," Bonnie grinned. "We still have a couple of drive-ins around here," Scott offered. "One in Trail and one in Creston. They're only open in the late spring and summer and the movies aren't the greatest, but it's still fun," he admitted. "So ... you and Tanya go to the drive-in do you?" his father said with a knowing look. "Does her mother know about that?" "Uh ... yah ... I guess so," he answered uncertainly. "You're not going to ask her, are you?" he asked with a worried look. "Nah ... I wouldn't do that to you. You wouldn't want her dad out looking for you, now would you." It was a statement and not a question, but it was made with a big grin on his father's face. "Jeeze, no! That's all I need," he said in relief. "They watch her like a hawk. It's a good thing you know Mrs. Dubrinski, or I'd have no chance at all." "Well, I can understand how they feel, Scott. She's a very beautiful young lady and I'm sure they want to protect her from all the wolves out in the big, bad world," Brent said mirthfully. "Yah ... I suppose. I know how some of those guys think. I'm always looking over my shoulder to keep an eye on them," he confessed. "That's the problem when you're dating the real babes. Every other guy is jealous and would love to take your place. It's hard when you're the winner," he smiled. "Yah ... I guess so. I'd rather be the winner than one of guys just wishing they could get a date with her." A look of satisfaction came over him as he leaned back in the chair and contemplated what his father had just suggested. "I'll have to meet Tanya sometime. I'd also like to meet Sam, too, unless Andy is determined to keep him hidden away," Bonnie laughed. "What's that about Sam?" Andrea asked as she came back out on the porch. She was holding a glass of white wine and plunked herself down in the chair nearest Bonnie. No shyness here, Bonnie thought. "Bonnie was just saying she'd like to meet Tanya and Sam sometime, and it gave me an idea. Why don't we have a barbeque tomorrow, and we can invite them along with Charlie and Gerry as well as Gary and Oshi. If the weather's like this, it will be perfect," Brent suggested. "Sure," Andy said immediately. Scott nodded and Bonnie was smiling her agreement. "I'll go make some phone calls and see if everyone can make it," Brent said, rising to move to the den. Scott pulled out a cell phone and immediately called Tanya. As he punched in the number, he slowly walked into the house out of earshot. "He's funny," Andrea said as she watched her brother disappear into the house. "He doesn't want to admit he's got a steady girlfriend and that he's falling for her. You should see her, Bonnie. She's gorgeous and I think Scott's still having trouble trying to figure out why she picked him over all the other guys that would kill to be with her. I don't think he can quite believe his luck," she laughed. "Your brother is quite a good looking guy ... it shouldn't be too big a surprise," Bonnie offered. "Yah ... he's a bit shy, but he's a good kid. I don't suffer from the 'little brother syndrome,'" she stated confidently. "I think your father's a bit uncomfortable that you two have close friends that he didn't know about until someone else told him. I think he senses he's been left out, or maybe that he wasn't paying attention to you." "I didn't even think of that. He's had so much to deal with and he's been trying so hard to get on with his life, that we kind of thought he didn't need any more worries ... or whatever." "Yes ... I can imagine. But I know he thinks the world of you, and his only regret is that maybe you missed out on some things when your mother died and you two had to be the support for your dad." "I don't think so," the young woman answered thoughtfully. "It was different without Mom, and it hurt to lose her, but Dad did such a great job in looking after us and making sure we were OK, well ... we just got on with it." "You say that like it was simple, but I know it wasn't. You guys are special and your dad knows it. I don't think he and I would have a chance if you and Scott weren't as mature as you are." "Dad says you're a single mom. I couldn't have been any easier for you." "It was hard at first, but I got used to it, and after all, it was my decision," Bonnie mused. "Anyway, I just wanted you to know how proud your dad is of you both. I also want you to know that I feel that way about my Tim, too." Andrea sat thoughtfully quiet for a few moments. "Are you in love with Dad?" she asked unexpectedly. There was a pregnant pause before Bonnie answered. "Yes. Yes, I am ... and with any luck, he's in love with me too," she answered, smiling at Andrea. "I don't think you have to worry about that," she said confidently. "Oh ... what makes you say that?" "Just how he is around you. It reminds me of when he was with Mom. You know ... that nice, warm feeling that you don't have to say anything. You just have to be there." Bonnie felt the tears forming immediately. She quickly brought her hands to her eyes and covered them in embarrassment. She hadn't expected the personal tie to Brent's past and the complete acceptance of his daughter. It was an emotional revelation for which she had been unprepared. She felt the presence of Andrea beside her, her arm around her shoulders, and she took her hands away from her face to smile though her tears at the young woman. "Thank you, Andy. You don't know how much I needed to hear that," Bonnie said quietly. Andrea said nothing, returning her smile and then returning to her chair. Neither had been aware that Brent had witnessed the moment from the kitchen window. He had been at first worried, and then as the scene unfolded, enormously relieved at the brief interlude between the two women. More importantly, he was sure of Bonnie's love. He paused for a few moments before returning to the deck, giving Bonnie time to compose herself. "We're all set for tomorrow afternoon," he announced as he walked onto the sun-drenched deck once more. "Gary and Oshi will be a little late getting here. They have to get a sitter for their kids, but they'll be here. Did Sam confirm?" he asked Andrea. "Don't worry about Sam, he'll be here," she said confidently. "His uncle and I will make sure of that," she laughed. "And Tanya?" Brent asked, turning to Scott. "Yah ... her mom said OK when she heard it was here," he said with a slight smile. "Good ... then everyone is accounted for. We can do a bit of shopping in the morning and we'll be all set," Brent said with a satisfied look. The barbeque was uncovered and after a poll, hamburgers were chosen as the evening's meal. Bonnie and Andrea volunteered to prepare a salad and heat the buns, while Scott and Brent looked after cooking the meat and setting the table. Brent was grateful that the meeting of Bonnie and his children had turned out so well. She had been accepted without reservation, and he felt much more confident that they could plan their future without concern. He had made one extra phone call that afternoon that would cement, he hoped, the union of the two families. He would know tomorrow. Second Chance, Book 06 After dinner, Scott left to visit Tanya and Andrea retired to the family room to phone Sam, and then watch TV. Bonnie and Brent sat on the porch, holding hands and talking about their plans for their vacation and the summer. Andrea had been right. They fit together like an old married couple. There wasn't any hesitation between them any more. Later, when they finally headed for the master bedroom, there were no second thoughts or nervousness. They made love slowly and quietly, afterwards falling asleep in each other's arms. Andrea and Bonnie looked after the shopping at Brent's request. He had an errand to run and would meet them for lunch at their usual place, The Trench. Shortly before noon, Brent walked into the restaurant with a guest in tow. Bonnie and Andrea were already seated and didn't notice the two until they were almost at the table. It was then that Bonnie looked up and gasped in surprise. "Tim! How did you get here?" she gasped. "Hi Mom. Mr. Gordon arranged it. Mr. Duguid gave me the ticket and a ride to the airport. He said it would be a surprise," the young man said, looking around at the others. "It's a wonderful surprise. Oh, Brent, thank you so much," Bonnie said, close to tears. "You're welcome. We couldn't very well have a family barbeque without all the family being here," he said smiling. "Hi Tim, I'm Andy," the young woman popped up from her seat and reached out her hand to him. Tim still looked a bit bewildered at the reaction and finally sat down at the table after lightly shaking Andrea's hand. "How did you arrange all this?" Bonnie asked Brent. "Yesterday afternoon, when I was making phone calls, I called Chuck Duguid and had him call Tim and the Verriers' to make the arrangements. Chuck called me back on the cell last night and left a message that everything was looked after. I thought it would be a nice surprise for both of you," he explained. "How was the flight?" Andy asked the teenager. "Great. I've never been in a jet before and it was so quiet and fast. We just seemed to get up in the air when it was time to land. Thanks for letting me come, Mr. Gordon," he said shyly. Brent nodded and smiled his acknowledgement, enjoying the fun the surprise had generated. It was a bit of inspiration to include Tim. He had felt the young man was left out of much of what was going on with his mother and him, and it was time he rectified that. Bonnie agreed, as did Andy, who had looked at her father and nodded her approval with a big smile. After lunch, they spent some time wandering around the small town and seeing the sights. While Calgary was close to the Rockies, Castlegar was right in the valley of the mountains and the scenery on a clear day like this Saturday, was magnificent. "Uhm ... where's Scott?" Tim asked at one point. "Ah ... he's with his girlfriend, Tanya. You'll meet them this afternoon," Bonnie explained. "Oh ... OK. Hey Mom, is this where we're gonna' live?" he asked innocently. The snort from Andy was clearly audible and the bright crimson of Bonnie's face was the visual equivalent. "Well talk about that later, Tim," she scrambled. Brent tried to hide his smile, but didn't quite succeed. "It's an honest question, don't you think," he said to no one in particular. "Yah Dad, it is. So what's the answer?" Andy goaded. "I don't know. What would you think about that, Tim?" he asked seriously. "It's not very big ... I mean ... not like Calgary. It's kind of neat though. Not far to go snowboarding I bet," he said, looking around at the mountains. "A lot of places have boats, too," he noted. "Yes ... recreation is a very big thing up here." "Did you always live here?" Tim asked him. "No ... not at all. We've only been here three years. We came up here from Vancouver when I took the job with Verano Custom Millwork. I think I can safely say Andy and Scott love it up here ... right Andy?" "Yes ... I didn't think so at first because I left all my friends behind, but now ... this is where I want to live," she said positively. Tim nodded and remained silent. He was thinking about the future and what it might hold. He would bide his time and talk to Scott and see what he thought. He was almost the same age when he came to Castlegar. He'd understand what was worrying him. Bonnie had remained silent as she tried to shake the embarrassment of her son's question. It implied a future that hadn't been decided by either Brent or her. She didn't see herself settling down as a housewife. She had ambitions, and an idea of what she wanted to have for a career. The time was rapidly approaching when she would have to talk to Brent about this and see what the future would hold. The party was a great success. Everyone welcomed Bonnie and Tim while Charlie made sure the wine, Italian of course, flowed generously. The evening was cooling off and some of the guests drifted inside to the great room. Tanya, Scott, and Tim had been talking together on the deck for over an hour. Both Bonnie and Brent noticed and felt good about the decision to bring him here. He was a smart kid and he knew this might be his next home. Tim liked Brent Gordon. He thought he was a nice guy, and he thought that he and his mom would be pretty happy with a guy like him. He never knew his dad, so this was as close as he was ever going to get to having one. Why would they bring him here on the plane otherwise? Tanya and Scott were the first to leave. Tanya had an eleven o'clock curfew which wasn't negotiable, regardless of the reason. The two youngsters bristled at the constraint, but Tanya reminded Scott that she would be eighteen soon, and free to make her own rules. They were counting the days. Scott was back home by eleven fifteen and rejoined the party. He was immediately cornered by Tim, who wanted to talk to him about what it was like to move from the 'big city' to the small town. Scott was surprised and then flattered that Tim wanted his opinion. Both of them were convinced that their parents would marry and that their home would be here in Castlegar. Chapter 26: "Are you ever going to ask me to marry you?" Bonnie suddenly asked. It wasn't an accusatory or challenging tone, it was a quiet question, but one that had come with no preamble. Brent turned toward her in the bed. His hand stroked her belly and breasts beneath the covers as she lay naked beside him. His initial surprise at the question had dissolved, and a smile formed on his lips. "Yes." "When?" "Uhmmm ... I don't know ... maybe tonight, maybe next week ... sometime ... I guess." Thwack! The flat of her hand had come down hard on his flank. "Youch!" he reacted. "Wrong answer, mister!" she snarled, only partly feigning anger. "Uhmmm ... is the right answer ... now?" he smiled. "Yes. Give the man ten points if he can say the words," she teased. "My dearest Bonnie, I love you with all my heart. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?" He had tried to be serious and yet, somehow it sounded glib. "No! Not until you do it properly," she demanded. "OK, OK, just give me a minute," he said, slipping out of bed and padding naked to his armoire. Opening the door and extracting a small box, he returned to the bed and sat by Bonnie's side. He leaned over and kissed her, holding the side of her face with the palm of his hand. "I truly do love you, Bonnie. I truly do want to marry you. I want you to wear this as a symbol that I mean it." He almost whispered his words to her as he opened the box and revealed the ring. Bonnie looked at the ring and then back at Brent. The tears came easily and she raised her arms to embrace him, pulling him down and kissing him passionately. Brent took the ring from its holder and took her right hand in his, slipping the ring on her third finger. Bonnie had yet to actually examine the ring. Her eyes were on her man, and the tears were blurring her sight. The long wait was over. On Sunday morning, Andrea was the first to notice the ring. "Yikes! Look at this Scott ... Tim!" she yelled from the kitchen table. She looked up at Bonnie and jumped up to hug her and then turned to her father. "Nice going, Dad," she said in genuine admiration as she hugged and kissed him as well. Scott wandered into to the kitchen with Tim in tow to see what the fuss was all about. Andrea grabbed Bonnie's hand and displayed the ring to them. "Hey ... does this mean ... I mean ... are you guys getting married?" Tim asked. "Yes, that's what it means," his mother answered with a smile. "Wow ... that's a really nice ring. It must have cost a bundle," Scott observed. "Scott!" his sister warned. "Oops ... sorry," he offered contritely. "It's OK," Bonnie said with a smile. "Have you decided on a date?" Andrea asked. "No ... there's a couple of complications to work out yet," her father suggested. Bonnie had a secret smile as she listened to his answer. "What kind of complications?" Scott asked. "Well, Bonnie has some ... plans for a career that she wants to ... explore," he stammered. "What does that mean?" Andrea asked, now very curious. Bonnie was now truly enjoying the awkward moment that had fallen on her husband-to-be. "It means that I've told your father that I intend to apply for the next open sales position at Verano Custom Millwork. Since he's the Sales Manager, I expect to be offered an interview," she stated confidently. "Oh man, that is so cool," Andrea enthused. "Go for it, Bonnie!" she yipped. "Oh, I intend to, don't you worry," she said emphatically. Brent just sat at the table, shaking his head with a chagrined look on his face. "So, where's the next sales job likely to be?" Scott asked innocently. "On the coast," Bonnie smirked. "Oh no, don't tell me we're going to be moving again?" Scott moaned. "Now hold on, you three," Brent finally interjected. "Nothing's settled yet and won't be for a while. Besides, I don't want to leave here any more than you guys do, so there are things to be decided about how we would manage if Bonnie were to be the successful candidate," he said cryptically. "You mean, she hasn't got the job for sure?" Andy asked incredulously. "Well, I do have other candidates to interview. And, I may have to turn this whole thing over to a third party to avoid conflict of interest," he explained. "You've got to be kidding," Andrea said with another look of amazement. "She's a natural. She's perfect for the job. You know that, Charlie knows that, what's to decide?" "Thanks for that," Bonnie said with a wide smile. "Unfortunately, as your father reminded me, there are employment laws in this province and we have to obey them. Since he has already started a search, he has to treat each candidate fairly or you end up in some arbitration or other to make sure it's done properly," she explained. "But, that's only if someone complains, isn't it?" Andrea continued. "Yes, Andy, that's true," Brent answered. "But in this case, we have to make sure there isn't any hint of favoritism that's apparent to the other candidates. Bonnie will have to demonstrate her credentials against the others. I don't think it's going to be a problem, but sometimes perception is more important than fact. Besides, how am I ever going to discipline my own wife when she messes-up?" he laughed. "Man ... that's lame!" Andy offered. "Besides, I hear spankings can be effective and fun," she giggled. "Andrea!" he father snapped. "Sorry ... I'll leave it to you two to figure out how to ... discipline your employees," she smirked, prancing out of the room, leaving Scott, Tim and her father open-mouthed. She had no sooner left than she peeked around the corner. "Don't take no for an answer, Bonnie ... we have to talk." And as quickly as she had appeared, she disappeared. "I've got to go," Scott announced. "I'll be late for church." OK, Scott. Is Tanya coming for lunch?" Brent asked. "Yah ... anything to get away from home chores," he grinned. "OK ... see you then." Tim watched him leave and turned to his mother. "He sure is lucky. Tanya is ... nice," he finally managed. Bonnie laughed and hugged her son. "I know ... she's a babe. Everyone says so," she grinned. "Yah ... he sure is lucky," Tim repeated. Everyone got together for lunch at one that afternoon, before Brent had to drive Bonnie and Tim to the airport to catch their flight. The chatter was constant. Talk of the impending marriage, mixed with the sales job that Bonnie was aiming for. Even the logistics of how they could live in Castlegar while she worked on the coast. Brent sat back and listened. He had a very good feeling about all this. They were all trying to find ways to make it work, even the job for Bonnie. He had a sense of deep satisfaction about their future. They would find a way to make both Bonnie's ambition and their love come together. It was a bittersweet moment at the airport as Brent and Bonnie hugged and kissed before their farewell. Andrea had insisted on going with them and unexpectedly, Scott and Tanya arrived before they boarded the flight. Tim and Scott were going to get along fine, while Bonnie and Andy were nothing short of co-conspirators as they plotted Brent's future. He could only smile. It was out of his hands now. Chapter 27: Will Franzen was both surprised and disappointed when Brent had met with him at his home. He knew he wasn't doing well, but he didn't expect that Brent would act this soon. The only good part was the offer of a job interview with Mountain Pine in their lumber trading department. It would mean some travel, but the salary was similar and there was no loss of benefits. He accepted that his days at V.C.M. were over, and hoped he would be better off in the commodity lumber market. He didn't bother to ask who would be replacing him, and there was no talk of "breaking in the new boy" as far as he could tell. His last day would be just prior to Labor Day. Bonnie had the job from the moment she had asked for it. Brent knew it and she knew it. As Andy had said, she was a natural. She knew the products and understood the concept of selling value. More importantly, she was aware that most of the decision-making in renovations and kitchen design was made by the wives, and that gave her an edge. She could talk their language. She wasn't shy about field work with the contractors, either. She could hold her own and not get run over by the rougher characters she would encounter. Brent had taken care of the conflict of interest problem by having an independent interviewer select the best candidate. The fact that the interviewer was a personal friend of Lloyd Bruton only helped speed the process up. In fact, it wasn't much of a contest. Bonnie was far and away the best candidate. Bonnie would be moving from Calgary to Castlegar. Brent helped her and Tim get organized, and since school was out for the summer, it would be a fairly simple matter to get Tim registered at the local high school. Much of Bonnie's furniture would go into storage, with only clothes, personal items, and Tim's bedroom suite coming into the Gordon's home. Tim had been given a separate bedroom in the finished basement of the house. It had its own bathroom with a shower stall, and even a TV, microwave and mini-fridge in the open family room just outside his door. The bedroom itself had lots of room with a large desk for his X-box and computer. He had a separate entrance from outside through a sliding patio door. He liked this new home already, even though he'd only seen it once. The problem that Brent faced was Bonnie's new territory. She would be away from home constantly and he wondered what that would do to their relationship. They hadn't planned anything more than their vacation, which had been put off to early August. The wedding date still had to be set, as did the starting date for Bonnie's new career. "Charlie, you've always said I should come to you if I have a problem ... and here I am," Brent smiled ruefully. "I've been wondering when this conversation would come about," Charlie grinned. "Oh ... so what do think this is about?" Brent asked with a slight smile. "Well, let's see. You have this lady that you plan to marry, right? And she's also your new sales rep on the coast, right? And you still plan to live here in Castlegar, right? How am I doing so far?" "OK, OK, I get the message. This is my problem, right?" Brent said, defeated. "Well, yes, but then, I'm not completely without sympathy, Brent." He paused for a moment, looking thoughtful, but still smiling. "Gerry said something about this a while ago, just after you got engaged and Bonnie applied for the sales job. She said it was role reversal. We didn't think anything about being on the road with our jobs in the past. I was off trying to get dealers and new customers for Verano at least half the time. And I'm sure you weren't home every night when you were running your sales territory. There must have been plenty of times when you were in some motel room away from home or enduring another rubber chicken dinner at some meeting or other. "In the meantime, Gerry and Jeanette got to stay home, cleaning house, doing laundry, looking after the kids, and being by themselves until we came home, usually dog-tired at the end of the week. I don't know about Jeanette, but Gerry never complained. She knew that's what it took for us to do our jobs," he concluded. "Yah ... so what's your point?" Brent laughed. "Suck it up boy, it's her turn," he said with a "you did this to yourself" look. "So, this is the wrong door for the weeping room, huh?" There was another small smile to go with the rhetorical question. "No ... maybe not entirely. I think we should look a little further down the road, Brent. I can see a day when we are going to have to have a permanent office in one of the major cities. The way I see it, its either Calgary or Vancouver," he said thoughtfully. Brent nodded in agreement. He had been thinking along the same lines, but didn't think they were quite ready for that yet. "I talked to Gary, and I have an idea that he says is doable. I was going to suggest we lease an apartment for a year to two. It would be in the downtown Vancouver area, or close to it preferably. It would be a place for Bonnie to stay, set up an office and occasionally meet with clients," he continued. "She wouldn't have to pay rent; we would just treat it like a hotel. One thing Gary did say, though. She can't declare her travel costs to and from Vancouver from her permanent home here. Only her travel expenses while she is working in the Vancouver area." "Well," Brent began, "our combined incomes make that a smaller issue. I think the thing that's been on both our minds is the time we'll have together ... or maybe more accurately ... the time we'll be apart." "I don't think you can avoid that unless she gives up the job," he said seriously. "I won't let her do that. It something she really wants to do, and I think she'll be terrific at it. I won't let her turn it down." he said without hesitation. "Well then, it sounds like the issue is settled," Charlie smiled. "I guess it is. But, just the same, thanks for the help. I'll sleep better if Bonnie has a permanent address when she's away." "Yah. Listen," Charlie said changing topics, "since you're here, I wanted to tell you about a meeting I had a couple of days ago. Sam came to see me." "Oh?" "Yah, he wants to work for us when he graduates. He wants to set up a production planning unit." "Sounds like something we could use," Brent said nodding. "It is. There's just one catch. He says it's a package deal. If he comes, Andy comes too," he said with a sly smile. Second Chance, Book 06 Brent looked at him in astonishment. "Are you kidding?" "Nope, he says they are a team, and she can run customer service while he looks after production planning. He's not kidding, Brent." "Well, I'll be damned," Brent said absently. He slumped back in his chair with a completely befuddled look on his face. "What do you suppose this means?" "I'm not sure. We know they're close, but ... just how close?" he shrugged. "Jesus! Wait until Bonnie hears this," he said, still with a shocked look. "It looks to me like those two have been plotting this coup for some time," Charlie grinned. "Sam and Andy have been grilling me regularly about what the business needs and where it's going. I kind of expected something like this, but not a 'double dipper,'" he said, shaking his head. "What are you going to do?" Brent was still trying to grasp the implications. "Hire them, or course. They're bright, qualified and family. If my own daughters' families aren't interested in the business, then this is the next best thing. We'll just call it succession planning." Brent sat back, shaking his head in disbelief. It was going to be an interesting conversation with Andrea this evening. He wondered idly if Bonnie would want to get involved. "Bonnie, the strangest thing happened today," Brent began, as they sat on the porch while he prepared the barbeque. She turned to him with a questioning look. "What was that?" "Charlie said Sam had come to see him about a job when he graduated. He wants to set up a production planning department," he paused. "The thing is, Sam told Charlie that it was a 'package deal,' that Andy came with him and took over customer service." He watched Bonnie for her reaction. It was not what he expected. "Yah ... so this is a surprise?" She was almost laughing at him. "OK, so ... how come I didn't know about this?" he said with some measure of chagrin. "Well, we girls have to have some secrets, you know," she said with an arched eyebrow. Brent returned to his head-shaking mode from earlier in the afternoon. He was clearly out-to-lunch when it came to keeping up with his offspring. "Don't be too upset, dear. She and Sam are very close, but I don't think marriage is in the cards just yet. I'm sure she'll tell you when the time comes. In the meantime, you can always ask her about her plans." Again with the sly smile and the arched eyebrow. "Before I do that and screw up even worse, how about you and I talk about a couple of important things?" he said with some emphasis. "Like what?" "Like setting a wedding date, and like how we are going to live together ... and apart. Like when you are going to be at your new job. You know, those little details," he said facetiously. "Oh ... that stuff," she smiled. She walked over to him, took the spatula from his hand, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. "Why don't we put dinner off for a few minutes and talk about it now?" she suggested quietly. Brent smiled and kissed her again. They sat together by the table and Brent told her of his meeting with Charlie that afternoon. Bonnie was nodding and was clearly in favor of the plan. "It would give me a solid base, love. Something to hang on to when you aren't there. I think that's going to be important for the first little while," she said. "Bonnie, I've been thinking. Dangerous, I know," he grinned, "but what if we got married in late August and then took our vacation together as our honeymoon? What do you think?" "I think anything you want is what I want. I think it's a wonderful idea. Can we make all the arrangements by then?" "We've got six weeks to try. If you're willing, I am too." Brent didn't hide the smile that Bonnie's agreement brought about. He sighed in relief. At last, a date and a commitment. It would be the last piece to fall in place in his second life. -0- Second Chance, Book 07 My thanks, as always, to ErikThread, who stuck with me and this story to the end. Lots of rewrites and fixes and discussion about what was missing or awkward, but in the end, we got there. It goes without saying, any errors or omissions are mine alone. * Second Chance: Ch.28 Bonnie Simpson and Brent Gordon were married in the Lutheran Church in Castlegar on a bright, sunny, warm day in late summer. It was the only venue available for the date they wanted; the last Saturday in August. It took a little convincing of the minister, since neither he nor Bonnie was Lutheran. A generous donation to the church's building fund obtained the man's agreement. Scott was named Best Man, Andrea, Maid of Honor, and Tim, the ring bearer. Tanya volunteered to be the flower girl. She was also elected unofficial sister to Andy, Scott and Tim. The women wore gold dresses instead of gowns. The men wore navy blue blazers, tan slacks and a gold tie matching the women's dresses over a white shirt. Sam Fiorento was designated official photographer, and as the results proved later, was a brilliant choice. The newlywed's album would be full of excellent pictures of the wedding party at the church, and the reception afterwards. Bonnie's parents came from Calgary for the much anticipated wedding of their only daughter. The Verriers were invited as well, and stayed on for a few days as a vacation. Their son, Nicholas, roomed with Tim at the Gordon's. Their airfare was provided by Brent and Bonnie. It was the least they could do for them considering all the care the Calgary family had provided for Tim in years past. Brent's parents were also there, of course, but almost unexpectedly, the O'Learys accepted the invitation. It was one of those happy moments that made both Brent and Bonnie feel very good. Brent was delighted to see Kevin and Kelly again, and the three did a lot of catching up over the days before the wedding. The O'Learys were very kind and supportive of Bonnie as well. The grandparents wanted to spend some time with Andrea and Scott. They marveled at just how much Scott had matured in the past months. Henry, Lloyd and Johnny all came with their wives. Adam was unable to attend when his father fell ill and was hospitalized. "The Castlegar Gang" as Charlie called them, attended in force. Altogether there were over fifty people stuffed into the aging, wood-frame church. The service was mercifully short as the temperature was quickly rising toward triple digits in the crowded space. The lively reception was held in the Forester's Hall near the church. With perfect late-summer weather, most of the guests gravitated outside to enjoy the sun's warmth and the afternoon breeze from the mountains. Mrs. Dubrinski had organized the food preparation, so it was a given that there would be more than enough. The crowd didn't disperse until it was almost dark. Bonnie and Brent had long since said their thank-yous and goodbyes. They were driven to the airport by Scott, with an escort of Andy and Tim. The two newlyweds enjoyed the late summer weather on the sandy shores of Canon Beach and the luxury of the Inn at Otter Bay. They took day trips to Tillamook, Newport, Astoria, and the surrounding back roads, relaxing from the excitement of the past weeks. It was the break they needed before starting their married life as a working couple. When they returned from their honeymoon, they began the task of preparing Bonnie's sales career. A company lease car, laptop, laser printer, cell phone, digital camera, and corporate credit cards had all been arranged in their absence. It only remained for them to find a suitable place for Bonnie to live during the week. It would prove more difficult than at first expected. Apartments for rent were few, particularly in the downtown core and surrounding area. In addition, the ones in the heart of the city were hideously expensive. They decided on a six week rental at the Residence Inn, City Center. It would be expensive, but it would give Bonnie time to look for something more affordable and permanent. She would have until the end of October to find a suitable apartment. Bonnie began her new job with enthusiasm. She met with Tom Blanton, giving him her card, and telling him where she would be staying for the next six weeks. She let him know she was looking for an apartment to rent, and if he heard of anything, please let her know. In the meantime, Tom had two jobs for Bonnie to quote, both for windows and kitchen cabinets. Her evenings were usually filled with laboriously taking down the details from borrowed plans, then e-mailing the specifications to the estimator in Castlegar. If nothing else, the work helped keep her from becoming too lonely. Every evening, shortly after dinner, she would phone home and talk to Tim and Brent. Each Friday afternoon she would board the plane to Castlegar with pleasant thoughts of her being reunited with her new family. On Monday, she would kiss them goodbye at the airport, pushing away thoughts of the coming four lonely nights. Brent planned to be in Vancouver once a month, and would stay with Bonnie. It was their only continuous time together, and they would make the most of it. They seldom went out to dinner, preferring to stay in, watching some TV before they retired. If Brent were honest, he didn't need to be in Vancouver that often. Bonnie had launched her new career with polish and professionalism. She was indeed, a natural. In the first month she had established five significant contacts with architects and design houses. She had arranged plant tours for two builders, one of them from Whistler. When Brent was in town, they called on their key contacts together. They were building on the new relationships and cementing the V.C.M. logo in the customer's mind. It was near the end of September and Bonnie was calling on Tom Blanton to present her quote on a new home that was to be built the next spring. She had found him where he always was, on the jobsite. "Hi Bonnie, how are you," Tom called affably. "Great. I brought you the quote on the Azanabi house," she said, handing him the manila envelope. "I'll have a look at it tonight. I don't expect any problems though. These people seem to have little concern for the cost. As long they get what they want, it should be a lock," he said confidently. "That's terrific," she smiled. "By the way, have you found a place to live yet?" he asked. "Not yet. To be honest, I haven't had a lot of time to look. I'm going to have to make time, I guess," she said. "My wife reminded me that some friends of ours have a place in Park Royal that's empty right now. The fellow that owned it bought a house that we renovated and moved in a few years ago with his new wife. He kept the apartment as an investment, but no one has lived there in the past year. I think he's pretty fussy who he'll rent to. Would you like me to ask about it?" he offered. "That would be great. Park Royal would be fine for a location. Is it a two bedroom?" she asked. "Yes, on the eighth floor in that big concrete building behind the North Mall. I hear it has a great view." "That would be perfect for me. Thanks again for thinking of me," she enthused. Two days later, Tom called Bonnie. "Bonnie, the Inhalt's are willing to rent the apartment we talked about, but they'd like to meet you first. Like I said, they're careful about who they rent to," he reminded her. "Fine, should I call them?" she asked. "Yah ... I'll give you their number, and you can take it from there. Good luck," he said. "Thanks, Tom. I really appreciate your help," she gushed. "No problem. Glad I could help. Let me know how it goes," he said, signing off. The next evening, Bonnie met with Steve Inhalt and his wife, Ingrid Solberg at their home in West Vancouver. Steve was a financial consultant, and apparently a very successful one. Ingrid was an interior designer. They both worked out of their lovely home, high on the mountainside, overlooking English Bay. The trio met over a glass of wine while Bonnie told them a little about herself and her new job. Ingrid was interested in the products Bonnie represented, and the two women agreed to meet later that month to see what might fit the designer's needs. Steve sat quietly while they talked, absorbing the conversation between the two. When Bonnie described briefly how she had met her new husband, he smiled in recognition of the circumstances that had put him and Ingrid together. Within a few minutes, Steve had decided that he would rent the apartment to Mrs. Gordon. By the sound of things, Ingrid had also made another contact, and possibly a new friend. "Something you should be aware of, Mrs. Gordon," Steve interrupted. "There isn't much furniture in the apartment. You'll need to buy or rent some, I imagine." "I have my furniture in storage, Mr. Inhalt. I'm sure I've got enough for the apartment with the exception of a work station," Bonnie replied. "If you need to buy anything, check with Tom Blanton's wife, Jenny. She works at the furniture store in the village. Tell her I sent you and she'll likely get you a discount," Ingrid suggested. "That would be great. Thank you very much, both of you," Bonnie said genuinely. "Well, I think we can be on a first name basis ... Bonnie," Ingrid said. "Thank you Ingrid ... Steve. You've taken a big problem off my shoulders. I didn't know when I was going to get the chance to look for a place. But I guess there is one more thing ... I forgot to ask how much the rent would be," she smiled. "Fifteen hundred per month," Steve said without hesitation. "But before we get carried away, you haven't seen it yet. We should take you down there and you can have a look before we seal the deal," he smiled. Bonnie followed Steve in her car, and Ingrid rode with her. As they drove, Ingrid asked more questions about how she had met Brent and what it was like to be apart each week. By the time they had arrived at the apartment building, Bonnie felt that she and Ingrid had become friends. It took Bonnie about one minute to decide that this was the ideal place. It wasn't just the view, but the layout of the unit was perfect. In the back of her mind, she would someday ask Ingrid why Steve would be willing to rent it so cheaply. She had seen units with no view and far less appealing layout and cleanliness listed for two to three thousand per month. This was more than just a bargain. There was nothing to do but move in. She couldn't wait to tell Brent. Chapter 29: Bonnie called Brent the minute she got back to The Residence. "Guess what," she bubbled. "I found an apartment and it's wonderful." "I'm glad to hear that," Brent answered with what seemed to be controlled enthusiasm. "You don't sound glad. What's wrong?" "I had a call from the school counselor today ... about Tim," he said quietly. "Oh ... oh dear ... what was it about?" she asked, worried. "I guess he hasn't been making much of an effort to get involved so far. I know it's only been a month, but Mrs. Paget, the counselor, said he was very withdrawn and uncommunicative. She wanted to get to the heart of the matter quickly before it became a bigger issue," Brent concluded. "What's he been like at home?" Bonnie asked. "Fine, as far as I can tell. I have a suspicion that he's lonely. Andy is away, I'm gone part of the time, and Scott is just getting going at Selkirk and is busy in his room most nights. I think he truly misses you and his friend, Nick," Brent offered. "There's no one here for him to connect with." "What should I do?" Bonnie asked. "Don't you mean we?" he asked. "Sorry ... of course ... but ... what should we do?" she tried again. "First, I'm going to meet with Mrs. Paget at the school tomorrow afternoon. Then I'll have a talk to Tim and see if he'll tell me what's bothering him." "I wish I were there. He's never had a problem before, Brent." "He's never been yanked out of his social environment before either. Adding to that, his mother is only home three nights a week. I don't think it should be a surprise that he's struggling a bit. I agree with Mrs. Paget ... we want to nip this in the bud," Brent stated. "He must think I've abandoned him," she mused. "Maybe, but I've been through this with and Andy and Scott. They adapted because that's the way things were going to be. However, I think we're getting ahead of ourselves. I think my meeting with the counselor tomorrow will give me some ideas of what we might do. I already have one, but I'll save it 'till I talk to Tim. "I'll call you tomorrow, dear. I want to hear all about your meeting. Can I talk to Tim please? I won't say anything about this to him, OK?" "Fine. I don't think he knows anything about Mrs. Paget's concerns. Keep it light, and then we'll see what happens tomorrow. Goodnight, love. Take care. We can talk about the apartment later," he said, then called Tim to the phone. Afterward, Bonnie sat in her chair with her thoughts completely focused on Tim. Had he sounded down on the phone, or was that just her imagination? Was he headed for trouble, or could this be intercepted early? It was the first time that she had ever had any problem with Tim. She hadn't even been aware of it. Brent seemed to be handling it well. It was a blessing that he felt so responsible for a boy he was just getting to know. Brent met with Vanessa Paget just after four the next afternoon. He was ushered into her office and she closed the door behind them. "Thank you for responding so quickly, Mr. Gordon," she began. "I don't like to see young people have problems this early in the school year and not deal with them. They don't usually solve themselves." "Yes ... I agree. Can you tell me what you are seeing?" "His teachers report that he doesn't participate in class during discussion, even when they ask him for his opinion or ask a direct question. He's very quiet. It isn't distracting behavior, but it is a concern to them and to me," she explained. "And to us," Brent stated. "As you know he's new to this area. His mother and I have just married. I don't know a lot about him yet, to be honest. Do you have his school records from Calgary?" "Not yet. I've requested them, so I expect they'll be along soon. By the way, congratulations. I know this is new to you, but do you have any other children?" she asked. "Yes, Andrea is at U. of Lethbridge and Scott is just starting Selkirk College," Brent said proudly. "Scott? Scott Gordon is your son?" she asked surprised. "Yes, he graduated last year." "Oh, well that explains why we haven't met. Scott was a terrific young man. Never a moment's problem and a good student. He was always willing to help others ... he's going to turn into a very fine citizen. You must very proud," she exclaimed with a big smile. "I'm proud of all my kids, Tim included," he said quickly. Tim's never had a father until I came along, and that was only this summer. Andrea and Scott lost their mother three years ago. They had to cope with that as well as their wobbly father," he smiled. "Oh my, I'd forgotten all about that. You have had a struggle, haven't you," she said sympathetically. "Well, let's see what we can do about getting Tim on his way in grade eleven. Is he interested in sports?" "I don't know to be honest. I'll have to talk to him and find out exactly what he is interested in before we can figure out what to do. Right now, he doesn't have any friends and I think that's what's making it difficult for him. His mother is away during the week, so I'm the only parent at home. Scott's still living at home. He and Tim get along great, but Scott has a big workload at Selkirk and doesn't have the time to spend with Tim. Besides, he's got a girlfriend who takes up a lot of his spare time," Brent concluded. "Is he still seeing Tanya Dubrinski?" "Yes. They are going to college together." "So Mr. Dubrinski lost the battle then," she said with a smile. "He was never going to win, Mrs. Paget." "Good. You don't know what a good influence Scott was on Tanya. He kept her on the "straight and narrow" if you know what I mean. I think almost every boy in the senior class last year was in envy of Scott," she finished. "Well, let's see what we can do about getting Tim going then. I'm going to talk to him tonight. I have an idea that I want to talk to him about and get his OK. That may be the start for us. Then it's up to me to find out what makes him tick, and what we can do to help. How about I call you next week and let you know how I made out?" he suggested. "Fine. Good luck! I'm sure you'll find a way, Mr. Gordon. You've already got a pretty good track record," she smiled. Chapter 30 Brent and Tim sat at the kitchen table after the dinner dishes were done. Brent had asked him to stay. There was something he wanted to talk to him about. "Tim, we don't know each other very well yet. I guess that's my fault. I've been so busy with your mother ... well ... anyway, I haven't spent much time with you," he confessed. Tim nodded, looking a bit wary, wondering where this conversation was going. "I wanted to ask you a very important question. Something you don't have to answer right away. Something I want you to think about before you decide," Brent paused. "I would like to adopt you as my son," he started again, carefully. "I want us to be a whole family that you are a part of, just like Andy and Scott. My question to you is ... is that something that you want too?" Tim was looking straight at his step-father, and then sighed and sat back in his chair. "I've never had a dad. I mean one who lived with us. You're the first one I've ever had to live with ... you know ... in the same house. You think this is a big deal? I mean, me being your son?" he asked tentatively. "Yes ... I think it's a very big deal. I never liked the term step-father, or step-son. You are a part of this family, and I want you to be equal with everyone else. I would be proud to have you as a son," he said solemnly. Tim looked misty-eyed at that point and then pushed the chair back, rose and walked slowly toward Brent. As he stood before him, he held out his hand. Brent looked at it and looked up at Tim, seeing the single tear slide down his cheek. He ignored the offered hand as he got up from his chair, stepping forward to embrace the young man in a firm hug. "In this house, we don't shake hands, we hug," Brent grinned. "Can I assume you'd be OK with me adopting you?" Tim nodded, as he stepped back from Brent. "If you're OK, I'm OK," he said with a slight smile. "What about Mom?" "Why don't you tell her tonight? I'm willing to bet you that she'll be pretty happy too," Brent said confidently. Brent was right. Bonnie was in tears as Tim told her about Brent's desire to make him his "official son." When they had finished a long conversation, Tim handed to phone to Brent. "Darling, I can't tell you how much I love you. You are so incredible. Tim is a very happy boy, I can tell you. Why didn't you tell me you wanted to adopt him?" she asked finally. "I thought it should be his decision, not something that we adults just decided for him. I didn't think I could start to direct him until we had a solid relationship. This was a start toward that goal. I'm glad it worked out so well for us. I asked him to take his time to think about it, but he didn't seem to need it." "Of course not! How could any kid resist a dad like you," she bragged. "You will get a big reward when I get home on Friday, I promise," she said happily. "I'll look forward to it. In the meantime, I had a talk with Mrs. Paget this afternoon, and she asked me some embarrassing questions." "Like what?" Second Chance, Book 07 "Like, what was Tim interested in? Was he into any sports? I couldn't tell her. I didn't know. I felt pretty foolish, Bonnie. I have to spend some time with him to find out more about what he's all about before I can give him any guidance." "I can help you with some of that. I guess I forgot we hadn't talked about Tim. We just picked him up and brought him along with us. We weren't thinking about how it would affect him," Bonnie admitted. "Yah ... I think you've got that right. The time has come to look after his needs. As much as I miss you, I'm sure he does too. You're the only hook he has to his past fifteen years. Everyone else is new. It's 'Tim Time' in this house," he said with a touch of welcome humor. "OK ... we can talk more about this when I get home. Sounds like we have some work to do, love," she said emphatically. They closed off for the night, and Bonnie breathed a sigh of relief and regret. Her new husband had handled a delicate situation beautifully. She sank back in the chair, allowing the accumulated tension to drain out of her. She thought about the remarkable past six months. She had known Brent for only that short time, but it had become the best part of her life. Her patience waiting for the right man had paid off in someone that continued to amaze and reward her with each day that she was with him. She wondered idly if she had made a good decision in pushing so hard for this new job. Should she have waited a couple of years for the next opportunity? Was she risking too much with Brent and Tim by being away during the week? Was she being selfish and ignoring anything but her own ambition? These were other topics for discussion someday soon. Brent began a concerted attempt to get to know Tim better. He had made formal application to adopt Tim. He had shown Bonnie, Tim, Andy and Scott the paperwork to demonstrate that he was serious. Once it was filed, it was a matter of time before they would be notified and interviewed. In the meantime, he found more things to do with his new son. He learned that Tim was an avid hockey fan, and so they became regular weekend attendees at the Trail Smoke Eaters games as well as the Castlegar Rebels. Both were junior hockey teams occasionally providing talent to the professional leagues. Mountain Pine had four season tickets to the Canucks, and with Lloyd Bruton's help, Brent planned a weekend trip with Tim. They would meet Bonnie in Vancouver on a Friday evening, attend the nationally televised game on Saturday, and come home Sunday afternoon. Giving Lloyd plenty of advance notice made it easy to obtain the tickets. It would be a surprise for Tim. They would hold off telling him until the week before the game in late November. Brent continued to monitor Tim's progress with Vanessa Paget. His attitude had improved and was now contributing more in class. But it was still not what any of his teachers thought he was capable of. His school records from Calgary detailed a much different student from the quiet, now sixteen-year-old. Brent had encouraged Tim to get involved in other activities at school, but aside from the computer gaming club, Tim maintained his loner status. What finally changed it all was a girl. As Tim told his mother later, Kaitlin Therrien approached him and said another girl, Shannon Jannik, thought he was "cute." Tim admitted to being flummoxed at first, but finally summoned the courage to say hello to Shannon. She smiled back at him, and that was all it took for him to find his first girlfriend. He was also looking for a part-time job to earn some money. He wanted to take Shannon to the movies, or buy her a treat. There was also Christmas not far in the future. He went to see Charlie Verano without his father's knowledge, and asked if there were any weekend jobs that he could do for some "pocket money." Charlie, knowing Tim had done this on his own, gave him the job of sort-yard clean-up. It was a menial task, but a necessary one. It looked easy at first, but the first snow of the season taught Tim an important lesson. You can't clean up what you can't find. Nonetheless, Tim wasn't fazed. He could always finish on Sunday if he didn't have enough time on Saturday. He had what he wanted - a job. Tim's life had changed quite a bit in the last two months. He had turned sixteen. His new father wanted to adopt him and make him part of his family. He met a nice girl in Shannon, someone he could talk to and be with that was his own age. He also had a job. He felt much better about himself, and much better about having moved to this small town in the mountains. Soon it would be winter, and he would be able to use his snowboard again. He could even teach Shannon if she wanted him to. As Christmas approached, Bonnie was beginning to write some significant new orders. While building wouldn't be at a high pace in the coming months, the climate on the coast allowed for year-around construction. She was able to write meaningful orders for the early part of the next year. In her first three months on the job, she had secured almost as much business as Will Franzen had written in the previous nine months. In addition, she was making valuable contacts with the design houses and some of the influential architects. Brent was amazed at the progress she had made in the short time she had been in Vancouver. Just as importantly, she was enjoying the job. She liked what she was doing because she believed in her products and V.C.M. If there was one unresolved issue, it was the time that she, Brent, and Tim were apart. As Gerry Verano had correctly identified, it was role reversal. She had spent so many years looking after Tim on her own. Now she was married to Brent, and everything had changed. She had responsibilities with both her job and her marriage. Those concerns were beginning to nag her. Chapter 31: The surprise trip to the Canucks' hockey game was the highlight of the fall for Tim. An even bigger surprise was Brent asking Mr. and Mrs. Jannik if Shannon could join them for the weekend. Brent and Bonnie would act as chaperones. It was another big step up for Tim in his relationship with his new father. The adoption papers hadn't been acknowledged yet, but Brent and Bonnie had been assured that it was just a formality once the interview had been conducted. They expected that to happen early in the new year. Shannon had made a big impact on Tim. When Shannon introduced him to her friends as her boyfriend, he was surprised at the status it gave him. She introduced him to other girls and boys in her circle, and as a result, he began to be much more comfortable in his new environment. He developed a more outgoing personality in the next few weeks. Bonnie spent most of the two weeks surrounding Christmas and New Years in Castlegar. In Vancouver, she had used her spare time in the evenings Christmas shopping for family and friends. Business was quieter at that time as many of the construction firms gave their employees time off. She had decided to talk to Brent about her job and their weekly separations after the holiday season. It was disturbing her, and the problem wasn't far from her thoughts at any time. She took stock of her life and while she loved her job and the success she was enjoying, she loved her husband as well, and she began to think that ultimately she would have to make a choice between the two. In her mind, it was no choice at all. She would be with Brent, no matter what. Andrea came home for the Christmas break and Sam was only a day behind her. Jerry's nephew and Andy were very close, and with Sam's "package deal" having been accepted by Uncle Charlie, they knew their futures would be together at V.C.M. Brent could only smile and accept that his daughter was an adult and she was free to choose her future husband. He had no concerns about Sam. He was a level-headed young man with ambition and a bright future. He could only hope they would have the happiness he enjoyed. It would be a full house at the Gordon's on Christmas Day. Tanya would be there as her parents celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve, ending with a midnight mass which Scott would attend with them. Sam would be along at mid-morning. Tim had invited Shannon to lunch, and they would exchange their gifts then. It was the first time Brent would have a full house since before Jeanette had become ill, and he was looking forward to it. It was a new experience for Bonnie too. In the nearly nine months that she had known Brent, her life had changed so much that it was difficult to remember her past habits. Certainly no previous Christmas could rival this one with her new family and friends. Tim had settled in and accepted his new life, relieving that concern. It only remained for her to resolve her personal situation. Chapter 32: The New Year's party had been a lot of fun. Bonnie and Brent had looked forward to meeting more of their neighbors and townspeople and they weren't disappointed. They danced together for the very first time. They sang Auld Lang Syne with gusto, and saluted the New Year with a champagne toast and a kiss. It would be the start of a fresh new year, celebrating their union and their family. They had walked to the community centre for the party. It was a cold, crisp night with several inches of snow on the ground. The sky was clear and the stars sparkled as they walked slowly toward their home. Bundled up in their coats, arms around each other, they were as content as two lovers could be. "I'm almost sad to see last year go," Bonnie said. "Why?" Brent asked, curious. "It was the best year of my life," she said unequivocally. "I'm glad to hear that. I was pretty good for me too," he agreed. "I want it to be like this, but I want to be with you more," she admitted. "I feel the same way, but I'm torn," Brent said. "What do you mean?" Brent stopped and turned to Bonnie, wrapping his arms around her. "I love you, Bonnie. I want you to be happy. I know you're ... uncomfortable with our time apart. But ... I can't be selfish. You love your job and you are very, very good at it. I know it gives you great satisfaction. I wouldn't do anything to take that away from you," he finished. She leaned into him and kissed him passionately. "If I have to choose, I wouldn't think twice ... I would be with you," she said fervently. "That's just it. You don't have to choose. Our kids are growing up and are going to be on their own before we realize it. Their futures are whatever they want them to be. It won't be that long before we will be on our own. I don't want to rush it, but ... when that happens, well ... I know about this apartment in Park Royal that I can stay at," he smiled. "You can handle my being away?" she asked, seeking confirmation. "Only because both of us have had some experience at it ... you much more than me," he said calmly. "You aren't kidding yourself? You can cope with our lives they way they are for a while?" She searched his eyes for the answer before he spoke. "Yes ... it won't be easy, but yes ... I can," he stated firmly. "You're worth the wait. Besides, it's not like we don't see each other. It's just not every night." "Do you think we'll ever get tired of each other?" she asked timidly. "No ... no, I don't think so. I was married for a long time and I never got tired of it. I can't imagine it would be any different with you," he smiled. They walked for a while before Bonnie spoke. "You're the first man I ever woke up in bed with the next morning," she said shyly. "I'm not very experienced at living with someone." "You seem to have adapted to me pretty well," he grinned. "You made it easy. I wanted you to be there. But still, it's all new to me," she confessed. "Does that make it easier ... I mean ... being away during the week?" "No ... it's the opposite. Having you there has such a calming and warming effect. I ... I can't really describe it. Just knowing you're there, it's ..." Her voice broke as she gripped Brent's arm and held him closely. He could see the tears glistening in her eyes. They stopped walking for a moment. It was Brent that broke the silence. "I remember waking up that morning after we had first been together. I don't think I'll ever forget that feeling. The warmth and the scent. I think that was the first time I thought I could fall in love again," he said, quietly holding her to him. "When did you fall in love with me?" she asked, her face buried in his arms. "I don't know for sure. Maybe when we made love that very first time. It wasn't just sex, it was something more. Maybe later, when I knew I had to see you again and had to be with you," he said softly. "I think I was falling in love with you at the same time. I don't know why I went to your room with you that night. It wasn't something I would ever do, but ... I thought ... I thought I could trust you. I don't know why, but I wasn't afraid," she confessed. "That was a special night. I wasn't prepared for it. It just happened. I'm very lucky it did. You gave me a new life. Something to look forward to," he sighed. "I think we gave each other something that night. Maybe it was hope. I was beginning to think I would never find a man I could love and be with forever. I didn't want to end up a lonely old hag with no one to love. At least I had Tim. He was my savior through all those years. When you came along, it was almost too good to be true. I couldn't quite believe what was happening. I'm just happy that it all turned out the way it did." "It's hard for me to imagine what living without a partner for all those years would be like. I've never had to do it. I mean, it was only three years for me. That seemed like an eternity some times. But nearly twenty years? I can't imagine," he said in wonder. "Now that I know the difference ... it was lousy!" she laughed, tears still filling her eyes. "Well, it doesn't really matter any more, does it? You get your first and I get my second chance."