Second Chances (2 page)

              “You were my wife.  And we just outgrew each other.  Goodbye,” he said quietly, before loading up his car and sliding into the driver’s seat. 

              Paige’s vision blurred as she watched him drive off without looking back.

Chapter 2

3 months later

While Paige patiently waited in an overstuffed chair at Starbucks, she stared at the menu wondering whose idea it was to rename their sizes.  She shook her head trying to figure out what a grande was and how many separate ways she could order her coffee.  She wondered if it would confuse them if she just asked for a small coffee with cream and sugar.

She gave up trying to decide what she wanted and proceeded to dig through her purse for her phone.  If it were up to her, she would have met her friend somewhere else, but this was Skylar’s favorite, so she obliged.

              She crossed her long legs and pushed back further in her leather chair, as she caught the eye of an older gentleman, who was sitting across from her.  He nodded and gave her a look of approval.  Paige half smiled in return and averted his gaze, wishing she still had a wedding band of some sort.  In the last few months, she’d been approached everywhere from the grocer’s meat section to the library.  And right now more than anything the last thing she wanted was to deflect another conversation with a man, who took an inch for a mile.

              Like magic, her friend breezed through the door and came sailing in her direction.  Paige often thought Skylar was clairvoyant but never more than in this moment when she saved her from an awkward silence, as the man next to her was about to strike up a conversation, which she desperately was trying to avoid.

              “Hey, sweets.”  Skylar leaned down to kiss her cheek and set her bags in the chair next to her.

              She smiled in return; thankful she’d not called her by her real name. 

“You ready to order?” Paige quickly retrieved both their purses from the seats she’d been saving.

              Skylar pointed toward her purse, saying, “Let’s leave these here.  They’re the only comfy ones inside.” Skylar frowned as Paige stepped away, ignoring her advice.

              The older gentleman quickly stood, with hopeful eyes.  “I’ll watch them for you.”

              Paige grimaced.  “Oh, no. That’s okay.  We wanted to sit outside.”

              “We did?”

She quickly tugged at Skylar’s arm and turned toward the register.

              “Oh, I get it,” Skylar whispered.  “Why don’t you just get a fake band already?”

              Paige frowned.  Skylar had never been married.  She didn’t get it at all. 

“Maybe some day.  I just haven’t been able to yet.”

              “Ladies, what will you have?”  The twenty-something barista smiled in their direction. 

              To Paige, he looked like a baby, but Skylar happily slid up to the counter and turned on her single switch, beaming in his direction. 

              “I’ll have an all iced coffee in a grande cup with extra ice.  With that - I want three pumps of hazelnut, two pumps classic, and inch of non-fat milk, with a dome lid and a venti straw.  You got all that sweetie?” 

              Paige rolled her eyes.  She loved her friend dearly, but no one could ever accuse her of being simple.  She watched the baby-faced barista, as he hung on her every word.

              “Yes,” he said.  “And your name?”

              “Skylar.  Want me to spell it?”

              “No, I got it.  A beautiful name for a beautiful young lady.”

              Paige rolled her eyes and decided on something from their menu after all.   Without waiting for him to ask for her order, she said, “I’ll take a large chai tea please, and my name is Paige.”

“Yes, ma’am.”  He proceeded to punch keys on the register.

“We’re going to sit outside.  Will you be a doll and bring our drinks to the patio when they’re ready?”  Skylar asked while pulling out a twenty to pay for their order.

“Of course.  I’d be happy to.”  He made change and then turned to start on their order.

“Great.  You get young lady, and I get ma’am.  I see how this works.”  Paige laughed and pushed open the door to the patio.  “How is that - when we’re the same age?”

Skylar sat down and frowned at her friend.  She’d not seen Paige dress up or try to improve upon her natural beauty in a long time.  She didn’t know how to put it politely.

“Well, you used to get attract that sort of attention all the time.”

“I know, but now it’s only older men who take notice and when I say older … I mean … older.  They’re all nearly ten years older than me!”  Paige leaned back in her metal chair and propped her feet up in the one next to her.

“Since the move from the townhome – it’s like you’ve been holed away in that little apartment of yours.  Why don’t you come out with me?”  Skylar remembered her friend’s financial situation and added, “It’s on me.  It’ll be like old times.  And, while you’re at it – schedule a visit to the salon.  I think you’d feel better and … look better if you did.”

There … Skylar had said it.  And then she saw Paige’s face and instantly felt bad.

“Hey, I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean you look bad.  You’re a natural beauty.  You’ve got a stunning complexion.  You barely have any wrinkles.”

“Gee, thanks.  That’s supposed to make me feel better?”  Paige leaned forward and ran her hands through her hair, knowing her friend was right.  She’d not paid any attention to herself in a long time, and it was overdue.

“What I meant was.  I know you don’t feel good about yourself.  You’re not taking care of yourself like you used to.  And it shows - not just on the outside but the inside.  It’s an energy you’re putting off.  And maybe the more exciting guys aren’t getting the right vibe from you.  So the older ones are circling, wanting someone who needs a father figure.” Skylar laughed.  “Heck, I don’t know.  But I do know you, Paige.  And you’re not you anymore.”

Paige fought the urge to be defensive.  She wanted to yell at her friend, but she couldn’t.  How could she when she was right?

“I just don’t feel like me anymore.  And now I’m wondering if I ever knew who I was.  When Davis left, he shook everything up and who I was and thought I am … was at the center of our marriage.  And not that I’m ready to date, because I’m not … but I don’t want to feel this way anymore either.”

“Maybe it’s time to get back to doing some things you like, like hitting the dance floor with me and …” Skylar put up her hand before Paige could cut in.  “Maybe it’s time to get back on the horse.  Come out with me this weekend!  Get dolled up, wear a sexy black dress, and let’s have some fun.”

Paige looked unsure.  She’d never been in the dating world.  She and Davis had known each other since high school.  Any time she’d gone out on the town with Skylar, it was always so her friend could work her magic.  Paige was always her wing-girl.  She never looked twice at anyone or sought inappropriate attention.  She’d always felt confident enough in her marriage that she could hang with the girls without the threat of being considered a player.  If she joined Skylar, without a marriage to fall back on, she wouldn’t know how to fit in.

As if Skylar could read her mind, she took Paige by the hand and stared into her eyes.

“Trust me, not only can you do this … but you need to.  It will do wonders for you.”

“Paige?” A twiggy blonde stepped up the curb after exiting her car. “Is that you?”

“Who’s that?” Skylar mumbled under her breath.

“Someone from one of the many committees I used to be on.”  Paige half waved, in greeting.  “Hi.”

The woman gave Paige a slow once over, and said,  “Well, I almost didn’t recognize you.  It’s been forever!  I thought surely we’d see you at the end of the year luncheon.   You used to be so active with the group.  What happened?”  The woman curiously stared down them, apparently unaware of Paige’s current status.

Paige took a deep breath and prepared to recant the response she’d given so many others in the prior weeks.

“Davis and I are divorced. I kind of cut ties with all things that related to him or his work.”  She grimaced awkwardly.  “I’m sorry.”

“Oh! It’s okay.  I just thought you’d gotten sick or something.  I’m glad you’re okay.  Other than …” She stopped short of saying the word.  “Well, I’m sorry.  You know you’re welcome anytime.  We could do lunch?  I’ll call you.”

“Yeah. I look forward to it.”  She smiled and turned back to Skylar with a look.

“I will.”  The woman hurried inside.

“That’ll never happen.”  Paige pursed her lips.

“She could call.” Skylar laughed.  “Don’t be such a pessimist.”

“I’m sorry.  It’s just been par for the course.  Anyone in Davis’ circle …” Paige shrugged.  “Let’s just say that when they find out we’re not together – the divide has become more apparent between them and me.”

“Well – you aren’t getting rid of me.”  Skylar gently laid a hand on her arm.

At that moment, the barista arrived with their drinks.

“Your iced latte.  And this for you.” He gently set down Skylar’s drink and twisted it so that the writing was facing her.

“Thank you.”  She grinned up at him.

“Anytime.”  He raised his eyebrow before returning inside.

As Paige was about to take a sip of her chai, she glanced down to her cup, where the word ‘Page’ was written across the top.

“He may be cute, but he can’t spell.”  She laughed.

“Oh, he’s smarter than you think.”  Skylar bit her lip and turned her cup to show the phone number, neatly printed across the top.

Paige let out a belly laugh.  “You’ve got to be kidding me?” 

Skylar raised her eyebrow and said, “Apparently he likes cougars.”

“Apparently!”  As she finally took a sip, she was thankful that he, at least, got her order right.

“Come on.  Come out with me this weekend.  Let loose.”

Paige contemplated it.  Although done with relationships, maybe it was time to boost her confidence. Why was she pining away for her ex anyway? After all, not only did he not know who she really was – but he didn’t care.  So why should she?

“Okay.”

And with one word, she felt hope once more.

Chapter 3

            
 
Paige woke up with a pounding head and groaned as the sounds of chirping birds filtered into her room from outside.  She slowly lifted her arm to bring the shades down, hoping it would muffle the sounds.

             
What was I thinking?
  She softly cradled her head, as her stomach started swirling once more.  Gently, she rolled onto her side and breathed slowly through her nose.

             
Don’t throw up.  Don’t throw up.             

              As she was fighting the urge, a shrill chirp sounded next to her head.  For a minute, she thought the birds outside her window were accosting her pounding headache taking her pain to another level, but by the third shrill – she realized it was her cell.

              She covered her head with a pillow, fumbled for the phone by her bed, and knocked it off the nightstand. By the time she retrieved it – it had gone to voicemail only to start ringing again.  She saw her sister’s smiling face light up her Smartphone, and hit the home screen to answer.

              “Hello,” she mumbled, finally able to speak without sounding like a frog.  The fog and smoke that filled the club last night kept her from sounding normal, but she tried anyway. 

              “Paige?” Her baby sister’s concern shone through the line, giving Paige pause.  She groaned and reached for a bottle of water on her nightstand.

              Even after a sip, her mouth still felt like cotton, but that didn't stop her from trying to one-hundred percent.  She almost sang into the phone, faking sobriety. “Hey, Maya.”

              “Are you okay?”  Maya anxiously leaned forward in her chair, worried at the sound of her voice.  With all her sister had been going through, all sorts of scenarios ran through her mind.

              “Yeah, great!  Just …” 

              At that moment, what Paige had been trying to keep down started pushing its way up her esophagus.  She dropped the phone and ran to the bathroom, thankful to make it to the toilet before letting everything from last night come out.

              Maya heard the gagging in the background and bit her bottom lip.  If she didn’t know any better, she would have thought her sister had tied a few on.  Chances were slim that she was sick, as she and her family weren’t prone to the flu and never threw up.  She patiently waited until she heard rustling noises increasing through the earpiece of her phone. 

As Paige picked the phone back up, Maya asked, “Um, everything okay?” She sat and waited patiently for her sister.

              “Yeah, it is now,” Paige said, truthfully.  She felt much better.

              “Do I need to text Skylar, and ask her to bring you some chicken noodle soup?” Maya fished, to confirm her suspicions.

              Paige stared at the ceiling, wondering if her friend was feeling as bad as she was or if she was more accustomed to this sort of thing.             

              “No, I think she’s probably still asleep.”

              “Paige, it’s noon!”

              “Is it?”  Her voice rose, as she looked at her clock.

              “Are you hung over?”

              “Maybe a little.  Don’t tell mom.”  Paige heard Maya giggle.  “Seriously, don’t tell mom.”

              “I won’t.  Besides, you’re a grown woman.  Where did you two go last night?”

              “Skylar convinced me it would be good for me to get out, so she dragged me down to Old Town, near her place.  Oh, man,” she groaned.  “I’ve been out with her a lot in the past, but that was when I was committed to someone else.  I didn’t have to worry about what other people thought of me.  And Skylar was like a … well, let’s just say that’s when I realized that I’m so out of the loop. I don’t know how to be single.” 

Paige sighed remembering the events that led up to her slow descent, and the image of Davis with a tiny blonde woman flashed through her mind.

“And then I saw them.”  She rolled on her side and closed her eyes.

“Who?”

“Davis and … her.”  Paige felt a tear slide down her face.

“So you finally caught a glimpse of her.  I’m so sorry, sis.”

“I didn’t see her face.  I saw them from across the dance floor.  Her back was to me.  But I saw enough that I knew I wasn’t brave enough to run into them yet, so I had a few drinks to drown my sorrows.  Before I knew it, I’d had one more.”

              Maya chimed in.  “Then one more …”

              “Yup.”  Paige blew a few strands of hair away that flopped in her face.  “I got pretty sloppy, so I called a cab.”

              “Paige.”  Maya’s voice held pity.

              “Don’t say it.”

              “What are you doing to yourself?  Do I need to come out there?”

              “I said don’t say it.  I’m not doing anything.”

              “Exactly.  You’re not going to be able to move forward if you don’t make some sort of change.  You’re barely making it in that small apartment you were forced to move in after Davis kicked you out, and there are reminders of him everywhere in a city that isn’t home! What are doing there?”

              “Where else would I go?  Our … my life here was all about Davis.  We moved here for his career.  I mean - I have Skylar but that’s it other than a few friends, who are married to Davis’ co-workers, and after the divorce who do you think they talk to?  Not me anymore.”

              “Why don’t you come home?  You have friends and family here that miss you?  Plus, it’s only 45 minutes away.  If you miss Skylar, you don’t have far to drive.  You could always find another job here.”

              “Did mom put you up to this?” 

              Maya paused and then lied.  “No, I think you should come back home. You have roots here. You’re wasting away there.  And around every corner is just a reminder of that jerk and his new plaything.  Thank God you didn’t have children with him.”

              “Maya,” Paige groaned.  It killed her to hear those words.

              “I’m sorry.  You know what I meant.”  She wished she could rewind and erase.

              “Yeah, listen.  I need to rest.  I’ll call you later, okay?”

              “Promise me you’ll think about it.  I know it would be a good thing.”

              She’d been gone for twenty years.  It would be just as foreign as living alone in this town was.  Paige wavered.  Part of her wanted the comfort of her family in this chapter of her life.

              “I’ll think about it.”

              “Promise?” Maya jumped from her chair.

              Paige’s stared at the ceiling recalling the night before.  The few details she could remember in vivid detail, before hurtling drinks down, was a clear reminder that she was chasing ghosts at every corner.  She knew she couldn’t move on if Davis and his new girlfriend were bound to be at every turn. 

              “Tell mom that I promise.”  Paige’s fatigue started taking over once more.

              “Okay, I will.  I mean - yeah, whatever.  You knew she was behind this anyway.  But I really want it too.  We all do.”

                  “Okay.  I have to go.  I love you.”

                  “Love you.” Maya grinned as she set down the receiver.  She looked to her mom and grinned.  “She’s coming home.”