All Chapters of ONE More Time to make it right: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Alice stared at the "Closed" sign hanging on the hotel's grand entrance, her heart sinking. It had been three days since the incident with Mr. Jenkins, and the Ritz Hotel remained shuttered. She clutched Charlie closer to her chest, feeling lost."What are we going to do now, sweetie?" she whispered to her son, who babbled happily, oblivious to his mother's worries.As if on cue, her phone buzzed. It was a text from Max: "Hope you're doing okay. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call."Alice felt a mix of gratitude and unease. Max had been nothing but kind and supportive, but his power and influence scared her a little. Could she really trust someone she barely knew?She was pulled from her thoughts by another buzz. This time, it was Emma."Hey sis, saw the news. Are you okay? Do you need me to watch Charlie while you job hunt?"Alice sighed, grateful for her sister's support,she really need another job as she cannot shake off the feeling of shame and guilt and how she wo

It's a sunny Saturday morning. Alice sat on a bench, her eyes scanning the area nervously. Charlie played happily at her feet, babbling to his stuffed elephant. Today was the day Carson would see Charlie again, and Alice's stomach was in knots."It's going to be okay," she whispered to herself, as much for her own reassurance as for Charlie's.She spotted Carson before he saw them. He was walking briskly, his face a mix of excitement and apprehension. When his eyes landed on Charlie, his whole face lit up."Alice," he said as he approached, his voice soft. "Thank you for this."Alice nodded, managing a small smile. "Carson. It's... it's good to see you."Carson knelt down to Charlie's level, his eyes shining. "Hey, buddy. Remember me?"To Alice's surprise, Charlie looked up at Carson and grinned. "Da-da!" he exclaimed, reaching out his little arms.Carson's eyes filled with tears as he carried Charlie up. "That's right, Charlie. I'm your dad. I've missed you so much."Alice felt her o

Alice woke up with a start, her heart racing. It took her a moment to remember where she was - in Max's guest room. She looked over at Charlie, still sleeping peacefully in his portable crib, and felt a wave of relief wash over her.As she got Charlie ready for the day, Alice couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in her stomach. The photo Margaret had sent kept flashing in her mind, making her hold Charlie a little tighter than usual."We're going to be okay, sweetie," she whispered to Charlie as she strapped him into his car seat. "Mommy's going to keep you safe."At work, Alice found it hard to concentrate. She kept checking her phone, half expecting another threatening message from Margaret. Max noticed her distraction during their morning meeting."Alice," he said gently as the others filed out of the room, "are you sure you're okay? You seem really worried."Alice sighed, frowning her face. "I'm just scared, Max. What if Margaret tries something? What if she tries

In the days following Margaret's confrontation, Alice felt a weight lift from her shoulders. The constant fear that had been her companion for weeks was finally gone. As she watched Charlie play on his baby mat, giggling at the colorful toys dangling above him, she felt a sense of peace she hadn't experienced in a long time.A knock at the door made her look up. It was Carson, right on time for his daily visit. Ever since the incident with Margaret, he had been coming by every day, sometimes just for a few minutes, other times staying for hours."Hey," he said softly as she let him in. His eyes immediately went to Charlie, a smile spreading across his face. "How's our little guy doing today?"Alice felt a warmth in her chest at his words. Our little guy. It felt right somehow. "He's great. Just had his afternoon nap, so he's full of energy."Carson knelt down next to Charlie, who immediately reached for him with chubby hands. "Hey buddy," Carson cooed, picking him up. "Did you miss yo

The ride home from the hospital was quiet, with Charlie sleeping peacefully in his car seat. Alice sat in the back with him, unable to take her eyes off her son. Carson had hailed a cab to take them home.Carson sat at the front with the cab man occasionally glancing in the rearview mirror at his little family, a mix of relief and love washing over him.As they pulled up to Alice's apartment building, Carson turned to her. "Why don't you both stay at my place tonight? I'd feel better if we were all together."Alice nodded, too exhausted to argue. "Okay, but we'll need to stop here first to pick up some things for Charlie."Once inside Alice's apartment, Carson insisted on packing while Alice tended to Charlie. As he moved around the small space, gathering clothes and toys, he was struck by how much he wanted this - not just visits and shared moments, but a real, everyday life with Alice and Charlie.With bags packed and Charlie settled, they made their way to Carson's larger apartment