All Chapters of Second Chance: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

After meeting with the board members for the last two days, we had come to a decision. We were definitely going forward with Holden and Seth’s firm. It has nothing to do with them being a local firm. The plans that they have set forth this project is bordering on genius. They are using modern construction but keeping it to the history of the town. This building will not be an eye sore that just doesn’t fit the surrounding area. Once it is completed, the building will look like it has always been part of the town. There are still a lot of steps to go through. All of the building permits and zoning permits have to be obtained. Since the project is this big, it has to go through the county level instead of at the town level. Outside contractors were going to have to come in to start the construction. The budget is still being discussed because with each day, there are more expenditures that we had not thought about. I have been putting off a sit down meeting with Holden for weeks, but u

The meeting went better than I had expected. I was thankful that I had put the whole supply room incident out of my mind, at least during the meeting. The sights and sounds of it came back pretty quickly when I was getting ready to head out of the door for lunch. Amelia was standing right in my path, which seemed to be becoming a pattern with her. “Well, Mayson, it was so nice to see you coming in early this morning. Did you see anything interesting before the meeting?” That smug look was something I had been on the receiving in one too many times. I wish I could just slap that look right off of her face. “Amelia, just get out of my way, I want to go to lunch and find some peach and quiet.” She stood there for a few more minutes just to get under my skin. I wanted to get as far away as possible from her. I just needed to be able to take a breath. I could feel my anxiety ramping up the longer I had to stand there. Amelia finally moved out of the way and I rushed out of the door as

Even though Mayson only sent me a quick Thank You text I knew that telling her take the rest of the day off would make her happy. She has been so busy lately that I don’t think she has had much time to spend with her dad. Their relationship is one that I have always envied. My biological dad walked out on my mom before I was even born. My stepdad took care of us financially but he never really treated me like his son. He had fallen in love with my mother, but never really wanted children. He only gave me things and “attention” (which was all fake) to make sure my mom would marry him. He talked my mom into moving to California when I went off to college to get her away from me. Now he has her all to himself. I haven’t seen my mother since I graduated from college four years ago. I get the occasional text and a card on my birthday. He took my mom away from me physically and emotionally. I suppose that is why I was always hanging out at Mayson’s house when we were kids, even before we

I am sure Mayson did not want me to come with her, but I was not going to let her sit here at the hospital alone. When I walked into the hallway, she was sitting on the bench and she was white as a sheet. I could hear her mother’s voice coming from the phone in her hand, but Mayson was not moving. I picked up the phone and started talking to Mrs. Cole. She gave me the details of Mr. Cole being in the ICU at the hospital. I told her that apparently Mayson was having a bad panic attack and I could not get her to respond to me. I did my best to reassure her that I would take care of Mayson and we would get to the hospital as soon as possible. I had seen Mayson suffer many panic attacks when we were together, but nothing compared to today. She was practically catatonic. She didn’t say a word on the drive to the hospital. Walking into her dad’s ICU room broke her. I held her up and did my best to comfort her. I felt helpless that I couldn’t do more for her. I wan’t to take any pain from h

Mama walked back in the room with two cups of coffee. I am thankful for some caffeine right now. The panic attack completely drained me. “Thanks, Mama, I really needed the pick me up.” She had a frown on her face, but it didn’t seem like one she would have out of concern for Daddy. “What’s wrong Mama, looks like you have something on your mind?” “Mayson, you know I have never questioned why you left town so quickly. I figured you had your reasons and if you wanted to talk to me you would have. Me and your dad missed you greatly but also were very proud of you for going out on your own. Your dad would tell anyone that would listen about all of the great things you were doing away at college Now as as far as Holden is concerned, I have never understood what happened between you two. That is a discussion we will definitely be having very soon. But do you mind telling me why he left so quickly? He said you told him that you were fine and didn’t need him, but somehow I did not quite beli