A New Hope (The Second Chance Series Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

promise to always be there for you and to help you in any way possible. You’re family and family is very important.”
    Elliot hugged Karla close and whispered in her ear, “I promise to always be there for you too. Family is important and you’re all I have left now.”
    “I’m not the only family you have, Elliot. You have Andrew and Leslie now too. We will always be here for you.”  Karla told him as she motioned for Leslie and Andrew to join them.
    Leslie stood behind Elliot for a second before wrapping her arms around them. When Andrew completed the connection by wrapping his arms around all three of them Elliot started to cry. “I don’t know what I’d do if Nana hadn’t found y’all.”
    “You’ll never have to find out because she did find us and we’re here because we want you to be part of our family.” Andrew said softly as he tried to comfort the boy.
    “Like Karla said, you are not alone and she isn’t the only family you have.” Leslie added as Andrew released them all. “Andrew and I have always wanted a large family and now it seems that dream may become a reality.”
    Andrew stepped back slightly and looked at his watch. “I think it’s time we all get some sleep. We can call Mrs. Matthews’ lawyer in the morning, but we’ve already seen her will so I don’t know what else he’ll be able to tell us.”
    Karla released Elliot and stepped back. “You can have the bed and I’ll sleep out here on the couch.” She said to him before she retreated into the room for a pillow and blanket, not giving him time to argue. When she came back out she made up the couch, plugged in her cell phone and turned to her family. “Goodnight, everyone. I love you all.” She said before she hugged them all and laid down.
    Elliot took the hint and hugged Leslie and Andrew before he walked into the bedroom and shut the door. Andrew and Leslie stood there for a moment before they walked into their room and shut the door. “We have two great kids that were practically dropped into our laps. How did we get so lucky, Andrew?” Leslie asked as they crawled into bed.
    “I don’t know, baby, but I thank God for the miracle of Karla every day. Now it seems I have two miracles to thank Him for. Let’s get some sleep because the next few days are going to be long and difficult for Elliot and he’s going to need us at our best.” Andrew replied before he pulled Leslie into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “I love you Leslie, more than you’ll ever know.”
    “I love you too Andrew.” Leslie whispered before drifting into sleep.
     

Chapter Seven
     
    The next morning Andrew ordered a room service breakfast of waffles, bacon and fresh fruit and they all ate in silence before getting ready and heading to the funeral home and lawyer’s office. Once they were finished and dressed for the day they loaded into the car and headed to the funeral home. Elliot was silent on the way there, but when they pulled in the parking lot tears filled his eyes.
    “I was here just a few weeks ago when Dad died.” He said with a slight hitch in his voice.
    Karla, almost undone by the emotion radiating from him, wrapped her arms around him and whispered in his ear. “It’s okay to cry. Tears are a natural part of healing. Without them the wounds inside our heart remain open, causing lasting damage to remain.”
    Elliot looked at her with tear streaked cheeks and red rimmed eyes, “How do you know that?”
    “Because I’ve been through what you’re going through. I lost my Grams when I was seven and Pops when I was eight. They were my world and I was broken without them. Diane, our mother, tried to break me further, but I held on to the love I knew from them and survived.”
    “You really had a bad time with our mother didn’t you?” Elliot asked quietly.
    “I did, but what my time with her taught me was how not to treat people. She taught me how love isn’t and how to truly survive anything life throws at