Second Chances Read Online Free Page A

what to do to help.  I feel helpless, too, because I pushed really hard for that honeymoon.  They wanted to wait until they could go to Greece, but I wanted them to at least have a long weekend away.  It was their wedding night—they couldn’t just stay home at their apartment.  It didn’t seem right." 
    Around and around she twisted the napkin she’d laid across her lap, creasing it, unable to keep her hands still as she continued.
    "I’m torn between needing to wrap my arms around him and shield him from the world and wanting to grab him and shake him, tell him it’s not his fault."
    "Have you tried talking to him about it?  Maybe suggest some counseling?"
    Rose sighed.  "Whenever I try to bring up Terry and Sharon, he changes the subject.   It’s getting worse, Kate.  I’m not sure what to do."  
    "What does Jake think?  Has he noticed a change in Ryan, too?" 
    Rose watched a faint pink blush come across her sister’s cheeks when she mentioned Jake’s name.  They’d gone out a couple of times and Rose wished they’d made a go of it, but things never seemed to click for them.  She knew Kate wanted more, but Jake had his own demons to deal with.  He still wasn’t ready for a serious relationship, and her sister was through with only being good enough for a booty call but never for the long term.   They’d remained friends though, which made things easier since Jake was Ryan’s best friend and Kate was her sister. 
    "Jake’s been pretty mum about things, too, especially for the last few weeks.  I know they talk, but he’s not telling me anything.  I can tell he’s worried about Ryan though." 
    Kate reached across the table and squeezed Rose’s hand.  "You’ll both get through this.  It’s this damn time of year.  Everything’s so shiny and sparkly and people are supposed to be so freaking happy.  Drives me nuts."
    Rose laughed out loud at the scrunched up face her sister made.  Kate didn’t fool her one bit; she loved the holidays, went totally overboard shopping for and buying presents for everybody she knew.   Rose was a homebody, preferring to hand-make things like cookies and cakes as gifts.  Her sister—not so much—she was all about the shopping.
    Kate’s face got serious.  "I miss them both too.  Terry was the best, always laughing and joking with his patients.  His colleagues all admired him.  When he met Sharon, though, I don’t know how to explain it—he just came alive.  She was his world—his everything."
    "I know."  Rose’s softly murmured agreement passed between them and she smiled, remembering how happy Terry had been.  Sharon, too.  She’d once told Rose one look was all it took for her to know Terry was her soul mate.  Rose understood that, it was the same with her and Ryan.  One look and it was like the world had been slightly off-kilter before and now everything clicked into place around her. 
    "I want that, you know.  What they had.  What you and Ryan have.  I’m kinda jealous."  Kate passed it off as a joke but Rose heard the underlying yearning behind the words.  She wanted that for her sister, too.   
    "It’ll happen when it’s the right time.  You’ll find your special someone and you’ll know." 
    "Yeah, yeah."  Kate smiled at her sister.  "You sure your husband’s not cheating?  Playing Mr. Happy Zipper?"  Rose grabbed a roll out of the basket and tossed it at her sister’s head, chuckling as Kate caught it out of the air and laid it on the bread plate beside her water glass.
    "Okay, then, let’s order.  I’m starving." 
     
     

Chapter Five
     
    E choes of laughter filled the living space of the Jackson’s condo. Ryan and Jake struggled under the massive branches of the tree as they manhandled it through the open door.  The tree was bigger than the doorway and it was a tight squeeze but with lots of pushing, shoving and cursing, they finally got it inside.  Pine needles and globs of snow covered the