A New Beginning (Second Chance #1) (23 page)

The next morning after breakfast Karla, Leslie and Andrew headed to Bob and Meghan’s house for Christmas Eve lunch and to spend time with them. Once they arrived Harvey immediately jumped into Karla’s arms. “Karla guess what?” He said as he bounced up and down on her hip.

“Whoa there little man. If you don’t stop bouncing I’m going to drop you.” When he stopped bouncing she looked at him and smiled. “Thank you. Now let’s see if I can guess. You have a girlfriend and you’re running away to live in the jungle with her?”

Harvey burst out laughing at her. “No silly. Santa comes tonight and I asked him for a blue bicycle and a puppy.”

“Wow. A blue bicycle? That’s pretty cool. What kind of puppy do you want?”

“One that’s little like me.”

“I’m sure Santa will come through for you little man. Now let’s go see what we can help with.”

“Okay.” He beamed a smile at her and bounced out of her arms. She followed him into the kitchen and was immediately consumed by the sounds of her family.

“There you are. Harvey attacked you didn’t he?” Meghan said with a smile.

“Yeah, but that’s alright.” She smiled back at her. “Hey little man, why don’t you go get me an apple juice?”

“Okay.” He grinned and ran over to the fridge. Once he was out of earshot Karla turned to Meghan.

“You know he asked Santa for a blue bike and a puppy right?”

“Yeah. We got him the bike, but we couldn’t find a puppy. I hate that we’re letting him down.”

“Why don’t you write him a letter from Santa telling him that his puppy is waiting for him at the animal shelter and that he’ll be able to pick it out himself?”

“Karla you are brilliant. He’ll be thrilled. We’ll take him down to the local shelter the day after Christmas.”

“Just don’t want him to be disappointed. He doesn’t need those disappointments.” Karla walked to the sliding glass doors and stared out at the beautiful day. It was cold, but sunny and she loved it.

“No child should ever have those disappointments.” Leslie said from behind her.

“Sometimes it’s unavoidable, but in Harvey’s case it isn’t.” Karla responded. “I don’t really want to talk about this. I was just trying to help make it a special day for him.”

“Okay honey. We want it to be special for you too though.” Leslie told her then walked back over to the stove to help Meghan.

“Karla. What’s wrong?” Harvey asked her as he walked up beside her and held up her juice box. “You look sad.”

“Hey little man. I’m not sad. I’m just thinking.” She picked him up and looked out at the day. “Why don’t you get your coat, hat and gloves and we’ll go walk around outside for a few minutes? They don’t need us anyway.”

“YAY!! I’ll be right back.” He ran off to get his outer gear and Karla walked over to Leslie and Meghan.

“I’m going to take Harvey outside for a little while if that’s okay.”

“Yep. Y’all have fun.” Meghan responded.

“We’ll be back in a few.” Karla said as Harvey bounced back up to her. “Okay little man. Let’s go.” Karla wrapped her scarf around her neck and put her hat on her head.

Once they were outside Harvey ran over to his play set and started climbing the faux rock wall. “Be careful little man.” Karla yelled over to him.

“I’m always careful.” Harvey called back to her with a grin.

“Yeah, well I don’t want any injuries on my watch.” Laughter filled her voice when he stuck his tongue out at her. “I’ll get you for that.”

She ran over and chased him up the climbing wall and grabbed him just before he went down the slide. “I got you little man. Let’s go.” She sat down and sat him on her lap before she slid down the slide with him squirming on her lap.

When they were at the bottom she stood up and he flung his arms around her neck. “I love you, Karla.”

“I love you too, little man.” She wiped a tear from her eye and kissed him on top of the head. “Let’s go in and get some hot chocolate. I’m cold.”

They walked inside holding hands and laughing together.

“I was fixing to come out and get you two. Harvey, daddy wants to know if you’re ready to open your presents from Aunt Leslie and Uncle Andrew.” Meghan asked him.

“Yes..Yes.. YES!! PRESENTS!!” Harvey yelled and ran into the family room.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Meghan said with a laugh. “Karla are you ready to open your gifts?”

“If I run into the family room yelling presents will you look at me funny?” She asked with a laugh as she walked into the family room.

Harvey was seated crossed legged on the floor in front of the Christmas tree bouncing in place. Andrew was digging through the bag of gifts they’d brought and Bob was under the tree pulling out packages. Karla walked in and grabbed a small package off the floor beside Andrew and walked over to Harvey. “Here little man. I got this for you so you can go ahead and open it while they play with the other packages.”

Harvey laughed and took the package from Karla’s hand. When he opened it he grinned and yelled for Meghan. “Mama, Mama, come look what Karla got me.”

When Meghan walked over she saw Harvey holding a small, blue, wooden plane with his face painted on the front, like he was the pilot. “Wow, Karla. That’s awesome. Where in the world did you get something like that made at?”

“I found this place in the mall that does hand crafted toys and I know how much little man here loves planes so I took his school picture from the mantel and had them make this for me. I know blue’s his favorite color so I had it painted blue.”

“Karla you are one of the sweetest, most thoughtful people I know.” Bob told her with a smile.

“I love you, Karla.” Harvey said and flung himself into her arms.

“I love you too, little man.” She responded and kissed the top of his head.

The rest of the day passed with a lot of laughter and Karla was exhausted when they got home that night. She went straight to bed and laid there awake for a few minutes thinking back over the day and when her eyes closed her vision was filled with Harvey’s smiling face.

Karla was awakened by the smell of pancakes and the sound of Andrew’s guitar the next morning. Her normal routine was to be dressed and ready for the day before she went downstairs, but they wouldn’t be going anywhere until later so she went downstairs in the flannel pajamas she’d slept in. When she walked into the kitchen she saw a stack of pancakes, a platter of bacon and a bowl of scrambled eggs sitting on the table.

“Merry Christmas Karla.” Leslie said from the stove where she was filling a glass syrup dispenser with syrup she’d warmed for the pancakes.

Andrew, who was sitting on a bar stool playing Christmas carols on his guitar, looked up when Leslie spoke and grinned. “Merry Christmas sleepy head. I thought we were going to have to go get you up.”

Karla laughed at the expression on Andrew’s face and walked to the table. “Merry Christmas to you both too. Leslie, breakfast looks awesome.”

“Thank you Karla. Andrew put that thing down and come eat breakfast with us. I want to open presents before we have to go to the ER Christmas lunch later.”

“Yes, dear,” Andrew said with a smirk. He knew Leslie hated being called dear.

When she laughed and threw a dish towel at him he ducked and said, “Missed me.” She grabbed another one from the counter and threw it at him too. “Missed me again.”

They all burst out laughing at that and they laughed until their sides hurt. Leslie was the first to compose herself and when she caught her breath she sat at the table.

“Okay you two I’m hungry and there are some presents under that tree in the family room with my name on them and I’m ready to see what’s under that pretty paper.”

Karla looked up at her and grinned. “Me too! Let’s eat.”

After that they were too busy eating to talk. When they were finished they cleared the table and cleaned up the kitchen together before they walked in to family room and sat cross-legged in front of the tree.

Andrew passed out everyone’s gifts and motioned for Karla to go first. She started with the largest box first. When she opened it she pulled out a full-length black velvet dress coat. “Wow. This is beautiful. I have no idea when I’ll wear it, but I love it.”

“You’ll wear it next month for the hospital’s charity event and again in February for the Valentine’s Day Gala at the hospital and probably for the school’s Valentine’s Day dance.” Leslie told her. “Speaking of the charity event and the Gala, we need to get you a couple of formal dresses.”

“Oh..ummm..okay.” Karla responded. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

“Don’t worry Karla. Callie, Conner and Rylee will be at both.” Andrew told her.

She sighed in relief and opened the rest of her gifts. She got a tablet, a digital camera, some cute house shoes, and pair of low heeled leather knee boots. “Thank you both so much. This is awesome.”

“You’re welcome honey.” Leslie told her. “We weren’t sure what to get you, but then Rylee told us about you messing with her tablet every time you were over there and you needed the camera for our trip tomorrow. I’m glad you like everything.”

“I love them all.” She got up and hugged them both. “You two are the best gift of all though.”

“We feel the same about you Karla.” Andrew told her. “Now Leslie, it’s your turn.”

Karla sat and watched while Leslie opened her gifts. She got a diamond bracelet, a deep blue cashmere sweater and a pair of leather high heeled boots from Andrew. When she opened the deep blue cashmere scarf from Karla she looked up at them with a huge smile on her face.

“Before you ask, no. Karla and I didn’t shop together or communicate at all about those. I guess we both just know you that well.”

“Well they’re the exact same shade of blue so I couldn’t help but wonder.”  She smiled and picked up her last package. When she opened it tears filled her eyes. She passed the open box to Andrew and got up. She sat down beside Karla and pulled her into a hug. “That is the most beautiful gift I have ever gotten in my life. Thank you Karla.”

“I was scared that you’d think I was pushing you into being my mom. I’m so glad I was wrong.”

“Oh honey. I’d like nothing better than to be your mom.” More tears filled her eyes when Andrew sat down beside Karla and wrapped her arms around them both.

“Okay.” Karla said after a few minutes. “Andrew needs to open his presents so we can all get ready. The ER lunch starts in two hours.”

Andrew laughed and picked up one of his presents. Leslie got him a new lab coat with his name stitched on it, a gift certificate to a music store and a set of monogrammed ink pens. When he opened the cufflinks Karla got him he smiled. “These are perfect Karla. I love them.” Then he opened the money clip and was speechless. He showed it to Leslie and her eyes filled with tears again.

“Karla you couldn’t have gotten us more perfect gifts. These tell us how you see us. Thank you.” Andrew wrapped her into another hug. When they pulled apart they all headed upstairs to get ready for the ER lunch.

An hour and a half later they were at the hospital laughing and eating and having fun. After the lunch they went home and finished packing. Karla downloaded some books and music into her tablet before she packed it into her backpack along with her camera and cell phone.

When that was done she laid out her clothes for the morning and threw a change of clothes in her backpack before she took a quick shower and carried everything downstairs. Dr. Newberry was picking them up at five-thirty in the morning and taking them to the airport on his way to the hospital.

She walked into the kitchen and sat on her usual stool between Leslie and Andrew. “I put my stuff in the family room and now I’m going to bed because four-thirty is going to be here before we know it. Good night. I love you both.”

“Good night Karla. We love you too.” Leslie said and hugged her.

“Good night honey. See you in the morning.” Andrew kissed the top of her head and she walked upstairs and into her room.

“Leslie, Bob called me earlier and told me that he had a special Christmas gift for us. If we want to adopt Karla he said he could get the paperwork started as soon as we’re back.”

“Oh Andrew that’s the best news. This is the best Christmas ever. I love you baby.”

“This is the best Christmas ever. I love you too baby.”

“Karla’s right, four-thirty is going to be here before we know it. I think it’s time we went to bed too.” Leslie said and they walked up the stairs holding hands. It was the best Christmas ever.

Karla was quiet on the way to the airport. When she’d gotten up and dressed she’d been a little nervous, but the closer they’d gotten to the airport the more nervous she’d became. When Dr. Newberry pulled his SUV in front of the airport she was almost shaking.

“Karla, honey, what’s the matter?” Leslie asked her as they got their luggage from the back.

“I’m…I’m…” Karla started then stopped and took a deep breath. “I’m a little nervous about flying.”

“Why didn’t you say something sooner? We could have talked about it.” Andrew asked from behind them.

“I’m sorry. It didn’t start until I got up this morning, but it’s gotten worse since.” Karla took another deep breath. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything. I should have, but I thought I could handle it myself.” Karla dropped her gaze to the ground, afraid Andrew was upset with her.

“Oh honey, Andrew isn’t upset with you, he’s worried about you.” Leslie told her as she put her arm around Karla’s shoulders. “We’re both going to be right there with you throughout the entire flight.”

“I think I’ll be alright once I’m actually on the plane. I have books to read and music to listen to so maybe those will keep my mind from worrying.”

“If you need to talk we’ll both be here to listen. Never forget that you aren’t alone anymore.” Andrew told her and hugged her.

Once they were inside they checked their luggage, went through security and got their boarding passes. After that they settled in the first-class lounge to wait for their flight number to be called.

“Okay. We have about half an hour before we board. I’m going to get us all something to eat. Karla I’ll get you some orange juice and you can take a bagel or muffin on the plane with you. They’ll have a small selection of fruit and muffins on the plane too.”

“Good, because I don’t think I can eat anything at the moment.”

When Leslie returned she had a bottle of orange juice and a Sprite for Karla and an assortment of muffins, fruit, bagels and coffee for herself and Andrew.

Karla opened her juice then grabbed a cranberry almond muffin and an apple and put them in her backpack with her sprite. “You knew I’d be tempted by that muffin.”

Leslie laughed at her. “I know they’re your favorite and I’d hoped you’d want it. They usually only have blueberry, bran and banana nut on the planes and I thought you’d like to take one of these instead. I’m glad I was right.”

Karla smiled and sipped her juice as Leslie and Andrew ate. They’d just finished when their flight was called. They threw away their trash, grabbed their stuff and boarded the plane.

Once they were seated, Leslie on the aisle, Karla in the middle and Andrew by the window, Leslie helped Karla with her seatbelt and Karla took Leslie’s hand. When the plane started moving Karla squeezed Leslie’s hand hard and closed her eyes. “It’s going to be okay Karla. Once we’re in the air it’s just like riding in a car.” Leslie whispered in her ear.

              When they started to ascend Karla’s stomach flipped and Andrew took her other hand. “Just a few more minutes and we’ll be leveling out and you can get your tablet out and read.”

“I’m okay. Just a little scared, but I know you two are here and I’m okay.”

A few minutes later the plane leveled out and Karla released Leslie’s and Andrew’s hands. Leslie unbuckled her seatbelt and stood to retrieve their carry-ons from the overhead storage compartment. Karla immediately took out her tablet and opened the first book in the Kindred series by Erica Stevens. Rylee had recommended them last night when they’d talked and she was excited to start the first book.

By the time they landed in San Juan she’d finished the first two in the series and was in love with the characters. “These books are AWESOME Leslie. I really think you would like them.”

“What are you reading honey?”

“The Kindred series by Erica Stevens. There are five books in the series, Kindred, Ashes, Kindled, Inferno and Phoenix Rising, and I finished the first two on the plane. Here, look at them.” She handed Leslie her tablet. “Now, I’m going to change clothes because these jeans and this sweater are far too warm for Puerto Rico.”

Leslie laughed and looked at Karla’s book list. She had downloaded several teen/young adult books, most of which were based off Rylee’s suggestions. A few looked interesting and she thought she may have to read them herself. When Karla came back out of the bathroom Leslie handed her tablet back to her. “Those books look interesting, as do a few others. When we get to the hotel I may have to download some of them to read on the flight home.”

“Awesome.” Karla said as Andrew walked up with their suitcases loaded onto a cart. “We have an hour or so drive from here to the hotel right?”

“Yes, but I think you’re going to be too busy looking at the scenery to read.” Andrew winked at her and grinned.

When they got to the car rental desk Andrew talked to the man there in fluent Spanish, which caused Karla’s mouth to drop open. After they were in the car Karla asked him about it. “Where did you learn to speak Spanish like that?”

“I’ve been speaking Spanish most of my life. My grandfather was from Spain and he made sure my mom knew Spanish as well as she did English and she made sure I did too.”

“Wow. That means you can help us with our Spanish homework next semester.”

“That I can.” He said with a smile. “Now look out your window.”

Karla looked out and gasped audibly. Andrew had turned onto a coastal road and the view was spectacular. For the next hour Karla watched the beautiful scenery as they drove from San Juan to Ceiba.