Second Chance Girl
Page 65
“I’ll be okay,” she promised. “No matter what. So you’re going to keep packing.”
“I don’t want to leave you.”
“I don’t want to be left, but I do want you to go.”
They hugged for a second time. Carol let the love wash over her. Healing seemed so very far away, but at least there was the promise that she would get better. She knew she had some decisions to make. She could either live her life in fear, or she could fight for what she wanted. The decision was hers. With or without Mathias, she had to make the right one or she would also fall short of who she wanted to be.
* * *
THE FEDEX WILD animal shipping division did an excellent job of giraffe delivery. Carol watched as Mrs. Santora walked delicately down the ramp leading to her new home. Like Millie, Mrs. Santora was a Somali giraffe, native to northeastern Kenya, southern Ethiopia and Somalia. There were estimated to be less than five thousand in the wild.
Mrs. Santora hesitated, as if not sure what to do.
“It’s okay,” Carol said softly. “You’re safe now.”
Like Millie, Mrs. Santora had lived a solitary life for several years. While she was a bit older than Millie, they were both relatively young. Carol hoped they would form a strong and lasting friendship.
For the first few days, Mrs. Santora and Millie would be kept completely separate. Once Mrs. Santora was more comfortable in her surroundings, they would be allowed to see each other from a safe distance. Carol hoped that within a month or so, they would be the start of the new Happily Inc herd.
“I have the best leaf-eater treats,” Carole told her. “The zebras are a little wild, but you know how they get. We have gazelles and a water buffalo. I want you to be happy here. Do you think that’s possible?”
Mrs. Santora looked at her. She blinked, her long lashes sweeping up and down.
Carol smiled. “I’m going to take that as a yes.”
Mrs. Santora walked into her enclosure. There were several branches hanging from a sturdy pole. The giraffe moved toward them, sniffed once, then took a single leaf and chewed.
“That’s my girl,” Carol whispered. “Welcome home.”
* * *
MATHIAS TOOK HIS morning coffee out onto his patio. The mornings had gotten colder as October stretched into early November, but the afternoons were still warm. He watched wisps of fog snake along the ground and thought about going in for his sketch pad, only he knew there wasn’t any point. He was done creating anything beyond his dishes and bowls. Whatever muse Carol and Millie had inspired had long since moved away. He’d tried making a few things, only to fail miserably. His skills were still there, but not the heart of the piece.
Today was the day—the big giraffe reveal. Everyone in town knew and later there would be a celebration in the office of the preserve. By virtue of his location and dumb luck, he had a front seat to the pre-game show.
A little after seven, Carol’s electric golf cart came into view. Thick branches covered with leaves were stacked on the open back. As he watched, she and her father hoisted the branches up onto three tall poles grouped together. They secured the chains, then returned to the golf cart and backed away. When they were about fifty yards from the poles, they stopped and waited. Mathias watched along with them.
It only took a few minutes for Millie to appear. She walked toward the poles, two giraffes just behind her. They all reached the poles and began to eat.
Millie’s herd, Mathias thought. Carol had made it happen. Two of the giraffes were already here and settled in. Two more would be arriving within the week. Once they were ready to make friends, there would be five giraffes in total.
He’d heard from Nick that the two newcomers had adapted more quickly than anyone had dared to hope. The local news had run several stories on Millie’s growing family and the story had been picked up nationally. More donations were flowing in to fund expanding the preserve. Apparently there was talk of starting a breeding program for a few endangered grazing animals. He’d also heard that a couple of botanists were going to see what they could grow outside of Happily Inc as a way to help save endangered plants.
Carol must be proud, he thought. She’d accomplished so much with only a little help. He was glad for his part in what was happening. He wondered if she thought of him much at all or if she’d put him behind her. As for himself, he was living on the ragged edge.
He’d known being without her would be tough, but he’d figured he would start to bounce back in a few weeks. No such luck. He couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat. It was as if Carol was his entire world and without her, there was no reason to get up in the morning. He was going through the motions because he didn’t want to hear any crap from his brothers, but he was starting to think they weren’t fooled.
He told himself he needed to get back on the horse, so to speak. That he should find some pretty bridesmaid and make sure they both had a good time. Only he didn’t want to. His bed might be cold and empty, but the only way to fill it was with Carol.
He missed her. He missed her laugh, her smile, her touch, her warmth. He missed talking to her and laughing with her. He missed knowing he could look forward to going to The Boardroom with her. Sometime when he hadn’t been paying attention, she’d become everything, and without her, there was nothing.
Which left him at a crossroads. What did he do? Assuming he was going to get over her was one possibility, but based on what had happened so far, he had his doubts. That left sucking it up and taking a chance. Something he’d never been willing to do before. But maybe he no longer had a choice—not when Carol was on the line.
He watched her and her father drive back to the main barn, then turned his attention to Millie and her herd. They were so beautiful in the morning light. Both awkward and elegant, completely out of place on the edge of the California desert, yet completely at home.
His cell phone chirped. He pulled it out of his pocket and stared at the single word text.
Well?
Atsuko had been pushing him for weeks. She wanted to have a one-man show for him. Worse than that, a one-man show with a single piece. The statue he’d done of Carol and Millie.
While he appreciated her support, he didn’t understand the point. He was never going to make anything like that again. As for selling it, he had his doubts. Did he want it to go to someone else? Although keeping it was pointless and based on what had happened, or not happened between them, there was no way Carol would want it.
Sure, he texted back, then turned his back on the giraffes and walked into the house.
* * *
CAROL’S STOMACH WAS not happy. The churning, cramping pressure made it hard to relax. Not that she’d thought she would be able to be anything but nervous, but her tummy’s emotional meltdown wasn’t helping.
Mathias’s show was that night. She’d been invited, along with everyone else she knew. When she’d sent her regrets—because there was no way she could face him in such close quarters in front of all her friends, plus what if he brought a date—Atsuko had asked her to stop by the gallery before the event. Because there was something Carol had to see.
Which all sounded mysterious, and not in a happy I have your favorite flavor of ice cream kind of way. But Atsuko had been amazing with the fund-raiser and had made Carol’s dreams of a herd possible, so saying no wasn’t exactly an option. Telling Atsuko she’d already seen enough of Mathias’s work, thank you very much, wasn’t polite, or true. Honestly, she would love to spend the rest of her life looking at his creations. Which was why three hours before the event, she parked in front of the gallery and told herself she was strong and powerful and going inside would be no big deal.
“I don’t want to leave you.”
“I don’t want to be left, but I do want you to go.”
They hugged for a second time. Carol let the love wash over her. Healing seemed so very far away, but at least there was the promise that she would get better. She knew she had some decisions to make. She could either live her life in fear, or she could fight for what she wanted. The decision was hers. With or without Mathias, she had to make the right one or she would also fall short of who she wanted to be.
* * *
THE FEDEX WILD animal shipping division did an excellent job of giraffe delivery. Carol watched as Mrs. Santora walked delicately down the ramp leading to her new home. Like Millie, Mrs. Santora was a Somali giraffe, native to northeastern Kenya, southern Ethiopia and Somalia. There were estimated to be less than five thousand in the wild.
Mrs. Santora hesitated, as if not sure what to do.
“It’s okay,” Carol said softly. “You’re safe now.”
Like Millie, Mrs. Santora had lived a solitary life for several years. While she was a bit older than Millie, they were both relatively young. Carol hoped they would form a strong and lasting friendship.
For the first few days, Mrs. Santora and Millie would be kept completely separate. Once Mrs. Santora was more comfortable in her surroundings, they would be allowed to see each other from a safe distance. Carol hoped that within a month or so, they would be the start of the new Happily Inc herd.
“I have the best leaf-eater treats,” Carole told her. “The zebras are a little wild, but you know how they get. We have gazelles and a water buffalo. I want you to be happy here. Do you think that’s possible?”
Mrs. Santora looked at her. She blinked, her long lashes sweeping up and down.
Carol smiled. “I’m going to take that as a yes.”
Mrs. Santora walked into her enclosure. There were several branches hanging from a sturdy pole. The giraffe moved toward them, sniffed once, then took a single leaf and chewed.
“That’s my girl,” Carol whispered. “Welcome home.”
* * *
MATHIAS TOOK HIS morning coffee out onto his patio. The mornings had gotten colder as October stretched into early November, but the afternoons were still warm. He watched wisps of fog snake along the ground and thought about going in for his sketch pad, only he knew there wasn’t any point. He was done creating anything beyond his dishes and bowls. Whatever muse Carol and Millie had inspired had long since moved away. He’d tried making a few things, only to fail miserably. His skills were still there, but not the heart of the piece.
Today was the day—the big giraffe reveal. Everyone in town knew and later there would be a celebration in the office of the preserve. By virtue of his location and dumb luck, he had a front seat to the pre-game show.
A little after seven, Carol’s electric golf cart came into view. Thick branches covered with leaves were stacked on the open back. As he watched, she and her father hoisted the branches up onto three tall poles grouped together. They secured the chains, then returned to the golf cart and backed away. When they were about fifty yards from the poles, they stopped and waited. Mathias watched along with them.
It only took a few minutes for Millie to appear. She walked toward the poles, two giraffes just behind her. They all reached the poles and began to eat.
Millie’s herd, Mathias thought. Carol had made it happen. Two of the giraffes were already here and settled in. Two more would be arriving within the week. Once they were ready to make friends, there would be five giraffes in total.
He’d heard from Nick that the two newcomers had adapted more quickly than anyone had dared to hope. The local news had run several stories on Millie’s growing family and the story had been picked up nationally. More donations were flowing in to fund expanding the preserve. Apparently there was talk of starting a breeding program for a few endangered grazing animals. He’d also heard that a couple of botanists were going to see what they could grow outside of Happily Inc as a way to help save endangered plants.
Carol must be proud, he thought. She’d accomplished so much with only a little help. He was glad for his part in what was happening. He wondered if she thought of him much at all or if she’d put him behind her. As for himself, he was living on the ragged edge.
He’d known being without her would be tough, but he’d figured he would start to bounce back in a few weeks. No such luck. He couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat. It was as if Carol was his entire world and without her, there was no reason to get up in the morning. He was going through the motions because he didn’t want to hear any crap from his brothers, but he was starting to think they weren’t fooled.
He told himself he needed to get back on the horse, so to speak. That he should find some pretty bridesmaid and make sure they both had a good time. Only he didn’t want to. His bed might be cold and empty, but the only way to fill it was with Carol.
He missed her. He missed her laugh, her smile, her touch, her warmth. He missed talking to her and laughing with her. He missed knowing he could look forward to going to The Boardroom with her. Sometime when he hadn’t been paying attention, she’d become everything, and without her, there was nothing.
Which left him at a crossroads. What did he do? Assuming he was going to get over her was one possibility, but based on what had happened so far, he had his doubts. That left sucking it up and taking a chance. Something he’d never been willing to do before. But maybe he no longer had a choice—not when Carol was on the line.
He watched her and her father drive back to the main barn, then turned his attention to Millie and her herd. They were so beautiful in the morning light. Both awkward and elegant, completely out of place on the edge of the California desert, yet completely at home.
His cell phone chirped. He pulled it out of his pocket and stared at the single word text.
Well?
Atsuko had been pushing him for weeks. She wanted to have a one-man show for him. Worse than that, a one-man show with a single piece. The statue he’d done of Carol and Millie.
While he appreciated her support, he didn’t understand the point. He was never going to make anything like that again. As for selling it, he had his doubts. Did he want it to go to someone else? Although keeping it was pointless and based on what had happened, or not happened between them, there was no way Carol would want it.
Sure, he texted back, then turned his back on the giraffes and walked into the house.
* * *
CAROL’S STOMACH WAS not happy. The churning, cramping pressure made it hard to relax. Not that she’d thought she would be able to be anything but nervous, but her tummy’s emotional meltdown wasn’t helping.
Mathias’s show was that night. She’d been invited, along with everyone else she knew. When she’d sent her regrets—because there was no way she could face him in such close quarters in front of all her friends, plus what if he brought a date—Atsuko had asked her to stop by the gallery before the event. Because there was something Carol had to see.
Which all sounded mysterious, and not in a happy I have your favorite flavor of ice cream kind of way. But Atsuko had been amazing with the fund-raiser and had made Carol’s dreams of a herd possible, so saying no wasn’t exactly an option. Telling Atsuko she’d already seen enough of Mathias’s work, thank you very much, wasn’t polite, or true. Honestly, she would love to spend the rest of her life looking at his creations. Which was why three hours before the event, she parked in front of the gallery and told herself she was strong and powerful and going inside would be no big deal.
