A Second Chance novel Chapter 1

Paige Ryder stared up at the man who claimed her heart years ago when he prevented the class bully from bullying her. Ever since then Paige and Spencer Cummings had become inseparable. She tilted her head back some to look at Spencer better, her being five three and him six-two.

Spencer laid his hand against his girl's cheek softly.

Paige moved her hand up to his quickly as she closed her doe brown eyes. "I love you, Spencer, please just, just come back to me." This was so hard for a nineteen-year-old girl but she managed to fight back the tears.

Spencer hugged Paige slowly than sat his backpack on the ground, "Baby girl look at me," he whispered, brown met icy blue that always looked warmer and had a glimmer to them. "I love you, Baby girl, I'll come back, I'll come back to marry you, then we can start our family." He grabbed his class ring from his right ring finger. He slid it onto her left ring finger, "I'm sorry I couldn't get something better but this is my promise to you I am going to marry you." The twenty-three-year-old man bent down and caught her soft naturally pinked lips gently. "Everything will be okay."

Paige bit her lip as she looked down at the ring he slid on to her finger. It was gold and had two thousand and one down the side of it, the stone was garnet color being born in January while she was born in October. She thought about telling him the news but she wanted to be sure before. She squeezed his hand, it was probably foolish to believe they would have a future after today but she wanted that future. She held back the tears until he turned away from her and his family.

She felt a pair of arms wrap around her, holding tight, "Don't worry Paige, he's very strong, if anyone can survive and come back he will."

"I know Gabe, it hurts so much, I love him, I'm going to miss him." Paige let the tears flow freely as she watched him board the plane to take him away from them. She was grateful he didn't turn back around.

"I know Paige, six months will fly by we will get to see him and everything will be okay." Gabe Cummings squeezed Paige gently laying his chin on top of her head. He was just as tall as Spencer if not a little taller, all the Cummings' men were tall. He felt him clutch his arm in her hands as they watched Spence go. With being twenty-eight seeing his twenty-three-year-old brother leave was harder than he thought it would be, he loved his baby brother too but he could be strong for his girl. He didn't have anyone and it was what fit his style the most.

"I hope you are right Gabe, I hope you both are right." Paige turned into Spencer's older brother's arms and squeezed his waist tightly in a hug. She could do this. They could all do this.

EIGHT MONTHS LATER

"Hey Paige, how're you doing?" Gabe sat down at the bar on the swivel red vinyl stool.

Paige turned towards him holding her back as she did to try to release some pressure in it.

"Jesus Paige, sorry, are you sure it's only one in there?" his blue eyes locked on her very round, very pregnant belly, under her very white apron.

"She's definitely not small, but then again look at her relations are and who her father is." She smiled softly but sadly at the same time.

Gabe looked away fighting the anger inside of him, "How much longer you got?"

"I am exactly eight months today," she rubbed her back trying to ease the pain in it. "Are you okay Gabe?"

"Peachy I hate seeing you work like this though, you know we'd help you." He looked back up from the red and white tile he was staring at. His blue eyes met her brown ones, her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail but there were strands of loose hair falling around her face from that ponytail.

Paige grasped his rough, tan hand tightly, "I know Gabe, it's okay I can do this though, if I really need help I'll ask but I'm fine really." She drew in a deep breath, "Has anyone told you guys anything yet?"

"Still no word, they just keep saying they aren't able to discuss it as this time." Gabe's jaw clenched as he stared at the clock with different coke containers for the numbers.

Paige closed her eyes tightly as she laid her hand on her belly as the little girl inside her gave a hard, sharp kick. She let out a slow breath. "He's not gone Gabe, I feel it, he's out there and he'll come home soon." She spun the high school ring around her ring her finger, she had developed the habit shortly after Spencer left.

He shook his head, "But he won't be the same Paige, you didn't even get to tell him about the little baby you guys made."

"I've tried, my parents have tried, she's just too determined."

"Hello, her, and she is right here in front of you, and I am perfectly, ouch!" She gasped as she laid her hand against her belly and leaned against the wall.

"Paige?" Faye placed the tote on the side of the counter and rushed to her employee and friend. "What's wrong?" she grabbed her arm tightly.

Paige took a deep breath, she rubbed her belly gently, "I don't know, sharp pain." She muttered trying to stand straight again but the pain hit her again.

Gabe shoved himself off the swivel stool and flew around the counter scooping Paige up, "Hospital time." He said as he rushed out of the diner to his dark hunter green Chevy Silverado, he placed her in the truck and headed for the hospital as fast as possible he could without breaking any laws.

Paige yelled in pain, she couldn't do this, she wanted Spencer, tears began to fall down her cheeks.

"Just hang on Paige, it's going to be okay." Gabe reached out to grab her hand and she took it squeezing hard.

It was so dark, cold, and small. He barely came to but he knew he wasn't where he was supposed to be. Something was wrong at home, something was happening and there was nothing he could do but try to survive. He struggled against the bonds on his wrists and ankles, nothing. His girl, their baby, he had to get to them, they needed him. He slowly let the darkness take him again.

"Gabe!" Paige yelled as they pulled up to the ER entrance.

"I know Honey, I know just hang on!" Gabe threw the truck in park. He rushed over to the passenger side and scooped her into his strong arms again taking her through the sliding glass doors. "Help," he ran to the receptionist's desk. "She's only eight months pregnant, she's having a lot of pain."