A Second Chance novel Chapter 3

Gabe turned back to look and the two women and child in the diner, "You guys okay?"

Faye looked away from Gabe quickly but muttered out a yes. She looked at Aurora, "You okay sweetie?"

Aurora just stared at her Uncle a little afraid but nodded her head. She was too young to fully understand what had just happened.

"Paige?" Gabe looked from Faye, ashamed of himself a little but he had concern all over his face.

"Fine Gabe, thank you." She grabbed a rag and began to clean the countertop even though it was already cleaned.

Gabe gave a curt nod and went to Faye and Aurora, "Faye?"

"We're fine Gabe, really." She glanced up at him quickly but looked away fast.

"Well I already got that answer, I was going to ask if you could come with me and Aurora today, but after that incident, I don't know if we should leave Paige alone."

"Gabe, take her with you, I'm fine, I really doubt he'll be back today after that, Faye needs to get out and have a fun day," Paige reassured them, wondering why Gabe was wanting Faye to go along.

Faye glanced at the man who captured her heart a long time ago then to her best friend and best employee, "Are you sure?" she asked, needing to make sure Paige wasn't lying.

"Yes, Faye I'm sure I've got this," Paige answered with a genuine smile.

"Come with us Auntie Faye, Uncle Gabe always has good ideas, it'll be fun!" Aurora exclaimed as she slid from the booth and yanked on Faye's hand.

Faye smiled and gave in.

"Have fun, Aurora mind your uncle, I love you and I'll see you at supper." Paige went to her daughter and kissed her on top of the head lovingly.

"Love you too Momma." Aurora hugged her then took Gabe and Faye's hand tightly.

Paige watched them leave. A smile played on her lips before the sadness overtook her. The big lone tear fell from her eye slowly. What she wouldn't give to have that be here and Spencer going somewhere with Aurora.

She sighed and closed her eyes as she spun his class ring around her finger again like so many times before when things got tough or she got scared and nervous. She owed Gabe so much. He was such a good man and a great uncle to Aurora. Almost like a father. The tears fell more consistently as she leaned against the wall. Why couldn't they find Spencer? She needed him so much right now, especially on the tough days when Aurora and she would argue sometimes and no one was there to defuse the tension or take over.

He let out a scream of frustration, why couldn't he get his wrists free or his ankles, all he wanted was to hold his child and the mother of his child. He was barely alive but still frustrated to the point he wanted free and would fight and struggle until he did die. He would never understand why him of all people was he the one sitting here in the dark wasting away and not by choice. How much worse could things get? It would be less torture if these people would just kill him and get it over with. He tried to break the bonds holding him tightly before he slipped into the same darkness all over again.

Paige went to her daughter's grandparents' home, "Hello Mr. and Mrs. Cummings, how are you tonight?" she set her purse down on the side table and hung up her light jacket slowly. "Gabe back with Aurora yet?"

"We're fine how about Paige? He's not back yet, he called a little bit ago said he'd be here soon though." Marge answered as she pulled Paige over to the couch and sat her down on the dark green leather. "Honey, can we talk with you?"

"There's nothing to worry about, I've never stopped him from having his life, he just chooses Aurora." Paige looked dumbstruck and confused. Where was all of this coming from all of a sudden?

"He can't be a father replacement for that little girl, he is the uncle, not that father, we won't blame you for trying to find a father for Aurora someday but you can't expect it to be Gabe, he deserves his own happiness and love do you unless something is going on between you guys." Marge went to lay her hand on Paige's knee.

Paige jerked back as she stared at Marge, "No one's every replacing Spencer, as my boyfriend or as Aurora's father, I don't ask Gabe to do what he does, he just does it, and as far as anything between us it is only friendship, I'd kind of stupid to let him go out with my boss tonight if we were a thing," Paige shook her head. "I'm not giving up on Spencer, he's out there, somewhere, he'll come home soon." She got up from the couch quickly, "I'll come to get Aurora after supper, all of a sudden I have lost my appetite." She scurried to the front door, getting her things, and taking off.

The tears fell again. How could Mr. and Mrs. Cummings really think she could replace the one and only man she ever loved. The father of her daughter, it was impossible. She got in her dark blue Cavalier and took off. She just drove and drove. Spencer, please come home. She sobbed at the thought unsure what she could really do anymore.

Tucker looked at his wife, "Well that was a bust."

"Tucker I'm so worried about that girl, I'm wondering if she is even stable to take care of Aurora anymore."

"Margerie, bite your tongue, Paige loves that little girl, don't stick your nose in anymore you heard her say Gabe was out with Faye today, now let it go." Tucker got up from the matching leather chair when he heard the vehicle pull up into the driveway.

"Now we have to keep a little girl calm because her mother isn't here because of her grandma, just let it go." He went to the front door and opened it to see his son get out with his niece and the attractive owner of Red Café. He greeted them with a smile.

"What did Mom do, I just saw Paige leaving and wasn't very slow either." Gabe shot a look at his dad, ice blue meeting ice blue.