A Second Chance novel Chapter 4

Tucker shook his head, "Basically she told Paige she couldn't use you as a replacement daddy and that she needed to let you go to live your life and to find a daddy for Aurora."

Gabe's jaw clenched hard, "Excuse me, you've got to be kidding me," he handed Aurora to Faye. "Faye I'll be back." He leaned down to kiss her hoping she would understand his need to go.

"Okay Gabe just take as much time as you need." She smiled understandably. She headed after Mr. Cummings to the living room where she sat on the leather couch. She settled Aurora in her lap taking her light pink jacket off.

"Where Momma?" Aurora looked at Faye a small frown on her small brow.

"Uncle Gabe is going to go get her, it'll be okay sweet girl." Faye looked at Marge and Tucker trying not to frown at them or give them a piece of her mind. Paige nor Aurora deserved this, Gabe was just being a good man, if Paige finally let someone into her heart then that was up to Paige until then no one could force her to make that decision.

Paige cried as she drove and drove until she came to the black granite memorial plaque his parents had put up at their grave plot. She threw her car in park and rushed out of the car falling to her knees in front of the plaque. She spun the ring again, almost hating the habit now, "Spencer come home please, I need you." She sobbed out as she stared at the engraved picture of him from five years ago, his graduation picture. His handsome face and those icy eyes stared back at her. She ran her fingers across the smooth, chilled rock. She closed her eyes tightly trying to remember the feel of his hands on her that first time, the way his lips felt on her from the last kiss they had shared before he departed. He was her first and would be her last. She drew in another shaky sob.

Gabe swung up into the cemetery and rushed to the memorial plaque. He let out a breath when he saw Paige's blue car and her knelt in front of the plaque. He got out of his truck and bustled over to her. He knelt down beside her and pulled her into his embrace, "Paige honey."

"I can't remember anything, his touch, his kisses, our first and only time is fading away from me slowly, bit by bit every day Gabe," she cried out as she laid her head against his chest. "You shouldn't be here," she mumbled. "What will you're mom think?"

"Paige I don't care," his deep voice rumbled softly. "I'm support, I know nothing will ever happen between us, nor was that my intent when I started being around you so much, you love Spence and I have a thing for Faye." Gabe began to rub her arm gently as he kissed the top of her head.

"Faye thinks something is going on between us too, she totally shut off her emotions for you after Spencer went missing, she's jealous and upset." She cried harder covering her face with her small hands. She was such a screw-up.

"Oh Honey, no, we're fine, we talked tonight we didn't know how the other felt and was waiting for the other to make a move, she told me herself she knew why I was so involved with you and Aurora, she's at my parent's house right now, come on, let's go eat supper then get you all home." He got to his feet pulling her with him. "I need you to drive your car, can you do that?"

She stared up into the same eyes as her boyfriend's but yet they were so different from his, "Yes." She wiped the tears away from her cheeks and got back into her car and made it back to the Cummings' home.

"Yes Uncle Gabe and Auntie Faye took me to the zoo, I saw all kinds of animals." She squealed in excitement and delight.

"That's great Honey, we'll discuss it after supper more okay?" Paige kissed her light brown hair. So much of her father she smiled a pained smile as Aurora scooted off of her lap and went to her chair.

The tension was almost unbearable, painful, and Paige couldn't wait to leave. She picked at the food on her plate unable to eat. She just stared at the plate while everyone else ate.

Gabe glanced at Paige, she was so depressed lately, no matter how hard she tried to keep everyone confident hers was fading. He sighed as he shook his head, he felt the small hand on his and he looked over to Faye and smiled. He squeezed her hand gently. How were they all going to get through this?

His wrists were cut free, he was barely alive, he was given just enough not to die. The rest of his will power to live came from his girl and their baby. He didn't even know how long he had been gone or how long he had been locked away. He wasn't even sure if it was morning, noon, or night. He was pulled to his feet once those were cut loose as well.

"You have to run," the quiet voice told him. "Come, come now."