Summer of Second Chances - Andrea Hurst Page 0,119
over to him. “He helped me to see that…" Before she could finish her sentence, Dana began to weep.
Alice picked up a box of tissues and sat beside Dana on the couch. "We love you, Dana,” she said, placing the box before her. “You know that."
That only made Dana cry harder. Gus patted her hand but stayed quiet.
"Sometimes I’m not sure why, but Gus loves me too,” she said, clutching a tissue and blotting her face. "Gus has shown me what love really is, and that when you love someone, you want the best for them." Dana looked up, seeking reassurance from her family.
Shelby’s heart glowed hearing the words coming from her mother. Maybe Gus was the one for her mother after all, and things would get better for all of them.
“That’s right,” Alice said. “That’s how I love you too.”
Dana sighed. "I know how difficult I was as a teenager,” she said to Alice. “I was pretty wild and put you through a lot, but you and Dad were always there for me. I’m sorry for what I said yesterday.”
Alice took Dana’s hand. "We always loved you and were so desperately sad for you when your husband passed at such a young age. But now, it sounds like you’ve found a wonderful man."
“I have,” Dana said, smiling at Gus. She stood and walked over to Shelby. "It's hard for me to say. I know I haven't been the best mother, but I do love you, Shelby."
"I love you too, Mom."
They hugged briefly, neither quite comfortable yet with the closeness.
Dana pulled back and took a step toward the door. "As sad as it makes me, Shelby, I understand your decision to stay here with your grandmother and finish high school at the lake."
"Thank you, Mom," Shelby said. "I'll visit you whenever I can."
“We’ll look forward to seeing you,” Dana said. She pulled Shelby in for another hug and whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Shelby tightened the hug and whispered back. “Me too. But we’ll be okay,” she said.
Dana stepped back and Gus moved beside her, putting an arm around her shoulder. She leaned her head on his shoulder briefly before addressing Shelby again. “I know you'll be happy here and your grandmother will take good care of you.”
“The very best,” Alice said, joining them.
“And one more thing,” she said to Shelby. “I'm proud of you. Don't think I haven't noticed your good grades, hard work, starting a business, all of it.”
Her mother’s words were a healing balm soothing Shelby’s heart. “Thank you. One last request,” Shelby said, retrieving the custody agreement and a pen. She didn’t want to break the spell by asking Dana to sign the papers, but she couldn’t enroll in school without them.
For a split second, Dana hesitated before taking the papers and signing them quickly. “Some distance might help us all have a closer relationship. And that’s what I want more than anything.”
“Me too,” Shelby said. Hope fluttered in her heart. Something she’d all but given up on years ago. And here it was returning like the blossoms in spring offering her another chance.
Dana glanced out the window toward the truck. "We’d better go now, right, Gus?”
“If you’re ready,” he said gently. “Shelby, I want you and your grandmother to know you’re always welcome in our home in Florida. Even if I have to come pick you up to get there.” He turned and kissed Dana on the cheek. “And of course, we’ll let you know when the wedding is."
"And we'll be there. Both of us," Alice said. “How about a group hug?”
The three generations of women came together, maybe for the first time. Gus joined them. As the love moved between them, Shelby heard Alice whisper into Dana's ear, "I'm proud of you, too."
The moment of closeness lingered afterwards, before Gus walked them to the front door.
This time, saying goodbye was real and Shelby was not sure when she’d see her mother again. "I'd like to walk with you out to the car,” she said.
Dana beamed. "Of course.”
Before getting in the truck, Gus turned to Shelby. “I’m so glad it all worked out,” he said. “I know it’s going to take some time, but I hope we can be friends.”
“Me too,” she said looking up at his kind face. Why had she not noticed his caring eyes and genuine smile before?
Gus helped Dana into the truck, but before he could shut the door, Alice said. “I almost forgot. Congratulations on your new home!”