Summer of Second Chances - Andrea Hurst Page 0,125
watched him walk home. Everything in her wanted to run over and hug him one more time. But she stayed strong. If they were meant to be together, they would. She let herself feel what was truly in her heart, and for now that was enough.
Chapter 43
It was Shelby's first day at her new high school. Hands shaking with nervous excitement, she reached for her JanSport backpack. The school was just over a mile up the hill, but there was some early morning rain and Alice insisted on driving her. Theo was coming along, and afterwards the two of them were going out to breakfast. She’d run into Emily, Eleanor’s niece, who she’d often seen when she’d dropped off Oscar. They had a few classes together, so at least she’d know one person at school.
As she finished getting ready, Shelby’s thoughts drifted to Logan. It had been over a week since he’d left for college. He’d sent her pictures of the road trip with his dad and some of his new dorm room. They emailed or texted every day, and even though she missed him, she kept busy working and getting ready for her new life.
Some days she’d gone down to the lake, but it seemed so empty without him. Doubt crept in, wondering if he would really come back to her. But then she'd look around the amazing place she now called home and be flooded with gratitude. She'd come a long way from that dejected girl sitting on the curb in Las Vegas with nowhere to go. And she knew that no matter what happened, she needed to trust that things would work out.
“Are you ready?” Alice called out from the living room.
Shelby took one last glance in the mirror to check her hair and new outfit. She was starting high school, where she would spend two full years, probably go to prom, and do all the normal things that she'd always longed for. Iris had invited Shelby’s whole family and Theo over for Thanksgiving. Logan would be there, too. She was being given a second chance, and she was going to make the most of it.
Alice and Theo were waiting when she entered the living room.
“The rain just stopped,” Theo said. “It looks like the sun is working its way out.”
Shelby shrugged. “It’s no big deal. I can walk.”
“I know,” Alice said. “But we really want to take you.”
Then she understood. Alice and Theo didn’t think she really needed a ride; they wanted to be there and watch her walk in for her first day. She smiled at the two of them, looking like expectant parents eager to be a part of her life.
“I’d love a ride,” Shelby said.
“Let’s go,” Theo said. “It’s no trouble. Besides, we wanted to try that new cafe near the high school. They're supposed to have an incredible breakfast."
"Let me know," Shelby said. "I’ll probably be stopping over there some mornings myself."
When they arrived at the high school, Theo pulled the car over by the curb rather than the drive-through area. "I remember when I was in high school,” he said, chuckling. “I didn't want to be seen with my parents dropping me off.”
Shelby laughed. She had never had that luxury before now. "Thanks. I’ll see you both later. And don’t worry, I can walk home.”
"All right," Alice said. "You've got your cell phone, if you need anything."
"I'll be fine.”
"You'll be more than fine," Theo said.
Shelby exited the car and walked the last half a block to Lakeview High. A light drizzle filled the sunlit air. Clouds drifted by, revealing a faint rainbow in the distance. Emily stood on the brick steps in front of the school and waved to her. Shelby took a deep breath and moved forward to start her new life.
Ten Years Later
Present Day
Shelby turned back to face her beloved groom. His eyes still glistened from tearing up when she’d walked down the aisle to him. So many smiling faces watched her as she’d floated by the chairs decorated with ribbons to match her dazzling blush and white lace gown. Steph and Josh were there with their nine-year-old daughter, Kristen, between them. Mindy and Trevor waved when she passed. In the front row, Alice sat hand in hand with Theo, who had just walked Shelby down the aisle. Next to them was Shelby’s mother, crying into Gus’s shoulder. She knew they were happy tears. On the groom’s side were Anthony and Iris DeLuca and their family.