Free A New Hope (The Second Chance Series Book 2) by Christina Escue Page A

there mother. She nudged Bob with her elbow. “She’s here,” she said and when he looked up she nodded toward the woman who was walking toward the bar. She either didn’t see them or didn’t recognize them because she was headed to the opposite end from where they were.
    “Think she even recognizes us?” Bob asked quietly.
    “I doubt it. I was still in diapers when she left and you weren’t much older.”
    “Guess we’ll find out in a minute. Our table is ready.”
    As they followed the hostess to their table they watched another hostess approach their mother and lead her to the table. They all arrived at the same time and just stared at each other for a second.
    “Mother.” Bob greeted the woman who gave birth to him and Leslie before he pulled out Leslie’s chair and then took his own.
    “Bob, Leslie, you’re all grown up.”
    “That happens over the course of 30 plus years.” Leslie said in a calm voice. She was already ready to get out of here.
    “Yes, I suppose it does.” She responded wistfully. “I think we should get straight to the point of why I wanted to see you both.”
    “I agree.” Leslie said in a clipped tone. She really didn’t want to be here any longer than necessary.
    “Over the course of the years I have been married and divorced several times, I just could not find the right fit, until last year. I married a man who has everything I’ve always longed for. He’s a record producer in California and is here in Nashville this week signing a new client. When he found out I had two children in the area he insisted I see you while we were here.”
    “Wait a minute. You aren’t here because you wanted to see us, but because your new husband is making you see us?” Bob asked in an irritated tone.
    “Of course. Why would I want to see my two grown children? I haven’t in the past have I?”
    “Wow. If you don’t want to be here then by all means leave. We both have families at home that we’d rather be with anyway.” Leslie told her in a clipped tone.
    “Don’t you sass me young lady. I am still your mother.”
    “You were never my mother. You’re just the woman who gave birth to me. Now, if you’ll excuse me I have a wonderful husband, daughter and soon to be son at home waiting for me.” Leslie said as she stood up and started walking toward the door.
    “I told Herold this was a mistake. I can see that you’re just like your father, both of you.”
    Bob looked at her with sadness in his eyes and said, “I would much rather be like him than you. He stayed and made sure Leslie and I had everything we needed. You left and never looked back. Leslie’s right, you were never our mother. Goodbye, Karen.” Bob said and he tossed two twenty dollar bills on the table to cover their drinks before he followed Leslie out to the car.
    “That went exactly how I expected.” Leslie said as he slid into the passenger seat.
    “Yes it did.” He agreed and then looked out the window, signaling her that he didn’t want to talk about it. She took the hint and drove him home in silence. After she dropped him off with the promise of seeing him at Karla’s party next week, she drove home.
    As soon as she walked in the door she was assaulted by the smell of pizza and the sound of her family laughing from the kitchen. This was home, this was where she was meant to be.
     

Chapter Twenty
     
     
    The following week was uneventful. On the day Manuel and Kiara were supposed to arrive, with their aunt, Karla was a nervous wreck. She loved her brother and sister, but she did not want to meet their aunt. She couldn’t even think about this woman as her aunt, she was just another person who didn’t care what she wanted. Manuel and Kiara had tried talking her out of coming, had told her how upset Karla was and how much she didn’t want to meet her, but she still insisted on coming. She wouldn’t give in at all and that proved to Karla that she only cared about herself.
    On the way to the