Free A Blast from the Past (A Second Chance Romance) by Sharon Cummin Page A

making the people I care about's
lives a little easier if I could. I wouldn't let her give me shit
about it.
    As
soon as I walked outside, I grabbed the ball the kids were throwing.
Little April made a comment about me getting my suit dirty, and I
took off after her. She laughed and yelled as I chased her around the
yard. When I caught her, I could tell she was surprised.
    "Not
bad for a stuffy, old guy in a suit," I said.
    "I
never said you were old," she said with a laugh, as she took off
again.
    By
the time I caught her a second time, it was taking its toll on me. I
fell to the ground on my back. She stood over me and laughed.
    "You're
a better workout than the gym," I said between breaths.
    "You
really should put some play clothes on," Jack said, as he ran
up. "You're going to mess up your dress clothes. We get in
trouble for playing in our nice clothes."
    I
pulled them both down on top of me and they started laughing. Hearing
the two of them had me laughing too.
    "You're
not so bad," Jack said. "I think you're kind of fun. Do you
have fun like this where you live?"
    "No,"
I said honestly. "I don't have anyone to have fun with. I work
most of the time."
    "Do
you get to see blood?" April asked.
    They
were both sprawled out on the ground next to me, talking about what I
got to do as a doctor, when Livie walked out to find them.
    "Your
job sounds so cool," Jack said.
    "It's
pretty awesome," I said.
    "You
kids need to leave Zander alone," Livie yelled out, as she got
closer to us.
    "Zander
gets to see blood, mom," Jack yelled. "He gets to see what
people look like on the inside too. Doesn't that sound so cool?"
    "It
does," Livie said. "I need to get you two in the house for
dessert."
    "Zander
got his nice clothes dirty," April said. "We told him not
to do it."
    "That's
okay," Livie said. "I'm sure he knows what he's doing."
    "You
won't let us dirty our nice clothes," Jack said.
    Livie
looked down at me. I could tell she was fighting a laugh. I stood up
and pulled the two kids up from the ground. My suit was dirty for
sure, but I didn't care. The two of them were actually a lot of fun.
They ran ahead toward the house.
    "You
didn't have to play with them," Livie said. "Exactly how
much do they know about your job?"
    "Just
the cool stuff," I said. "I get to see blood and cut people
open so I can fix them inside."
    "I
never really thought about," she said. "I just thought of
you as a doctor. I never thought of you elbow deep in blood, tying
things together."
    I
burst out laughing.
    "Maybe
that's what I should say. I have to tie you back together."
    Livie
burst into laughter as well.
    "That
might not be a good idea. I'm sure it's very rewarding knowing you're
helping people."
    "It
is," I said. "It's also sad at times when you have to tell
someone that you can't help them. Sometimes it's really hard."
    She
looked over at me, and I could tell she wanted to say something else.
    "When
were you there?" I asked.
    "Where?"
she asked.
    "When
did you come to New York, Livie?" I said. "Why didn't you
come and see me?"
    "The
week before I accepted Mike's proposal. He told you that. I'm going
to get the kids their plates."
    "I'll
help you," I said. "Let me go change first."
    I
ran upstairs and changed into my pair of jeans and a t-shirt. When my
hands were clean, I went back down. Livie had just finished helping
the kids wash their hands as well. I helped Jack fix his plate while
she helped April.
    "We're
a pretty good team," I said without thinking.
    "Fix
yourself a plate," she said. "I'm not doing it for you."
    I
gave her a narrowed look and handed her a plate.
    "After
you," I growled.
    I
grabbed drinks for the kids, and she let me know that they got drinks
after dessert not during.
    "You
really are a good mom," I said.
    As
soon as we finished eating, I looked around at all of the people
still surrounding my mom and needed to think about things. Livie was
in the kitchen. I took off out the door to clear my mind and figure
some things