Chance Encounter (A Chance and a Hope Book 1) Read online

  “Thanks, Toby. What would I do without you?”

  “You’d be just fine, but that’s just a hypothetical because you don’t have to do without me. I’m here. We’ll get you through this. It’s just another bump in the road. You’ve had more than your fair share of those and they’ve never gotten to you yet.”

  “You’re right. What do you think I should do, should I call him?”

  Toby shrugged. “What do you want to do?”

  “Honestly, I’d like to just forget all about him. I don’t want to listen to his lies and excuses. I just want it to be over.”

  “Do you really think it can be that simple? I don’t, not with the wolves already at the gate.”

  “You asked me what I wanted, not what I thought was realistic. I’ll deal with it, I’ll deal with him, but I think I’ll wait for him to call me. I think I should probably just hunker down here for the weekend. Do you have any plans this weekend? I don’t suppose you feel like hanging out, do you?”

  Toby grinned. “As soon as I saw the TV this morning I canceled all my plans for the weekend. I brought lots of work for us to catch up on in case you feel like it, and if you don’t, we can binge watch movies and eat junk food.”

  She smiled at him. “You’re the best friend a girl could ask for, you know that?”

  “Just doing my job, ma’am,” he said with a grin.

  “Whatever!” She pushed at his arm. “What about your mom, though? Wouldn’t you be spending time with her this weekend?

  “No. Drew’s timing is pretty good. My brother is taking her to a new therapist for the weekend. I don’t think it’s going to be any help, but we’re prepared to try anything.”

  She narrowed her eyes as a thought struck her. “I know you don’t like to talk about her at work, and you know I’ve always found that really weird. This weekend you’re going to tell me all about how she’s doing and what kind of therapy she needs.”

  Toby rolled his eyes. “I don’t like to talk about it because we’re always too busy with work, but honestly, I think I do need to talk about it; the stress has been building up. Maybe I can help you forget about your problems by dumping mine on you.” He gave her a rueful smile.

  “Sounds like a plan to me.” She felt bad; she hadn’t realized that he was stressed about his mom. It helped put things in perspective for her. She was feeling shocked and hurt that a man whom she already knew she didn’t love had cheated on her. It seemed a little ridiculous that the world should have to stop because of that, but Toby had to soldier on in the face of real problems.

  Chapter Two

  When he got back to his dad’s house, the house where he’d grown up, Chance sat in his truck outside for a few moments. This visit back to Summer Lake was an emotional one for him. His visit to the cemetery this morning had been weighing heavily on him for weeks. He’d known he needed to do it, but part of him hadn’t wanted to. Even now he had mixed feelings. He knew he’d done the right thing, but part of him still wasn’t ready to let her go. Even phrasing it like that felt wrong; he wasn’t letting her go—he never would. All he was doing was making a conscious decision to move on with his life. Hell, if he was honest, he was giving himself permission to start living again.

  His dad was the reason he was here now. He’d had a stroke almost a year ago and wasn’t making great progress with his recovery. Chance had learned about a rehabilitation center out on the Oregon Coast and he was going to take him out there.

  The front door opened and Chance smiled when he saw his sister Missy standing there. He got out of his truck and walked up the path to meet her.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I’m fine, honey.”

  She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight then stepped quickly back. “Sorry, I couldn’t help it.”

  He smiled. “Don’t apologize, just because I’m a grumpy bastard doesn’t mean I don’t need a hug every now and again. I sure as hell needed that one. Thanks, Miss.”

  “Where have you been?”

  Chance narrowed his eyes. She knew better than to question him as to his whereabouts. He blew out a sigh. And he knew better than to be such a hard-ass. If he really was going to open up to life and to people, then he needed to start with his little sister. “I went out to see Chloe.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “That must sound pretty damned crazy. I mean, I went to the cemetery.”

  Missy’s eyes widened in surprise. He couldn’t blame her; that was probably the most personal thing he’d told her in years. She nodded, but seemed lost for words, which wasn’t like her.

  He smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. “I never thought the cat would get your tongue.”

  She laughed. “Me neither, I just don’t know what to say. I hope you’re okay?”

  “I’m more okay than I’ve been in years. How does that line go? I ain’t as good as I’m going to get, but I’m better than I used to be.”

  “I like the sound of that.”

  “Me too. I’m a work in progress.”

  “Aren’t we all?”

  “Anyways, we can’t stay here gas-bagging on the doorstep. Are you going to let me in? How is he?”

  “He’s great. He and Alice seem to be looking at this whole thing as a vacation. When you first suggested this rehabilitation center, I didn’t think he’d go for it at all. But Alice really talked it up.”

  “I like her. She’s been so good for him.”

  “She’s amazing. And so are you. Before we go in there, though, I want to ask you one more time, please will you let us pay? Let us go halves with you if nothing else?”

  Chance shook his head firmly. “We already talked about this. It’s only costing me half of what it should because Dr. Johnny’s a friend. And besides, Dan’s paying for Smoke to fly us out there and pick us up again. That will probably cost more than the treatment.”

  Missy wrinkled her nose, a sign that, Chance knew, meant she was about to argue. She didn’t get the chance to, as her husband, Dan, appeared at her side. “Is everything okay out here? They’re wondering where you both got to.”

  Chance smiled at him. “We’re just on our way in. Little Miss Bossy Boots here was trying to argue with me.”

  Dan shook his head with a smile. “I’m staying out of this one.”

  “You’re safe,” said Chance. “There is no arguing with me. You guys are paying for the flights, I’m paying for the treatment. End of story.”

  “Are you kids coming back in or not?” called their dad from the living room.

  “Coming,” said Missy as she led Chance and Dan inside.

  “Can I get any of you a drink?” asked Alice.

  Chance shook his head. “You take a seat; let me get you one.” Alice had been brought in as a caregiver for their dad after his stroke. The two of them had quickly struck up a friendship which had evolved into something more. Chance was happy for both of them and he liked to try to make Alice feel like one of the family—not like hired help.

  She smiled gratefully at him. “Thank you, Chance. You’re such a good boy.”

  Missy shot him a gleeful smile. No one had called him boy in years, and they both knew Alice was one of a very few people on earth who could get away with it.

  He returned in a few minutes with a tray of drinks and set it down on the coffee table. He passed a glass to Alice first and then another to his dad. It took him a few moments to get a steady enough grip that Chance felt safe to let go.

  His dad met his gaze. “You really think this fancy doctor friend of yours is going to be able to work miracles?”

  “We’ve talked about this,” said Alice. “We can’t hope for miracles, but I’m sure you will make lots of progress.”

  Chance nodded solemnly. “By all accounts Dr. Johnny’s center runs one of the best stroke rehab programs in the country.”

  “And how do you know him again?” asked Dan.

  “His family, the Davenports, own a huge tract of land in the valley
. They all have big fancy houses out there. His brother is Seymour Davenport; you know, the billionaire you see on TV sometimes? You never see him in the valley anymore, Johnny’s the only one who ever spends any time there. He’s a nice guy, he runs a small herd of cattle and I’ve helped his guys out from time to time. I always knew he was a doctor, but I never knew what kind of doctor till just recently. When I found out about his rehab center I gave him a call.”

  His dad grinned at him. “It’s good to have friends in high places, huh, son?”

  Chance shrugged. “It’s even better to have a genius in the family,” he smiled at Dan. “If it weren’t for Danny I don’t know how we’d get you to Oregon.”

  “I’d have to fly cattle class like everyone else, and I’m not sure I’d be up to that. I’m glad I don’t have to. Thank you, Dan.”

  Dan gave them a bashful shrug. “I’m just glad to be able to help.”

  “And when do we have to leave?” asked Alice. “I’ve never flown anything but cattle class. I’m not used to zipping around in a fancy private jet like the rest of you.”

  “Smoke said to have you at the airport by two o’clock tomorrow afternoon. That will give you plenty of time to get there and get settled in,” said Dan.

  “Yeah, registration is at ten o’clock on Monday morning,” said Chance.

  “And you’re sure you’re going to stay out there and hang around the whole two weeks?” asked his dad. “Don’t you need to get back to Montana?”

  “No. I want to stay the whole time you’re there. I probably won’t be any use to you, but I want to be there in case I can be.” Not only that, but Chance was looking forward to spending a couple of weeks outside of his normal life. He loved the ranch, loved his work, but he felt as though his life was going through some kind of transition, and he was looking forward to spending a couple of weeks by himself on the coast. He felt as though he needed it. He’d been looking at this time as some kind of retreat he needed to go on.

  ~ ~ ~

  “Do you think there’s any point in trying to get a pizza delivered?” she asked.

  Toby shook his head. “No point at all. There’s still a bunch of reporters hanging out by the gate. It wouldn’t be fair to ask a delivery guy to try to get through them. And besides, you must have something we can eat here.”

  “There are all kinds of things in the fridge and in the cupboards. I was just hoping to create some semblance of normalcy. It’s Saturday night. I like to order pizza on Saturday night if I’m home. Drew has screwed everything up. Nothing about today has been normal, I’m sure nothing about the next week will be normal. I just wanted pizza.”

  Toby smiled. “Do you have such a thing as a frozen pizza?”

  “I’m sure I do.” She went to the freezer to look. “Yep, I do. Or I could cook us something if you prefer?”

  “Pizza will be perfect. I have to say, I can’t believe he hasn’t even called you.”

  “I know. Yesterday morning I was bracing myself for the lies and excuses and apologies, but as the day has gone on I’m not quite sure what to think. How do you cheat on someone like that, have news about it spread all over the media, and not even bother to get in touch with them?”

  “Do you think maybe he’s waiting for you to call him?”

  “I have no idea what he’s thinking. I have no idea who he is even. I told you I’ve had niggling doubts about him and with yesterday’s revelations it makes me wonder if I ever really knew him.”

  “This is probably a dumb question, but I don’t want to make any assumptions, is there any way you’d take him back?”

  She looked at him as though he’d gone crazy.

  “Say if this all turned out to be some story cooked up by the press, somehow.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t see how that’s possible, but even if it were, no. I’m shocked and I’m hurt, but I’m not devastated. If anything, I feel bad that I don’t feel as bad as I think I should. If that makes any sense? If I really loved him, wouldn’t I be heartbroken?”

  “I think so. I think you’d be a hell of a lot angrier than you seem to be, too.”

  She nodded. “I am angry, but it’s more a case of being angry at him for being an asshole than being angry at what he’s done to me. I don’t know, maybe I’m just not capable of normal feelings.”

  “Don’t give me that shit. Of course you are. You just don’t have those feelings for him, that’s all.”

  “Whatever. Let’s put this pizza in the oven, shall we? I don’t even want to think about him until I have to—and until he calls, I don’t have to. I’m going to open a bottle of wine and you’re going to tell me all about your mom. You said you needed to talk and then we went and spent the last two days working.”

  When the pizza was ready, they took it and the wine to sit at the grand dining table out on the terrace. The LA skyline was beautiful, the city lights glowing in the dusk. She’d only been thinking this morning about the parties they usually threw out here. There would be no more of those, they were mostly for Drew’s benefit anyway.

  “Are you okay?”

  She smiled. “I am. I was thinking this morning that I never take time to enjoy this view.” She swept her arm out over it. “Sitting here having dinner like this is so much more enjoyable than having dinner with a dozen people you don’t really know.”

  He smiled. “You know, for a while there, I thought you were changing. I thought you were enjoying the life you and Drew were living.”

  She shook her head. “I really wasn’t. I was going along with it all for his sake since he enjoyed it so much. Now I won’t have to anymore and I’m surprised how relieved I feel about that.” She took a sip of her wine. “Anyway, we weren’t going to talk about him anymore tonight. Tell me about your mom.”

  Toby sipped his own wine and stared out at the city lights. “It’s been hard for her since the stroke. She used to be so active and now she can’t be.”

  “And what kind of therapy center has your brother taken her to this weekend?”

  “It’s a research center. It sounds like the science-fiction version of physical therapy. I wish I were more enthusiastic, but as you know I tend to be a realist. I know that the biggest recovery after a stroke happens in the first few months. Whatever she didn’t get back in that time, she’s unlikely to get back now. The more time goes by, the less hope there is of her making any significant progress.”

  She covered her face with her hands. “Toby, why the hell haven’t you talked about this to me before? Or have you? How have I been so totally blind and self-absorbed that I haven’t made the connection before?”

  “What do you mean? You are neither blind nor self-absorbed—and just what connection are you talking about?”

  “Uncle Johnny! Dad’s brother, remember? You met him at Pebble Beach. Dr. Johnny? He opened a physical and occupational therapy center up in Oregon. After one of his old college buddies had a stroke, he got into that kind of rehabilitation, too. We need to get your mom up there!”

  Toby stared at her.

  “I’m so sorry. You’ve been stressed all this time and I’ve been sitting on a solution that could work for your mom. He does all kinds of things with his patients, they even have these robotic limb type things that teach your muscles how to walk normally again.”

  “Okay, that’s the kind of sci-fi sounding stuff my brother was talking about. But the waiting times are horrendous to get into places like that. The one she’s gone to this weekend, even if she likes it and they think it will work for her, she’ll go on to a waiting list and it will be months before she can get in.”

  She shook her head adamantly. “No. She shouldn’t have to wait. We should take her to Oregon, if she wants to go, of course. I’m going to call Uncle Johnny right now.”

  Toby held up a hand. “You don’t need to do that.”

  “Yes, I do. You help me with anything and everything from the tiniest details to the big life-changing messes like now. Please, let me d
o something for you for once. At least let me call and find out when he can fit her in—if she decides she wants to go, that is.”

  Toby nodded slowly. “I guess I can’t let my pride get in the way of this one. Thank you.”

  Chapter Three

  Chance was grateful to feel the fresh ocean air when he came out of the clinic. Those places made him feel claustrophobic. Hell, being indoors anywhere for too long made him feel that way. His dad was all settled in, and he and Alice were doing the rounds of the various therapy centers he’d be spending time in over the next two weeks. It was great that Alice got to stay here with him. Chance had rented himself a little beach house up on the headland. He’d gotten it cheap since the season hadn’t started yet. It had amazing views of the coastline and its own steps leading down the cliffs to the beach.

  As he made his way across the parking lot to the car he’d rented, he turned at the sound of his name being called.

  “Have you got a minute before you go?” It was Dr. Johnny.

  “Sure thing, what’s up?”

  “Nothing, nothing at all. I just wanted to tell you how glad I am that you brought your father. From what I’ve seen so far, he’s a great candidate and should be able to benefit from our methods here.”

  Chance smiled. “That’s good to hear. I hope you’re right. He’s been frustrated as hell. I know he’s not in as bad shape as some of your patients, but it’s not about comparing with others, is it? It’s about comparing how you are now to how you used to be, and for him that’s a tough comparison.”

  Dr. Johnny nodded. “I usually tell my patients that same thing—that it’s not about comparing themselves to others. But when I do that, it’s to make them feel better, since they aren’t doing as well as others. In your dad’s case, he might be better off comparing himself to others rather than himself. It seems to me the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. He’s as hard on himself as you are.”