Second Chances

by Grace Augustine

Genres: Romance

Synopsis

Tucker Endicott married the beautiful Natalie Bronwyn, an aspiring Olympic skier. Complications drove Natalie and Tucker apart. Twenty-five years later, Tucker was still haunted by the beautiful woman who'd captured his heart. After his beloved Poppy Joe passed, Tucker moved to his hometown, renovated a house with the help of his best friend, and was a partner in the most prestigious architectural firm in the Pacific Northwest.

Sabrina Endicott, Tucker's daughter, is a self-made woman. Her mother walked out on her when she was a baby and the last time she remembered seeing her was when she was four years old. Sabrina grew up with the love of her father and his friends. She made a mistake in high school that resulted in a pregnancy her senior year. She gave birth to a beautiful little girl, graduated school, and continued her part-time job at Carlson Printing Company—eventually moving up the ladder.

One midnight phone call from a client, the dashing entrepreneur, Blair Dawson, requesting a change in their manual print specifications had Sabrina's heart beating faster for the first time in a long while.

Nothing was easy for the Endicott's but they forged ahead. Will Tucker let go of the past and open his heart to love? Will Sabrina put her skeletons to rest, forgive those she's hated, and make room for a future filled with happiness?

Release date: December 14, 2018

Print pages: 186

Sample

PROLOGUE

“I’m pregnant, you oaf!” Natalie Endicott exclaimed, whacking Tucker’s arm hard enough to leave a bruise. Natalie Alexa Bronwyn Endicott was less than amused. The last thing she wanted, or needed, was a baby. It would end her career and she wasn’t ready for that part of her life to be finished. An award-winning skier at the age of ten, Natalie had honed her skills over the years and was one of the top downhill skiers in the nation. She wanted to be an Olympian and her coaches urged her to pursue her dreams. The thought of a mandatory clipping of her wings for nine months made her cringe. She’d have to stay off the slopes while this thing grew inside her. Sure, she loved Tucker, but a baby right now was not part of the plan. “Honey, that’s great news!” Tucker beamed as he kissed his wife. Natalie turned her face and crossed her arms. “You don’t get it, do you? I didn’t plan on getting pregnant. I don’t want to BE pregnant, not at this point in my career. We agreed to wait until after the next Olympics. You promised me, Tucker. Some promise that was…did you forget the condom, huh?” “Nat, calm down. I know we weren’t planning to have a baby this soon after getting married, but maybe God had other plans.” “Other plans?” Natalie yelled. “Other plans…That’s a sick joke, Tuck.” Natalie had strapped on her first pair of skis when she was five years old. She was a natural. She won a local competition at the age of ten. Her love of winter and skiing continued, and during her college years she participated in and won local and state trophies in downhill events. As an adult, Natalie trained for regional and national events. She’d also accepted the State Ski Federation Committee Chair. This position allowed her to rub shoulders with prior gold medalists, as well as the current local competitors. The adrenaline from the media hype and coverage is what drove Natalie. It became an addiction, one she would never give up. There was no happiness in Natalie about this wonderful thing that was going on. She was only a room to this thing growing inside her, a holding cell. Her emotions were all over…how could she take care of a baby and train? How could she stay away from what she loved so much for nine months, or more? Should she take a year off? If she did, she’d lose any momentum she had at a spot on the Winter Olympics team. “Nat, listen. We’ll go to the doctor together, make sure you and our baby are all right. We’ll ask about training and what you can do and can’t do and when you should stop. It will be okay…” “Yeah, I know…you promise. Damn it, Tucker, you took away my dream. I will never forgive you for that. I’ll carry this child. I’ll give birth to it, but after that, it’s your responsibility.” Natalie slammed the apartment door on her way out. Tucker ran a hand through his hair. He couldn’t believe what he’d just heard, what he’d just witnessed. Who was this woman? He thought he knew his wife but evidently, he didn’t. Natalie and Tucker had the perfect wedding and reception. They’d been married a year already, and news of a baby was something that warmed Tucker’s heart. He’d always wanted to have children, be a father, and he looked forward to the babies he and Natalie would make. Tucker was surprised Natalie wasn’t pregnant when they’d returned from their honeymoon. It was just as well, though. He knew there was no way a fetus would survive with Natalie’s rigid workout schedule. The phone rang and brought Tucker from his thoughts. “Hello.” “Tucker? You okay?” Tucker heaved a sigh. Somehow his Poppy Joe always knew when to phone. It was a special gift. “No, I’m not. I don’t know what to do, Poppy Joe. Nat’s pregnant.” “That’s wonderful news!” “It is, for me, but not for Natalie. She wants nothing to do with this pregnancy or the baby. She doesn’t want to terminate it, thank God, but she told me after the birth, she wanted nothing to do with it. She’s angry with me for taking away her dream.” “Dreams will always be there, boy. We’re the ones to keep them alive. You know that. What is her dream?” “She wants to be a world ski champion, an Olympian.” “There’s still time. The Winter Olympics don’t happen for another four years. She has time to take a year off then resume her training. She’ll be fine.” “She resents me already. I’m not sure I can handle more of her icy treatment.” “Tucker, you listen to me. You are strong. You’re an Endicott. You aren’t a quitter, and you will be the best father to this baby. If Natalie won’t parent, you will. I’ll be here to help you. Nana will be as well. Everything will work out, you’ll see.” Natalie carried the baby to full term and delivered a beautiful seven-pound baby girl. She refused to name her, telling Tucker it was his job since she’d done the difficult work of being a host for this thing to feed from. The moment the nurse placed the baby girl in Tucker’s arms, he knew what her name would be, Sabrina Marie—Sabrina, because of her beauty and Marie, for his Nana. He told the nurse, the baby’s name was recorded, and he, Natalie, and baby Sabrina left the hospital three days later. Tucker spent his time caring for his daughter. He’d arranged to have Sabrina at work with him, because Natalie couldn’t be bothered with her care. Natalie continued exercising and dieting to achieve her pre-pregnancy weight. Once she did, it was non-stop training. She’d fly to New York or to Denver and be gone weeks at a time, coming home only to dump off clothes and pick up more before leaving again. Two years after Sabrina was born, Natalie captured the title of International Women’s Alpine Downhill Champion at the competition in Stockholm, Sweden. Tucker watched the television footage as the medal was placed around his wife’s neck and some foreign judge kissed her on each cheek. A tear trickled from Tucker’s eye at the grim realization Sabrina would never know her mother. “Look,” Tucker pointed to the television. “There’s Mommy.” Tucker knew when he saw Natalie’s last television interview that she never planned to come home. Natalie entered and won competition after competition. Downhill was her thrill. It symbolized a free fall from the top of a deep slope with a steep descent. It was her against time…a race she easily beat time and again. On a rare weekend, Natalie decided to stop by the house. She opened the door and found Tucker sitting cross-legged on the floor with Sabrina playing tea party. “Good God, Tucker, get up off the floor. You look like a complete idiot.” “Hello, to you, too, Nat. To what do we owe this visit?” Sabrina, now a shy three-year old, hid behind her father and peeked around his leg at the woman who stood in the living room. “Can you please take her to her room… or something,” Natalie waved them off. “We need to talk, and I’d rather do it without her being here.” Tucker picked up Sabrina and talked soothingly to her as he walked her to her room. “You stay here and have a tea party with your dolls, honey. I’ll be back soon. Okay? I love you, Bree.” Tucker placed a kiss on the top of Sabrina’s golden hair, closed the door and walked out to the kitchen where he found Natalie sitting at the round oak table. Even before he sat down words flew from her mouth. “Look, things haven’t been good for us from the beginning, Tucker. It’s not fair to me to keep doing this. I filed for divorce and,” she put up a hand to keep him from speaking. “Before you ask, I’m giving up any parental rights to her,” she pointed toward the bedroom. “Her name is Sabrina, Nat. Your daughter’s name is Sabrina.” “I’d prefer to not think in those terms. As far as I’m concerned, I did you a favor. I gave you a child. Now, you can do me one by signing these papers. I don’t want anything from you: no alimony, no personal belongings, and I certainly don’t want Sa-bri-na.” Tucker took the pen from Natalie, signed the papers, and shoved them in front of Natalie. “Nat…” “Don’t, Tucker. Just don’t.” “I hope you reach your dreams, Natalie. I really hope you get what you want.” Natalie folded the papers and walked silently out of the kitchen. It was the last time he’d see her in person. Tucker spent the next fourteen years of his life devoted to his daughter and his work. He taught Sabrina about boys, reproduction, menstruation, and sanitary products. He schooled her in basketball, took her to dance lessons, constructed play sets, and listened to countless piano recitals. He caught his daughter’s tears when she came home from school her junior year and announced she was pregnant. He encouraged her to continue with high school, to get her diploma, and keep her job. Tucker went to Lamaze classes and coached his daughter through the delivery of her beautiful little girl, Noelle Marie Endicott. Tuck stood strong when Sabrina decided she wanted a restraining order against Noelle’s father. He supported her when she wanted to make it legal, requesting no custody or visitation rights. Tucker babysat his granddaughter while his daughter worked her tail off to provide formula, food, and clothing for her daughter and herself. He’d offered monetary help countless times, but Sabrina never accepted it. Not one time in Sabrina’s life did she inquire about her mother. She clung to the love of her father and her grandparents. She learned strength and honor from them and vowed to pattern her life after theirs. She wanted no part of her mother’s world. One night during the evening news, a reporter covering the annual International Ski event from Oslo, Norway, interviewed a skier. There, on the screen, was a beautiful lithe blonde in a form fitting strapless royal blue sequin dress. “Tonight, we’re coming to you from the thirtieth floor of the Wainscott building, the site of this year’s Annual International Women’s Ski banquet. We’re fortunate to have snagged World Champion downhill skier, Natalie Bronwyn. It’s so good seeing you again.” Natalie’s smile dazzled the cameramen. “Good seeing you as well.” “There’s word that you will be competing in the Winter Olympics this year. Can you confirm that for us?” “Yes, John, I’ll be part of the US delegation. I regret to say, though, this will be my final competition.” “We’re very excited for you and sad at the same time. What led you to this decision, Natalie?” “Well, I’m not getting any younger, and there is a need for coaches at the national level. I’ll still be on the slopes, just in a different capacity.” “Maybe you will be coaching the next Olympian ,” the reporter stated, bringing a smile to Natalie. “Thank you for giving us some of your time, Natalie. I know it’s a busy evening for you with the auction and roast.” “I appreciate all of your good coverage over the years, John.” “The gorgeous Natalie Bronwyn, folks. Now, back to you in the studio, Nancy.” “Who that pretty lady was?” Ellie asked. “She’s your…” Tucker began but was cut off by his daughter. “She’s a famous skier, sweetheart. Now, let’s get you cleaned up.” “What’s a skier, Momma?” “Maybe when you’re older, I will show you, Ellie. Right now, it’s time to wash these grubby little hands and pick up your toys for the night. And, you need to feed Petey.” “Yes, Momma.” Noelle jumped down from her chair after having her hands wiped clean. She grabbed Petey’s food dish and walked over to the closet where the tub of cat food was kept. She scooped food into the dish and put it down on the cat mat and closed the container and closet door. “Momma? How come I don’t got a grandma?” “Noelle, you have a grandma, Nana Bee,” Sabrina reminded of their neighbor, Margaret Bertram, who babysat. “Oh yeah, I forgotted.” Tucker looked at his daughter wondering if she would ever tell the story of her mother to her daughter. As if reading her father’s mind, Sabrina raised an eyebrow and shook her head. “Never. Life is good just as it is,” she side-whispered to her dad. Tucker took his coffee cup to the sink and kissed his daughter on the cheek. Yes, life is good, just as it is, he thought.

CHAPTER ONE

Tucker’s shop had become his solace. Jeans and tee shirt replaced his daily work attire and he headed to the outbuilding every night after work. The variety of wood, state of the art saws and sanders…everything he needed to bring his designs to life…made him happy. He spent more time there than in the house. Tuck ripped another piece of walnut through the table saw. He ran a gloved hand down the smooth surface of the wood. Cross-cutting this board would have defiled its natural beauty. He smiled and nodded. This will bring high dollar when I’m done. Tuck hummed along to a barely audible country music tune that wailed over the deafening noise of the table saw. He set the board to run through the blade again, ripping another section. There was something about wood: the smell, the feel, the look. Each variety had its own beauty and was to be appreciated for its unique qualities. Walnut was Tuck’s favorite. Always had been. “Dad!” Screaming over the noise in the shop was like shouting into a gale force wind. Between the sound of the saw and the blaring music, no one could hear a thing. “Dad!” Another fruitless attempt. Sabrina walked unnoticed over to the saw where her father was halfway through another cut. She let him finish before screaming his name again. “Daaaaad!” Tucker turned off the saw, pulled the ear buds from his ears, removed his safety glasses, and addressed his daughter. “Hi, honey. What’s going on?” “I swear, Dad, I’m going to invest in a pocket buzzer of some kind and make you wear it!” Tuck laughed and embraced his daughter. Sabrina Marie Tucker was the only good thing that came from his marriage. She stood five-feet-eleven inches. Golden blonde hair cascaded down her slim shoulders to her mid back. Her chocolate brown eyes were always filled with the Endicott family mischief. He saw so much of himself in her. He’d always seen traces of her mother in her but was thankful it was physical and not any other way. “Poppyyyyyyyy!” A little blonde Sabrina-mini-me ran through the shop and over to Tuck, grabbing onto a leg and squeezing as tightly as two chubby little arms could squeeze. Tuck smiled and scooped up his granddaughter, Noelle. He nuzzled his beard into her neck. Noelle giggled and tried to break free from Tuck’s embrace. “Poppy! You too scruffy.” Tuck gently kissed Noelle and rubbed her back. The width of his hand was as large as the little girl’s frame. “Poppy didn’t mean to hurt you.” Noelle wriggled again to be let down. “Ellie, stop it. Use your words,” her mother instructed. “Poppy, down.” “Down, what?” Tuck asked. “Poppy, down, pwease.” “That’s better. Now, you stay right here by Poppy, okay? Remember, you can’t be out here unless I’m here. I don’t want you getting hurt.” Noelle shook her head in acknowledgement and clung to her grandfather’s leg. “Ellie, c’mere,” Tuck urged, grabbing the little girl’s hand. Tuck led his granddaughter to the weathered oak desk in his office. “I bought you some new colors and books the other day.” The sparkles in Noelle’s eyes melted Tuck. He picked up Noelle, and when her little arms snaked around his neck, well, no other feeling in the world compared to it. Noelle put her chubby hands on each side of her grandfather’s face and gave him a loud smacking kiss on the lips. “I wuv you, Poppy. I wuv you soooo much.” “Poppy loves you, too. You be a good girl and make me two pictures, okay? I’ll come back and check on you in a little bit.” Tuck kissed the little girl and sat her in his office chair. He paused to watch as she immediately opened the box of colors and turned her attention to creating a masterpiece. He pulled the door behind him, leaving it ajar a couple inches. Once back in the main shop area, Tuck looked at his daughter. He noticed the dark circles under her eyes that rode her cheekbones. Her weariness worried him. “Honey, what’s up?” “I need you to watch Ellie tonight. One of the guys called off at work. His wife’s in labor and needs to be at the hospital.” “Of course, I’ll watch Ellie.” Sabrina chewed her bottom lip, as she did when she was frustrated. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to if you have plans.” Tuck put his hands on Sabrina’s shoulders. His soft brown eyes connected to his daughter’s. “Sabrina, I’m here for you. I’m here for Ellie. Nothing’s more important than you two. Nothing.” Sabrina wrapped her arms around her dad’s waist and laid her head on his shoulder. She was only a couple inches shorter. She smiled. Growing up, one of her most comforting memories was resting her head on his chest and counting his heartbeats. “I love you, Daddy.” Tuck kissed the top of Sabrina’s head and squeezed her tighter. “I love you, too, Bree.” Tuck worried about his daughter. She’d gotten pregnant her senior year of high school, decided to keep the baby, worked full time, and went to school full time. Still, she graduated with honors. Sabrina had worked at Carlson Printing through high school and the pregnancy until she was too big to move around the equipment. Dorie Carlson promised to hire her back whenever she was ready to return to work. Six months after Noelle’s birth, Sabrina called Dorie and was hired on full-time, second shift. Three years later, she’d worked her way up to managing the printing operation. When Sabrina phoned to inquire if Mrs. Bertram was free, the older woman explained she had out of town plans and wouldn’t return for a few days. “Um…Daddy?” Tuck crooked a smile. “Honey, yes, I’ll watch Ellie while Mrs. Bertram’s gone.” “How did you know I was going to ask you that?” “I saw her sister, Eloise, at the store earlier this morning. She told me Margaret was going to her son’s and wouldn’t return until next week sometime.” Sabrina smiled at her father and giggled. “I see. Has Eloise fix you dinner yet?” “Now, don’t you start…” Tucker smirked. “Seems like Eloise has a thing for you.” “Well, she can just go right on having a thing for me because I’m not interested, not the least little bit. Don’t get me wrong, Eloise is a nice lady, she just isn’t my type.” “Dad, don’t you get lonely?” Sabrina asked, putting her head on her dad’s shoulder. “I worry about you being alone. You need someone to love you. You need someone who will stand by you and do things with you. I think you need to join a dating site.” Tucker’s laughter rolled through the shop. “Sweetheart, let me clue you in. I am NOT joining a dating site, and while it does get lonely at times, I have so much going on, I don’t have time for one more thing.” Sabrina smiled, making the dimple in her left cheek come to life. “But, Dad…” “Sabrina Marie, no. You stay out of my love life and I’ll stay out of yours… unless of course you’d like me to fix you up with a couple of guys from work.” “Ewww, no,” she shook her head. “Not thinking a suit will fit into my lifestyle.” “You know, someday those words might just come back to bite you,” Tucker chuckled. “Alright, then we’re clear…no meddling.” He took his daughter in his arms for another hug and they walked arm in arm to his office. Tucker put his finger to his lips and motioned for Sabrina to look in through the office window. Ellie, the little poppet, had fallen asleep--sweaty blonde curls falling across her forehead and a blue crayon in her left hand. “Go. Get ready for work, Bree. I’ll turn off the machinery and get Ellie into the house.” “Dad, are you sure? I’d stay home if I could…” “Not another word. We’ll be just fine. While she naps, I’ll fix dinner.” Sabrina looked at her sleeping daughter and then at her dad. A tear escaped the corner of her eye. “You know I love you, right?” “I love you, too. See you tonight.” .