Second Rate Chances by Holly Stephens Read Free Book Online

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    SECOND RATE CHANCES
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 6
     
    Sam called out to Lil, his voice hoarse as he strained to get her to hear him. It was no use. Once Lil had her mind set to something there was no getting her to see reason.
    How had life come to this? A world where they weren't together? It didn't seem possible. They were so in love. Since that first day in college when they had both arrived at the dorms with their parents, they were inseparable. They had been through the deaths of family members; both of her parents and his mom. She was family in every sense of the word.
    Where his mind was at the present moment, he was planning to ask her to marry him. He didn’t have an exact date set on when he wanted to pop the big question, only that he knew he couldn’t go through life without Lil beside him. Sam had to wonder what could have happened for them to lose that. To not speak or even be in the same room together in the past three years
                                Dashing into the room, his dad asked, “What happened, son?” His brother was right behind him, his gaze penetrating Sam.
                                Sam rubbed his eyes. It would have helped if the action could erase the last fifteen minutes. Maybe then he and Lil could start over.
    “I don't know, Dad. Lil’s upset because I asked what happened between us. I yelled, she yelled.” He sighed and shrugged his shoulders. “She ran out of here saying she can’t help me.”
                                Sam leaned back against the flat pillows the hospital had provided. He couldn't get comfortable. It seemed that nowhere was going to be comfortable in this new life.
                                “Dad,” Sam began. “What happened with Lil and me? Did I cheat on her?”
                                “No, you didn't cheat.” While Paul was eager to answer his question, Sam could hear the reservation in his voice.
                                “I had to have done something pretty bad. Just tell me. I need to know. I have to make things right.”
                                “Sam,” Paul took a deep breath. “It's not my place. I'm sorry. It really needs to be something you and Lil discuss.”
                                “But she won't even look at me!” Sam shouted. “How can I get her to talk to me if she can't even be in the same room with me?”
                                Sam watched his father’s reaction to his outburst. The man looked like he was battling something. The tight lines around his mouth, his eyes drawn in together. Something was on his mind, something he was afraid to tell Sam.
    “Listen, the doctor was just telling us he's going to send you home in a couple of days. He wants to monitor you a little more. Keep a close watch on you now that Lil has been by. He thinks maybe seeing her will prompt the memories to return.”
                                “And if they don't?” Sam looked to his father for guidance. It was apparent that from the look in his eyes that he had none to give.
                                “We'll figure that out.”
                                “I just want to go home. Go back to before I hit my head.”
                  Joshua snorted. It was the first sound he had made since entering the room. “What?” Sam asked. “What was that for?”
                                “Nothing.” Joshua said as he turned his back on his brother. More pieces of the puzzle kept falling to the floor. First, his dad and the information he was keeping from him, and now his brother who had this less than cavalier attitude toward