Chapter 238 Second Chance

"So were you guys alone or were there lots of people around?" Anna asks staring at Chris's ring on his finger. "He rented the restaurant for an hour, it was out of this world romantic and I love him for doing all that for me, even though if he had proposed in our bedroom or the middle of the living room, I would've still said yes." Chris laughs.

"So now that you're engaged, no more flirting with Samson, okay." She said pointing a finger at him. "Wait, what, oh hell no, I'm returning this ring right now," Chris said walking briskly in Jared's direction. "Wha….Chris! What are you doing? Chris…..!" Anna shouts running after him. Just before Chris reaches Jared he stops and Anna runs right into him. "Chris, what the hell, you can't…."

"I wasn't going to," Chris said with a bright grin. "Wha….?" "Sikes! There's no way in hell I'm returning this ring." Chris said admiring his ring. "You little…" She said slapping his arm. "Ouch, you're so mean." He pouts rubbing his arm.

"Me, you made me think you were going to return your ring!" She said slapping him again. Speaking of Samson, I don't see his handsome face anywhere." Chris said looking around.

"That's because he's out with his wife and kids tonight." She laughs. "They have that fine specimen of a man all to themselves, Happy Boxing Day to them." Chris laughs.

A few minutes later Anna was on her way to get a drink when she noticed Aisha looking longingly at Caleb across the lawn, so she turns in her direction instead. "Hey." Anna smiles coming to a stop beside her.

"Hi," She said in a shy tone. "You seem like a nice girl, so I'm going to ask you this only once," Anna said looking Aisha in the eye. "Are you sure you want to risk being with my brother?" "What do you mean?" Aisha asks. "You know all my brother's fault, are you sure you want to be with him?" Anna asks again.

Aisha looks across the lawn at Caleb and smiles as she rubs her stomach. "The man I'm now looking at isn't the same man I met a few months ago. Maya's death did something to him, he has changed somehow, I love him then and I love him now, so yes, I do want to be with him, for the rest of my life, if he'll have me." She said firmly.

"Okay then, I wish you all the best," Anna said walking away.

***

"So you really had no idea he was going to propose?" Ty asks Chris who was currently sipping water after one of his epic performances. "Nope." Chris smiles admiring his ring as it glistens under the light. "I mean we do make an awesome couple but this? No, I didn't see this coming. This is a big step."

"Is it a step you're ready for?" Ty ask. "Not sure but I guess I'm about to find out." Chris laughs.

***

"Hey cuz, are you alright? I mean this is our boxing day party but you don't seem to be having any fun." Scott said standing next to Caleb. "I'll be alright, I just have a lot to think about," Caleb replied staring off into space. "Like your future with the lovely Aisha?" Scott asks bumping Caleb's shoulder teasingly.

"That, among other things." He said in a distant tone. "Hey, you know things are going to work out okay, right?" Scott asks with concern. "I'm not so sure young cuz, I've made such a mess of things, I just don't know anymore…" Caleb said his voice trailing off.

"Hey come on now, you made a mistake, we all make mistakes but they don't define us, tell me, are you still in love with that pretty lady over there who can't seem to take her eyes off you?" "Yes, I am, but I don't deserve her."

"Nonsense, not because you made a mistake means you've to be miserable for the rest of your life, you deserve to be happy and you weren't happy with Maya, so the Lord has given you a second chance, so take it," Scott said in a toned way past his age.

"I don't deserve a second chance; no one here believes that I deserve a second chance…" "That's not true and I'll prove it to you," Scott said getting up and attempting to drag Caleb with him but realizing he couldn't budge Caleb.

"What are you doing?" Caleb asks in a tired defeated tone. "Proving you wrong, now move," Scott ordered, Caleb sighs heavily as he got up and follow Scott across the lawn.

Scott stop in the middle of the lawn where the guys were just dancing, took a mike, and cleared his throat. "Can I have everyone's attention for a few minutes please?" He asks in a no-nonsense tone.

"What the hell are you doing?" Caleb demand. "No, no way, I'm not doing this," Caleb said turning to walk away but Scott grabs his arm. "Oh really? You have not one but three children about to be born to you next year, you have a security firm to open and you've just started police academy, not to mention a beautiful young lady who is head over heels in love with you

But still, he thinks that he doesn't deserve a second chance at love, at life and, he believes that none of you thinks he deserves a second chance either, so is he right or wrong?" Scott asks in a clear strong voice.

There was a lot of talking going on between the mass of people on the lawn but the word that rang out the most was wrong. "See, you were wrong." Scott pointed out to him. Caleb opened his mouth to say something but was cut off when he felt someone touch his shoulder, he turns and saw his mother's parents.

"Grandma, Grandpa, I'm so sorry for disappointing you, and not just you but all my family, I know my actions played a major part in Maya's death, and if I could take it all back I would, but I can't….." Caleb said tears in his eyes.

"We know son, remorse is written all over you, now, stop feeling sorry for yourself and go seize your second chance with both hands." His grandma said hugging him.

Thank you all for reading

Verse for Thought

We may make our plans,

But God has the last word

(Prov 16 vs 1)