Second Chance Girl (Happily Inc. #2)

Not being wanted by Mathias had hurt far more than Carol had ever imagined. She was still having trouble drawing full breaths.

She stayed in her house the whole weekend, only emerging on Monday morning because she had to get to work and take care of her animals. She’d done her best to be brave and cheerful. Her dad and uncle had been fooled, but when she’d shown up Tuesday to help Violet pack, her sister had taken one look at her and demanded to know what had happened.

“It’s not about me.” Carol admitted the truth it had taken her three days to figure out. “It’s about him and his past. He won’t get involved because he doesn’t trust not being abandoned and betrayed. He and I talked about it before. I know what he thinks and what he’s afraid of. Telling him I won’t hurt him is meaningless.”

“But you never would hurt him,” her sister insisted.

Carol managed a tiny smile, then sniffed. “I would. Of course I would. People who care about each other still get wounded. It’s the nature of relationships. The difference is if I were to upset you, you’d call me on it. Or I’d see it myself. Either way, I’d apologize and try to do better. But it’s never been like that for him. He doesn’t know that there’s a process or if he does, he doesn’t trust it. I should have remembered.”

“You’re taking this all on yourself. It’s not about you. It’s about him.”

Carol thought about the other uncomfortable truth she’d realized. One that was harder to admit. “I’m just as bad as he is,” she admitted. “I believe I’m not special.”

Violet hugged her. “Don’t say that. You’re the most special person I know.”

“Thanks, but you know what I mean. I learned that lesson too well and when I get scared or hurt, it’s where I retreat to. When Mathias was telling me he wasn’t going to see me anymore, all I could think about was not being good enough to keep him. That and trying to keep from bleeding to death. I was shocked and in pain and I couldn’t move, couldn’t react. Now I keep thinking that maybe I should have fought him. Called him on his ridiculous beliefs and fought for my position.”

“Do you think it would have made a difference?”

“I don’t know.” That was the worst of it, she thought. Not knowing. Had being a coward cost her everything?

“Tell him now. I’ll go with you.”

Carol squeezed her sister’s hand. “You are very good to me,” she said. “Thank you for that. I will talk to him, but I need to get stronger and more sure of myself. I need to get through this.”

It wasn’t that she felt she needed to process more pain. Rather, she had to earn her way back. Not for him, but for herself.

“I’ll be okay,” she promised. “No matter what. So you’re going to keep packing.”

“I don’t want to leave you.”

“I don’t want to be left, but I do want you to go.”

They hugged for a second time. Carol let the love wash over her. Healing seemed so very far away, but at least there was the promise that she would get better. She knew she had some decisions to make. She could either live her life in fear, or she could fight for what she wanted. The decision was hers. With or without Mathias, she had to make the right one or she would also fall short of who she wanted to be.

*

THE FEDEX WILD animal shipping division did an excellent job of giraffe delivery. Carol watched as Mrs. Santora walked delicately down the ramp leading to her new home. Like Millie, Mrs. Santora was a Somali giraffe, native to northeastern Kenya, southern Ethiopia and Somalia. There were estimated to be less than five thousand in the wild.

Mrs. Santora hesitated, as if not sure what to do.

“It’s okay,” Carol said softly. “You’re safe now.”

Like Millie, Mrs. Santora had lived a solitary life for several years. While she was a bit older than Millie, they were both relatively young. Carol hoped they would form a strong and lasting friendship.

For the first few days, Mrs. Santora and Millie would be kept completely separate. Once Mrs. Santora was more comfortable in her surroundings, they would be allowed to see each other from a safe distance. Carol hoped that within a month or so, they would be the start of the new Happily Inc herd.

“I have the best leaf-eater treats,” Carole told her. “The zebras are a little wild, but you know how they get. We have gazelles and a water buffalo. I want you to be happy here. Do you think that’s possible?”

Mrs. Santora looked at her. She blinked, her long lashes sweeping up and down.

Carol smiled. “I’m going to take that as a yes.”

Mrs. Santora walked into her enclosure. There were several branches hanging from a sturdy pole. The giraffe moved toward them, sniffed once, then took a single leaf and chewed.

“That’s my girl,” Carol whispered. “Welcome home.”

*

MATHIAS TOOK HIS morning coffee out onto his patio. The mornings had gotten colder as October stretched into early November, but the afternoons were still warm. He watched wisps of fog snake along the ground and thought about going in for his sketch pad, only he knew there wasn’t any point. He was done creating anything beyond his dishes and bowls. Whatever muse Carol and Millie had inspired had long since moved away. He’d tried making a few things, only to fail miserably. His skills were still there, but not the heart of the piece.

Today was the day—the big giraffe reveal. Everyone in town knew and later there would be a celebration in the office of the preserve. By virtue of his location and dumb luck, he had a front seat to the pre-game show.

A little after seven, Carol’s electric golf cart came into view. Thick branches covered with leaves were stacked on the open back. As he watched, she and her father hoisted the branches up onto three tall poles grouped together. They secured the chains, then returned to the golf cart and backed away. When they were about fifty yards from the poles, they stopped and waited. Mathias watched along with them.

It only took a few minutes for Millie to appear. She walked toward the poles, two giraffes just behind her. They all reached the poles and began to eat.

Millie’s herd, Mathias thought. Carol had made it happen. Two of the giraffes were already here and settled in. Two more would be arriving within the week. Once they were ready to make friends, there would be five giraffes in total.

He’d heard from Nick that the two newcomers had adapted more quickly than anyone had dared to hope. The local news had run several stories on Millie’s growing family and the story had been picked up nationally. More donations were flowing in to fund expanding the preserve. Apparently there was talk of starting a breeding program for a few endangered grazing animals. He’d also heard that a couple of botanists were going to see what they could grow outside of Happily Inc as a way to help save endangered plants.