A Second Chance by Ellen Wolf Page A

a quick glance at her watch ; the meeting was to last approximately an hour. T hey had passed a cafeteria o n the way to the second floor where the meeting was held, and she remembered the delicious smells that had wafted their way as they walked by. Her stomach grumbled now, reminding her that she had skipped breakfast and barely eaten anything the evening before. Laura had been too stressed to eat much , and Jade hadn’t felt she should tuck in in front of her friend. She had persuaded Laura to have some cereal and a chamomile tea, watching Laura like a hawk as she obediently gulped it down.
    It was almost noon , and she decided to get herself a snack while she waited. A quick sandwich and a cup of coffee would restore her energy and help her pass the time she would otherwise spend sitting and biting her nails.
    As she walked down the long, wind ing corridor, she looked around with relieved approval. This hospital was nothing like some of the other places she had seen over the years. It was bright, sunny , and cheerful. Instead of the usual cream and beige walls that could make everything look sad and dated, lavender and turquoise tones provided a much more pleasant visual experience. A few watercolors hung on the walls, the serene scenes featuring mostly gardens and landscapes, their blue and green hues blending with the cool palette of colors chosen for the general décor.
    The cafeteria was full of people, the lunch hour attracting plenty of hospital workers and patients alike. She looked through the sea of hospital coats and people with visitors ’ passes, ready to give up on her spontaneous idea and return to the waiting room upstairs. The line was quite long , and she wasn’t sure she wanted to spend too much time t here, just in case Laura needed her help upstairs. There were definitely worse things than being a bit hungry . She cast one last glance at the buffet, the appetizingly arranged bagels, sandwiches , and cakes making her second - guess her decision. Instead , she could use her coins to get a bottle of water from the machine and maybe a pack of dried mix of fruit and nuts . E ager to return upstairs , s he searched her purse, fishing for quarters , and sigh ed with relief as she found enough to pay for all the items she wanted to buy. Brian scolded her constantly for not carrying enough cash, and she had to admit he was absolutely right.
    She put the money into the slot and pressed the button, ready to catch the bottle as it slid down toward the opening. Only it didn’t . S he pressed the black button repeatedly, unwilling to give up on the promise of having a drink. It didn’t help . T he bottles were firmly stuck in the machine , and no amount of pressing any of the six buttons seemed to make any difference.
    ‘Oh, great , ’ she sighed . D isappointed , she gave up before someone would think she was trying to rob the vending machine . It just wasn’t her day , and she would have to let it go . S he looked up toward the exit.
    Her heart stopped suddenly, the hubbub of the cafeteria forgotten as she watched two men walking down the corridor, just about to enter the café. One was a doctor, his white coat and name tag barely registering in her mind as she looked at the man to whom he was talking. This man was tall, dark , and breathtakingly handsome. His hair was cropped short and his tanned face, dark straight brows , and jet black eyes were achingly familiar.
    He wore charcoal jeans and a black shirt, the rolled up sleeves offering a glimpse of his tanned, muscular forearms. He was talking to the doctor , and the swift smile that came and went across his face sen t a shiver of excitement down her spine.
    God, this can’t be happening , she thought fervently as she stepped back, eager to hide herself from his eyes. Liam was here, even though Lau ra was sure he was still in Hong Kong, working on his exhibition.
    He looked even better than in her memories, and her palms were sweating as she glanced at