Romancing the Storm: Second Chances by Alana Hart, Alana Claire Page B

of it all, I had a great time," I say. He smiles down at me and puts his arm around my shoulders.
    "Me too kiddo, me too," he says. I forget he’s younger than me. I lay my head on his shoulders, a most comfortable spot.
    The Jeep weathered the storm, miraculously. We load our luggage and head north. I'm a little depressed for our adventure to be over and to have to go back to Cullfield. Judah pats my hand. "Little sad?" he asks as he steers the Jeep onto the freeway.
    "Ah, I am I guess. I don't want to go back home and face everything there," I say.
    He smiles and nods slightly to himself as if confirming and unspoken thought. I don't ask. "Hey, we'll still have adventures. After jumping from the top of the falls, maybe you'll edge around the lake back home and jump?"
    "Heck yeah," I say with a big grin. "I do feel more daring."
    "Well good, then don't be sad about going home. The summer isn't over. I have to work the next couple of weeks, but I'll have another two weeks off. We'll plan some fun," he says as he squeezes my hand.
    After staying the night in a double bedroom in a small hotel in Savannah, we travel the last half to Kentucky. I welcome the beautiful mountains and the comforts of home after sleeping in strange places. I grab my mail at the post office and frown. No letter from Blaine. No calls from him either. I sigh as I unpack and do laundry.
    I make my way to Cara Johnson's home the next morning to see if she's heard any word.
    "Uncle Dan called my mom the other night. He didn't talk long just to say they are busy and finally able to do what they came to do. Blaine's fine," Cara says as she averts her eyes.
    She's hiding something. "What?"
    "Just that, well, I think you should move on with your life and not hang around here waiting for him to return. I don't want to see you hurt," she says.
    My heart aches. I need encouragement to keep the faith for my boyfriend and not hearing this. "Well, a promise is a promise," I say resolutely.
    "A promise for what, to sit here indefinitely? He's not worth it Gracelyn. You deserve better. What about Judah?" she asks as she narrows her eyes at me.
    This is a test, it has to be. I smile and slowly shake my head. "We're just friends," I say and thank her as I leave.

Chapter Sixteen
    I spend the next two weeks deep in thought about my current relationship situation and realize I don't have a relationship. I think if Blaine loved me he would find a way to call me or write. His father certainly finds ways to call his sister once a week. Blaine never has a word to relay to me nor does he ask. I decide to stop inquiring about the phone calls. Besides, I'm tired of the sympathetic look Cara gives me each time I ask.
    Judah calls or texts every single day while he's away. We joke back and forth. But he makes certain to tell me what he thinks about my situation all the time too. He says I deserve better than the likes of Blaine. He wants me for himself, so he's being biased about it. Of course, he's going to say these things.
    I have a final job interview at the school. Mr. Phelps shakes my hand and congratulates me on the job offer. I smile as I accept. I start teaching the day after Labor Day. It's a part time job only half a day each day, but that's okay. I'm very frugal and since I own my home all I have to pay is the food and utilities. I don't even need a car because I can walk everywhere.
    The knock on the door startles me as I'm deep in thought about what to do about Blaine."Judah! What?" I say as I happily step aside, and he enters the house. He thrusts a bouquet of colorful flowers into my arms.
    "Congratulations," he says as he bends over and kisses my cheek. I blush and blink.
    "Thank you," I say. "I wasn't expecting this."
    He grins big. "Yeah, I know. And I suppose Blaine doesn't even know you have the job yet?"
    I frown and shake my head. Heat rises my neck. Now I'm mad because my boyfriend should be doing this.
    "Let's go out to eat," Judah says. "My treat. I got