Standard disclaimers apply.
Second Chance
When Kaitlyn pulled into her mother's driveway, she saw the girls playing on the front porch. When they saw her, they ran to greet her.
"Mommy!" Casey came barreling down the steps. "Look what I got at the zoo today." She held up a stuffed monkey.
"Oh he is beautiful, what did you name this one?" Kaitlyn asked.
"Oscar!" Casey smiled and hugged her mother. Jessica walked up behind Casey and gave her mother a hug. Kaitlyn held on just a little bit longer than usual.
"You okay Mom?" Jessica asked.
"I am perfect. Where is Grandma?"
"She is in the house folding laundry? You just missed Pappy; he left to go to the game. Mom, Grandma wants us to spend the night tonight she is going to take us swimming in the morning. Is it okay? Please? Please? Please?" Kaitlyn smiled, her oldest daughter was so dramatic.
"I guess that would be okay. Come on I'll race you in the house." Casey took off like a shot. This had become sort of a ritual between mother and daughters. Kaitlyn and Jessica always gave her a head start and then let her win.
When they entered the house Kaitlyn could hear her mother yell from the kitchen, in her southern drawl, "No running in the house girls. That means you too Kaitlyn."
"Well girls, looks like we're busted." Kaitlyn tickled Casey, who let out a scream. Kaitlyn and Casey headed into the kitchen.
"Hey sweetheart." Kaitlyn's mother greeted her with a kiss. Lily Kelly was a very young 54. She was what Kaitlyn would call a model mother. She was petite, as were her daughters. Kaitlyn always thought it was a shame that neither she nor her sisters inherited their mother's curly auburn hair and eyes of the same color. They all ended up blonde with blue eyes. Jessica however, took after her grandmother. Kaitlyn smiled at the thought. "The girls want to spend the night. Is that okay? I thought maybe we could go swimming tomorrow."
"Yeah, that's fine."
"Are you sure? Megan told me what happened this morning. Are you okay? I have told you a million times that you should not be running by yourself. This is exactly the kind of thing I thought would happen." She pointed a finger at her daughter. "You need to start carrying that mace I gave you.
"Mamma, I'm fine. A guy that was in the park helped me out and everything worked out fine." Kaitlyn sighed.
"What happened Mommy?" Casey asked. Kaitlyn gave her mother a look.
Lily walked up behind Casey and put her arms on her shoulders. "Mommy just tripped and fell in the park and a nice young man helped her, that's all sweet pea. You wanna help Grammy finish folding this laundry?"
Casey nodded.
She turned towards her daughter. "Well were you able to track down that nice young man? Lily asked with a smile on her face.
"Does Megan tell you everything I tell her?" Kaitlyn groaned.
"Cut the crap Kaitlyn, what's he like." Lily never was one to beat around the bush.
"He's nice. His name is Gary. He owns a bar over on Illinois. He's gonna go to the game with us tonight. I told him I would buy him a hotdog and a beer." Kaitlyn grabbed a towel out of the basket and started to fold it.
"Oh that is some way to impress a new guy, a hotdog, beer and a ballgame." Lily rolled her eyes. "You know you are probably going to run into your father tonight."
"Mamma you didn't tell him what happened this morning did you?" Kaitlyn asked alarmed.
"No I didn't. What he doesn't know won't hurt him; besides, you know how he is. He would probably run down to police station, have a million questions, and drive those detectives crazy. You don't think you will have to testify against this guy do you?"
"I don't know. I guess it just depends if the other victims can identify him." Kaitlyn shrugged.
"Well for your sake, I hope you don't have to go through that." She hugged her daughter.
Kaitlyn looked at her watch. "Well we better get going I told Gary we would meet him at 6:00."
"Who is Gary?" Jessica asked as she walked into the kitchen.
"He's just somebody who helped me in the park today. He's going to go to the game with us." Kaitlyn smiled and grabbed Jessica's nose. "Are you sure you are okay with the girls spending the night?"
"Yes, we'll have a great time. Won't we girls." Lily questioned.
"Yeah" Both Jessica and Casey screamed at the same time.
"Okay, well I'll send them home with Dad after the game. Come on girls give Grandma a hug we gotta go so we can stop at the house and pack you an overnight bag."
"Kaitlyn don't forget to call me when you get home. I want to have a decent nights sleep and if I don't hear from you I won't." Lily shook her finger at her daughter.
"Mamma I'll be fine." Kaitlyn kissed her mother on the cheek. "And I will call you when I get home."
"Okay guys, give me a hug. I'll see you later." Lily kissed and hugged both her granddaughters. "Have fun at the game. All of you!" Lily smiled.
"Good-bye mother." Kaitlyn rolled her eyes and walked with her daughters out the front door