Standard disclaimers apply.
Second Chance
By Christine
Nearly four weeks had passed. Fall had set on the City of Chicago bringing with it crisp air and changing leaves. The beauty of the city was unrecognizable to Gary. The only beauty he saw was at night in his dreams. He dreamt such pleasant dreams. He dreamt of Kaitlyn, the feel of her touches, the taste of her kiss, only to be hit by reality when he awoke in the morning, alone.
He reluctantly went on with his life doing what the paper required of him. His parents returned to Hickory. Chuck also went home after a brief stay in the hospital.
He hadn't seen Kaitlyn since that day in the motel parking lot. Once a week though Kaitlyn's mother brought the girls to the bar to see him. Casey was doing well she was back to her old self. Going from seeing them everyday to once a week was a major adjustment for him, he missed them terribly.
Marissa gave him her usual advice. "Have faith that everything will work out." She said. Gary ran out of faith the day Casey was kidnapped.
He walked up the steps to his loft after a hard day of dealing with the paper. As he reached the top step he looked up and there she was, more beautiful than he remembered.
"Hi." Kaitlyn said slightly smiling.
"Hi." Gary said. She had the same effect on him that she always did. He couldn't take his eyes off her.
"Can we talk." She asked.
"Ah, yeah." Gary headed for the door and opened it.
Kaitlyn walked in. The place looked the same as it had the last time she was there. Gary took off his jacket and hung it on the hook.
"I'd offer you something to drink, but I'm afraid all I have is milk." Gary said. "We can go downstairs and…."
"No that's okay, I'm fine." She smiled. She walked over and sat down on the couch. She noticed the picture sitting on the end table. It was of Gary and the girls. Kaitlyn smiled as she remembered taking that picture. They were at the ballgame. It was the same picture, which sat upon the girls' dresser at home.
"How are the girls?" Gary asked nervously.
"They're good. They miss you." She paused looking down at her hands. "I miss you." She looked at him with tears forming in her eyes.
Gary said the first thing that came to his mind. The only words he could think of. "I miss you, too." He whispered.
Kaitlyn got up and walked towards him stopping just in front of him. "I'm sorry. Gary I love you." She said, as the tears began to fall.
"I'm the one that should be saying sorry." He reached up and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
That simple touch was like a lightening bolt to their souls. Gary took her in his arms and kissed her, making all of their dreams of the past six weeks a reality.
When the kiss ended Kaitlyn looked up at him and said, "I am ashamed at the way I treated you when you told me about the paper. I was just so emotionally distraught over Casey, I..." Gary placed his finger on her lips to silence her.
He pulled back and gave her cunning look. "Does this mean we're back together?"
Kaitlyn put her lips as close to his as she possibly could without touching them. Looking into his eyes she said, "Do you want us to be back together?"
"Only if it's on one condition." Gary said with a sneaky smile.
"Well that is going to depend on what the condition is." Kaitlyn teased. She never expected what would happen next.
Gary got down on one knee in front of her. Taking her hand he looked up at her and said, "Kaitlyn I love you more than I ever thought I could love someone. With every passing day I love you more." As he looked at her, she could see all the love that he felt for her shining through his eyes. "Kaitlyn Kelly I want you to spend the rest of our lives as my wife. Will you marry me?"
She got down on her knees in front of him. "Yes." She said as the tears started to stream down her face. "Yes, I'll marry you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
For Gary Hobson it was finally here, his second chance.