There's Always Second Chances

Chapter 27

"ADRIAN!" Jess called out. I could hear her all the way from my room. What a loud mouth. I snickered at my own joke. Over the past few years, I've found myself getting into the swing of things. I managed to find a job at the local mechanics. It was run by an old friend. Aaron. It was a shock seeing him again after all these years. It was pleasant when he asked me to catch up with him over dinner. 

I also managed to get letters from Andrea and Søren who kept me filled in on what they were doing. Søren was more so talking to me online than in letters since he was travelling around a lot. I was pleasantly surprised when they both told me that they were still together. I guess some relationships do stand the test of distance and time. 

"WHAT!" I called back. Naomi put her hands over her ears. "Loud." she said. I nodded. "I'm sorry baby," I murmured and picked her up. We traipsed through the house to the front door. Jess walked away. "Søren?" I uttered looking the man up and down. He had changed so much. "In the flesh Lawson," he mused. He was definitely an unexpected visitor. 

I ushered him in and out into the garden. "I hope I'm not intruding, I just thought I'd come see you while I was in Australia." He muttered. I shook my head. "You're not intruding." I murmured. I was more than overjoyed to see him again at last. It was hard being friends with someone I would otherwise only see once a year. 

"Daddy, who this?" asked Naomi, her big green eyes blinking up at me. She was so curious. I smiled down at her. "This is Daddy's friend Søren." I responded. Naomi said okay and then got down to play with her toys. Søren chuckled. "She's grown so much since I last saw her. Can't believe that's the same tiny baby," he spoke. I nodded. It still seemed so surreal to me that I have her. I'm dreading that one day I'll wake up and it'll all be a dream or Naomi doesn't exist or Delilah has complete control over her. 

Søren seemed fidgety. "What's on your mind?" I asked. I took a quick glance over at him before looking back at Naomi to check she's still in the same place. "I.." he started and then hushed himself. He took a deep breath and then started rummaging around in his rucksack. Travelling light I see. "You see, it's better if I show you. I feel like if I say it, it'll jinx it." Søren spoke, retrieving something from the depths of his bag. 

A small black box. I paid attention to the box and smiled. He's finally doing it. I thought that when I scrolled through Instagram that he was going to post a picture of Andrea and the ring any day. "What's your plan?" I asked taking the box from him. I admired the ring inside. It's beautiful. Definitely something that Andrea would like. 

"My plan was...." he started and I felt like my heart was soaring. I was so happy for them. Søren made a face as he took the box back and tucked it away in his bag. "I've got nothing. I came here for inspiration and may or may not of asked her to fly out." Søren spoke quietly but I caught every single word. 

I took a glance back over to Naomi and rushed over. "Don't eat that! It's a bug," I stated firmly. I took the poor bug out of her small fist and picked her up. 

"So you're telling me that you have no plan. And that you spontaneously asked Andrea to fly out to Australia. Did she say she'll come? What are you even thinking of doing?" 

Søren just nodded sheepishly. He rubbed the back of his neck as he fiddled with one of the strings on his bag with the other hand. "She said she'll come because I told her that we were all having a get together. You know get the trio back together." Søren finally revealed what the condition was that Andrea finally agreed to find out. 

I pinched the bridge of my nose between my fingers and sighed. "You're an idiot." I stated. Søren laughed. It was both funny and not funny at the same time. "Okay. How long are you planning to be in Australia?" I asked. I needed to think of a plan and fast. Maybe I could ask Jess since she works with people who are having weddings all the time. I'm sure she'll have a plan. 

"I guess a month." he said. He was unsure meaning Søren must've just packed his rucksack, booked a flight and then came out here on a whim. "You're packing really light for a month, you really had no plan before you came here." I said laughing. Søren muttered a shut up. He's hopeless. I thought he would've learned after all that time in America but it seems he hadn't. 

I picked up his bag. "Come indoors, we'll sort something out." I murmured. It was back to how it was in America. I'm always looking after Andrea and Søren but in return, I know they would look after me too. "MUM!" I called out. I hoped she hadn't gone out. My Mum came into the hallway with a smile on her face. Naomi made grabby hands towards her and I passed her to Mum. "I'm going to get Søren some clothes. Is it all right if I borrow your car and for you to look after Naomi for me?" I asked.  

This was going to be tough. "Sure, just another excuse for me to be with my granddaughter. Oh and Søren," Mum spoke. Søren looked at her with a worried smile. "You can crash here, we don't mind." Mum said rubbing Søren's arm. He thanked her profusely. I tugged him outside and we got in the car. We drove to the local mall and looked around for some clothes. I had to get some for Naomi since she was starting to grow out of the things I got for her. 

"Are you sure?" Søren asked worriedly as we walked to the counter. Søren had been asking me if I was sure since I told him I was paying for the clothes. "Yes. You're family Søren. Getting you clothes, is nothing." I said. It was true, Søren is most definitely family to me. 

We got some food too and now it was the journey home. "So are you sure I can stay?" he asked. I shook my head. "You heard it from my Mum, you can stay. It's her house so she calls the shots." I responded. He patted my back and we walked inside the house. 

"What are you going to do when I go to work?" I asked. "I'm going to chill out at the beach and go look at stuff." Søren replied with a shrug. I nodded in response. This was going to be a long month of planning and figuring something out for Søren's engagement.