Sentimental Chances

Chapter 48: Back In The Station

Months went by, and I found myself preparing for my move to England, or maybe a longer stay—whatever you want to call it. My mom even came to Barcon to visit, and we planned to see my grandparents together to share the exciting news that they were going to be great-grandparents!

One day, we decided to go shopping at the strip mall to buy new luggage since the wheels on mine had broken.

"Oh, that one looks so sturdy," my mom said, pointing at a bag. "What do you think?"

"Yeah, it looks great, and I like the color," I responded.

"Why don't we browse for a different one before making a decision?"

"Sounds good."

Just then, Roldan entered the store and called out, "Pepsi, hi!"

"Roldan, hey!" I greeted him with a smile. "Are you shopping today?"

"Yep!"

Mom then approached us. "Sweetie, who's this?"

"Oh, right, Mom. This is Roldan, the inn's landscaper," I introduced him. "Roldan, this is my mom, Valerie."

He extended his hand. "Nice to meet you. I can see where Pepsi gets her good looks!"

Mom shook his hand and playfully ran her fingers through her hair. "Oh, my... What a charming young man. You know what? We're about to have lunch. Would you like to join us? It's on me!"

"I don't see why not," Roldan replied with a smile. And from that day on, my mom seemed quite captivated by Roldan.

A few days later, it was time to visit my grandparents. We went out of town to get to their house.

I was so happy to see them again, and Joe as well. I swear that pug got pudgy since the last time I saw it. I think Grandma gave it too much love.

We all gathered around Grandma and Grandpa's polished wooden dining table later that afternoon, the air sweet with the scent of her famous cinnamon rolls and freshly brewed coffee. 

"I have something wonderful to tell you," I began, my voice trembling a little with happiness. "I'm going to have a baby. You two are going to be great-grandparents."

Grandpa's coffee mug settled gently into its saucer—so slowly you could hear the soft clink. His bushy eyebrows lifted, and then his face broke into the widest, warmest smile I'd ever seen. 

Grandma's hands flew to her mouth, eyes glistening instantly. For a heartbeat, she was on her feet, hurrying around the table to wrap me in a hug so tight it felt like home itself holding me.

"Oh, my sweet girl... a great-grandbaby!" Grandma murmured, rocking me gently, tears spilling over onto my shoulder. "Praise the heavens—what a lovely, lovely surprise." 

Just then Joe trotted in, his little paws tapping across the floorboards, and let out a sharp, excited yap as if he knew exactly what we were celebrating. He spun in a couple of waddling circles, then plopped down at my feet, looking up with that squishy-faced pug grin. I laughed through my tears and scratched him behind the ears. Even Joe was happy for us. 

Grandpa stood up then, his voice thick with emotion as he patted my shoulder. "England, a new life, and a little one coming along—you've got quite the journey ahead, kiddo. But you've got love going with you, and that's the best foundation there is."

Mom beamed beside me, resting her hand on my arm. "And she's got all of us cheering her on, every step of the way. No matter how far the journey takes her."

Grandma pulled back just enough to cup my face in her hands, her eyes shining. "We'll pray for your safe journey, and for a healthy little one. Come back to visit whenever you can—this house will always be your home, and your baby's home too."

For the rest of the afternoon, the house rang with laughter and happy tears, every conversation circling back to the baby—to names, to what the little one might look like, to all the stories we'd one day tell. 

Outside, the sun began to dip low, painting the sky in soft gold and rose, and I sat there surrounded by love, feeling braver and more hopeful than I ever had before. Whatever lay ahead in England, I knew I carried this moment with me—warm, bright, and full of joy.

After the visit, I went back to Barcon and waited while Mom returned to her house to sort out the rest of her side of things. I still had about three months before I was leaving, so I filled the days by going back to work.

Nothing heavy. Just editing, a little paperwork, the kind of tasks that kept my hands busy and my mind from drifting too far.

And then, somehow, it was the present.

The day before I left, I decided I wanted to do one last thing. Which was how I ended up back here at the train station, waiting and waiting like waiting could somehow bring Topher back to me.

I'd been there since morning, watching the trains come and go until the sky turned dark.

People kept saying goodbye. People kept running into each other's arms. There were tears, hugs, kisses—proof that some people got to be left behind by love and still have it come back to them.

I sat on that bench like I was part of the station itself, with water and sandwiches beside me so I wouldn't starve while time dragged on.

I used to love waiting for Topher when he came back from work trips. Back then, the waiting had meant something. It had meant he was on his way to me.

But this time, the last train came and went with only passengers getting off. They stepped into the arms of the people who were waiting for them, one by one, until there was no one left but me.

A stupid part of me still hoped Topher would appear anyway, like maybe the universe had changed its mind.

But it hadn't. Of course.

So I stood, grabbed my trash, and tossed it in the bin before heading for the exit.

"Pepsi," someone said my name, and my whole body went still because that voice—