Second Chances

Chapter One

Chapter One

A Couple of Years Later

        I glanced at myself in the mirror. I loved what I was looking at. I was wearing a thousand dollar designer dress that showed off my curves. It was emerald green and silky. The neckline was plunging v-shaped that ended at my belly button. My brown hair was curled and pinned up to accentuate my tanned face. Jason bought me a pearl necklace for our anniversary. He told me to wear it tonight. I never felt more beautiful.

        “You look lovely, Madeline,” commented my mom. She sat on my bed with her hands clasped tight and her eyes beaming with joy. “I am so thankful you found Jason. He is so good for you, darling.”

        “I know,” I replied. Mom never let me forget how good of a man Jason was.

        Jason Heights was my husband and the love of my life. He comes from an elite family in Manhattan, New York. His mom was international fashion designer, Miranda Welsh while his dad, Louis Welsh was a world-renowned heart surgeon. They both worked hard and were pleasant people. Jason owned his own business that was currently dominating the car industry. I had met Jason in Manhattan when I was visiting some relatives of mine. They introduced me to him and it was love at first sight. After that, we dated for a couple of years, and married three months later.

        “Can you believe he is taking me to this ball? It is unfathomable.” I know how ridiculous it sounds, but I felt like Cinderella. The dress and the ball made me feel magical and wonderful at the same time. Nothing could compare to this. “This is just indescribable.”

        My mom sighed while smoothing out her sundress. “If only your father was like Jason, then maybe we would still be together.”

        “You mean you still haven’t forgiven daddy?’ It seemed rude to rub my happiness in my mom’s face while she was going through a divorce.

        “Why would I forgive that low-life? He cheated on me with Blonde Bimbo.” Blonde Bimbo was mom’s nickname for dad’s secretary, Chelsea who he cheated on mom with. “He could apologize a thousand times and I wouldn’t even consider taking him back.”

        I sat next to my mom on my bed. She would never admit this, but I knew that dad’s absence was killing her. Despite everything he has done, they both loved each other. I never worried about the divorce before because I knew they would eventually come to their senses and forgive one another. I cannot imagine my parents not being together. They have been together my entire life. They were the image in my head when I pictured love and romance. It was like removing the wings from a butterfly. The butterfly loses its beauty and loses its ability to soar above the danger.

        “I think you and daddy are meant for each other,” I commented.

        Mom chuckled before saying, “You also thought that Toby boy was the one.” I sucked in a sharp breathe. Everyone knew the rules concerning Toby. No one can say his name or mention his family or anything. I had rid him from my memories and I did not need to think of him on the night of this important ball. “I’m sorry, dear, it slipped out. Must be the wine,” she mumbled even though there was no wine in sight. Mom always blamed her slip of the tongue on wine whether it was there or not.

        “It’s okay, mom,” I whispered.

        “I think this is the end for your dad and me,” mom said, changing the subject. “I know that isn’t what you want you to hear, but it is the truth. This was the last straw for me.”

        “Has he done this before?” I asked, warily.

        “We probably shouldn’t go into that,” my mom suggested. “Besides, this happened years ago. You were only a baby.”