Our Second Chance

Chapter Four

5 years later...

"Mommy, mommy! Look what we made at 'care today!" Were the first words Josie heard when she stepped through the back door of her home. Little 5 year old Lucy came running up to her mother, thrusting a picture up at Josie with her chubby arms.

"What, baby?" Josie asked, grinning as she sat her keys and purse on the counter and got down to Lucy's height. "I drew a 'icture for you, mommy!" Lucy squealed, her chocolate grin widening. Josie smiled and took the paper. "Oh, LuLu, it's beautiful, thank you! I'll put it on the fridge! Where's Nana?" She asked, standing up and running her hand down Lucy's blonde curls that were so much like her own when she was younger. The only noticeable features of Ashton's that showed in Lucy were his hazel eyes and his deep dimples.

"Right here, Josie." Her mother said, softly, coming in to the kitchen. "Long day?" Josie sighed and nodded, stripping off her coat, hat, and gloves. "Very." She stepped out of her shoes with a slight groan. Josie could never figure out what convinced her that wearing heels to her job was a good idea.

Now, you're probably wondering what her job is. 4 years ago, Della helped Josie pack up all of their things and even bought them plane tickets. Josie decided against leaving a note because she didn't want Ashton or anyone else to try and find her. In fact, the only person that even knew Josie and Lucy are alive is Della, but they haven't talked for almost 2 years, after Josie found out that Della and Luke got engaged on the day she left.

After moving and settling in at their new home, Josie enrolled in online classes and got her degree in social work. She figured there was no way she'd ever go back to her singing career, but she knew that she had to work to support herself and Lucy. So, for the past year, Josie has spent 8 hours every day working as a social worker while Lucy spends 4 hours at a day care, 4 hours with her Nana, and 4 hours with Josie.

"There's a young girl that I got the case for. Her parents are going through a nasty divorce; the mom's a drunk and the dad's a register p-e-d-o-p-h-I-l-e." Josie sighed. "The girl's 6 years old and she doesn't understand why she has to stay with Grammy and Grampy instead of mommy and daddy-" Josie was cut off by Lucy yelling. "Mommy, when can I go to daddy?" Josie looked wide eyed at Lucy. "I knew this would happen, Josephine. I told you not to keep the girl from Ashton. She hasn't stopped talking about tomorrow being daddy's day at daycare and she has no daddy to bring with her."

Josie looked down at Lucy. "Ma, you know the reason why I left. He never wanted anything to do with her. I spent 9 months around him while I was pregnant and he adored me and Lucy - when she was just an idea. And then I spent 9 months with Lucy as a living, breathing baby around him and he pulled away. I can't let her meet him and have him decide that he doesn't want anything to do with her. I won't let him hurt my little Lucy." Josie said, stubbornly.

Katherine James let out a heavy sigh. "Josephine, listen. That man loved you. I know you say that he pulled away, but honey he's just gotten thrown in to being a parent to this precious child." She said in her calm, comforting voice. Josie shook her head. "I think you should go home, mom. Don't try to parent me when I'm doing what I believe is the right choice." Josie snapped, pointing to the door. Her mother nodded, grabbed her purse, said bye to Lucy, and left.

"Come on, baby. Let's go watch some movies and you can tell mommy about daycare."

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Josie was late. She was always late on important days. It just so happens that the one day she was late would be Lucy's fifth birthday. "Shît, shït, shít." She chanted, hurrying down aisle after aisle; her heels making a click clack sound as she hurried. In the process of trying to find the few last minute things she had forgotten to grab, she didn't see the person in the aisle until it was too late.

"Oof!" Josie's stomach collided with the handle of the shopping cart as it hit another person. "Ah, fùck. I'm so sorry." Josie started, looking up to see the person she'd ran into. Her eyes connected with an all too familiar pair of hazel eyes and she lost the ability to breath, all color fading from her face.

A look of shock appeared on the person's face before he took a step forward. Josie, however, did the one thing she was always told she was good at; she turned and ran out of the store, gasping for air as she started to have a panic attack.

Bang! The back door hit the countertop as Josie shoved herself through it, slamming it shut and locking it after herself. She reached up and grabbed two fistfuls of hair, pacing back and forth. "Oh, god. Oh, god." She repeated. "Josephine Ray! What have I tol-Oh dear lord, what is the matter, Josie?!" Katherine James rushed over to her daughter, laying her hands on Josie's arms.

"He's here, Ma. Ashton's here."

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Whoooooa, double update 😳😂

I figured this one could be a small chapter since I'm super bored with nothing to do.

I start my second job tomorrow!

Let me know what you think —>

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