Second Chances

Chapter 31

Nancy had called me yesterday and invited me out to dinner saying that she had some news to share with me. I had just gotten out of the shower and was getting dressed into a pair of black dress pants and a cobalt blue button down shirt when I got a text from Nancy saying that she was just a few blocks away. I slipped into my shoes and tied them, tossing the tie I had been planning on wearing onto the end of my bed and undoing the top two buttons instead. I grabbed my keys, wallet, and phone and headed downstairs to meet Nancy when she pulled up.

“Just hop in, I’ll drive to the restaurant.” She called through the open passenger window.

“I can drive,” I offered.

Nancy looked at me and laughed. “No you can’t, Jimmy. Let’s go.”

I rolled my eyes and hopped into her car. “Where are we going? I’m starving.”

“Southern Hospitality, I want some ribs in the worst way.” She answered as she started driving in the direction of the restaurant.

“Oooh, a nice pulled pork sandwich sounds great!” I replied.

We got to the restaurant and were seated for a few minutes before I looked at Nancy, who was sitting catty corner to my right at the small square table and grinned. “C’mon, let’s see the ring.”

Nancy looked up at me in shock as she held out her left hand. “What? How’d you know?”

“Dave called me after he talked to your dad.” I explained. “He told me that he just asked your father’s permission and now he needed to ask Winnie’s father’s permission.”

“And what did you say?” Nancy asked curiously, and I could tell that this was the first she’d heard about this.

“Well you’re wearing the ring, aren’t you?” I asked and pointed to her ring. “And that’s a hell of a ring, too. Makes the one I gave you look like shit.”

“Oh stop, the one you gave me was beautiful.” Nancy said as she gazed down at her hand.

“Maybe, but I think we both know this one suits you better.” I told her. “He’s a better match for you.”

“Yeah, I think you’re right, Jimmy.” Nancy agreed. “And now we need to get your better match back.”

“Nance-“ I started, rolling my eyes at her.

“No, don’t ‘Nance’ me.” She said, cutting me off. “You’re miserable, Jim. Not everyone would be able to pick up on it because you put on a good façade but you know that I know you better than that.”

“I am, but it’s my own fault and there’s nothing I can do about it now.” I said with a sigh as I took a sip of my beer.

“Have you seen her at all?”

“Once. She literally ran into me on my birthday on her way to a meeting with Lorne.” I sighed and looked over at Nancy. “She wouldn’t even look at me. I tried to help her pick up the papers she dropped and she didn’t want me to. She doesn’t want anything to do with me and I can’t even put into words how much that hurts.”

“I can see how much it hurts you.” Nancy said as she rubbed my back comfortingly as I looked back down at the tabletop. “But I also know why she acted like that.”

“Why?” I asked.

“She’s still in love with you, too.”

I looked over at her. “What? How could you possibly know that?”

“I didn’t see you two together all that often, but when I did I could see it in both of you. Even when we used to run into her out in LA I could see how she felt about you. I didn’t want to admit that someone else was in love with my husband, but I knew. I’m sure she’s hurting just as you are, if not more due to how it ended.”