Page 7 of Second Chances

“I’m sorry to bother you, but is this your daughter?” He was still holding Simona’s hand when the raven-haired woman turned around and assessed him with the most beautiful silver eyes he’d ever seen.

He actually felt his heart skip a beat as she looked at him. The waitress had been correct—Simona was a mini version of her mother. Except her mother was a knockout.

“Yes?” she asked, pulling her daughter into her lap.

He smiled, trying to seem very casual. “I followed her out to the sidewalk.” Seeing the worried look flood those silver eyes, he held up his hands. “I saw her leaving the pizzeria on her own and got worried. Thankfully, I convinced her to return here. Where, I assured her, her parents would be worried about her.”

Olivia turned to look down at Simona.

“Did you leave?” she asked

Simona was biting that bottom lip when she nodded. “Conner James says I’m a baby. That I’m too young to walk across the street on my own.”

Another blonde woman sitting at the table jumped up, no doubt to go look for her son.

Olivia’s eyes moved back up to him. “I’m so sorry,” she started, but he chose that moment to open his mouth. He really should have thought about it before speaking.

“You really should keep a better eye on your kids,” he blurted out. Those silver eyes went from soft and appreciative to hard and cold in a blink.

“Excuse me?” she said, shifting Simona on her lap.

“Simona could have been hit by a car or someone”—he motioned around to all the chaos surrounding them— “could have come along, and something worse could have happened.”

“Thank you,” she said, her tone now clipped. “I assure you that this won’t happen again.”

He narrowed his eyes at her and wished he could go back in time. Wish that he could stop himself from talking. But no, he just had to keep speaking.

“Maybe your husband could help you out and watch—”

“No husband. And as I said before, I assure you that it won’t happen again. Now”—she stood up suddenly, shifting Simona onto her hip— “if you’ll excuse—”

“Todd?” He glanced over at his name. The blonde woman who had been talking with Olivia and had been quietly watching him narrowed her eyes at him. “It is you.” She smiled when he glanced her way. “I thought so at first, but…” She shook her head, sending her blonde hair flying. “It’s Sarah…” She sighed. “Serenity.”

He was pretty sure he swallowed his tongue and coughed. “Serenity?” His first crush, first kiss, and first love. Then again, he’d been nine, so he really hadn’t known what love was. “Wow.” He hugged her back when she hugged him. He couldn’t believe that she remembered him. She’d been his entire world that last summer they’d stayed at the cottage.

“I didn’t know you were back in town.” She stepped back and looked at him.

“Got back a few days ago,” he admitted. “This yours?” He nodded to the little blonde girl sitting in a highchair, making a mess of her food.

Sarah smiled. “Yes, this is Luna and that”—she motioned to another blonde girl sitting on a man’s lap— “is Aurora and my husband Ben.”

Todd took a moment to shake the man’s hand.

“Todd and his family used to come here every summer. They owned that place on the cape. The one we’ve been admiring for years,” Sarah explained.

“The boarded up one?” Ben asked.

“It was boarded up until a few days ago.” He smiled.

“Good to hear it. That place needs a little TLC,” Ben said.

“I’ll be giving it some over the coming months.”

“Good to hear it.” Ben bent over to stop his youngest daughter from spilling her drink.

“I’m sorry to hear about your mother,” Sarah surprised him by saying.

“How did you…”