A Hope and a Chance(40)
Author: Jennifer Foor

“Nothing much, downloaded some new music to go running to today,” she announced, but as she approached the table she added, “I spent the weekend with my boyfriend and last night he made passionate love to me until I collapsed in his arms. It was amazing.”

I had to turn away from the house. Her face was red and I could tell she thought she was funny. “So, what’s he like?” I asked as we sat at the table across from each other. We could hear Mark talking from in his office and Buffy was busy inside attending to the stove.

Hope played with her napkin, folding it in different directions. “He’s kind, and considerate. He puts everyone else’s needs before his own. He has the biggest heart, but tries to hide it away. And…I think about sleeping with him every CHANCE I get.” She over-enunciated my name.

“Hope! Calm down, please. You’re making it difficult for me to focus,” I confessed while pointing between my legs.

She giggled. “You’re the one that asked. I can’t help it. In fact, after last night and this morning, I wish we could just rip everything off of this table and bang like wild animals.”

I looked up at her in shock, but saw her winking at me. She immediately started giggling. We were caught off guard by Buffy bringing out two large trays of French toast and sausage, while Mark followed behind her with orange juice and coffee.

“What’s so funny out here?” Mark asked.

I froze, but Hope took over. “I was laughing at something that happened yesterday. Chance was climbing on a ladder while I was going running. He must have thought it was locked into place, but when he started climbing up it was collapsing. His face was priceless.”

They all began laughing, but I was in shock that my little princess had told a complete white-lie without breaking a sweat.

“Hope, do you mind scooting next to Chance so that I can sit with your dad? We had such a fun weekend, I don’t think I am ready for it to end yet,” Buffy announced.

Hope stood up and headed in my direction. When she sat on the bench beside me her leg brushed against mine. Knowing her mood, she had probably done it intentionally. This was going to be a lot more difficult than I’d imagined it in my head.

My sister broke my train of thought. “So we have something important to tell you. Mark why don’t you tell them.”

“As you both know I’m crazy about this woman, and after much consideration I’ve asked her to be my wife.” Mark seemed like he was on cloud nine.

Hope was taking a drink of orange juice and immediately spit it out in front of her. It went over her plate and on her face. I handed her some napkins. “Sorry, it went down the wrong hole, I guess,” she said while cleaning up the mess.

“Well, I suppose congratulations are in order.” I reached over and shook Mark’s hand then

got up and gave my sister a big hug. I knew she was beside herself with excitement. We finally started eating as Buffy and Mark talked about their romantic weekend. Hope and I kept touching our legs together, knowing it was the closest to hand holding we could get.

Finally after a moment of silence, Buffy got all giddy. “This means that you two will be each other’s niece and uncle. Isn’t that totally cool? We’ll all be a real family.”

This time I was the one spitting out my coffee. “I don’t think we should label it, sis. You are making me feel old. Hope is only like sixteen or something. She isn’t young enough to call me her uncle. Maybe if she were a little girl or something, it would be different. I don’t expect her to call me uncle Chance.”

“I’m almost eighteen,” Hope corrected.

Her father gave a curious look. “Not until the end of the year, sweetie.”

“Whatever! I hate that my birthday is the last day of the year. All of my friends are legal adults and I can’t do anything I want, ever!” It was very obvious that she was not taking the proposal well. I wanted to hug her, but I couldn’t.

“Hope, please don’t ruin breakfast,” Mark pleaded.

“Sorry. Buffy, I’m happy for you and my dad. I can’t wait to help plan the wedding, if you will let me. Breakfast was fantastic. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going for a run. I’m obviously on edge for some reason this morning. Maybe I just need to go clear my head.”

Hope stood up and took her plate into the house. She never looked at me or back toward her father.

“Wonder what’s gotten into her,” he said with a laugh.

“Probably, just girl problems. Us women get our period and it messes us all up. I’m sure she’s fine.” Buffy stated.

I stood up from the table. “I need to grab a new paintbrush at the hardware store. Hope borrowed mine and forgot to clean it out. The thing was hard as a rock when I found it still stuck in the roller tray. I should have those posts done by dinner time. Thanks for breakfast and congratulations you two. I’m real glad you have each other.” I said before I headed into the kitchen.

I hurried into the pool house, located my keys then ran right into the garage where I found a brand new paintbrush and stuck it in my pocket. I jumped on my bike and began looking for Hope, knowing damn well she didn’t want to be alone.

23

I had to get out of that house. I don’t even remember if I cleared my plate off the table. The combination of being around Chance and hearing my dad’s announcement was too much for me to take. How could he ask her to marry him without seeing if I was okay with it? I knew it wasn’t my decision, but he could have at least talked to me about it. I liked Buffy a lot, and albeit she was more like a big sister than a step-mother, but factor in the relationship with me and Chance, and it was a complete cluster fuck.

I wanted to scream, but instead kept running as fast as my legs would let me. The summer sun was beating down on me and I’d forgotten to grab anything to drink. Between the tears and the sweat, I was having a hard time seeing through my wet eyes.

A familiar sound came roaring around the corner behind me, and I slowed down my pace even before he was in view. Chance pulled up beside me and handed me a helmet. I jumped right on the bike, and he took off out of the neighborhood.

I wrapped my arms tightly around him. With one of his hands he squeezed mine, and I felt a rush of relief to know that we were together.

When we finally made it to a nearby park he pulled in and turned off the bike. I hopped off the motorcycle and waited for Chance to pull me into his arms, and kiss me tenderly. “Are you okay?” He asked as he placed his forehead against mine.