Second Chances by Lincoln Cole Page A

he knew his brother drove a car
from the stone ages.
     “You sound down,” Jason said. “Depressed about something?’
    “I just…I had a rough day,” Richard said, not really wanting
to talk about it.
    “I understand how those go,” Jason said.  “I’ve had a couple
of my own over the last few weeks.”
    “Not like this,” Richard said.  Jason raised an eyebrow and glanced
at him.
    “You’d be surprised.”
    The car sputtered down the road, bouncing in a pothole.
Richard bit back his annoyance.
    “Something going on at work?  Or up with your kids.”
    “No, everything is fine,” Richard lied.
    “How are the kids doing? Still growing like weeds?”
    “One started high school this year.”
    Jason whistled.  “You must have your hands full.”
    “I do,” Richard replied.  “But they are good kids. Well
behaved. Both are already looking for colleges.”
    “Ambitious,” Jason said.  “Just like their father.”
    Richard nodded. “They definitely are. You ever planning on
having kids?”
    Jason chuckled. “Nah, the parenting thing isn’t really for
me.”
    “It isn’t really for anyone,” Richard said.  “If most people
knew the actual cost, there would be far fewer parents.”
    “What is the cost?”
    “All of your energy, your brain power, and your heart and
soul. They absorb your life completely.”
    Jason laughed.  “I can agree with that. I heard about a
study recently where they said having children was the worst possible thing
that can happen to a couple.  It’s worse than divorce, worse than one partner
dying.  Everyone just lies and says it’s wonderful after they have kids.”
    “It is wonderful,” Richard said.  “But, I suppose if
you are considering sleep deprivation, health problems, financial stability,
and short term happiness it probably is the worst as well.”
    “I would like to have kids,” Jason said.  “Like Shakespeare
said, there are only two ways to live forever: through your family, or in
people’s memories.”
    Richard shrugged. “I suppose.  My question is: who the hell
wants to live forever?”

Chapter 13
Nichole
     
    Nichole was exhausted when she got home.  She had only
managed to pack up most of her things at the office before leaving. She hadn’t
even managed to grab the paperwork for Kenni and Tyler, leaving it behind. She
left the office a mess with papers scattered everywhere, but she didn’t want to
stay any longer than she had to.
    She skipped her second job, calling and mumbling a quick
apology to her boss. There was no way she could go in. Not like this. Not after
everything that had happened.
    Tyler and Kenni were on the couch waiting for her, watching
TV.  Tyler jumped off the couch and ran over to give her a hug.
    “Hey,” she said, squeezing him tight.  Just like that,
though, he was done welcoming her home. He went back to the couch and sat cross
legged, eating a bag of chips.
    “I’m going to start dinner,” she said.
    “Okay,” Tyler said, eyes glued to the TV.
    Kenni, on the other hand, was looking at Nichole.  She got up
and followed her into the kitchen.
    “What’s wrong?” she said.
    “Nothing,” Nichole replied.
    “You’ve been crying.”
    “I’m fine,” Nichole said.  “Go watch TV with your brother.
Dinner will be ready soon.”
    Kenni didn’t like the idea, but she didn’t object either. 
She headed back to the living room and pulled a book out of her backpack.  A
textbook, probably science. Kenni loved science class.
    Nichole set about preparing dinner, but she couldn’t get
work out of her mind.  After a while, she started crying again, but this time
it wasn’t because of what happened earlier that day.
    It was for Kenni. She had failed, and there was nothing she
could do about it.  She knew enough to know that, without her mother, there was
no way she could file the injunction for Kenni or Tyler. The only chance she
had of making it work, and certainly the last, had been