LOGINA Second Chance Maryann pov I woke to a smell that pulled me out of sleep gently instead of jarring me into it. Something rich and herby, drifting in from the kitchen. There was a note on the pillow beside me. *Come to the kitchen when you're ready. No rush.* His handwriting. I sat up easy
A Second Chance Marcus pov I felt it before she opened the door. The bond had gotten clear enough over these months that I could read her general state from across the house now—not specifics, just weather patterns. And what I felt when her car pulled into the driveway was heavy. Tired in a wa
They left. Carla looked at me. "You okay?" "Yes." And mostly, I was. The cold feeling in my chest was receding, replaced by something more like resolve. "I need to call Marcus, though." I sat on the bench for a minute before I did. Thought about what Patricia had said—that Carol felt like she
A Second Chance Maryann pov Physical therapy was finally feeling productive. Six weeks since the cast had come off and my arm was nearly back to full strength—Carla, my therapist, had me doing resistance bands and grip exercises that no longer left me exhausted afterward. I was finishing the l
A Second Chance Maryann pov The orthopedic clinic waiting room was quiet at nine in the morning. I'd taken a seat in the corner with the paperwork Dr. Martinez had sent me home with—consent forms for the cast removal, aftercare instructions, a follow-up schedule. Simple reading. My last medica
A Second Chance Marcus pov I'd spent more time than I expected getting ready. That was its own kind of information. I'd stood in front of my closet for ten minutes—which was nine minutes more than I'd spent on that decision in two years—and ended up in something that looked deliberate without







