Read Online Second Chance Sweethearts (Love Inspired) by Kristen Ethridge - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kristen Ethridge
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first met you, I knew you were going to be special—but you’ve been far more than that. You kept me safe from the storm, and you made sure Mateo arrived safely. I don’t know anyone braver than you.”
She leaned in and hugged Gloria with one arm, careful not to squish the baby.
“When Mateo is older, I’m gonna tell him about you and tonight. And the first Mateo. I won’t let him forget.”
The words wrapped Gloria’s heart like a healing bandage. They touched her. To know that somehow, her own little Mateo would live on in spirit beyond just her own memories felt like a blessing.
She couldn’t think of anything to say other than simply and softly, “Thank you.”
Gloria had attended numerous mothers and patients throughout her career as a nurse and midwife. She hated to say she’d forgotten many of them, but it was the truth. Tanna, though, and this little Mateo... Never. They would stay with her the rest of her life. Just like her own Mateo would.
Tanna headed back to the command center’s clinic. Gloria hadn’t seen Rigo since she woke up from her nap. She made her way around the hallways in search of a familiar face. Maybe she’d see a friend from the police force and they would be able to give her a lift home as they dispersed from the hotel.
“Gloria! Hey...wait up.” Rigo jogged down the hallway when he saw her. “I came by a while ago to check on you, but you were still asleep. They just gave us the all clear. I need to get out there. We know there are people trapped in their homes. I’ve got to round up my beach patrol lifeguards. Several of them were staying behind at a house. They can help with rescues today.”
She grabbed at Rigo’s arm. “Can you take me with you?”
“I don’t think it will be safe for you. You’re not trained in rescue.” She could see hesitancy in Rigo’s dark eyes. “The best thing for you is to go with Tía and Tanna and make sure everything is okay.”
Gloria shook her head, the flattened layers of hair flopping out of control across her face. She pushed her bangs back with a forceful hand. “No, that is not the best thing for me to do.”
“Why, Gloria? What’s gotten into you? There’s no need to bite my head off. I’m just trying to help you.”
A little ashamed of the tone that had overtaken her voice, Gloria tried to moderate her reply. “I need to go home.”
She could see compassion in Rigo’s face. The lines of tension between his eyebrows faded. “Glo. You own a one-story house in one of the most flood-prone areas of town. There’s probably not much left. Why don’t you let me check it while I’m out today and I’ll report back to you?”
It was a generous offer, to be sure, one that thousands of Port Provident homeowners who’d evacuated would likely wish they could take advantage of. But for Gloria, it wouldn’t do. She thought of wiping her tears with her Mateo’s stuffed bear yesterday, and she couldn’t stomach thinking about what had happened to what she’d left behind.
Exhausted by the long night, and heartsore from the past two years, a cry tore from Gloria’s chest. “Noooo. I have to know. Myself. Now.”
Rigo took one step forward and gathered her in his arms. She leaned against him and her tears began to turn his dry shirt wet. “Shh, Gloria. It’s okay. What do you need to know? Whatever it is, I’ll help you find it.”
“Mateo’s room.” Her voice was muffled against Rigo’s broad chest. She wanted to collapse on the floor in a puddle, but his arms wouldn’t let go. “I have to know if it’s still there.”
Rigo swayed back and forth, rocking Gloria gently as her heart cracked with a mother’s renewed grief. “Shh. It’s okay. I’m going to tell Tía and Tanna goodbye, then we’ll go together.”
* * *
The water was only about midthigh deep at the palm tree where Rigo had left his little boat tied up, instead of the chest-deep it had been only hours before. He couldn’t believe it, but
She leaned in and hugged Gloria with one arm, careful not to squish the baby.
“When Mateo is older, I’m gonna tell him about you and tonight. And the first Mateo. I won’t let him forget.”
The words wrapped Gloria’s heart like a healing bandage. They touched her. To know that somehow, her own little Mateo would live on in spirit beyond just her own memories felt like a blessing.
She couldn’t think of anything to say other than simply and softly, “Thank you.”
Gloria had attended numerous mothers and patients throughout her career as a nurse and midwife. She hated to say she’d forgotten many of them, but it was the truth. Tanna, though, and this little Mateo... Never. They would stay with her the rest of her life. Just like her own Mateo would.
Tanna headed back to the command center’s clinic. Gloria hadn’t seen Rigo since she woke up from her nap. She made her way around the hallways in search of a familiar face. Maybe she’d see a friend from the police force and they would be able to give her a lift home as they dispersed from the hotel.
“Gloria! Hey...wait up.” Rigo jogged down the hallway when he saw her. “I came by a while ago to check on you, but you were still asleep. They just gave us the all clear. I need to get out there. We know there are people trapped in their homes. I’ve got to round up my beach patrol lifeguards. Several of them were staying behind at a house. They can help with rescues today.”
She grabbed at Rigo’s arm. “Can you take me with you?”
“I don’t think it will be safe for you. You’re not trained in rescue.” She could see hesitancy in Rigo’s dark eyes. “The best thing for you is to go with Tía and Tanna and make sure everything is okay.”
Gloria shook her head, the flattened layers of hair flopping out of control across her face. She pushed her bangs back with a forceful hand. “No, that is not the best thing for me to do.”
“Why, Gloria? What’s gotten into you? There’s no need to bite my head off. I’m just trying to help you.”
A little ashamed of the tone that had overtaken her voice, Gloria tried to moderate her reply. “I need to go home.”
She could see compassion in Rigo’s face. The lines of tension between his eyebrows faded. “Glo. You own a one-story house in one of the most flood-prone areas of town. There’s probably not much left. Why don’t you let me check it while I’m out today and I’ll report back to you?”
It was a generous offer, to be sure, one that thousands of Port Provident homeowners who’d evacuated would likely wish they could take advantage of. But for Gloria, it wouldn’t do. She thought of wiping her tears with her Mateo’s stuffed bear yesterday, and she couldn’t stomach thinking about what had happened to what she’d left behind.
Exhausted by the long night, and heartsore from the past two years, a cry tore from Gloria’s chest. “Noooo. I have to know. Myself. Now.”
Rigo took one step forward and gathered her in his arms. She leaned against him and her tears began to turn his dry shirt wet. “Shh, Gloria. It’s okay. What do you need to know? Whatever it is, I’ll help you find it.”
“Mateo’s room.” Her voice was muffled against Rigo’s broad chest. She wanted to collapse on the floor in a puddle, but his arms wouldn’t let go. “I have to know if it’s still there.”
Rigo swayed back and forth, rocking Gloria gently as her heart cracked with a mother’s renewed grief. “Shh. It’s okay. I’m going to tell Tía and Tanna goodbye, then we’ll go together.”
* * *
The water was only about midthigh deep at the palm tree where Rigo had left his little boat tied up, instead of the chest-deep it had been only hours before. He couldn’t believe it, but
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