A Chance for Love

By Alisha Jones

Twins, Kali and Krista Allison, have always shared everything. Well, everything except boys. Each refuses to date a guy that the other has already dated. However, when one of them meets the man of the other one's dreams, they may find themselves breaking their own rules.

Wyatt Miller's blind date is beautiful, smart, funny, and exactly who he's pictured himself with. There's just one problem, he finds himself attracted to her sister. Can he decide which sister he wants. And, if he does, will the other sister have him?

Wes Evans is studying to be a doctor. Technically, he's studying a certain blond beauty. However, when his friend sets him up on a date with her, she's not at all what he expects.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alisha Jones
• Release date: Nov 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370527953

Book preview

A Chance for Love

By: Alisha Jones

For Kim B.

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright ©2015

All Rights Reserved

Prologue

Richard slammed on the breaks as his wife screamed in agony. Rich, what in the world is wrong with you?! Jane eyed her husband with the look of one marked for death. I know I told you that we need to get to the hospital as soon as possible, but I would like us to make it there in one piece.

Now, safely stopped at the traffic light, he looked at her and smiled flatly, Sorry, honeybun. I’m just so nervous. It’s not every day I become a father, you know. This was going to be a momentous day, indeed, for the Allison family. Their two, beautiful daughters were about to enter the world.

I know, she growled. I’m the one having labor pains over here. Jane squeezed his hand as another contraction took hold of her. It was her first time having a baby too, and she was petrified. And now, when Richard had insisted on training for the Indy 500, she was just plain nervous. After she had successfully breathed through her contraction, she told him, Just take it easy, will ya?

Richard smiled at his beautiful wife and recalled the moment he found out he was going to be a father. He had been sitting on the living room floor for over two hours, repairing a computer for a friend. His hobby took up most of their living space, but his girl had never complained. Jane had walked into the room, sat slowly on the couch, and told him he was going to be a daddy. He was so excited that he tried to jump up and hug her, but his legs had fallen asleep, so he hobbled and fell like a baby deer. They had laughed and hugged and kissed. That was one of the happiest moments of his life, next only to marrying his lovely bride.

The light turned green, but, when Richard didn’t move, Jane scolded, It’s not gettin’ any greener, Rich. She grabbed her tummy when he jerked back to reality and nailed the gas pedal to the floor. Unfortunately, he nailed it so hard, that he flooded the gas tank. The car came to a silent halt in the middle of the intersection. Jane glared at her husband, and tried her best to remain calm. Well? What are we supposed to do now?

Richard could tell his wife was contemplating murder, so he raised his hands in defense. Now, now, Janie, sweetie pie, honeybun, it’s gonna be okay. He turned the key in the ignition and tried to restart it. When it wouldn’t start, he grinned sheepishly, I’m afraid it’s gonna take a little more time before it’ll restart.

Just then, Jane had a gripping contraction. AH! We don’t have a little more time. We need to get to the hospital! NOW! she screamed. She tried to breathe through her pain, but instantly thought that her Lamaze instructor must have been an absolute nut.

Richard looked around for any way he could get his wife quickly to the hospital. Jane, the usually carefree and lively woman, had suddenly turned into the spawn of Satan. He even thought he could see the color red, glowing in her eyes. He jumped out of the car and asked, Can you steer the car to the side of the road while I push it? When she peered at him through slatted eyes, he figured she meant, ‘oh yes, dear husband. I would be so happy to do that for you.’ So, he shook his head and ran to the back of the car.

When they had safely pulled the car onto the side of the road, Richard flipped the hazard lights on, and grabbed her suitcase. What are you doin’? Jane asked in bewilderment.

He opened her car door and offered his hand to her. The only thing I know to do, is walk.

Jane looked at his hand like it was on fire. You have got to be kiddin’ me. Walk? she spat. You do know that I am in the middle of having a baby right? Without giving him a chance to answer, she raged, "And, not just one baby. Two babies, your two babies."

I know, I know, he said as he grabbed her elbow and practically pulled her from the car. Look, he pointed, the hospital is right there. It’s about two blocks away. You can do it. He closed her door and locked the car. When he tried to hold her arm, she jerked it away. That is, until she had another contraction. She held onto him so tightly that she ripped the pocket of his shirt. She slumped over in pain as he rubbed her back and tried to soothe her. When it passed, they walked a little farther, stopping each time she needed to.

After a few minutes of walking and stopping, a car pulled over to them. Richard thought the couple to be about their own age. The woman, sitting in the passenger seat, rolled down her window. Upon further investigation, Richard noticed that she, too, was hugely pregnant. The woman asked, Do you need a lift?

Oh, bless you. Our car broke down back there, Jane pointed, and we are on our way to the hospital right now!

Oh my goodness, Charles. Get out and help them, the woman told the man beside her. Her husband jumped out and did as she commanded. When they were all seated, with luggage in the back, the woman said, My name is Dianne Miller, and this is my husband, Charles.

It’s very nice to meet you. My name is Richard Allison, and this is my wife, Jane.

Dianne pulled down her visor and opened the mirror. She looked at Jane and asked, Have you been having contractions?

Oh yea, admitted Jane. Every couple of minutes. How far along are you?

Dianne smiled, Nine months and two weeks. I guess these two devils like it in there. She laughed and rubbed her enormous belly.

Two? asked Jane excitedly. You’re having twins?

Yep, Dianne beamed. Two boys. What about you?

Twin girls, Jane laughed. How neat is that?

Dianne laughed along with her, Very neat. She turned and held Jane’s hand when she went through a contraction, then readjusted herself comfortably. She said, I was wishing that I’d had some real contractions, but they look brutal.

Jane attempted to control her breathing, but it was getting harder as the pain became increasingly worse. After a moment, she asked, So, no contractions yet? And you’re two weeks past due? Jane was only a few days past her due date, and she wanted to explode.

Um, not really. Maybe a few Braxton-Hicks, but nothing big so far. Dianne saddened a little and confessed, We’re on the way to the hospital now because I haven’t felt them move all day, so the doc said to come on in.

Oh. I do hope everything will be alright. Jane couldn’t imagine not feeling her babies move. She felt like her belly was the stage for her little ballerinas. They had given a performance every single day and night.

Thank you, Dianne smiled, I’m sure it will be. She looked up to see that Charles had parked in front of the emergency room entrance. Ah, here we are. She turned to look at Jane, Maybe I’ll walk up and check on you after a while. Would that be okay?

Absolutely, smiled Jane as Richard helped her out of the car. I’d like that. Jane hobbled inside and sat, impatiently, in the waiting room, as Richard filled out a mountain of paperwork. The nurse came in with a wheelchair and took them off to have their angels.

Dianne watched Jane walk in with her husband, and sent up a silent prayer for a safe delivery. She turned to her husband and he grabbed her hand as tears began to well in her eyes.

It’s gonna be okay, baby. Our boys are gonna be kickin’ their footballs, and slam dunkin’ their basketballs in no time. They’re just saving up their energy. Charles had prayed, the whole way to the hospital, that his wife and boys would be safe and healthy. He knew, in his heart, they would be. He drove around to the side of the hospital, found a parking place, and pulled into it. He glanced to his wife, who was trying to be brave, and told her, I love you, Di. You’re gonna be a wonderful mommy to those boys.

She kissed his hand and reached for his face. She cupped it between her hands and kissed his lips tenderly. I love you, too, Charles. You are gonna make one heck of a daddy.

He helped his wife into the hospital and asked to see her doctor. The nurse told them where to go, and they headed off to face their unknown future.

****

Jane held her two beautiful angels, wrapped in soft, pink blankets, in her arms. She was weak from child birth, but nothing would stop her from holding her babies. She kissed them each on their perfectly round heads, and completely forgot about the pain they had put her through moments before.

Richard stood close by, taking as many pictures as he could. He was so proud of his wife that he beamed with joy. After a few minutes, the nurse began to hand the babies to him, so he plopped in the chair by the bed and held out both his arms. Those little bundles already had him wrapped around their fingers. He looked at his very tired wife and asked, What are we gonna name ‘em?

Jane smiled, I’ve been thinking about that. I think we’ll name them Krista Leanne and Kali Breanne. How does that sound?

Great names. I love them, Richard said quietly as he stared at his two daughters. Softly, he spoke to them, How do you two like the names? Krista and Kali. Two perfect names for two perfect babies. How was it possible to love these two babies after having just met them? He didn’t know, but he was positive that his heart swelled with love for them.

****

It was a full day before Jane remembered the two friendly people who gave them a ride to the hospital. I wonder how Dianne and Charles are doing. She looked to her husband, Can you go ask the nurse if she knows anything about them?

Sure, Richard said as he handed her one of the babies. He had held at least one of them in his arms since they were born. I’ll be right back. He walked down to the nurse’s station and saw a flutter of excitement around one of the rooms. Having always been a very nosy body, he walked toward the action. He heard a woman crying and saw Charles running out of the room. He started to go after him, but saw a nurse exiting the room. He walked to her and asked, Do you know if Dianne Miller has had her babies yet?

The nurse looked at him with sympathy in her eyes, Um, yes she... she. The woman couldn’t finish and she looked shaken.

When Richard saw Charles coming out of the bathroom, wiping his eyes, he went to him, Charles, are you okay?

Charles looked at the man for a second, trying to remember where he had seen him. When he finally recognized the man, he said, Uh, not really. Dianne had the babies the same day your wife did. The doc said that it wasn’t really good that they hadn’t moved, so he induced labor. One of them was healthy, and one of them was a little too blue. So they said they would keep an eye on him. They just came in and told us that he... he. Charles couldn’t finish. He couldn’t force himself to speak the words. One of his sons was gone. He crashed to the floor and broke, sobbing like his heart were ripped in two.

Richard knelt on the floor beside Charles and comforted him as best he could. He could not sympathize with him, though. He and Jane would leave the hospital tomorrow with their two beautiful daughters. His heart ached for Charles and Dianne, but, not knowing what to say, he simply sat with him as he cried. When he took Charles back to his wife, he slinked back to Jane’s room to tell her the sad news.

Jane’s heart broke when her husband told her the news about Dianne’s baby boy. How she longed to comfort her, but she wasn’t sure if she would be welcomed in Dianne’s company. Jane wouldn’t know the loss of a child the way Dianne had. When she had finally decided to walk to Dianne’s room and talk to her, she was bombarded with guests. Both family and friends were so anxious to see their beautiful girls, that she was unable to leave the room for almost the whole day.

The next day, Jane asked the nurse about Dianne. Oh, she’s doing about as well as can be expected, she claimed. I haven’t really had much of a chance to talk with her, though, because one of our nurses quit yesterday, and we are working our tails off to keep up.

Jane smiled flatly as she left the room. How could she decide whether she should go see Dianne or not? She wrestled with the decision for about an hour, then ultimately decided, she would. She stood, wrapped her robe around her, and opened the door. She poked down the hallway and knocked on Dianne’s room door. When no one answered, she peeked inside. The room had been emptied and cleaned. Jane turned around and headed toward the nurse’s station. Excuse me, do you know where Dianne Miller is? She’s not in her room.

The nurse looked at her sadly, Yes, ma’am. She asked to be released this morning. She left about an hour ago.

Jane had missed her chance. She wanted to comfort Dianne and Charles, but, she had waited too long. She regretted that she was never able to thank them for giving her and Richard a ride to the hospital, but, maybe one day she would see them again. Heck, she could even look them up in the phone book when she got home. Yes, that’s what she would do. She would give Dianne a little time to mourn, then, she would give her a call.

Chapter 1

Krista was running around