Second Chances

By Leigh-Ann Singh

Emily Watson returns to Bay Brook, having lost out on all her dreams of making it in New York. Haunted by her mistakes, she returns to rebuild her life as the editor of the local newspaper. Her heart is guarded when she meets Richard. Richard has lived all his life in the town, being responsible for the family business interest. He is guilt ridden from a tragic car accident that has left him bitter and alone.

Second Chances delves into the possibility of finding forgiveness and love in the most unsuspected ways. They are the most unlikely couple journeying on the road of forgiveness and renewed hope.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: May 31, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462858187

Leigh-Ann Singh

Leigh-Ann Singh is a freelance writer and poet. Some of her work includes writing for a local church’s children’s ministry newsletter. Her poems have been published in The Golden Thread, published by Poetry Institute of Africa. Second Chances is her first book to be published. Leigh-Ann lives in South Africa, where she divides her time between enjoying Safaris and writing.

Book preview

Copyright © 2011 by Leigh-Ann Singh.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2011905500

ISBN: Hardcover    978-1-4628-5817-0

ISBN: Softcover      978-1-4628-5816-3

ISBN: Ebook           978-1-4628-5818-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

0-800-644-6988

www.xlibrispublishing.co.uk

[e-mail]

301962

Contents

Chapter 1:    Moving Home

Chapter 2:    New York—Packing Up

Chapter 3:    New Start

Chapter 4:    Settling In

Chapter 5:    Renewed Hope

Chapter 6:    Road to Forgiveness

Chapter 7:    Trails

Chapter 8:    Tribulations

Epilogue:    Seven Years Later

In loving memory of my mother, Jennifer.

Your embraces are greatly missed.

Chapter 1

Moving Home

What could be taking so long? Emily wondered as she straightened her skirt for the hundredth time now. She was never known for her patience, but then again, this interview was what she had been looking for.

The secretary of Mr. Charles Cambridge gestured for Emily to go in; they were finally ready for her interview. The office was extremely impressive with glass windows throughout, which provided a great view of the Waysville River and the majestic mountain range. The smell of freshly baked blueberry muffins and fresh brewed coffee invaded Emily’s senses as she took her seat. She was wishing now that she had breakfast, hoping the rumblings sounds from her tummy would not be heard by the men around the table.

It had not occurred to her that five men would interview her since it was a local newspaper. Except for the young gentleman in the corner, the rest appeared to be from the typical boys’ club.

She wondered if any woman ever worked in a management position here. As Mr. Cambridge started the interview, Emily felt her hopes of getting the job fade away with each question. When addressing her, the men were abrasive and rude in their approach. She got the feeling that they were just doing the right thing, interviewing a woman for the job, as they will probably give it to some inexperienced boy straight out of college so that he can join the men’s club.

Emily waited for the taxi outside the office of Cambridge Entities, with the wind gusting around her, feeling agitated at the way the interview went. She should have perhaps not shared her views on how a local newspaper could focus more on actual newsworthy events instead of the social comings and goings of the mayor’s office and the Ladies Hope Charity Club.

The five men certainly took offense to her comments. Even if they did not say anything, if there is one thing she did well, it was to read people’s faces.

Bay Brook was the typical small town in America. Everyone knew one another, and the mayor prided himself on knowing the name of every business owner in town. The main center of the town housed the mayor’s office and a large retail store where you could buy everything from housewares to gardenware.

A few ladies’ boutiques lined the streets, with some quaint antique stores for the tourist and other businesses needed to keep the town running smoothly. The school district was on the other end of town. The majestic mountain range and lake with breathtaking bike trails was one of the things that Emily appreciated most. The nearest airport was fifty miles outside of town.

She fondly remembered taking long walks on the trails with her grandmother before Nana got too sick to get out of bed.

The local Bay Brook newspaper was established in 1878 and was run by the Cambridges. It was a family business, and all the reporters employed were from Bay Brook.

The Cambridge Entities included the local newspaper with Mr. Haulstroom as the last editor, Bay Brook Tours, CE Retail Store, and the Fishing and Leisure Boat fleet. Mr. Charles Cambridge has strongly believed the main aim of the newspaper was to encourage people to stay in Bay Brook and invest in the rich culture and natural beauty that made it what it was today. A quiet, stable, thriving town that prided itself on the ability to attract the tourist while keeping away the scruff, as Mayor Addington so fondly referred to the big-city people. City people who always thought they