A Fighting Chance by Annalisa Nicole

to Chloe is right on time. Amelia and Kyle step out of their car. Amelia opens the back door and unhooks a sleeping Noah from his car seat. My namesake, Noah Maxwell Peters, Kyle and Amelia named their son after me. After everything that happened with the rescue of Amelia and Chloe, Kyle and Amelia found it in their hearts to include me. They both said that without me there would never be a Noah. Damn those are some humble words to swallow.
    The three of them walk up to Willow and I. Amelia plops Noah in my arms, who is now wide awake, and asks, “How’s it going in there?”
    I haven’t spent much time with kids, especially ones this little, but he seems to fit perfectly in my arms and it seems almost natural to hold him. He just feels right, like he belongs there. This September, Noah will be turning two. I always said I never wanted kids. I never trusted myself with such a huge responsibility of raising a child. What if I turn out to be just like my dad? But for the first time holding Noah, I get this feeling that this is something I want. I don’t need to worry about becoming my dad, because I have the strength of Samuel always on my side. He will always be watching out for me, guiding me through my doubts.
    “Do you think they’re alright in there?” Willow asks. Just then the door opens. Asher looks terrible. He looks like he hasn’t slept. I hated to ask them all now, so soon after their dad’s passing to do this, but I was afraid to wait any longer. Without a word, Willow walks to her husband and wraps her arms around him. He holds on to his wife like she’s the air that he needs to take his next breath. I want that for myself. With Chloe. He releases his wife and holds out his hand for me to shake. He pulls my hand in and gives both Noah and I a hug. With a clap on the back and a kiss on his nephew’s cheek, Asher takes his wife’s hand and heads to their car. My heart screams out in pain for them. The loss of Samuel is a loss to everyone he came into contact with. He was just that kind of man that had a positive influence on everyone who knew him. No doubt they have hard times ahead of them dealing with all the funeral arrangements. I wish there was more I could do right now, but I need to be here with Chloe, to help fix what I broke.
    “You two are up,” I say to Amelia and Kyle. Amelia heads back to their car and takes out a few brown paper bags with groceries in it.
    “You’ll be alright out here by yourself with Noah?” she asks hefting the bags in her arms.
    “Sure we will. Won’t we bud? We’ll just play some hide and go seek and maybe we’ll take a short walk down to the creek and look for frogs. You’d like that wouldn’t you, Noah?” I say to Noah with a bounce making him giggle.
    Amelia and Kyle head inside holding each other’s hand. I put Noah down and chase him around the front yard for a few minutes, then scoop him up and put him on my shoulders. We walk down to the creek to search for those frogs, just like I promised.
     

Chapter 8
     
    Chloe
     
    Asher left, and I can hear several people quietly talking just outside the front door. I simply had no words to say to Asher. I have never seen such a devastated man before. I knew about his first wife, Olivia, but I guess because I’ve only ever seen him as he is now, happy with a perfect wife and two gorgeous kids and a successful business, that I didn’t stop and think about the pain he must have gone through back then. I never really thought about his company and just how much work it had to have taken to became so successful. He didn’t inherit a thriving business and have a walk on roll. He built what he has on his own. He made himself what he is today through hard work and determination. He too was dealt some shitty cards along the way, but look at his life today.
    I curl back in bed, facing the wall. I hear Max’s soothing voice outside and let it wash over me. Just as I’m about to fall asleep, the door opens. I know