Chance Encounters

  Chance

  Encounters

  J. Sterling

  Copyright © 2012 by J. Sterling

  Cover Photography: Jenn Sterling

  Cover Design: Michelle Preast www..michellepreast.com

  First Edition, License Notes

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to the author and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  First Edition: April 2012

  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 written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  ASIN: B005F0FXKM

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to anyone

  who has been lucky enough to find

  their soulmate in this world…

  and everyone who has been

  blessed enough to recognize them.

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  EPILOGUE

  THANK YOU’S

  OTHER BOOKS BY J. STERLING

  CONNECT WITH J. STERLING ONLINE

  Chapter One

  The musical ringtone blared, echoing off the cathedral ceiling and hardwood floor of the apartment Caroline shared with her boyfriend. Tracey’s gorgeous smile shone brightly on her cell phone screen.

  “He’s dead, Caroline. Oh God, Johnny’s dead!” Tracey sobbed.

  Caroline dropped the phone; her heart pounding as her body began to tremble. She quickly reached down to pick it back up and stammered, “What happened? How?”

  “He was off-roading that stupid dirt bike and he lost control or something. I don’t know the whole story yet. The funeral’s on Thursday, Caroline…you’ll come, right?”

  “Of course I’ll come.” Caroline thought back to their freshman year in college when Johnny lived across from them in the co-ed dorms.

  Tracey continued to cry and Caroline held it together the best she could.

  When they hung up, Caroline grabbed her laptop and dropped onto the couch, wishing she could disappear completely into it. She attempted to search for flights online but was unable to stop her gaze from drifting to photos from college scattered around her apartment. Tears fell a little harder when she realized there would never be any new pictures of Johnny.

  She heard the apartment door swing open and her boyfriend, Clay Matthews walked in. Caroline looked up briefly and observed his loosened tie and disheveled dark, wavy hair.

  It looks rugged. And hot. Leave it be, she would tell him with a smile whenever he started to fuss the messy strands back into their proper place.

  She watched Clay’s gorgeous full smile quickly fade and the indents on his cheeks where dimples were supposed to live, but didn’t, disappear as his eyes met hers. He dropped his briefcase and car keys onto the wooden floor and rushed over to her, his face drawn with worry.

  “Baby, what’s wrong? What happened?”

  “It’s Johnny. He’s dead.” Her face reddened.

  “What? How? What happened?” Clay pulled her into his arms and kissed her damp face.

  “I don’t know. There was an accident with his dirt bike. That’s all Tray told me.”

  “Shit. When’s the funeral?”

  “Thursday.” She glanced up at him. “That is, if I can find a freaking flight.”

  “Scoot over. Let me do that for you.” Clay gently removed the computer from Caroline’s lap.

  “Thanks.”

  “Do you need me to check if I can take time off?” Clay asked suddenly. “I should probably go too.”

  “No, no. It’s okay. You have work and it will be good for me to spend some time alone with Tray.”

  “Thanks, baby.” He placed a kiss on her cheek. “So, when do you want to come back?”

  “I was thinking that I’d rather leave Monday morning instead of Sunday night. Do you mind?”

  “Not at all. You should definitely stay until Monday. This sucks. He was a really good guy. His poor mom.” He hugged her tightly before he tipped her face up to his and kissed her salty lips.

  Caroline’s thoughts drifted back to when she first met Clay at a social gathering for incoming freshmen. While Caroline introduced herself to every new person she could find, Clay stood alone and simply watched the interactions. When Caroline reached Clay, she remembered thinking how he wasn’t cute like the other boys, but handsome.

  The memory faded as her cell phone rang once again. “Hey, Tray. I’m looking at a flight that gets in at five. And I’d stay until Monday morning. That’s okay, right? Okay. See you in a couple days. I love you, too.”

  “How’s she doing?” Clay asked.

  “She’s…Tracey, you know? Can’t. Stop. Crying,” Caroline said as she attempted a smile, but her mouth wouldn’t cooperate.

  “I can only imagine.”

  Caroline walked to the hall closet and returned with an armful of photo boxes. She immediately scattered pictures on the floor around her.

  Clay watched her organize the photos into piles. “Babe, I’m going to jump in the shower, okay?”

  She barely moved or acknowledged his question. “Okay,” she muttered.

  Caroline allowed herself to get lost in thought once again. She smiled at how lucky she was to have a wonderful boyfriend whom she admired and an internship at a well-respected marketing firm. Her life seemed perfect. Although losing one of her closest friends was the furthest thing from perfect.

  She imagined her eventual wedding to Clay and mourned when she realized Johnny wouldn’t be there. He would never be a part of any upcoming events or activities. She could barely wrap her mind around that reality. How could she think of a future that didn’t include Johnny when he was a part of every future plan she made?

  With her heart hurting, she curled into a ball on the floor, surrounded by memories of the not-so-distant past that suddenly seemed like lifetimes ago. She tucked her arms up under her head and sobbed herself to sleep.

  ****

  When Clay stepped out of the shower and into the chilly hallway, he noticed his heartbroken girlfriend asleep on the floor. She had been so beautiful earlier when she was crying, her green eyes glowing like emeralds, and Clay had wanted to tell her then how beautiful she looked, but knew it wasn’t the right time.

  Clay sighed, guilt consuming him at how relieved he was that Caroline didn’t ask him to go to the funeral with her. He was in the middle of helping out with his firm’s biggest criminal case to date and there was no way he could leave. He knew he’d never get hired on at the firm if he took time off when it wasn’t a
matter of life or death. Immediate family’s life or death, anyway.

  He walked over to where she lay curled on the floor, and crouched down to watch her sleep. He reached out to stroke her hair and thought back to the day they had met. Clay had been drawn to Caroline immediately. Her Southern California beach girl look—with her long, sun-streaked blonde hair, green eyes, and sun-kissed face—reminded him of home.

  They’d become so close since then, especially since moving in together after college. Aside from work, this girl was his life.

  He gently scooped her up in his arms and settled her on top of their bed. He placed a blanket over her and kissed the top of her head before he closed the bedroom door behind him.

  Chapter Two

  Caroline’s flight landed right on time. Tracey waited for her outside of the baggage claim area in her car. Caroline ran toward the dark blue Jeep Grand Cherokee. The trunk popped open and she tossed her luggage in before running around to the front. Tracey was in the driver’s seat, her short blonde hair in perfect order and her blue eyes glowing. The girls hugged and their joy at seeing each other again quickly dissolved into tears over the loss of one of their best friends.

  “You look amazing.” Caroline’s voice hitched as she settled back in her seat after hugging Tracey over the console.

  “So do you.”

  “I can’t believe I’m back here for this. I never imagined…” Caroline’s voice trailed off. She loved going to school in New York. The city was so alive, vibrant, and full of so many types of people. Living there for five years had given her a perspective she was certain she couldn’t have gained anywhere else. She liked what living in New York had done for her soul. She loved being back, just not under these circumstances.

  “At least you get to leave,” Tray mumbled under her breath, as she glanced over her shoulder before pulling out into traffic.

  “What do you mean?” Caroline’s face crinkled in confusion.

  “Well, you get to leave after it’s all over. I have to stay here and run into our old friends, or Johnny’s mom. I hate you.”

  “You could always come back with me, you know?” Caroline’s face lit up. “Oh dear God, Tray, please. Please come back with me!” she begged.

  “Whatever. You have Clay. You don’t need me hanging around all third wheel-esque.”

  “Clay’s never home. He probably wouldn’t even notice that you moved in for weeks,” Caroline teased.

  “You don’t mind though, right?” Tracey looked serious. “That he’s always gone?”

  Caroline smiled. “Are you kidding? I love being home alone.”

  “Watching reality TV without the sarcastic injections?”

  “Among other things, but YES!” The girls giggled. “And I have Bailey, so that’s a plus.”

  “I always forget that Bailey’s there,” Tracey remembered.

  “She said to tell you hi by the way,” Caroline smiled.

  “Ooh, tell her I said hi back! I’m so happy you have her there.”

  Caroline laughed. “You’re so weird.”

  “What? Why am I weird? You’re the weird one.” Tracey glanced quickly to her right and then back to the road. “I still don’t know how you can just move from city to city without freaking out. You didn’t know anyone when you moved to New York and you didn’t even care. Just thinking about that makes me start sweating!”

  “See? You’re the weird one.” Caroline swatted at Tracey’s arm.

  “Stop. You’re going to make me crash!” Tracey’s lips curled into a snarl.

  Crash.

  Memories of Johnny instantly consumed Caroline’s every thought. “Tray,” Caroline took a long breath. “I am so not looking forward to this.”

  Tracey looked at her and then quickly looked away. “Tell me about it.” She wiped at her face with the back of her free hand. “Are you going to speak at the funeral?”

  “I don’t know…I haven’t decided. Are you?” Caroline smiled, already knowing the answer.

  “Are you crazy?” Tracey’s voice got high in pitch. “You know I can’t speak in front of anyone.”

  ****

  The girls arrived at the funeral home about an hour before the service started. When Caroline first got the phone call about Johnny’s death, she had cried for the loss of things he’d never get to do—get married, have kids, or any of that suburban bullshit he probably would have put off for as long as possible anyway. Thoughts of his rebellion made her laugh out loud.

  “What are you laughing at?” Tracey asked.

  “Nothing. Just thinking.” Caroline smiled softly.

  “Inappropriate,” Tracey informed her with a slight frown.

  Caroline’s eyebrows raised and her eyes widened. “Right. I forgot how dangerous thinking was. My bad.”

  “Good thing I’m here to remind you.” Tracey nodded.

  “Seriously. I’d be some inappropriate rule-breaker without you.”

  They walked through two large wooden doors into the reception area. The girls noticed Johnny’s mom, Jackie, and gave each other a quick, exasperated look. Caroline had always thought Jackie looked glamorous for her age, but seeing her now, in this setting, she stood out like a bottle of vodka at an AA meeting.

  Jackie was dressed in a short black mini skirt with a form-fitting, low cut, black top. Her cleavage welcomed anyone who came near. She had on four-inch black heels that accented her ridiculously perfect legs. Her jet-black hair was pulled tightly into a bun, half her face covered by oversized sunglasses. Caroline thought Jackie looked like she was dressed for a night out on the town, not the funeral of her only child.

  “Talk about inappropriate,” Tracey whispered.

  Jackie dabbed at her face with tissue when she recognized the girls. She removed her sunglasses and walked over briskly.

  “Tracey! Caroline! Oh…” She broke off into heaving sobs and grabbed the girls tightly, as if attempting to hug the life out of them.

  “Hi, Mrs. Lucca. We’re so sorry.” Caroline spoke through her own tears.

  “I know,” she lamented. “He loved you girls so much.”

  “We loved him too,” Tracey sobbed.

  “Thank you both for coming. Is Clay here?” Jackie asked, peeking over Caroline’s shoulder.

  “He had to work, but he sends his condolences,” Caroline explained.

  “Well, make sure to tell him that we missed him.”

  “I will,” she promised.

  “Johnny’s inside.” Jackie nudged the girls toward another set of doors. “You should go see him.”

  Caroline shot Tracey a brief, uncomfortable look before agreeing. “Okay. So…we’ll be back.”

  “I’m so glad you’re both here.” Jackie gave them a wan smile and turned toward a small group of adults standing near the guest book.

  Tracey and Caroline slowly walked into the parlor where only a few people had gathered. The dark wood walls and lights gave everything a slight orange glow. Johnny’s white casket rested at the far end of the room; enormous flower arrangements adorned each side. The girls slowly walked down the aisle toward his lifeless body.

  “I don’t know if I can do this,” Tracey choked out, her face suddenly pale.

  “Yes, you can. Come on. Just breathe.” Caroline took Tracey by the hand.

  As they neared the open casket, the girls slowed their pace, finally coming to a stop a foot in front of the casket. Caroline peeked toward his face before they inched closer.

  “He looks so weird,” she admitted with a whisper. Johnny’s face was unusually pale, like a dusty chalkboard, Caroline thought to herself. There was a scratch on his forehead and one on his cheek that they tried to cover up with way too much makeup. In fact, Johnny’s entire face was covered in some sort of makeup. A football was tucked under his right arm and the gesture made Caroline smile. She placed a picture of the three of them under his left shoulder and whispered, “We’ll always be with you.”

  “It’s so weird not to see him sm
iling,” Tracey noted.

  Caroline put her arm around Tracey and took a deep breath. “I know. You know that’s not him any more…right, Tray?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I just mean, his spirit—or his soul, or whatever you want to call it—it’s not inside that body any more. He’s probably watching over us right now, laughing or making fun of us,” Caroline explained.

  “Probably. It still hurts, though.” Tracey nodded her head and leaned into her friend’s shoulder.

  Caroline agreed. “It hurts like hell.”

  The girls spent another minute in silence before they turned to find seats. The room had quickly filled up behind them and additional mourners stood outside.

  Johnny’s uncle stood behind a tall dark podium. He spoke through tears about a young life filled with laughter, excitement and adventure. “It’s all so fragile. Precious, really. You never think about the fact that it can all be gone in an instant. Hopes and future dreams, all snuffed out.”

  Caroline watched as he pulled a matchbook from his pants pocket. Slowly, he lit one match and allowed it to burn for a few seconds before a short burst of his breath extinguished the once burning flame. Caroline watched as a single ribbon of smoke billowed up toward the ceiling.

  “Johnny was like that match. He brightened every room with his light. And then, just like that,” he snapped his fingers, “his light was gone. And all hopes for his future were gone with him.

  “Jesus. I’m never going to be able to stop crying now,” Caroline whispered into Tracey’s ear.

  Tracey tried to respond, but couldn’t. Caroline grabbed her hand and pulled it onto her leg, holding it tight.

  “Caroline Weber would like to say a few words.” The preacher’s voice broke through Caroline’s grief and nerves shot through her.

  “Shit,” she mumbled under her breath towards Tracey. “Guess I’m speaking after all.”

  Caroline shakily made her way to the podium sans prepared words, notes, or anything. You gotta wing it, she thought to herself. Standing at the head of the room she scanned the enormous crowd and instantly felt the warmth of love spread inside her. The crowd was a simple reminder to her of how much Johnny had been loved. She couldn’t help but smile.