Second Chance Addison

Chance had just made it back to his desk when an unfamiliar ringtone sounded. It was the new phone that Fait had given him.

He checked the screen and saw it was Roy calling.

He swiped his finger across the screen and answered, "Hello?"

"Uncle Addy!" An excited yet childish voice rang through the speaker.

"Genevieve? Where is your papa?"

"Uncle Addy, please come save me! Papa is mad at me for taking his phone. Bring Aunt Fay too! Papa will listen to her!"

"Where are you?" The call sounded a little muffled, like she was in a cardboard box.

"Papa trapped me in the dog's house."

"What?" That didn't sound like something Roy was capable of. Sure enough he heard him shout on the other end of the line.

"She isn't trapped! Genny ran in there on her own and she can come out anytime she wants to!"

"But then Papa would take the phone!"

Chance started to get a grasp on the situation. "Genevieve, are you allowed to have your papa's phone?"

"Uncle Addy, you're not gonna take his side are you?" The little girl sounded dejected.

"If I promise to visit you, will you give the phone back to your papa?"

"Really, do you really mean it?"

"Yes, I promise to come see you."

"Promise on the ill.u.s.trious royal alliance of the noble unicorns!"

'... the what?' Those were some big words for a small child.

"I promise on the ill.u.s.trious royal alliance of the noble unicorns that I, Uncle Addy, will come to visit you."

Genevieve squealed so loudly that he had to hold the phone away from his hear.

"Thank you so much Uncle Addy, I'll see you later!" She immediately hung up the phone.

While he was trying to figure out how to go about visiting her, the phone rang again. Once again the caller ID showed "Roy" so he answered.

"Hey, Chance." This time, it was Roy's deep voice that came through the phone. He sounded exhausted. "Sorry about Genny."

"Don't worry about it."

"You can say that but I will still worry about it. Eve and I were supposed to go somewhere this evening."

"What if Genevieve comes to see me, instead? Since tomorrow is Saturday, I can keep her overnight if you'd like."

"I don't know. I don't think my wife will approve. You are a stranger after all."

"A stranger that you let into your home when he was gross and smelly."

"I suppose you have a point."

"What if Fait is with us too?"

"Do you really think you can convince her to spend a night at your place?"

"If Genevieve is there, I don't see why not."

"Good luck then. Let me know within the hour so I can talk to Eve."

...

"Absolutely not."

"Come on, it'll be fun."

"I am not spending the night in your apartment." Fait crossed her arms and glared at Chance.

"Do it for Genevieve, she really misses you."

"Not happening."

"If you don't come, I'll go out again. Perhaps to a bar this time." He could tell that he'd picked the right tactic as her eyes sparked in anger. "I could throw caution to the wind. Get a few drinks, flirt around a bit, start a few fights..."

"You wouldn't dare!" She wanted to jump across the desk and punch him square in the jaw.

"Try me. It's not like you'll be there to stop me."

"I'll get you a babysitter."

"No big deal, I'll find a way around him." Chance just shrugged.

"Why are you so adamant about this?"

"Because I promised on the ill.u.s.trious royal alliance of the noble unicorns!" That counted for something, right?

"The what now?" She raised an eyebrow and gave him a doubt filled look.

"The point is I made a promise. If I can't even keep my word to a little girl, then what good am I?"

Fait drummed her fingers on her desk, the anger slowly fading into annoyance. She sighed and knew she had no choice but to give in.

"Don't make me regret saving you."

"Yes, ma'am!" Chance scurried back into his office to call Roy, making sure to hide the victorious smirk on his face.

He wasn't sure why, but Fait's reactions were becoming more and more addictive. Even when she was angry and annoyed, Chance found it amusing.

Although her default look was cold, he was noticing the smaller, more subtle, changes too. Like the way her ears turned red when she was embarrassed, the way her eyes flashed when she was mad, and the way her lips turned down when she felt guilty.

Chance really wanted to hear her laugh. He had only see her smile once and she had been threatening Roy. Maybe tonight he and Genevieve could coax at least a small giggle out of Fait.

He picked up his phone and called Roy.