We'll Begin Again Read online

  "I think we should get a dog," he mused.

  "Yeah? And, why's that?"

  "To help William. Like a therapy dog."

  I opened my mouth to respond but closed it. That wasn't a bad idea, even though I'm sure part of the request stemmed from Charlie's love for animals, especially those of the canine persuasion. I thought about all the medicine the doctors prescribed to William and wondered if a dog might help him even more. I didn't know very much about the process of obtaining a service dog, let alone where we'd go to look for one.

  I pulled out my MacBook and set it on the kitchen table.

  "Why don't you help me research service dogs? How's that sound?"

  "Woohoo!" Charlie chanted as he sped and leaped into my arms.

  "Easy there, killer."

  After browsing several websites, I came across one which detailed how to obtain a service dog or an emotional support animal. It seemed almost too easy to register a dog as emotional support animal, which was a huge relief. Now, all we needed was the dog.

  I called the halfway house manager to explain what I wanted to do for William. At first, I was sure he’d deny the request, but he agreed, saying it sounded like a great idea. A dog would certainly cheer up the other house guests, too.

  "All right, kid. Get your sneakers on. We're going to the pound!"

  Charlie and I drove to the local pet shelter, and my heart shattered as we stepped inside and heard the yelps of all the dogs up for adoption. At least fifty dogs barked and howled in almost-perfect unison.

  "There are so many dogs in here, Mom," Charlie whispered.

  "I know. It's so sad. I wish we could rescue them all."

  "Can we?"

  "Not today."

  An older woman with gray hair swaying in a long ponytail approached Charlie and me. "Can I help you?" Her smile put me at ease.

  "Yes, we're actually in the market to adopt a dog."

  "You've come to the right place!" Her honey-brown eyes glowed, and the laugh lines under her eyes appeared more profound up close.

  "See, my boyfriend is a veteran and was recently diagnosed with PTSD. I want to get him an emotional support dog to help him with his recovery. Do you think you have any pups who would fit the bill?"

  Shawna, as her name tag indicated, bit her cheek and tapped her foot in deep thought. "You know, I think I might have the perfect dog for you!"

  She waved us on, and Charlie and I followed closely at her heels. Charlie tugged at my shirt every time we passed a puppy, and I wondered where our dog would be. I loved dogs, but with work and raising a child, I never thought I'd be able to have one. Now seemed like the perfect time if there ever was one.

  Shawna stopped at a cubby, and inside, I saw a shy dog whimpering in the corner. "This is Bart," she said proudly. "He's about four years old and was found abandoned on the side of the road two years ago. He's a tad shy, but once he warms up to you, he's the sweetest dog around."

  "Do you think he would make a good emotional support dog?" I asked nervously.

  "Absolutely. Would you like to meet him?"

  I nodded, and Shawna called her assistant to take us to the meet and greet room where she'd bring Bart to us in a few minutes. Charlie and I sat in the designated room where Charlie rocked back in forth with excitement, and I hoped Bart would be just the dog we were looking for.

  A few minutes later, as promised, Shawna brought a shy Bart into the playroom. Bart, a golden honey-brown with floppy ears, may have been the cutest mutt I'd ever laid eyes on. As soon as he looked into my eyes, my heart skipped a beat, and I knew he was the one.

  "Hi, Bart," I sang. "Come here, buddy."

  Bart's tail wagged as his tongue lopped out of his mouth. Shawna nudged him toward us, and much to my surprise, Bart ran to us, then licked Charlie's face. Laughter erupted from the room, and it was clear: we found a pup to bring home to William.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Amelia

  After we left the rescue with a very skittish dog in tow, Charlie and I drove to the pet store to buy Bart food, a bed, a handful of toys, and other canine essentials. With every passing minute, Bart grew a little less frightened and more rambunctious and curious. The pet store near my apartment offered a service dog training session, too. It seemed all the puzzle pieces were falling into place, and for once, fate was on my side.

  Bart sported a fancy new camouflage collar and an official service dog tag and vest in case William wanted to take him out of the apartment. I still hadn't figured out who would take care of Bart while William and I were at work, but I was sure we'd figure it out one way or another.

  Charlie and I ran a few more errands until the sun set, and my mind wandered and wondered where William could be. I hoped the day proved to be a breath of fresh air, and he found the solace he desperately needed. I also hoped he wouldn't be angry with me that I took it upon myself to adopt an emotional support dog for him.

  Although, as I looked at Bart’s loving demeanor and puppy dog face in the rearview mirror, I knew there'd be no way William could be anything less than over the moon.

  Once we parked outside the halfway house, I told Charlie he was in charge of Bart, while I carried as much of the supplies as I could hold. Butterflies wrestled in my stomach as we knocked on the front door.

  Luckily, William happened to open the door.

  "We got you a dog!" Charlie shouted.

  Without notice, Bart leapt into William’s arms. William's eyes widened, and for a moment, I thought it was fear, but after a second or two, his mouth dropped in awe.

  "What's going on?" he asked me, aghast.

  "So, um, surprise?" I said shyly.

  Bart licked William's face and nuzzled into his neck. He couldn't have weighed more than thirty pounds, and William held him easily in his arms.

  "His name is Bart!" Charlie said proudly. "He's your support dog.”

  "Amelia, is the dog really for me?"

  I nodded. William looked from Bart to me and back again. A single tear fell from his cheek, and he snuggled the dog like his child.

  "I can't believe this! He's amazing!"

  "So, you like him?" I asked as I bit my lip.

  "No, I love him! I can't believe you did this for me."

  "I'd do anything for you," I whispered in his ear.

  William kissed my cheek and set Bart down to explore his new home. He romped around and smelled every square inch of the house. Charlie followed him around, giggling delightedly when Bart licked his face. The other residents peeked around the corner, and smiles soon plastered across their faces too.

  "I feel it, Amelia," William said with hope in his voice.

  "What's that?"

  "Things are going to get better for me, and for us."

  "I think so, too." I smiled warmly.

  "I think you’re right."

  “About what?”

  “I think maybe, just maybe, I deserve a second chance. I’ve dwelled so long on the hardships of my life, but I don’t want to do that anymore. I want to try and focus on the future. I owe it to those I’ve lost to give it a try.”

  As I stared into his eyes, feeling the love emanating from his smile, I knew this was real. We could be real. For every night I cried myself to sleep, for every time I thought I'd end up alone, for every day I watched other couples in love, I never thought I'd find happiness again too. All the doubt, worries, and fear were washed away with the coming of a new tide. William was the moon, and I, the ocean, drawn to each other beyond all measure.

  As the weeks passed, my little family grew tighter than ever. While William kept his room at the halfway house, he stopped by my apartment almost daily. His meds seemed to be working, and he returned to work. He saw a counselor a couple times a week, and I could tell, deep down, his heart was carefully being restored. I figured it was time to talk to Charlie, and also to Cal, about the seriousness of our relationship.

  One night, William escorted me to a quaint Italian restaurant for dinner. I
knew it must be a special occasion—William wasn’t always so comfortable in public places. We spent the evening laughing, telling stories from our youth, and making plans for the future. At the end of the night, William and I walked under the night sky, the stars illuminating our path.

  “I love you, Amelia. No matter what happens, I want you to know how much I care about you and Charlie.”

  We paused in the middle of the street. The light turned red, but I didn’t care. I pulled him into my arms and kissed him, wanting him to feel the love I carried for him.

  I looked deeply into his eyes and uttered the only three words I could muster that could even begin to encapsulate my feelings for him. “I love you,” I said.

  Despite our troubled pasts, we found a way to start fresh with each other. We maneuvered this cruel world, finding solace in one another. I loved him madly, and I knew he felt the same. Who knew the unlikely pair who fumbled for things to talk about as they sipped coffee on a bench so many nights ago would fall deeply in love? I never expected to, and yet here we were, kissing under the moon in the middle of the road.

  Not surprisingly, the talk with Charlie went far smoother than when I spoke with Cal. My ex-husband worried I was rushing into something and it would not be beneficial for Charlie to have William around so often. I wanted to remind him he married the woman he cheated on me with and left his family for, but I held my tongue.

  "Cal, this is my decision. I've talked to Charlie about it, and he's fine with me and William being together. I am not asking for your permission, but extending the courtesy of keeping you in the loop."

  William overheard me speaking with Cal and promptly took the phone despite my protests.

  Of course, that shut Cal up right away. I mean, what man in his right mind would challenge an Army vet? Not many.

  Even though everything seemed to be falling into place, I could sense something still bothered William. Throughout therapy and having Bart around, I noticed drastic differences in his demeanor, including sharing a lot more and talking about past wounds. However, I sensed he still held something back.

  "Babe?" I asked one night after I switched the TV off.

  "Yeah?"

  "Everything okay?"

  "Of course. Why?"

  "I just feel like something's off, like there's something you're not telling me."

  "Oh," he said flatly.

  I held my breath, hoping I didn't scare him away. Even though his communication skills had increased tenfold, he was still a man, after all.

  "There is something on my mind," he said.

  "Tell me." I drew circles with my fingernail on his forearm, attempting to soothe him into submission.

  "I do like my job at the law firm, but I think there's another path for me."

  "Are you going to quit?" I asked nervously.

  "No, no. But, there's something else I want to do, too."

  "What's that?"

  "I want to create a place for guys like me," he whispered. "When I was on the streets, lost and lonely, I had nowhere to go. Sure, I had the homeless shelter, but...I had no one to talk to. Nothing to do. I wanted to better myself, but I didn't have the tools or resources."

  "Mhmm. That makes sense. What are you thinking?"

  "I want to open a place for vets or the homeless, or anyone who needs help, a place they’d feel safe going to. There could be games like darts or pool, a place to hang out or talk to people. I think it would help others and give me the purpose I've always felt I needed."

  "That's an amazing idea, babe. I think you should do it!"

  "You think so?"

  "Absolutely. We should start looking for space as soon as possible."

  "We?" William asked curiously.

  "I’d like to help, too, if that’s all right with you?”

  "You'd help me?"

  "I'd help you move a mountain if I could."

  "All right. Let's do it," William said with inspiration oozing from his voice.

  "I wanna make it right, Amelia. I need to do some good in this world. I want to make my dad proud. Hell, I want to make my mom, Spence and Hudson proud, too. I owe it to them to do something important."

  "I understand, babe. And, don't worry—after we're done, they're going to make you a goddamn saint."

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Amelia

  I learned a lot about William in the next month. I learned he's motivated as hell once he sets his mind to something and that he cares about the people he loves. He showed me just how big his heart is, and with the help of a few other attorneys at my firm, we secured a lease for the center. Ross chipped in several thousand dollars toward the lease. Despite my protests, he said he wanted to help. Plus, it would look good for the firm. William proudly named it "Survivors’ Space."

  One wall of the space, located a few blocks away from our office above a yoga studio, donned chalkboard paint for visitors to sign in, draw a picture or leave their mark. Another wall was lined with a clothesline with a Polaroid camera on a table to the side. William wanted visitors to feel comfortable sharing their experiences, making new friends, and documenting their journeys. He envisioned the clothesline to be full of full of photographs of smiling men and women who visited Survivors’ Space.

  At the back of the space stood a refrigerator, a sink, dishwasher, and a long wooden table which sat at least fifteen to twenty people. William and Charlie came up with the idea of having a Sunday dinner every week where people who needed a hot meal or a place to go could come and make themselves at home. While we didn't have space or a permit to house people, we wanted those in need to feel comfortable joining us during the day before we closed for the night. We did team up with the homeless shelter, though. Men, women and children could come here for dinner or to enjoy our space, then head to the shelter for a good night’s sleep. We even hired a few retired veterans to drive guests from our space to the shelter at night.

  I'd never seen William so happy and focused. When he told me he needed a purpose in life, I didn't understand just how crucial it'd been for him to find his path. But now that he'd found it, every cell of his body radiated hope and happiness. I thanked him every day for allowing me to be a part of his journey and establish this space for others.

  We opened on the first day of Spring, a Sunday, which was very fitting considering it was a fresh season and a fresh start for both of us. Press, friends, and families lined up for the ribbon-cutting outside of the retro brick building. The sun shone, and birds pleasantly twittered about. William wore a grin across his face. Nerves rattled him, but they didn't show.

  William in a new plaid button-up with dark jeans and myself in a pink floral dress stood before a flashing camera. Charlie, between us, held the oversized scissors as we prepared to officially open the Survivors’ Space to the public. Karen was there and handed out flyers and buttons to those in attendance, too. Even Uncle Jimmy came to the ceremony. Bart was also a part of the celebration as he lay down in front of us all, lounging on the sidewalk and soaking up the sun in his bright orange jacket.

  Joy filled me to my core as I thought about all the people we'd help in the coming days, weeks, months and hopefully years. I wondered how many Williams were out there, alone and lost. I wanted to help them all. I wanted to mend the broken pieces of their lives. It was selfish, really. It made me feel damn good to see others happy. Maybe I was doing it for myself, but I think in the end it didn't matter, as long as the people I helped had a chance at a better life.

  The crowd chanted and counted down from three to one, and Charlie, William, and I cut the ribbon together. Karen, who stood behind us, tossed rainbow confetti into the air; Ross clapped and congratulated William and me, and Charlie whooped and howled with glee. We'd brought the community together and awareness to those in need.

  William waved his arms, trying to gain the attention of the reporters and bystanders alike.

  "Thank you! Thank you, everyone, for being here today. You know, my father once told me money
couldn't buy happiness, and I'm here today to prove to him that he's wrong. Money can buy happiness as long as you're purchasing the right kinds of things. Money paid for this lease. Money paid for the furniture. Money paid for the food inside the fridge. And money will pay for future additions to come.

  “If you don't already know, my name is William Divola, and less than a year ago, I lived on the streets. I was homeless and hopeless until this woman found me and wormed her way into my life." William paused to kiss my check and allowed time for the crowd to applaud.

  "Amelia taught me about pushing forward and stopping at nothing to accomplish my dreams. If it wasn't for her, I might still be on the streets or even dead.

  “Today is a new day, though, and a fresh start. Survivors’ Space is a place I know I will call home, and I hope others will feel the same."

  The crowd applauded politely, their eyes glued to William.

  "In honor of new beginnings, there's something else I need to do," William said, his hand shaking.

  Before I knew what hit me, William gazed deeply into my eyes and bent down on one knee. The crowd gasped, and my heart stopped in my chest. Was this happening? I wanted to scream for someone to pinch me!

  "Amelia Montgomery, you are the light of my life and my soulmate. I want nothing more than to call you my wife as well. Will you marry me?"

  Adrenaline coursed through my veins. I never expected to see a man down on one knee before me again. And yet, there was William, stealing my heart away for the zillionth time with a modest, yet gorgeous diamond in his hands and an eager sparkle in his eye.

  I turned to Charlie. "What do you think, bud?"

  "Mom, William and I already discussed this." He rolled his eyes. "I gave him my permission weeks ago!"

  I smiled broadly and turned back to William. "Yes!"

  Everyone erupted in cheers, cameras flashed, and William slid the ring onto my finger: a perfect fit. He picked me up and spun me around. At that moment, the rest of the world blurred around me, and all I saw was this amazing man and the love he carried for my son and me. While I never thought I'd get a second chance at love, William had proven me wrong. I couldn't wait to start the next chapter of my life, to begin again with William and Charlie by my side.