Here You Come Again

  Here You Come Again

  A Second-Chance Romance

  By: Wendy Dalrymple

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

  Cover Art by WD

  First eBook edition February 2020.

  Published by Wendy Dalrymple

  www.wendydalrymple.com

  Copyright © 2022 Wendy Dalrymple

  All rights reserved

  Chapter One

  Lissa Tanner wiped the sweat from her brow, removed her wireless earbuds, and grinned as she looked at the treadmill display. The glowing digital numbers read 18:32; her best time yet for a two-mile run. There was a stitch in her side and her knee complained a little, but otherwise, she was entirely exhilarated. That running time might have been no big deal to some people, but for Lissa, it was nothing short of a miracle. A year ago, even getting out of bed was no small feat.

  After wiping down her workout space, downing half a bottle of water, and waving goodbye to her old trainer, Ruth, Lissa headed to the locker room for a quick rinse and change. It was three p.m. on a Wednesday and the showers were blissfully empty as she tore off her sweaty workout tee and tossed it in her gym bag. She made a mental note to avoid the full-length mirrors that seemed to be everywhere as she stripped off her sweaty workout gear; Lissa still had a long way to go when it came to getting comfortable with the state of her new body. Though she felt strong and fit, coming to terms with the striped stretch marks on her thighs and soft belly was difficult — but not nearly as difficult as accepting the state of her left breast. Fortunately she was able to stuff her body away in ultra-supportive shapewear most of the day to avoid obsessing about her awkward new shape and the still pink and shiny scars.

  Lissa continued to avert her eyes from her reflection as she toweled off and slipped back into her favorite green maxi dress and denim jacket. Piped-in Christmas music echoed through the nearly empty locker room, but she didn’t need the sleigh-bell tunes to remind her what time of year it was; Lissa lived for Christmas. She smiled and fluffed her short blonde bob in the mirror before heading back out into the world, satisfied enough with her outward image for the moment. She didn’t feel the need to reset her hair to get the kind of height that her idol Dolly Parton would be proud of, but she reapplied her favorite red lip color and gold jingle-bell earrings just the same. The Lissa Tanner that stared back at her in the mirror was still a stranger in some ways, but she was becoming more and more of the person she had always wanted to be.

  Invigorated from her run, Lissa concluded that a celebratory sugar-free gingerbread latté was in order. The gym attached to Jackson Memorial Hospital was near her boutique in downtown Miami and featured a café and smoothie bar right outside, making it her preferred one-stop lunch-break destination. The gym had become part of her routine, as well as her sanctuary, and was one of Lissa’s favorite places to go, even before her partial mastectomy. Working out helped her to manage her depression, and as a side effect, helped her shed some weight. Plus it didn’t hurt that the hospital café and gym was also a great place to try and catch a glimpse of her favorite oncology nurse.

  Javier.

  The tall teddy bear of an orderly had been so nice to her through all of her oncology treatments, even from afar. Despite being alone, scared out of her mind, tired, and in pain, Lissa still couldn’t help but notice him as he made his rounds at the hospital. No matter what he was doing, Javier would always take the time to smile and say good morning as he passed her in the hall, giving her something to look forward to during her many appointments. She watched from a distance as he cared for other sick patients, staying positive and light on his feet in the face of so much suffering. Even though he never directly cared for her — or spoke to her, really — just seeing him in such good spirits helped to lift her spirits too.

  The café just outside of the gym was busier than usual that day, as hospital employees and visitors waited for their espressos and hot chocolates and teas. Lissa didn’t mind the wait as she soaked in the holiday ambience of the bustling coffee shop; she only needed to finish up a few things at Curvature, her plus-size intimates boutique, before wrapping up work for the day. Her recent brush with calamity had taught her to slow down and enjoy things a little more, something the old Lissa often struggled to do.

  “Sugar-free gingerbread latté for Lissa!”

  Lissa snapped out of her dreamy haze as the barista called her name; her mind had drifted to adjustable lingerie straps and padded bra cup inserts as it often did while she waited in line. She shuffled through the crowd of customers to the counter to retrieve her drink, still distracted by the changes she wanted to make on the new line of post-surgery intimate-wear she was developing. She had found so much relief from running and being physically active after her surgery, but could never find the right kind of protective undergarments to make her workouts more comfortable. So, in typical Lissa fashion, she designed the perfect post-op workout bra for herself.

  With her drink in sight, Lissa edged her way through a roadblock of cheerful, oblivious customers. As she made her way to the counter she could practically taste the spicy holiday coffee she had been working hard for all week. Just as she was about to grab her gingerbread beverage and go, another hand shot through the crowd and snatched her highly anticipated latté right out from under her grasp.

  “Hey! That’s mine!”

  Lissa blinked and forced her mouth to keep from hanging open as she instantly recognized the coffee thief. Her heart hammered in her chest as the broad-shouldered man in front of her turned toward her voice, batting a set of impossibly thick dark lashes over irises the color of spiced rum. Lissa's vision glazed over as the moment she had been hoping would happen for so long unfolded right before her eyes. She gazed up under heavy, dreamy eyelids and registered a short crop of dark, wavy hair, followed by a kind, stubbly face and soft, broad shoulders. Even in his normal set of turquoise scrubs with Jackson Memorial Hospital embroidered just over his left breast, Javier still looked every bit as handsome as she remembered.

  “Gingerbread latté for Javier!”

  Lissa and the coffee thief both flinched as the barista boomed out Javier’s coffee order, her voice cutting through the din of café-dwellers and Christmas music. The barista gave Lissa a smirking grin and shook her head at the coffee-counter mix-up before returning behind the register. Javier frowned and looked down at the coffee in his hand, registering the scribbled name on the cup, and then back up at Lissa.

  “I guess this does belong to you,” he said, extending the cup in her direction. “Sorry. It’s been a stressful day. I guess I just heard gingerbread and blanked out.”

  “That’s okay,” she said, her voice high and tight. “This can be a stressful time of year.”

  Their fingertips touched briefly as her hand wrapped around the warm cup. It was then that she finally remembered to breathe.

  “You said it. Getting a Christmas coffee helps a little though, right?” He shrugged, retrieving his own cup. “Gotta enjoy the holiday in whatever little way we can.”

  Lissa nodded in agreement, her jingle-bell earrings tinkling in her ears as they walked away side by side. Whether it was from being near Javier or because she kept forgetting to breathe, Lissa’s feet seemed to barely touch the ground as she floated away from the counter. Javier stayed at her side with his twin latté in hand as the buzz of the café thrummed around them.

  “I like that outlook,” she said, extending her hand. “I’m Lissa.”

  Javier smiled and the dimples that sh
e remembered from all of those faraway glances reappeared. Their eyes met as he accepted her reach and she watched as her palm disappeared inside his enormous grip. His hand was warm and soft to the touch. She didn’t want to let go.

  “Javier,” he said, tugging at his hospital ID lanyard around his neck. “You probably noticed that, though.”

  Lissa smiled and sipped her drink, suppressing the urge to giggle like an idiot. She was beginning to feel very warm and in the holiday spirit indeed.

  “Do you work at the hospital?”

  A shot of sugar-free spiced coffee threatened to spray out of Lissa’s nose as she choked at the question. Up until that moment, Lissa had been wondering — no, obsessing — about what she would say if they ever spoke. Would Javier recognize her? Would she tell him that she remembered him?

  “No,” she managed, shaking her head as she choked on her coffee.

  “Oh no!”

  Javier’s face scrunched up in concern as he placed his cup on the self-serve cream-and-sugar station and grabbed a stack of napkins. Lissa accepted them and hid her rapidly reddening face behind a fan of snowflake-print recycled paper.

  “Thank you. Ugh. This is so embarrassing.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” he said, taking a sip of his own coffee. “I see worse than that every day.”

  What about me? she thought. Do you remember seeing me?

  “Well, I gotta get back in there,” Javier said, raising his cup to her in a sort of salute. “It was nice meeting you, Lissa.”

  Lissa dabbed at her dress front and waved as he turned and walked back toward the hospital. Her heart turned to liquid and practically melted to the floor as his figure grew smaller and further away. She had been dreaming about the possibility of this very moment for nearly a year, hoping they would run into each other somehow, somewhere. Her fantasy scenario had not gone the way she had planned.

  “Nice meeting you too, Javier,” she whispered as he finally disappeared through the crowd.

  “Well isn’t he just a tall drink of gorgeous.”

  Lissa looked over and frowned in confusion at the petite blonde woman who had suddenly appeared at her side. Her bouffant of golden hair was immaculately coiffed and her delicate features were accented with expertly applied, stage-ready makeup. Despite the chilly December air, the woman was outfitted only in a strappy sequin wrap dress, sky-high heels, and more diamonds than Lissa could count. From the glamorous, distinct features to her uncanny Smoky Mountain accent, there was no denying who had just appeared at her side. Lissa knew it couldn’t really be Dolly Parton speaking to her in the middle of a downtown Miami café, and yet, she also knew she probably wasn’t crazy.

  No one else seemed to notice as the country-music star strode through the busy coffee shop and followed Lissa out the door onto First Avenue. A sharp blast of chilly December air stung at Lissa’s cheeks as the woman stayed by her side. The cold atmosphere caused her to shiver in her thin jacket, but at least proved that she wasn’t dreaming. Lissa’s unexpected new companion stayed in step with her as though they were two old friends simply walking down the street. Still unsure, Lissa pursed her lips together and tried to decide whether or not to respond to the stranger who had clearly noticed what had gone on between her and Javier.

  “He doesn’t recognize me, Dolly,” Lissa finally ventured.

  “Well, I hardly recognize you myself, darlin’,” Dolly said, still keeping up with Lissa. “You were gorgeous when you two met before and you’re gorgeous now, but I wouldn’t be too upset that he didn’t remember you.”

  “You’re right,” Lissa said, pulling her lightweight denim jacket tighter against the cold. She didn’t know how or why this imaginary Dolly knew so much, but in that moment, Lissa didn’t care. She was simply glad to have someone to confide in.

  “I’ve just been dreaming about running into him again for so long. It didn’t go the way I had imagined. I got my hopes up, I guess.”

  “Sometimes a little hope is all we need.” Dolly nodded.

  “So what do I do?” Lissa said, not out loud but in her head. Dolly seemed to hear her just the same.

  “I know what you should do,” Dolly said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “You should go back into your lovely little lingerie shop, put on that Christmas album I did with Kenny, and sing away the rest of the day.”

  “Music always does make me feel better,” Lissa mused to herself.

  “And then after the new year when you go into the hospital to get your mammogram, I bet you’ll run into him again,” Dolly said, winking at her knowingly.

  “That would be nice.”

  As the Curvature storefront came into view, a sweet sensation flooded her veins like sparkles of light straight down to her toes. Lissa turned to thank her new friend for the kind words, but the spritely apparition was gone, or, rather, had never been there in the first place. She frowned at herself and shook her head. Even though she was distraught, Lissa was not entirely certain that having an imaginary conversation was the best thing to do.

  Curvature was quiet as usual when she breezed through the front door of her festively decorated lingerie shop. Lissa slipped past her floor manager, Gloria, as she assisted a customer with a bra fitting. She lovingly ran her hands along the red-and-green mesh-and-sateen Christmas negligees she had designed that were prominently featured in the center of the store. None of the sizes in her boutique fit her anymore, though she was still proud of the inclusive line of lingerie she had designed from the ground up. Now that she had quietly fought a private battle with cancer, Lissa was focusing on expanding her line of plus-size intimates to include post-surgery and prenatal undergarments for everyone of all sizes, shapes, and walks of life. Building up her brand was her joy and her great work, something she’d gladly chosen over marriage and motherhood without thinking twice. She’d chosen Curvature over a safe and predictable life back home in Tennessee, where things would have turned out very differently for her. She’d chosen her business over being close to her family, which perhaps hurt most of all. However, even in her darkest, loneliest times, Lissa had always looked to Dolly for inspiration as a real-life maverick and savvy businesswoman. If anyone would approve of the path she had chosen, Lissa knew it would be her idol and possibly imaginary friend.

  Lissa settled into her office at the back of the store, logged in to her computer, and pulled up her digital sketches of the new post-surgery padded bras she was working on. With her upcoming Christmas trip spent back at home in Pigeon Forge in her heart, she searched through her selection of holiday CDs and popped in Kenny and Dolly’s Once Upon a Christmas album. Lissa hummed along to the familiar tunes of her childhood as she worked with a contented smile and the sweet face of a coffee thief dancing through her mind.

  For the first time in a long time, Lissa Tanner truly had hope.

  Chapter Two

  It had been a long time since anyone had turned Javier Abrantes’s head. It wasn’t that he didn’t see beautiful women coming and going in and out of Jackson Memorial Hospital every day; he did. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to love someone and be loved back. It was just that at twenty-six, newly single, he viewed himself as a failure, a nondescript nobody working in a bustling downtown Miami hospital who still lived at home with his parents. In Javier’s own mind, no one seemed to see him.

  Mostly, Javier shied away from talking to women simply because he was tired. He looked tired. He felt tired. His last relationship, with the mother of his daughter, had ended because, as she claimed, he never had any energy for her. She wasn’t wrong. It was true that after three back-to-back fourteen-hour shifts, all he wanted to do was eat comfort food, watch TV, and sleep. He still wasn’t quite used to all of the horrors he had to endure in the oncology ward day after day. But he was supposed to be a man — the man — and men didn’t complain about those things. Men sucked it up, got to work, and did what they had to do — or at least that was what his father had alw
ays drilled into him.

  As Javier shuffled down the familiar linoleum-floored corridor, past the gift shop and toward the elevator with his gingerbread latté in hand, he couldn’t stop thinking about the pretty blonde in the café he had run into only moments before. Lissa, she’d said her name was. He had been disappointed to find out that she didn’t work at the hospital, though he could have sworn he had seen her there before. Someone like her would have been hard to forget, from her expressive emerald eyes and bright smile to her distinctive twangy accent. Javier’s own subtle accent wasn’t quite as pronounced as his parents’ and was common in Miami, but this woman’s sweet, singsongy voice rang in his ear, refusing to be forgotten. He decided right away that he wanted to hear that voice again.

  The rest of Javier's shift was long and grueling as usual, devoid of any kind of holiday festivities. The hospital was a sad place to be at Christmastime, and especially so in the oncology ward. Families came and went with small decorated trees, gifts, and décor, not knowing whether this would be the last year they spent celebrating the holiday with their loved ones. The thought of all of that pain and suffering was hard for him to constantly put out of his mind, and it was becoming more and more apparent to Javier with each passing day that he might not really be cut out for nursing after all.

  It was nearly midnight by the time he finished his shift and returned home to his parents’ house in Little Havana that night. He had lived in the modest bungalow all his life, and up until eight months ago, his daughter, Isabella, and girlfriend had lived there as well. Javier had attended Citrus Grove Elementary School just across the street and hoped that Izzy would someday too, but with every day his ex kept his daughter away, that future looked like less and less of a possibility. This would be Javier’s first Christmas away from his only child and the entire situation had him feeling less than merry.

  Javier was careful to be quiet as he entered his childhood home that night, knowing not to wake his parents. Abraham and Isvelda Abrantes were already fast asleep and likely had been since their eight-thirty bedtime. He knew that his mother would be up before the sun brewing Café Bustelo with her nose in a book and his father would likely be up and out as well, off to get the best fishing spot at the pier. As he tiptoed through the entryway, Javier’s high school graduation portrait smiled down at him as it always did, stationed proudly over his mother’s Virgin Mary statue and candle-laden shrine. His jawline had been razor-sharp back then, his arms cut from steel due to hours spent at the gym and playing football. He didn’t recognize the smiling person on the wall as himself anymore.