A Second Chance at Forever novel (Eleanor and Bernard)

On the anniversary of Liana's passing, it was soon Caleb's, and the couple, along with their children, set off for Greenwood Cemetery.

No sooner had their black Lincoln pulled to a stop than Damian caught sight of a fawn darting out from the woods.

Whether it was the thrill of the chase or a bid to wriggle free from Bernard's watchful eye, the young boy pushed open the car door and bolted into the forest the moment the adults were distracted.

Eleanor, seeing her son's sudden dash, hurriedly exited the car and gave chase, while Bernard, seated inside, simply waved his hand. Aidyn and Scott immediately got out and followed Eleanor and Damian.

Bernard gazed toward the distant graveyard, lost in a silent reverie, before stepping out of the car. He opened the trunk, retrieved a bouquet of chrysanthemums, and made his way to Caleb's gravestone, where he bent down to place the flowers.

"Caleb, I've brought the kids to see you again."

same opening words every year, followed by standing solemnly at the gravestone, staring at the now-yellowing photograph of Caleb, and imagining. Imagining if Caleb were still alive, would he dote on his son like Aidyn and

son, perching him on his shoulders, letting little rascal Damian

vision of how Caleb might have held his son's hand, strolling down a street bathed in the glow of a setting sun, their shadows stretching behind them. And even though it was just a vision, Bernard cherished it deeply, tinged with the regret that over time,

final credits of a movie had rolled; everything became

stood by the gravestone, lost in memories and lamenting his fading recollection of Caleb's face, a figure clad in a black coat and a beret, leading

a glance. Fearing that his presence might stir Katharine Spencer's painful memories, he touched Caleb's gravestone one last time and swiftly

gone ahead. She asked Aidyn to bring the basket of chrysanthemums

entering, she did not find Bernard but brushed past a woman in a beret who was

too preoccupied with scolding Damian for running

arrived at Caleb's gravestone and saw two bouquets of chrysanthemums on the ground that she realized who the woman with