Another Chance to Get It Right: &You Anthologies

Another

Chance

to Get

It Right

Another

Chance

to Get

It Right

A New Year’s Eve Anthology

Edited by Nicole Frail

And You Press

An Imprint of Nicole Frail Books, LLC

Trigger Warnings: Child Abandonment,* Infant Death,* Divorce,° Death of a Parent^

Arrangement copyright © 2024 by Nicole Frail

All Year With Anthony copyright © 2024 by Katie Fitzgerald; Righting My World^ copyright © 2024 by Shirley Hay; Fia* copyright © 2024 by Sharon Thatcher; Dancing Queen copyright © 2024 by Jessica Daniliuk; I’ll Be Home for New Year’s? copyright © 2024 by Krista Renee; What One Would Do for a Rose © 2024 by H. Buckley; New Year’s Baby copyright © 2024 by Anna Picari; Seeking Sanctuary° copyright © 2024 by Desi Stowe; Polka Dots copyright © 2024 by Mitchell S. Elrick

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

For permission requests, publicity requests, or other inquiries, write to

nicolefrailbooks@gmail.com.

To order in bulk or to sell this book in your retail brick-and-mortar or online store,

contact nicolefrailbooks@gmail.com.

Cover design and interior illustrations by Kerri Odell

Edited and typeset by Nicole Frail/Nicole Frail Edits, LLC.

First publication: November 2024

www.nicolefrailbooks.com | @nicolefrailbooks

www.andyoupress.com | @andyoupress

Print ISBNs: 978-1-965852-05-7; 978-1-965852-06-4

Contents

Introduction

Short Story Summaries

All Year with Anthony

Righting My World

Fia

Dancing Queen

I’ll Be Home for New Year’s?

What One Would Do for A Rose

New Year’s Baby

Seeking Sanctuary

Polka Dots

About

Contributors’ Library

About the Editor

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Nicole Frail

Thank you for selecting Another Chance to Get It Right: A New Year’s Eve Anthology! This is the second title to launch from a new (super-small) independent press, and we all thank you for the support you’ve already shown us with your interest in not only a new title from a new house, but a collection of stories that includes some brand-new voices, too!

When most think of New Year’s Eve, they envision celebrations: champagne, loud music, the ball drop and countdown, fireworks and kisses. They make resolutions, they plan ahead, they want to be better and do better. The New Year brings with it a fresh start, a new beginning. A second (or third, or fourth, etc.) chance to try again. For many, New Year’s Eve symbolizes hope.

But for others, it can be a reminder of the boxes that went unchecked, the goals that were not achieved, and the people they left behind. A new start can be intimidating. Sometimes it’s easier to stay put and hide behind what you already know well.

The characters in the stories presented on these pages experience a wide range of emotions as the end of the year draws near for them—emotions that accurately represent the ups and downs that come with starting over, starting something new.

You’ll cheer for those who are lucky enough to get that longed-for first kiss at midnight. You’ll grieve with those who take a moment to cherish the memories of friends and family who are no longer with them. You’ll sit and sympathize with others who are faced with impossible decisions and deadlines as the minutes tick away. And you’ll celebrate those who realize that they don’t need the New Year to do better and be better but that the nudge it provides isn’t always a bad thing.

We hope you enjoy this mix of short stories and that you have a Happy New Year!

Short Story Summaries

All Year With Anthony

by Katie Fitzgerald

Gwen, an event planner, organizes a New Year’s Eve party, but she’s not happy with how the evening unfolds. She is comforted by Anthony, the sweet sous chef with whom she has shared many happy memories this past year.

Righting My World

by Shirley Hay

It’s been ten years since Claire’s life changed forever on New Year’s Eve. At a party, with memories threatening to break her, she must decide what kind of love she’s worthy of receiving.

Fia

by Sharon Thatcher

A recluse living in a remote area of the Scottish Highlands is confronted with a peculiar conundrum on New Year’s Eve: an abandoned baby in the forest. Her traumatic past comes back to haunt her as she tries to save the child who is on the brink of death.

Dancing Queen

by Jessica Daniliuk

Quinn goes to her favorite club on New Year’s Eve expecting it to be like every other weekend. Everything changes when she meets a guy named Peter.

I’ll Be Home for New Year’s?

by Krista Renee

Ella and Lulu are looking forward to their first New Year’s Eve together as a married couple; however, as an OBGYN, Ella knows she’ll be lucky if she gets out of L&D before the clock strikes midnight. Lulu holds out hope that Ella will join her and that she’ll bring news they’ve both been waiting for with her.

What One Would Do for a Rose

by H. Buckley

George Callander returns home, dreaming of a picture-perfect reunion. But after years of drifting in and out, always in pursuit of fame, he finds his family on the verge of collapse. By midnight, George must make a life-changing decision.

New Year’s Baby

by Anna Picardi

Avery Fellows has always felt cheated by her New Year’s Eve birthday, overshadowed by holiday celebrations and everyone else’s plans. As she grows up, she struggles to find joy in a day that never seems to be just hers—until a chance meeting and new love change everything.

Seeking Sanctuary

by Desi Stowe

Priscilla is beyond tired of people telling her what to do. In desperate need of a new beginning, she’s seeking sanctuary and hoping that, on New Year’s Eve, she might find it.

Polka Dots

by Mitchell S. Elrick

Two roommates-slash-best friends set out on an adventure to help one get a date with the girl of his dreams on New Year’s Eve.

All Year with Anthony

Katie Fitzgerald

F ive . . . four . . . three . . . two . . . one . . . Happy New Year! The crowd in the hotel ballroom clinked their glasses and sipped champagne, but Gwen was out the kitchen door like a shot, heading into the frigid night air without looking back.

The important moments of the party were over, and she’d done her best, but she was sure there was no way it had been enough to impress her boss, the perfect and unrelenting Corinne. Corinne had made her instructions clear: Wow me tonight, or I’m letting you go. Wow her. Ha. New year, same old impossible expectations.

The balloon drop Gwen had planned for midnight had been canceled due to a delayed balloon delivery, the desserts had been half the size of what she had expected, and only half of the catering staff had gotten the memo about the dress code. The list of flaws in this celebration could probably fill a whole page in the planner in which Gwen had diligently laid out the perfect night. She figured it didn’t matter if she watched the whole thing crash and burn or not; the disaster she’d put into motion would happen with or without her at this point.

It was cold, though. She’d been hot inside with all the dancing bodies in their fancy gowns and tuxedos, but out here in the parking lot, the plain white blouse and slacks that made her look professional yet unassuming were far too thin against the winter chill. She hugged herself, rubbing her hands along her upper arms as puffs of her breath sailed toward the stars.

Gwen? The sound of her name in a tentative male voice caught her attention, and she glanced toward the kitchen exit.

Anthony, she breathed as she realized it was the sweet sous chef from the catering company who had been trying to help her all night. Even in this miserable mood, the sight of him lifted her spirits just a touch. What are you doing out here?

Notes of Auld Lang Syne slipped through the crack in the door where he had left it propped open. 

You disappeared, he said gently. I was worried. He was wearing a white double-breasted chef’s jacket, which he began to unbutton. Though it left him in short sleeves, he draped it over Gwen’s shoulders. Happy new year, he said.

Gwen breathed in the smell of onion and basil. That smell always made her think of Anthony.

I don’t know how happy it is, she said with a sigh. Corinne is probably counting up my mistakes as we speak. This has been a train wreck.

Anthony shook his head. That’s not what I saw in there.

You were busy, Gwen protested. Trust me. Corinne is going to have my head on one of those shiny silver plates with lids.

That’s called a cloche, Anthony corrected, smiling fondly. But that’s not going to happen.

You’re always so optimistic, Gwen chided. This was probably her tenth time working an event with Anthony, but only the third one where she had been in charge. The first and second experiences hadn’t gone so well, and Corinne had an immovable three strikes and you’re out policy. Gwen was sure Anthony was only being nice, as he always was to everyone. But Corinne will tell it like it is, so you may as well, too.

Corinne is a jerk, Anthony spat bluntly. She thinks a perfect party is one without a crisis. But I’ve been in this business almost eight years, and I know that a perfect party is one where every crisis is managed. He put a hand on Gwen’s shoulder. You were a rock star tonight. Everyone in there had an awesome time, and that’s down to you.

Gwen knew her body temperature couldn’t actually have risen ten degrees in an instant, but it really felt that way when Anthony made contact. He was warmth personified, this man. She would miss seeing him all the time when she inevitably got fired.

How do you do that? she asked, pulling his chef jacket tighter around her shoulders.

Do what? Compliment you? He flashed a grin. They just roll off the tongue. It’s easy to tell someone her good qualities when she has so many.

Not that, Gwen said, her face definitely blazing with heat now. He really was the nicest guy.  "Just