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Second and Other Chances

Older Model – Smoother Ride

Connie Fausse’s marriage wasn’t a happy one, understandable when your husband reminds you as often as possible that you are physically repulsive to him. When Victor Fausse died almost two years before, it meant more questions than answers for Connie and did nothing to erase her negative feelings about herself.

Mike is a man with a man’s needs and tastes, but that never distracted him from being the kind of single father he wanted for his son. Over the years Mike had his rendezvous with the female of the moment, but he never allowed himself anything more permanent. That all changed when son Liam moved into his first home next door to Connie Fausse.

This might make for a happy ever after, but how do you believe in yourself after years of day after day of negative narrative? How do you commit to a woman after a lifetime of keeping them at arm’s length?

Playlist for Second and Other Chances

When you read each chapter of Second and Other Chances, you’ll notice that the chapter title is also the title of a song. Download the playlist and listen along while you read. (Song titles are linked to Amazon Digital Music)

  1. What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?  •  Jimmy Ruffin
  2. Theme from Mahogany • Diana Ross
  3. Just to See Her • Smokey Robinson
  4. Nothin’ but Heartaches • Diana Ross and The Supremes
  5. Just My Imagination • The Temptations
  6. Brick House • Commodores
  7. Walk away from Love • David Ruffin
  8. Come and Get These Memories • Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
  9. Neither One of Us • Gladys Knight and the Pips
  10. Smiling Faces Sometimes • The Undisputed Truth
  11. Ball of Confusion • The Temptations
  12. (Love Is Like a) Heat Wave • Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
  13. Too Busy Thinking About My Baby • Marvin Gaye
  14. You Can’t Hurry Love • The Supremes
  15. I’m Going to Make You Love Me • The Temptations
  16. Going to a Go Go • The Miracles
  17. Dancing Machine • The Jackson 5
  18. Nowhere to Run • Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
  19. Stubborn Kind of Fella • Marvin Gaye
  20. I Can’t Get Next to You • The Temptations
  21. You’ve Made Me So Very Happy • Brenda Holloway
  22. Baby That’s Backatcha • Smokey Robinson
  23. You Are the Sunshine of My Life • Stevie Wonder
  24. Psychedelic Shack • The Temptations
  25. Baby Don’t Cry • The Miracles
  26. In and Out of Love • The Supremes
  27. What Does it Take? • Jr. Walker and the All Stars
  28. The Things You Do • The Temptations
  29. More Love • Smokey Robinson
  30. Let’s Get it On • Marvin Gaye
  31. You’re All I Need to Get By • Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
  32. Signed, Sealed, Delivered • Stevie Wonder
  33. I Was Made to Love Her • Stevie Wonder
  34. Runaway Child • Temptations
  35. Love Machine • The Miracles & Billy Griffin
  36. You’re My Everything • The Temptations
  37. Uptight (Everything is Alright) • Stevie Wonder
  38. I’ll Be There • The Jackson 5
  39. Can I Get a Witness? • Marvin Gaye
  40. Being with You • Smokey Robinson
  41. I Heard it Through the Grapevine • Gladys Knight and the Pips
  42. I Hear a Symphony • The Supremes
  43. Papa Was a Rolling Stone • The Temptations
  44. Love Child • Diana Ross and the Supremes
  45. For Once in My Life • Stevie Wonder

Gingellville

Gingellville isn’t a product of my imagination, it is the location of Connie’s home, but it is more. It is, in fact, an area in mid-Oakland County just north of I-75 centered on either side of Baldwin Road.

Gingellville Sign

Gingellville history isn’t as old as the state of Michigan or Oakland County for that matter, but it does go back to 1840 and it’s first settlers, John and Charlotte Proper. The Proper’s homesteaded a piece of land on Baldwin Road between Judah and Gregory Roads.

In the same year, the Newman farm on Waldon Road was established and other homesteaders Freeman Brown and Frank Gregory farmed land in or close to Gingellville. I mention these original residents because their names are found in Gingellville as place and street names

In the late 1800’s, James W. and Harriet E. Gingell married. One of the sons was Frank Gingell. Frank Gingell and his wife Ella McVean Gingell are the founders of Gingellville. Together with their sons, Francis and Harold, they set out to build a town and develop a community.

That community is alive and well today – my husband and I are fortunate to be very proud Gingellvillians enjoying its natural beauty and the warmth of our neighbors.

Information is taken from the booklet “Orion Sesquicentennial 150 Years” (1985) By S. April Wuest