by Amy Lyon
“We were hoping you’d stop by,” Maggie said.
“Is he here?” Andi asked, craning her neck to look over Maggie’s shoulder.
She shook her head. “He and Lily walked down to the park. Wanna come in and wait for them?”
“No, thank you,” Andi said. Her heart was on a mission. “Where is the park?”
Maggie pointed down the street, past Millie’s house. “Go to the end of Hibiscus and take a left. You’ll run right into it.” She touched Andi’s shoulders. “He’ll be very glad to see you.”
Andi wiped her palms on her yoga pants and gave a wave as she rushed back to her car. Her heart pounded as she drove to the park and imagined what would happen when he saw her car. She saw the scene unfold in slow motion. She would hug him hard and he would introduce her to Lily.
But when she arrived at the park, she was surprised to see the street lined on both sides with cars, a soccer game going on at one end of the small park. At the other end, Matt and Lily played on the baseball diamond. She drove closer until she could see them clearly, her car partially hidden behind a large Suburban. She pressed her sunglasses over her eyes, rolled down her window and warmed at the sound of Matt’s voice.
“It’s hard work, but I think you’re ready for that traveling team,” he called from home plate. He hit a grounder to Lily and she easily fielded it from the short-stop position.
“You have to come to all my games,” she called back. “Even the ones on the mainland.”
He cracked a line drive and she caught it with ease. “Have I ever missed a game?”
Lily beamed from under a ball cap. “No, cause you’re the best dad ever.”
Crack! This time Matt hit a grounder with an unruly hop that Lily swiftly knocked down. “Just remember how great I am when you get older and want to go on a date.”
“Gross, Dad!”
He hit a few more balls, then dropped the bat. “Okay, switch,” he said and headed toward the pitching mound. “Let’s see if you still remember how to hit.”
Lily shook off her glove. “Come on, Dad. I was only gone two weeks.”
She tossed him the ball and he met her mid-field. “That was two weeks too long for me,” he said and wrapped her in a hug.
Andi swallowed hard. They could use another fielder, she thought, but before Matt reached the pitching mound and turned around, she eased off the brake and drove away from the park.
She had some hard work of her own to do. Her flight was scheduled for noon on Sunday, she was expected back at work Monday morning, and her mother’s house was in complete disarray. She had loose ends all over the place, a to-do list a page long and so many dots to rearrange.
* * *
There wasn’t a cloud in the sky Sunday morning and Andi truly felt like she was driving through a little slice of paradise, as Matt called Mimosa Key. It was early when Andi left Hibiscus Drive and arrived at Hope Presbyterian. The parking lot of the church was empty, except for Matt’s truck. With anticipation coursing through her veins, she jogged across the parking lot, up the steps and into an empty foyer. She tried the door to the sanctuary, but it was locked. She shifted across the room to the office entrance, but that door was locked, too. Then she remembered the Hope Presbyterian van and that he probably had the duty of picking up the seniors who couldn’t drive or were at assisted living facilities.
Like her mother. She’d called Circles of Care yesterday and Ginger had recommended she give Millie another day to rest. She’d be released today to come to church and Fancy had insisted on picking her up.
Andi checked the time on her phone. It could be an hour before Matt returned, but she’d wait on the front steps forever if she had to. She pushed open the door to the outside, and the wooden slat flew out of her hands, past where the railing had been and banged against the exterior with a thud.
“You don’t realize your own strength, do you?”
Andi turned at the sound of the familiar voice and saw Matt coming across the parking lot, gorgeously splendid in a white button-down shirt. He’d rolled his sleeves to his elbows and Andi’s attention locked on those strong forearms that she longed to have wrapped around her.
“Where are the seniors?” she asked and pointed to the van.
“Gary’s back,” he said. “I just gassed it up for him.”
She stepped onto the landing and pushed the door closed behind her. “I’m getting this door fixed, by the way. Add it to the re-branding budget.”
He twirled his keys around his finger, then shoved them into his pocket and stopped at the bottom step. “Gonna be pretty hard to oversee that from Minnesota.”
Andi sucked in an exaggerated breath and tipped her face to the sun. “Yeah. It’s kinda nice here, a little slice of heaven. I thought I might stay a bit.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and took a step up so they met eye to eye. “How long?”
She cocked her head, barely able to stand the small distance between them. “A while.”
“You can do better than that.” He took her hand. “How long, Andi?”
She melted under his touch. “Indefinitely,” she whispered, breathless at the closeness.
A smile tipped the corners of his mouth. “That’s better,” he said and in one quick motion she was in his arms and cradled in the embrace she’d come to love.
“Where’s Lily? I can’t wait to meet her.”
“She’ll be here in a little bit with the moms,” he said. “She’s excited to meet you.”
She rested her arms on his shoulders. “You told her about me?”
“I did. I was optimistic after Maggie told me you stopped by last night.” He took off his sunglasses and his blue eyes sliced through the craziness of the last week and she saw her future clearly. “What made you stay?”
“I decided to honor God with the next decision I made and put family first,” she said. “And Angel is fit to be tied.”
His eyes widened. “How’d she take the news?”
“She wants me out of her condo in a week.”
“Sounds like we have a road trip ahead of us.”
Her heart soared. “Really? Can you get away?”
“Family first,” he said.
“But I’m not...”
He quirked an eyebrow and kissed her. “If I have things my way, you will be.”
A tingle swept up the back of her neck and crossed her face. “People will be arriving for church soon,” she said and tucked her head into his neck. “We shouldn’t be kissing out here.”
He laughed. “Are you kidding? People kiss out here all the time. Haven’t you ever been to a wedding?”
“This isn’t a wedding, Matt.”
“If I have things my way, it won’t be long before you’re standing in this exact spot in a pretty white dress—”
She put her finger to his lips and kissed him, her body vibrating with the possibility.
And just like that her loose ends were tied, her to-do list was checked off and all of her dots aligned perfectly.
All she had needed to do was put her trust in the fact that she was meant to be here, meant to be with Matt. She’d been too long without a family. Now she had two moms, a God-loving man and a little girl she could look forward to building a future with.
She was ready.
Continue the Journey
What happens next for Matt and Andi? Follow their journey as Andi’s cousin, Sara, makes her way south to Mimosa Key to escape her past, only to be swept into the future by a local surf shop owner with a past just as dark as her own.
* * *
Divine Connection
How much weight can you give your past…
Without tipping the scales on your future?
Sara Shaw can mix up the perfect blend of essential oils to transport her customers “happier places,” much like the beachside community she’s escaped to after a series of traumatic events. Yet she can’t concoct the magical blend of time, space and distance to safely sh
elter her from her past and find a new identity in the future.
Jackson Levy knows exactly who he is: An honorably discharged soldier back in Mimosa Key to run his dad’s surf shack. Not too impressive, but he tries to make the best of it. He was able to adopt his military working dog, Jax, after they were wounded in Afghanistan, which eased his transition back into civilian life.
Between renting out beach bikes and snorkel gear to vacationers, Jackson strives to come to terms with this new direction for his life. Easier said than done with an outdated business and a drooping bottom line.
But Sara has a knack for marketing and Jackson has a proposal that could benefit both of them. Can they mix their talents to discover the secret formula for success and love? Or will the weight of the past tip the scales against a future together?
Please enjoy this excerpt from Divine Connection
CHAPTER ONE
Sara Shaw pushed open the door of her new storefront, Sweet Serenity, and reeled back a few steps as the smell of rotten fish guts hit her.
She hissed and pinched her nostrils. “Good Lord.”
Using her purse as a doorstop, she propped the front door open and, holding her breath, moved quickly through the space to swing open the rear door. Mother Nature would have to deliver a strong crosswind and a pound of sage to burn the stench out of this place.
Disappointment swam up her spine and her shoulders dropped. Was it too much to ask that one thing go right today? She had hoped the sheer joy of walking into this building would be the Magic Eraser [J351]to clean up her stained and tarnished life.
No such luck.
Tears welled, but she closed her eyes and shooed them away with deep breaths. She’d come this far without breaking down—unless you counted the flat tire on a busy Georgia interstate—and she wasn’t about to lose her composure now.
She’d arrived. This stinky little shop situated on a twelve-mile-long island off Florida’s Gulf Coast was home now. How bad could this slice of paradise really be?
“’Scuse me, do you have any bait fish for sale?”
Sara whipped around at the sound of the deep voice and remembered her purse by the front door. With a hammering heart, she crossed the small room.
“Leeches?” he asked and cocked his head.
Sara took in the handsome man who’d settled against the doorframe of her shop, one arm resting casually above his head. A gentle swirling started in her midsection[J352] and a deep breath lodged in her throat
Jackson. She could have picked him out in a crowd based on her cousin Andi’s description: Part surfer, part soldier, and wholly hunky.
And single.
The single tidbit hadn’t fazed her before, but she felt fazed and frazzled now as she took in his dark hair, soulful eyes and playful grin. She knew he’d been honorably discharged from the military a few years ago and returned to Mimosa Key to run his dad’s surf shack. She also knew he’d be the best man in Andi’s wedding in a few weeks and she’d be the maid of honor. She’d link her arm with his and walk down the aisle. He’d be her other half for the night...
Her eyes popped open.
“Okay, minnows,” he said. “I’ll take one bucket of minnows.”
Sara found her footing. “Funny,” she said, pushing her hands onto her hips. “If I could bottle and sell the smell of this place as an olfactory-gland poison, I’d be a millionaire[J353].”
He threw his head back and the genuine amusement in his laugh caught her off guard.
She extended her hand. “Sara. New store owner and lover of good smells.”
“Jackson. Official welcoming committee of Mimosa Key[J354].”
His large hand captured hers and, to her surprise, she giggled. The joy-filled sound had eluded her for so long.
She cleared her throat and waved her hand around the room. “I knew there would be work to do, like paint and maybe new flooring eventually, but this smell is horrendous. I’m not sure how I’ll get rid of it.”
“Lysol spray? Maybe a strong air freshener? Something fruity?”
She wrinkled her nose. “I prefer a more natural approach,” she said and that silly little giggle was back. “Thanks, though.”
Jackson shoved his hands into the pockets of khaki cargo shorts. “Smell’s not nearly as bad as it was when Bob’s Bait Shop was here.”
She shot him a sideways glance and moved toward the front window, where she flipped the latch to open it. “I would have steered clear of this block if it smelled any worse than this.”
“Kinda hard to avoid when I’m right next door.” He jabbed a thumb toward the ocean-blue, shack-style building to her left.
She peered out the window that refused to budge. “The surfboard rental place, right?”
“Not just surfboards. Paddleboards, kayaks, snorkel gear, beach bikes, inline skates and…” he looked up and tapped his chin consideringly. “Oh yes, a whole lot of fishing equipment and no bait shop on the island.”
“Sorry.”
“Not your fault.” He stepped in front of her and rocked the window pane as he lifted.
The window didn’t budge.
“Why did the bait shop close?”
“Owner passed away,” Jackson said flatly. He ran his finger along the seam where the window met the trim. “Painted shut. I’ve got a screwdriver next door and can break the seal.”
Sara’s eyes fixed on the deep tan of his forearms. “Thanks, but I’ll take care of it myself.”
“Why?”
Because I’m fiercely independent and completely immune to the effects of strong, handsome men.
“I’m very handy,” she lied.
He huffed. “You just rent this place. The problems aren’t yours to fix.”
She smiled tentatively, unaccustomed to someone looking out for her.
“Fine, I’ll let you fix my window, but I am going to let the landlord know I’m not happy at all about the smell of this place.” She took her phone out of her pocket and scrolled through the contacts.
Jackson lightly touched her hand. “Let me take care of it[J355]. You’ve had a long day of driving[J356].”
“Oh... well, okay,” she said. “Thank you.”
Andi must have told Jackson a bit about her, too, since he knew she’d had a long day of driving. She wondered how much Andi had shared.
Jackson waved his hand. “Maintenance is the landlord’s responsibility. There are a few things that need to be fixed at my place, too.” He turned in the doorway. “How about I help you get whatever you need tonight from your moving truck and you can start fresh in the morning.”
Sara eyed him warily. Why are you being so helpful? But her caution quickly morphed into exhaustion, and she thought a helping hand could be the cherry on top of an otherwise less-than-spectacular Sunday.
“I am exhausted,” she said and looked out at the parking lot. “The landlord said he’d meet me here so I could get into the apartment. I really don’t want to stay another night in a hotel.”
Jackson pushed a hand into the pocket of his shorts and produced a ring with two keys. “Good thing I saw you drive up, since I just so happen to have the keys to your cottage.” A teasing glint flashed in his blue-gray eyes. “I am the official welcoming committee, remember?”
Sara marveled at how her low mood turned buoyant in Jackson’s presence. This guy was a lucky charm who not only helped her unload two suitcases, but also led her along a curved pathway to the cottage behind the shop. Lavender plants grew wild in the rocks and her heart nearly stopped when she saw the front steps that led to the cute little porch on front of the butter cream-colored building.
“It’s adorable,” she sighed as she ascended the stairs behind him, holding the white railing. She’d seen pictures, but the real deal was so much better.
“Don’t fall in love yet,” he said. “We’ll have to see how it smells inside.”
She couldn’t tell if he was joking, but the gentleness in his eyes told her she could trust him.
Jackson put the key in the lock and turned to face her. “Pretty sure nothing died. But even if it did, I try to remember that even in death there can be new life. I’m sure you will bring new life to this cottage and to the shop.”
Sara flinched and sucked in a breath as he pushed open the door.
“You okay?” he asked, touching her arm.
A flame ignited in her chest and spread up her neck to her cheeks. Like little fire hydrants tasked with putting out the flames, her eyes filled with tears that spilled over and ran down her face, pooling in her hands that she lifted swiftly to her face to catch them.
She was ugly-crying, for sure.
* * *
Jackson Levy didn’t want to make his new neighbor cry. Unfortunately, he was pretty sure saying something stupid like, “Even in death there can be new life” wasn’t the best comment to make to a widow.
He didn’t know if he should hug her or retreat from the cottage slowly, hands raised and unthreatening. Her face was hidden in her hands as she sobbed, and he was afraid the next words out of his mouth would either make her cry harder or tick her off. So he remained silent and tried to bring comfort by lightly touching her shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” she finally said, and dug in her purse to produce a small, tattered roll of toilet paper. “I left Minnesota two days ago looking forward to this new adventure and everything, I mean everything, that could go wrong has gone wrong.”
Going for encouragement, Jackson said softly how brave he thought she was to trek across the country by herself and start fresh on this island where her cousin, Andi, was the only person she knew. He imagined her tears had less to do with the last forty-eight hours and more to do with the avalanche of adversity that had been dropped on this poor woman in the last two years.