Shattered Treasure

by Cindy Patterson

  Shattered Treasure ©2019 Cindy Patterson. All Rights Reserved

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system—except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the web—without the written permission of the author.

  All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV

  For information contact; www.cindypattersonbks.com

  Cover design by: Roseanna White Designs

  Editor: Charlene Patterson

  Published by Springbrook Press, North Carolina

  ISBN: 978-1-64669-040-4 Paperback

  ISBN: 978-1-64669-041-1 Hardback

  ISNB: 978-1-64669-042-8 Ebook

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2019918847

  Printed in the United States of America.

  Praise for Cindy Patterson’s books

  “Author has a gift for emotional description, that pulse-pounding realization that escape is needed, and the physical. Author also gives us rounded settings with plenty of sensory details to add realism, and author brings our attention to some details that can be revealed, while others require our patience for well-crafted story structure. Revelations are very authentic for an injured, fearful character who must unspool slowly, and the author's empathetic writing forms great logic in that.” Broken Butterfly~Writers Digest

  “Broken Butterfly by Cindy Patterson is a well written romance novel with highly developed characters that felt just like real people.” Broken Butterfly~Reader's Favorite

  “A well-crafted and heartwarming cross-cultural tale of first love.” Chasing Paradise~Kirkus Reviews

  “This lesser known author captured me completely with her words, her complex characters, and a plot line that will blow you away from the start. Her words were captivating, pulling the reader into the heart of the story instantly.” Chasing Paradise~Molly Edwards~Reader’s Favorite

  “Story structure is strong, the pace moves, making readers care about these characters. We get real flutters and our own quickened breathing when author uses realism-building in the story line. Well done.” Chasing Paradise~Writer’s Digest

  “Chasing Paradise is a clean, refreshing romance about forbidden love.” ~InD’tale Magazine

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Cindy Patterson

  Prologue

  Mama didn’t really want Daddy to die. Addison Morgan was only six, but she was smart enough to know the truth. Mama just couldn’t take the pain it caused. She had stayed right by Daddy’s side every minute she wasn’t working, willing him to live. And when he died anyway even after she’d cried out to God for hours every day, begging him not to take her husband, she’d given up. On life, on love, on everything.

  It had all happened so fast. Daddy slipped from this earth within a few months of finding out he was sick.

  After Daddy left them, things changed for the worse. Addison tried to comfort Mama, but her love wasn’t enough. Mama needed more.

  1

  The first Monday of April, showers swept across the ocean, driven on the ever-steady breeze. Addison Morgan leaned against the bed’s wooden post as she stared through her bedroom window. Rain pelted the glass panes of the older beach house, rattling the loose shutters. Rattling old memories to the forefront of her mind.

  Her gut wrenched as the rain stopped and the sun broke between dark clouds as a clear image of her sister faded. Happy Birthday, Casey.

  Determined to get through the day without crying, Addison grabbed her books and left the safety of her room. The same room her aunt had opened to her and Casey four years ago when Addison started college at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Twenty-four months before the devastating accident that had taken her sister’s life. Pushing one foot in front of the other, Addison hesitated in the hallway. Her boyfriend was standing on the front porch.

  On a sharp inhale, Addison stopped and took several slow breaths to regulate her erratic pulse before moving farther into the living room.

  Philip opened the storm door, part of his face hidden behind a bouquet of roses. In that moment she caught a glimpse of the boy who had been her rock when she had no one else.

  Now his gesture held no feeling or expectation for her. The essence of him remained—the boy who’d spent every summer with her, promising days of fun and laughter, but young love had dissipated little by little until the only feeling remaining almost choked her. She focused on the flowers, the backs of her eyelids burning. “They’re beautiful.”

  “I’ll drive you to the school this morning.”

  “I have a meeting on campus with my professor.”

  “That’s even better. But can you catch a ride home with Taylor? I have practice this afternoon.”

  Her chest tightened as unspoken truth hurled bullets through her mind. He was only available to her in snippets and only at his convenience. A truth that no longer bothered her. “I can drive.”

  “Good morning.” Aunt Brenda slowed mid-step and surveyed the flowers before entering the living room. “Oh, how beautiful, Philip!”

  “They’re for you.”

  Philip instinctively handed Aunt Brenda the vase, and she gave Addison a knowing look. “I love this boy.”

  Addison took a deep breath to keep from rolling her eyes.

  “You kids have a good day. I’ll just see to these.” Sniffing one of the red blooms, Aunt Brenda disappeared into the kitchen.

  Philip nudged Addison closer to the door and stroked her back. Her shoulders loosened as he peered down at her with that unrelenting look that at one time could have melted her heart. “I wanted to spend a few minutes alone with you.”

  Foolish as it was, she agreed and followed him to his truck. “Are you still going to the frat party tonight?”

  Philip cleared his throat and gave a slight nod. “You are, right?”

  “I don’t know. Today’s Casey’s birthday.”

  “I remembered,” he said, but he most likely hadn’t. He never even remembered hers. “It would be good for you. You need a distraction.”

  Annoyed at his flippant reply, she squeezed her upper arms. How could a distraction be good? On today of all days? She wanted nothing more than to
sleep the day away.

  Squinting against the morning rays glistening off the sheen of fresh rain, she settled into the passenger seat and stared through the windshield.

  The stereo blared when Philip started the engine. He turned onto the street without lowering the volume. Tuning the screeching heavy metal notes out, she closed her eyes and latched onto her most endearing memories. Only then could she pretend her sister would be coming home this afternoon to celebrate her birthday.

  Sliding his fingers between hers, Philip squeezed her hand every few minutes as if that simple action would make up for everything.

  “You’re so uptight. You should let loose and have a few drinks. It’ll make you feel better.” He leaned toward her, and the hard lines around his eyes softened. Apprehension squirmed through her middle. “What can it hurt?”

  No, she would never make that mistake again. That very demon had taken everything from her. If drinking was the only link that would heal their broken relationship, they were in more trouble than she’d thought. Addison kept her mouth shut. To argue would only lead to a full-blown fight and she didn’t have the energy. Not today.

  The fifteen-minute ride to school gave her plenty of time to think it through. She needed something normal to keep from getting lost in the spiral of depression threatening to pull her under. The same depression that had taken root two years ago. Maybe it would be enough just being with Philip at the party. Aunt Brenda would be asleep by the time she got home anyway. Same as every other night. Anything would be better than sitting at home alone. Again.

  Before Addison could climb from the car, Philip grabbed her arm. “I’ll meet you at the party. You may even beat me there. But hey, think about what I said. You deserve a good time. Casey would want that.” He shifted the car in reverse and drove away before she could object.

  A twinge of uncertainty rushed through her at his admission. Philip was meeting her there. Even though they’d dated for years, she knew none of his new friends.

  It wouldn’t be so bad if Taylor was going, but she couldn’t. Taylor was going on a double date without her. Again.

  Shaking off the afflicting thoughts, Addison took the narrow concrete path under the shade trees that blocked the sun. A mist of water sprayed her as a lone bird nestled in the tree soared into the open sky. Wiping the moisture from her arms, she opened the double doors to the three-story education building and stood in the waiting area.

  “Miss Morgan? How’s everything going?”

  “Good.” She followed her professor into his office and took a seat facing his desk. “I’m really enjoying the kindergarten class and working with the children.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. Ms. Stacey has given you nothing but good reviews. Can you give me a few examples of some new things you’ve included in your teaching time?”

  “Yes, sir. I brought a stuffed dog to use as a classroom pet.” Her heart swelled at the memory of their excitement over voting for his name. “I give different students the responsibility of feeding and watering him each day. Then the students rotate taking him home to care for over the weekend.”

  “I like that,” he said, as he jotted a few notes. “And easier and probably safer than a live pet.”

  “Yes, sir. I’m also making anchor charts to use during teaching time. One example is a Good Friends Chart. Because kindergartners are new to the social scene and they all want to make friends, I thought this would be a good way to teach them how to treat others.” Addison pulled the binder from her bag and showed him the miniature version. “I’m reading several stories about friendship. One example is, Be Kind, by Pat Zietlow Miller, and then added a few items to the chart such as: be kind, share, play together, and help each other. I also let them participate by adding their own ideas of how to be a friend.”

  He nodded. “And how do you best deal with their limited attention spans?”

  “Kindergarteners, for the most part, are only sixty months old when they start kindergarten. And keeping that perspective, at least for the first few weeks of school, helps me realize they’re not much more than babies. And this helps me not to expect more than they’re able to give. It’s also important to keep them moving. So, I keep the lessons short, no longer than fifteen minutes at a time, and incorporate some movement in between.”

  “Sixty months old. I’ve never thought about it that way. It’s a great way to look at it,” he said, his attention returning to his notebook. “I’m impressed. For the remaining six weeks, Miss Morgan, I need you to record a series of your lessons and I have a list of things I’d like to see.”

  Within ten minutes, Addison had taken a page full of notes of requirements needed for the videos, intent on each word.

  Suddenly, the room swirled within her vision. She stood quickly, regretting the action instantly, and sat back down. After she glanced at the clock, her gaze slowly came back into focus.

  “Miss Morgan?”

  How long had he been calling her name?

  “Are you all right?”

  Her gaze shifted to him, at the look of concern etched on his face. “Yes, I’m fine.” She latched onto the seat, willing the dizziness into submission. “Sorry, Professor Adams.”

  “I think that’s enough for today.” The pity in his eyes welled even deeper. “Bring your video recordings to our next meeting. Let’s schedule it for next month, same day and time.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you.”

  Not waiting for a response, Addison stood carefully after finding her bearings and hurried across campus. Anxious to be away from the reminders churning through her head and the dizziness on the verge of recurring, she stopped by the library for a resource book her professor recommended.

  The hallway led into a different wing, and she took one of the aisles blindly and paused mid-step to steady herself. She rested a hand against the bookshelf and closed her eyes.

  “Whoa, there.” A deep voice grunted above her as she stumbled backward knocking a few books to the floor. He caught her by the arm and somehow managed to steady her without dropping his own books.

  Eyes dark as chocolate poured over her. His gaze smoldered while she absorbed every inch of his face. Something triggered within her—a full-winged flutter.

  “Are you ... all right?”

  An apology was on the tip of her tongue, but her throat tightened as any number of sensible words she could’ve whispered escaped. “Yes,” slipped from her lips, the sound cold and dense.

  “It looked like you were about to fall.”

  “I’m fine, really. I’m so sorry.”

  “Is there someone I can call, do you need—”

  “No! No, thank you. I’m much better now. I’m really sorry. Thank you.”

  Addison raced through the computer lab and didn’t stop until she reached the elementary school next door.

  Who was that?

  With her head still whirling and her chest pounding, the dam building inside her burst and tears streamed from her eyes. Because on a day she needed it most, a total stranger had looked at her in a way she would never forget.

  Logan Tant stared after the girl. She took off before he had a chance to get her name. Soft blond curls cascaded down her back in waves as she disappeared through the library doors.

  Standing in a corner, his eyes flitting to the back entrance of the library, he waited for the precise moment she would walk by. He flexed his fingers, the soft material of her sweater still lingering on his fingertips.

  “There you are.” His coworker and best friend Matt pressed both hands on his books, startling him from his thoughts. “We’re going to be late if you don’t come on.”

  Logan glanced at his watch. He’d been standing there for more than a few minutes.

  “What’re you doing? Studying the library hall? I thought you were returning those.” Matt laughed as he moved toward the front entrance.

  An obvious thought occurred. Since she left through the back door, he may catch a glimpse of her outside. “Le
t’s go this way.”

  Matt stopped. “That’s the opposite direction of the parking lot.”

  Logan moved through the back section of the library. When he opened the door, the cool air blasted against his face, bringing him to his senses. He scanned the area anyway and then like so many times before remembered the pain that ridiculous notions like this could bring. He had wasted his time and now would be late for work.

  “You all right?”

  “I was looking for something.” Sensing Matt wouldn’t be content until he gave a better answer, Logan added, “Someone.”

  Matt’s gaze whipped around before settling again on him in a state of full assessment. “Who?”

  While walking to the parking lot, he once again envisioned those unforgettable deep blue eyes with a purple tint staring up at him with adorable hesitation.

  “Just ... someone.” With that, Logan jumped into his truck and drove off toward the police station. Way ahead of Matt, Logan hurried to change into his uniform.

  Before Logan could get to his patrol car, Matt climbed into the passenger seat. As soon as Logan started the engine, Matt’s chatter was like a cackling hen in his ear. “Who were you looking for?”

  “You are worse than any woman I’ve ever met.”