"Thank you, Jake."
"Anytime, sweet K.K. Thanks for the ride."
Chapter 9
Jake
Two-and-a-half-weeks later.
Jake had plans to go fishing with his uncle Bill. It was something they did regularly—usually every week, but no less than twice a month.
They both enjoyed fishing and each other's company, so it was a tradition that had been easy to maintain over the years. Usually, they'd go out early enough to catch the sunrise, but today, Jake was running late on account of having to meet with his business partner that morning.
It was 10am by the time he got to their house. He could see his aunt through the kitchen window as he approached. She smiled at him, and he just walked right in.
"Did he already go out?" Jake asked.
He was referring to the fact that his uncle's boat was not parked at the dock across the street.
Jana knew exactly what he was asking. "Yeah, baby, but he didn't go far. He said for you to just call when you got here, and he'd come back to pick you up."
Jake nodded.
"How'd it go this morning?" Jana asked. "Bill said you guys had some big meeting."
"We just had to sit down and go over pricing for our add-on services. The app is kind of taking off faster than we thought it would, so we're having to struggle to keep up… keep improving."
"That sounds like a good problem to have," Jana replied.
"It is," Jake agreed. "I'm just tired. I'm pouring a lot into it right now. We talked this morning about hiring another tech guy to help us out."
Jana patted her nephew's hand. "It's hard work, but it's worth it. I'm proud of you."
"And I've still got most of my Saturday off."
"Exactly," she said.
Jake stood at the kitchen island as he dialed his uncle's number. He put the phone to his ear and listened as it rang three or four times.
"Hey, you ready?" was how Bill answered the phone.
"Yep. I just got to your house. I hope you're not too close because I was gonna raid your fridge before we took off."
Bill laughed. "It'll take me ten minutes or so to get back."
"You catching anything?" Jake asked.
"It's a pretty slow morning. I'll probably only stay out for another hour or so once I pick you up. Unless we start catching."
"You sure you don't mind coming to pick me up?" Jake asked.
"No, I want to. I was waiting on you to call. I'll be there in ten."
"All right. See you in a few."
Jake and his uncle hung up the phone, and Jake placed his on the island before turning to face his aunt.
"You want me to fix you something?" she asked, having heard his comment about raiding the fridge.
"No ma'am, I'll just grab some cereal if that's all right."
"Anything you want," she said. "You know where everything is."
Jake had the pantry door open, looking at his cereal options, when Jana remembered what they had for dinner the night before.
"There's pizza in the fridge from last night," she said.
"Where from?" Jake asked, glancing at her with newfound interest.
"Mancuso's."
Jake nodded. "I'll take some of that, if y'all have enough."
"Plenty, sweetheart. Help yourself. It's in the fridge."
Jake pulled the box out of the refrigerator, and put two slices of pizza onto the plate his aunt slid on the counter in front of him. She had pictures all over the front of her fridge, and one of them caught his eye as he was closing the door.
It was K.K.
"Is she still seeing that guy?" Jake asked.
He moved the magnet and plucked the photo from its place on the fridge, holding it in one hand as he took a bite of cold pizza with the other. He casually leaned against the kitchen counter.
"Do you not want to heat it up?" Jana asked, referring to the pizza.
Jake shook his head. "No, thanks."
"To answer your question, Kristen is still seeing Preston," Jana said. "I don't know if they're serious, but I did see his car in the driveway last night. I think it's been about a month or so." She sounded impressed, which made Jake wonder if that was a long relationship for her. He tried to remember all the guys she had gone out with in the past. He didn't really like any of them, and he was glad none of them had lasted.
Jake set the photo on the counter right in front of him, still glancing at it as he continued to eat.
"I talked to her the other day, and she didn't mention him," Jake said.
Jana shrugged. "Like I said, I don’t know how serious it is. She stays real busy between work and all the volunteering."
Jake didn't say anything right away. He chewed his food and thought about K.K. volunteering. They had talked about it before, and he knew she went to help clean at a women's shelter. He hadn't asked her much about it, and he absentmindedly considered what "cleaning" meant exactly. He wondered if she just went in and swept floors or if she scrubbed showers or cleaned toilets.
"That girl," Jana said nostalgically.
"What?"
"She's a light in my life, she really is. I don't think she knows how special she is to Bill and me. She thinks we're doing her a favor by letting her rent the guesthouse, but the truth is we'd hate to see her go. It's amazing that someone so young could be such an inspiration."
"What do you mean by that? What'd she do?"
"I just look up to her so much. I feel like she's wise beyond her years."
"Because of cleaning at the shelter?" he asked. "What's she do when she goes there?"
"Just whatever they need done, but it's not that. I mean, it is, but it's more than that. She came over here to eat last night before her friend showed up, and she was telling us about how she had gotten into a conversation with a lady at the shelter yesterday, who ended up getting saved. Can you believe that?"
"K.K. preached to her or something?"
"She didn't preach to her, Jacob. She just shared with her, talked to her, opened up, answered questions. She gets herself in situations like that all the time. She just gets into people's lives and touches them—gets to know their heart and meets them where they are. It's like the fifth or sixth time she's told me something like this happened, and I was just amazed. I asked her how she did it."
"What'd she say?"
Jana didn't answer right away, so Jake glanced at her. He could see that his aunt was struggling to hold back tears. Her eyes were full of them, and she blinked, wearing a serious expression like she was searching for words.
"She told me something so simple and profound. I've been thinking about it all morning."
"What was it?"
Jana shook her head ever so slightly. "She told me that a while back she was having a conversation with someone about slavery and the underground railroad, and she told that person that if she were alive during that time, she would have been one of the people who helped the slaves escape. She would've created a safe-house or whatever. And then, a little while later, she was thinking of some other historical event, and she told herself if she was alive during that time, she would have helped out, made a difference, been an ambassador, been one of the people who stood up for what was right. Anyway, God put something on her heart when she had that thought for the second time. He told her she might not have been born during the Civil War, or the Holocaust, or in Bible times. She might not be able to make a mark on the history that's already been written, but she was alive now, and it was now or never if she wanted to leave a mark on this world. She thought surely, she could make a difference in the place where she was right now. She had two hands, two feet, and a capable mind, and there were things she could do right where she was at that very moment. So, she called the shelter and started going there two days a week. She cleans, and while she's there, she talks to whoever happens to be standing close by. I think the lady who got saved was one of the directors. Kristen said she had talked to her several times before, and once, she had men
tioned her faith. The lady didn't really want to hear about it at the time. Kristen didn’t push the subject or anything—she just kept showing up to clean, kept being sweet to her. Finally, yesterday, I guess something changed in the lady's life because she approached Kristen with questions, and the next thing she knew, they were praying together."
Jana paused and sniffled, shaking her head and wiping a silent tear as it rolled down her cheek.
"I'm sorry. I don't know. It was just neat to see her patience and perseverance—see how it changed someone's life. It's just inspiring, you know. It made me realize she was right—that I was born for a time such as this, and there were things I can do with my life just the way it is."
She paused and took a deep breath, rubbing her nephew's back. "I'm sorry. I'm just so thankful to be surrounded by good people."
Jake stared at the picture on the counter.
His surroundings began to swirl as he regarded the woman in the photograph.
Kristen.
She was staring straight at camera, which made it look like she was staring straight at him. She wore a soft, sweet smile, and Jake felt like she was looking right into his soul. He saw her blue-green eyes for what felt like the first time. They were like jewels, the color of the ocean on a clear day.
"And you're one of them," his aunt said, still rubbing his back.
"Ma'am?"
"I said you're one of the good people I'm thankful to be surrounded by, Jacob. You're another one who inspires me. Uncle Bill says that, too. He feels the same way. We're fortunate to have young people like you and Kristen in our lives."
"Thank you," Jake said, but he felt numb. He felt like his whole would was crashing down around him.
How had he not seen it before? How had he not seen her for what she was? Beautiful, smart, kind, talented, patient. Kristen appreciated the small things in life, and Jake now realized that meant everything.
Why would he waste time with someone who was consumed with herself when he could have a difference-maker, a world-changer? This beautiful woman had been in his own backyard the whole time, and he hadn't seen it. And now, he was too late.
He stared at the photograph feeling like a piano had just been dropped on his head. There she was, an angel of a woman. A real woman—the kind he wanted to marry. And there, in the picture was another man, looking at her, smiling, knowing what a beautiful person she was.
This other man saw it. He appreciated her when Jake didn't. Jake's focus shifted to the man in the picture—the way he stared straight at Kristen with obvious admiration.
It made Jake feel sick.
How had he missed it?
He felt shaken.
He began to tremble, and he set the uneaten pizza onto the plate before taking a deep breath. It took every ounce of his self-restraint to stop himself from ripping that photograph in half. His compulsion to do that very thing was overwhelming. Jake hated that guy for being in the picture—for beating him to the girl—for seeing her value before he did.
"Are you okay, Jake?"
His aunt's voice was laced with concern, and he turned to find that she was staring at him intently.
"Yes ma'am, why?"
He wasn't okay.
He was breathless, rattled, filled with regret. His heart was about to beat out of his chest. He had no idea what was happening within himself, only that it included Kristen. He wanted to run to her—tell her how special she was—tell her how sorry he was that he hadn't seen it sooner.
"Are you okay?" Jana asked again.
"Yes ma'am, why?"
"Bill's down at the dock," she said. "He called and said to send you out. That's the third time I told you."
"Oh, okay," Jake said.
"Are you feeling okay, sweetheart? You look flush. You don't have to go out on the boat if you—"
"No, it's fine. I'm good. I'm fine. I, uh, we're, uh… Uncle Bill said we're only gonna be out there for an hour or… hey, did, uh K.K., did Kristen say if she was… is she here? Is she home? Is she working today, or is she here? Do you know?"
Jana glanced out the window as if looking for Kristen's car. "I'm actually not sure," she said. "I didn't see her pull out, but I don't always notice. Why? Did you want to talk to her about volunteering? That story inspired me too. Born for a time such as this. I've been thinking about it all morning. I was thinking about asking her about volunteering myself."
"I'm not trying to volunteer," Jake said. "I think it's great and everything, and you should definitely do it, but that's not why I wanted to talk to her."
"Oh," she said. "Why'd you want to talk to her?"
"Uh, picture stuff."
It was a lie—a straight-up lie. But Jake told it with no ill intention. The only reason it came out of his mouth was that he didn't know why he needed to talk to her—didn't know what he would say. He didn't even understand it himself.
"Bill's down at the dock," she said. "Are you sure you're okay to get on the boat? You feeling okay?"
"I'm fine," Jake said. He offered his aunt a smile as he leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek. "Thanks for the pizza," he added.
Jake took one last look at that photograph before he walked away. There was nothing he could do to stop himself. The urge to remove the other man from the photograph was simply too great for Jake to overcome. Jake could not look at that picture of them together. It just wasn't right. He certainly couldn't let it go back on his aunt and uncle's fridge. What were they doing with a picture of that guy on their fridge, anyway? He didn't belong there. They didn’t even know that guy.
Without explanation or apology, Jake picked up the picture and walked to the trashcan. He stepped on the foot pedal, causing the lid to pop open. Jana watched as her nephew unapologetically ripped the photograph from top to bottom. He was careful and methodical about it, but the movement was slick and swift. Jana gasped and watched as Jake tossed half of the picture into the trash before putting the other half in his back pocket.
"Jacob, what in the world did you just—"
She was cut off by Jake coming up to her with a smile and a hug, telling her goodbye as if nothing had happened.
"Sorry to do that to your picture, Aunt Jana. I took some pictures of K.K. at the wedding that would look fine up here. I'm sure some of those came out. They're on her camera. I'll have to get her to give you one of those. I love you. Thanks again for breakfast."
"You're welcome?" she said, still a bit confused. "I love you, too, sweetheart."
Jana watched as Jake jogged to the door.
It was only after he left that Jana opened the lid of the trashcan and peered inside. The ripped picture was sitting on top of the pile of trash, and Jana carefully reached in to grab it, turning it over as she brought it out.
It was Preston.
There was no Kristen in the picture—just a ripped-edged picture of Preston, gazing at someone who was no longer there.
Chapter 10
Kristen
It was 3pm on Saturday when I finished working and set out for home. I had a photo shoot early that morning, but I had been doing dirty work since it ended. I rented some studio space downtown, and we had spent the last five hours cleaning and painting.
Abigail and my sister had been helping me, but Kayla had my little nephew with her, so she mostly just watched him and made sure he didn't get into our cleaning supplies. I wasn't stressed about it. I wasn't in a huge hurry to clean, and it was nice having them there.
It was a big job, but it would be worth it. The room was in pretty rough shape, but I knew a few other artists who rented rooms in the building, so I knew it had potential.
Technically, it was a studio apartment, but I wasn't planning on living there. The tiny, almost non-existent kitchen and bathroom meant it was better suited for a studio than an apartment. It was one big room in an old building that suited my photography business perfectly. It had a lot of natural light and a wall with old, exposed brick. It had natural, rustic photo options already, and w
ith a little bit of elbow grease, it could really be great.
Best of all, the rent was cheap.
I had found it through a friend and had gotten a good deal on it 'as is'. (As we all know, if it has to be specified that something is sold or rented as is, that means there's something wrong with it.)
It had not been left in the cleanest condition by the previous tenant, and the paint on the walls and the trim was peeling and chipped. The real wood floors had been nice at one time, but they, too could use work.
I could see past all that, though, and I knew it would be perfect for my photography business eventually. I'd have to chip away at it, one step at a time. I had just gotten the keys to it that morning, and I would have stayed and worked even longer, but I had to stop so that I could go home and get cleaned-up and dressed.
Preston was taking me to a Marlins game.
It started at five, and he was picking me up at four, which meant I was totally pushing it with having enough time to get ready. It was three-thirty when I made it home, and I basically flung open my front door and ran to the shower.
I noticed Jake's truck was parked in the driveway, but he wasn't outside by the pool, so I assumed he was fishing with Bill.
I didn't have time to think about it.
I obviously would have liked him to be out by the pool so I could see him and say hello, but he wasn't, so I tried not to give it a second thought.
I had to wash my hair and attempt to pick the specks of paint off of my face and arms while I was in the shower, so I scrambled and moved as quickly as I could, scrubbing, brushing, sudsing, and rinsing, all in quick succession.
I wrapped a towel around my head while I got dressed. I figured I could go to the ballpark with my hair still slightly damp if I needed to. I was just finishing putting a tiny bit of makeup on my face when I heard a knock on my door.
I let out a sigh as I checked my phone to see what time it was.
Preston was fifteen minutes early.
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