Captured Heart (A Garrett's Point Novel)

by Savanna Grey

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Captured Heart

  By Savanna Grey

  Copyright © 2014 Savanna Grey

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  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 any information storage and retrieval system – except in the case of brief quotations embodied in the critical articles or reviews – without the written permission of publisher or author, except where permitted by law.

  Published by Create Space Publishing

  Cover art by Book Designs by Dee

  Photos used to design cover were legally obtained from Colourbox.com and Book Designs By Dee.

  Dedication

  Grief knits two hearts in closer bonds than happiness ever can; And common sufferings are far stronger links than common joys.

  - Alphonse de Lamartine

  Note from the author:

  I look forward to sharing the citizens of Garrett’s Point with you. As the town and the stories blended, I grew to love each and every one of them for different reasons. Small town communities hold a special place in my heart. The sense of community and support still thrives there and is not lost in a world that is so very fast-paced.

  The week I was completing edits for Captured Heart, I received a phone call informing me my 27-year-old sister had been killed by a drunk driver in an automobile accident, leaving behind three small children. This news turned me upside down for days inside and not for reasons you would imagine.

  We were not close, you see, and now never would be. This brought me sadness for the person I would never really get to know, but the stranger thing was that this story could have been hers. When you read it, you will see what I mean. It took on a different meaning than just sharing Garrett’s Point with you.

  So, I dedicate this story to my sister, Tessa Butler – a wife, a mother, a sister, and a daughter whom will be missed.

  Much love to my readers and bloggers and special thanks to Chrissy Fletcher of Reading Past My Bedtime Book Blog for her always present assistance and support.

  Savanna

  Chapter One

  Dusk was just sliding in over Main Street in Garrett’s Point, Virginia as Emma Heart zipped her silver Honda Civic into a parking space in front of Mel’s. Most of the business establishments had already closed shop for the day with the exception of Harper’s Hardware directly across the street.

  Spring had arrived. The gentle breeze blowing off the Chesapeake Bay coming across the Point lifted Emma’s shoulder-length brownish-blonde hair and swirled her flowered print skirt around her legs. She grabbed her handbag -which all of her friends teased her contained everything including the kitchen sink- and headed inside the diner.

  Swinging the metal-framed glass door open, the bell overhead jingled, signaling her arrival. All heads turned naturally at the cue to see who had come in. Of course in Garrett’s Point, Mel’s was THE place to eat. The locals frequented the diner as their kitchen away from home and saw it as the place to catch up on all the news in town. As far as they were concerned, if you didn’t hear it at Mel’s it probably wasn’t true.

  Emma scanned the restaurant, her eyes landing on the regular booth she and her friends -Sydney, Kathryn or Kat as she preferred to be called and Melanie - frequented every Thursday night for dinner. She was a few minutes early. No surprise there. She normally was. She hated to be late for anything. Okay. Maybe she was actually a little OCD about being on time, but there were worse things to have a pet peeve about.

  She was surprised to find Kat already present. Scanning the diner she waved to Melanie serving customer’s plates of food at the counter. Mel smiled back in return and held up her index finger indicating she would be just a minute.

  Taking off her light jacket and hanging it on a hook attached to the side of the booth, she slid into the seat across from Kat. “Hi Kat. You’re early.”

  “What? Like I’m never early?” Kathryn grins, flipping her shoulder-length chestnut hair behind her ear, drawing one lanky leg underneath her, hazel eyes sparkling, she chuckles. They both know she never is. “Okay, so things were really slow at the paper today. Nothing but babies, weddings and funerals to write about.” grimacing as she makes her statement.

  Emma’s raised eyebrows questions her friend. “How can you not find those things interesting? It’s what makes the world go ‘round. It’s falling in love, new beginning and the end to someone’s life story.”

  Shaking her head, Kat smirks. “Maybe you should write for the paper. All of those things are important to the person experiencing them, but they are no more than a blurb in time for the observer.” Tilting her head, she stares at Emma. “Although I guess to someone like you, they mean more than that.”

  “Someone like me?” Emma’s eyebrows arched once again.

  “Oh, don’t give me that threatening kindergarten teacher look. You can’t put me in time-out like one of your students, although I know most of the time that’s where I belong.” Emma’s laughter erupted while Kat’s face lit up with a smile.

  “You aren’t supposed to start the fun until all of us are present.” A beautiful blonde wearing a stylish navy suit and pencil skirt that was as polished as the woman herself stood beside the booth, her hand on her hip.

  Emma responded first, jumping up from the booth to hug her. “Sydney!” Hugging her, Emma glanced up at the clock hanging on the wall in front of the counter.

  “Tell me you did not just look at the clock.” Sydney asked as she releases Emma, traces of sarcasm in her question.

  “Well, you are late, and you aren’t going to make this about me and my being on time. Even Kat beat us here.” Emma puffed as she scooted back across the booth, folding her arms and biting down on her lower lip. “Is it a full moon tonight? Kat’s early. You’re late. That never happens.”

  Sliding in next to Kat, Sydney expels a deep breath. “Long day. Too many issues. Not enough hours.”

  Kat and Emma exchanged concerned glances. Sydney Garrett did not get overwhelmed by anything. She was the executioner of the group – in a good way. She hadn’t become the youngest city council woman in Garrett’s Point on name alone. She was a take-charge and gets things done kind-of-woman.

  Emma was the hopeful, patient one of the group. She looked for the good in every situation. That’s why she chose teaching. To her the children were the hope of the future. She felt vested in that by being a part of their education and growth.

  Kathryn Gilbert, on the other hand, was the leap now, think about the consequences later member of the group. Being a newspaper reporter gave her the outlet to explore, even though she became restless at times in a small town.

  “Anything you want to talk about, Syd?” Emma asked as Melanie approached the table with a tray full of drinks.

  “Hi, Ladies. How are we this evening?” She handed each of them their regulars - a root beer
for Kat, a sweet tea for Syd and cherry coke for Emma. Mel always drank coffee.

  Melanie Davis was the peacekeeper of the group. She listened better than any of them and always provided a third party voice of reason. That was part of her charm not to mention her killer kitchen skills. The woman could cook the pants off any man, although that was not her practice. Many men of Garrett’s Point had tried. Melanie was oblivious to the fact that men were drawn to her long coal black hair and sultry blue eyes.

  “Kat was just about to explain what the comment “someone like you” means, and Sydney has had a rough day.” Emma started as she leaned forward, elbows on table and rested her chin in her hands, looking to Kat and waiting.

  “Well, can’t wait to hear this one.” Melanie chimed in. “What have you talked yourself into this time, Kat?”

  The four of them couldn’t be more different, but somehow their differences are what drew them together and what had made them stronger. They had all grown up here together. Left and went to college and came back home. There was no other place they wanted to be. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants had nothing on their friendship, and they didn’t need to mail a pair of jeans all over the world to prove it.

  Raising her hands in front of her, Kat defended, “All I said was she was the type of person to find weddings, babies and funerals interesting. She finds everything interesting. I didn’t mean it in a bad way.”

  Emma grinned letting Kat off the hook. “I know what you meant. You just make it sound like it’s a virus you don’t want to catch.”

  Rolling her eyes, Kat took a big sip of her root beer. “Moving on…”

  “Ed is fixing up our usual. No one called and said anything different.” Melanie informed them.

  Their usual on Thursday night for the past four years was breakfast for dinner. Eggs, bacon, hash browns, biscuits and gravy and grits. It didn’t get much better than that.

  Emma listened to Kat telling them about the upcoming Spring Festival and Parade. She loved this time of year. Looking around the diner, Emma smiled to herself. Several people she recognized were enjoying dinner. Pam Wilcox, owner of the Good Look salon sat with her husband Ben while Jen Baker from Casual Frills clothing store on Main St. looked at a menu with Phillip Taylor. Huh, Emma wondered if they had started dating. Mr. Dopkin’s, the local grocery store owner, sat at the counter eating dinner as well.

  “Earth to Emma. Did you hear what I said?” Kat broke into the thoughts running through Emma’s head.

  “No, sorry. Guess I was thinking. What did you ask me?” Emma pushed her nostalgia away for the time-being.

  “Do we want to talk about the Birthday Bash tonight?” Oh boy. Emma didn’t know if that was such a good idea. Every time they broached this subject, it ended badly. They were all turning 30 this year, so they had the grand idea to throw one gigantic unforgettable birthday bash together. The more they talked about it, the crazier it got. Especially since all four of them still remained single for various reason, it was becoming more of an independent woman statement than anything.

  “Maybe we could table that discussion until after Spring Break. I don’t feel like listening to you and Syd argue tonight.” She teased. “What is everyone doing for Spring Break week?” Typically they all left town to avoid the crazy spring break groups that flocked in over the next couple of weeks.

  “The mountains are calling my name. Can’t you hear them? Remember the cabin we rented several years ago up near Charlottesville? Kevin and I are going to spend an extended weekend up there. I can’t wait.” Kat rubbed her hands together excitedly.

  “You and Kevin, huh? Are things getting a little more serious?” Sydney asked Kat?

  “Not really. He’s just a lot of fun to hang with, so I asked him to go. No strings. Just good company.”

  “What about you, Ems? You headed up North with your parents?” All eyes turned to Emma as Sydney questioned her.

  “Actually, I am not.” A goofy grin crossed her face. “I get to spend the week with Olivia while Dana and Jeff go skiing at White Mountain.” Olivia was her seven-year-old godchild. Dana Stanton and she had become the best of friends, both teaching at the local elementary school.

  “I know how much you love Olivia, but how is that a break for you, taking care of a child. You do that every day at work with 20 kindergarteners.” Kat’s forehead wrinkled with frown lines.

  “I don’t consider this work. Livie and I will have a blast, and Jeff and Dana need some alone-time.” Emma was almost giddy. “I’m staying at their place on the water. That’s a bonus. Their view of the river leading into the bay is unbelievable. I can sit out on the deck with my coffee and daydream all I want to.”

  “Your head would get lost in the clouds if it wasn’t attached to your shoulders.” Kat teased. Emma wrinkled her nose and stuck her tongue out at Kat.

  “Oh, it’s so good to see that you are learning new habits from your students as well as them learning from you.” Kat countered.

  “That sounds like a lot of fun for both you and the Stanton’s, Em. Maybe we can do dinner one night. You and Livie can come in to the diner.” Melanie invited. “I’m not going anywhere. We will be way too busy for me to get away with all the spring break traffic.”

  “Great idea, Melanie. Livie loves to eat here. I’ll check with you early in the week to see what your schedule looks like.” Emma turned to Sydney. She had been very quiet.

  The sous chef, Carter, came out from the kitchen with a tray laden with breakfast food. “Order up.” He announced as he came to the table and started serving up plates full of amazingly appetizing food.

  Emma waited until Mike had gone to turn back to Sydney. “Alright, Sydney. What gives?”

  Sydney looked up from her plate of scrambled eggs she had been generously peppering. “What?”

  “Don’t what me. First, you show up late. Second, you haven’t said more than 10 words. Third, you seem extremely preoccupied. Are you alright?” Emma’s genuine concern touched Sydney.

  Melanie and Kathryn were now solely focused on Sydney, awaiting her response.

  “I told you it has been a long day, but nothing I can’t handle. We have some issues with the city budget we are looking into. We just haven’t figured it out yet, but we will. You know how tense the council gets over budgets and expenditures.” Sighing, Sydney grasped Emma’s hand. “Thanks for the concern though. Nice to know you have my back.”

  “Always!” the three friends chimed simultaneously. Smacking her hand on the diner table, Kat added for good measure, “And if I need to kick some council butt, you let me know. My kickboxing classes aren’t just for fun, ya know.”

  Successful in lightening the mood, Melanie asked, “So, are you going to be able to get away for a few days despite the budget challenges?”

  “Yes, thank goodness – unless something drastically changes. I am heading up to Waynesboro to a bed and breakfast a friend of mine from college owns.” The entire table sighed with envy. “She promises a massage and a hot tub are waiting for me with a chilled bottle of wine in the fridge. How could I turn that down? I’ve already packed my Kindle.”

  “You make me consider dumping Kevin and tagging along with you instead.” Kat mumbles.

  “That would be rude, and I am not in the market for any company, even yours dear Kathryn.” Sydney quipped. “All I want to do is have a few days to unplug and recharge.”

  “Now that’s an oxymoron if I ever heard one.” They all laughed and dug into their overflowing plates of food.

  They continued catching up on highlights from their week’s events. Nothing earth-shattering from any accounts, just the normal day-to-day life in a small town. It was an anchor for Emma, this friendship. They’d had their ups and downs, but it always came back to the true give and take of being there for each other.

  Melanie interrupted the quiet clink of forks tapping on plates. “You do realize that we are going to have to talk about this big 3-0 bash if we really want to do it, and th
e fact that none of us are any closer to being married with children than we were last year.”

  “Jeez, Mel, way to be a buzz killer.” Kat complained. “Who says I even want to get married? I think I’m pretty happy with things just the way they are in my life. I don’t need a man to make me happy, just provide an orgasm once in a while.”

  “Kathryn Gilbert, you are in a public place with children present!” Emma gaffed with reprimand.

  “Lighten up, Mary Poppins. It’s just an expression.” Kat snickered.

  “Don’t start, you two.” Melanie interceded. “My only point is that we can’t wait until the last minute. I think the party is a great idea and will be a wonderful way to not only celebrate our thirtieth birthdays but our friendship as well.”

  “She does that so nicely, doesn’t she?” Sydney quipped. “Casts the issue out, bobs it around and reels us back in – hook, line and sinker. You are good. Maybe you should thing about running for town council.”

  Melanie threw her napkin at Sydney, hitting her square in the chest. “Next time it will be a rock.”

  “Alright, Davis, don’t get your panties bunched up.” Most people didn’t get to see this playful side of Councilwoman Garrett. She was all business in public as she had to be. Oh, she was Miss Congeniality with the public. They loved her, but she had laser focus where the town and her responsibilities were concerned. At least on Thursday nights she could relax and just be Syd.

  Dessert came, and they helped Melanie clear the table as they always did. Melanie wouldn’t let them pay for their dinners, so they always did a small part to pay her back and help clean up.

  They took their turns hugging good-bye and wished Syd and Kat safe travels. As Emma pulled up to her little white cottage one street over from Main she felt content. She was happy. Even if in the deepest part of her heart and mind, she longed for someone to share it with, she was still grateful for what she had been blessed with, a career she loved and friends and family that were always there for her. She loved that she could pay that forward for Dana, Jeff and Olivia. This next week was going to be so much fun.