Diamond Lake Series: Complete Series (Bks 1-7) Boxset

by T. K. Chapin

  Upon entering, I saw my father sitting at a table with Dave Kennedy across the coffee shop. Seeing Dave brought back a well of memories. Walking that direction with a smile, I had to go around a table to get to them. When they came into view, I noticed another person with them—Joe. My heart jumped into my throat and I wanted to leave, but it was too late. Dave had already laid eyes on me and was full-on waving my way. As my heart raced with fear of speaking to Joe, I reluctantly went over to the table. Just ignore him and if he talks, keep it brief, I told myself, hoping secretly he’d just keep his dumb mouth shut.

  “About the other day,” Joe said immediately as I came to the table. Really? Ugh. Shut up! I thought to myself.

  Ignoring him, I reached across the table and shook Dave’s hand. “It’s been so long, Dave!”

  “I can’t believe you’ve grown up so much!” he replied. “Turning into quite the young lady.”

  “I’m hardly young anymore,” I replied with a blush as I reached down and hugged my dad. A barista came over and took my coffee order. Knowing Joe was watching, I made sure to flirt with the coffee drink taker. Touching his arm as I laughed at the poorly worded joke, I glanced over to make sure Joe was uncomfortable. It was only fair to make Joe as uncomfortable as I was in the situation at hand. Why would he still try to do business with my father? Doesn’t he know I’m going to tell him about the second heartbreak?

  Sitting down at the table, I smiled at Dave. He slapped the table. “Wow. You really have grown up. You know, your father has told me a lot about your photography. It’s awesome you and Connor have both turned out so well.”

  “I don’t know how we got so lucky with these two kids,” my dad said, shaking his head. “Too bad Anna didn’t have any of the work ethic these two ended up with.”

  Joe put the brakes on the conversation and directly spoke to me. “Can we talk for a minute, Katie? Please?”

  “No. Can’t you see I’m trying to visit with my father and Dave?” I replied, trying not to sound too annoyed.

  My dad leaned over into my ear. “Don’t be rude, Kate. Just talk to the boy. We’ll still be here.”

  “I want to clear everything up with you. It would be ridiculous if all we had to do was have a conversation and you refused to have it.” Peering over at Joe, our eyes met and I felt a pull to him just like every other time. That irresistible and now annoying pull. It almost made me cry. How could I hate someone so much but still feel something for him?

  “Fine.” Standing up, we both went over into the hallway around a corner. Letting out a sigh, I leaned against the wall and crossed my arms. “Tell me your excuses.”

  Shaking his head, he crossed his arms. “What did you think you stumbled upon?”

  “Um . . . why don’t you just explain what actually happened? And hurry. I want to visit with my dad.”

  “You think you know everything.” He laughed, touching his forehead. “This is so high school. Whatever. That woman was staying on my boat for a week as a test-run before buying. I decided to not sell. I was helping her find her clothes so she could get off my boat and go home.”

  “Why no shirt? Because you were just helping her?” I shook my head. “You always had a way with the ladies, didn’t you, Joe?”

  Joe laughed and stepped closer to me. Pulling me further into the hallway away from prying eyes, we stopped inches from one another. He put a hand up against the wall beside my head, and I felt my insides tremble. His scent wrapped around me, and the dim lighting in the hallway pushed away the anger for a moment. He came even closer. “My shirt was off because my cabin’s air conditioning sucks. Don’t play these games with me, Katie. This isn’t high school, and I am far too busy to coddle your insecurities from the past. If you want to try this out, let’s try it. If not, let’s move on.”

  Warmth rushed over me as he was more direct and personal in that moment than he had been. For a moment, I even forgot I was in a coffee shop in downtown Spokane and my father was twenty feet around a corner. Stumbling over my words, I said, “I . . . Uh . . .”

  “Tell you what,” he said, stepping back. “I’m going out on my boat tonight for a late night swim. I’ll be pushing off the dock at seven. Be there if you are interested in seeing what this is.” Backing further away from me, he left down the hallway and around the corner.

  Taking a deep breath, I composed myself. Is he telling the truth? Or just playing me like he did in high school? Coming back over to the table, I saw Joe shaking hands with them and saying goodbye. I took my seat as Joe left.

  “You and Joe getting back together?” My dad’s eyebrows were raised and I could tell he was hopeful.

  Shrugging, I said, “I don’t know, Dad.”

  I listened to my father as I watched Joe leave the coffee shop and head down the sidewalk. “He’s the best quote we’ve had. Thought it might have something to do with you two getting close again.”

  “I don’t really know.” Turning back to my father, I continued, “How do you know who is right for you? Like how did you know with Mom?”

  Dave laughed while my father smiled. “You know, Katie. You don’t really know. You just find someone you love and can trust and make it work. It’s hard work to have a good relationship and eventually marriage.”

  Staying at the coffee shop, I visited with Dave and my father for another hour until I received an email on my phone. It was the labs letting me know the photos for Serenah’s wedding were done and ready for pick up. Serenah had been asking for status updates the last few days, so when I saw the email come through, I made a point to excuse myself and go right away to pick them up and head out to the inn.

  Arriving at the inn, I gave the door a few knocks. To my surprise, Charlie answered. He was in a pair of jeans and a black polo shirt. Holding his arm against his forehead to block the sunlight, he greeted me.

  “Is Serenah home? I have the prints.”

  Stepping back into the foyer, he let the door open wide. Walking in, he said, “She’s out on the back balcony with Emma.”

  Flashing him a smile and a nod, I continued in through the foyer and into the living room. Crossing through the living room, I walked out onto the balcony. Serenah turned and looked over her shoulder at me. Her eyes were red, and it was obvious she had been crying for quite some time. Peering over at Emma, I saw her eyes were red too.

  “I didn’t mean to intrude.” Turning myself around, I was going to leave, but Serenah stopped me.

  “No.” Serenah stood up and came over to me, wrapping her arms around me tightly in an awkward but warm embrace. Confused and a little worried, I could feel my heart begin to race inside my chest. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” Serenah released from our hug as she continued, wiping her eyes. “Nothing at all.”

  Charlie stepped out onto the balcony behind me. “Emma’s giving us the inn. It’s ours now.”

  “Congratulations!” Beaming with a smile, I continued, “Why the somber faces though? Seems like that would be a good thing.”

  Emma stood up and walked over. Grabbing my hand, she clasped both of hers over mine. “I’m relocating soon.”

  “Oh?” My eyebrows were up as my curiosity grew. “Moving isn’t that big of a deal.”

  Spotting a book beside Serenah’s chair on the table, I saw it and the dots began to connect. The title of the book was A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows through Loss by Jerry Sittser. My heart immediately began to break apart and crumble. She’s dying, I thought to myself. I didn’t know much of Emma, but she had a way of creeping into your heart with her sweet spirit.

  Serenah put her arm around Emma. “Emma’s going to Heaven soon. She’s giving us the inn, and her daughter, Jody, is very upset right now about that decision. She’s threatening to not come see her before she goes and promises she won’t attend the funeral.”

  Instantly, the words Emma had spoken to me down at the dock the night before the wedding rang through my mind. The right thing to do and the difficult
thing to do are usually the same. My eyes widened as I looked over at Emma. She flashed a smile as if she knew what I was thinking right in the moment. My eyes watered.

  “I’ll be praying for you all.” I handed over the large collection of photos that I had under my arm in an envelope, and Serenah smiled. It was as if the sight of them took her mind off the pain, even if just for a moment.

  “They came,” Serenah said gently as she gave it a quick hug before slipping a finger into the flap and opening it. Pulling one of the photos out, she leaned her head against Charlie’s shoulder. “Perfect.”

  He rubbed her shoulder and nodded. Charlie’s eyes connected with mine. “You did great. Thank you again for everything, Katie.”

  “You can look them over and let me know if you have any issues. I ordered some frames for you too. They should be arriving here shortly if you didn’t already get them.”

  “We already got them,” Serenah replied. Closing the package with the photos, she set them down on the table by her chair. “I’ll let my accountant know and your final check will be in the mail.”

  “Thanks.” It was my time to leave, but part of me wanted to stay. The inn, along with Serenah, Emma, and Charlie were more like friends than just clients and a wedding locale. I heard my reminder to meet Joe down at the docks buzz. I knew it was fifteen minutes to seven now. “I’d better get going.”

  Serenah and Emma walked me to the front door. As I opened the door, she said, “Don’t be a stranger.”

  “I promise I won’t be.” Smiling, I walked out to my car.

  Turning around as I got to my driver side door, I waved to the both of them as Charlie walked up behind them. They were good people, and I knew I’d see them again.

  Chapter 13

  By the time I made it to the docks, my heart was in overdrive. This was really going to happen. I wasn’t sure if I was ready, but I knew I had to give it a shot. Joe was the first guy I ever fell in love with. He might have been the only.

  Walking down the dock toward Joe’s boat, I felt my pulse soar into the clouds that hung over the lake that evening. He might have done me wrong in the past, but that was a long time ago. My dad was right. Everyone deserved a second chance, and even though I was a little unsure, I desperately wanted to give that to Joe.

  Coming to the edge of the boat, I paused and listened—just in case. It was stupid, but I was incredulous to the fact this was really happening. I felt as if at any moment, I’d wake up and be back in my bed in Spokane. Joe suddenly opened the cabin door and looked at me, his eyes reflecting the glow of the moon and a genuine smile on his face. “I’m glad you made it.”

  I smiled back. “Me too.” Stepping up and onto the boat, he came over and grabbed my hand, helping me down. “Sure your little friend isn’t here?” I asked jokingly.

  He laughed. “Nope. Just me.”

  Surveying the boat, I spotted a memory near the steering wheel of the boat. It was a glass bottle with a little ship in it I had bought for his birthday when we were younger. He had kept it all this time. The thought warmed my heart. “Did you give my dad a discount because of me?” I asked, trying to avoid getting into any heavy conversation right away.

  He shrugged. “Maybe a little. For the most part, I didn’t. I’m not greedy and I don’t overcharge like most do. That’s probably why business is booming.” Going over to the steering wheel, he sat down and fired up the engine. Finding a seat next to him, I looked out the side of the boat as we pushed off.

  Arriving out to a spot in the far south end of the lake, Joe killed the engine and tossed an anchor down.

  “I’m going to take a dive. Want to go?” he asked as he began strapping on an air tank to his back.

  Shaking my head as I watched him put his scuba mask on, I said, “I didn’t bring my suit. I’ll pass.”

  “Okay. I’ll be back in about twenty minutes,” he said as he grabbed a flashlight from a compartment on the side of the boat toward the back. Getting on the very back of the boat, he flipped on the flashlight and dropped in. The boat rocked a little as he launched off and vanished under the surface.

  I was glad he decided to dive. I needed a moment to clear my head. Coming here with him was a first step, a huge step, but what do we do from here? Start all over again? Pick up where we left off a decade ago? I was becoming nervous.

  Being a little snoopy and slightly bored after ten minutes of sitting there, I couldn’t help but want to explore the cabin of the boat. Going inside, I saw his bed. Surveying the room, I saw a closet on the far side. Climbing over the bed, I arrived at his closet and opened it. Thumbing shirts, pants and a jacket, I was about to shut it when out of the corner of my eye, I saw an old shoe box on the shelf above. Pulling it down, I tossed it onto the bed. Finally, something interesting. Opening it up, I found a bunch of different things. Pictures, little oddities, and a few letters. Seeing pictures of myself, I smiled. Then there were photos of a few other women I didn’t recognize. Thumbing the letters, I opened them up. As I began to read, I realized they were addressed to me. Why didn’t I get these? I pondered as I pored over the contents.

  Dearest Katie,

  I haven’t heard from you since before graduation and I wanted to apologize for how everything went down. What I did wasn’t right and I’m sorry. Sorry just doesn’t seem like enough to make it up to you. I’m trying hard to think of a way to say this, but there’s no other way. I love you.

  Sincerely,

  Joe

  Disgust came over me as I saw the date in the corner was only a week after I heard about him and that floosy he had been with. We were saving ourselves for marriage and he destroyed it. It was the worst. Old feelings of hatred began to stir within me, and if I could have gone and jumped off the boat and swum back with ease at that moment, I would have. But the boat was too far out in the lake for me to start swimming. Folding the letter up, I put it back. Then I saw another letter. Might as well go swimming since we’re wet, I thought to myself as I grabbed it and opened it.

  Katie,

  I bought the boat today. It’s been five years and I still can’t get over you, get over us. I tried to date someone a few months ago and it just felt wrong. I miss you. Think we could try to make it work? I’ll probably never send this letter, but if I do, I want you to know, I still love you.

  Joe

  Folding the letter back the way I found it, I set it back into the box. Little strange, I thought to myself as my eyes fell on an old picture of us in the box. Suddenly, I heard him surface outside and water gush onto the back of the boat. Eek! Hurrying, I closed the box and shoved it back into the closet. As I shut the closet door, Joe came in.

  “What are you doing in here?” he asked, his eyes falling on the closet doors behind me.

  “Exploring.”

  He laughed. “You found the box.” Turning, he went back out to the deck of the boat.

  Jumping off the bed, I hurried after him. “I’m sorry.”

  He raised a hand and shook his head, laughing. “It’s fine. I’m just grabbing a towel. You’ve always been the curious type. I would have hid it if I was worried about it.” Walking over to the driver seat of the boat, he pulled a lever and made the seat lie down flat. Putting his towel over it, he lay down.

  Seeing the same lever on the seat near his, I went and adjusted it so I could lie beside him. Silence took over for a few minutes as our sights fixated on the twinkling stars above. Breaking the silence, I looked over at him. “Joe?”

  “Yeah?” he replied, peering over at me.

  “Why didn’t you send those letters?”

  He shrugged and glanced back at the stars. “I don’t know, Katie. There were more of them too. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I figured if you were interested, you would have come back.” He raised a hand up and laughed. “And I know you didn’t come back just to see me. It was for the wedding. You really seem like you’re doing well.”

  My eyes on the stars above, I nodded. “I have been
doing well, but then I came back to Newport and . . .”

  “And what?”

  We looked at each other as I spoke. “Saw you. I thought we were done, but I don’t know that anymore. That kiss the other night at my condo . . . it was magical. Every time I look at you, it’s like all those old feelings come rushing back. You know, the good ones.”

  He sat up and came over to me as I stayed on my back. He came closer to my face and pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. Looking deeply into my eyes, he leaned in and our lips found each other. I melted into him, my hands moving over his chest and arms. As we kissed, I felt like I was finally where I belonged. Suddenly, he took over the kiss and a tremor went through me. I sank into him as he pulled me tightly against his torso. We continued to kiss as I sat up. He held my face, right near my ears just like he used to. My eyes closed as I tilted my head up and his kisses soon left my lips and began traveling. They trailed down my neck, each kiss more intoxicating than the one before. Soon, his lips found my shoulder. I gasped, wrapping my arms around him. Then, before I knew what was happening, he stopped.

  He pulled back and maneuvered over to his own seat and lay down as we both stared at each other, breathing heavily. Letting a heavy sigh escape his lips, he smiled. “Dinner. Tomorrow night?”

  “Absolutely,” I replied, not able to stop myself from smiling.

  Chapter 14

  One Week Later . . .

  Daydreaming of Joe the day my photography website crashed, I was nothing but smiles. Though I had major problems getting on after a recent update on the site, I couldn’t help but keep an upbeat attitude through it all. Life was good. I was back with my sweetheart and I had no complaints. After spending the first half of my day fixing the website, I decided to take a lunch break.