The Unrelenting Tide (Islands of Intrigue: San Juans - Christian Romantic Suspense)

by Bonner, Lynnette

  The pastor’s wife glanced over and smiled. “‘Morning,” she mouthed, before turning her attention to what Pastor Jacobs was saying.

  Only a few minutes later the pastor closed the lesson in prayer. The room filled with rustling as people gathered their Sunday school lessons, Bibles and notebooks. The gentle buzz of conversations floated across the room.

  “Good morning,” Carcen said, his deep voice still a little gravelly, as though it hadn’t seen much use yet. He’d been waiting in his truck when she rushed Marissa out of the house that morning and had followed them to the service.

  She turned to him with a smile, clutching her Bible to her chest. “Good morning. How’s my handsome prince?” She gasped and felt her face heat as soon as the words left her mouth. Where in the world did that come from?

  Carcen chuckled. “Fine, considering I was jilted for an orange creamsicle.”

  “I-, I-, I’m…” Devynne came to a lame halt, not really knowing what she wanted to say. “I’m sorry, I didn’t really mean that.”

  He raised one eyebrow, a grin firmly in place. “I’m crushed. You don’t think I’m handsome?”

  Devynne refused to acknowledge the answer to that question. “I mean, I don’t know where the thought came from. I just…” She waved a hand, licking her lips nervously. “I need to go pick ‘Rissa up from her class.”

  She would have turned and hurried away as quickly as she could except that Carcen’s more-than-adequate frame blocked the way to the aisle.

  Carcen moved down to the aisle, but took her by the elbow as soon as she was free of the pew. “Listen—”

  “Carcen, how are you this morning?” An auburn-haired man with glasses that nicely framed his green eyes, stepped up beside them and reached out a hand to Carcen.

  “Randy.” Carcen seemed surprised and a little less than thrilled to see the man. “I’m fine. You?”

  “I’m good.” The man nodded, but he was no longer looking at Carcen. His twinkling gaze was fixed solely on her.

  Her focus flickered to his left hand. Single. Dread formed a brick in her stomach.

  Carcen chuckled dryly. “Randy I’d like you to meet my friend, Devynne. Devynne this is Randy Wiseman.”

  Devynne tried not to grit her teeth as she smiled and shook the man’s hand. This was why she normally slipped in and out as invisibly as possible. She had no desire to meet any single men, much less one as blatantly open about his interest as this one.

  She looked at her watch. “Oh, you know I should go get Rissa. It was nice to meet you. I’ll be right back.”

  Randy touched her elbow and stepped halfway to block her path. “Carcen won’t mind running down to get her for you, will you Carcen?”

  Carcen looked blank for a moment, but then shrugged. “Uh sure. Room?”

  “104,” she offered lamely.

  Carcen touched her elbow and gave her a reassuring wink before he headed down the aisle.

  Devynne seethed inwardly but tried not to show it. What was she going to talk about with this man? She wasn’t, that’s what. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll just go to the back and wait for Carcen.”

  He stepped out of her way but said, “I’m not very subtle am I?”

  Devynne’s mouth dropped open for a moment before she grinned. “Well, no.”

  “Carcen told me about your husband. I’m very sorry.”

  “Thank you.” Devynne couldn’t help but be touched by his straightforwardness. It wasn’t often that she met someone willing to openly talk about Kent.

  “I lost my wife just two years after we married,” Randy continued. “That was five years ago.”

  “I’m so sorry. How did she die?”

  He blinked green eyes behind his glasses. “She was hit by a drunk driver.”

  Devynne stood silently for a long moment, lost in thoughts of her own.

  “It’s a terrible shock isn’t it?” Randy asked into the silence. He stared at the floor, apparently lost in a distant memory. “One minute they’re there, happy and healthy, and the next moment they’re gone. I don’t think I’ll understand, till my dying day, why God chooses to allow some things.”

  Devynne blinked and nodded. “That was one of the hardest things for me. Not understanding. If I had to live without Kent I at least wanted to know why.” She sighed. “But I’m coming to realize that we’ll never understand until we get to heaven.”

  The music started, indicating that the church service was about to begin and Devynne smiled at him. “It was nice to meet you. I really better go find Carcen and my daughter before the service begins.”

  “The pleasure was all mine.”

  She moved out into the foyer of the church scanning the thinning crowd for Carcen or Marissa who would need to use the facilities before services.

  Standing on tip-toe she peered over the cluster of people before her. Someone bumped her from behind and she fell against the shoulder of the man to her left. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”

  The man turned with a smile. “No problem—oh, good morning.”

  It was the young officer who had been at the house with Carcen the other day.

  “Good morning,” she stretched out her hand. “I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten—”

  “Sanchez,” he cut her off with a don’t-worry-about-it wave. “Donny Sanchez.” He stretched out his hand.

  She shook it, tucking his name away for future reference. Since he worked with Carcen, likely she’d bump into him again. “Nice to see you here. Have you seen Carcen this morning?”

  He nodded. “Last I saw him,” he peered across the foyer, “he was just… there. See him?” He pointed.

  Spying Carcen standing conspicuously outside the door to the lady’s room she couldn’t help the grin that sprang onto her face. She nodded and started his way, saying over her shoulder, “Thank you. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around?”

  “Yeah, sure.” He smiled. “Have a good day.”

  “Thanks.” She waved and stepped around two men animatedly discussing the Mariners. Marissa had evidently remembered the go-potty-before-services-rule and Carcen had obliged by taking her. He was obviously out of his element. By the look on his face it was clear that he was in a dilemma. The foyer spanned the perimeter of the octagon-shaped church, and the bathroom sat in such a way that if he moved a few feet in either direction he would be around the corner and unable to see the door. He didn’t want to be anywhere near the lady’s room door, but he didn’t want Marissa to come out and have trouble finding him either. A mischievous chuckle threatened escape and she stepped quickly behind a potted palm before he saw her. Deciding to stay where she was and see what would happen, she peeked out through the green leaves.

  Bible tucked under one arm, and hands clasped casually behind his back, Carcen was quite obviously trying to look like it was perfectly normal for him to be pacing like a caged cougar outside the women’s restroom - and doing a very poor job of it. The door opened and he turned towards it a look of relief on his face only to discover that it wasn’t Marissa but Mrs. Jacobs, the pastor’s wife. A dull red spread up his neck and he quickly twisted away.

  “Good morning, Carcen,” the lady murmured to him in her exquisitely cultured voice.

  “Morning, Ma’am,” he responded quietly.

  When a smile sprang into the elderly lady’s eyes the moment her back was to Carcen, Devynne bit her lip to keep from giggling. Mrs. Jacobs passed Devynne with a wink, saying quietly, “You better go rescue him, dear. Mrs. Johnson is in there. We don’t want him to pass out right here in the foyer.”

  Devynne pictured the haughtily elegant Mrs. Johnson emerging from the restroom to find the golden cougar pacing in front of the door. She could almost hear the woman gasp in derision. A giggle did escape then and Carcen’s head pivoted towards her.

  He cocked one eyebrow and then his blue eyes narrowed. In three swift strides he stood before her, taking in her bone-chewing-dog expression. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “
Do you mean to tell me you’ve been standing here enjoying my misery?”

  Devynne bit back her grin, but felt sure he would recognize the merriment dancing in her eyes. She nodded.

  He was plainly irritated by her obvious enjoyment of his little predicament, but grinned at her nonetheless. “Do you know how I felt when Mrs. Jacobs just walked by?” He held up a finger and thumb about an inch apart.

  Devynne smiled wide and leaned towards him, gesturing to the bathroom door and whispering conspiratorially, “Mrs. Johnson is in there.”

  His eyes widened and with a horrified shudder he took another swift step away from the door as though the portal itself might lunge out and gobble him up. “And you were just going to stand here and watch?” His tone was incredulous.

  Devynne stuck out her lower lip, pretending to be deep in thought, and then nodded with a grin.

  “What did I ever do to you?”

  She giggled. “Here I go, oh great and mighty Sheriff Lang – into the restroom to rescue you from little ol’ Mrs. Johnson.”

  His derisive snort ushered her into the room.

  When she came back out with Marissa he was waiting for them by the sanctuary doors, but standing next to him in animated conversation was Mrs. Abernathy’s son, Stephan.

  A chill raced down Devynne’s spine. Marissa ran and jumped into Carcen’s arms before she could stop her.

  Carcen met her gaze, his eyebrows raising slightly.

  Devynne willed away the trembling in her legs as she slowly approached.

  “Dev, I think you know Stephan Abernathy? He was just saying how you bear a little resemblance to that actress from Surf Justice.” He glanced at Stephan.

  Stephan gazed at her like a puppy expecting a treat, and breathed out, “Shania Hane.”

  Devynne smoothed her hands over her skirt and pulled all her acting ability to the fore. Be calm. He’s just a kid who had a crush. She forced a grin. “Yes. He mentioned her the other day. Hello again, Stephan.”

  “H-hi.”

  She searched for something to fill the awkward silence. “I must admit, I’m flattered. I always enjoyed her movies.”

  Carcen settled Marissa against one hip and wrapped his free arm around her shoulders. “You’re much prettier than she was, though.”

  She felt her face heat despite the fact that she knew he was only filling for her but it was the glower Stephan cast Carcen’s way that set her heart to racing.

  The opening worship music floated out from the sanctuary.

  “Well, I guess we should all find our seats.” Carcen turned his back on the young man and ushered her toward the double doors with gentle pressure against her waist. Over his shoulder he said, “It was nice chatting with you Stephan. Catch you later.”

  “Bye.” Was that a hint of anger in his tone?

  Devynne collapsed into the very first empty pew she saw and clasped her trembling hands in her lap. Carcen eased in beside her, settling Marissa between them and giving her pen and paper. Stretching his arm across the back of the pew, he squeezed her shoulder softly and nodded his assurance. “It’s all good, Dev. Just a kid with a crush on a beautiful woman.”

  His thumb stroked across the top of her shoulder sending waves of awareness through her. She shifted away from him and forced a smile of acknowledgment refusing to linger on the fact that he’d complimented her looks twice in the last five minutes. “Yes. I’m sure you’re right.”

  The service began so there was no more time to talk, but just before they began to sing, Mrs. Johnson stepped through the doors and sashayed down the aisle to join her husband.

  Carcen caught Devynne’s eye and shuddered.

  It was all Devynne could do to keep a burst of laughter from escaping. And she appreciated his attempt to get her mind off of Stephan Abernathy.

  He folded his arms, feet planted firmly against the floor. Maybe he should have located himself someplace where he didn’t have such a good view of her sitting there next to Lang like they were the perfect little family. He could already hear the pounding of his pulse in his ears. He forced a calming breath and purposely relaxed his clenched fists.

  Carcen leaned over the child’s head and said something in Shania’s ear and she smiled that famous smile at him.

  He snapped his teeth together. The pew, cold and rock-hard, only added to his agitation. Why couldn’t they come up with something comfortable to sit on in these places?

  He scanned the Sunday morning crowd. How was it that not one of these people recognized her? None of them were worthy to even be in the same room breathing the same air as her!

  He could see some of the smooth ivory of Shania’s cheek as she tilted her head and listened intently to the preacher’s ramblings. What kept her here? She should have gone back to Hollywood by now. He’d eliminated every tie that bound her to this God-forsaken island. His gaze skimmed the top of the little head barely visible above the back of the pew. Well…every tie except that one. He hadn’t been able to bring himself to sever that tie – yet.

  Surely she would decide to go back soon. Every day for the past four years, he’d told himself it would be any day. And then his plan could resume.

  But she seemed content in her sham. Content to languish here with her youth and beauty slipping away hour by hour. Content to rub shoulders with the little people. People like Lang.

  He only wanted to free her from that. She could go back and resume her rightful place as an American heart-throb. And he would be by her side. Supporting her and cheering her on to greatness. It was nothing less than she deserved.

  At the end of the service as they made their way towards the back of the church, Carcen spoke. “Mom and Dad and I are going out to Chinese for lunch. Care to join us?”

  Devynne rested a hand on Marissa’s head in thought.

  “Pwease, Mama?”

  “I don’t know.” She turned towards Carcen. “I should just go home. Marissa will need a nap before church tonight.” Not to mention the cost.

  “You sure? It will be my treat. It’s the least I could do after you came to my rescue so graciously this morning.” His words dripped sarcasm, but he belied the venom with a wink.

  Devynne chuckled. “Like you came to my rescue with your friend Randy?” She didn’t bring up the fact that he had come to her rescue with Stephan. That would ruin all the fun.

  Carcen placed a hand on the small of her back, guiding her through the groups of people chatting in the aisles. “Randy paid me a hundred dollars to give him two minutes alone with you.” She darted him a startled glance and he laughed outright. “Just kidding! Randy is a super nice guy. There is a little word called ‘no.’And I, of all people, know how good you are at using it.” She rolled her eyes and he grinned. “So, what about lunch?”

  Devynne looked at Marissa still debating.

  “Pwease, Mama?”

  “Alright, but when we get home you have to be a really good girl and go right to sleep, OK?”

  “A’wight!”

  “Hey Rissa, what do you know? Maybe your Mama isn’t as well versed in using that nasty little word as she used to be.”

  Marissa skipped ahead, blissfully unaware of the teasing barb in her uncle’s tone, but Devynne narrowed her eyes and elbowed Carcen in the ribs for good measure. Choosing not to reply to his remark, she smiled instead at Mrs. Jacobs, who hurried purposefully towards them.

  “Rissa honey, wait a minute I think Mrs. Jacobs wants to talk to me.”

  “Devynne, I’m glad I caught you,” the petite lady puffed. “There will be a new Sunday school teacher in Marissa’s class next week, and I wondered if I might talk you into volunteering to help out every other week? The class is quite large, as you know, and Melody Marsten has volunteered her time for the other alternating weeks.”

  Carcen opened his mouth to say something but Mrs. Jacobs hurried on, speaking to Devynne. “It would mean so much to me if I could count on you.”

  “Sure, I don’t see why not,” Devynne
agreed. “I think that would be fun. I’ll look forward to it.”

  Carcen’s mouth opened and shut like a fish out of water, as though he had something he thought he ought to mention but couldn’t decide whether or not to do so.

  “Fine, dear. I’m sure the teacher will appreciate the help. If you could start next week then, I’ll tell Melody she can take the week following.”

  Devynne nodded. And with a wink in Carcen’s direction, the diminutive pastor’s wife hurried off on another errand.

  Surprised, Devynne angled a glance at Carcen. “Did she just wink at you?”

  Carcen stared after Mrs. Jacobs’ gray head as it bobbed through the crowd, a strange twinkle gleaming in his eyes. But all he said was, “Yes, I believe she did.”

  “Hi Grandma! Hi Grandpa!” Marissa’s greeting drew Devynne’s attention to the fact that Jackie and Lamar had joined them and Devynne turned to greet them.

  “Hi.”

  “Hi Mom, Dad. Devynne and Squirt here,” Carcen ruffled Marissa’s hair, “are coming to lunch with us.”

  “Good!” Jackie hugged Devynne. “It’s been too long since you joined us for our after-church lunches.”

  Agreeing to meet at the restaurant, they all headed out to the parking lot.

  The sun shone blindingly, heat waves dancing off the pavement, as Devynne walked towards her car with Marissa in tow. The day couldn’t be more perfect. Small wisps of silken clouds graced the sky, doing nothing to block the warming rays of the sun. After the air-conditioned interior of the church, the warmth felt good for a minute. She pulled her sunglasses from her purse and fleetingly realized that she felt a bit bereft without Carcen at her side. She shrugged off the emotion. They had been together a lot lately. It was only natural— Devynne stop it! Just don’t think about how nice it has been to have someone to, share with, lean on— Oh! “What did you learn in Sunday school today honey?”

  Marissa gave her an odd look but answered, “Moses and the big boat! It had lots an’ lots o’ amminals on it!”

  “Noah, honey. Noah and the ark and the animals.”