Lakeside Sweethearts Read online

  She buried her face in the fabric of his T-shirt. “There’s no contest where you’re concerned, Ian. What I had with Bobby is in the past. He’s married with a baby on the way.”

  “Wait a minute—I thought he said he returned to win you back.”

  “He wanted to mess with you.”

  “What a jerk.”

  “Maybe, but he’s changing. I think Bobby is finally growing up.” She told him about Bobby’s sobriety and acceptance of Christ.

  “With a kid on the way, he needs to. Forgive me, Red, but I have to ask…do you still love him?”

  “No, absolutely not. I’m struggling to let go of some resentment, and it will happen in time.”

  “Resentment about what?”

  “His baby is due around Christmas…the same time mine was.”

  Ian stiffened. Ice sliced through his veins. “Wait a minute. You were…you were pregnant?”

  She nodded.

  “When?”

  “Just before my marriage fell apart for good.”

  “What happened?”

  “I hadn’t been feeling well, so I made an appointment with my doctor and learned I was pregnant. I took the rest of the day off work and went home, planning to surprise Bobby with dinner. Maybe with a baby on the way, we could salvage what was left of our marriage. I went upstairs to change my clothes and found him in our bed with another woman.”

  “Oh, man.”

  “I was furious and hurt and just sick about the whole thing. I headed for the stairs. He came after me, grabbed my arm, but I pulled free. I lost my balance and fell. When I woke up in the hospital, I learned I had lost the baby. I spent a month with Memaw in Texas. By the time I came back, he was gone. How could I have been so blind?”

  “You fell in love with a guy you thought was going to give you a happily ever after. That’s why going upstairs at Agape House had been so tough.”

  She nodded. “Every time I put my foot on the steps, I relive that fall over and over again.”

  “Does Bobby know about your miscarriage?”

  “Yes. I guess he kind of freaked because there was so much bleeding and he called 911. He apologized over and over, but I couldn’t take any more. For ten years, I dealt with his drinking, online gambling and other women—the one I caught him with wasn’t the first…. He just managed to get away with the others.”

  “Why did you wait to tell me this?”

  “Because it was complicated. I was struggling with falling in love with you and doing what I felt was best for you.”

  “How so?”

  “There’s more, Ian…something I have to tell you.”

  “You can tell me anything.”

  “Yes, I know, but this…well…I’ll just say it. I love you, Ian. I have for a long time, but I can’t give you what you need.”

  She loved him.

  His heart puffed up as if filled with helium. But the anguish on her face of what she thought he wanted or needed tore at his gut.

  “All I need is you, sweetheart.”

  A tear tipped over her eyelid and streaked down her face. “Because of complications from the fall, the doctors had to do a partial hysterectomy. I can’t have children, Ian, and you deserve to have a family.”

  Ian secured her against the warmth of his chest. “My sweet Agnes Joy Kingsley, I love you. You. Hear me? I’m so sorry you can’t have children, but not because of me. I know how much you love them and how good you are with them. That doesn’t change how I feel about you. I don’t need kids, but I do need you.”

  “But what if you change your mind?”

  “Are you kidding? I’ve been in love with you since I was fifteen. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. Do you remember the night before you and Bobby got married? You called and asked me to meet you here on the dock?”

  She nodded.

  “I stood on the end of the dock looking out over the water, then I heard you approach. You wore that white sundress with flowers stitched along the edge of the skirt. Your feet were bare and you had a daisy in your hand. As you walked toward me, you plucked another petal and let it drift onto the water. In my head, I kept praying you were coming to say you chose me.”

  “I asked you if there was any reason why I shouldn’t marry Bobby.”

  “I wanted to tell you to ditch him and marry me.”

  “Why couldn’t you say it?”

  “I don’t know, Red. I really don’t.”

  “I was waiting for you to say those words. I was so ready to call off my wedding and run away with you. But you didn’t say anything.”

  “Sounds like we were both waiting for the other to make the next move, and in the end, neither one of us did anything. We wasted a couple of decades.”

  “But at least I always had your friendship. Thank you for never abandoning me.” Red snuggled against him. As he sat with his arms wrapped around her, silence drifted over them like the gentle waves tagging the bank.

  “I will always be here for you, Red. Always. I love you.”

  Ian released her, but held on to her hands. “You’re my best friend, Red, and the love of my life. I can’t promise I won’t screw up. I can’t promise I won’t hurt you. But I can promise to love you completely for the rest of my life.” Still holding her hands, Ian kneeled in front of her. “Marry me, Red.”

  She laughed through a sheen of tears. “I love you, Ian. As long as you promise to love me, that’s all that matters. I can’t wait to be your wife.”

  Ian rose, took her face in his hands and kissed her.

  The prayer of his heart had been answered.

  Epilogue

  He spent most of his life waiting for this day—to claim Agnes Joy Kingsley as his bride.

  The late afternoon sunshine warmed his back as he stood at the end of the dock under the makeshift canopy Mom and Mary had fashioned out of white material, greenery and flowers.

  With Nick to his left as his best man and Pastor Nathan to his right, they stood in front of a table adorned with candles. Hurricane lanterns hung from posts Dad had attached to the sides of the dock. Swags of aqua tulle, or whatever that netting material Agnes used, scalloped from post to post and swayed in the gentle breeze.

  The wind stirred the carpet of wildflowers he and Griffin had scattered on the dock before their closest family and friends arrived and lined both sides. The petals twirled and drifted across the water, almost as if they seemed to be floating in time to the melody of the music.

  He and Red agreed a casual wedding fit them perfectly. He wore khaki shorts and a white untucked button-down shirt, while Nick wore khaki shorts and an aqua shirt.

  At Pastor Nathan’s nod, Alec Seaver picked up his classical guitar and strummed Pachelbel’s Canon in D.

  Anticipation rippled through Ian’s stomach. He clasped his hands in front of him and directed his gaze to the other end of the dock where his bride would come toward him.

  His eyes connected with Zoe’s as she stood next to their parents and Griffin. She winked. He grinned and winked back. The parole board had deemed Zoe to be a model prisoner, so they’d granted her release.

  Hopefully being back in Shelby Lake and settled at Agape House would give her a chance to claim the peace and hope God offered.

  A lump jammed his throat as tears pricked the backs of his eyes.

  As Red’s matron of honor, Josie appeared wearing an aqua sundress with spaghetti straps. She carried a bouquet of white roses tied with white and aqua ribbons. Her hair fell in soft curls around her shoulders. As she walked toward the canopy, her eyes tangled with Nick’s. For that moment, no one else existed.

  At one time, Ian would have wrestled with envy at the look of love that passed between his friends, but now his heart stirred with excitement because his wife-to-be was about to join him at his side and share vows that promised a lifetime of love and commitment.

  A gasp from their family and friends jerked his attention to the end of the dock.

  For a sec
ond, his heart stopped beating. For a second, he heard nothing. For a second, time froze.

  As long as he lived, he’d never be able to erase the vision that awaited him under an arch of greens and flowers.

  His heart picked up speed as his breathing hitched in his chest. He pressed a fist to his mouth.

  Agnes, a vision of beauty, glided toward him.

  Everyone disappeared as his eyes locked with Red’s and they were the only two people on the dock.

  Her ivory-colored dress held up by spaghetti straps had a draped neckline and curved in all the right places and brushed the middle of her knees.

  A gentle breeze whispered through her ginger curls that had been pinned up with flowers. She walked with grace and elegance, and her bouquet of ivory roses and blue Forget-me-nots shook in her hands as she drew closer to him.

  His best friend.

  His bride.

  The love and tenderness that shimmered in her eyes ignited a flame that burned deep inside him. His heart swelled as anticipation flowed through him.

  He couldn’t help himself—he pressed two fingers to his lips, then turned the pads of his fingers toward her.

  She laughed—the sunshine of her smile warmed his soul—and returned the gesture.

  Once she reached him, he held out a hand and whispered, “You are beautiful.” His voice caught on the last word.

  “You make me beautiful.” She reached up and thumbed away a tear that rolled down his cheek.

  *

  Where was he taking her?

  It didn’t matter.

  She trusted Ian completely.

  As she settled in the comfort of his leather passenger seat, fatigue tugged at her bones. The hours of the day drifted away as the setting sun melted across the lake, providing the perfect backdrop for their wedding.

  After several hours of celebrating with family and friends in Mama’s backyard, Ian and Agnes slipped away to begin their lives as husband and wife.

  He had given her free rein over the wedding as long as she allowed him to plan the honeymoon.

  Excitement bubbled in her throat as she slipped the eye mask over her face, careful not to disrupt her carefully pinned curls.

  “Okay, I’m ready.” She turned in his direction, but her line of vision had been blacked out.

  Ian backed out of the drive. As he drove down the street and made a couple of turns, she lost all sense of direction. But that didn’t matter…she’d go to the ends of the world with him.

  She ran her thumb over the wedding band that felt foreign, yet so right on her left hand.

  Ian stopped the SUV and shut off the engine. A moment later, he opened her door and took her hand. “Come with me, but be careful as you step down.”

  “I trust you, Ian.”

  He brushed a kiss across her lips. “I’m glad.”

  Pavement gave way to soft earth as grass tickled her toes through her high-heeled sandals.

  “Where are you taking me?”

  “I’m taking you home.”

  “Home? Why? I thought you wanted to sneak away.”

  “Not your mother’s…our home.”

  “Our…home?”

  She and Ian had talked about buying a house, but since they married so quickly, they decided to look after they returned from their honeymoon. In the meantime, Mama offered for them to stay with her.

  But if Ian went ahead and bought a place without her input…

  She couldn’t stand it any longer. Without waiting for permission, she slipped the eye mask off her face and looked over her husband’s shoulder.

  A shudder rose in her chest as she gasped for air. “Oh, Ian….”

  Tears filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks as she walked slowly across the yard and up the steps to the peach-colored cottage with white trim.

  On the wide front porch, large ivory ribbons trailed down two identical Amish-made rocking chairs. A card with her name on it rested on one of the chair seats.

  She picked it up, recognizing Ian’s handwriting and slid out the card.

  Red, Robert Browning said it best when he wrote “Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be….”

  All my love, Ian

  He joined her on the front porch. “Please tell me you didn’t change your mind about wanting the cottage.”

  She ran her fingers along the house numbers—1030—their new address, over the hanging basket of multicolored petunias, and then placed both hands on his chest. “But how?”

  “I have my ways, Mrs. James. You like it?” He cupped his hands over hers.

  “Like it? Are you crazy? When I had the opportunity to buy this cottage, I thought it would be the perfect place to call home, but then I realized it wouldn’t be the same without you here. That didn’t ease the ache, though, when we drove past a few weeks ago and saw the sold sign.”

  “I said whoever bought it would spend the rest of their lives creating memories here.”

  “You little sneak! You even handed me a tissue to dry my eyes.” She swatted him playfully on the chest. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck as his fingers curved around her waist. “I had peace about letting go of this place, but now you’ve resurrected that dream for me, Ian. I look forward to spending every day with you.”

  “You are the light of my heart, Red. I will spend the rest of my life protecting you and slaying any dragons that come your way.”

  “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

  “You showed up. That’s all it took.” Ian pulled a key out of his front pocket and unlocked the door. Then he slid his arms around Red’s shoulders and under her knees, cradling her to his chest. Pushing the door open with his foot, he carried her over the threshold and kissed her soundly before setting her down. “Welcome home, Mrs. James.”

  “Any place is home when I’m with you, Mr. James.”

  “You’ve held the key to my heart for years. Allow me to give you the key to your new home.” He opened her hand and pressed a metal object into her palm, then folded her fingers over it. With his arms wrapped around her, he lowered his head and brushed his lips over hers.

  She gazed into her new husband’s eyes. Her best friend. Her dragon slayer. Her lakeside sweetheart. God’s promises made everything beautiful in His own time.

  *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from UNEXPECTED REUNION by Carolyn Greene.

  Dear Reader,

  In my hometown, a woman had a vision to help paroled females gain a second chance at having the life God intended for them. This woman’s vision and obedience to God’s calling on her life is changing lives for the better. Agape means unconditional love. No matter what shame we may have, nothing—absolutely nothing—will separate us from the love of God.

  When I introduced Agnes in Lakeside Family, I didn’t expect to tell her story. In fact, she was meant to be Josie’s Voice of Truth and to add an element of humor to an otherwise serious plot. Readers asked if they would be able to read her story. As I got to know Agnes more, I realized her sass and Texas charm were covers for the pain that she harbored over her past.

  Agnes loves to restore discarded furniture and give those pieces value again. Sort of like what God wants to do with us. We can feel like a throwaway as Agnes did, but we can go to God with our deep wounds and scars. His unconditional love and grace can restore us into something beautiful and of great value.

  May you embrace His grace to have the life He’s envisioned for you.

  I love to hear from my readers, so visit me at www.lisajordanbooks.com or email me at [email protected]!

  In His grace,

  Lisa Jordan

  Questions for Discussion

  Ian asks Agnes to help his family, but in doing so, she needs to face a painful time in her past. Share how you’ve had to face your past in order to help someone else.

  Agnes’s dream is to buy the cottage to have a place to call her own. What dream do you have? What have you done to achieve tha
t dream?

  Agnes struggles with trust issues because of her ex-husband’s cheating and gambling. How have your past relationships affected you today? How have you overcome negative emotions?

  Ian wants to restore his family by helping his mother set up Agape House for women like his sister who will be released from prison and need a support system in order to thrive and have the lives God intended for them. Share how family or friends have supported you through a challenging time.

  When Agnes visits her old house and tours the kitchen, she compares herself to the yellowed wallpaper, having the feeling of continually holding on, wondering if hope had forgotten her. How have you overcome those same feelings of hopelessness?

  Ian’s father struggles with Agape House because of his past; he believes people don’t change. Do you feel people can change, if given the option? Why or why not?

  Agnes is struggling with her feelings toward Ian. She’s afraid of moving beyond friendship into a romantic relationship because if he doesn’t want her anymore, then she’ll lose his friendship, too. Have you fallen in love with a close friend? How did your relationship work out?

  Agnes and Ian argue about paint colors. How can colors affect your moods and emotions?

  Agnes considers herself a throwaway because her ex-husband discarded her, adding to her feelings of being unworthy. Have you felt that way before? How did you overcome it?

  Josie is Agnes’s best friend and speaks truth into her life. Who is your truth speaker?

  Ian’s nephew, Griffin, is in a tough place. What advice would you have for children away from their incarcerated parents?

  The stairs at Agape House creates anxiety for Agnes due to the tragic event that took place for her. Is there a specific place that evoked a similar reaction in you? How did you overcome it?

  As Ian and Agnes’s romantic relationship progresses, she still struggles with her inability to have children and how it will affect Ian’s desire for a family. Have you struggled with being unable to have children? How did you make peace with it?