Destiny Awaits Read online

  Destiny Awaits

  Book One of the Juniper Grove Chronicles

  Written by Jaidis Shaw

  Edited by Lori Titus

  [email protected]

  Cover Design by Paragraphic Designs

  http://paragraphicdesigns.weebly.com/

  Copyright 2012 by Jaidis Shaw.

  All Rights Reserved.

  Without limiting the rights under the copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, except in the case of brief quotations embodied within critical articles and reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. The people, incidents, and dialogue are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living, dead or undead, is purely coincidental.

  Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid.

  DEDICATION

  To my daughter Lillianna. You are my greatest creation and mean the world to me.

  The power to make all of your dreams come true is within your heart.

  Only you can put a limit on your imagination.

  Table of Contents:

  Prologue

  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

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  There are several people who have helped me along my writing journey. I’d like to thank my Mom for always being there to push me forward.

  My husband for allowing me to lock myself in the office for hours on end to write.

  A.G. Dow for putting up with all of the late night discussions and beta reading.

  Tonia Brown for giving me the extra confidence boost I needed to share my writing with others.

  Lori Titus for her fantastic editing services and support.

  Nely Cab for offering her valuable opinions and suggestions.

  Finally I would like to thank Audrey, Dwight, Sally and Audrea for their enthusiasm and faith in my writing abilities.

  Prologue

  The sun caught in the crystal that hung from the rear view mirror and rainbow bursts of color radiated throughout the car. My parents and I had gotten up early so that we could make the three hour drive to my uncle’s house but from the line of backed up traffic in front of us it would take us longer. I leaned back in my seat and let the music blaring in my headphones help pass the time. My mother turned in her seat and I glanced at her. Seeing her mouth my name and I pulled one side of the ear buds out of my ear.

  “What did you say?” I asked.

  “I asked if you were hungry,” she replied. “Your father thinks that we should get off of the interstate at the next exit and grab something to eat while the traffic clears up.”

  “Sure that’s fine with me. It’s a good idea anyway since John turned vegetarian. There is no telling what he is going to try and get us to eat there.”

  My father’s hearty laugh rumbled through the car. “Do you remember that rolled up spinach thing he tried to feed us last time?”

  “How could I forget?” I said.

  Mom sprung to her brother’s defense. “It wasn’t so bad.”

  “Then how come you didn’t eat it? I saw you slip it to the dog when you thought nobody was watching.” He glanced at my mother while she tried to come up with a retort.

  “If you saw that then it’s obvious that I wasn’t sneaky enough.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared out of the window.

  My dad laughed as he flipped on the turn signal and merged into the lane beside us, coming to a stop behind a logging truck. My eyes fell on the long pieces of tree protruding from the flatbed. “It always makes me nervous when the trees hang off like that.” I said while a shiver raced over my body.

  “It’s okay. They make sure to load them on so that they won’t come off.” My dad reassured me.

  I opened my mouth to reply but stopped when I heard the screech of tires. Turning behind me, I locked eyes with the man in the driver’s seat of the truck that was hurtling at us. The truck slammed into the back of our car and my mother’s scream pierced the air. A shower of white stars filled my vision as pain ripped through my shoulder and cut off my scream. As the darkness closed in around me, I heard the faint shrill of sirens in the distance.

  ****

  back to table of contents

  ****

  Chapter One

  The warm breeze blew through the trees bringing the promise of rain. I walked into the house that had been my shelter, my home, for the entirety of my life. Everything about the house was familiar. The paint chipped walls, the missing window screens, the squeaky floorboards; even the smells. What would be past the state line? What was waiting for me in Juniper Grove? Would the people accept me? All of these questions were running through my mind as I said my last goodbyes to the silence and rushed from the house. Drop by drop the rain began to fall, drenching all of my sorrows. All that was left inside me was the nervousness of the new life waiting for me. I hated leaving the only life I had known but since the death of my family there was nothing left for me here. Little did I know that my life would never be the same and there was no going back.

  As I reached the city limits, an old rusty sign that read “Welcome to Juniper Grove” greeted me. Someone had been unsuccessful at trying to paint over the sign, marking out ‘Welcome to’ and putting ‘Leave’ in its place. My stomach twisted into nervous knots and I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. What was so bad in this place that somebody didn’t want people to stay? The buildings cast eerie shadows on the ground as the sun started to set in the west. The only person that seemed to live in this town was the young man standing in front of an empty pastry shop. He was wearing a black leather jacket with faded blue jeans, giving off a biker vibe. His black hair glistened in the light of a nearby street lamp as it flickered to life. Driving past the man, I turned to look at him in the rearview mirror one last time but he had disappeared just as quickly as he had appeared. I turned onto a darkened dirt road. Oak trees lined both sides and their tangled limbs stretched overhead made driving feel like entering a tunnel. I recognized the road from the pictures the realtor had sent to me so I assumed I must be in the right place. Pulling to a stop in front of an old house, I glanced at the mailbox to make sure I had the right address. The faded numbers assured me that I had arrived at my intended destination. Putting the car in park and taking the keys from the ignition, I looked up at the house that was to be my new home. The realtor had said it was an old fixer upper that needed a bunch of yard work. I figured it would be just what I needed to take my mind off of the past and lead me into my future. Not to mention that the money I inherited from my parents' death allowed me to pay the full asking price in cash.

  As I lifted my suitcases from the trunk, I couldn’t help but to think about that man I had seen in town. Where had he come from? Who was he? Most of all, I wanted to know to where he disappeared to. I lugged my suitcases onto the front porch and gazed around for the rock that the realtor had said the key would be under. Finding the rock, I unlocked the door and ca
rried my suitcases inside the dark house. I wondered what might be hiding in the shadows. My eyes were just getting accustomed to the dark by the time I found the light switch. A high ceiling, clean and polished tile floors, and the dust free furniture greeted me. To say I was astonished would be an understatement. The house was actually quite beautiful and I made a mental note to ask the realtor what his definition of ‘fixer-upper’ was. Leaving my suitcases in the entry way, I walked through the archway door to the kitchen and flipped the light switch I found to my right. My breath caught in my throat as I gazed at the enormous kitchen. Cabinets lined the white walls and looked as if they had never been touched. Out of impulse I walked over to the refrigerator and tugged the door open. To my surprise, every shelf contained a variety of new food. Opening a nearby cabinet and finding it in the same condition, I was grateful that I wouldn't have to do any shopping for a while. With a smile on my face I walked to the counter where a letter stood propped up on a vase of fresh flowers.

  Ms. Scott,

  I took the liberty of getting the house cleaned and ready for your arrival. It isn't every day that you sell a house and have the buyer pay in full. Thanks for the great business! I'll be by in a couple days to see how you are settling in.

  Thanks Again,

  Dominic

  Deciding that I should get some rest, I turned the light back off and went to retrieve my suitcases. Turning the latch to lock the front door, I picked up my things and walked into a white hallway lined with doors. I sat my stuff down and went to the first door. I swung the door open and stepped into the room. The room smelled of fresh roses and as I looked around I noticed the source. On the mantle above the fireplace, was a huge white crystal vase overflowing with vibrant pink roses. The pink was bright against the white walls of the room and matched the pink quilt that had been spread across the bed with care. Against one wall was a matching white dresser. Nothing else was in the room, not even paintings hung from the wall. “This room is a little too pink for me,” I said aloud as I walked down the hall to the next room. It was no surprise that this room was arranged the exact same way as the first; red being the selected color. After glancing at a third room, this time in a shade of buttercup yellow, I went to the door at the end of the hall. Sending a brief prayer to the powers above, I pushed the door open and was thankful to find the master bedroom ahead of me. Instead of the usual white walls, this room was painted a dark cobalt blue. Cobalt blue sheets and a blue and white-checkered quilt covered the large bed. White cotton curtains flowed like clouds against the blue walls. A vase of cobalt blue sat on a mantle, overflowing with full white roses. Happy with the color selection of the master bedroom, I went to retrieve my stuff from the hallway. Eager for a sense of normalcy, I began unpacking my clothes, taking care to hang them in the walk in closet. Standing on raised toes I shoved the empty suitcases onto a top shelf. Exhaustion crept over me and I headed for the bathroom to get washed up for bed. A large Jacuzzi tub sat in the middle of the sea foam green room with steps leading into it. A floral curtain adorned the shower that stood in the corner. His and her marble sinks stood under a large mirror located next to the ceramic toilet. After I changed into my pajamas, I snuggled into the freshly made bed, glad that I wasn't regretting my impulse buy of this house.

  ***

  I awoke to the sunlight seeping through my window. Anxious to explore my new house, I stretched and placed my feet on the cool wooden floor. I went to the bathroom to wash up and changed into my favorite pair of cutoff jean shorts and yellow tank top. I decided that I would go look around outside since it was such a beautiful day. There wasn't much for me to do since the house came fully furnished and Dominic had been so gracious as to clean everything for me. The only belongings I had brought with me fit in two large suitcases. I had gotten rid of everything else. All of my happy memories were ripped apart by the accident and I couldn't bear to look at anything from the past. Unlocking the door, I stood on the front porch long enough to let my eyes adjust to the bright sunlight before heading to the back of the house. The yard had not been taken care of like the inside had. I stepped back to look up at the house. The paint had once been white but the spots that still had paint clinging to them had turned a dull gray. The bushes around the house looked as though they had never been trimmed back and I knew it would take some work to get them looking nice. The cement stepping-stones on the path leading around the house were cracked and needed to be replaced. As I kept walking I could tell that the grass hadn’t been mowed in a while. I turned around the corner of the house and saw the garden. It was a thick square of hedges and I couldn’t see any opening that lead to the middle. Walking around the square trying to find the entrance, I took note that the hedges had been pruned back and looked beautiful. I finally found the entrance and went in; the aroma of roses was so strong that it took my breath away. Rose bushes of every color lined the inside of the hedges. Tiny white pebbles covered the ground and a huge cement fountain stood in the center. The water in the fountain wasn’t running and had turned opaque from the leaves that had started to decay in the stagnant water. I walked to the fountain’s edge and sat on the cold stone. It was a shame that the fountain had been neglected. Water had always been a comfort for me, the one thing in my life that made me feel whole. From gentle flowing streams to raging storms, I was always rejuvenated and inspired around water. It may have also been because of the images that often swirled to life while I gazed upon the surface, a trait that I had inherited from my mother. Some images were memories from the past and others had yet to play out. Hoping I could get it running again, I stared into the darkness as the hot July sun reflected off the water’s surface. The familiar ripples began to form as a woman’s smiling face appeared. My mother and I sat cross-legged in a grassy meadow, the warm breeze caressing our skin. With care my mother smoothed out my red frizzy curls and twisted them into a loose French braid. The memory warmed my heart and my eyes brimmed with tears. I still remembered parts of the conversation we had that day. Mother wanted me to know that destiny had marked me to do great things in my life. I uttered words of protest, not understanding who destiny was and wondering how she was so confident in her belief. My mother’s soft laughter floated away on the breeze as the images faded back into darkness.

  “What destiny?” I asked aloud. “Losing my family? Spending all day pulling weeds and mowing the lawn? That hardly qualifies as a destiny.”

  “Would you like some help with your destiny?”

  I jumped at the voice and the last thing I remember was the pain of my head slamming into hard stone before I drifted into complete darkness.

  ***

  “Are you ok? Can you hear me?”

  I opened my eyes and was startled again to see a pair of emerald eyes staring back at me. I tried sitting up but a wave of dizziness overcame me and I laid back down.

  “You’re Alayna right?”

  This time I managed to sit up. “Yeah I am, but who are you and how do you know me?” I asked as I reached to feel my throbbing head.

  “I’m Jayden McKnight, but you can call me Jay if you want, and I knew your name because you are the talk of the town,” he said while flashing a white smile. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I’ll be okay. Thanks for pulling me from the fountain,” I said as I stood and started wringing water from my clothes, “oh, and I like the name Jayden better.” After I was finished, I looked up to find Jayden’s eyes transfixed on me. I turned and went to sit on a bench willing the heat of my cheeks to disappear. With a chuckle, Jayden followed and sat next to me.

  His tan, muscular body was partially hidden behind a white button-down shirt. That is what working out must look like, I thought to myself. I followed the outline of his body until my eyes rested on his face. He had a very strong jaw line and high cheekbones. Long black hair that shimmered with blue highlights was swept back into a ponytail. His emerald green eyes trapped my gaze. I had only looked into eyes that shade of green once before as t
hey stared at me from a pool of water. Could he be the one whom those eyes belonged to? Moments passed before I realized that we were staring at each other and I felt the heat rise in my cheeks as I glanced away.

  “You have the most intriguing green eyes,” I stammered trying to break the silence. “I have never seen eyes that green before.”

  “Thank you,” he said with a big smile. “I should say the same thing about you. I have never seen eyes like yours before either. They look like the color of ice. Why are they so light?”

  “I don’t know. They have always been that color. I hate the color of my eyes because they make me feel out of place. Not to mention that people are always staring,” I said, looking away to hide my eyes out of habit.

  “Then I will make sure that you don’t feel out of place around me,” he said, scooting closer to me. I rose quickly, unable to think of anything else to do.

  “So,” I mumbled, “why am I the talk of the town?”

  “This is a small town and whenever someone new shows up, people get curious. Plus, Dominic asked if I would show you around. I have been coming here every day to work on the house and cleanup the yard. I used to do the yard work for the previous owners but after they passed away I didn’t see a point. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “No, I don’t mind at all. It saves me from having to do it myself. I was relieved when I saw the rose bushes had been taken care of because I’m going to be doing most of the work myself.” I flashed a quick smile before heading towards the front porch. Jayden jumped up to follow me. We walked in silence for a moment and once we reached the porch he stopped me.

  “If you would like, I can keep coming over to help you.”

  I was thankful for his offer but I felt bad enough that he had already done a lot of work without being paid for it. “That’s a nice offer, but you have already done so much. I just wouldn’t feel right letting you do more.”