Destination: Romance: Five Inspirational Love Stories Spanning the Globe

by Kim Vogel Sawyer

  Ken wiped his sweaty face with the tail of his shirt. Too many things to do before the encroaching darkness covered them. He lifted the hammer to pound more nails in the shutters on the dormitory windows, then went around to the other walls, and did the same. A wail pierced his ears, and his heart caught. Was someone crying, or was it only the wind?

  A hand on his shoulder spun him around. His dad hollered into his ear. “I need you to help me set up the generator in case the electricity goes out tonight.”

  Ken nodded then followed his father to the shed where they stored the machine. Together they rolled it to the building outside the garage and filled it with gasoline so it would be ready to start within minutes of the loss of power.

  His dad nodded. “Let’s go in and eat supper. It may be our last chance to relax for awhile.”

  They washed in the kitchen sink. Ken was glad to see the water still flowed. Sitting down at the table, they bowed their heads while his dad prayed. “Lord of all things, we ask You to keep us safe from all the storms of life. We thank You for this food and ask You to use it to strengthen us to do the tasks You set before us. Please help everyone to find shelter from the storm, and their ultimate shelter in You. In Your Son’s name. Amen.”

  Ken chowed down. “Great sandwiches, Mom, and the rice and beans, too.”

  His dad nodded with a full mouth.

  His mom rose. “And there’s ice cream for dessert. If the electricity goes out, it won’t re-freeze well, so we’ll enjoy it tonight.”

  “Good thinking, dear.” His dad patted her hand.

  Watching his parents, Ken hoped God would bless him with a marriage like theirs. Funny, he’d only started having those kind of thoughts since re-connecting with Nat. Was she the one God meant for him?

  He needed to pray about it, but there was no time to think about it now. As soon as he finished his dessert, he carried his plate and bowl to the sink. “I plan to make sure everyone is in their dorms for tonight. I’ll tell them the generator is hooked up, so to give us a little time to get it started if the electricity goes out. But I’m praying it will stay on at least through the dark hours.”

  “Me, too, son.” His dad rose. “I’ll check all the shutters to make sure none have blown loose. Make sure you tell the workers to keep all the children inside in the morning until one of us comes to give the okay to go outside.” He kissed his wife. “Remember, until last year’s Hurricane Matthew, there hadn’t been a major hurricane hit Jamaica since Gilbert in 1988 when I was getting ready to go to college in the States, so it will likely go east and out to sea.”

  Mom nodded. “Yes, I remember because we met that year, so Matthew was my first real experience with a hurricane. God kept this compound and us from major harm last year, and I’m certain He can do so this year. But it never hurts to do our part by being prepared.” She ran water into the dishpan and began to wash the dishes.

  Ken started out the door then came back in for his slicker. “The rain is coming down in sheets, Dad, so cover up.” He went back out to fight his way to the other buildings. No telling how long this would take.

  He found several minor repairs to make and didn’t arrive home until almost midnight. He took off his boots and crawled into bed, hoping this storm and its aftermath wouldn’t keep Natalie from coming down next week.

  To his relief, he awakened the next morning to sunshine streaming in his windows. On his way to the kitchen, he picked up the house phone to call Natalie and let her know they were all right, but he didn’t get a dial tone. He’d forgotten to charge his cell phone last night. When he went to plug it in on the counter, there was no current.

  Mom came into the kitchen, wrapping her robe around her. “Your dad is almost ready. The power went out a few minutes ago, so you’ll need to help him start the generator.”

  His dad headed for the back door. “Lots of wind and rain last night, but no major damage. We’ll get the generator working, then go do a quick check on everyone before we come back for breakfast.”

  Ken followed his dad to the outside building. They quickly got the generator running before they split up to check on the people and buildings. The workers had everything under control, and most of the kids had slept through the night.

  Finally back at their house, Ken noted why their phone line was down. A tree behind the house had fallen on it. It could take a week or more to be repaired, depending on how other parts of the island fared. All the more reason to re-charge his cell pronto while the generator was running.

  Natalie had awakened at five the next morning to check the news. She’d tried to call Ken several times, with no success. Channels 18 and 27 said the reports of the hurricane were slowly coming in from Jamaica due to most power lines being down. She kept praying.

  After nine, she phoned her mother. “Have you heard anything, Mom?” “The most recent report said there were no deaths reported so far in Jamaica, just power outages. The worst of the storm is over, so hopefully you’ll hear from Ken soon. Let me know when you do. I’ll keep praying.”

  She tried Ken again and received the same dead air space. Memories of her and her mom trapped in the car with the water rising around them filled her head.

  Pray and praise Me. And trust Me.

  Yes, that’s what she needed to do. She put in a worship CD and walked around her apartment singing as loudly as she dared with close neighbors. When it ended, she chose one of her favorite old hymns.

  Praise to the Lord,

  The Almighty, the king of creation!

  O my soul, praise Him,

  For He is thy health and salvation.

  After singing all the verses she could remember, she sang several choruses from her childhood. She was still singing when the phone interrupted. She hoped to see Ken’s name on her screen, but it was Mom.

  “Another report says the hurricane went to the east, so all they received were high winds and rain.”

  The thoughts of high winds and rain swept over her, again reminding her of her childhood fears. She shuddered. God, please cover my mind with Your peace. A strange calmness came over her.

  Her mom’s voice spoke. “Have you tried Ken again?”

  “No, but I’ll try right now and let you know when I hear something.” She found the number for the house and punched in the numbers. A busy signal buzzed, so she speed-dialed it again and again. While trying it, someone beeped in on her phone. Her heart gave a leap. Ken’s cell number!

  “Nat, are you okay? I’ve been trying to call you for several minutes, and all I got was a busy signal.”

  She laughed with relief. “That’s because I kept calling your two lines.”

  “Sorry, our house phone is still down and may be for several days, but I was so tired when I got in last night, I forgot to charge my phone. It’s plugged in as we speak.”

  Tears of happiness spilled out. “I’m sorry. I’ve been praying for you and the people down there.”

  “Dad and I have checked every building and everyone’s okay. We didn’t get anything more than a bad rainstorm.”

  “I’m so glad.” What would she have done if he’d been hurt or— She wouldn’t go there. Thank You, Lord, for the storm turning, and everyone being all right.

  “Nat, are you still there?”

  “Yes, I was thanking God for keeping you all safe.”

  “We’ve been praising Him, too, but there’s a lot of work to do today, so how about I call you tonight around ten before I go to bed?”

  “Okay.” Her hands and voice shook with pent-up relief as she called her mom to report the good news.

  CHAPTER 7

  Natalie peered down at the myriad shades of blue and green surrounding Jamaica as they approached Kingston from the air. She was reminded again of the greatness of God—the One who created this whole earth and its many marvelous features.

  She leaned over to whisper in Mom’s ear, trying not to wake Dad sleeping in the aisle seat. “Can you see all the blues and aquamarines?”
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  “Sometimes, when the plane dips. Maybe I can sit by the window on the way back?”

  “Sure.” She smiled, but Natalie didn’t want to think about going back to Kentucky in less than a week.

  The landing gear came down, and her dad shifted in his seat and opened his eyes. “Are we there yet?”

  “Almost,” Mom answered. “I’m glad you napped. Too many late nights this past week.”

  “Part of the job when you’re the boss.” He winked at his wife.

  The wink reminded her of Ken winking at her last January, and her insides flipped. Would he wink at her again? Would he kiss her again? There hadn’t been any opportunity last time with the tour bus waiting. Her mind wandered back to their first and only kiss when they were in their teens…

  The jolt as the tires of the plane hit the tarmac pulled her back to the present.

  As soon as the plane taxied to the terminal and came to a stop, her dad retrieved their overhead bags. He let her and Mom exit the row in front of him. She picked up her carry-on and placed it on her shoulder.

  Finally, the bell dinged to signal they could depart. She set off as if a fire chased her. Her parents followed her off the plane. As the bright sunlight struck her eyes, she squinted and wished for her sunglasses.

  Customs went smoothly. Natalie heard Ken’s voice and looked up to see him waving at her, a big smile across his face. She ran to meet him, and he caught her in a snug embrace.

  After several seconds, Dad chuckled, and she pulled away. “Mom, Dad, this is Ken Worth. Ken, these are my parents, Christy and Chris Brooks.”

  They all shook hands, then Ken and her father rolled the suitcases to the parking lot. The guys stowed the luggage in the back of the Land Rover, then they all got in, her up front by Ken.

  He angled a grin into the backseat. “I hope you enjoyed a nice flight.”

  “Yes, wonderful,” Mom said.

  Dad yawned. “I even slept, and I can’t wait to see this place Natalie loves so much.”

  Ken nodded. “I’ve already done some errands, but before we leave Kingston I’ll need to buy some perishables.” He pulled into another parking lot. “Do you all want to come in with me or wait?”

  Natalie couldn’t bear to stay away from Ken for one moment. “I want to go inside.”

  Her parents joined them. They enjoyed perusing the merchandise, especially the local brands. As they approached the checkout, Ken added four green bottles to his basket. When they reached the car, he distributed one to each of them. “I want you to try Ting, our local Jamaican drink—it’s tart and sweet all in one bottle.”

  They enjoyed the cold drink on the ride.

  “I don’t usually like pop, but this is on my buy-again list now,” her mom said.

  Dad nodded. “I like the tartness of the grapefruit. I wonder if we can have some shipped to our house.”

  “Probably.” Ken kept up a running travelogue about the flora along the way as they drove to the compound.

  The guard opened the gate, and Ken waved before driving to the house. His parents came to the door to greet their guests. Natalie introduced her parents again, and Ken did the same. “These are my parents, Mickey and Tina Worth.”

  His mother smiled. “We’re so happy to have you visit us along with Natalie. She’s a lovely girl inside and out.”

  A blush tiptoed into Nat’s cheeks, and a longing grew within him to brush his lips across the rosy glow.

  Mom eased toward the kitchen. “Supper is almost ready, so Ken will show you to your rooms. Take a few minutes to settle in then we’ll eat in about ten minutes in there.”

  Two suitcases in hand, Ken started down the hallway. He pointed out the bathroom on their left and then opened the door to the guest room. “Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, this is your room.” He pointed across the hall. “That’s my room, but for this week it’ll be Nat’s, and I’ll bunk in the older boys’ dorm.”

  “We could have stayed at a hotel, Ken,” Dad said.

  Ken frowned. “We wouldn’t have wanted that.”

  Nat nodded. “That would have taken a lot of driving time, Dad, so I’m glad we’re staying here.” Her support thrilled Ken.

  “Me, too,” her mother added.

  He already liked this beautiful, older version of Natalie. “I’ll leave you all to settle in, then meet us back in the kitchen when you’re ready.”

  In less than ten minutes, they joined his family and sat down around the table. They all joined hands before Dad prayed a blessing. Ken noted Mom had set the table with his grandmother’s special dishes that his parents had brought from the States. The china, only used for special occasions, gave the dinner a festive feel. They passed around the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, and rolls.

  Mr. Brooks bit into his chicken, and his eyes widened. “This tastes just like my grandmother’s chicken used to when I visited their farm.”

  Mom smiled at him. “That’s because we raise our own chickens free-range like she probably did. Your eggs in the morning will be home-grown, too.”

  Nat’s dad grinned. “I’m sure glad we stayed here. Can I gather the eggs like I used to do for Granny?”

  Mom laughed. “That can be your job all week if you want.”

  After supper, they went on a tour of the compound. The Brooks made many complimentary remarks about the mission. Ken loved the affirmation Natalie’s parents spoke to his. Fears of them not finding anything to talk about proved unfounded, and he could tell where Natalie got many of the qualities he loved. Yes, he loved her. It shouldn’t surprise him, but he was glad to finally admit it to himself. Now when would he tell her?

  Ken had told his parents he wanted to take Nat on a tour of the island— alone—since they hadn’t spent time by themselves since her visit to Jamaica six years before. They understood. When he mentioned a day to themselves, she threw her arms around his neck.

  “Great idea!” He winked, then gently disengaged himself. “Dress in something nice to start, but pack a swimsuit, a change of clothes, and beach shoes since we might get wet later. ”

  Her eyes sparkled. “Will do.” Ken started the morning with a drive around Kingston. He pointed out several sites.

  Her gaze scanned the area. “Everything looks so historic.”

  “It is. Kingston was founded in 1692.”

  “Wow.” Her neck twisted from side to side. “I wish we could get out and walk around.”

  “That’s the plan. We’re almost ready to stop.”

  He pulled off into a parking area and pointed to a sign that read Norman Manley School of Law. “We don’t have to get out here unless you want, but I thought you might want to get a look at the law college while you’re here.”

  She stared at the campus. “It looks pretty small…especially compared to the University of Kentucky.”

  His stomach sank to his toes. Had he made a mistake bringing her here? Of course, it was small compared to a school in the States but it was the training and credentials she would obtain that were important.

  She reached for her door handle. “Might as well get out and see it while I’m here.”

  “We don’t have to.” He exited, but stood by the car. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, it would be silly to not look while I’m in Kingston.”

  They walked up the pathway to the building bearing the sign with the name. He held the door for her, and she entered.

  A receptionist looked up. “May I help you?”

  Ken glanced at Nat, but she didn’t speak. “My friend is visiting from the States and would like to get some information on the program here for those with an American law degree.”

  The lady looked up at Nat. “You already have a law degree?”

  Nat nodded. “Almost. I’ll graduate next May.”

  The receptionist stood. “Follow me, and I will see if I can find one of our professors to speak with you.” She led them down a short hallway to an office. “Sit please. May I bring you some bottled wate
r?”

  Nat shook her head, and Ken answered, “No thanks.”

  They sat in silence for several minutes until the woman returned with some pamphlets and brochures. “Here is some literature for you to peruse while we wait for one of our instructors to come to talk with you.” She left again.

  What he’d planned as a fruitful time together was turning sour. Ken reached for her hand. “Sorry for surprising you. If the teacher doesn’t come soon, we can leave.” He squeezed her hand.

  She squeezed back. “It’s not your fault.” At least she didn’t seem upset with him.

  “I thought next we could drive to Ocho Rios and spend some time at Dunn’s Falls.”

  A tall Jamaican entered the room. The man extended his hand. “I’m Professor White. Which of you is interested in our college here?”

  Ken shook the man’s hand then swiveled in his chair toward Nat. “This is Miss Natalie Brooks from the United States. She will graduate with her law degree next spring.”

  Mr. White smiled at her. “Have you heard of our six month certification program for lawyers from other countries?”

  She held up a brochure. “Yes, sir. In this.”

  Ken cringed. He shouldn’t have sprung this on her.

  Mr. White gestured to the brochure. “Do you have any specific questions about the program?”

  They spent the next fifteen minutes discussing the certification and how it could work for Nat. Mr. White leaned back in his chair. “Do either of you have any more questions?”

  “No,” Nat said.

  Ken stood. “I live on a mission compound about an hour from here. I will contact you if Miss Brooks or I have any further questions. Thanks you for your time and the information.”

  Natalie drew in a deep breath when they reached the outside air. Her chest ached as though she’d been holding her breath the whole time they were there. She’d anticipated a day of getting to know Ken better, but now it seemed he was trying to direct her future.

  Ken touched her hand. “I’m sorry I didn’t speak to you beforehand.” “That would have been nice.” She hurried toward the car.

  He trotted after her. “I realize now I should have. Will you forgive me?” “All right.”