THE TRUE LOVE SERIES BOX SET: A Christian Romance

by Duncan, Juliette

  Time flew, and before they knew it, they were lining up at the check-in counter for their eagerly anticipated holiday. Tessa had left the clinic in Harrison’s care, a decision she’d made on the spur of the moment, but somehow it had felt right, and Bindy and Sparky were staying with her parents.

  Her phone rang as they sat in the boarding lounge. Ben had just handed her a coffee, so she took a sip before answering. It was Margaret, and she was so emotional, Tessa could hardly understand her.

  “Tessa, you… you aren’t going to believe this.” Her voice caught in her throat. “I can hardly believe it myself.”

  “Margaret, what’s happened?” Tessa’s heart pounded. Could it be? Could it really be that Harrison had finally contacted his mother? What else would make her so emotional? Tessa could think of nothing else that would touch her friend so deeply. She hoped that it truly was the breakthrough they’d both been praying for.

  Margaret sucked in a breath and continued. “Harrison called this morning.” She began to sob.

  Tessa’s eyes blurred with tears. “That is such great news! I’m so happy for you.”

  Margaret sniffed. Gradually her sobs subsided, allowing her to continue. “Thank you. I’m so happy, I hardly know what to do with myself.” Her voice held such excitement that Tessa imagined her jigging on the spot like a teabag, and it made her smile.

  “God really is good, isn’t He?” Tessa let out a contented sigh.

  “He is. I’d almost given up hope.” Margaret took a deep breath. “It was wrong of me, I know, but it’s been so long.” She paused, sniffing once again. “I somehow have a feeling He might have used you in some way, so thank you. I’m so glad we became friends.”

  “Me too, Margaret. Me too.”

  A short while later, as they all settled into their seats for the three and a half hour flight to Queenstown, Tessa couldn’t help but think that things were finally starting to look up.

  Chapter 25

  Standing atop the north-facing slopes of The Remarkables ski area, Tessa’s gaze swept across Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding alpine resort of Queenstown and her jaw dropped. “I knew it would be amazing, but it’s… it’s breathtaking.” Sun-kissed alps pierced the whiter than white clouds hovering over the peaks, and stood in stark contrast with the brilliant blue sky stretching as far as the eye could see.

  She shivered slightly as the fresh mountain air lightly brushed her face. Shifting unsteadily on her skis, she turned to the three males standing beside her and couldn’t help but grin. Jayden and Neil, so cool in their ski outfits, were eager to tackle the slopes. Ben’s day-old stubble gave him a slightly rugged appearance, and she loved the way his designer ski clothes hugged his tall, lean body.

  A male instructor slid to a stop in front of them, sending a spray of powdery snow into the air. He dug his poles into the snow and removed his goggles. An easy grin sat on his deeply sun-tanned face. A neatly trimmed moustache gave him a slightly European look, and his crystal-blue eyes sparkled.

  “Pretty cool, huh? I’ve been skiing these slopes since I was a kid, but I don’t think I’ll ever tire of their beauty.” He pulled off his gloves and extended his hand first to Ben and then to Tessa and lastly to the two boys. “Eversley Scalet. Nice to meet you all. Is this your first time?”

  Ben replied first. “I’ve skied before, but a long time ago.”

  “This will be our first time.” Tessa stretched her arm behind the two boys, drawing them closer.

  “No problem.” Eversley smiled easily. “The Remarkables are perfect for beginners and pros alike. You boys ever been snowboarding?”

  “No,” Jayden replied.

  “But we can skateboard, if that helps any,” Neil added.

  “Not exactly.” Eversley laughed. “Skateboarding and snowboarding do have some similarities, but they’re completely different sports. I’m going out to the back country this afternoon to do some snowboarding. If you’re interested, I’d be happy to teach you some moves.”

  “That would be cool,” Neil said. “We’d love to come.”

  “Great, but first things first,” Eversley said. “I suggest we start on the learners’ slopes instead of up here.” He raised his ski pole and pointed away to a set of lower mountains. “A chairlift will take us over there. Beginner runs aren’t as steep, so you won’t run into as many obstacles and hopefully you’ll also take fewer tumbles.”

  “Tumbles?” Tessa’s jaw dropped. “I’m petrified of falling down a precipice.” She grimaced as she glanced over the side of the mountain that disappeared into oblivion.

  Eversley chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll show you how to fall so you don’t hurt yourself. You’ll be right if you stay away from the edges and take it easy.” He grinned, revealing a row of even, white teeth. “The most important thing after you take a tumble is to get back up and try again... and again and again.”

  Tessa gave him a half-hearted smile. She didn’t know why she was so nervous, after all, she could ride a bicycle; she loved snorkelling and hiking and most other sports, but there was something about the slippery snow and the long pointy skis that made her unsteady on her feet.

  Despite her initial concerns, all morning long, the four of them practiced skiing down the beginner slopes under Eversley’s expert instruction. True to his word, they took a lot of tumbles, but not even Tessa minded too much. Their time was full of fun and laughter. It felt so good to be out of New Farm and away from the everyday pressures of work and school. There was a certain spirit of freedom on the mountains and she and Ben especially relished it.

  When their lesson was over, they thanked Eversley and headed back to The Remarkable Mountain Lodge where they were staying.

  After changing clothes, warming up, and eating lunch, she and Ben settled into the lodge’s movie room with two steaming cups of hot chocolate topped with puffy marshmallows.

  “Would you like to join us?” she asked Jayden and Neil.

  “Maybe another time,” Neil replied, tucking the striped blue and white board he was holding more securely under his arm. “We’re off to do some snowboarding with Eversley.” He nudged Jayden who was blocking the doorway, engrossed in his phone.

  “What?” Jayden snapped.

  Neil took a step back and stared at him. “Did you forget? Snowboarding with Eversley? He’s waiting outside for us now.”

  Jayden shrugged. “I’m not interested anymore. You can go by yourself.”

  Neil’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, right, I forgot you’re no longer interested in the things you used to be.” His voice held a hint of sarcasm. “You’re not interested in making music with our band anymore. You’re not interested in playing rugby anymore. You’re not interested in hanging around your own friend, who just happens to be me. And now you aren’t even interested in learning how to snowboard.”

  “We don’t have to hang around each other all the time to be friends.” Jayden shifted his weight to his other foot. “Besides, I’m really not interested in any of those things anymore.”

  “Jayden, that’s enough.” Ben sprang out of his seat and stood over him. He was breathing heavily and the muscles in his neck tightened. “We didn’t come all the way to Queenstown for you to stay stuck inside with your eyes glued to your phone screen. You’ll go snowboarding with Neil and Eversley or I’ll take your phone off you.”

  Tessa held her breath, her heart pounding. This wasn’t meant to have happened.

  Jayden rolled his eyes and slipped his phone into his pocket. “Whatever. These lessons better not take long. I’ve got other things to do.”

  Ben narrowed his eyes. “Like what, exactly?”

  Jayden shrugged offhandedly as he turned to follow Neil. “Just stuff.”

  As soon as the boys were out of sight, Tessa pulled Ben back down beside her. His chest was still heaving and his body tense. She slipped her arm around his shoulder and snuggled close.

  “Come on, relax. He went, that’s the main thing.” She leaned up and
kissed him.

  Ben let out a huge sigh and his body relaxed a little. “Yes, you’re right.” He kissed the top of her head. “I just don’t know what to make of it. He annoys me so much sometimes.”

  “I know. He was super excited about being here in the beginning, so I don’t know what’s happened to make him so touchy now. Hopefully an hour or so with Eversley will help.” She rested her head on Ben’s chest and drew in a slow breath. She sincerely hoped that would be the case. They needed this holiday, and could do without hassles with Jayden.

  Ben flicked on the screen and pulled her closer as he placed his feet on a footstool. “I hope you’re right. I don’t know how much patience I’ll have if he stays like that for the rest of the holiday.”

  Tessa released a sigh and offered up a prayer.

  Everyone awoke the next morning looking forward to another day filled with fun, snow, and sunshine—everyone except Jayden. He dragged around the slopes behind the other three and Eversley as if he didn’t want to be there. He periodically stopped to check his phone.

  When Eversley left to attend another group of skiers, Neil had an idea. “Let’s have a race.”

  “Good suggestion,” Ben agreed, placing his goggles over his eyes. “You should all be warned… I’m quite the competitor. Are you all ready?”

  Tessa gave a mock haughty shake of her head. “Are you? Because I’m no pushover either.” She strapped on her skis and hurried to get in position.

  Neil waved for Jayden to get in line, but Jayden wasn’t paying attention. His back was toward them and he was on his phone again. “Hey, Jayden, are you ready?”

  “For what?” Jayden asked without turning around.

  Neil frowned. He scooped up a handful of snow and packed it into a ball before flinging it at him. It splattered squarely into his back. “Will you put down that stupid phone and pay attention to what we’re doing for a second? We’re about to have a race.”

  Jayden spun around. “Did I say I wanted to race? No!”

  “Boys, stop it!” Tessa intervened before Ben did.

  Jayden ignored her and spoke to Neil. “Stop telling me what to do.” He shoved his phone into his pocket, bent to scoop up a handful of snow, and threw it straight into Neil’s face. Neil barely ducked in time. He recovered quickly, and rushed at Jayden.

  “Enough,” Ben shouted. Forgetting her skis were already strapped on, Tessa lurched forward to keep Jayden and Neil apart. As she tripped and fell, she tried to remember what Eversley told them about falling sideways instead of backwards or forwards, but it was too late. She crashed onto her back with her leg bent into an awkward position underneath her and began sliding down the slope.

  She screamed and her heart skipped a beat as she plummeted further down the slope. I’m going to die, I just know it… Her heart pounded. She tried to grasp onto something to slow her slide, but she was moving too fast and all that surrounded her was snow. Dizzying whiteness blurred past, blinding her sight and stinging her skin as it scraped against the cold powder. She sucked in a breath, but snow slid down her throat almost choking her. Her body jolted as she came to a sudden halt.

  Her head spun, and she could hardly open her eyes, but when she managed to open them, Eversley stood over her. It had been him she’d slammed into.

  “Sorry.” She could barely speak. She rolled over and tried to get up but winced at the pain in her foot. “I think I’ve broken something.” Her voice was no more than a whisper.

  Ben and Neil arrived. Ben stooped over her, his brows knitted. “Tessa, are you okay?”

  She bit her lip as she tentatively reached for her ankle. “I hope so.”

  “Lay still and let me check,” Eversley said. He bent down beside her and stretched out her legs. When he squeezed her left ankle, she stifled a scream.

  “Seems it’s just your ankle. I don’t think it’s broken, probably a bad sprain, but we’ll get it checked out.” He repositioned her foot carefully on the snow. “You’re a lucky girl. It could have been a lot worse.”

  She groaned. This was bad enough.

  “Can you walk?” Neil asked.

  She shook her head. “I don’t think so.” She tried to get up but fell back into the snow.

  “No walking,” Ben said. “We’ll carry you.”

  She looked up and caught his eye. He was so concerned about her, but she could kick herself. She’d ruined their holiday.

  She winced as Eversley and Ben both put an arm around her and helped her take her weight on her one good foot before sitting her on their joined hands. She wrapped an arm around each of their shoulders and settled herself in her makeshift chair.

  “Guess we’ll have to race another time.” Ben raised his brows and gave her a cheeky grin. He looked up suddenly. “Where’s Jayden?” His eyebrows puckered as he scanned the area.

  “I’ll get him.” Neil turned and jogged up the slope as best he could. After a few minutes, he came sliding back down, nearly barrelling into them. He stopped himself just in time.

  “He’s not there.” Neil’s face had lost all its colour.

  Chapter 26

  “You must be wrong. Jayden has to be somewhere.” Ben scanned the area again as he desperately tried to remain calm.

  Neil shook his head. “He’s not where I left him, Mr. Williams, and I couldn’t see him anywhere.”

  “He couldn’t have just disappeared.” Ben tried to remain calm, but his heart began racing dangerously fast as a whole range of possibilities ran through his head.

  After leaving Tessa in the care of the medical staff, Ben returned to the slopes with Neil to thoroughly scour the area for Jayden. He’d called Jayden’s phone countless times, but each time it just went straight to MessageBank. He couldn’t understand it. Jayden always had his phone with him.

  The weather had changed and dark clouds were rolling in, shrouding the peaks in masses of swirling grey. The beautiful mountains he and Tessa had been so in awe of just yesterday had morphed into foreboding monoliths.

  “He must have fallen,” Ben said to Neil for what seemed like the hundredth time. He couldn’t voice the other thoughts crowding his mind. He swallowed hard as a chill ran through his body. Surely Jayden hadn’t been kidnapped.

  He looked hopeful as Eversley came towards him dragging an object behind him. “Anything?” Ben asked, trying not to sound over eager.

  Eversley shook his head. Instead of his usual easy-going manner, his expression was grim. “No sign of him, but I found these.”

  Ben bit his lip to stop it trembling.

  “They’re Jayden’s skis.” Neil sounded alarmed. “He had them last time I saw him.”

  Ben’s face paled. “I don’t understand where he could have gone, and so fast. We were all here together when Tessa fell. I thought he’d followed us down.”

  “We’d better get a search party organised. And the quicker the better. I don’t like the look of this weather.” Eversley glanced up at the thickening clouds hovering overhead. “I think we’re in for a blizzard.”

  Ben’s heart fell. Where was Jayden? He drew in a deep breath as he gazed at the darkening clouds. Please God, please don’t let him be out in this on his own.

  As Ben followed Eversley back down the mountain slope to the lodge, his mind swarmed with questions he didn’t have answers to. Jayden had either fallen, or he’d been kidnapped, but that was unlikely. More likely he’d walked off on his own accord given the mood he’d been in. But what had triggered it? Ben had no idea. And if he’d walked off, where would he have gone? And why? He couldn’t have gone far. He couldn’t drive, and he didn’t have much money. What if he’d met someone? A heavy weight settled on Ben’s chest. He’d heard of sick men stalking young boys. Surely Jayden was smarter than that. But he had been on his phone an awful lot. Who was he talking to?

  Ben’s heart rate increased the more he thought about it. All the things he’d confronted Jayden about—his grades, rugby, mixing with Owen, ran through his mind. They’d se
emed important at the time, but paled into insignificance now Jayden was missing.

  If he’d gone off willingly, Ben only had himself to blame. How many times had Tess told him to go easy on the boy? He hadn’t listened to her, but now he wished he had.

  Eversley contacted the manager, who quickly put an alert out to all instructors. He also contacted the Police and the Emergency Services. A missing fifteen-year-old boy out in this weather was a concern for everyone.

  The Police interviewed Ben and Neil. They told the constable all they knew, which was very little. Tessa was wheeled in soon after and clung to Ben as best she could with her leg elevated in the wheelchair. One of the staff members gave them mugs of hot chocolate. Neil sat beside them quietly.

  “I want to join the search team,” Ben said to Eversley.

  Eversley clapped him on the shoulder. “No, it’s best you stay here. Keep your chin up. He couldn’t have gone that far. I’m sure we’ll find him.”

  Neil kicked his legs and fidgetted with his hands. “Do you think Jayden left because of me? Maybe I shouldn’t have yelled at him and just left him alone. Seemed he didn’t want to be bothered with me anyway.”

  Tessa wrapped her arm around him. “No, don’t think like that. It’s not your fault. Like Eversley said, they’ll find him, hopefully sooner rather than later. We don’t know where Jayden is, but God does. We have to trust God in this situation, okay?”

  Neil nodded, but didn’t look convinced. He kicked his feet even more and then looked up. “I have something to tell you. I wasn’t going to before, but I am now because it may help us find Jayden.”

  Ben straightened. “Go on. What is it?”

  Neil blinked and paused before speaking. “Last week Jayden told me his mother contacted him.” He glanced at Tessa. “His other mother.”

  “Kathryn?” Ben’s eyes widened.

  Neil nodded. “I don’t know what they talked about exactly, but Jayden said he wanted to leave and live with her, so maybe that’s what he did.” Neil lowered his gaze.