by Leah Atwood
Restore My Heart
A Road to Love Novella
Leah Atwood
Copyright © 2017 by Leah Atwood
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the HCSB®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. HCSB® is a federally registered trademark of Holman Bible Publishers.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
To Dane-
We were young, and maybe a little crazy, but all these years later we’re still going strong. I love you.
Dear Readers,
A little over a decade ago, my husband and I were traveling back from California when, three-hundred miles into our trip, I realized we hadn’t prayed before leaving. No sooner had I said Amen, the axle broke. God answered our prayers—we stayed safe. It’s become an ongoing joke throughout our marriage and a story that we’ll probably still be telling when we have grandkids. However, that incident took us to a tiny little town in the middle of nowhere called Seligman. Situated on historic Route 66, it’s a fun, touristy town filled with relics of a time gone by. We loved it, and when we passed by two years ago, we stopped, now with kids, to experience the charm again. If you’re ever passing through Arizona on I-40, take some time for a detour. You won’t regret it! And please note, while I strived to maintain the authenticity of the town, some liberties were taken for the story’s sake.
Happy Reading!
Leah
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Epilogue
Other Available Title from Leah
Chapter One
Visions of the Grand Canyon would stay with Cassidy Frey for years to come. If it wasn’t her turn to drive, she’d crane her neck to catch a final glimpse of Grand Canyon Village illuminated by the lowering sun and picture herself standing on the rim, overlooking the vast land carved by ancient waters.
The time spent there with her friends had been too short, but she looked forward to visiting a childhood memory tomorrow morning. While all her friends had spent their summers at the beach, Cassidy had called Camp Margo home from July to late August every year from first to seventh grade. Located forty miles south of Kingman, the camp taught young girls decorum and diplomacy in preparation for a public life, while giving them a small taste of freedom most weren’t allowed at home.
Cassidy darted a quick glance at her friends with whom she shared the rental SUV. Each of them—Lark, Bridget, Jessica, and Rain—played a pivotal role in her formative years, but they didn’t understand the strains of her life as a politician’s daughter. She wouldn’t trade their friendships for anything, but she also appreciated those summer months long ago when she’d been able to connect with other young children who could empathize. Granted, she’d only realized that in hindsight, but she cherished those memories nonetheless, which is why she’d asked the girls if they minded a detour to visit the camp.
After all that had happened the last two months, she needed a reminder of the good parts that came with being a senator’s daughter. As it stood, she wished her father had never gone into politics. All right…if she was truly honest, of late she’d even wished she had a different father. She’d never lived under an illusion of her father being perfect, but she’d never imagined his true capabilities to be so sinister.
A shudder passed through her entire body. When comparing the consequences of her father’s actions, the loss of her job at Elon Public Relations Firm paled in comparison to the danger in which he’d placed America. Selling classified information to foreign countries. Her mind still couldn’t wrap around the motive. No amount of money warranted her father’s betrayal of trust to his country and family. Before she’d left D.C., she’d visited him in prison and begged him to tell her it was all a colossal misunderstanding, but he’d only stared at her blankly.
She shook her head, ridding her mind of the thoughts. This road trip with her childhood friends had worked wonders to clear her mind, and she wouldn’t give in to self-pity now. Maybe a trip to Camp Margo wasn’t such a great idea. Perhaps she needed to avoid all connections to her father and that life.
From the corner of her eyes, she saw Bridget in the passenger seat with her phone out and thumbs moving. She glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the other girls doing the same, and she had to stifle a laugh. Without a doubt, she knew they each texted their new boyfriends. All of them except for her had found love along the way on their trip.
Did it bother her that she remained single? Not one iota. With her life in shambles, she couldn’t think about romance. She had several more weeks of the trip remaining. After that, she’d have to return to D.C., pick up the shards of her life as she’d known it, and figure out what came next. The chance of finding another job in public relations anywhere near the capitol was slim. As Senator Frey’s daughter, she was now viewed as a liability, not an asset.
Something tickled her neck. She turned slightly to see Lark making her souvenir stuffed mule walk along her head rest, and she laughed. “What are you doing?”
Lark grinned and shrugged. “Looked like you needed a laugh.”
“I did. Thanks.”
Settling back into her seat, Lark crammed the mule into her purse. “Thinking about your dad?”
“It stinks, you know?” She sighed, wishing a way existed to go back in time and change the course of history—or at least her father’s poor decisions. “How do I move on from this?”
Jessica placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it. “One step at a time, and with the support of friends and family.”
She snorted. “After dad’s arrest, I found out who my real friends are, and they’re all in this vehicle.”
“I’m sure there are more than you realize.” Leave it to Rain to bring the optimism.
“Maybe, but not one of my so-called friends in D.C. bothered returning my phone calls. Thanks for the encouragement, though.” A song she and her friends didn’t care for played on the radio, and she lowered the volume. “And you girls have no idea how much I appreciate each of you. If not for your support, I’m sure I’d have lost my mind, or at least ran for the hills and become a hermit.”
Rain cleared her throat from the third-row seat. “Whatever. If ever there was an extrovert who needed people around her, it’s you.”
“I don’t know. This thing with my dad has changed me.” Baring her soul lifted the burden from her shoulders. “The last few months I’ve wedged myself into a shell and don’t know how to get out.”
“You suffered a massive blow.” Bridget’s tone took on an analytical slant. “You’re still the same Cassidy, but you need time to grieve what you’ve lost.”
“True. I would consider moving back to Treasure Harbor, but it looks like you all will be leaving.” She tossed a sincere grin to her friends letting them know she held only the best wishes for them.
“The trip’s not over yet.” Jessica leaned forward and nudged Cassidy’s arm. “There’s still time for you to find love.”
She shook her head. “Not a chance. That’s the la
st thing I need right now in my complicated life.”
Lark clucked her tongue. “Famous last words.”
“Remember the blind date I went on last Christmas?” Waiting for the groans to finish, Cassidy steered the SUV onto the interstate and merged with the traffic. “I think that foreshadowed the status of my love life, even disregarding my family drama.”
“I still think the pet rock was a joke,” Jessica said. “There’s no way any sane grown man would carry around a pet rock, let alone introduce you to it on a first date.”
“I wish.” The eye roll came before she could stop the motion. That had been the first and last blind date she’d ever gone on.
Rain giggled. “How I wish I could have been a fly on the wall when he pulled it out of his pocket.”
“All I can say is, thank goodness we’d both finished our meals by then. The server came, and I asked for that check pronto.”
“Did he at least pay?” Bridget rested an elbow on the armrest waiting for an answer.
“Yes, with a very generous tip to his credit, but I couldn’t get over the pet rock.” Enough time had passed that she could find amusement in the memory now, but it had been an interesting date, nonetheless.
The laughter released endorphins and her spirits picked up. The chance to take two months off and travel the country with her best friends was a onetime event. She wouldn’t allow her father to ruin this road trip for her in addition to all the other problems he’d caused.
Conversation switched from the lack of romance in her life to recollections of the trip’s events thus far, including the men each of her friends had found along the way. Rain had reunited with an old boyfriend, Luke Avery, in Nashville. Bridget met retired soldier, James, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, then in Oklahoma Lark met storm chaser, Cody. During their stop in Amarillo, Jessica found Kevin—who she discovered was actually Griffin—and fell in love again. What an adventure they’d all had so far.
Amid giggles, an acrid smell reached Cassidy’s nostrils. “Does anyone else smell that?”
“Pull over,” Bridget screeched, pointing out the front window. “It’s smoking.”
Smoke clouded Cassidy’s front vision. Thank you, Lord, for having me in the right lane already. She checked her side mirrors before pulling onto the shoulder and coming to a stop. After she cut off the engine, she stared at her friends. “What now?”
“Anyone know anything about vehicles?” Rain glanced at each of them with a hopeful expression but was met with shaking heads.
“Maybe it overheated, and we just need to sit for a few minutes.” Jessica leaned forward, peering out the front window.
“Pop the hood.” Lark reached for her door handle. “I’ll see if anything stands out.”
They all jumped out of the car and stared under the hood at the lingering traces of smoke. Unfortunately, none of them had a clue.
Cassidy offered them a weak smile. “Too bad it wasn’t a flat tire. That I could have fixed.”
“The rental comes with roadside assistance.” Bridget reached into the SUV and grabbed a packet from the glove department. “I’ll get someone out here to look at it and call the rental company.”
A small measure of relief soothed Cassidy’s nerves as she watched the cars whiz by at speeds exceeding eighty miles per hour. The sooner they were back on the road, the better.
Bridget pulled out her phone and entered the number for roadside assistance. Seconds later, her lips contorted to a frown. “I have no signal. Do any of you?”
Clamoring for their phones, one by one they realized nobody had reception.
When Bridget raised her arm with the phone in hand, and stood on her tiptoes, craning her neck to see if a signal appeared, Cassidy couldn’t help laughing.
Scowling, Bridget continued her attempt to gain a signal. “What’s so funny?”
Cassidy pointed to her friend’s upstretched arm. “You could star in one of those cell phone commercials.”
“I’m glad you find this amusing.” Bridget lowered her arm and walked along the road several feet, staring at her phone, then came back. “It’s useless. We’re stranded in the middle of nowhere Arizona.”
“Come on, girls.” Rain’s smiled radiated to the rest of them. “So, we’ve hit a snag, but it won’t keep us down. Why don’t we try to make it to the next exit and get help there?”
“Good idea.” Jessica jumped back in the SUV first, and the others soon followed.
Sitting behind the wheel, Cassidy started the engine, and a collective sigh of relief filled the air. She moved the gearshift into drive and pressed the gas pedal. Nothing happened. “Um, we have a problem.”
“What?” A hint of trepidation marked Lark’s question.
“It won’t shift into gear.” Cassidy bit down on her bottom lip as the reality of their predicament dawned on her.
“Turn it off and try again,” Jessica suggested.
She doubted it would do any good, but Cassidy gave it a try. What could it hurt at this point? Still nothing.
Bridget took charge, apparently having recovered from her initial panic. “We have two choices. Wave someone down, or walk to the nearest exit.”
“How far is that?” Rain’s forehead wrinkled.
Lark pulled out a roadmap she’d picked up at the Arizona Welcome Center last week. “Fifteen miles.”
Jessica jerked her hands outward in an abrupt motion. “No one is walking that far, especially since it will be completely dark within a half hour.”
“I agree.” Cassidy checked her phone again on the chance it had a signal. “It’s too dangerous.”
“That leaves waving someone down,” Bridget said matter-of-factly.
“Is that any safer?” Lark glanced at the map again, as if a solution would appear on the pages.
“Do we have a choice?” Bridget sighed. “We can’t stay here all night.”
“We could wait until a patrol car passes. Surely they would see us and stop.” Rain sounded pleased with her suggestion.
“I like that idea. It sounds much safer than the other choices.” Cassidy stole a glance at Bridget who she knew wouldn’t like that idea.
Bridget was a doer, not a waiter. Under normal circumstances, Cassidy preferred a proactive approach as well, but they were in a vulnerable situation. At least there were five of them—strength in numbers. It gave them more protection than if they been alone or only two of them.
“Let’s pray before making a final decision and ask for God’s protection.” Jessica’s gentle voice offered the peace they’d needed, and murmurs of agreement circled inside the vehicle. She led them in a brief prayer. Afterward, a tangible calm filled the Suburban.
Less than two minutes later, headlights veered off the interstate and shone brightly behind the SUV.
Chapter Two
Joel Kingston despised wasted days, and that’s exactly what today had been. Not only had he not accomplished anything at the hotel, but the bank had rejected his latest request for an extension of credit. Without an injection of funds, the project would go bust, and all his work would be in vain. Who’d want to stay in a half-renovated motel?
Sitting at the restaurant table, nursing a now warm soda, he cringed. Not even half. He had eight rooms of the historical motor lodge completely restored and twenty-two more to go with no money to finish them. The cracked foundation had swallowed an enormous portion of his budget.
Why hadn’t he realized the inspector and previous hotel owner were in cahoots? But how could he have known? Several people he trusted had recommended the inspector, and he’d had no reason to suspect his dubious nature.
By the time he realized he’d made an investment that never should have been made, it was too late, and he’d officially purchased the newly renamed Route 66 Roadside Lodge. Once he realized he’d been fooled, he’d sought legal action against the inspector and previous owner for misrepresentation, but his attorney informed him that would be a long shot. They were legally covered by their bu
siness and would file bankruptcy to avoid paying any fines or restitution.
So much for the legal system serving justice. He swallowed the bitterness before it could take root again. Staying calm and trusting in God had been a constant battle the last two years. Since he’d gone on a road trip on old Route 66 with his grandparents as a young boy, he’d caught his grandparents’ dream of owning a hotel along the way one day.
He’d worked hard and saved every dime. When his grandfather had passed away five years ago, he’d left Joel a large sum of money to put toward his dream. Pop and Gran had always believed in him, and although Gran was in an assisted care facility now, Joel wouldn’t let her down.
One way or another, he’d finish the motel and open for business. And when he did, he’d bring Gran for a visit and show her their dream had been realized. That by itself was his greatest motivation to finish. How, he didn’t know, but he’d figure it out.
Discouraged but determined, Joel polished off his meatloaf sandwich. Nothing like a giant slab of beef between two slices of thickly sliced, toasted buttered bread to dull the stress from today. He didn’t have room in his stomach to eat the accompanying fries, for which his arteries thanked him—they’d been punished enough by his sandwich.
After he paid his tab, he strolled to his truck, in no hurry to return home empty-handed—no needed money, and none of the equipment he’d hoped to purchase today. The sale advertised at an auction house in Flagstaff hadn’t panned out. He’d hoped to acquire new furniture for some of the rooms at a discounted price, but he refused to sacrifice quality. The right pieces at the right price would come along in time.
He rolled his eyes as he stepped into the truck cab. At this rate, he wouldn’t even need the furniture. Don’t be so negative. “Listen to your conscience, Joel.”
Man, now he’d resorted to talking to himself. The day hadn’t been that horrendous, had it? He’d overcome obstacles before, and he’d mount this hurdle, too. Once he moved past the initial disappointment of today, he’d sit down and formulate a new plan, find a way to generate income while still renovating the motel.
