Two Hearts Surrendered

by Tamara Ferguson

  Why, here?

  There’d always been something rather otherworldly about this ground. And with her recent grim prognosis, Christina could identify, since she wasn’t fated to be of this world for too much longer. There was something magical – almost mystical – about Dragonfly Pointe. And ever since she’d been a child, Christina had been unusually drawn to this beach.

  Here was where she’d decided to say her goodbyes to her closest friends.

  Echoes of laughter could be heard in the distance where most of the other teenagers had gathered around the blazing bonfire erected alongside the beach. Sucking in an invigorating breath of the crisp night air, Christina sighed, staring up at the sky. The dazzling night sky flashed stars so bright and clear, it almost appeared, that if she reached right up, she might be able to touch them.

  Keeping an arm wrapped firmly over Christina’s shoulders, Kate Callahan guided her cautiously over the graveled pathway leading away from the beach. “Are we almost there?”

  “Just a little further,” Christina answered, reassuring her friend.

  Finally, they stopped, only a few short steps from the edge of the beach.

  “This is where you wanted to go?” The formation of rocks soaring up over the lake was a popular landmark for tourists. The view from atop Crystal Rock was spectacular. Kate hesitated, staring up to the widened ledge at the base of the cliffs. “But isn’t this where—?”

  “Anna Ivers was discovered?” Twenty years before, a six-year old girl had been found brutally murdered here at Dragonfly Pointe. Doubting the wisdom of hosting a fundraiser for cancer research here at this beach, Christina’s mother had attempted to discourage her when they’d begun making their plans. Although countless rumors had circulated through the years about Dragonfly Pointe being haunted – especially since Anna’s murder, unfortunately, remained unsolved – Diane Montgomery just couldn’t say no to her daughter. With a wan smile, Christina nodded. “I’ve always felt her here, you know.”

  Few people knew of Christina’s remarkable gift. Kate was only one of a handful of friends who didn’t roll her eyes when Christina claimed she could envision the past as well as foresee the future. But Christina’s prophecies had an undeniably strange predilection for coming true.

  “Really? How, so?” Tugging the pillow from Christina’s arms, Kate tossed it up, along with her blanket, to the ledge. Scrambling over the smooth slippery surface of the rocks, Kate spread the blanket over the dusty ground in the alcove above. Plumping up the pillow, she propped it against the far most wall. After that, she reached down from the ledge to close her hand over Christina’s, holding her steady while tugging her up into the shallow cave.

  A few moments later, when Christina was comfortably situated, she sighed wearily as she reclined against the pillow. Carefully choosing her words, she finally answered Kate’s question. “Anna’s...unsettled. Her parents were divorced only a couple of years after she was murdered, you know.”

  Kate nodded before reaching over and deftly adjusting the pretty pink stocking cap covering Christina’s head.

  Distractedly, Christina frowned. She’d lost so much weight over the last few years. Her chemotherapy had been discontinued only a few months ago, after discovering it wasn’t halting the progression of the cancer. And she felt herself becoming weaker every day.

  Settling back against the wall, Kate crossed one leg over the other. “Is there some particular reason you wanted to talk to me in here, Chris?”

  “It was just too crowded down at the beach, Kate. And I really needed to speak with you alone.” It took a moment for Christina to concentrate – the pain medication was making her feel spacier than usual tonight. Resignedly, she realized her mom must have upped her dosage. It definitely explained why everything she saw had taken on a hazy, dreamlike quality. “This place has always been special to me.”

  Soothed by the subtle vibrations of water lapping gently over the rocks below, she began to doze off. The trek along the beach had been exhausting.

  Kate remained quiet as Christina took some time to recharge.

  And, then, with a start, Christina finally spoke. “The Indians claim this ground is sacred, you know.”

  Kate grinned. “Yeah. I think you might’ve already mentioned that to me a couple of times – or more.”

  Christina smiled ruefully. “I’ve had a lot of time on my hands since I had to quit going to school. Once my mom bought me my new computer...well...I’ve been doing a lot of research about this town and its history.”

  Kate chuckled. “You can’t fool me – you used to spend a lot of time at the library, even before you got sick.” But then she frowned.

  “That’s okay, Kate,” Christina whispered. Reaching out, she covered Kate’s hand with hers. “Wanna know what else I learned?”

  “Sure.”

  “Along with all the superstition, there’s some really interesting Indian folklore associated with Dragonfly Pointe.” Christina hesitated, before her eyes met Kate’s. “Supposedly – any death that occurs at Dragonfly Pointe actually provides strength to those left behind to mourn.” With a wry smile, she added, “Unfortunately, though, the progression of life and death is a given.”

  When Kate reluctantly nodded her agreement, Christina sighed resignedly. There would be no miracle for her. Kate needed to realize that Christina had, long ago, accepted her fate. She’d always been much wiser than her fourteen years.

  But she didn’t want to forget everything she needed to say to her very best friend. Her brain was becoming increasingly foggy, though. It took all her concentration to remain focused. She began abruptly, “It’ll happen with one, single kiss.”

  Kate blinked, clearly confused. “What?”

  “You’ll fall in love,” Christina announced. “It’ll happen with one, single kiss.”

  Kate snorted.

  But when Kate’s eyes met hers, Christina remained solemn. “You’ll fight it. And it’ll be several years before you’re willing to accept it. But you’re never gonna be able to forget that kiss.”

  Kate giggled uneasily, clearing her throat. “It’s not that I don’t believe you, Chris. But why was it so important for you to tell me that?” Kate rolled her eyes. “We both know how annoying it is when our friends start talking about their stupid boyfriend troubles.”

  Christina hesitated, before her eyes suddenly filled with tears. “Did you know, Kate, that I’ve never even been kissed?” Hoarsely, she continued, “And, just like Anna, I’m never gonna have the chance to fall in love.”

  Kate appeared momentarily stunned. Christina knew Kate was on a short string emotionally, attempting to remain strong for her. But, it was as if a dam broke loose when, expectedly, Kate began to cry.

  Pulling her into her arms, Christina whispered, “There’re gonna be some pretty devastating problems that your family will have to deal with in the future, Kate. And work’s gonna be all that’s important to you. But always remember that, one day, if you’re ever willing to accept it, you’ll have the chance to be incredibly happy. And I really need for you to be happy, Kate. Letting you know what to expect someday – so you don’t let happiness slip through your fingers – it’s the best final gift I could think of to give to you...

  CHAPTER ONE

  Five years later...

  Beams of misty light threaded through dense fog as sunrise began to dimly light up the horizon. Along the shoreline where birdsong echoed, wildlife stirred, rustling awake with the first light of dawn.

  As Crystal Rock Lake magically came to life, Kate Callahan sighed contentedly. She loved this time of the day. There was absolutely nothing more beautiful than the sun rising up over the lake. Inhaling an invigorating breath of the crisp morning air, she settled back in her seat and slid the key into the ignition. When the engine surged to life, she slipped the inboard into gear. Holding steady while slowly easing away from the pier, peering cautiously through the windshield, she sliced through the denseness of fog maneuvering her
vessel through the murky shadows. As she steered further away from the shoreline, the fog began to mysteriously dissipate, drifting upward into swirling waves.

  Finally, the fog abruptly disappeared. Blinded by the glare from the rising sun, Kate shoved on her sunglasses and lifted her face to its warmth. With the visibility clear, cranking the motor into high speed, she deftly spun the wheel steering on toward Dragonfly Pointe.

  The Ivers’ home. Kate couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this excited. She still couldn’t believe Jeff Ivers had finally decided it was time to remodel his family’s long-abandoned summer home near Dragonfly Pointe.

  And when her father had actually put her in charge of the restoration. Well...to say she was surprised would’ve been an understatement. At only nineteen, Kate had been prepared to wait at least a few more years before heading up her own crew. With over one-hundred employees and as many as twenty combined crews operating throughout the year, Callahan Construction employed several more supervisors who were much more experienced than her.

  Up high above the shore, the Ivers’ manor sprawled over about a half an acre of lakefront property. Slipping the gears of her speedboat into neutral, Kate studied the dilapidated exterior of the structure. Extensive water damage due to the failing roof would require a complete structural overhaul to the home before they could even attempt to restore the interior. Plus, on her earlier tour of the property, she’d discovered signs of termite damage.

  Skillfully maneuvering her vessel into the crumbling dock of the landing, Kate was startled when a familiar figure suddenly appeared. “Dad. What are you doing here today?” Standing to reach over the windshield, she quickly unwound a rope from the bow. “I thought I had until Monday to come up with my figures.”

  Mike Callahan grinned, reaching out and grabbing the rope from his daughter’s hand. Pulling gently, he guided the boat to a more stable section of the dilapidated dock. “I know that I gave you two more days, Kate. But since your mom and I are expecting company today, I thought I’d try to get ahead of everything. I figured you’ve probably been working up your projections every day and night, anyway.” After tying off the rope and securing the boat, he reached for Kate’s hand, and hoisted her up to the dock. “I really threw you for a loop when I named you crew boss.

  Kate laughed. “No kidding. You know me way too well,” she admitted wryly. Bending down, she grabbed her clipboard and notebook from the passenger seat, handing them off to her father. She reached for the supersize thermos and coffee cups propped up near the cooler. “How about some coffee first? Then we can do a walk-through.”

  Nodding his agreement, her father held onto the paperwork.

  Leading the way, Kate stepped cautiously along the crumbling pathway that ran into a rustic flagstone patio, strewn with weeds. As they settled alongside of each other on the low ledge surrounding the patio, Kate untwisted the lid to the thermos pouring them each a cup of coffee.

  While they sipped their coffee in companionable silence, Kate thoughtfully studied her father. At age forty-four, Mike Callahan was still a handsome man. Thick, ash-brown hair showed only a touch of gray at the temples. Enhancing rather than distracting from his looks, the broken nose suffered while playing high school football had left a small lump on the bridge of his nose. Laugh lines were deeply etched into the corners of his silvery-blue eyes.

  “Okay,” she finally asked. “Were you ever planning on telling me why?”

  With feigned innocence, he shrugged his shoulders. “Why, what?”

  “Dad,” she reprimanded. “You know what I’m asking. I thought I wasn’t gonna get a chance to head up a crew for at least a few more years.”

  Gruffly, he answered, “I never exactly said that, though. Did I?”

  Kate was taken aback. “No. I guess not.”

  “Kate – you’ve been following me around since you were five-years old. You have more knowledge and all-around experience than some of my employees who’re twice your age. All I was waiting for was the right sized project. And this was it. This wasn’t just my decision, Kate. Gus Lemke and John Norris brought up your name before I even suggested it.”

  After a moment of silent contemplation, she asked hesitantly, “What about Luke Arnett?”

  “He’s pissed, Kate. For some reason he assumed he’d get this job. I’m not exactly sure why – since I’d never even mentioned anything about the Ivers’ place to him in the first place.”

  Kate nodded, swallowing the last of her coffee.

  “Let’s go through the house, now. I’ve got something important I need to talk to you about when we’re finished.”

  Because of the extensive structural damage to the house, Kate began her observations in the attic. Not only would shingles and plywood need to be replaced, but the joists supporting the roof would require additional reinforcement.

  “I think we should just open up the main floor and vault the ceiling over the kitchen along with the dining room and living room,” Kate observed, when they finally made their way downstairs. Although the house was spread out like a ranch, the sleeping quarters were connected by a short row of steps extending up from the enormous kitchen. Another short row of steps led down into an expansive family room and office space.

  Her father lifted a brow. “Wouldn’t that eat up a lot of our budget?”

  Kate snorted. “Not with all the structural damage. We have to replace all the ceilings anyway because of the water damage. Why not modernize? Plus, we’ll have to rip up the walls to replace the wiring too. It’s all knob and tube.”

  He nodded. “That attic space is wasted. There’d still be additional storage in the attic over the bedrooms. What have you got in mind for down here?” Peering over her shoulder, he listened as she presented her plans for an open concept.

  An hour later, they’d finished their tour of the eight-thousand square foot property. “That’s a great idea, Kate,” her father eventually observed, studying the appliances. “I can’t see the advantage of using these old relics, myself – even though they’re in great condition. But I know there’s a demand for vintage appliances. We can probably get a good price for them.” He jotted down some notes on the clipboard before turning back to her. “What’s your final number?”

  Digging through her notes, she flipped a few pages before showing him a figure. “I know it’s high. But with five bathrooms.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Well...I could probably get away with using subway tiles and ceramics. But this kitchen’s gonna be costly.”

  Instantly, her father approved her figure.

  And Kate was startled.

  He grinned. “I agree with everything you’ve proposed, Kate. There’s a ton of structural damage and we’ll need all new windows and doors, anyway. We’ll definitely need to rebuild all three fireplaces. Hold off on ordering for the bathrooms, though. I’d rather use higher-end materials. I’ll contact Jeff Ivers to see if he’ll increase his budget. You should have a higher contingency fund, too. You might discover mold when you begin pulling down the walls.”

  “Don’t forget about asbestos, Dad. With the safety issues, I should probably get someone out here immediately after beginning the demolition.”

  Absentmindedly, her father nodded. “I think we should keep that distinctive knotty pine in the family room as well. I like your idea of a wall of sliding doors opening up to the lake. There’re several energy-efficient options available now, too. That’ll bring in a lot more light and enhance the beauty of the paneling rather than making it appear as dark and dingy as it does right now.” After signing off on her clipboard, he handed it back over to Kate.

  Kate’s voice was unsteady. “Thanks, Dad. I promise I’ll do a good job.

  Easing an arm over her shoulders, he squeezed her gently. “Of that, I have no doubt.”

  “Now, what else did you need to talk to me about?”

  Her father hesitated. “Have you got any more of that coffee left?”

  She smiled. “Sure. The air
in here is a little musty – even with the windows open. Let’s go back outside.”

  After settling back on the patio with his coffee, her father cleared his throat and began, “Dan and I took stock of the warehouse, Kate. And it appears you two were right – the inventory doesn’t match up with the numbers.” Home from college for the summer, Kate’s older brother, Dan, worked in the warehouse, distributing previously inventoried building materials.

  Kate raised a brow. “And?”

  “For the last three weeks, we’ve been tracking materials after they’ve left the warehouse. The numbers seem to match up with our jobs here in town. So we’ve been able to eliminate approximately two-thirds of our employees from suspicion.”

  “I’d like to see that list of names.”

  He nodded. “We haven’t been able to get a count on our materials going out of town, though. We’ve just been too busy. I’ve reassigned all the remaining employees who haven’t been crossed off the list. Over the summer, they’ll be split between our two largest jobs here in town. Hopefully, no one’s become suspicious. I’ll tag along and work with the crew at the new golf course.”

  Kate nodded. “And the other?”

  “Luke Arnett’s crew? I’ve assigned Luke to the campgrounds because the plans for each cabin are straightforward and easy to follow. And I’ve – conveniently – ordered the majority of his required building materials already. So it should be easier to track the materials – if they begin to disappear. I’d rather not have to look over Luke’s shoulder.”

  “You’re suspicious of Luke Arnett? I can’t see him stealing from you, Dad – he’s been with you for over fifteen years! But that’s why you made it so easy for me to move into the cabin for the summer, isn’t it?” Her eyes met his. “Since the campground’s right next door?”

  Her father snorted. “Easy? With your mother?”

  Kate laughed. “I can only imagine. She’s been so overprotective. Thanks, Dad – I really appreciate it. It’s not that I mind living at home – our house is large enough. But I’ve really needed some breathing space.”