Someone to Trust (Life Unexpected Book 2)

by Melanie D. Snitker

  Thunder rumbled and even more rain plummeted to the saturated ground below. This was one of the worst thunderstorms they’d had this fall. Chess glanced at his phone and saw a tornado watch was in effect. Not unusual for this time of the year. But eventually, it would all blow over.

  When the storm cleared late that evening, Chess said goodbye to his brother and niece and headed back home to Quintin. Once he was on the highway, he called Joel. A minute later, his friend’s voice answered. “Hey, Chess. You okay?”

  Chess thought about the question and finally nodded. “You know, I am. Better than I have been in a long time.” He paused. “I’m on my way back into town. Any chance I could come by for a bit?”

  “You know you can. What’s going on?”

  “I’d like to ask how you became a Christian. Do you mind?”

  Joel’s smile could be heard in his voice as he replied, “Are you kidding? I’ve been praying for you to do exactly that for a long time.”

  ~

  Chess walked into J’s Parkview Diner before lunch the next day. He saw Joel near the back and waved. Joel returned the greeting with a smile. “What brings you in here? You beat the lunch rush.”

  He shook his head. “I’m searching for Brooke. She wasn’t at work and she wasn’t at her apartment. Do you have any idea where she’d be?” After praying with Joel early last night, he’d slept better than he had in a long time. His dreams had all been filled with Brooke. When he woke up, he knew exactly what he needed to do.

  Anna walked up then and exchanged a glance with her husband. “She’s in Dallas, looking at apartments.”

  Chess’s eyes widened, and his heart lodged itself in his throat. “She’s what? When did this happen? Why didn’t you guys tell me?”

  “It’s not our place, man.” Joel gave him a sympathetic look.

  Chess knew he was right. But the thought of Brooke deciding to move on ignited panic in his chest. “Do you have any idea when she’ll be back?”

  Anna shook her head. “She told us she quit her job at the salon. She’s planning to visit several apartments, has an interview at a bookstore, and will be back late tonight sometime.”

  All Chess knew was that he had to find her somehow. Still, Dallas was a big city. Locating Brooke with no idea where she’d gone was like looking for a needle in a haystack. He pulled his phone out and dialed her number, not the least bit surprised when she didn’t answer.

  Joel put a hand on his shoulder. “She has a two o’clock appointment at Sandover Apartments.”

  Chess grinned. He had plenty of time to get there before then. He waggled his eyebrows. “Thanks, guys. I’ve got to run.”

  “There are more storms on the way. Be careful!”

  Chess raised a hand in acknowledgment. He jogged to his truck, jabbed the key into the ignition, and had to force himself to drive the speed limit into the city.

  With the help of the GPS on his phone, he located the Sandover Apartments and realized he didn’t even know what type of car she’d purchased the day before. Nerves made his palms sweaty as he closely observed every vehicle that pulled into the parking lot near the office. He wiped his hands off on his jeans for the third time as he waited for Brooke. More storm clouds moved in, and the smell of rain punctuated the breeze coming in through the partially-open window.

  When he finally spotted her in a silver Corolla, Chess’s heart slammed in his chest. “Okay, God. I’ve made a lot of mistakes. Way more than I care to count. Help me do something right for once.”

  He got out of his truck and jogged across the parking lot. Brooke didn’t see him until he tapped on her window. Her face pale, she rolled it down and shot him an exasperated look. “You scared me to death. What are you doing here, Chess?”

  “I need to talk to you.” He noticed a bench, small fountain, and a variety of flowers decorating the area around the apartment complex sign. “Please.”

  “I have an appointment.” She shuffled some papers together in the passenger seat.

  He knew she was avoiding him and he didn’t blame her one iota. “Brooke.” She stilled but didn’t look at him. “You’re twenty minutes early. You’re always early. Give me ten of those minutes and then I’ll get in my truck and leave you alone.”

  She seemed to think about that and finally dropped everything she was holding into the passenger seat with a sigh. “Fine.” She got out of her car and closed the door behind her. “What do you want?”

  Chess put a hand on the small of her back, guided her to the bench, and sat down next to her. He took in a calming breath, willing his mind to stay clear so he could say everything he needed to say. “I’m a controlling idiot.”

  Brooke folded her arms across her chest and fixed her eyes on the fountain. “Yep.”

  He might have laughed at her response if he wasn’t this nervous. “I’m thinking about selling my house.”

  She peeked at him from the corner of her eye in surprise. “You love that house. Why on earth would you do that?”

  He put his hands on the seat of the bench, curling his fingers around the edge. “I thought I might find a place in the DFW area.”

  Brooke turned her head toward him, a half smile on her face. “So, you can be closer to Nathan and Mia in Fort Worth. I’m happy for you.” She returned her gaze to the fountain again, letting her hands fall to her lap.

  “Except I’m not interested in moving to Fort Worth.” He waited for her to say something, but she kept silent. She wasn’t making this easy on him. “I thought I might move to Dallas instead.”

  That got her attention. She watched his face, her brows drawn together in confusion. “Why would you do that? Nathan’s in Fort Worth and you’ve always hated Dallas.”

  “Well, you’re moving here aren’t you? Maybe I want to be closer to you.”

  Brooke shook her head and jumped to her feet. “This is unbelievable. You can’t, Chess. I need space. I can’t keep moving forward the way things are.” Her voice faltered. “I’ve got a job interview this afternoon. I want to take art classes at the community college.” She shot him a look that combined desperation with defeat. “I’ve got to move on. And I can’t do that if I see you every day.”

  A drop of moisture hit Chess’s cheek, and he looked up at the dark clouds above them. “I have every confidence you’ll get the job you interview for. You certainly should take art classes, although with your talent, you could probably teach them.” He chuckled nervously. “And I hate that everything I’ve done makes you feel like you need to escape from me.” Another raindrop splashed on his nose.

  He studied Brooke’s face as she kept her eyes trained on a spot in the distance. A drop of rain hit her face, sending a smaller droplet to land on her long eyelashes. Give me the right words here, God. Please don’t tell me I’ve ruined one of the best things to ever happen to me.

  ~

  Brooke tried to process what Chess was telling her, but it didn’t quite make sense. If he was okay with her moving on, why was he here? The falling rain increased until she lost count of the number of drops that peppered her skin.

  Brooke motioned to the office. “I’m going to head in before I get soaked. Why don’t you go back before this storm gets any worse?”

  Chess shook his head. “I don’t care about the rain.”

  Brooke turned toward her car, but he reached out and caught her hands in his. He tugged her gently until she rotated to face him.

  He was silent until she raised her gaze to his. The unguarded emotion in his eyes took her breath away.

  “You said God used me to help you and Joel. Then later to help Nathan and Mia. Do you remember that?”

  She nodded slowly, unsure of where he was going with this.

  “You weren’t entirely right.”

  Now she was confused. “What are you talking about?”

  “I was lost, Brooke. Back then, I was nothing but a kid who had no idea what I was supposed to do with my life. I was searching for Nathan and living in t
he past.” A small smile lifted the corners of his mouth. “Until you and Joel came along. You two helped me to take those first few steps out of the pit I’d dug for myself.” He shrugged. “Then Nathan and Mia came into my life and set me free from the guilt I’d tied to my back for years.”

  There was no mistaking the moisture in his eyes with the rain that was falling steadily around them. Brooke’s shirt clung to her skin, and the rain traveled down her back, making her shiver.

  Chess’s hands moved up her arms until he was gently holding her elbows. “God might have put me in the right place at the right time to help the people who matter most to me. But last night, I realized something. God actually used you and Joel to make a difference in my life.”

  Brooke tried to grasp the meaning of his words. “What are you trying to say?”

  Chess gave a nervous laugh. “I’m making a mess of this.” He shook his head. “What I’m trying to say is that you were right. God never walked away from me and every time I thought I couldn’t take another step forward, He sent someone to help me back on my feet. I wouldn’t be where I am without you.”

  Brooke took in a shaky breath and let it out slowly, suddenly oblivious to the soft rain falling all around them. All she could feel was the warmth of his hands and the skittering of her heart. She moved to say something, but Chess raised his hands to her cheeks, cupping her face.

  “I’ve made mistakes, Brooke. A lot of them. But the biggest was letting you go.” He smiled, his eyes never leaving hers. “Girl, I’m so in love with you I can’t think straight. You’re the other half of my heart, and it took a lot longer than it should have for me to realize that.”

  She was certain there were more tears than raindrops on her face now. This was like a dream. A hope she’d had for longer than she cared to admit and that she’d come to accept would never come true. “You have horrible timing, you know that?”

  Chess laughed. Rain water dripped from his chin and onto his already soaked shirt. “That’s the story of my life, sweetheart.”

  Brooke chuckled and forced her face to appear serious “I’m still going to take art classes.”

  “Good.” His thumb lightly caressed her cheek.

  “And I think moving to Dallas would be a good change.” One eyebrow lifted.

  “I’ll follow you wherever you decide to live. I’m not letting you go again.”

  “You promise?”

  Chess grinned. “I promise. I love you, Brooke. With all my heart.”

  She pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth and smiled with a shake of her head. “I love you, too.”

  Chess leaned in and captured her lips in a kiss so gentle and loving it took Brooke’s breath away. He wrapped her in his arms, protecting her from the cold and the rain, until all she felt was the warmth and love he offered.

  Epilogue

  “Where are we going, Chess?” Brooke kept her eyes closed tight like he’d instructed her to. It felt like they’d been driving forever.

  He laughed. “You’re so impatient. You’ll know when we get there and I tell you that you can open your eyes.”

  Brooke stuck her tongue out at Chess and knew he was laughing at her, even if she couldn’t see his face. The late October sun filtered through the window and warmed her skin. Her mind raced with possibilities of where Chess was taking her. He’d been cryptic since the beginning, only telling her to wear closed-toed shoes. Of all the things, it only piqued her curiosity more.

  The truck finally came to a stop.

  “Don’t open your eyes yet.” He got out of the truck and opened her door moments later, offering her a hand as he helped her to the pavement.

  Brooke listened intently, hoping to catch a hint of where they might be. “How much longer do I have to keep my eyes closed?”

  “You’re cute. Have I ever steered you wrong?”

  Brooke grinned. “Do you honestly want me to answer that?”

  He planted a kiss on her cheek. “Hush. Hold onto my arm.”

  Chess led her through a maze of turns. At one point, she caught the scent of flowers that slowly increased until it was all she could smell. Finally, when she thought they’d be walking forever, he stopped. Gently, he guided her around and then moved his hands.

  “Okay, open your eyes.”

  Brooke hadn’t known what to expect, but the heart-shaped field of roses made her gasp. The air was filled with their scent as the white and pink blooms lifted their faces toward the sun. “Chess, this is amazing.” She shook her head in wonder. “Thank you for bringing me here.” She turned to smile at him. Instead of standing directly behind her like she thought he would be, he was down on one knee in the grass at her feet. Her hand flew to her mouth as tears sprang to her eyes.

  Chess reached for her other hand and held it between his own. “There is nothing on this earth that would make me happier than to spend the rest of my life finding ways to surprise you. I want to keep you smiling the way you are now.” He pulled a box from his pocket and opened it, revealing a ring with a small diamond and leaves etched into the band. “Brooke, will you marry me?”

  A happy tear found its way down her cheek. “I want that more than anything.”

  “Is that a yes?” He grinned at her with that knock-down gorgeous smile of his.

  Brooke laughed through her tears. “Yes.”

  Chess stood and slipped the ring on her finger. He kissed her then, and Brooke melted in his arms, fully embracing a life with the man she trusted to always protect her heart.

  Thank you!

  I appreciate you for taking the time to read Someone to Trust. I hope you enjoyed it and that you’ll consider leaving a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. I like hearing what you think about it and it’ll help other readers discover new books as well.

  Acknowledgments

  Doug, I’m so thankful God brought us together. When I think of the chain of events that resulted in our meeting each other, it fills me with awe. You are my best friend, and I can’t imagine my life without you. I love you!

  This book was filled with challenges, Crystal, and I can’t thank you enough for helping me work through them all. All I can say is I’m glad it finally came together. Talk about a huge sigh of relief – ha! I’m so thankful to have you for a friend and critique partner.

  Franky, Vicki, Rachel, and Kris, I couldn’t have finished this book without your encouragement. Thank you for your patience in reading the beginning over and over again until I finally got it right. You ladies are saints!

  A big shout out to my amazing beta readers: Steph, Denny, Sandy, Doug, and Mom (Suzanne). I appreciate you all more than you will ever know.

  Lord, this was one of the most difficult books I’ve written. So many of the scenes were emotional and came from nowhere, and I know all credit goes to You. Thank you for the opportunity to step outside my comfort zone. I pray you’ll take this book and use it to bless others.

  About the Author

  Melanie D. Snitker has enjoyed writing fiction for as long as she can remember. She started out writing episodes of cartoon shows that she wanted to see as a child and her love of writing grew from there. She and her husband live in Texas with their two children who keep their lives full of adventure, and two dogs who add a dash of mischief to the family dynamics. In her spare time, Melanie enjoys photography, reading, crochet, baking, archery, target shooting, and hanging out with family and friends.

  http://www.melaniedsnitker.com

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  Melanie D. Snitker’s Newsletter

  Books by Melanie D. Snitker

  Calming the Storm

  (A Marriage of Convenience)

  Life Unexpected Series:

  Safe In His Arms

  Someone to Trust

  Love�
�s Compass Series

  Finding Peace

  Finding Hope

  Finding Courage

  Finding Faith

  Finding Joy

  Finding Peace

  Chapter One

  Laurie Blake fumbled to fasten the buttons on her jacket. When she was finished, she plunged her stiff hands into the welcome warmth of the pockets. It was January in north Texas and cold weather was to be expected. But these exceptionally low temperatures almost made her want to dig out her gloves. Almost.

  Each breath turned into a puff of fog that preceded her down the street. She chose her steps carefully to avoid the uneven sections of pavement.

  Walking the two buildings between Daisy Belle’s Diner and the apartment above her photography studio, she was glad she chose a small bowl of vegetable beef soup for dinner. It would help keep her warm until she got home.

  The evening sky bore hints of orange as the sun readied for bed. Perfect timing. She hated to be out after dark.

  The neighborhood wasn’t in the best part of town. And that was an understatement. Most of the buildings were in dire need of a fresh coat of paint and the storefront for Capturing the Moment Photography was no exception. She was thankful that at least her building didn’t sport any of the paint tags many of the others did.

  Her eyes flitted to her dusty-looking Honda Accord before turning towards the door of her place. Something snagged her attention and her head whipped back around, eyes quickly honing in on the trunk. It wasn’t latched. Thinking little of it, she went to shut it completely and that’s when she noticed that the passenger side window had been broken.

  A groan came from her throat as she stood and stared at the damage. Tears gathered in her eyes.