Her Christmas Wish ; Designed by Love

by Sherelle Green

  Chapter 9

  “Tell me again why I agreed to go on this long-ass hike in this scorching heat,” Nash yelled as they made their way up a deep incline.

  “Aww, is Ashy Nashy tired when we’re only twenty minutes into the hike?” Kyra teased.

  “The baby talk is one thing,” he said. “But you ain’t gotta call me ‘Ashy.’ I made sure I lotioned, put on sunblock and bug spray. Ya boy is moisturized up here in these trees.”

  The group all laughed and Kyra took the moment to pull out her GoPro and capture a few photos and a video of Nash taking a break to fan himself with a towel. Even though she’d just met Trista and Maceo, she felt like she’d known them forever. She liked their vibe. And, yeah, Nash may annoy her, but she’d felt like she’d known him for years, too. He was like that annoying best guy friend she always wanted but never had.

  “We’re almost there,” Trista said after another twenty minutes.

  “We’re almost where?” Nash asked, panting from the heat. “Luke and Kyra had agreed to go on this hike before they told me all the details.”

  “We’re almost to Wishing Waterfall,” Maceo explained. “It’s a place only St. Lucians know about.”

  “Sounds like my kind of place,” Kyra said. “I love spots that aren’t overrun with tourists.”

  “Me, too,” Luke said. “The first time Trista took me to this waterfall, I told her I didn’t want to leave and could live in the trees in this rainforest.”

  “He really did,” Trista said with a laugh. “He was only twelve then, so I believed him.”

  “I’d never live in the rainforest,” Nash said, now using the towel to wipe the sweat off his face. “It’s too damn hot. I thought it was supposed to rain a lot.”

  “Most of the time, it does,” Maceo confirmed. “We’re just lucky today, I guess.”

  Nash mumbled something under his breath that Kyra couldn’t make out, but she was sure he was still complaining. They walked for another ten minutes until Trista announced that they’d finally made it.

  “The waterfall is right over this hill,” she said. “Nash, this is your chance to cool off because we’re getting in.”

  Kyra cringed. “More water? Did Luke tell y’all that he flipped me over in the Jet Ski and we were almost attacked by dolphins?”

  Maceo and Trista froze. “Dolphins bothered you?” Maceo asked. “Our dolphins are usually friendly.”

  Luke laughed. “They didn’t attack us, but Kyra was flapping around in the ocean trying to get back on the Jet Ski and they thought she was playing, so they were following her around.”

  Everyone laughed. “Okay, so maybe they didn’t attack me, but those things were huge! I’m not a water person, so yesterday was a bit much.” Although, had she not been locking lips with Luke, she wouldn’t have been in the water at all.

  She hated to admit it, but yesterday had been a great experience. However, she’d be lying to herself if she didn’t acknowledge that their kiss had confused the hell out of her. Kissing Luke was everything, and even though her body was craving for more, her mind was warning her to tread lightly.

  His lips had been so soft and just like the first time they’d kissed all those years ago, he’d applied the perfect amount of pressure with enough tongue to drive her insane with need, emphasis on the insane part. She’d put her heart out there again and kissing Luke yesterday had reminded her that if she wasn’t careful, there was a possibility it would get broken again.

  “You don’t have to get in if you don’t want to,” Trista said, “but at least check it out before deciding.” Kyra nodded her head and followed Trista—who was ahead of the pack—up the hill.

  When they reached the top, Trista stretched out her arm. “Welcome to Wishing Waterfall, St Lucia’s very own fairy godmother.”

  Kyra’s eyes widened at the beautiful sight before her. “Wow, I’m not sure what I expected, but this is beautiful.” There were only a few other people in the waterfall and when they noticed them and the others on the top of the hill, they waved.

  “Do you know them?” Kyra asked.

  “Yes, they are the friends that Maceo and I were meeting. If you come in, I’ll introduce you.”

  Kyra studied the decently sized body of water. “How deep is it?”

  “Hmm, no more than twenty feet in the deepest part. Only about three feet at the base.”

  Kyra swallowed. “Twenty feet! That’s it, huh?”

  Trista laughed as they made their way down the hill. “It will be fine, trust me. We brought a couple life jackets with us, so you can have one. And we have some tubes that us island folks keep stashed in an empty shed. They should already be pumped with air, so we can tie together.”

  Kyra watched Luke, Maceo and Nash begin removing their clothes so that they could get into the water. Hmm...nice. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t take her eyes off of Luke’s six-pack. She’d seen it yesterday, but goodness, the man still had it.

  “You guessed why we call it Wishing Waterfall, right?”

  Kyra tore her eyes away from Luke and glanced at Trista. “Because you can make wishes at it?”

  “Yes, that’s true, but not just any wishes. There’s a story St. Lucians are told in school.” Trista pointed her finger to the top of the waterfall. “It’s said that many years ago, right up there, there was a young woman who’d lost her fiancé at sea due to a storm that killed everyone on the fishing boat. To escape the heartache of having to face everyone in town, she had her father build her a small cabin right above the waterfall for her to live at. Every day at sunset, she’d come out of her cabin and cry up to the night sky for the love she’d lost to find his way back home her. But he never came. She waited at the top of that hill for years, crying every day for his return.”

  “Did he ever return?” Kyra asked.

  Trista shook her head. “No, he didn’t.”

  “What happened to her?”

  “No one knows for sure,” Trista said. “Yet, the way the story goes, she cried so much that, eventually, her tears turned into a stream. That stream turned into a river. And that river turned into a waterfall. When the girl’s father came to the cottage to find her, he noticed this waterfall, although it wasn’t originally there when he’d first built her home. He also found a note his daughter left saying that she hoped the people of St. Lucia would visit this waterfall and remember how special love can be. She hoped that their hearts would always return to their true loves because she didn’t want any visitor to ever feel alone. She wanted us to be encouraged and make wishes knowing that there was someone in the world who was listening, hoping that all our dreams come true.”

  Kyra glanced at the waterfall. “Have love wishes ever come true as a result?”

  Trista smiled. “More than I can count. Personally, I know over thirty people who have found the heart of the one they love after visiting this waterfall.”

  “So in a way, she scarified herself for the happiness of others,” Kyra said. “That’s a beautiful story.”

  “That’s a messed-up story,” Nash said, sneaking up behind them and interrupting the moment.

  Kyra hit Nash on his shoulder. “Dude, I was really listening to that.”

  “I could tell,” he said. “But why tell kids that story in school? I mean, the woman basically dies of a broken heart and we’re supposed to swim in her tears and be okay with that? Nah, bruh. As a kid, that story would have done just the opposite and scared me away from a relationship.” Nash looked to the whole group. “Tell you what. When I dive in, I’ll make a wish, but my wish will be for all the kids who may have been deterred from love after hearing that story. May they still find their way to that one special someone.”

  Maceo laughed. “In a twisted way, that makes sense.”

  “Don’t encourage him,” Luke said. “Nash, you have to respect the story. It’s old
er than you by decades.”

  Nash walked over to the water and waded right in. “I respect the story, bro. I’m just being realistic. I mean, was anyone concerned that this woman went missing? What father do you know that will accept a letter assumingly written by his daughter as a sign that she’s okay? Especially when she’s up in these hills all by herself.”

  Luke and Maceo went in after him. “You have a point,” Maceo said. “I never thought of it that way.” While the men debated the story a little more and made their way to the other people in the water, Kyra and Trista removed their clothes and began wading in slowly.

  “Thank you for sharing that story,” Kyra said to Trista once they’d both gotten into their tubes.

  “You’re welcome,” she said. “I hope it helps you find the answers you’re searching for. Or should I say, I hope your wish for love comes true.”

  “I may not make a wish.”

  Trista rolled her eyes. “Oh, honey, please. I see the way you look at my cousin. And I see the way he watches you. You’ll make a wish before we leave today and I’d bet money that he’s doing the same thing.”

  Kyra thought about denying it, but it was no use. She had a good poker face at times, but being in St. Lucia was making her soft. She could blame it on the heat, but there was no point doing that, either.

  Maceo grabbed the rope that was keeping her tube linked to Trista’s and pulled them together with the others. When Kyra’s tube waded right next to Luke, she smiled, loving the smile he was giving her in return. Since they’d been with the others, they’d barely spoken to each other today, but somehow, she felt like they’d still been communicating. Whether it was the looks he was shooting her way or the private smiles he gave her when the others were occupied, their body language had been having major conversations.

  When she heard Nash mention Christmas and ask the St. Lucians how their Christmas differed from the States, a thought crossed Kyra’s mind. She’d been honest when she told Trista she wasn’t sure if she’d be making any wishes, but now—being here with Luke—she could think of at least one wish that she wanted to make for the holiday. So without hesitation, she slowly closed her eyes and inwardly made her Christmas wish, her hands wafting over the water when she did so.

  She opened her eyes, glad that the group was still engrossed in a conversation about Christmas. Only when she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her did she look Luke’s way and spot him—his eyes were fastened on hers.

  Kyra swallowed the lump in her throat as she observed him more closely. Crap. She hoped he hadn’t known she’d made a wish, because if he did, she didn’t need him suspecting that the wish had anything to do with him. Yet, judging by the smirk on his face, he already knew it did.

  Chapter 10

  Luke could tell that Nash was nervous to meet his mother, but Luke wouldn’t dare tell him that he was just as nervous.

  “Are you okay?” Kyra asked from the passenger seat of the rental. Before Luke answered, he glanced back at Nash to make sure he still had his headphones in.

  “I’m a little nervous,” he admitted. “My mom is amazing, but I know this will be a lot for her. For them both.”

  Kyra covered Luke’s hand, which was resting on his thigh, with her own. “Nash and your mom both need this and while it may be hard, you having Nash come to St. Lucia to meet her was the right thing to do.”

  Luke nodded. “I know you’re right. For my mom, I hope this doesn’t dig up memories of my father’s infidelity. And for Nash, he still doesn’t know his birth mother, so I hope it doesn’t trigger his feelings about that, either.”

  “There’s a good chance this will trigger emotions for both of them,” Kyra said. “But that’s natural given the circumstances. Until we get to your mom’s house, try to think about the positive side. This trip needed to happen, and so far, it’s gone well.”

  For the rest of the drive to his mom’s house, Luke took Kyra’s advice and tried not to think about everything that could go wrong with this visit, but rather, everything that could go right.

  When they arrived at his mom’s place, as expected, she was sitting on the porch, ready to greet them. Luke looked back to Nash as he removed his headphones.

  “Is that her?” he asked. Luke nodded and all three of them exited the car. Luke was still trying to figure out if he should hug his mom first and then introduce Nash or the other way around, when Kyra made her way past both of them.

  “Ms. O’Connor, it’s so great to see you,” Kyra said, pulling her in for a hug. “Should I still call you Ms. O’Connor?”

  Athena laughed. “Yes, child, I kept my married name.” Athena sat back. “Ooh, would you look at you. If you aren’t just as beautiful as the day I met you.”

  “Thank you,” Kyra said with a smile. “I’ve missed you.”

  Athena clasped a hand over hers. “I’ve missed you, too, sweetie.”

  Luke went to his mom next, hugging her tightly since he hadn’t seen her in a few months. “I’ve missed you, Mom,” he said. “But I’m glad St. Lucia is treating you well.”

  She leaned up and hugged him back ever so tight. “I needed this, baby. I needed my people.”

  Luke nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. The divorce had taken a bigger toll on her than Luke had been prepared for. “I want you to meet someone.” Luke waved over Nash, who was still standing at the bottom of the stairs. “Mom, this is my brother, Nash. Nash, this is my mom, Athena.”

  After coming up the steps, Nash looked uneasy, like he wasn’t sure what to do. Extending his hand, he told her, “Nice to meet you, Ms. O’Connor.”

  Instead of accepting his handshake, Athena stood from her porch chair and lightly touched his cheek. “Nash, it’s very nice to meet you, too. You look so much like my boy.” Athena opened the screen door. “Come. Let’s go inside.”

  Nash smiled as he stepped into the home. “We’ve been getting that a lot. Guess our dad has strong genes.”

  Athena nodded, her eyes full of emotion. “You do look like Nick,” she said. “Maybe even a little more than Luke does.”

  Luke took a seat next to Kyra on the couch. He wasn’t sure if he should leave the room so they could get to know each other without him there, or if they should stay. When Kyra took his hand in hers, he figured that was her way of saying they should stay.

  “Thank you for wanting to meet me,” Nash told Athena.

  “Honey, I wanted to meet you the moment Luke called and told me about you.”

  “So you didn’t know I existed?”

  Athena shook her head. “My ex-husband is a lot of things, but honest isn’t one of them. Had I known you existed, I would have made Nick do right by you.”

  Nash visibly swallowed. “I appreciate that. I was adopted when I was a baby and my parents are great. But I always felt a little off in my family and then they told me I was adopted.”

  “And you found my Luke,” Athena added. “I remember how scared and excited he was to get to know you.”

  Nash laughed. “I was probably even worse than Luke.” His face grew serious. “The investigator I hired didn’t find much on my father.”

  Athena shook her head. “Nick has always had a wandering spirit and I didn’t know until Luke was in high school just how wandering that meant. If Nick doesn’t want to be found, he won’t be found. That doesn’t mean you should stop trying. It only means that you may not like what you find when you track him down. Luke can probably help you. Nick tends to reach out to him from time to time.”

  Nash frowned. “After talking it over with Luke, I’m not sure I even want to find him.” Nash glanced at Luke before returning his gaze to Athena. “Do you know anything about my birth mother? Or have an idea as to who she might be?”

  “I’ve thought about those early years with Nick many times upon finding out that you existed, but I can’t re
call Nick even being friends with another woman back then. I wish I knew more, but I was kept in the dark about a lot of things.”

  “So there was never a clue that he had another son out there?”

  Athena shook her head. “Nick and I had some dark times, so I may not remember every fight we had that made him walk out, or every guy trip he went on that could have been covering for something else, but sometimes, our subconscious chooses not to see things to try and save us from the heartbreak of our situation.”

  Nash nodded. “I understand. Figured I had to ask.”

  Athena placed her hand over Nash’s. “I know you already have a family, but Luke’s family is your family, too. We don’t do all that half this and half that around here. You are family, Nash, and when you’re ready to learn more about your past, tell my Luke and he’ll get you in contact with Nick. Unfortunately, he may have the answers you’re looking for. But I must warn you, the years have not been kind to him. You may not like what he has to say.”

  “I’ve been preparing myself for the unexpected ever since I learned I was adopted,” Nash said. “If I decide to learn more, I’ll try to handle it best I can.”

  Athena smiled. “That’s all any of us can do, Nash. And now that we’ve met, I hope you know that you can always come to me when you need someone in your corner.”

  Nash glanced over at Luke, who couldn’t really read the expression on his brother’s face.

  “I really appreciate that,” Nash told Athena.

  “Good.” She lightly touched his cheek once more before announcing that dinner was waiting on them all in the kitchen. “Should we eat?”

  “Oh, man,” Kyra said. “I’m probably going to gain ten pounds from all this good food, but I’m down to eat more.” They followed Athena into the kitchen and sat around the table. It had been a while since Luke had tasted his mom’s cooking, but she definitely didn’t disappoint.

  Conversation flowed easily as he and Kyra caught up with his mom and Nash learned about some of the antics Luke and his friends used to pull back in the day. At first, it seemed like Nash was enjoying all the stories, but as dessert neared, Luke noticed Nash seemed to be a little distant.