Destination: Romance: Five Inspirational Love Stories Spanning the Globe Read online

  “Like what?”

  He sighed. “I don’t know yet, Dad. But it seems a wise business ploy to capitalize on some of the natural and unique elements of the island. Sea turtle nesting is certainly unique to most people’s everyday experiences.”

  “I can’t argue with you there.”

  Mom’s smiling face appeared next to Dad’s. “Hi, Joe. How is it going over there?”

  “Good,” Joe said. “Dad can fill you in.”

  “Oh, I’m sure he will.” She slipped her arms around Dad’s shoulders and pressed her cheek to his. “You’re not spending all your time working, though, are you? It would be a shame not to take in the sights while you’re there.”

  Joe grinned. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy… How many times had Mom used the adage to convince their hardworking Dad to let up on him or his brothers? “Don’t worry, I’m taking some time to enjoy the surroundings. I’ve had the privilege of being escorted around by a marine biologist from the Caribbean Sea Turtle Farm and Conservatory.”

  Dad released a sound that was half snort, half laugh. “So that explains it.”

  “Explains what?” Mom flicked a look from Dad to the screen, pinning Joe with her curious gaze.

  “Joe wants to name the Grand Cayman resort after turtles.”

  Joe rolled his eyes and groaned.

  Mom gave Dad’s upper arm a light smack. “Don’t make fun. You put Joe in charge of this project, and if he thinks the resort should be the…the…”

  “The Turtle Resort,” Dad said.

  Mom wrinkled her nose. “Maybe Dad’s right on this one, Joe.”

  “I usually am.”

  Joe couldn’t resist laughing. He loved witnessing his parents’ repartee. They reminded him of couples half their age, still honeymooning. He and Tamiera joked with each other that way, too. “I admit I haven’t been able to settle on a good name for the resort, but my designated tour guide might be able to help come up with at least one that you’ll find appealing. I’ll give you some better options the next time we talk.”

  They briefly discussed Thanksgiving and proclaimed he’d been missed even though his three brothers, three sisters-in-law, and seven nieces and nephews had crowded around the table. Joe assured them he’d wrap up everything and be home in time for Christmas.

  “I’m glad,” Mom said, her eyes misting. “It’s been lonely here without you.”

  “I miss you guys, too.” Joe hadn’t realized how much until he’d seen both of them on the tablet’s screen. “Love you both. I’ll be in touch again soon.”

  They said goodbye, and the screen went blank. Joe linked his hands behind his neck and let his head fall back. His thumbs encountered knots of tension in his neck. He’d spent too much of the day hunched over a desk. But tomorrow there’d be no desk time. Sunday… Worship with Tamiera and then an afternoon of exploration. Last Thursday when they met for supper she’d told him about a quiet stretch of beach largely undisturbed by houses or businesses.

  “It’s so unspoiled there—still very natural. It’ll give you an idea of what the island looked like before the tourism industry swooped in and commandeered much of the area.” She’d touched his hand and added, “There’s something extra special there I want you to see.”

  He envisioned her fervent expression, and his heart gave a lurch. Unspoiled… Natural… Special… And best of all, devoid of businesses. That meant no hotels. Would Tamiera guide him to the very piece of land for his family’s newest resort?

  Tamiera left her cottage and headed for her car for the drive to church. When she was halfway to the staff’s small designated parking area, the pound of footsteps behind her brought her to a stop. She whirled around, fingers sliding into her purse for the little can of mace Don insisted she carry, but she recognized the person approaching. She released the can and smiled.

  “Manny, hi.” She hadn’t seen the lanky Jamaican teen for at least a week, and she’d worried about him. “Where’ve you been keeping yourself?”

  “My gran’ma had some sickness, and I been keeping her garden. She has a big garden with lots of vegetables she sells in market.”

  She squeezed the boy’s narrow shoulder. “That’s kind of you. I wish I’d known. I would have prayed for her. Is she doing better now?”

  His smile flashed. “Much better, thank ya.” His gaze whisked up and down her sundress. “You lookin’ pretty, Miss Tamiera. You goin’ to church?”

  She nodded. “Do you want to go?”

  “Yes, ma’am!”

  She loved this boy’s enthusiasm. She’d never met a sunnier 14-year-old. “Well, c’mon then, let’s go.”

  As they settled into the seats, she sent a grin in his direction. “You’ve picked a good morning to go with me, Manny. After the service, I’m driving a friend to the dune where you helped me set the wire and mesh. Do you want go with us to check the nest?”

  “Yes, ma’am!”

  She laughed. She hadn’t expected anything else. “Let’s get going, huh?”

  CHAPTER 6

  By the time Tamiera reached the church, her stomach was knotted with worry. The few men she’d dated in college got possessive after a handful dates— and not in the protective way Don had added to her list of future-husband attributes. Although she couldn’t exactly classify her excursions with Joe as official dates, they had spent quite a bit of exclusive time together. How would he would react to Manny’s unexpected presence?

  Joe was waiting outside the doors of the church, and his smile didn’t dim even a smidgen when she introduced Manny and told him the boy would be spending the afternoon with them. Instead, he shook Manny’s hand and gave him a genuine welcome.

  Friendly, kindhearted —definitely on the list. She couldn’t have asked for a better response.

  She sat between the two for worship service, and midway through the sermon she realized her heart was aching. She identified the source. For the first time since she’d moved out of Don and Carol’s house, she was experiencing a sense of family. Usually she sat by herself in church. Even though she shared her days and most meals with co-workers, she’d still remained alone. Single. Solitary. Having Joe on one side and the teenage boy on the other filled her with longing to end her solitary existence and be part of a family again.

  Her mind tripped through the list she and her foster parents had made when she turned sixteen and was deemed, by their standards, old enough to date. After Don left the room, Carol had taken Tamiera’s hand. “Remember to be careful about dating. Yes, it can be fun and exciting to have a boy want to spend time with you, but dating comes with responsibility. Dating is the precursor to marriage. If you can’t think of the boy as a potential husband—someone you could give your whole heart to for the rest of your life—then be careful about dating him. And, no matter how much you like the boy, never sacrifice your standards for a few hours of fun that could lead you into regret.”

  At the time, Tamiera had inwardly rolled her eyes and considered her foster mother hopelessly old-fashioned. Now, almost ten years later, she appreciated the wisdom the woman tried to bestow. She risked a glance at Joe’s profile. Chiseled features, unusual blue-green eyes, clean-shaven jaw, neatly trimmed hair. They hadn’t put ruggedly handsome on the list. Joe exceeded expectation. If only he was an islander rather than a vacationer.

  She gave a mental jolt. Was he vacationer? He’d been on the island for three weeks now, longer than the usual length of time for visitors. When she’d asked him how he spent his time when she was at work, he’d claimed he was making contacts for his family’s business. Her heart took a little leap inside her chest. Maybe he intended to establish some sort of business on the island. Maybe he intended to make Grand Cayman his home. Maybe—

  “Please bow your head for our closing prayer.”

  Tamiera inwardly groaned. She’d completely missed the last half of the sermon. She closed her eyes.

  “Dear God, giver of life and bestower of blessings, please guide and
direct us. Let us seek Your will above all things…”

  A lump filled her throat. Not once during the past few weeks had she consulted her heavenly Father concerning her growing affection for Joe. She’d found herself contemplating a relationship with him, measuring him against the list of attributes she and her foster parents had created, pondering how a long-term relationship could work, but she hadn’t asked God if Joe was the one He’d chosen for her.

  Forgive me, Father, for not seeking Your guidance. Direct me now. Let me follow Your will concerning my relationship with Joe and in everything else in my life. I trust You to do what’s best for me.

  “Amen.”

  With the prayer’s end, people rose to leave. Joe and Manny followed Tamiera across the grassy churchyard to the gravel parking area. The two chatted about the sermon, and her heart warmed as she listened to Joe patiently answer Manny’s questions.

  Manny caught up to her. “Miss Tamiera, Mr. Joe tell me even though Jesus has gone to heaven now, He still can heal people like He did in the Bible if we pray. I am going to pray for Jesus to keep the sickness away from my gran’ma so she can be in her garden the way she loves.”

  Tamiera flashed an approving smile at Joe then focused on Manny. “That’s a very unselfish prayer. My foster father told me that Jesus is still in the miracle business, so Jesus certainly can keep the illness away, and He’ll do it if it’s His will for your grandmother.”

  Manny’s face clouded. “How could it not be His will for my gran’ma to be well and able to dig in the soil?”

  Tamiera leaned against the car. “The thing is, Manny, God’s thoughts are a lot higher and deeper than ours because He doesn’t only see today, the way we do. He sees tomorrow and all the way into the future. He sees how things that happen now affect things that will happen later.”

  The boy still looked confused.

  She sought an example, and an idea struck. “For instance, God’s will might be for you to spend more time with your grandmother, like you did last week. If she’s able to do everything herself, you might not be as likely to go to her house every day. Am I right?”

  The boy grimaced. “Ya.”

  “So even though we don’t like to think of your grandma not feeling well, her illness might be something God uses to bring the two of you closer, or to make her even more dependent on God to give her strength.”

  Manny nodded in slow motion. “I think I see what you say, Miss Tamiera. Thank you for explaining to me God’s will.” He grinned. “Hooph, to think like God might make my head hurt.”

  Joe laughed and put his arm around Manny’s shoulders. “It’s a lot easier for us to trust God than try to think like Him. So how about we all agree that His will is best and then do our best to follow it, huh?”

  “Yes sir, Mr. Joe.”

  Joe’s gaze latched onto Tamiera’s. His blue-green eyes, almost the color of the beautiful sea water that lapped against Grand Cayman’s shores, seemed to search her very soul, and she couldn’t look away. Did his words to Manny hold deeper meaning concerning their blossoming relationship? She held the car fob in her hand, and her fingers tightened on it, inadvertently hitting the unlock button. At the click!, their gazes broke apart, leaving her oddly close to tears.

  Joe reached for her door handle with a jerky motion. He cleared his throat and bounced a half-smile across Tamiera and Manny. “I don’t know what you had in mind for lunch today, but I’d prefer something other than fast food. Is that little cafe in the shopping district open on Sundays? I really enjoyed the lobster hoagie and slaw I had there earlier this week and wouldn’t mind a rerun.”

  Manny licked his lips. “Mm, I like the way you think, mon.”

  The boy’s comment broke the tension. Joe burst out laughing, and Tamiera couldn’t resist joining him. She gestured to the car. “Get in, you two. If we want an outdoor table, we need to get there as quickly as possible.”

  Tamiera parked her car at the edge of the road above the beach. Her stomach was so full it ached, but what would she have left on her plate? The sandwich and coleslaw tasted so good, she couldn’t bring herself to waste even a bite. Then Joe ordered creme brûlée for each of them. The creamy vanilla custard with its caramelized sugar and cinnamon topping paired with a cup of strong Jamaican coffee had perfectly finished the meal.

  She groaned as she pulled herself out of the vehicle. “Okay, if I waddle down this slope, it’s all your fault, Joe.”

  Joe and Manny grinned at each other. The two of them had formed a fast friendship during their hour-long lunch, and although she teased them about leaving her out, she secretly celebrated. Manny needed male influences in his life. Even if Joe was only here temporarily, it still benefited the youth to spend time with a Godly man. Joe’s ease with the young teen gave her a glimpse of what kind of father he would be. Joe Phelps grew more appealing by the moment.

  They followed Tamiera down the sandy slope, still joking with each other. She dodged tufts of thick grass and a few spiny cacti. She pointed at the latter and peeked over her shoulder at Joe.

  “An island folklore is that Christopher Columbus visited and planted cacti during one of his explorations. I don’t know if that’s true, but it does seem unlikely that the desert plants are indigenous to the island.”

  Joe raised his eyebrows and nudged Manny. “Did you hear her? Indigenous… She’s pretty smart, huh?”

  Manny’s smile grew. “She very smart, mon. An’ she strong, too, so don’ be dissin’ ’er.” He only spoke slang when he was very comfortable. Joe had obviously won over the islander.

  She shook her head, giving both of them a teasing scowl, then laughed. “Manny, do you want to show Joe the nest?”

  The boy’s whole face lit. “Yes, ma’am! Come on, Mr. Joe.”

  Manny grabbed Joe by the elbow and pulled him past Tamiera to the smooth patch of sand where the wire cage and its cover of mesh still stood. He began gently untwisting the ties holding the mesh in place. Tamiera crossed to the opposite side of the enclosure and helped Manny lift the mesh from the wire circle.

  “Miss Tamiera and me put this here to keep dogs from digging up the eggs. The dogs, they will eat the eggs before the turtles can hatch. Sometimes cats will, too. But not this batch. Our wire cage stayed strong, and that means these turtles will grow big enough to push out of the shells and try to reach the water, right, Miss Tamiera?”

  How Tamiera hoped the entire batch of hatchlings would reach the safety of the sea before birds or other predators caught them. Of course, there were other dangers in the ocean, too, but she didn’t want to squash Manny’s enthusiasm. “That’s exactly what we prayed for.”

  Joe crouched and seemed to carefully examine the enclosure. “Do you put these things around every turtle nest?”

  “No.” Tamiera ran her finger along the top edge of the wire. “I don’t always spot the nests. But as often as possible, we try to protect the nest and give the turtles a fighting chance to develop and hatch.”

  He stood and scanned the beach in both directions. He whistled through his teeth. “You were right about this area. Completely unspoiled.” His brow furrowed, and he aimed a thoughtful look in her direction. “Do you happen to know if this patch of ground is available for purchase?”

  Her heart turned a somersault. If the land was owned by a private citizen who cared about the turtles as much as she did, then the beach could be made off-limits to human encroachment, allowing the turtles to nest undisturbed. “The land survey at the city offices would give you that information.” Hope made her pulse beat hard and fast. “Why do you want to know?”

  He slipped his hands in his pockets and smiled. “Because this would be the perfect spot for my business’s newest resort hotel.”

  CHAPTER 7

  Tamiera’s expression changed from sunny to stormy so quickly Joe took a backward step. “What’s wrong?” She gaped at him. “What’s wrong?” She pressed her palms to her temples for a moment and then her arms flew in wild gest
ures. “Did you really ask what’s wrong? Haven’t you listened to anything I’ve said when we’ve talked about the turtles? They need protection. Do you have any idea what harm it would do if you built a hotel along this beach?”

  Joe put up both hands. “Whoa, slow down. I wouldn’t build right on top of the nesting grounds.”

  “It doesn’t matter, Joe! You could build it half a mile away and people would still walk to this beach. They’d get close to the nesting turtles and take stupid selfies. They’d interfere in the hatchlings progress to reach the sea. We’ve encroached on every other piece of this island where the turtles return and try to lay their eggs. This is the only— Oh!” She groaned and sat in the sand. Elbows on her knees, she gripped the sides of her head and hung her head low. “Why did I bring you here?”

  Manny scurried close and knelt beside her. “Miss Tamiera, don’t be angry at Mr. Joe. He didn’t know. He knows now, so he won’t put a hotel here.” The youth raised his troubled gaze. “Will you?”

  Joe turned aside from Manny’s questioning, hopeful expression. He couldn’t give an answer. Not yet. In his three weeks on the island, he hadn’t found a piece of land this perfect. He could already envision the building covered in peach colored stucco with aqua window awnings and gray-green portico tile so it would blend seamlessly into the landscape. The location was close enough to town for easy shopping but far enough away to escape the city’s noise and busyness. Dad would approve this patch of ground in a heartbeat.

  “Mr. Joe…?”

  Joe turned to the pair on the sand near the wire cage. Manny looked unwaveringly into Joe’s face, but Tamiera stared across the water. Tears quivered on her lower lashes. The boy’s disappointment and Tamiera’s sadness pierced him, but what could he do? He was a businessman sent to secure the best spot for the newest Phelps resort hotel. Dad was counting on him.

  He swallowed hard. “I’m sorry, but I have to make inquiries about this plot of land.”