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Where Love is Planted: A Meriside Romance - Book 1

By Dawn Kinzer

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On a beautiful day like this, Beth Miller could almost forget that one, swift irreversible moment when her life and the lives of others had been forever changed.

Her light sweater and jacket shielded her from the slight chill lingering in the late March air. She stretched out on the bench beneath the cherry tree that stood between her studio apartment and Agatha Sharp’s craftsman-style home. Beth crossed her arms and tucked them under her head. Sunshine broke through the pink canopy above, and she tilted her head to embrace the warmth. There was time to relax before heading to the cemetery.

Two years to the day. Her throat clogged, and a hot tear escaped. Those darn emotions. Rushing to the surface again. Just when she thought they’d been restrained.

Yet . . . God had sent a reminder with those caressing, golden rays from heaven that he hadn’t forgotten her pain. And he was still there, walking beside her. Even in those moments when she didn’t feel him or had forgotten how much she needed his presence.

Faint scents, barely detectable, heightened her senses. The hyacinths were close to blooming, and soon the garden would be filled with their lovely smell. Daffodils also displayed a strong, cheerful appearance, but tulips weren’t revealing their colorful petals yet. Later in the spring, lilacs would showcase lovely blossoms. Of all the flowers, they were her favorite, and there were so many varieties to choose from—blue, lavender, magenta, pink, purple, white, and yellow. Maybe one day, she’d plant a lilac bush in each hue in her own garden.
Beth inhaled a whiff of salty air, a reminder of how close she was to the Sound. Living in a Washington port town with access to both the Olympic Mountains and the Pacific Ocean was difficult to give up, hence she’d attended a college less than a five-hour drive from home.

Driven and goal-oriented, she didn’t want any success at the expense of her family, but God had placed desires in her heart. Why would he give her those dreams if they were to be kept in sight but never within reach?

Lord, I don’t want to complain. I really don’t. You’ve given me so much.
She could continue working at the family business and still find ways to feed her passion, but what she was able to accomplish there wasn’t at the level she wanted to achieve. Was there something God required of her before she fulfilled her calling? Sure, she had flaws, like always wanting to feel in control. But she was working on that.

Unfortunately, there was another step to complete before becoming a horticultural therapist. Beth had been close to achieving it, but following the loss of her dad and brother, the only choice she could make was to leave her internship, come home, and be with her grieving family.

Her brother had been her best friend. He’d trusted Beth—depended on her like she him—and she’d made that promise. One she strived to keep. Liam had begged her to take care of Mom, Harmony, and Kaylee. But too often, she fell short. And the secret she kept from her family? It burdened her with guilt, but the facts carried potential to cause more hurt. So she’d buried the truth within her heart.

Now, two years later, at the age of twenty-nine, she still hadn’t found a way to finish that last requirement for professional certification. And she sometimes struggled with feeling like a failure, professionally and personally.
Dad, I miss you. You always knew what to do.

She was almost four when her father had taken her on a daddy-daughter date while Mom stayed home with toddler Liam. They’d gotten ice cream before strolling the local piers, and because one structure had no railings, Dad had taken a firm hold of Beth’s hand. But when a conversation with several fishermen lasted too long, she’d grown impatient and slipped from his grasp.

Not paying attention to her surroundings, she’d backed too close to the wooden floor’s edge and toppled into the cold water. As Beth sank slowly into the depths, she felt no fear, only peace.

Then with a whoosh, her dad’s strong arms grabbed her and carried her to the surface. As soon as she was pulled from the water, a fisherman wrapped a warm blanket around Beth’s shoulders. She felt perfectly calm and didn’t even cry, but her father was shaken and insisted they return home.

After that experience on the pier, Beth trusted her dad to be there when needed. Until that painful day when he wasn’t and never would be again.

The soft glow of light filtering through her closed eyelids was suddenly snuffed out, and she shivered as darkness blocked the sun’s heat. Beth opened her eyes with a squint. A cloud didn’t hinder the soothing rays—a man towered over her. She bolted up and sat rubbing her eyes, trying to focus on the intruder.

“I didn’t mean to startle you.” The guy sounded sincere, but he didn’t back off. Instead, he merely changed his stance and hung his hands on slacked hips.

“Okay . . . I believe you, but it was little unsettling being snuck up on like that.” Beth did a quick study. Tall, dark, good-looking. An older version of the teenager in the photographs Agatha had shown Beth. The elderly woman had mentioned he’d turned thirty-two earlier this year. “You’re Agatha’s nephew, Tyler.”

He stroked his well-trimmed dark beard. “Great-nephew. And you’re . . . Aunt Agatha’s renter, Beth. Did I get the name right?”

Renter. She nodded and smiled through gritted teeth. Better set him straight from the get-go. “Yeah, I live in the studio apartment. Your aunt and I have become close friends.” Beth cherished any time spent with Agatha. The woman was talented, kind, and wise. “We didn’t expect you until the beginning of the month.”

“I’m not officially on the clock until a week from Monday, but I decided to come early and get settled in. Get the lay of the land. Called Aunt Agatha last night, and she gave the okay.”

“You’ve been hired to work at the women’s prison?” Since it was only a twenty-minute drive from Meriside, other residents of the town were also employed at the facility.

“Yep. I’m a social worker.” He smiled. “My job is to help inmates adapt while there and prepare for life after.”

Beth winced. She once held great compassion for the incarcerated, but it was difficult to feel the same after being personally impacted by someone who had broken the law. “How does that work? A man in that role?” Her tone sounded more caustic than intended, and his eyes narrowed.

“Similar to male guards and wardens. Or female wardens and guards hired at penitentiaries for men. If employees stick to their jobs and do them well, gender isn’t an issue.” He shrugged. “But it can make some situations more complicated if boundaries are crossed.”

“I see you two have already met.” Agatha moved down the back steps of her house gracefully, a navy wool shawl draped over her and two forest-green ceramic mugs in her hands. She wore her silver hair in a long side braid that rested in front, over her right shoulder.

An artist and retired art teacher, Agatha lived in color. The design on her flowing full-length bohemian-style dress blended muted shades of the rainbow, and her camel-colored boots peeked from beneath. “Beth, I saw you out here and thought we might enjoy a bit of jasmine tea together.” Agatha handed one mug to her and extended the other to her nephew. “Ty, would you like some? There’s more hot water. I can make myself another cup in a jiffy.”

“Thanks, but I have errands to run, including the grocery store. I promised you lasagna.” He placed his hand on his aunt’s shoulder. “I’ll be back in an hour or so.” Tyler tilted his head toward Beth. “See you around.”

“Yeah, see you,” she called after him, attempting to sound cheery for Agatha, despite her annoyance at his assumption he could make his handsome self at home and treat Beth like she only represented income to Agatha.

Tyler ambled down the drive, and Agatha sat next to Beth and winked. “Don’t let him get under your skin.” She lifted her cup to her lips and sipped.
“I—I did no such thing.” Beth’s face heated. “He was a tad rude, but he’s your nephew, so I’ll be nice.”

“I’m sorry to hear he made a bad first impression. He’s really a special soul, that one, but he’s been through some hard times. Ty—” Agatha shook her head. “Never mind.”

They sat in silence for a moment, and Beth savored the tea’s sweet, floral taste and her friend’s company. She hadn’t missed the resemblances between aunt and nephew. Both stood tall and walked with confidence. Their eyes shared the same lovely sea-green shade.

The older woman cleared her throat and held her cup on her lap. “Still going to the cemetery today?”

Beth nodded. “I’ll meet Mom, Harmony, and Kaylee there at four. Then we’ll get takeout from Jake’s and have a quiet evening at Mom’s.”
Agatha reached over and grasped Beth’s hand. “I know the loss stays with you, but I promise, time does help heal.”

“People always say that. But how much time?” Beth sighed. “It’s been two years since that senseless accident. Two years Mom has lived without a husband at her side, and Harmony and I have gone without our dad’s love and advice. Two years we’ve missed our brother’s smile and sense of humor—and Kaylee has grieved her husband. Dad and Liam weren’t even at fault, yet we’ve all suffered such loss.”
“What happened wasn’t fair. Yet, we must go on and adapt. Life constantly changes.” Agatha gave Beth’s hand a quick squeeze, then let go. “And when we ask in faith, God gives us the strength.”

Beth managed a weak smile. “There’s been no shortage of prayers for strength.”
“I’m glad you have family who supports each other.” Agatha brushed a fallen leaf from her lap. “You’ve sacrificed a lot to be their rock.”
“I had no choice.”

“Of course you did. But you chose to put their needs ahead of your own. And I love and respect you for that.” Agatha wet her lips, then turned her head. Beth followed her gaze to watch a hummingbird land on a nearby feeder filled with clear sugar water.

The garden attracted birds throughout the year, and it wasn’t unusual to see hummingbirds in March. With food available, the small, delicate winged creatures stuck around through the winter.

“Family is important.” The gentle woman faced Beth. “Because I never married and had children of my own, I gave time, energy, and love to my students. That’s why I continued to teach for so long, even though my friends re-tired much earlier and encouraged me to do the same.”

Agatha set her tea on the bench. “For a while, Ty’s father helped fill that void for me. I raised Richard during his teen years after his parents were killed, much like your brother and father. Of course, it was still a different situation. Their accident was due to icy Minnesota roads.

“Richard had a hard time adjusting from life in the Midwest to living in Seattle. But it also gave him a heart for those who struggled.” Agatha crossed one leg over the other, then straightened the fabric draped over her knee. “You see a lot in the inner city, but instead of becoming an angry kid, he learned compassion. And he made friends in school who didn’t have the kind of life he’d grown accustomed to. It opened his eyes to another world, and when he went into ministry, he decided to become a chaplain in the air force.”

“Where is he now?”

“He’s been transferred to Germany for his remaining years in the service.”
This was all new information. Beth had certainly leaned on her friend and poured her heart out. She wanted Agatha to feel she could do the same. “Why haven’t you mentioned this before?”

“Even though I enjoyed those years with Richard, our relationship has also brought some pain.” Her forehead wrinkled. “As I’ve aged, he’s taken it upon himself to check in on me religiously, and that brings some comfort. But there were years when I rarely heard from him. His wife is a lovely woman, but I think she felt threatened by my relationship with him. I believe she saw me as a stand-in mother-in-law and felt the need to keep some distance.”
“That’s sad. It could have been so different.”

“Well, it certainly wasn’t what I’d hoped for. But even though we can respect and care about each other, not all Christians like each other. People are still human.” Agatha cocked her head and smiled mischievously. “Richard’s wife is very traditional, while I’m a bit more of a free spirit.”

Beth chuckled. “That you are.” She drained her tea and set her empty mug on the bench. “Did you ever spend time with them? Holidays?”

“Several times I traveled to wherever they were stationed and spent Christmas with them. But I always stayed at a hotel. It was easier that way.” Agatha shrugged. “And because Richard was in the military and they moved around a great deal, I never got to spend much time with Ty. When he was younger, he’d come for occasional visits with his father, and I treasured those days. That’s why I’m so thrilled he’s here now. I get another chance at knowing my great-nephew.”

Ty was fortunate to have someone like Agatha in his life. She’d certainly become important to Beth. Since Beth’s closest childhood friends had all moved away from Meriside, Agatha had become Beth’s confidante. Someone to talk to when she couldn’t share her heart with her mom or sister for fear of causing them distress. Agatha was right. Beth had to be their rock, and because of that, she’d never been as vulnerable with them as her mom and Harmony had been with each other.

Beth shouldn’t be selfish. Agatha deserved the blessing of having time with family, and it was clear that Tyler’s arrival meant much to her. It was just that Beth and Agatha had grown a lovely friendship.

Would Tyler’s presence change that? Beth couldn’t take another loss. Not just yet. And what was Agatha leaving out when she mentioned Ty had been through hard times?

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