Destiny by chance: A Contemporary Romance Fiction Novel (5 page)

“See you in a bit.” Before Destiny could respond, Lisa hung up.

Destiny stared at her phone, growling, and dropped it back into her purse. It wasn’t the first time her friend had conveniently introduced her to single men she knew.  But she wasn’t ready.  Maybe she’d never be ready. It wasn’t something she wanted to think about at this point.  Destiny looked at herself in the rearview mirror, hesitating.  Then she sighed and backed her car away from the fence, heading back the same way she came, leaving a cloud of dust behind her.

The newlyweds walked up the steps to the porch that wrapped completely around the restored historic house.  They arrived at the front door, dragging their luggage behind them, a resounding thud repeating as the wheels traveled from step to step.  Bill greeted them at the doorway and took their bags.

“Mr. and Mrs. Walker, I’m so glad you made it.  Your room is all ready,” he smiled.  “I’m William Ireland, the owner.  I talked to you on the phone.  But you can call me Bill.” He shook their hands.  “I’ll take your bags up to your room if you’d like to go into the library.  We’ve baked some cookies for you.  They’re still warm.”

The couple grinned at each other.  “We could smell them when we walked in,” the young bride answered excitedly.  “I’m Jeannie, and this is Butch.”

“Welcome and congratulations on your nuptials,” Bill said.  “There’s a carafe of ice-cold milk and another of iced water to enjoy with your cookies.  Please help yourselves.”

“Thank you.” Butch turned to his wife and with a gentle touch of his hand led her into the library. 

Bill dragged the suitcase up the carpeted stairs and into the bridal suite, which was actually the original master bedroom of the ten-bedroom home. He and Sydney occupied the only two bedrooms on the first floor, each with its own bathroom which had been added ten years before he purchased the property.  He had originally occupied the second floor but rarely rented out the smaller rooms on the first floor.  Most of his inquiries were for the larger rooms upstairs, that had extended views of the gardens, so he thought he would experiment with a room swap to see if it made a difference. Once he traded their residence, he sold out all of his rooms regularly.  The relocation worked better for him as well, since he didn’t worry as much about Sydney running up and down the stairs several times a day when she was younger.  Although, Bill was sure she did it anyhow, only when he wasn’t looking.

Bill took great care in pampering his guests.  They provided the best soaps, body washes, shampoos and bath salts, all from Austin producers.  Every morning their guests dined on exquisite breakfasts, all hand prepared, either by himself, his house manager or a chef they hired on occasion—when overrun with business.  And they only purchased from local farmers and purveyors also, to support small businesses.

The Kemper House and Gardens Bed and Breakfast was renowned in Texas and listed as one of the top 20 in the state by
Texas Monthly
and
Texas Highways
.  In the eight years since he’d purchased and renovated it, they had been featured in no less than a dozen national travel magazines.  Since opening, it had been visited by senators and congressman, stars of television and film, musical performers, and presidential hopefuls.  Not to mention twelve seven-year-olds for a slumber party for Sydney’s last birthday. 

Sydney had requested a princess tea party, complete with makeovers and character costumes.  One of the children’s parents, a reporter for the
Austin American-Statesman,
thought it would make an excellent article for the Leisure section of the paper one Sunday.  Suddenly Bill began getting phone calls inquiring about the availability of the property for other similar parties, such as birthdays, rehearsal dinners, Christmas parties, and even wedding receptions. 

The house sat on almost ten acres; it was gated, complete with beautifully manicured gardens and water features that emptied into a one-acre pond.  There were paved walking paths that crisscrossed through the property and a gazebo.  After that article, they went from being booked every weekend, to being booked almost every day, which made it difficult for Bill to spend the time he wanted to with Sydney.  But he refused to be an absentee father.  So, he added two other warm bodies that would welcome guests, cook and in general, wait on guests as needed—basically, everything he already did.  One of them, Deborah, was allowed to live in an attic room that they renovated but never had success renting out since it was much smaller than all the other rooms.

Within three years of opening he had recovered all his expenses on renovations and was turning a profit.  He had been offered over a million dollars on two occasions to sell though he hadn’t even listed it.  Bill turned them both down.  It wasn’t that he was holding out for more; it was his home; a home that he shared with strangers, but more than that, a home that he shared with Sydney.  It was the only home she’d ever known.  She loved meeting new people every week, sometimes, every day.  They lived close to her school.  It was a safe neighborhood.  And Sydney had friends nearby with whom she could play.  Of course, they preferred coming to the Kemper House because they could play hide and seek in the gardens or swim in the pool at the base of the waterfall.  Bill much preferred that to Sydney sitting in her room playing video games.  However, he had to balance the fact that their home was also a place of business and a bunch of screaming seven and eight-year-olds weren’t usually what the guests expected when they were visiting.

Deborah peeked her head into the kitchen.  “You ready for me to take over?”

“Absolutely.”  Bill wiped his hands on the apron.  He untied it, took it off, and then tossed it into the laundry basket in a corner of the kitchen by the pastel blue wall.  “The Walkers just checked in—Butch and Jeannie.  I’ve already taken their bags up.  I saw them walking out in the gardens a few minutes ago.” 

“Beautiful night for a walk,” she smiled, putting on her apron.  “The rolls rising for morning?” she asked, as she mentally inventoried the prepared items for breakfast.  “Everyone else checked in for the night?”

“All checked in,” he confirmed.  Bill turned to face her.

“Oh, my God!  What happened to your nose?”

“Long story,” he began.  “Let’s just say that I’ll be using the mahogany desk for kindling come winter.”

Deborah snickered into her hand.

“I’m going to go and check on Sydney.  Please make sure she doesn’t stay up too late, okay?” He narrowed his eyes playfully.  “And no late night Coke floats,” he added with a wag of the finger.  “She was bouncing off the walls when I got home last week.”

Deborah smiled, after tasting a finger full of icing from the beaters that she was about to spread on the still-warm chocolate cake.  “Yeah,” she crinkled her lips.  “Sorry about that.  Blame that on my blind trust of an eight-year-old with beautiful eyes and an adorable smile.”

“You should know better.  Even an eight-year-old knows how to work those beautiful eyes and that adorable smile.  Trust me, when she’s working you, she has an ulterior motive.  This comes from someone who’s been worked by that same child.  Once she wraps you around her little finger, she owns you.”

Deborah laughed.  “How many for breakfast?”

“Twelve tomorrow and sixteen, Sunday.”

“Allergies?”

“One gluten free, one diabetic, one lactose intolerant.”

“Right.” Deborah turned back to the menu, running her finger over the recipes for the following day.  She’d either make the adjustments or use completely new recipes for those with allergies.  “Will you be late tonight?”

“Not too late.”  They walked together toward his living space.  “Bingo night again at the Senior Center.  If they aren’t done and gone by nine, I’d be totally surprised.”

“I don’t know.  I’ve seen some pretty spry eighty-year-olds.  Who knows, maybe they’ll catch their second wind and last til midnight.”

“God, I hope not,” he chuckled.  “I’d be a sad sight if they outlasted me.”

“I’ll take care of everything,” she smiled, as she walked up the stairs. 

“I know you will,” he winked.  “Thanks, Deb.  For everything.”

“No,
thank you
.  If it weren’t for you, I’d be homeless.”

He arrived at Sydney’s room.  Deborah smiled and walked on up the stairs.  Bill peeked into his daughter’s room.  She was lying in bed, in her Cinderella dress, reading Cinderella.  “Hey, Sweetheart.  Dressing the part, I see.”

Sydney beamed.  “Hey, Daddy.  You leaving?”

“Yes, Sweetie.  But Deborah’s here, and she’ll get you in bed.”

Sydney grinned. 

“No Coke floats.”

Sydney’s smile faded.

“You can have ice cream, though,” he countered.  “One scoop.”

“I guess that’s acceptable,” she said matter-of-factly as she closed her book.

“Oh, well,” he scoffed.  “I’m glad that’s acceptable.”

“Park tomorrow?”

“Park tomorrow,” he promised as he kissed her on the head. “Bed by nine.”

She rolled her eyes back to her book.

“Nine,” he repeated.

She sighed dramatically.  “Fine.”

Bill narrowed his eyes. 

Suddenly a smile grew on her face, and she stood on her bed and jumped into his arms.  “Just kidding!”

“You’re lucky I love you so much.” Bill turned her in his grip, then dropped her back onto her bed.

“And
you’re
lucky I love you
so
much.”

“Yes.” Her father brushed back her straight black hair and kissed her forehead.  “Yes, I am.” 

“Be good.”  Sydney wagged her finger at him as he turned to leave.

“Always.” Bill closed the door and smiled to himself.  “Eight going on eighteen,” he remarked under his breath with a shake of his head.  “God help me.”

Destiny drove behind the Senior Center as per Lisa’s instructions and parked under a light, as Phillip had always taught her.  Growing up in the country, she didn’t use to worry about such things.  Living in a big city had its perks, and sometimes its pitfalls.  Phillip was as overprotective as he was practical.  He made sure she had mace in her purse, a key fob with an alarm and even gave her a gift certificate for self-protection classes one Christmas.  Though she had rolled her eyes at the time, nine months later she was attacked by a purse snatcher in broad daylight.  In class, she was taught to give up her purse.  However, she had thousands of dollars of cash and gift cards in her purse for a church fundraiser, and somehow couldn’t bear just to let it go.  Grateful, at that point, for the classes, she not only managed to keep her purse but gave the perpetrator a bloodied nose.  Many of those who witnessed the whole occurrence and rushed to her aid, arrived just after she nailed him in the groin, bringing him to his knees.  Some applauded her while the rest sat on the young man until the police arrived. 

The parking lot was full.  Destiny stepped through the metal door at the back entrance. Tentatively, she walked down the hallway into the bustling hall. The old Senior Center smelled of popcorn and potpourri.  The potpourri was to cover the faint smell of cigarettes—a smell that still clung to the insulation and had become a part of the sheetrock—from decades before they implemented a no smoking policy.  After being an extrovert most of her life, she had become more introverted since burying her son and husband.  So, with every step she took now, she contemplated turning and leaving.  But she knew Lisa would only track her down and drag her back.  Destiny drew in a deep breath for courage and then entered the main hall.

The bingo caller was rapidly speaking letter and number combinations into a microphone, while men and women sat expectantly in metal chairs around folding tables, poised to stamp in unison once their numbers were confirmed.  Some of them had three cards each, their allotted limit for every game.  They methodically perused each card in rapid succession to try and stay ahead of the bingo caller as well as the other players.  Every fifteen seconds, a new number was called, mostly to assure that they could get in as many games as possible before eight-thirty.

It wasn’t hard to spot Lisa.  She stood out like a parade float on a city street.  She was sitting beside a man in a wheelchair who was breathing with the assistance of an oxygen tank, helping him fill his card.  Destiny smiled.  Lisa didn’t care how differently she dressed, or how much she
looked
like she didn’t fit in.  Her heart was in the right place.  These people welcomed her and talked to her as though she was one of them. 

Destiny and Lisa had been best friends since childhood though their paths through the years had been different.  Lisa became an entrepreneur.  Destiny, by fate, ended up the head of a household at seventeen.  When she wasn’t in school, she was working to help make ends meet.  Her parents weren’t planners like Phillip.  They each had purchased just enough life insurance to pay for their funerals.  Barely.  Destiny and Andy were able to collect Social Security after their parents’ deaths. Her brother wanted to go to college and had to depend on scholarships and student loans until they finally sold their family home.  Destiny, on the other hand, not only had a full scholarship but applied for enough additional ones to cover the cost of her books and dorm expenses.

Destiny watched Lisa interact with the elderly men on either side of her.  Both of them were in wheelchairs.  In fact, practically a fourth of those around the tables were in wheelchairs, chuckling and nudging each other in jest.  Lisa looked up and spied Destiny.  She waved and rushed to Destiny’s side.  Immediately she grabbed her best friend by the arm and led her to their table.  Lisa stood just behind her friends, waiting for someone, anyone to say “bingo.”  That would give her a fifteen-minute break for introductions.  A moment later one of the men sitting beside Lisa yelled: “‘Bingo!”   Everyone else groaned with disappointment, then immediately stood to either grab something to eat at the concession stand, run outside for a quick smoke, pee, or swap out bingo cards.

“Dee, I would like you to meet my friends, Harry, and Ralph.”

Ralph wheeled his chair backward a few inches, holding out his hand, taking deep breaths in between sentences.  “Lisa tells me,” he began, drawing breath from his portable oxygen tank.  “This is your first time here.”

Harry, one of the oldest men there, wore a baseball cap with “American Veteran” sewn across the front, adorned with assorted pins and flags, from various units and states.  He also wore a vest with “Veteran of Foreign Wars” embroidered across the back, plus more pins, and several patches.  “Can’t understand why two lovely young ladies like you would want to hang out with a bunch of old geezers like us rather than going out with some young whippersnappers.”

“Ah, Harry,” Lisa smiled, kissing his cheek.  “You know I like older men.” She winked at Destiny.  “Besides, with you guys I don’t have to worry about anyone hitting on me and then disappointing me.”

Destiny grinned.

Ralph laughed, causing himself to cough.  “Speak for yourself, Harry,” he gasped, then coughed once more.  “I, myself, like the attention.”  He drew in a deep breath.  “This is the most action I get all week.”  He looked at Lisa and tapped his cheek.  She obliged him by kissing it.

“You fellas thirsty?”

“I’ll take a margarita,” Harry grinned.

“Make mine a double,” Ralph added.

Lisa narrowed her eyes.  “We’ll see what we can do.”  She turned to Destiny and took her by the arm.  “Come on, there’s someone I want you to meet.”

Destiny stopped walking and cringed.  “Aww, Lisa.”

“Quit whining,” she interrupted, tugging her back into motion.

Destiny pursed her lips as she allowed Lisa to drag her to the concession stand. 

When they arrived, Lisa refused to release her friend’s arm, holding her firmly in place.  They stood behind two women with a handful of one-dollar bills, eager to fill their bellies with whatever junk food they could afford.  The man behind the counter took their order and glanced just past them.  Destiny looked up just as his eyes met hers.  They held hers for just a moment before he smiled and looked back to the women in front of her, who were still deciding what they wanted.  Destiny felt her face flush.  She couldn’t remember the last time that a look by any man had brought about that reaction.  She quickly looked down at her feet.

“I think you’re going to like this guy,” Lisa continued.  “He’s smart, he likes the outdoors, and he’s not hard on the eyes.”

Destiny looked away, feeling extremely awkward.  “By the way, where’s Grandpa?”

“Cruise,” Lisa answered nonchalantly.

Destiny’s mouth hung open as she turned back to her friend.  “Cruise?”

“Yeah, didn’t I tell you?”

Destiny narrowed her eyes.  “No.  I guess you forgot that little detail.”

Lisa tried to avoid her friend’s glare.  “Oops,” she smiled.  “Must have slipped my mind.”

“Mmm,” Destiny murmured, arms crossed, realizing she’d been tricked.

The women in front of them grabbed their large popcorn, Nestle’s Buncha Crunch, hot dogs and large sodas.  They squeezed past Destiny and Lisa, their arms overflowing.

“Hey, Lisa,” the man behind the counter smiled.

“Hey, Bill.”  She looked over at her friend nervously.  “This, is my best friend, Destiny.”

When Destiny’s eyes met his again, she blushed.  “Nice to meet you,” she said, her eyes staying on his only for a moment longer.

“Nice to meet you, too,” he replied, offering his hand.

Destiny slowly took it and shook it.

“What happened to the nose?” Lisa motioned with a nod of her head.

“Long story,” he sighed.

“I’ll bet it’s a good one,” she teased.  “Can’t wait to hear it.  Two margaritas, please.  Make one a double.”

“Ralph and Harry?”  Bill chuckled.

Lisa nodded.

“Two Seven Ups on the rocks, coming right up.”

“Do you want anything?” Lisa asked her friend.

Destiny shook her head.  She just wanted to get out of there.

When Bill returned with the sodas, Lisa smiled.  “Is Owen around?”

“Owen!” Bill yelled over his shoulder; then he looked at the women.  “Sorry,” he said more quietly.  “Intercom’s broken.”

Lisa nodded, looking over Bill’s shoulder.

A nice looking man, wearing a dress shirt and pressed slacks, looked around the corner and smiled.  “Hey, Lisa!” 

Owen walked toward them, wiping his hands on a dishrag.  Destiny thought he was a little over-dressed for being in such a dive.  He smiled at the women before he simply pushed Bill, full-armed, out of the way.  A perplexed Bill fell into the wall.  It was quite comical.  Destiny had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.  Lisa showed no restraint and laughed out loud.

Bill recovered after a moment and resumed his duties.  “Anything else?”

Lisa looked up at the menu board, then shook her head.  “No offense but nothing really looks good.”

“None taken.” Bill took Lisa’s money, his eyes on Destiny.

Owen furrowed his brow.  “I take offense.  I wrote the menu.”  He smiled at the women, turning his full attention to Destiny.  “So, you’re the little lady that Lisa’s been talking about all these months?”

Destiny shrugged.  He was as nice looking as Lisa had described.  However, she kept finding herself casting an occasional glance at Bill as Owen spoke.  He looked like he’d been in a prize fight; a swollen nose, dark bruising under his eyes.  Despite his injury, he had kind eyes and a friendly smile.  Owen walked around the bar counter to get a closer look at Destiny.

“Lisa didn’t exaggerate when she said you were adorable.”

Destiny blushed again, not sure how to respond.

Owen motioned for her to step away from the counter so that they wouldn’t be blocking the line of impatient bingo players anxious to get back to their game.  “Why haven’t I seen you in here before?”

Destiny looked down as she walked.  She shrugged again.  “Friday night is usually my night to unwind,” she said, hoping it was enough.

“Nothing like unwinding with a bunch of old farts that have nothing better to do.” When she didn’t say anything else, he added, “Well, I’m glad you finally came.  I think you’ll see that these guys just want a little company.  It’s their chance to get out.  They get a free, healthy meal.  It’s kind of like a reverse Meals on Wheels.”  Owen smiled.  “Get it?  Reverse Meals on Wheels?  They come to us?”

Destiny nodded at his lame attempt at humor.  “Got it.”  She drew in a deep breath and looked around for Lisa, realizing she had conveniently disappeared.  “It was really nice meeting you, Owen,” she smiled and held up her hands with the cups in them.  “I really need to get these to Ralph and Harry.”

Owen seemed disappointed, but he pasted a smile on his face.  He held out his hand, looked down at hers and realized her hands were full so moved his hand to her elbow and shook it. “I’ll check in on you after awhile,” he winked.

“See you around.”  Destiny grinned, then turned and grimaced as she quickly walked away.

Lisa appeared from nowhere and took her arm as they walked to their table together.

“Don’t ever do that to me again,” Destiny said flatly. 

“You didn’t like him?”

“He was nice enough,” Destiny conceded.  “But I told you before, I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready to date again.”  She drew in a deep breath.  “
Ever
.”

Lisa pulled her to a stop.  “Sweetie, I don’t care if you ever date again. 
Ever
,” she stressed.  “Honest.  I just want you to meet people.”

“I meet people.” 

“Where?  Where do you meet people?”

Destiny hesitated.  “The grocery store,” she replied, fumbling.  “The mall.”

Lisa scoffed.  “When was the last time you went to a mall?”

Destiny felt cornered.  “Umm, just last week?”

Lisa took the cups of soda from her and handed them to Ralph and Harry while cutting her eyes at her friend.  “Uh-huh.”

“Here’s our good luck charm.” Harry patted Destiny on the back as she sat down.

Lisa laughed.  “What am I now?  Chopped liver?”

Ralph patted her arm as she sat.  “You’re more like filet mignon, Sweetheart,” he said with a smile.

Harry sipped his drink.  “They forgot the alcohol again.”

Lisa snapped her fingers.  “I knew we forgot something.”

Ralph handed Destiny two of his cards and a stamp.  “Make me proud, Sweetie,” he grinned.

They played six more games, without another win, and then it was time for everyone to go home.  Lisa and Destiny helped wheel Harry and Ralph outside to the bus waiting to take them back to the local Veterans Administration hospital.  Ralph made Destiny promise to return the following Friday, and she reluctantly assured him she’d be back.

Lisa and Destiny walked back inside to clean tables and repack the bingo equipment.  A little while later, Owen made his way back over to them, to help them clear several tables.