An Ordinary Love (A Christian Contemporary Romance) (Sidney's Sanctuary Book 1) Read online

  An Ordinary Love

  A Novel

  By Tina Bustamante

  Copyright ©Tina Bustamante 2015

  Forget Me Not Romances, a division of Winged Publications

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the authors.

  Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the authors’ imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.

  “It is a criterion of love. In moments of decision, we are to try to make what seems to be the most loving, the most creative decision. We are not to play safe, to draw back out of fear. Love may well lead us into danger. It may lead us to die for our friend. In a day when we are taught to look for easy solutions, it is not always easy to hold onto that most difficult one of all, love.”

  Madeleine L’Engle

  Prologue

  A Mother’s Gift

  Sidney Franklin woke to a loud banging noise. She couldn’t decide if it was internal or external. Her entire body felt like it had been run through a washing machine. Rolling onto her side, she recognized the high-pitched, familiar voice of her mother.

  “Sidney! Open the door. I hope you’re ready to leave. Traffic’s horrible out there. Only God knows why you and Jeff chose to live on Queen Anne.”

  Sidney swallowed and wiped the drool off her cheek. She opened her eyes one at a time, trying to focus. It took a few seconds to stop seeing double. Sidney stumbled to the door and opened it, letting her mother and her mother’s sweet, floral perfume force their way into her living room.

  Once inside, her mom studied her from top to bottom.“You’re not even dressed. You look terrible. Sidney, have you been drinking?” Lucy asked, cupping her cheek.

  Sidney leaned against the door and put her fingers to her temples,trying to muffle out her mother’s piercing voice.“Yes. I’ve been drinking. You would be too if you were in my shoes.”

  Lucy set her purse down and studied the scene around her. She snatched up the tissues strewn all over the coffee table, picked up the throw pillows scattered across the floor, grabbed the empty bottle of wine and carried it to the kitchen.“What happened? Where’s Jeff?”

  Sidney raked her hand through her hair and decided to just get it out.“I caught Jeff with another woman. I’m devastated.”

  Lucy groaned in her typical I-always-knew-this-would-happen manner, and then squinted her eyes into two small beads of contempt.“When?”

  “Last weekend.”

  “I never liked that selfish man. I always knew there was something wrong with him. After all you’ve done for him.”

  Sidney plopped down on the couch and wrapped an afghan blanket tightly around herself.“I don’t want to talk about it. What I want, is to disappear.”

  “You don’t have time to disappear. Go get in the shower.”

  Sidney pretended she hadn’t heard her mom.

  Lucy glanced at her watch.“Hurry. You’ve got a house to inherit.”

  “Mom, I forgot all about that. I’m not up to going. You don’t need me to go.”

  Lucy took Sidney by the arm and dragged her down the hall to her bedroom.“Get in the shower and throw on some clothes, dear. You’re going to that meeting. There’s no way this side of eternity I’m going to let you throw a mansion away, even if it on Perez Island. God only promises a mansion in heaven. It’s not every day he throws one at you down here. You can decide what to do with the house later, but right now we are going to that meeting.”

  Sidney sighed in acceptance. After her shower, she picked out a pair of yoga pants, tossed on a white hoodie, and pulled her frizzing hair into a bun-like knot at the back of her head.“I don’t understand this whole inheriting a house thing anyways,” she said traipsing down the hallway.“Why do I have to be there?”

  Her mom pinched her lips together.“I’m giving it to you. And I want to make that clear to the lawyer.”

  Sidney stopped mid-stride. Lucy hadn’t mentioned giving her the house. What was going on here?“Mom, I didn’t even know Uncle Victor. Why would you give me a house? You need to sell it and pay off your medical bills.”

  “The medical bills are fine. I want to give the house to you.” Lucy dabbed at her eyes with a tissue from her pocket and leaned over, squeezing Sidney’s shoulder and her lower lip began to tremble.“It’s all I’ve got. There’ll be nothing for you after I’m gone. I want you to take the house. It’s even on the water. They say it needs some work, but I know you can do something with it.”

  “Mom, stop with the crying. It’s not like you’re going anywhere anytime soon.”

  Lucy puffed up her chest and stuffed the Kleenex in her purse.“I know, but I’m in my sixties. I’m not getting any younger and neither are you. You’re thirty-five. I discussed it with Granny. We want you to have this, Sidney. You’ve been supporting your husband's dreams for years. It’s time you lived some of your own. Especially now.”

  Despite Lucy’s drama, Sidney knew her mother’s good intentions, and she understood them. The deep desire to give her only child something, anything at all, even a run down house as a gift, before she got too old to see her enjoy it, was important to her.“That’s nice of you, Mom.”

  “I know it is dear.”

  “Let me brush my teeth before we go to the lawyer’s office.”

  Lucy crinkled her face and lowered her voice.“That’s a good idea.”

  Ten minutes later, Sidney ushered her mother out the door, toward her dark green Mini-Cooper. The car Jeff never wanted her to buy. He wanted her to get a spacious SUV. If Jeff didn’t like her car, maybe there were other things he didn’t like. Unwanted tears pooled in her eyes. Her stomach flipped upside down. Maybe he’d been sick of her for a long time and she just hadn’t known it. She’d missed the signs.

  No. Sidney batted those dark thoughts away. Jeff was a man of his word. That was half the reason she fell in love with him. Faithful and true. Well, maybe not so faithful anymore. But he’d do the right thing. She was sure of it.

  Lucy started talking as soon as she drove out of the parking lot.“Okay, now tell me what happened.”

  A light mist hung in the air, almost stagnant. The early morning fog blocked Sidney’s view. She turned up the defroster and wiped her windshield, leaning forward to see out the window. She opened her eyes as wide as she could, in part to keep from crying. She shifted the car into second gear.“I found him with Deborah Shields. She’s the girls’ track coach. I haven’t talked to Jeff in seven days. I don’t know what to do.”

  “What to do? Are you crazy?” Lucy pointed her finger at Sidney.“You are going to send that lying, cheating bastard right where he deserves to go. Call it quits and find some man who’ll love you and give you lots and lots of babies, so I can finally have some grandchildren.”

  The unwanted tears escaped and spilled down Sidney’s cheeks. She swiped them away with the back of her hand. For years, she’d tried to convince Jeff to have kids. He kept telling her he wasn’t ready. His job was too much responsibility. She squeezed her eyes and blinked, refusing to lose control in front of her mother.“I don’t think children are in my future. It’s not going to happen, Mom.”

  “Sidney, just becau
se Jeff’s a horrible specimen of the human race, doesn’t mean all men are.”

  “I’m going to do whatever I need to, to save my marriage. You don’t get up and walk away when things get hard. You and dad couldn’t make it work, but that doesn’t mean I can’t.”

  Lucy raised her eyebrows and cleared her throat.“Sidney, Jeff’s been distant for years. Besides, this has nothing to do with my marriage. It has to do with yours.”

  “You didn’t even try to save your marriage.”

  “You have no idea what I did or didn’t do with Henry. Sometimes the only thing a person can do is walk away.”

  Sidney didn’t want to talk about her mom’s divorce. She’d been twelve years old and their divorce marked her childhood with a darkness she’d never known how to get rid of. Sidney had always assumed her parents’ divorce was Lucy’s fault. Everyone knew Lucy was a demanding and conflict-oriented woman, criticizing everyone and everything.

  Sidney had decided years ago, she wasn’t going to be like her mom. She’d determined to be kind, gracious, and helpful. Obviously, Jeff was going through a crisis and she’d help him through it. There was no way her marriage would end the way her mom and dad’s had.

  “Let’s change the subject,” Sidney said.“Tell me about the house.”

  Lucy nodded.“I did some research. Perez Island is a great tourist location. They only have one hotel and one other bed and breakfast on the island.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  Lucy’s eyes twinkled.“The house is perfect for a bed and breakfast.”

  “Are you crazy? Jeff’s not going to move to Perez Island. Besides, I can’t even cook.”

  “You can’t cook because you haven’t tried. There’s a first for everything.”

  “Why don’t you open a bed and breakfast if you think it’s such a good idea?”

  Lucy touched her hand to her lips and shook her head.“I can’t leave my mother or Bill for that long. And neither of them would ever want to move to the islands. Isn’t this what you always wanted? Your own house. You can do what you want with it. I think it’d be a great bed and breakfast.”

  “Right now, I’ve got to do what I can to save my marriage. And I can’t stop teaching. I love it. You should sell the house and use the money to pay for all the medical bills, like I already said. Just forget about my dream, that was a long time ago.”

  Lucy pointed out the window.“Turn off on Pioneer St. and find a parking place as soon as you can. The office is right next to the freeway.”

  ~

  That night, after gorging herself on Chinese food straight out of the box, Sidney opened the manila envelope containing pictures of the house and a set of keys. She intended to blow off the pictures and act like she wasn’t interested. She couldn’t. It was spectacular. The white Victorian style home, set with wrap around porch and blue shutters, called to her. The crystal water in the distance, the overgrown rose garden, un-kept and desperate for a trim, made her want to drive to the house with her pruning sheers and work on it right away. She held the pictures in her hand and gently traced the outline of the front door, which should be painted red. She touched the glistening water in the background and sighed, realizing how deeply she longed to be somewhere peaceful, somewhere quiet, just like in the picture.

  She forced her nostalgia away and cleared her throat, pushing the stray hairs off her forehead. She was not moving to Perez Island. There was nothing there for her. Her life was in Seattle. She had worked too hard on her marriage to throw it away now. She’d done everything she could to be the wife Jeff wanted. She went to every race he ran in, she had an excellent reputation as a good teacher in the high school where he was the principal. For goodness’ sake, she’d even taken up running—an activity she hated, just to show everyone how much she loved him. Jeff wouldn’t stay with Deborah, the track coach. He wouldn’t abandon her like that. More importantly, Sidney thought, God wouldn’t abandon her like that. God would help her save her marriage.

  Chapter One

  Victor Smith’s Mansion

  Pastor Matthew Kellen of Faith Presbyterian Church, Perez Island, sat in the Gypsy Cat Café, drinking Earl Grey tea. He listened to the town’s people go on about the recent rumors concerning his neighbor’s mansion. If anyone on Perez Island wanted to find out the local news, their best bet was to hang out in this quaint cafe located on Main Street. Gossip came in and out of the Gypsy Cat Cafe like ships sailing in and out of a crowded port.

  It seemed like yesterday Matt performed Victor Smith’s funeral, but after a moment’s reflection,he realized, nearly five months had gone by. He missed Victor and their peculiar friendship. They had played chess together every week for over a decade. Victor would arrive at his house on Saturday mornings at eight o’clock. They’d say three or four words to each other, play in resolute silence, and once finished, he’d return home. They wouldn’t speak again until the following Saturday.

  He had assumed the mansion would sit on the market for months, even years, before anyone would have the courage, or the money to buy it. However, not even six months had gone by and it was already renovated with a new neighbor moving in. He’d seen a red-headed woman come and go a few times, but hadn’t mustered up the where-with-all to walk over and introduce himself yet. He was still trying to accept that Victor wasn’t coming over to play chess again.

  Rumor was, she came from Seattle. She had inherited the house and planned to turn it into a bed and breakfast. That would sure change everything. He sipped on his tea, silently hoping the new innkeeper played chess.

  A salt-laced summer breeze blew into the cafeas someone opened the door. The bell chimed behind him. Matt glanced backward and noticed his son step inside. Dr. Matthew Kellen, whom everyone called Kell, ordered a cup of drip coffee. The late August air was much warmer than his son’s demeanor.

  Amanda, the head barista, handed him his cup. Kell sat down beside Matt and flipped open the morning paper. He sipped his coffee and started reading. Matt frowned. Why did he sit next to him if he had no intention of even carrying on the slightest smattering of a conversation? He may not want to talk, but he could at least be polite.

  “Everyone is talking about Victor’s place,” Matt said, pressing him to say something.“Did you hear?”

  “Yeah.” Kell turned the page of his newspaper and took another sip of coffee.

  “Must be that redheaded lady I keep noticing. Mary told me. Seems she’s going to turn it into a bed and breakfast.”

  Kell still didn’t look up.“I’ve always said that house was perfect for an inn.”

  “Mary said she’s moving in this weekend. Sold her condo in Seattle and everything.” His church secretary had the gift of information. She found things out better than anyone else he knew. That’s why he liked her so much. Occasionally, it caused a few problems with her figuring out things about him she wasn’t supposed to know, but for the most part it was helpful.

  Matt tapped his fingers against the teacup.“Jake’s going to love having a bed and breakfast next door.”

  Kell folded his newspaper and finally flipped up his eyes.“The last thing we need is for Jake to start hanging out over there, bugging some poor old lady. You need to keep him away from there. I’m not kidding, Dad.”

  Matt held up his hands and played innocent with his eyes.“Don’t worry. We’re not going to bug the new lady or her upcoming guests. We’re going to be good wholesome neighbors.”

  “That’s what I’m worried about. You’d befriend a porcupine if you could. You don’t have to be everyone’s friend on the island.”

  “Of course I do. I’m the Pastor. It’s who I am. I have the oldest church here.”

  “You’re not going to be able to use that as an excuse much longer. Just stay away from the new old lady.”

  “I have not announced my retirement, yet.” He lifted his chin.“I’m rethinking the whole thing. I’m only sixty-six. I’ve got at least a few years left. Besides, how
do you know she’s even old?”

  Kell went back to his newspaper, turning the page over.“Who else turns an old mansion into a bed and breakfast? And just so you’re not getting any ideas In your head about staying on, you’ve got high blood pressure, Dad. You need to retire. It’s time.” He folded the newspaper and set it on the side of the table. He gulped the last of his coffee.“I’ve got a ten o’clock appointment. I’ll see you tonight. Make sure Jake gets his reading done before he goes go fishing.”

  “What if he takes his reading to the fishing hole?”

  “No. I don’t care if it’s the end of the summer. The kid has got to get better at reading. He’s going to be in the fourth grade. He reads first or he doesn’t go.”

  “Jake needs time to play.”

  “He’s with a friend right now, he’s had plenty of time for play. He can’t read.” He shook his head in frustration.“Can’t or won’t—I’m not sure, but it’s not going to help him if he never practices.” He pointed his finger at Matt.“No reading, no fishing.”

  “Okay, okay.” He spoke into his teacup,“It’s like making him walk the plank.”

  “Then make him walk it.”

  Pastor Matt’s eyes flickered, surprised his son had heard him.

  Kell frowned.“I’m not the one going deaf.”

  “I’m not either.” Matt pointed his finger at him.“My hearing’s coming back.”

  Kell rose, folding up the newspaper. He spoke over to the barista.“When’s Max due back?” Max owned the Gypsy Cat Cafx.

  “He’ll be back next week,” Amanda told him, running her hand through her necklace.

  “I hope he’s having a good time in Florida.” Kell tucked a couple dollar bills underneath his coffee mug.“Thanks for the coffee, Amanda.”

  “Anything for you Dr. Kellen. Anything at all, anytime.” She smiled so wide her eyes twinkled. She placed one hand on her hip and tipped her head in a light flirtatious manner.