Painted Memories Read online

  Painted Memories

  a novel by Loni Flowers

  Painted Memories

  By Loni Flowers

  Copyright © 2013 by Loni Flowers

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in whole or in part, scanned, photocopied, recorded, distributed in any printed or electronic form, or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or hereafter invented, without express written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Acknowledgements

  It’s been a long road with this book. What started out as one plot point in my head, turned out to be something completely different than what I had my sights set on. In truth, it’s so much more than I thought it could be. I truly love this story!

  There are many people to thank who have supported me along this road and most importantly, I’d like to thank my husband, Michael. He kept the kiddos out of my hair on a lot of days and I’d still be pecking at the keyboard if it weren’t for his help and support. Thank you, babe, for always telling me to write, write, write; I love you!

  Laura Kentowski: there is nothing more I can say to you that you don’t already know. You’ve been on this road with me from the very beginning when I only had a hope and wish of writing a book. Without your constant encouragement and throwing ideas my way—or shooting them down—I wouldn’t have made it this far. Thank you to the moon and back. You’re my best friend, I love you!!

  Susan Yenney: you were with me from the beginning of this book. You were my first reader and though you may have thought you didn’t do much, our chats helped me work out quite a few plot points. Thank you for being patient and sticking with me ‘til the end, and for encouragement every day!

  A special thank you goes to Kevin Waring. You found inconsistencies that no one else pointed out and you also saved a whole scene that was lost due to your questions. I can’t say thank you enough for all you’ve done to help me.

  I’d also like to give a HUGE shout out to all my beta readers: Jessenia Marie Berdecia, Jeannette Medina, Lindsey Lanier, Amanda Quick, Pasha Riddle, Velma (Letty) Reason, and Kimberly Jones. You gave me valuable feedback and positive encouragement that Painted Memories is a great story. Thank you for your guidance, you all are awesome!

  Carol Webb from Bella Media Entertainment, thank you, thank you, thank you for your time and patience! You created the most perfect cover for Painted Memories. I absolutely adore it. Your creativity is genius.

  And to Teri Gibson, the Editing Fairy: your time and dedication, as always, is greatly appreciated. I am forever grateful for all the hard work you put into making my words shine to their fullest potential. Thank you so very much!

  To anyone who has picked up a book with my name on it for your literary entertainment, THANK YOU! If I’ve touched one person, or provided entertainment for one reader to enjoy the story I’ve created, my job here is completed!

  Happy reading.

  Painted Memories

  Table of Contents

  Acknowledgements

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Taking Chances

  Chapter One

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  The day seemed to drag on as I looked forward to my three-day weekend. Exhausted from dealing with high-strung kids all day, I walked inside my apartment and dropped my keys on the kitchen table along with my stack of school papers before striding to my bedroom. I changed from my teaching attire, opting for a pair of black running shorts and a light yellow tank top. On a day like today, however, even that seemed like too many clothes. After staying cooped up in the classroom all week, all I really wanted to do was sleep, but I knew if I did, I’d be up the rest of the night. I needed to stretch my legs, wake my body up. A jog around the track behind my apartment complex could do just that. After all, I was living in Fairfield, Georgia for three months now, and not once had I taken advantage of all the amenities my apartment complex had to offer. Even the gym membership I signed up for the week I moved in had gone to waste. Getting so hung up on trying to make my first teaching year the best; I kept myself shut in since my arrival here. It was time to change that. Live a little. Enjoy myself. God knows, my parents never gave me the chance, and most of the fun I had was with my brother and his crazy friends. Like two peas in a pod, Jesse and I were practically inseparable. “Don’t tell Mom,” he’d always say. But he was gone now. An accident took him from my life and I’ve never quite been the same person since he left. I struggled to deal with the loss for a long time, until recently, when I decided to push everything back and try to live my life. On my own, free to make my own choices, good or bad. I was due for a change.

  Jogging, I made my way around the pond. It was beautiful and the layout made it the perfect place for a vigorous workout or a peaceful walk. The concrete track skirted the banks of the water while couples lounged on park benches that were randomly placed around it. Others lay in the grass, enjoying a picnic, or reading a book. It was the preferred place to enjoy some time outside and I felt like kicking myself for not taking advantage of it sooner.

  My apartment complex was off the beaten path, and if I hadn’t gotten lost in the first place, I might have never found Oakdale. Hidden from the main roads, tucked into a wooded area, huge oak trees surrounded the perimeter. It was a large complex, eight buildings total, two floors each. The property manager told me when I inquired about renting an apartment that there were twisted walking trails, which wrapped around one side of the pond, through the woods to the opposite of the pond. I also had access to basketball courts, tennis courts, and two swimming pools, if I preferred other activities. I was lucky there were several available units when I came across it. Oakdale seemed to be the place to live around here, but none of it mattered if I didn’t allow myself the luxury of using it. I always meant to, but never found the time. I had to start making the time, or else I could end up being a workaholic like my father. After living with him all my life, that was the last thing I wanted to become.

  Sweat dripped down the back of my neck and other unmentionable parts of my body as I ran. The hot September made me realize I probably picked the worst time of day to drag myself around the track—late afternoon. I looked across the pond at my starting point and knew there was no way I’d be able to push myself all the way around without collapsing from exhaustion, or worse, heat stroke.

  A noise behind me caught my attention and I stepped off the path to avoid forcing the person behind me to slow down. I jogged between the concrete track and the edge of the water before noticing a man falling into stride beside me. He nodded with a smile and I grinned at him, hearing unknown lyrics streaming from the headphones in his ears. Suddenly, I shifted forward, with only the pond and a park bench in my line of sight. I tried to reach for the bench as I fell, my arms flailing. My body’s momentum propelled me forward and I screamed before
being silenced by a mouthful of water.

  I struggled, losing my footing every time I tried to stand up. I’ve got to get out! I’ve got to get out! The snakes are going to get me! were my only thoughts.

  Water splashing, I choked on the brackish-brown water as I gasped for breath. I was going to drown or get bitten by a snake while everyone around me watched. The guy that was jogging beside me appeared on the edge of the bank, leaning over with his hand stretched out.

  “Stand up,” he said. “It’s not that deep.”

  After a moment, his words sunk in and I tried to stand. When I looked down at the water, I felt like an idiot, seeing the water only came up to my waist. I took a step toward him and reached for his hand just as something slimy brushed against my leg. With a terrified scream, I leaped forward.

  “It’s going to bite me! Get me out! Get me out!” I yelled, splashing water everywhere. He pulled me up the embankment and my shoes slipped over the soft, wet dirt. I coughed up pond water as I gasped for a fresh breath in the humid air. He wrapped his arm around my waist and walked me toward an empty park bench only a few feet away.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, sitting down beside me.

  “Oh my God! Thank you. If you hadn’t helped me, I might have drowned.” I glared at the bystanders, still gawking at me from their park benches and private picnics. “Obviously, no one else was going to help,” I said louder than necessary. They averted their eyes while I stared, encouraging them to mind their own business.

  “Well, it’s a good thing I decided to come for a run when I got off work, isn’t it? My name’s Drew, by the way,” he said, extending his hand.

  I shook it, breathing heavily. I didn’t bother to mention that if I hadn’t moved over for him to pass, I wouldn’t have fallen in to begin with. “I’m Lilly.”

  “Oh wait… you’ve got something—” he started to say as he reached his hand toward my hair.

  I saw it out of the corner of my eye when he pulled it from between the strands of my hair. It was long and green, and only one word came to mind. Snake! I jumped up, a scream trapped in my throat, but slapped my hand over my mouth when he dangled the long piece of grass between his fingers in front of me. I closed my eyes and settled back down on the bench. I knew he must’ve thought I was such a freaking idiot.

  “Sorry. I don’t do snakes. School prank. I’ve never been the same since.” He hid a grin pretty well, but not well enough that I didn’t catch the corner of his lip turning up slightly before he looked back at me with a straight face.

  “Oh, I see. Sounds like an interesting story.”

  Jenny Newcomb. Seventh grade. When she slipped the snake in my locker to scare me as a prank, it backfired and bit my hand. She was expelled and it took my classmates two years to stop teasing me about it. My fear of snakes was etched in stone forever.

  “Nope, not that interesting. I can take most anything; but show me a snake, and we’re done.”

  “Oh! Well, I can assure you I don’t have any snakes.” Drew held up his hands, “Tragedy averted.”

  He had a warm smile. Deep dimples pierced his cheeks in a way that made you want to smile back immediately when you saw them. His eyes appeared bright green in the sunlight. The landscape around us emphasized that more vibrantly than any other pair of green eyes I had ever seen before. Beads of sweat prickled his brow, while his hair, a dark, sandy-blond, almost brown, lay wet and flat against his head. He wore a thin, white tee shirt, which was now dotted with brown spots, all thanks to my panic-stricken fit in the pond. I didn’t dare look at myself. I knew I was hideous and I didn’t want to show my embarrassment even more by letting him see my reaction.

  “Oh crap, your shirt.” I reached for it, but pulled my hand back before I touched his chest. “I’m really sorry about that. Can I buy you a new one?”

  “What? No, of course not. It’s nothing the washing machine can’t get out. I’m dirty anyway.” He held out his hands to show an array of colored paints sprinkled across his fingers. “I paint for a living, so I’ve always got something on me.” Turning his wrist over, he glanced at his watch. “Oh crap, I’ve got to run. I’m expecting an important phone call any minute. I’m sorry, but I’ve got to head back.”

  “Oh, okay. Well, thanks again for your help. I really appreciate it. Maybe I’ll just stick with the gym from now on.”

  He stood up, and his jogging pants were wet where I pressed against him. “I don’t know. The gym can be a dangerous place too,” he grinned. “Next time, stay on the track. Those tree roots will leap up and grab you every time. I don’t want to have to jump in there next time to get you out.”

  I laughed. He wouldn’t have to worry about rescuing me again. I’d be sure not to walk that close to the pond again.

  “See you around, Lilly,” he said, over his shoulder as he walked away.

  Yeah, right. He was going to avoid me like the plague.

  Standing in front of the full-length mirror behind my bedroom door, I marveled at the mess that peered back at me. I might have looked better if I had rolled around in the dirt first. Not only were my clothes disgusting, but my hair was matted down, and a darker brown than the lighter shade it was supposed to be. My mascara was smeared, making my blue eyes look like a rabid raccoon. My thin top stuck tightly to my skin, which I’m sure gave Drew more of a show than I realized during our encounter.

  I’ve been here for three months and the first person I have a conversation with has to pull me out of a pond. Classy, Lilly, real classy.

  Reading over my lesson plan on the treadmill wasn’t half as difficult as it was trying to grade papers. Lesson learned. Obviously, physical coordination wasn’t my strong suit, made pretty apparent when I tried walking the track at my apartment a couple days ago. It was the reason I decided to go to the gym rather than risk falling in the pond again. Since today was technically supposed to be a teacher’s workday, I already spent some time preparing this week’s lessons; but I had to think of an art activity for the kids to work on since we still didn’t have an art teacher.

  The gym wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. For some reason, I had a preconceived notion that only young, skinny, stuck-up, beautiful women would be here. Right beside the typical, egotistical, drop dead gorgeous men, who believed they were precious gifts from God for the female population. I was wrong. This place seemed quite neutral. People of all shapes and sizes worked out here, which instantly made me feel more comfortable since I wasn’t perfect by any means. I could actually envision myself coming more often. There seemed to be plenty of workout classes to choose from, just like the one I could see across the room to the left. It was filled with people in peaceful meditation for a yoga class. Probably something I could benefit from… A way to clear my mind after a hectic day.

  A racquetball game was going on in the room on my right. I could see two people darting back and forth, trying their best to hit a ball as it bounced off the walls… That was one game I’d skip. The room directly in front of me was enclosed in glass. It was slightly smaller than the others, but held all the weights and equipment. Only two guys shared this room, and it looked as if the young, attractive, blond-haired guy was doing most of the talking. He demonstrated each machine before letting the older man try it out, while he stood by and watched. He obviously worked here, a trainer, I guessed. It didn’t matter who he was, he was hot any way you looked at him. There was something about him. I didn’t know if it was the wildness of his spiky hair, or maybe the way he carried himself. His chest was slightly puffed out, his broad shoulders back, and he stood up tall and rigid in a confident manner. Maybe working out here wouldn’t be so bad if I was able to watch him during it. It was the perfect motivation.

  “Scrumptious, isn’t he?”

  I glanced to my right and saw another woman walking on the treadmill beside me. She was short. Her orange-red hair was pulled up in a messy bun on the top of her head. When she smiled, I could see reddish freckles sprinkled across the bridge
of her nose. “Excuse me,” I asked, not sure whom she was referring to.

  “The guy over there,” she said, pointing to the room across from us. “I’ve been coming here for about a week now. He’s always helping someone. I’m pretty sure he works here, which is even better,” she said. “It gives us something to look at. He’s too damn hot not to look.”

  I stared back at him. Yeah, he was seriously hot. No doubt about that. “So you’ve only been coming here a week?” I asked, changing the subject.

  “Yep. So far I’ve accomplished a week. We’ll see how long it lasts. I made it three days the first time, so I’ve already beaten my previous goal. I’m on a roll,” she snickered. “What about you? I don’t think I’ve seen you around.”

  “Oh, except for the day I signed up three months ago, this is my first visit. A particularly good one at that,” I said, peeping over at the mystery guy again.

  “Well, my goal is to come during the week after work, so if you come about the same time, we can chat. I hear it helps to have a workout buddy. If I know you’re coming, it will make me feel obligated to come too.”

  “That sounds like a great idea. I don’t really know anyone around town except my students, and hanging out with a bunch of ten-year-olds isn’t much fun. I appreciate any adult conversations in my life after spending most my time with them.”

  “Ahh, you’re a teacher?”

  “Yep.”

  “And look… you still have all your hair!” She laughed, “You haven’t been teaching long, I take it?”