Love Interrupted: A Sweet Christian Romance Read online

  Love Interrupted

  By:

  T.K. Chapin

  www.tkchapin.com

  Copyright © 2015 T.K. Chapin All rights reserved.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with.

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  Version 2015.1.25

  ISBN-13:

  ISBN-10:

  Dedicated to my loving wife,

  She is my muse, she is my love and she is my joy.

  Table of Contents

  1-Liam

  2-Katie

  3-Liam

  4-Katie

  5-Liam

  6-Katie

  7-Liam

  8-Katie

  9-Liam

  10-Katie

  11-Liam

  12-Katie

  13-Liam

  14-Katie

  15-Liam

  16-Katie

  17-Liam

  18-Katie

  19-Liam

  Bonus

  Other Books

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  One Last Thing…

  1-Liam

  Shutting the back of the truck’s canopy Liam looked at his brother Tony. “That should be it, you ready to go?” he asked. Tony nodded in excitement as he rounded the front corner of the truck and jumped into the passenger seat. Liam looked back at his mother as she stood in the doorway with a heavy countenance as her two sons were on their way to see their sick grandfather in Lincoln City.

  Getting into the truck, Liam turned the key over and the truck started up with a rumble. That a girl. The truck had just got a water pump replaced less than a week ago which brought Liam’s total investment into the 1979 Chevy Cheyenne up to just over two grand since he got it as a gift from his father this last summer.

  Getting onto the freeway heading south bound, Liam felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He had been trying to get this road trip going since late October. His little brother Tony insisted on going with him, and so they had to wait until just after Christmas to ensure they were home with their mother for the holiday.

  “The heater sucks in this truck!” Tony said rubbing his hands together in front of the vent. Liam chuckled looking over at him with a smile.

  “Yeah it does, that’s why I said to make sure you bundle up for the trip. It’s about an 11 hour drive and it’ll be a cold one at that.”

  “Do you think Grandpa will come back with us?” Tony asked.

  “I don’t know bro… He’s a stubborn old man and stuck in his ways,” Liam said as he passed a car. Why do people have to drive so slow in the winter? There isn’t even a lick of snow on the roads.

  “I hope he does…” Tony said. “Mom really misses him and I think it would make her happy if he was around… especially if… you know.”

  “Yeah… I agree. I just don’t know if he’ll be willing to leave his old church behind.” Liam’s grandfather use to be the pastor of Grace Baptist in Lincoln City. After his retirement, he had volunteered with the youth group all the way up until his wife passed away, after that, he’s been cooped up in his house, but still talks to old friends from the church. Liam had heard from an old high school buddy that the youth group was struggling to keep kids with the lack of a youth building and with Liam’s grandfather no longer volunteering; the program was drying up quickly. With Liam’s experience assisting the youth group at Pines Church in Spokane, Liam figured he might be able to help cultivate the youth in Lincoln City. “Are you going to hang out and help me with the youth group?” Liam asked looking over at Tony.

  “Come on Liam… I need to take care of Grandpa. Plus its winter, it’s not like you can do anything fun with them.”

  Liam chuckled. “There’s sledding…”

  “Doubtful… There’s no snow in Lincoln City.”

  “True… but there’s indoor sports like basketball and dodge ball… if we can find a school that will let us use their gym.”

  “I do play a pretty wicked game of dodge ball… Let’s just see how Grandpa is and then I’ll decide. I really wanted to come with you on this trip to help Grandpa, not play games,” Tony said. Liam looked at his brother in admiration. This kid is growing up quick; he wants to help the elderly instead of play games? Where’s my brother that ate his boogers and sneaked into my room when I was away to play with my action figures?

  “Okay, okay… That’s fair,” Liam said patting him on the shoulder and smiling.

  **

  Pulling into Lincoln City, it was about seven o’clock in the morning. Finding a Safeway right off the freeway, Liam pulled into the parking lot. He looked over at Tony to find he was still fast asleep. I’ll just let him sleep. Liam got out of the truck and took a deep breath in as he stretched his stiffened muscles from the drive. The ocean smell in the air brought back the feeling of simpler times when Liam was younger and didn’t have the responsibilities and concerns of an adult. I love the smell of the ocean, if I could, I would smell it every single day. Strolling through the parking lot, he went inside to Safeway.

  “Hello!” An older lady said as he entered the store. Warmed by the friendly welcome, Liam approached her.

  “Hi… I was wondering if you had anything for a cut? Something like Neosporin?” He asked showing her his hand. He had cut it on a sharp piece of plastic on the inside of the door of the truck. Liam knew he could have found the ointment just as easy, but he loved to reach out to people whenever he saw a chance to do so. He figured every situation he came into was an opportunity to share God’s love with someone. The lady in the store led him down an aisle and showed him the container on the shelf.

  “That’s the one I use with my kids,” She said. Bingo, thought to himself as he smiled at her. She grabbed the box and handed it to him before she quickly began to walk away.

  “Ma’am,” Liam said capturing her attention. She came back to Liam.“What ages are your children if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “Why do you want to know about my children?” She asked suspiciously. Liam began to laugh revealing his charming smile.

  “I’m here working with the New Life youth group at Grace Baptist and was wondering if they attended? It’s for 13-18 year olds.”

  “Ohhh… I’ve heard of that group once or twice. I have an 8 year old daughter and a 15 year old son, but he won’t do things like that. He always says they are boring.”

  “Well, I’m hoping to change that boring part. Let me get your number and I’ll let you know about the next event we are doing. I’ll give you a ring and you can relay it to your son. You know… just give him the option to come join us.” She smiled and looked around.

  “That’s awfully nice of you!” she said with a grin. She gave Liam her phone number and then said, “I have an older daughter also…” Liam knew exactly where the woman was going by the look in her eye.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m not really looking for someone right now; I am only in town for a bit.” She nodded quickly. Liam noticed displeased and he continued, “No offense, I’m just not…”

  “I understand, no need to explain,” she said. Liam had gotten offer after offer of people trying to get him setup with women his age; he just had no interest outside
of the Lord in his younger days. He felt the Lord was enough for him and he was happy and content. “What’s your name?” the lady asked.

  “I’m Liam.”

  “Nice to meet you Liam, I’m Carla.”

  2-Katie

  The sound of Helga opening the window drapes woke Katie up. Peeking through her comforter’s edge, she saw Helga frantically moving about her room picking up dirty clothing. Sighing, Katie said, “Helga… what did I tell you about waking me up so early? Don’t you know I need my beauty sleep?”

  “Mr. Lane called and asked if you would join him for brunch at the resort. I took the liberty of assuming your answer would be yes,” Helga said standing in the middle of the room with a laundry basket full of Katie’s clothing.

  “You don’t have to be so proper Helga, you can call him Derek,” Katie said sliding out of her bed and into slippers. She grabbed her robed and wrapped it around her. Grabbing a pony tail, she put her hair up and followed Helga downstairs to the kitchen.

  “Coffee?” Helga asked opening the cupboard as Katie sat on a stool at the kitchen island. Nodding, Katie reached for the local paper that sat only a few inches away from her hands.

  She flipped pass the news and went straight for the comics. Helga placed Katie’s cup of coffee next to her and took the laundry basket off to the laundry room. Katie began laughing as she was reading the comics and sipping her coffee. FoxTrot is always so funny… Peter is hilarious! After finishing the comics, she went back upstairs to her room and got into the shower.

  **

  “Derek!” Katie said excitedly approaching the table that sat near the oversized bay windows overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Standing up, he greeted her with a quick hug and then motioned for the waiter nearby to pull her seat out.

  Katie noticed a small child, roughly three-years-old, walking around with a confused look on his face. “Excuse me,” Katie said to Derek standing up. She ventured over to the little boy and asked, “Where’s your mommy and daddy?”

  “I don’t know…” The little boy said looking down at the floor. Katie grabbed him by the hand and walked around the entire restaurant until they bumped into the distraught mother of the child.

  “Thank you so much!” The mom said grabbing her son’s arm. Katie smiled at the woman.

  “No problem!” she said before returning back to her table with Derek.

  “That was nice of you Katie. How have you been doing?” Derek asked as he motioned for their waiter to come over to them. Tugging on the waiter’s shoulder, Derek whispered into his ear and the waiter vanished into the back. What was that about? Katie thought.

  “I’ve been good, what did you do to the waiter? I wanted to order something to eat.”

  “You don’t need a menu. I have it taken care of,” Derek said. Leaning in on the table, he continued, “Tell me, how’s the fundraiser going?”

  “It’s going good… we have about 25% left until we hit the goal.”

  “25%? That’s $50,000… How’s that good in your mind?” Derek asked sitting back in his seat crossing his arms.

  “Well, we have raised $150,000… I think that’s pretty decent. The worst case scenario is we cut the youth building from the projects we plan to do.”

  “That’s true… but we need that youth building. The kids are just using the Church’s sanctuary at this point…” Derek said leaning back across the table towards Katie.

  “Kids are great… but I really think the new baptismal and sanctuary upgrade is crucial.” Interrupting their discussion, the waiter returned with a fruit tray. He set it down between them and a waitress behind him brought two glasses and set them in front of each of them. After pouring orange juice into each of their glasses, the waitress placed the bottle on ice, setting it next to their table. That’s classy.

  “Enjoy,” the young blonde said before retreating back to the kitchen. Katie grabbed a piece of cantaloupe and popped it into her mouth.

  “The kids seem fine… that’s what I’m saying,” Katie said covering her mouth with her napkin. The cantaloupe was sweet and delicious. “Wow, this is delightful cantaploupe! It’s hard to find good cantaloupe in season,” She said reaching for another piece. Derek grabbed her hand and stopped her. She looked up at him waiting for him to say something.

  “I understand your reservations with the youth… I will see what I can do about getting it cut if it comes to that,” Derek said as a man approached from behind him. The man approaching was gorgeous and had beautiful brown eyes that melted Katie’s heart when she saw them. How could such a beautiful creature walk Lincoln City without me knowing? I’ve never seen him before… Maybe he’s new in town or just passing through… Wait… is he coming over here? Oh my gosh! The man placed his hand on the shoulder of Derek. Derek looked over his shoulder up at him and then jumped up to give the man a hug.

  “Liam!” Derek shouted as he embraced the man firmly. Derek patted him on the back and said, “How have you been man? It’s been way to long.” Liam looked over at Katie.

  “It’s been a while for sure Derek… What’s this I heard about cutting the youth group building?” Liam’s eyes were focused on Katie making her uncomfortable in her own skin.

  “Stop staring at me!” Katie lashed out at Liam suddenly. Gorgeous guy just turned into a super creep.

  “This must be Katie. Stop trying to destroy the youth group… Don’t you want the kids to have somewhere of their own?”

  “They do… a new whole building to themselves is outrageous thought! It’s really just not needed.”

  “But a new baptismal and upgrading the sanctuary are needed? Those are upgrades to existing things that already exist… The youth group doesn’t even have their own place.”

  “Who is this guy?” Katie snapped at Derek. Derek leaned over to Liam and whispered in his ear. This stranger to Lincoln City has no idea what he’s talking about. Katie was unsure what was said but it must have had to do with leaving because only a few moments later, Liam left the restaurant.

  “Katie…” Derek said leaning over the table as Liam walked away. “That was no way to treat him… Do you even know who that was?”

  “No… who?” Katie responded curiously.

  “It was Lenny Charles’ grandson!” Derek said. Katie felt horrible as she found out it was the church’s retired pastors’ grandson. Why was he so rude to me? He can’t just show up and start arguing with me! Even if he is Lenny’s grandson.

  “I’m sorry,” Katie said softly. She knew that Derek’s father Henry would be upset to find out Katie had acted so harshly with his predecessors’ grandson.

  3-Liam

  Getting back into the truck, Liam began to pray.

  Dear Heavenly Father, please release me from my bondage of anger towards that woman in there. Please help me not to judge her and give me the strength that is only found in you Lord. I pray that your will be done.

  Looking up from his steering wheel, Liam felt a nudge in his heart. He wasn’t sure what it was or where it came from, but he felt drawn to go back in there and talk to the rude girl that was sitting with his friend Derek. I don’t want to go in there, I’m sure I’ll see her again. Putting his truck into reverse he backed up hitting a car. Ugh! Throwing the truck back into drive he pulled forward and parked. Leaping out of the truck he slammed the door behind him and went to the back of his truck to see the damage.

  “Did you not see me?” An older gentleman getting out of his car asked. He walked around his car to the side Liam had hit. Why now? Dang it! The old man squatted down and rubbed the side of his car. Come on… there’s nothing there, Liam thought as he watched the man rub his car’s side.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you at all,” Liam said trying to see if there was damage to either vehicle. The old man found a dent, but it wasn’t deep and he didn’t seem too concerned. Standing up he turned to Liam and smiled.

  “I’m just glad nobody got hurt.”

  “Me too, let me grab my insurance information
,” Liam said as he turned to go get it.

  “That’s okay… let’s just not report it. There’s no damage really, so no use getting insurance companies involved,” the elderly man said beaming with a grin. What a nice guy! Liam thought.

  “Thank you so much!” Liam said. The older man began to wave at someone behind Liam. Turning around, Liam discovered it was Katie. Oh great… Help me Lord. Katie came running up to the old man and hugged him.

  “Granddaughter!” He said smiling.

  “What happened?” Katie asked.

  “Just a little accident, don’t worry about it,” Katie’s grandpa said. Katie glared Liam down as she got into the car.

  She rolled the window down and said, “You hit my Grandpa’s car?”

  “It was an accident,” Liam said with agitation.

  “We aren’t going to call it in, it’s not a big deal honey,” Katie’s grandpa said.