The Destination: The Destination Series, #1

By LEA MARTIN

The Destination Book 1
Sometimes love takes a wrong turn, and every so often, it waits for you just around the corner.
Janelle and Bobby have always known there was something special about each other. But Janelle was too young and when Bobby's high school girlfriend became pregnant, he stepped up and did the right thing, while Janelle wished him well and waved goodbye to her secret dreams.
Now, years later, Bobby's a widower with four kids and Janelle is a lonely divorcee when she and Bobby reconnect. Can they revive the dream they wished for so long ago, or will they yet again, let love pass them by?

• Language: English
• Publisher: LEA MARTIN
• Release date: Aug 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201005047

Book preview

Janelle’s Feeling Free

On a bright June day , Janelle Stevens descended the stairs of the county courthouse, as she crammed her divorce papers into her bag. She noticed the sunlight for the first time in ages when she got to her car and took in the lemon-yellow sun and puffy, wispy clouds above. She fastened the seat belt and turned on the ignition. She didn’t know what the future held, but she drove to her hometown to develop a game plan. When she looked back and saw the shadow of the building disappearing in the rearview mirror, she felt stronger and calmer.

She felt comforted scanning the road for traffic and watching the mile markers skip by every minute or two. A small dinging sound brought her to reality. She felt nostalgic and liberated. It always felt good to use the same gas station as she did when she lived in this sleepy, Midwest town, with its neon signs for defunct beer brands, and handwritten signs on the door, with the current prices of beer and grocery items on them, as she took it all in while she eased the lever for the gas pump into place and leaned against the car.

Hi! a familiar voice said, bringing her back to the moment. I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m Justin, the man said.

No! She said, you’re Justin? You’re taller than I remember.

Yep! That’s me! He replied with a smile, I grew three inches after I turned twenty-one. 

O.M. G, she said, giving him a brief hug.

Justin Talbot and Janelle attended high school together, and they were in the same group of friends that always hung out together. Do you still live here in town? Janelle asked.

No. Just passing through. I’m moving to Florida, he responded, while he glanced at the sleek navy-blue SUV with the U-Haul attached to it next to him. I had a few things to do before I left, but I’m out of here now... just wanted to drive around one last time. And stopped in on some friends. I just left Bobby Johann’s house. I noticed his lawn looked shaggy, so I mowed it for him. He can do it himself. I just wanted to.

She nodded, as she remembered Bobby’s gorgeous blue-gray eyes, and his dark wavy hair, and tall, robust physique, with just the right amount of muscle. Her mind drifted away, as she tried to visualize what he might look like now. She didn’t think of him as handsome until she got a little older. Same here... just passing through... How are he and the kids doing? My brother told me what happened. I tried to call Bobby, but the call didn’t go through, Janelle said. I felt horrible I couldn’t go to Amy’s funeral.

He switched to an unpublished number the same week. He couldn’t handle the volume of condolence calls when the papers printed the obituaries, which took away from his time to comfort his kids... some days are better than others, but he is doing all right... he’s not home much, but some of us have taken to writing him emails. Would you like to send him one? I can give you his info? Justin asked.

Yes, please... I will send him an email. Do you have one more second? I’ll get something to write with, Janelle replied. The card I sent got returned to me. I’ve tried to let him know how sorry I was that I couldn’t go to the services for his wife and daughter. It was hard on Jason too, so I’m not sure he remembered to offer Bobby my best at the service, she said. It just added to her guilt that she couldn’t hold her brother’s hand while his best friend buried his wife and baby girl.

He might have forgotten to get his mail, and the box got full, Justin responded. Bobby will understand. It’s the thought that counts with him, not when it arrives.

A whole year out from the worst day of his life, though? Janelle asked, as she handed Justin a napkin from a carryout place, because she couldn’t find anything else, as well as a pink gel pen from the glove box.

Justin jotted on the napkin, and it had an email address and a cell phone number on it when he gave it back. Just do it, don’t be bashful... that’s Bobby’s email and my cell. Call me if you need anything, or just to chat, Justin said, as he handed her the napkin, hopped back into his truck, beeped the horn, and drove off. She watched as he made a right turn, which led to the interstate.

Now Janelle had to choose her path. A left would direct her into town towards the residential district, and the right turn led to the interstate. After a brief deliberation, she decided on the latter, because she realized she could beat the mid-afternoon rush hour. She navigated the on-ramp, set the cruise control, and put the radio on to a country station. I can do this, she thought. She felt comforted, while she scanned the road for traffic, and watched the mile markers skip by every minute. She now felt confident in this decision because her parents probably would have talked her out of it.

Janelle and Tim could not conceive a child, so she didn’t have a specific reason to keep her in the city, other than her employer. The judge ordered the home sold, and for them to split the proceeds, which she figured would be enough to live on once she received her half in her checking account. She worked hard at maintaining the home and had confidence it would sell quickly.

The car made a dinging sound, returning her to reality. A glance at the dash revealed that it was time to refuel. Luckily, she drove right near an exit sign with its ads for food, gasoline, and lodging. As she stopped at Citgo, the motel Vacancy sign flashed at her like a guiding light. She needed to stop for the evening, while the mid-June sunset faded behind her with its shades of lavender and red. She paused just for a moment to deliberate whether to compare prices on her phone or check in to the motel. She opted to check into the motel. Basic, but serviceable. Yes, this will do, she thought, as she turned on all the lights.

Bobby- A Look Back

Bobby Johann sat on the floor of his living room, looking through his collection of old photo albums. He had several open around him. His mind drifted away as he found the specific photograph he was looking for. He sat there and stared at it, as his mind went blank. It did that these days, as thinking of nothing was easier on him. He didn’t even hear the front door open and close. His daughter’s voice brought him back to reality.

Hi, Dad, Amanda said. Looking at pictures?

Yes, Bobby said. Hey, Panda.

Amanda sat down on the footstool and scooted herself up to him. I love looking at pictures. Who is the lady in this one?

Janelle Jacobs, Bobby said with a wistful smile. You’ve met her. Her name used to be Stevens. She’s my friend Jason’s sister, Bobby answered.

Ooh, I remember her now, she’s pretty... why doesn’t she come when she’s invited anymore? Know what, Dad? I think you kind of like her, Amanda replied. You can tell me, she told him, when she didn’t get an answer. It’s ok, Dad... we kids have talked. We’re good if you ever wanted to take some lucky lady out someday.

I never cheated on your mother, and I’m not about to start with my best friend’s little sister, Bobby said, his face emotionless, as he avoided the question. I will never be the same after everything that happened.

None of us will, Amanda said. We just want you to be happy. Whatever it takes. Stay single, get married... either way. I will be excited to have a little brother or sister! Amanda was the youngest and looked forward to being a big sister to someone, and probably took all this the hardest.

You’re a good kid. Thanks for spending the weekend, he replied.

I don’t mind, because I like to be with you, she said, because she knew her friends’ parents had to beg them to visit.

I love it! I wish we thought of it months ago. The pain comes and goes in waves. Sometimes I feel great, and others, not so much. That’s up to you. I’ll be okay if you don’t, but I’ll be glad to have you here with me. I just hope dropping out of school doesn’t mess up your scholarship. If it does, I’ll pay for you to go back to college, Bobby answered. I started putting more money aside the same day I found out about you. He said, smiling.

Leave of absence, she said, to correct what he just told her. I’m going to try again when it’s time, and because I showed the admissions board the obituaries, I think it will still let me have it, Amanda said, tears coming to her eyes.

Love you, Panda, Bobby said, which made her tears come faster. Cry if you need to. You won’t make me worse, he added, because she and the other kids tried to hide their feelings from him. Not only that, but he was also all out of tears. He cried more in the last six months than he did in his previous forty-six years, but today was a pretty good one. He was heading towards a performance improvement plan at work, but he met a deadline at work last week, so he took it as a sign he was getting a trade wind on his emotions.

With the pressure off and the permission, Amanda leaned into him and had a good cry, but had soon recovered with her dad sitting there, not trying to fix her, just keeping her company, as she did so. He had such a kind presence. It didn’t take long. Have you eaten today, Dad? she asked as she got up and grabbed some tissues from the end table.

I did, and I will later. Nathan and Jordyn are coming too. I’ll get dinner started soon, he promised. He knew he was losing weight, and fast. Some days, he could only eat a few bites, and then he would feel like he ate a five-course meal.

We could get a few pizzas instead, Amanda suggested.

Nathan can’t have pizza. I know he eats it anyway, but I rather not deal with that if he gets sick, he said. He can do that at his house if he wants, but he won’t be doing that at mine.

At the place I enjoy by campus, they have gluten-free crust. I sometimes forget the one here in town doesn’t, Amanda replied, because she now lived with her sister, Daniela, but often took the drive on weekends, because several friends attended State.

There is a new place opening next week that will offer more crust options, Bobby answered. My friend Pamela brought me some food. I’m just going to reheat it. It’s Nathan-safe lasagna. She made extra, because I told her you kids were coming, Bobby said, gathering up the photo albums, and stacking them on the couch.

After Bobby put the albums back on the shelf in the room, his son Nathan and his girlfriend Jordyn arrived. Some days, looking into his son's face was quite painful, because he looked so much like his mom. Nathan had her auburn hair and big brown eyes, but his ears and feet. He needed to wear glasses since he was about two years of age. He was holding Jordyn's hand. She had brownish blonde hair and green eyes. Bobby remembered when she was born. He worked with her dad, but he was no longer friends with him. His relationship with her dad became very businesslike, because their wives were pregnant together. Seeing her baby brother smiling just broke the part of his spirit that was healing, because Jasmine should have been just about ready to do that too, instead of residing in a heart-shaped box decorated with her footprints.

Hi, Amanda, Jordyn spoke first. Can I hug you? You look so sad, she added.

Sure, Amanda said, accepting Jordyn’s hug.

If she gets one, I get one, Nathan said, to lighten the mood, hugging his sister. It was the rallying cry of their sibling rivalry when they were children. He said those words countless times growing up.

Bobby smiled back at Nathan. He remembered those days well. Let’s go to the kitchen. I’ll get dinner started, he said, leading the way.

How is our dad today? Nathan said, as they walked to the kitchen.

Pretty good, Amanda said, as she explained why she was crying and her earlier conversation with her dad. If that ever changes. If Janelle becomes single, I’ll be all for it. How about you?

Nathan grinned down at his sister. Most definitely, I can’t speak for them, but I would be in shock of if Bobby and Daniela didn’t feel the same...

All About Bobby

With a place to stop for the evening, Janelle thought about her friendship with Bobby. He and his dad moved to town the week before ninth grade. Jason went over to their house to investigate when he saw the movers arrive, and he and Bobby quickly made friends and joined the swimming team together. Janelle attended many of the meets, even though she was in sixth grade, and the guys were in ninth. Bobby had this contagious laugh that could get the entire group rolling. Janelle was five years younger than the rest of the group, but since she skipped two grades, she was a first-year student in Bobby and Jason’s senior year. However, the other kids let her hang out because she was Jason’s kid sister. Bobby had a mischievous streak. One time, he got annoyed when someone bested him at Super Mario Brothers at the Pizza Hut the group often frequented after school, so he unplugged the machine. He became quite popular with girls over time, but not as much as the boys, who saw him as a threat. First it was for going out for the swim team and making it, and then they became jealous, as he adjusted to the sleepy, Midwest town. The cliques had one thing in common. Members of the other social groups didn’t like Janelle or Amy, but they all adored Bobby, who always stood up for Amy especially, and Janelle to a lesser degree, because he wanted to make it clear Janelle was just a friend, but he refused to associate with anyone rude to others, even intervening a few times when he saw someone being bullied. He cast a wide net of friends, but Janelle was in his smaller circle who were closer to him, which Amy didn’t mind because she was younger, and especially after Janelle met Tim, the new boy in her grade at the high school across town, whom she met by attending away games during football season. Bobby told Janelle he didn’t like Tim that much in his limited experience with him, but she was so smitten with Tim, she didn’t want to hear it. It should have been a red flag because Bobby liked everyone.

Janelle remembered she had a picture from Bobby and Amy’s wedding on her phone, which she found and viewed. They were dancing, with their daughter in the middle. Amy had auburn hair and brown eyes, with hooded eyelids, and their daughter had strawberry blonde hair, and blue eyes, essentially a hybrid. To a casual observer, it was clear Bobby and Amy were her parents, but other than a long physique, she didn’t resemble either in appearance. Daniela was a chubby, beautiful, smiley baby, who loved being passed around the guests. She only cried twice, once to be nursed, and again when she got tired and protested because she wanted to stay when Amy’s mother took her home. Daniela was twelve months old at the time of the wedding. Just six months after that, Janelle learned that Daniela was getting a sibling, a boy, born just fifteen months later.

After graduating high school, Bobby enjoyed driving around in a big green van, so Janelle knew the part about him not being home much, leaving the town to question his dedication to Amy and his growing family. The town’s evaluation of Bobby’s behavior turned out to be accurate. Janelle fell out of touch with him, since he was older, and more interested in going out and getting drunk than raising his family, or even education. She even saw some buddies of his attempting to get him into the trunk of the car to drink. Janelle hadn’t been old enough to drink, and Bobby refused to buy alcohol for others when he was of age, and she worried he’d end up dead or in jail. Janelle had always felt sentimental about the days that they were friends, and as her marriage had unraveled, she had always wondered if Bobby had been the one who had eluded her.

Janelle watched TV while she did the contemplations but didn’t really watch. She didn’t want to get divorced, at least at first, but then came to terms, and decided maybe the best way to deal with this was not to contest. Janelle didn’t hate him, but she just didn’t have the fight in her to get him to suspend the proceedings to salvage the relationship. She went to counseling alone, even though she’d invited him. This is what he wanted. Counseling wouldn’t help, he told her. That was one more thing she had to do when she got back. More counseling. There were just too many big feelings to conquer alone. Another day, she thought, as she felt herself getting drained and settled in for the night with an old movie playing on the TV.

Janelle didn’t think she would relax, but once she did, she heard nothing until she heard footsteps in the hallway. She had paid little for the motel room, and the thin walls did little to block out sound. She squinted at the clock on the bedside table, which read six-thirty. That isn’t bad, she thought to herself, as she got out of bed, and applied some eyeliner. She felt better about herself, somehow wearing a little makeup, something Tim discouraged. Then she realized she skipped dinner. She contemplated between the continental breakfast at the motel, or the casual chain restaurant across the street.

She walked to the restaurant. The weather seemed cool that morning, so she pulled her hair back in her basic black cap and pulled on her trusty black Carhartt sweatshirt that fit right, neither too tight nor too big. After breakfast, she stopped at the nearby Starbucks for an iced latte. It felt weird. She could feel the brisk, cool morning air and taste the caramel syrup in her latte, even though Tim divorced her. She unlocked her motel room