Mia's Destiny

By Susan Garod

Romance and relationships had to take a back seat in Mia Jackson's life, because Mia Jackson was bringing up three children on her own. So when Mia found herself working with Noah Carpenter, there might have been scope for a relationship, except for the fact that Noah Carpenter had accused one of the children of stealing from him. This book in the series that started with Joshua's Grace.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Garod
• Release date: Nov 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215724620

Susan Garod

reviewsI don't know about other readers but for me it's not just the happy ending. The journey has to be fraught with obstacles and difficulties to make the happy ending worth it. The thing I love best about any of your work is that no matter the obstacle you always find a way for the couple to overcome it and it's not some unrealistic magic fix. Love takes work and you show that. Your characters are also not perfect, they have their strengths and weaknesses clearly on display for readers to really get into the characters heads. At least thats how it is for me. (sweet_candy89, 21/1/2018)If you love reading about strong women and the real men that love them, then Susan Garod never disappoints! The characters are complex with intriguing, interconnected story arcs, which continue in each series with their multiple characters and side stories and makes them such a pleasure to read. Joshua's Grace is the perfect starting point if you haven't read any of Susan's books, and follow the Carvalho sisters into the Moonlight series, Spice Sisters and the Heartbeat series. You See Me elicited the same response as all the preceding books by Susan Garod - I loved it!(Karen, June, 10, 2017)I absolutely LOVE Susan Garod's books, think I have every one of them, so when I seen this was available for my kindle I was ecstatic. Now it is a little different than her other writings, but it is just as good if not better. Laura has found out she has a grandmother, goes to see her but runs into her neighbor who thinks that Laura is there just to get something from the grandmother. There are many trials and tribulations going back and forth between the 2. I really did enjoy this book and if you have read any of Susan's other books you will love this one as well (Lori Costa, July, 28, 2016)

Book preview

Mia’s Destiny

Susan Garod

Copyright 2023 Susan Garod

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords License Statement

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Chapter 1

Yours? His eyes skimmed over her quickly but she was sure he hadn’t missed the fact that she was shoeless and her dated clothes were crumpled. Her long dark brown hair lay wild and loose on her shoulders. With conditioned practice Mia pushed the overlong fringe off her face, and studied the man in front of her. From the one word question it was obvious that this visit wasn’t going to be friendly.

Yes. Mia replied as she squared her shoulders and looked from him to Alex. Alex, with her arms folded across her chest, her lips set in a firm tight line, her eyes argumentative, seemed defiant, almost belligerent. Mia’s gaze returned to the man standing at her front door, What’s the problem...

If you can’t control your kids, Mrs....

Dr. Mia interrupted coolly and corrected automatically as her eyes flashed from the man to Alex and back to the man in the blink of an eye.

She’d learnt that if she could keep from sharing her marital status with people, and used her title instead, it usually generated better results. She wasn’t a Mrs, as she wasn’t married, but she was bringing up three children.

Mia looked back at the stranger at her door with a look that was in the process of going from curious and cross to hostile and furious. Her chin tipped forward with unconscious belligerence. It was his tone that was unnerving. Mia stood her ground.

Whatever. He muttered disdainfully and propelled Alex forward, as he made his position crystal clear. If I catch her stealing again, I will take it to the police.

Stealing? Surprise had Mia glancing quickly at Alex, then back at the man. Stealing? She was sure he said stealing. Alex would never steal. Never. Thing were tight, but Mia knew that none of the children would steal. Ever.

I’m sure there’s been some sort of misunderstanding. Mia announced quickly, and waited, hoping that Alex would explain.

I don’t expect my neighbour’s children to steal from me. Came the terse and frosty response.

This gorgeous, currently irate man, was a neighbour? That puzzled Mia, as far as she knew no one new had moved into the area. But she’d figure that one out later. First she had an accusation to deal with. Mia studied the man standing in front of her with a bit more care.

The cut of his clothes shouted expensive. The cut of his jaw screamed dangerous. His hair was cut fairly short, very neat, allowing the face Mia was sure once, at least, to have graced an advertising hoarding or two. Gray eyes, fringed with long dark lashes. Square cut jaw, clearly defined cheekbones and a mouth that probably invited a fair few advances from she imagined both men and women.

Before she could allow her musings to take over she tuned back into the present situation. In any case, finding him attractive was pointless because a, he was currently not in the mood to even consider her in the same vein, and b, she didn’t have the time to date. Let alone the energy, given what was currently on her to do list.

I wasn’t stealing. Alex finally decided to speak up. Though from her tone, Mia knew that Alex had already explained this to the irate neighbour. I knew Mrs Andrews’s house was sold, I didn’t know anyone had moved in. I…

Helping yourself to someone else’s property whether you think they are around or not is no excuse. He shifted his gaze back to Alex, and the gray eyes turned to flint as he then added, in no uncertain terms and with absolutely no hint of concession. It’s theft. Straightforward theft. His eyes remained trained on Alex. She had her hair pulled into a loose trendy careless chignon that many of the young girls with long hair favoured, and with wisps of light brown, almost blonde hair loose around her face she looked nothing like her gypsy mother, who stood with her dark hair falling in a riot of unkempt curls down past her shoulders. His eyes flicked back to Mia. He scanned Mia from head to toe, and Mia was sure that nothing went amiss. It was equally obvious that he’d reached some conclusion and that she wouldn’t like his thoughts if she knew what they were.

Not. Alex snapped in defiance completely unfazed by the fact that the man was a good foot taller and possibly a good foot broader. And to make matters worse, he clearly was not happy with her. She had tried to explain the situation to him, but he had not been listening. Instead he had accused her of stealing. And no amount of explanation seemed to shift him.

Mia sighed. Well at least now she wouldn’t have to work out which neighbour, Mia’s brain registered the detail while her dark brown eyes remained trained on the clearly aggrieved man as she asked with cool composure, What exactly are you accusing Alex of taking, Mr...?

Firewood. He barked as his gaze flicked toward Alex and then moved back to Mia. No wonder her children roamed the street, he thought as his eyes skimmed the woman standing in front of him. She was unkempt, her clothes looked well worn, her hair was a cascade of unruly curls and her eyes seemed not a whit put out. She seemed unperturbed by the fact her daughter was a thief.

Mia registered his response with cool hauteur and then Mia decided to be childish. She banked her smile and said sweetly, Well, Mr Firewood, I am not sure….

The interruption was swift. She’d expected it. She was taking firewood. He grated and his eyes went from flint to stormy grey when he picked up the obvious laughter in her eyes. He didn’t provide his name. He couldn’t remember the last time he was this incensed. She’d deliberately misinterpreted his sentence. You’d think she’d at least have the common sense to realize that he could report her, and her daughter to the Police.

Mia told herself to remain calm, as she studied the man in front of her. As I’m sure Alex has tried to explain, we used to have an arrangement with Mrs Andrews. She would let us...

Your arrangement with Mrs Andrews is not my concern. I am not Mrs Andrews. The words were as icy as the look in his eyes. That’s what ice-cold flint looks like, Mia through as she listened to him. If you can’t keep your children under control, I will report them, He looked at Mia with contempt as he added a further threat flatly, and you to the relevant authorities. He clearly meant it. No more warnings. He told her in no uncertain terms.

He’d been led to believe that this was a good neighbourhood. But he’d barely been here a week, and already learnt that his neighbours helped themselves to other people’s property, and thought they were entitled to do so assuming they wouldn’t get caught. And going by the looks of the woman standing in front of him, the neighbourhood was full of displaced hippies. Albeit sexy displaced hippies.

Alex, go inside. Mia’s tone also went from cool to icy.

This man needed to hear a few basic facts, but she did not wish to pursue the conversation with their current audience. Mia knew Alex well and knew that she was clearly ready to allow her temper to get the better of her. Mia could practically feel the vibes of animosity come off Alex in pulsing waves of heat.

But I... Alex began to challenge automatically, only to be promptly cut off by Mia who simply raised one eyebrow when she looked at Alex. Alex exaggerated her pout. Mia waited and the eyebrow rose another fraction of an inch. Alex huffed but did not move.

Now. Mia said quietly and held the door open wider and nodded with her head for Alex to go in. Mia’s body language brooked no further argument. Alex realized she’d pushed Mia as far as Mia was going to allow. Fuming, Alex threw the man a glare for good measure.

Fine. Huffed Alex and reluctantly left the scene.

He ignored the behaviour, kept his eyes trained on Mia and waited. From where he was standing, the family clearly had some issues. And the mother seemed to have trouble controlling her children. He waited until the young girl had sulkily disappeared into the house, though he was sure she was within hearing distance.

Her mother obviously thought so too, for she stepped out on to the deck, pulled the door almost to a close and strode toward the steps. He followed her without saying a word.

Alex hasn’t done anything wrong. She said quietly but firmly her voice now as icy as his had been. She was not going to allow this stranger to accuse Alex of theft and get away with it. And she was not going to allow him to threaten them. She would explain the situation calmly and rationally and then she hoped he’d have the good sense to see he’d jumped to the wrong conclusions.

No wonder your children are roaming the streets. His derision was clear not only in his words but in the flinty grey look of contempt he focused on her, Stealing. His lip all but curled into a sneer. If you can’t recognise the fact that she was taking something that doesn’t belong to her...

Mia was close to loosing her temper. Her cheeks were flushed as she fought the urge to screech at him. The man was insufferable. Look, I’m sorry you’ve been troubled by this, if you are looking for compensation, though by the expensive cut of his clothes, she doubted he was short of funds. Which was in direct contrast to their financial state. But non-the less, she thought she ought to offer him some token measure of compensation, I’ll see what I have on me and pay you for what you think Alex took. But as I was trying to explain, we used to ....

I don’t want your money. His eyes tracked her from head to foot and Mia did her best not to squirm. His look told her clearly that she would never be able to pay him, they moved in different tax brackets. When his eyes returned to hers he blew out a slow breath then stated flatly, I’m simply trying to ensure that you keep your daughter under control. If I catch her stealing from me again I will take it to the police.

Mia didn’t doubt him for a second. He was clearly not someone you messed about. If his tone hadn’t been convincing enough, the frigid certainty in his eyes left you in no doubt; this man meant what he said.

Fine. Mia folded her arms, squared her shoulders and forced herself to maintain eye contact with the irate man. Anything else? She asked with truculent petulance.

His eyes sparked at her obvious defiance, the flinty grey turned positively molten, I won’t be lenient the next time. He cautioned with barely restrained temper.

It was hardly a surprise the daughter was stealing from neighbours if the mother refused to acknowledge wrongdoing. No wonder the world was going to pot! The way this woman was dealing with the situation was enough to make holding on to his temper a close run thing, She has the language of a sewer rat, the manners of a..

Thank you for your opinion. Mia interrupted him brusquely, as she jerked up both open palms at about face level to halt his tirade. She sensed he was about to get into a full-scale rant.

The man seemed to like the sound of his own voice and his fractious opinion. Is there anything else? She asked him, even though she had no intention of listening if he dared to start sounding off again.

Noah glared. It was obvious she wasn’t taking a blind bit of notice of what he had to say, and she seemed determined to annoy him. She was huffy when she should have been apologetic.

She waited, saying nothing. The man was simply obstreperous and she had no intention of pandering to his ego trip. His glare turned glacial, then without a word he turned and strode away.

Mia silently called him all the names she wanted to voice loudly, as she watched him stalk all the way down the drive. She waited until he was past the gate before she released a pent up sigh and let her shoulders relax. Shaking her head she tried to regain her composure. The man needed to stop and listen, instead of just stampeding over everything. He hadn’t even bothered to listen to what she was trying to tell him.

Mia stood a few more seconds on the porch, watching as he disappeared from view, trying to gather her wits. Then pushing her hair off her face and catching it loosely in a hand held ponytail, she turned and walked slowly into the house. She closed the door, for a second she leaned against it, and then she took a breath, and headed purposefully for the conservatory.

Ok, you want to tell me what’s going on? Mia asked Alex as soon as she stepped into the room.

Alex was sitting on the dilapidated couch, her feet tucked beneath her, her elbow braced on the arm rest, allowing her to prop her cheek on her palm. I was getting some logs. Alex snapped and when Mia simply raised a brow. Alex scrunched up her face and added in a bad-tempered murmur, Like before.

Alex swung her feet to the floor, crossed her arms and adopted what Mia had come to recognise as her niece’s defiant stance. It was at times like these that Mia saw her sister in Alex. The same defiant look. The same posture. The same lack of compromise. How she missed her sister.

Alex, Mrs Andrews has been dead three months, Mia started to challenge quietly, and when Alex looked like she was about to interrupt, held up her hand and added, So you know you can’t just help yourself.

Just because there was some measure of logic there, did not mean that Alex was going to simply accept that she was in the wrong. She always ordered more logs than she needed. Alex pointed out with derision, And she told us we could have some in return for doing her lawn in the summer.

When she was alive. Added Mia with a measure of understanding. Of course Alex would go to collect. Of the three children Alex believed in fairness. If she thought she was owed this, she would follow her gut. But that didn’t mean that Mia had to accept Alex’s stubborn stance. She isn’t around now. The place is sold. Mia pulled out a chair and sat down, it looked like they were going to be having a long chat, We can’t just breeze in and...

We did her lawn in the summer. Alex interrupted and with the logic of a determined child added. I was collecting what she owed us. We should have collected ages ago. Then she huffed and rolled her eyes for added emphasis, as she tacked on, And, anyway, I didn’t know he’d moved in. I thought the place was unoccupied. It would go to waste over the winter.

Did you explain that to him? Mia knew that Alex would have tried, but given the way he’d practically ignored everything Mia had to say, she doubted whether Alex would have been able to get through his fractious superciliousness.

The man simply believed that he should speak and all the rest should cower while they listened. Mia doubted he’d even given Alex a chance to explain. She pitied his wife. Poor long-suffering woman. Assuming he had a wife. She hadn’t taken the opportunity to check for a wedding ring. But a man that good looking was bound to be taken. Wife. The thought flashed through Mia’s mind, surprising her. She’d given up wondering whether men were single, a long time ago. When she’d taken over the care of three young children. All thoughts about having her own had all but disappeared. She had more important things to worry about, like how to keep this small family together. It had been a huge gamble, but one she had been determined to take. And a huge sacrifice, when one looked at what had been given up, in order to ensure these three children had long-term safe homes.

Yeah, but he was trying to impress his girlfriend. Alex snorted for added impact. Alex knew what Mia was telling her made sense, just as she knew that they were owed those logs. They’d worked for it, so as far as she was concerned they were owed.

Alex! Mia did her best not to smile. At least that answered her question about his wife. A girlfriend. He had a girlfriend. Not surprising, given that apart from his manner, he was probably

considered a decent catch. Rich, good looking. Manners probably were required when you had those two elements.

Well he was. Alex folded her arms and added for emphasis, He was. as she thought Mia looked lost in thought and wasn’t paying attention.

Mia didn’t bother to go further, there wasn’t much more she could do. She knew Alex would never steal, just as she knew that they had an arrangement before Mrs Andrews died. And she knew that Alex and Dan had earned those logs, having mown the lawn over the summer. But she also knew that proving that to Mr self-important, completely-blinkered, poster-boy would be close to impossible.

Where’s Dan? Mia changed tack, as she suddenly realized that the house was relatively quiet.

I don’t know everything. Alex looked to the heavens, but when Mia pinned her to the spot, that was enough. Alex conceded in her usual hard done by tone, He was going to the library to do some work. I think.

And what time did he say he’d be back? Mia had years of listening to the tone, and knowing that dramatics were part and parcel of who Alex was. She was going to be a handful, given how independent, opinionated and headstrong she had been even at five years old. Now nearly a decade later, she was a handful, because along with those aforementioned qualities, Alex was also incredibly bright.

Alex glanced at her watch. About now. She shrugged when Mia’s eyes asked for more information.

Have you done your room? Mia asked. Alex huffed out a dramatic sigh and marched off without saying any more.

Mia took a deep breath, counted to ten and then walked into the kitchen to get dinner started.

Thank goodness the midterm break was nearly over.

As she set about getting dinner ready her mind returned to their new neighbour. She wondered if she should write him a letter, put things in writing, explain the situation and their arrangement with their previous neighbour. But as she rehashed the visit she knew that it would be pointless, he’d already made up his mind.

She hadn’t heard that he’d moved in. Everyone on the street knew the house had been sold, but no one seemed to know whom to. Or when the new owner would be moving in. It had been sold for several months, and though they had seen interior designers, painters and decorators head for the property, no one seemed to know whether it was a family or an individual, an old couple or young family, who were moving in. With a whimsical smile she acknowledged, now she knew.

She would tell her nearest neighbour that she had met the latest addition to their street, and no doubt that would be all that was needed for it to make it to the end of the street!

Mia began to catalogue his features. Tall, probably just over six foot. Not stocky, but not lean either. One of those faces that would stop traffic, well defined cheekbones, strong jaw, dark hair and brooding gray eyes. The man had clearly been blessed by the Gods, she thought as she wondered what his girlfriend looked like. Assuming he had just the one, and assuming the girlfriend was long term. With a disgusted snort for her mind rambling on inconsequential things she finished setting the table.

She’d nearly fainted when she’d seen him step into the room five minutes ago. Then for the next five minutes Mia had contemplated whether she could simply slink off, unobserved. But she’d been too slow and now she was being introduced to him. Half of her was ready for the broadside, the other half was working frantically trying to concoct some plan to vanish her out of this room before he made the connection.

With a broad grin, Curt stopped in front of Mia, And this is Dr Mia Jackson. Mia pinned a nervous smile on her face and waited with a fair amount of trepidation for him to recognise her. Mia, Mr Noah Carpenter, the new chair. Any second now, he was going to recognize her, and then what? She wondered.

We’ve met. Mia kept her voice level, not wanting to stir his memory too deeply, just in case he hadn’t recognized her. Chance would be a fine thing.

Of course she recognized him instantly. No one in his or her right mind would forget a face some benevolent God had bestowed on an earthly man. Tall, broad shouldered, slim hipped, dark haired, grey eyes, and that gorgeous mouth.

And no one would forget a man who accused members of your family of theft.

Noah had been about to move on to the next introduction when her statement registered, and had him pausing mid stride.

Really? He focused on her again, then he narrowed his eyes as he took stock of the woman in front of him. He shook his head, kept the charm ticking over by keeping the smile in place, My apologies, my memory is not all it should be.

He widened the smile. He was sure he hadn’t met her before. He would remember someone who wore clothes from a decade ago, ill fitting at that. He was also sure that her primness would have registered. He was hardly likely to forget someone who wore clothes that made her look older than his maiden aunt. Prim, he couldn’t remember the last time he had met someone who looked so prudish. None had come close to looking this straight-laced. He was sure the look had gone out in the early seventeenth century.

Her hair was scrapped off her face, with clips holding it in place at the side, the length pulled into a tight bun at her nape, and so he wasn’t sure about its exact length. Her jacket was boxy and loose, ill fitting was probably closer to the truth. The matching skirt fell to just below her knees and her simple black shoes had a one-inch stubby heel. Nothing she wore was fashionable or in fashion. She wore a trace of lipstick, and some mascara. No bracelets or chains, just the watch and one ring. She seemed dowdy, and the kind of woman one might have described as a spinster in days gone by. He was sure he’d never met this woman.

Mia hesitated, wondering whether she should explain, remind him they had met about two months ago. Nervously she checked to see if her overlong fringe had escaped the confines of her hairpins. She was growing her fringe out. Her hair was still pinned securely, well at least this time she didn’t look a complete mess, she thought as she watched him intently. He seemed to have no recollection of her. Obviously remembering all the women he met was a bit problematic. She could see from his eyes that her appearance was not ringing any memory bells. Mia wasn’t sure whether to be cross or relieved. How dare he forget her? Thank goodness he had!

It was a fleeting meeting. She acknowledged with a demure murmur, deciding that it was best not to remind him of the unfortunate circumstance. If she could keep it from him that had to be a good thing, she was sure. But I’m keeping you.....

Curt took his cue and moved Noah along, introducing him to yet another member of staff. Mia continued to study their new Chair. He seemed different to the irate, pompous man who had lectured her about Alex. He appeared to be in listening mode here, saying little, but encouraging those who were introduced to him, to speak. He also seemed genuinely interested in what they had to say, and he had his charm button switched on and the dial turned on full.

Noah Carpenter was a self made man, and he was going to chair the committee on strategic developments. He had a reputation as a consultant, a venture capitalist with an impressive record. That reputation had brought him a personal honorary chair at the University. All in the name of marketing progress they were told. It took several minutes for him to be introduced to all the members of the committee. And so it was at least fifteen minutes later before the meeting proper began in earnest.

Mia had used the time to decide what she would do if he ever recognized her. But given his earlier response she doubted she’d made the same impact on him as he had on her. Still better to be prepared. She wondered if he’d make a public comment about Alex or whether he would have the decency to speak to her privately.

In either case she needed a strategy. They were going to work together and she needed to know that he wouldn’t be holding their previous engagement as a black mark against her name. Plus she could clear up the misunderstanding, let him know Alex’s reasons for taking those logs. In his current frame of mind, he’d be open to listening. She hoped.

He went through the usual start, explaining his position, his role, their role and their goals. He kept it fairly lighthearted They talked about the way the committee was going to function from now on, the procedures that would need to be established in the long term, the time line and the way forward.

He would attend meetings twice a month. To date, he thought the inefficiency was something that could be easily fixed. He’d scanned the proposals put forward, thought there were numerous good ideas, and felt there was scope.

The committee had been set up two years ago as an innovation incubation unit, to look at marketing and promoting various ideas generated at the University. All faculties and departments had representatives on the committee and every month there was a call for proposals.

In the two years, Mia’s department had established a good track record, they were almost 75% successful in getting funded, putting ideas forward for the university to adopt or taking on key implementation strategy.

Chapter 2

Three months later, Mia childishly poked her tongue out at his house as she drove past his house, heading down the lane to their home. It had been the family home and she had worked