Impossible Love: An Unforeseen Destiny Novel Book One Read Online Free Page A

foot, hence, the reason it’s considered hidden. At some point during the tour, we’ll abandon the kayaks and hike a small trail that leads to the cascading water. I pull out my phone and check the time. A little less than an hour, we’ll be there. “The anticipation is killing me.”
    Mom laughs as she gets behind the wheel. She starts the car and backs out. “This day will definitely be amazing.”
    The conviction in her voice makes me glance at her. I purse my lips but say nothing. That distant stare to her eyes reappears. The same look she had after we discussed coming here at Thanksgiving. I smile and shake my head.
    Mom’s sentimental, always has been. That’s nothing new. But she’s the best. Raising me on her own all these years, I’m amazed at her tenacity.
    “I love you, Mom. Thanks for this trip. I needed a break from college.” And that’s the truth. With my schooling coming to an end, well for my major, I’ve been busy. Lining everything up to apply to graduate school, I’ve been beefing up my resume. Although I’m pretty sure I’ll be accepted to Purdue’s Family Nurse Practitioner program, I still want my resume flawless to keep my options open.
    “I love you too, sweetie.”
    “This whole island is remarkable,” I say as we drive along Highway 56. “Everything is so green.”
    And it is. Different shades of green from the varying plants line the highway. I remove my sunglasses and place them in the console to see clearer. I can’t seem to get enough of these colors.
    “Yeah,” Mom says, and then sighs. In a faint voice, she adds, “I’ve missed this place.”
    My head snaps to the left. “What? You’ve been here before?”
    Her gaze flashes to me momentarily before returning to the road. She presses her lips together and shifts in her seat before clearing her throat.
    “Um, yeah. A long time ago. I was pretty young. It was one of my early photo assignments.”
    I’m not sure why this makes her nervous. What would it matter if her gig brought her to the island? Mom’s always flying to different parts of the country. Her job as a freelance photographer always has her traveling. When the shoots require her to visit the neighboring states, I used to tag along with her, thus developing my passion for nature. Woods, mountains, or prairies, it doesn’t matter where we go, I love it all.
    “You’ve never told me this was one of your adventures. So, you should know where to go then.”
    “Somewhat‌…‌it’s been a while.” She flashes me a mischievous smile. “I know where all the good spots are, though.”
    I don’t respond as we continue along the scenic drive. I turn and stare out the passenger window and enjoy the sights.
    A few missed turns later, we arrive at the kayaking tour parking lot. It’s no wonder we kept missing the location. The dilapidated wooden fence surrounding the place hardly screams “open for business.”
    Mom pulls forward through the open gate, and I scrunch my face in disgust. The establishment seems like a junky residential home, not a place to conduct business. My stomach plummets as the thought of being scammed crosses my mind. We enter what appears to be the back side of the building. The structure, along with every single house along the street, is built on stilts. Hmm‌…‌how often does the river reach this area? Or are they concerned about the ocean?
    “You think I park over there?” Mom asks, pointing to the flattened, weed-patched area.
    I glance at the muddy grass and nod. “Yeah, I suppose. You’d think they’d have gravel down. Or signs.”
    Rather small in size, the place isn’t impressive, but then again, how much space does one need to store kayaks and take money? I suppose on an island every square inch counts for something.
    “You park over there‌…‌go over there,” a shrill voice calls out.
    Mom and I jerk our heads to the screeching sound. A curly-haired lady appears from underneath the house structure, pointing