Hoping on Change (Hope Lake #1)

PROLOGUE

T HEY SAY THAT WHEN you come to a place you belong, you just know it. An inner knowing of homecoming floods you, leaving you with the uncanny desire to put down roots, grounding yourself in the earth.

Megan Eldridge stood on the shore of Hope Lake as the sun rose over the mountains, watching the pinks and oranges reflect and sparkle on the water. Peace filled her, and she knew she had found home.

Each time her best friend, Chasity, had described Hope Lake to her, Megan had taken a mini mental vacation, imagining herself there. Now standing here, her toes wriggling in the damp sand, it was everything she had imagined and more. The fast-paced hustle and bustle of the city had dragged her down, the corporate world even more so.

She had pursued a career in psychiatry because she wanted to help people, not prescribe medications so they could go back to living a disconnected, even if productive, life. The corporation that had put her through school only wanted their employees back on the job as quickly as possible, no matter how broken their minds or hearts were.

It had only taken her a year to see that the position wasn’t her calling, but she had committed when they paid for her doctorate. Luckily, that included the time she was going to school.

She kicked the sand under her feet, wishing she hadn’t wasted those last five years of her life. “Dumb ego,” she muttered as she buried her feet further into the cool sand. Who knew whether a simpler life would fit her better? At least, that was what she hoped to find out.

The sun came out in its full glory, making her shade her eyes and wish she had brought her sunglasses. Her stomach growled, reminding her she hadn’t had breakfast. Reluctant to leave the peace of the lake shore, she turned back toward the cabin that, until recently, she and Chasity had shared.

She loved the house, the neighbors, and the lake right off the deck. In fact, she loved it so much that she just made an offer to the owner to purchase it. Who would have thought she would have wanted to stay in Hope Lake after her very first visit?

Now, six months later, she looked around the place she called home. Yet the house had felt empty ever since Chasity had married Derrick.

She sighed.

She had never seen a couple so much in love before. It gave her goosebumps and filled her heart with hope. Maybe it wasn’t too late for her to find what they had.

A small smile pushed forth as she cracked an egg, added some veggies she had prepped yesterday, and whipped it up. Her cell rang the moment she dumped the omelet into the pan, making her scramble to answer it in time. She glanced at the clock as she did.

“You’re up early, my friend,” Megan said in welcome to Chasity’s call.

“Good morning. I didn’t want to miss the chance to tell you good luck on your first day. You’re going to love Camp Hope” Chasity yawned and groaned, and Megan thought back to the many mornings her friend had walked sleepily into the kitchen they once shared. She missed her presence in the house.

“That’s sweet. I’m pretty excited, but the kids don’t get here for another day or so.” Megan’s heart filled to the brim thinking that she would finally make a difference in this world. Camp Hope was special. The owner, Josie, hosted camps for foster kids that helped them find their forever homes.

“You did always want to work with kids,” Chasity said.

“Teens, but kids are cool, too. I’m just happy to be making a real difference.” She pressed the speakerphone button so she could flip her omelet.

“That’s right, I’m sorry. I guess I have kids on my mind.”

“How is Kami doing? Any progress with paperwork?” Megan asked her friend, hoping that this next step in her life worked out for her.

“I never realized how much went into becoming a foster parent. We go through our final inspection today.”

“It’s pretty amazing that Derrick is so supportive of this.” Megan internally sighed at the thought of Chasity’s new husband. The guy had seemed too good to be true when Chasity had told her of him over the phone. In person, he seemed even more fictional. Was it too much to ask for her own knight in shining armor?

“He’s always wanted kids, and Kami attached herself to us really quick. Hard not to want her around.”

“I know it's hard to give your whole heart when it might be something temporary.”

“Well, you know we would love to make it permanent, but because of the active court cases, it’s just not available right now. I have faith.”

“And hope,” Megan finished for her.

“Yes, and for you, too.”

Megan sighed. “I do as well. There is something special about this place. Hope seeps into you like it’s in the water.”

Chasity laughed. “It kind of is.”

Megan chuckled. “I guess so.” She turned off the burner and slid her omelet onto a plate. “Want to hear something exciting?”

“Besides you starting a new position?”

“Yeah.” She took in a deep breath as she sat at the table with her breakfast. “I contacted the owner of our cabin and put in an offer.”

Chasity squealed across the line. “Oh, sorry, honey, I didn’t mean to startle you.” Her voice came muffled, as if she held the phone away from her mouth. “Yes, everything is great. Megan just put an offer on the cabin.” The phone crackled. “Sorry, Megan. You should have seen Derrick run in here, still dressing and looking around for trouble.”

“He’s definitely your protector.”

Chasity sighed. “Yes, yes, he is.”

Megan rolled her eyes. “Shouldn’t have gotten you started. Now I’ll spend the ten minutes I have left listening to you sigh and go on and on about your hero.” She laughed.

“I’m sorry. Do I still do that?”

“Yes, but I’m not sorry. I’m happy for you. You deserve this,” Megan said. After all that Chasity had been through, she needed a rest from trauma and a safe place to dig in her roots.

“Hey, you’ll find yours, too.”

“As I said, there’s hope in the water.” Megan took a bite, chewing quickly and swallowing. “I appreciate you calling, Chasity. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Nor I, you. Have a great first day. How about dinner tonight to celebrate? Derrick’s mom taught me how to make those delicious chimichangas.”

“Count me in,” Megan said. “See you tonight.”

“Good luck!”

Megan smiled as she set down her phone. How could this day not go well? Everything felt as if it finally would all slip into place…yet, wasn’t that when everything usually went wrong for her?

She blew out a breath, determination taking its place. It was time for that way of thinking to shift, and she used self-talk to make herself believe that all the way to Camp Hope. Excitement tingled through her veins as she parked and stepped out of her car. This was where it had all started for Chasity and Derrick, and the air seemed to spark with promise.

Josie walked out of the office, her smile further brightening Megan’s day. “Good morning! Welcome to Camp Hope!”

“This place feels magical,” Megan said as she shook Josie’s hand.

“That’s because it is.” Josie sighed and led her to a small log cabin set back from the office. “This is you.”

“The whole thing?” Megan said as Josie opened the door to let her in.

“Yep,” Josie said, handing her a key. “I have all the next set of campers' paperwork stacked on your desk, along with a few of our camp counselors’ files. We’ve got a few in need of support.” Josie glanced pointedly at the window. “She got here yesterday. I like having the camp counselors a day or two early.”

Megan looked out to see a girl of about fifteen leaning against Josie’s office, a scowl on her face, arms folded, and a look that made Megan instantly place her. “Tough life?”

“You could say that,” Josie said with a sigh. “Krista has been coming for several years, but at fifteen, she is outside the age of our program, so I invited her back as a camp counselor.”

“She doesn’t look too happy about it.” Megan eyed the girl’s crossed arms.

“The poor girl isn’t too happy about anything…unless you catch her with the little kids or horses when no one is watching.” Josie kept her gaze on the girl with a knowing smile.

“I see.” Megan nodded, watching Krista as she bent down to pet a cat that wrapped around her ankles. “And cats, I guess?”

“Anything innocent, really, but it will take some time to reach her. Shirley never did.” Josie cocked her head, looking closer at Megan. “Something tells me you might have more luck.”

“That’s my calling, and why I’m here.” The feeling of hope increased inside her. Making a difference in a girl’s life, like the one sneaking in pets to a friendly cat before anyone could see a smile on her face, would be the best thing that could happen to her.

“Great. I’ll have Krista come over when I’m finished with her,” Josie said, making her way to the door. “Let me know if you need anything.”

“I will, and Josie? Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”

“Thank you for wanting it.” Josie waved as she walked down the steps and back towards her office. “Good morning, Krista!”

Krista bolted back up to her diffident position, leaning against the building and scowling, though she raised a hand slightly. As the two of them disappeared into the main office, Megan turned back to hers.

“Where to start?” She walked over to her desk, set down her commuter mug, stashed her purse, and looked at the stack of files. “Krista Longheart.”

A tingle of knowing settled within Megan’s heart. She had found her home.