Port Au Prince, Haiti

In the lobby of the girls hotel, Elizabeth and Faith sat mingling with the group of new recruits also heading to Hopes Landing. Among them there was a plumber, a retired nurse, a farmer and his wife, and a youth group of 15 kids and their chaperones. With the exception of the youth group, who were only there for a few weeks, everyone else were set to be there for 3 months to a year. Elizabeth on the other hand was still hoping things would go well that she could stay for 2. She wanted a little adventure in her life. She wanted to feel that she was a part of something bigger than herself. This was it, she just knew it.

Elizabeth walked out to the porch of the hotel looking out onto the busy city streets. Pastor Frank would be there any minute. It was no surprise why he was running late. The streets were so crammed with people she couldn't imagine how on earth he'd ever get the passenger vans they were waiting for through. Everywhere you looked there were cars and bikes and pedestrians all traveling every which way with no regard for each other.

She paced back and forth for a while longer before giving up and sitting in one of the wicker porch chairs with a sigh.

"Antsy are we?" Lynn, the short, curly haired retired nurse said with a smile.

"I guess so." Elizabeth turned her attention to the woman. "I was here a year ago as a short timer. I just can't wait to make a home here now."

"I get it. It's been years since my late husband and I were here. I can't wait to see all that's changed."

"You used to serve here together?"

"We did. For many years." She smiled fondly. "So you're a teacher? How long are you here for?"

"At least a year but I'm hope to be here for at least 2. I know this won't be like a traditional classroom, but the basic principles of teaching are all still the same."

"Very true. Just more hands on learning and song based at times, I think. You like music?"

"I do. Pastor Frank said he even has a guitar I can use with my lessons. I brought a book so I can teach myself some basic notes."

"Wonderful! The kids here love music! If you can turn it into a song, they'll love you!"

"I can't wait!"

Suddenly the racket in the streets grew louder pulling their focus away from the conversation. As they looked out, they saw 3 large, well worn passenger vans slowly pull up in front of the hotel.

Faith walked out to join them. "Is this our ride?"

"Yup!" Elizabeth bounced. "There's Pastor Frank now! You'll love him."

Frank jumped out and headed up the few steps to join the group that now gathered outside the hotel.

"Afternoon everyone! It's good to see some of you again and I'm happy to finally meet the rest of you. My name is Pastor Frank and I run the mission at Hopes Landing. I brought some friends with me to help get you all back today. This is Carson, one of our medical staff members, and this here is my good friend Ned. What do you say we load up and head home?"

Before long they were in vans and hitting the roads out of the city and up the mountain along the coastline.

Elizabeth and Faith sat in the bench seat right behind Frank in his van, both looking out the windows taking it all in. Haiti was so different from their home in Connecticut. Faith had never travelled much herself, she couldn't get enough. She took so many pictures as they drove.

"It's great to see you again, Elizabeth!" Frank said. "I can't tell you how grateful I am to have you here as the new teacher. I assume you got my message about the school house?"

"I did. I'm so sorry to hear about the hurricane. How are all the repairs coming?"

"Slow. But we've got a great guy heading them up right now, Jack. I think you two will work well together. He's only just now starting on the school house today. That's my fault though. We've just had so many homes come down with the last hurricane I had to make them our first priority. I hope you understand why the school isn't ready."

"I totally understand. Besides, with the right encouragement, children can learn anywhere. I'm up for the challenge."

"I know you are. That's why I was so excited when I got your note enquiring about the teaching post here. Couldn't have come at a better time. Now Faith, tell me about yourself."

…..

Back at the village Jack and a team were busy clearing away trees and other debris such as old rotting wood from around the old school house. Cursing inside, Jack wished he had insisted this been dealt with sooner. If it had, they probably would have found less surprises in there now. So far there had been a couple snakes and other interesting creatures Jack would have rather done without seeing.

Leo, a life long native to the village laughed as Jack shook his arm again that he had just freed of a snake. Thankfully it had turned out to be pretty harmless as he moved it from it's home in the school to a new shady spot farther away.

"Not a snake man, my friend?" Leo grinned as he wiped his brow under his wide brimmed hat.

"No, sir. I'll run into a burning building before I'll willing deal with one of those things any day. Mark my words."

"I see. Now, Jack, you realize this is Haiti. We have many snakes here. Big ones too."

"Stop reminding me, Leo." Jack teased. "Or I'm going to make you deal with the next one."

"No good. I don't like them either." He laughed.

"Then why are you giving me grief?" Jack tossed a stick at him, making him jump.

"I was born here. I have no choice. You come here willingly. In my humble opinion that makes you crazy, not me."

"Fair enough." Jack laughed. "Hand me that saw over there. I think I can cut through these and then we should be able to move them out of the way to get a better idea what we're dealing with."

Leo handed Jack what he needed then went back to holding the ladder. "It will be nice to have a school house again and a church. We used this building for both."

"I remember. The kids deserve it, you all do. Now this new teacher, does she know she's coming to teach in a pavilion with no walls and a roof the leaks most of the time?"

"Don't know. If she's the right person for the job, God will give her what she needs. Just like he's done with you."

"That's true I suppose." Jack turned his attention back to the task at hand, cutting through the few thick tree limbs. As he did, a lizard jumped out, landing a mere inch from his face. Jack jumped clear off the ladder, making Leo burst out laughing, along with a couple other men on the team.

"I think that's a sign!" he said.

"I don't believe in signs, Leo." Jack stood dusting his shorts off.

"That's a sign we should stop for lunch. You can believe in that now, can't you?" he said, sitting down to laugh some more.

Jack looked up at the annoying lizard. It was no small lizard either. At second glance it was about the size of his lower arm. He brushed it off gently with the end of the saw.

"Alright. Let's finish this bit and then we'll break. Looks like we may get another rainstorm anyway."

"You betcha." Leo stood to take hold of the ladder as Jack climbed back up. "And don't worry. If another lizard pops out, I'll protect you."

Jack shook his head but smiled. He had a great deal of respect for the man beside him. Leo was a good twenty years his senior, but young at heart. In many ways, he reminded Jack of his dad.

…..

Sure enough an early afternoon rain settled in, slowing down the vans as they made their way up the switchback roads through the mountains.

It rained just enough to get two of the vans stuck in the mud on the road. Several of the men got out to help push the vehicles out while the rest waited inside or close by once the rain stopped.

Elizabeth and Faith, feeling cramped inside the hot van stood outside leaning up against a nearby tree.

"Can you believe we're finally here?" Elizabeth gushed. "Look at all this nature around us. These trees and the birds! Do you hear them? You don't get sounds like this in Hartford. Faith? Faith are you listening to me?" When she heard nothing in response, she looked over at her friend and laughed. "Ah. I see you've find something else we don't have at home." Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

"What'd you say?" Faith asked.

"Here I am falling in love with the nature surrounding us and you're here admiring…"

"Nothing." Faith cut in embarrassed, realizing just how long she had been staring at Carson. "I'm just looking at how our new friends are lending a hand and trying to figure out how much time we have here in this lovely piece of nature you won't stop talking about."

"Right." Elizabeth smiled. "Tall, handsome, and blonde has always been your type."

"So you think he's handsome too?"

"Gotcha!"

"Darn it…"

Elizabeth laughed. "It's alright. Just be careful. You'll be working pretty closely with him in the clinic. I think Frank said he's here for the year too."

"Oh gosh. It's going to be a long year," Faith laughed. "Maybe he's married or has a girlfriend. That would make it easier."

Elizabeth arched her neck as she watched Carson and the other men push the van through the mud. "No ring. But sometime on trips like this people choose not to wear jewelry so as not to draw attention to themselves."

"So basically the only way to know is ask him?"

"Yup."

"Okay. Well, I'm not doing that. So until I know otherwise he's off limits!" she said with conviction.

"Why's that?" Elizabeth laughed.

"Because he is too fine not to be!" They laughed.

"You're hopeless!"

"You turn is coming. I just know it. You and Trey, that wasn't normal. You had no sparks. You were just… friends. One day there will be some tall, dark, and handsome guy that fills you with butterflies and stops that logical brain of yours dead in its tracks and you won't know what to do! I personally can't wait to meet the man capable of that! He will really be something," she laughed.

"You sound like Julie." Elizabeth shook her head.

"In most cases I might be a little offended but right now I'll just say thank you."

The loud revving of the engine and splash of the tires through the mud followed by cheers indicated that the van had been freed and it was time to continue on their journey.

"Let's go everyone!" Frank called out. "I'm so sorry. Hopefully we can get you all settled in in time for dinner tonight!"

As they headed back to the vans, Elizabeth took another glance at Carson. Trying to see a little of what Faith saw. Sure he was attractive, but she felt nothing. No butterflies, no desire or heart thumping. She'd never felt that for anyone before. Frankly she wasn't sure she was capable of such feelings. She'd heard plenty of girls talk about Trey like that before, and he was a good man for sure but never in their years of dating did he ever make her heart skip a beat.

"You coming?" Faith calling out from the van.

"Yup."

"What are you thinking about?"

"Something you said earlier."

"Butterflies?"

"Yeah. Does everyone feel them?"

Faith shrugged. "My mom said when my dad walked into a room she could feel tingles in her toes," she giggled.

"Seriously?"

"Yup. Everyone has their own thing when cupid's arrow hits them. I know I've teased you but you've really never felt anything?"

"Not yet. I guess I just haven't been hit by the arrow as you say," she teased.

"Trust me. Someone as special as you, it will happen. Probably when you least expect it."

…..

Jack grabbed dinner to go from the mess hall and took it back to the dorm-like room he shared with Carson. The concrete building was built in the shape of a U. Males on one side, females on the other with Frank and other personnel offices in the middle. Tonight it was busier than most with the new residents settling in. Jack had been out on a run when they arrived so he hadn't had a chance to meet any yet.

"Jack!" A young teen yelled from across the courtyard as Jack approached. "Is that you?"

"Parker! What the heck!" Jack smiled at the teen. "You grew a foot!"

"Na, just 4 inches."

"Close enough. How was the trip?"

"Long but good. The van got stuck and Carson and the other men pushed it out." Parker laughed. "He's complaining his shoulder hurts now. You so should challenge him to an arm wrestling contest tonight. You'd totally win!"

"I always win," Jack winked. "It's good to see you!"

"You too. We miss you in Seattle. You ever coming home?"

"Some day. I need to be here right now though."

"I get it." Jack could see in the young man's eyes that he did in fact understand. "Your mom was at the airport to show us off. She said to say hi."

"How is she?" Jack's eyes lit up. He missed her.

"Good. My mom says she misses your dad but keeps herself busy."

"Sounds like her." Jack smiled. "Well, I'll let you get settled."

"Okay. Hey I saw I'm assigned to a work crew with you! Liam too."

"I know! I requested you both. I need good strong men I can trust," he winked. "You up for it?"

"Yes, sir! You can count on us! See you later, Jack!"

"See you later, Parker."

Jack listened as Parker ran back into the big group meeting room where all the youth kids were hanging out. "Hey guys! I just saw Jack!" All the kids were excited. Making note of the chaos, Jack decided to take his dinner to his private spot at the beach instead. It had been a long day. A good day, but a long day. Quiet and a sunset was just what he needed.

Grabbing his backpack, camera, and towel from his room he headed down they short winding path toward the hidden little cove that was his favorite spot in all of Hopes Landing. It was a place his dad had shared with him the time Jack took a trip here with his dad before he passed. Jack liked to come here to think of him now. It was a place that even though they couldn't be together again physically, this place could somehow bring them together now.

Once there, Jack leaned back against a large dark rock and watched as the sun began to fall back below the horizon. He listened as the sound of the crashing waves lapped the shoreline over and over again. It was consistent, predictable. He smiled as he took a bite of his fish and rice.

Just how like my life. Everything as expected. No surprises. Everything's as it should...

Suddenly a laugh carried through the wind like a songbird, catching Jack completely off guard. He put his bowl down on a rock and walked around the small bend follow the melodious sound. There in the distance about 100 or so feet away he found the root of the disturbance. Not that he could call her that. Whomever she was, he couldn't take her eyes off her.

"Huh," he said, feeling all the air completely expel from his lungs. "If angels fell to the earth…" Never in his life had anyone taken his breath away like this. Suddenly he felt the need to know anything and everything about this woman. He watched silently as the surf rose up and hit her toned, slender legs, splashing her body. Her tan shorts were now slightly damp as well as her loose fitted fuchsia top. She laughed again and spun around with pure delight at the event.

Wanting to capture the moment, Jack ran back to grab his camera from his bag. He took the first shot then looked down to see how it turned out. It was perfect. The sunlight danced over her wavy brown hair and Jack had managed to capture her as she spun around the surf just right.

"That's a keeper," he said to himself about the photo. "Now… who are you?"

He'd never seen someone so happy, so content in their surroundings. He took a couple shots, the hobbyist photographer in him couldn't pass up the chance. But not wanting to risk being seen as a creeper, he quickly slung the camera over his shoulder and decided he should approach her and introduce himself. There was something about this woman that already grabbed hold of him, he just had to meet her.

Elizabeth had quickly settled into her room, ate and rushed down to the water. She'd missed the ocean. It was like a long lost friend. In the short time she had spent in Haiti before, she had quickly fallen in love with not only the people of Hopes Landing but the waters around it as well. This spot in particular had been one of her favorites. She stumbled upon it one night and never in the months she was there ran into another soul. It was her special place.

She was so enthralled with the music of the ocean that she never heard the rustling sound of the footsteps in the sand approaching her.

"You're having fun!" a voice called out over the crashing waves.

Elizabeth spun around, shocked to find out she wasn't alone.

"Oh gosh! You scared me!" Her hand flew to her chest, as she tried to catch her breath.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." The young man look legitimately concerned. "I'm Jack Thornton. I'm one of the workers at Hopes Landing."

She took his hand to shake it but said nothing. It wasn't intentional. She was to distracted by this strange feeling she was having.

"What's your name?"

He spoke to you, Elizabeth. Say something… anything…. Your name might be a good start… What is wrong with you… Hello!

"I'm Elizabeth, Elizabeth Thatcher." There you go. Was that so hard? Wait… Why are my fingers tingling… and why does my stomach feel weird?

"Ah, the new teacher! Welcome."

"Thank you." The second he let go of her hand she missed it. The feeling both confused and scared her. "Frank told me about you. You're rebuilding the school house?"

"Trying to, yeah. It will take some time. Until then we're doing what we can to make the pavilion the best we can. Whatever you need, let me know and I'll do my best."

"I'm sure it will be just fine, but thanks." She tried to stop herself from staring at the man in front of her. Julie and Faith had joked about tall, dark, and handsome, but what Elizabeth was seeing in front of her was something more handsome than anything she could imagine. Jack wore a worn pair of khaki shorts and a navy blue t-shirt. His arms showed that he was used to doing hours of manual labor, but everything in his eyes, demeanor and the touch of his hand she'd felt showed remarkable gentleness.

Jack couldn't take his eyes off Elizabeth. Why, he didn't know. She was beautiful, that much was obvious, but it was more than that. "How'd you find this place?"

"Is it a secret?" Elizabeth giggled nervously. Feeling less like herself.

"Well not now, obviously," Jack teased, shooting her a dimpled smile that made the tips of her fingers tingle again.

"I've been here before. Last summer. One night when I was having a rough night. I was teaching bible camp and everything I tried went wrong. I wandered down to the main beach for a walk and somehow found my way here and I guess I fell in love with it. It's been my spot ever since. I felt led here I guess. You?"

"Oh, well…" Jack ran his fingers through his hair, making a cute mess of it in Elizabeth's mind. He wasn't use to talking about his dad much since he'd passed. Especially to strangers. He took one look at Elizabeth though and felt at peace. "My dad showed me it once before he passed. He used to come down here on service trips. One time when I came with him he shared this spot with me."

Elizabeth watched the look in Jack's eyes shift, seeing the deep sorrow in them.

"Oh no… I'm sorry for your loss, Jack. How long ago?"

"About a year. Cancer." Jack's gaze casted out across the water as if trying to see across to the heavens. If only it were that easy.

A tear escaped Elizabeth's eye for the man she'd just met.

"I'm sorry Jack. I didn't mean to intrude. This spot is special, I'll leave it to you." She turned to leave but he reached out and took her hand to stop her.

"No, please. It's a great spot. How about we share it?" He didn't know why, but he wasn't ready for her to leave just yet. Besides knew she had felt led here once before. He wouldn't take that away from her.

She stared at their hands. Trying, yet failing, to ignore how perfect hers felt resting in his.

"One condition though," he added.

"Name it."

"Keep it between us." He winked and it was as if her heart skipped a beat.

So not telling Faith that just happened, she thought.

"Deal!"

A few minutes later Jack walked Elizabeth to the village. They enjoyed friendly easy flowing conversation the whole way. After bidding him goodnight she ducked into her room and leaned her back against the door.

"Wow," she sighed before breaking into a fit of giggles.

"Elizabeth?" She whipped her head to see Faith sitting up on her bed, a book in hand, a shocked look plastered to her face. "What's gotten into you?"

"I have no idea…"