Finding Felicity

By Jessica Rae

For Felicity Winters, a life of excitement and passion is overrated. Her small-town, mundane existence is enough--at least, that's what she tells herself. But in her heart of hearts, she longs to trade her spot at the supermarket checkout lane for soil samples and a shovel about a thousand and one miles away. But as her ailing father's caretaker, Felicity's dreams of adventure, love, and greater purpose seem just out of reach. That is, until an unlikely twist of circumstances lands her face-to-face with spontaneous, chivalrous, and irresistible (albeit disenchanted) movie star Hale Monroe.

In the wake of his desperate escape from the world of materialism, Felicity's unassuming kindness and selflessness draw Hale into a life he never thought possible. Suddenly, Hale finds himself inexplicably connected to the quirky yet lovable community who refuses to give up on him.

Through a whirlwind of small-town shenanigans, Felicity and Hale find their lives becoming more and more closely intertwined. But when an old flame threatens to reignite the past, will the connection between Hale and Felicity grow cold? Can Felicity overcome the ghosts of her past and embrace her God-given purpose?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685173487

Book preview

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Finding Felicity

Jessica Rae

ISBN 978-1-68517-347-0 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68517-348-7 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Jessica Rae

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

To my seventh grade Language Arts teacher, Mrs. Libbie Romigh.

I'll always be grateful you saw a diamond when all I saw was a rock.

Chapter 1

The stale cabin smell smacked Felicity in the face as soon as she stepped off the air bridge. A beam of unflattering fluorescent light blinked on and off overhead. She fought the overwhelming urge to grimace.

Welcome aboard! Have a great flight, the flight attendant sang, her smiling red lips stretched just a bit too wide to be genuine.

Felicity forced a smile and nodded politely. It wasn't the flight attendant's fault she was about to be crammed into a flying petri dish, breathing strangers' air for the next four hours. She shivered and pushed the thought from her mind.

The wheels on Felicity's dilapidated carry-on buzzed like she was smuggling a beehive down the aisle. Curious passengers turned to see the miscreant who would dare distract them from their Skymall catalogs. Sorry, she mumbled, dodging their stares while looking for her seat. Seat 28-F. She may as well have been assigned a seat in the restroom.

After what felt like gridlock on Interstate 80, she was almost there. Twenty-six, twenty-seven…

Felicity whispered a quick prayer of thanks as she arrived at row 28. She squeezed past the passenger, slowly easing into 27-E to see three sets of eyes glaring up at her from row 28. Felicity looked up at the seat assignments: D, E, and F. She dug out her boarding pass again. There it was circled in yellow highlighter: seat 28-F. Felicity's seat. Which was filled.

Um, I'm sorry. I think you may be in my seat? Her statement ended as a question as she shouted over the blare of the engine.

The pilot's voice came over the intercom to announce they were running just a few minutes behind and would be leaving just as soon as all seat belts were buckled and tray tables set in the upright and locked positions. Three sets of eyes continued to glare back at Felicity.

The eyes in 28-F had to be at least 150 years old from Felicity's estimation. He looked unflinchingly at her as if he hadn't heard a word she said. Felicity pushed her boarding pass in front of his face, hoping maybe his vision was a bit better than his hearing. It wasn't.

What? he yelled at the surly-looking woman to his left.

As if Felicity had just stomped on her last shred of patience, she glanced at the old man, back to Felicity, then back to the old man.

She says you're in her seat, Dad! she yelled, not even trying to hide her annoyance.

Oh, I can't understand a word you're saying over all this noise! He waved at something imaginary in front of his face, turned toward the window, and the matter was closed.

Seat's taken, honey, a behemoth of a man drawled from the other side of the aisle. He smirked over the crumpled pages of his USA Today, daring Felicity to object.

The pilot made another announcement about the weather in Cleveland. Before her instincts could choose fight or flight, an attendant with a familiar uniform shade of ruby lips emerged from the shadows of the rear. She narrowed her eyes and placed her hands on her hips as she observed that Felicity had not yet been seated. Miss, I'm going to have to ask you to take your seat now. The pilot is ready for takeoff, she droned with the finesse of a middle-school librarian. She attempted to step around, but Felicity summoned all her courage and took her chances at blocking the way.

I'm sorry, I would love to take my seat, but my seat is actually filled. Felicity displayed her boarding pass and pointed to the yellow-highlighted 28-F.

The flight attendant snatched it from her, pushing her black horn-rimmed readers up her nose then gave a sigh. She took one look at the relic in seat 28-F and rolled her eyes at Felicity over her glasses. Felicity could barely hear her mumble something that sounded like Follow me.

She pushed past Felicity and made it halfway up the aisle before Felicity realized this lady was still clutching her boarding pass between her bony fingers. Felicity ran to catch up to her, her bag buzzing all the way past the people tucked snugly into their seats. This time, the only thing Felicity paid attention to was the location of that boarding pass. She knew enough to guess how long someone lasted on a plane without one post-9/11. Her nerves frayed a bit more with each row they passed. Row 12, row 11, and row 10 were all filled. Felicity made a silent plea not to be bumped off the flight. She wasn't sure she could bring herself to go through all this a second time today, and she needed to get home.

They reached the blue curtains at the front of the plane, and Felicity began to lose hope. Her chest tightened as she pulled out her phone to start looking up the ticketing agent's number.

The flight attendant flung open the curtain and motioned for Felicity to follow her through it. She pulled the curtain closed behind them and turned to face her. Felicity's eyes were already welling up when the lady uttered the most beautiful phrase ever heard on a plane, We're completely full in economy. Just take a seat up here.

The clouds parted, and Felicity swore she could hear the Hallelujah chorus begin to play. It was probably just her ears ringing from her time in the back of the plane straddling the engine.

The previously grouchy flight attendant miraculously had a change of attitude. I'll take your bag, dear. Just have a seat over there in 1F. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.

The flight attendant's change of tone may have had something to do with the cabin air. It wasn't just that the seats were comfier; it even smelled better on this side of the curtain.

Felicity took a deep breath and let herself relax a bit. Maybe this wouldn't be such a bad flight after all.

Chapter 2

Felicity slid into her luxury lounger window seat and stuffed her handbag into the cargo hold. She dug her cell phone out of her back pocket and began to swipe through her notifications. There was a new message from her brother Jordan. She tapped it in hopes of another dose of baby pics. A photo of a sleeping infant popped onto her screen.

Thanks again for the new jammies, Auntie Liss. Have a safe flight, it read.

And there it was: gut-wrenching adoration, right on cue. She smiled longingly. How had this little guy managed to calm her nervous thoughts even through a text? She typed a reply.

Felicity: You know, Ben is probably going to be in kindergarten by the time I get to see him in person again. She pressed Send and waited for his response.

Jordan: Don't be so dramatic. You can come visit again whenever you want.

Felicity huffed at her phone as she typed out another text.

Felicity: It will take me five years just to save enough money for another plane ticket. You could always visit us, though…

Jordan: I'd love to, but the office has me by the throat. I could barely take time off when Ben was born. I'm still paying the consequences for that. But I'm happy to buy your ticket here any time. No strings attached."

Felicity: And Dad? Felicity held her breath at the mention of their father.

Jordan: "Like I said. You are welcome to visit anytime."

Felicity rolled her eyes. This was not the time or place to get into another discussion about Jordan's need to reconcile with their dad while he still had time.

Jordan: Seriously, though. You sure you're okay? With Dad and all? I know he can be a lot, and I hate to see you sacrifice your life and future taking care of him.

Felicity: Jordan, I'm fine. Felicity twirled a piece of hair near her temple. The respite from stress that her nephew's photo provided had been nice while it lasted.

Jordan: Hey, one more thing. Remember to check all your pockets before you do your laundry, okay?

Felicity grunted with irritation at his implication and began patting her pockets for evidence. Just as she suspected, she pulled a wad of cash out of her jacket pocket, shaking her head.

Felicity: And what is all this for?

Jordan: Just something to help the ends meet until you find a real job.

Felicity: Snappy Saver is a real job.

Jordan: Last I checked, you're a bit overqualified to be a cashier at a grocery store.

Felicity: Well, whenever you hear of a job opportunity within driving distance of my house that requires my level of education and will also allow for days off to take Dad to his appointments, please relay the message. In the meantime, Snappy Saver will have to do.

She nodded, congratulating herself at her wit.

Felicity: That is, unless you'd like a turn at caring for Dad…

Jordan: Okay, okay, I don't want to fight. Just take care of yourself too, okay?

Felicity sighed.

Felicity: Okay. Love you, Jordy.

Jordan: Love you, Liss. Text me when you get in.

Felicity placed her phone on her lap. She gazed out the window, drumming her fingers against her lip for a moment before picking it up again. Anxiety threatened to well up in her throat. Sofia would know what to do. She scrolled to the favorites screen and jabbed at a saved number without thinking twice. It rang straight to voice mail. She waited for the beep.

Hey, Sofia, it's me. Just thought I'd try to catch you before I take off, but I guess I missed you. Don't worry, everything's all right. Just… Keep praying, okay? Love you. Talk to you soon. She ended the call and reluctantly switched the setting to airplane mode.

Felicity buckled her safety belt, stuffed her pillow around her neck, and practiced breathing slow, even breaths. Attempting to recall the calming exercises she'd learned, she focused her gaze on the horizon and the sun blazing across the dreamy California sky. She counted backward from one hundred to give herself something to think about other than the fact that she would momentarily be riding a virtual rocket engine some fifty thousand feet above the ground. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind, she heard one flight attendant say to the other that they were holding the door for one more passenger. She fought the temptation to take her very last opportunity to bolt from the flying death trap. No. I can do this. She continued her mental countdown. Eighty-eight, eighty-seven, eighty-six…

Excuse me, a masculine voice jolted Felicity out of her preflight calming exercise.

She jumped at her realization that a man had appeared in the seat next to her.

Sorry to bother you, he said. Would you mind if we switched seats? This is embarrassing, but I kind of can't do this unless I look out the window. He barely made eye contact as he gave his awkward request. A timid smile twisted his lips.

A pang of compassion shot through Felicity's own anxiety and straight into her heart. Eighty-five. It was the only word she could conjure. Not even a word, but a number.

He gave an appropriately confused look, and she forced herself to speak words again, I mean… Absolutely. Of course, we can switch.

Maybe Felicity was charmed by the combination of his voice and vulnerable approach. Maybe her apprehension was messing with her ability to think rationally. Whatever the reason, she immediately realized she'd made a mistake. Anxiety was the exact reason she'd chosen the window seat for herself. There was no going back now though, and her very tall new travel companion was already standing up to make the switch. She lifted the armrest and crawled over the seats like a toddler.

He snickered lightly as they settled into their new seats.

Those eyes, crystal blue. They were the kind of eyes that stunned innocent bystanders. Felicity had a strange feeling she'd seen them before. That voice and smile were familiar too. She searched her memories for evidence of how she knew him. Suddenly, a wave of panic came over her. Did he remember her? She would be mortified if he knew her and she didn't even remember his name. High school? No. College? No. Volunteering somewhere? Still no.

Their eyes met, and she could see him reading her mind while she searched for his identity. He gave a slight smile, pulled his hat a bit lower on his head, and looked out the window. He drummed his long fingers nervously on his lap.

Just as Felicity was about to give up and apologetically ask him his name, she noticed a distinct scar above his left eyebrow. This minute detail triggered her memory, and clarity came over her, lifting the fog. She did know this guy, but he most certainly did not know her. Her heart hiccupped into her throat betraying her recognition, and she was busted.

The movie star in her window seat turned sheepishly at her reaction and extended a hand. Hi. I'm Hale.

Chapter 3

Um, hi. I…I'm Felicity, she stammered, shaking his hand and hoping she'd remembered her own name correctly.

He nodded and placed a finger to his lips as if to plead for her secrecy. She blushed and nodded her agreement. She definitely got it. The only thing that could make plane anxiety worse was a few hundred adoring fans along for the ride. He smiled and let out a deep breath, drumming his fingers on his lap and staring out the window again.

Felicity couldn't believe she didn't recognize him immediately. This great model of a man sat down just inches from her, and her only reaction was to mutter like an idiot.

To be fair, like most celebrities, his public persona seemed like a fairy tale. It was hard to believe he was something besides a character on a screen. Here he sat next to her, though, close enough to reach out and touch. Felicity assumed his life was pretty close to perfect. And yet, as she watched him in true human form, her overwhelming reaction was sympathy. He seemed more anxious about this whole ordeal than she was. Finding someone more apprehensive about something than her would have been a challenge on her best day. She took a breath in through her nose and pushed it out through her mouth, cleansing the adrenaline from her veins. She attempted to speak again.

Nervous? Felicity murmured in Hale's direction. It was more of a confirmation than a question.

Mm-hmm, he admitted. I've been on hundreds of flights, probably, and I thought it would eventually get easier, ya know? But it didn't. Why are these things so terrifying? He took his hat off and ruffled his sandy blond hair. Sorry, I talk a lot when I'm nervous. He looked away, fiddling with the zipper on his hoodie.

Yeah, I don't know, Felicity answered. Fears don't have to make sense to be real.

Hale looked up at her. An expression of relief came over him, and his shoulders relaxed. Yeah. I guess that's true. Thank you…Felicity? He hoped he got her name right.

She smiled in confirmation. You're welcome…Hale, she whispered and playfully elbowed his arm. She shook her head, immediately regretting her immaturity. She turned away, rubbing her forehead as she blushed painfully.

He just laughed and elbowed her back. Her heart dropped. Did he just flirt with her? She physically willed herself not to giggle like preteen girl.

So what about you? he continued as Felicity watched his mouth, glued to his every word. Are you a nervous flyer too? I mean… I don't mean to pry. Sorry. It just seems like maybe you get it? He tousled the hair on the back of his head, and Felicity wondered if it felt as soft as it looked. Her heart jolted at the intimate nature of that notion.

Steady girl, she thought, composing herself. Oh yeah, most definitely. I'm superhating my life right now. The words escaped before she could filter them.

Really? He lowered his head just enough to look up and smolder at her with his baby blues. That had to be intentional.

She blushed at being called out. Well, maybe I don't hate every part of it.

Aha. He smiled; a look of satisfaction growing across his face.

Felicity swallowed hard. Was this seriously happening? Quick! Change the subject before this gets any weirder, she thought. But yeah, um, so I have this trick where I focus on something tangible right here and now. She gestured toward the sun setting just outside the window. Like the sky, or the horizon, or even something in nature like a landmark. It's called grounding.

He followed the line of her arm to where she was pointing. Okay, yeah. That's really great. Focus on something tangible. I can do that.

The pilot announced that they would begin taxiing to the runway. With a lurch, they began moving backward from their safe, stationary spot on the ground.

Hale tensed up again. Oh-kay, this just got real.

Hey, it's going to be okay. You've done this hundreds of times, right? she spoke words she didn't even believe for herself.

Yep, yep, yep. He nodded with intensity. Hundreds of times.

Good, so let's do it again. Her words sounded way more confident than her reality. Hale blew out a breath as they pulled up to the runway. Right.

Over the intercom, the pilot remarked, Flight attendants ready for takeoff. Suddenly, it was Felicity's turn to panic.

Oh, this is happening. She put a death grip on the armrest near the aisle as they sped forward.

Hey, what happened to Felicity the Brave? Hale laughed nervously, even as he gripped the armrest near the window with equal force.

Yeah, turns out she's a big fat liar, Felicity confessed, closing her eyes.

Well, we can't help each other if we're both panicking, so I guess we'll just both have to stay cool, he said, reaching down to take her hand in his.

Startled, Felicity opened her eyes to see him smiling back at her.

Something tangible, right? So focus on my hand in yours. That's real, he pointed out.

Suddenly, Felicity's inability to catch her breath had absolutely nothing to do with the plane anymore. It is? she asked, genuinely unable to tell.

Yeah. It is, he replied.

A strange calmness came over Felicity that she hadn't felt in a long time.

As the plane picked up speed, Hale squeezed her hand. He held on tightly, but not enough to hurt her. Her heart fluttered, causing her to blush again. Are you okay? You're all red, Hale asked, leaning forward.

Yeah. Takeoff always gets me, she replied. That was technically true, but apparently handsome strangers had the same effect on her. After a second or two, it was Felicity's turn to be worried as all the color drained from his face. Are you okay?

Uhhh… No. I feel sick. Hale closed his eyes and swallowed purposefully.

Acting quickly, Felicity grabbed her bag and began rifling through it. She pulled out a bottle of tiny peppermint beadlets and her emergency pack of tissues. Wrapping a beadlet in a tissue, she squeezed it until it popped, releasing the strong aroma of peppermint. Here. Felicity held it up to his face. Breathe into this. Nice, slow breaths. Open your eyes and watch the horizon.

They both turned to look out the window as the world sped by in a blur. The movement made Felicity's own stomach turn. Ooh! Bad idea! Never mind the horizon, look at me instead, she said, and they locked eyes again. Felicity smiled, putting on her bravest face. She pretended there was nothing in the world that could bother her right now. For a moment, she almost believed it herself. That's right, she said, In and out. In and out.

After a few more seconds, the plane started to level out, and the color returned to Hale's chiseled cheekbones. Thanks, he said as he cautiously lowered the tissue. Nothing ruins a first impression like vomiting on someone.

To be fair, it's not exactly a first impression for me, she laughed.

Hale just raised his eyebrows and looked away. Immediately, Felicity felt she'd said the wrong thing. What did she say, and how could she fix it? Suddenly, her ear popped, and her faux pas was forgotten. She involuntarily cried out in pain as she reached for her ears. Hale turned toward the noise.

Hey! I have something for that, Hale remarked as he rummaged into his pocket. He pulled out a brand-new pack of gum and unwrapped it. Here ya go. He handed Felicity the first stick.

Awesome, thank you. She gratefully unwrapped the gift and popped it into her mouth. I usually have some for a flight too, but somehow I forgot it today.

After a few chews, the pressure slowly released from her ears, and she felt like she could hear again. Much better. She smiled gratefully.

Yeah? he asked, popping a stick in his mouth. He chewed it a bit and smiled in agreement. Works like a charm.

Felicity sat in silence for a few moments, enjoying the sound of gum chewing in her own unclogged ears.

Usually by this time on a flight, Felicity had already dug out her earbuds and gone virtually incognito to the other passengers around her, but not this time. She ventured another look toward the window seat, trying not to be too obvious or aggressive. Hale seemed deep in thought. She worried he was about to pull out his own pair of earbuds and hoped desperately that he didn't. He caught