The Pastor's Daughter (closed for Serenity30822)

[Mr_Positive]

The fog hung low over the harbor, thick and gray, blurring the world into soft edges as Nate Caldwell tightened his grip on the wheel. It was just past dawn, and the town still slept while he navigated his boat out of the dock. The gentle hum of the motor was the only sound, settling his mind into that early morning rhythm he’d come to crave.

This was his routine now—quiet, steady, the opposite of the life he’d once lived. Out here, he wasn’t thinking about who he’d been, or what he’d lost; the sea had a way of washing those thoughts clean, at least for a while. Nate glanced down at his hands, rough and scarred from years of reeling in lines and hauling gear, a stark contrast to the manicured fingers he used to press into glass conference tables.

He maneuvered the boat a little farther from shore, letting it drift as he took in the muted colors of the early morning sky. It was beautiful in its own way, this simple life he’d rebuilt for himself—a life that didn’t require anyone’s approval, just a bit of hard work and a respect for the tide. He ran his fingers through his salt-stiffened hair and let out a slow breath, feeling the familiar weight of solitude settling around him.

But lately, that solitude had started to feel different. Heavy. Something he couldn’t shrug off so easily. Maybe it was the way people looked at him in town, the curious glances of strangers who knew him only as the quiet guy running fishing charters. Or maybe it was because, despite himself, he’d noticed her—those glimpses of warmth and restlessness in her eyes, the way she smiled just a little too long when their paths crossed in town.

Nate rubbed a hand over his face, chuckling quietly to himself. Whatever it was, it was foolish. He wasn’t about to complicate things—not when he’d just finally started to understand this version of himself. He straightened, shook off the thought, and turned his attention back to the open water, letting it claim his focus once more.

 

[Serenity30822]

Amy Roberts jolted awake with a start, her skin slick with a fine sheen of sweat and her face flushed. "Darnit..." she muttered to herself, sitting up for a moment to collect her thoughts. This was the third night this week she'd woken herself up this way, her dreams far too vivid to allow her to get a good nights sleep. It always started out the same. She'd be leaving church, heading home, and see a vehicle on the side of the road. She'd stop behind them, get out and walk around to the front of the vehicle just to find it was him. Nate Caldwell.

They'd never actually officially met, but she saw his gaze linger sometimes and there was just something about him that drew her to him, made her want to know him. She put thoughts of him aside when she was awake but the subconscious was far more difficult to reign in. She knew nothing would happen between them. After all, she was Amy Roberts. Only daughter of pastor Alan Roberts. She was the church pianist, straight A student, resident 'good girl' of the town. According to everyone else's sensibilities, Nate was too old for her, too closed off, too solitary, and any number of other reasons he wouldn't be a good match for her.

Heaving a sigh, Amy swung her legs off the bed and stood, stretching her aching muscles. A quick glance at her clock showed that it was barely 7am. She still had six hours before she really needed to log in for her school work. She was taking college courses online for social work, and was nearly finished with her degree, in her final term. She moved over to her closet, choosing a slimming pair of jeans and comfortable tank top for the day, making her way to the bathroom to get cleaned up.

She planned to take on the day by finding a job, something she could handle while she was still in school, but that would allow her to take on more hours once she graduated. She currently had her own small apartment in town, the bills along with her tuition paid for by her parents, but she had her sights set higher. And to move up in the world, you needed money.

Showered, dressed, and ready to go, Amy set off to put in applications. Just about everywhere she could think to do so. Her last stop was a diner on the edge of town, one she'd only been to twice before, both times with her parents. She filled out the application, and by this time it was nearly noon, so she ordered herself something to eat and started to daydream about her plans for her future.

 

[Mr_Positive]

Nate squinted against the midday sun as he stepped out of his truck, his body aching from hours on the water. The morning fog had burned off, leaving a bright but crisp day that brought most folks out, filling the diner parking lot as he walked across it. The smell of coffee and fried food met him as he opened the door, and he found himself almost instinctively relaxing in the familiar bustle of lunchtime chatter.

He slid onto a stool at the counter, nodding at the waitress who gave him a knowing smile, used to his usual order by now. "Coffee and the special, please," he said, his voice low but warm enough. Nate didn’t look around much; his habit was to keep his head down, to avoid the watchful eyes of the locals who always seemed to be piecing him together like a puzzle they couldn’t solve. Not that he blamed them—he knew how he must look to them. A newcomer with a past they didn’t know and a presence that didn’t quite fit their easygoing coastal town.

As he waited for his coffee, Nate’s eyes drifted out of habit, scanning the room until they stopped, lingering just a second longer on the girl at the corner table. He recognized her right away—Amy Roberts. The pastor’s daughter. She was looking down at something on her phone, her face relaxed, not noticing him, and he found himself quickly looking away, like he’d done every other time he’d caught her eye.

“Here you go, Nate.” The waitress set his coffee down in front of him, and he muttered his thanks, taking a sip, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Amy.

She didn’t belong in this place, he thought, or maybe it was just that she stood out in it. There was a softness to her that felt out of place here, her eyes bright with a kind of hope he hadn’t felt in years. Nate had seen her enough times to know she was different from most of the people in town, but he knew better than to start wondering about her, especially knowing who she was. Her father was a good man but the type who wouldn’t hesitate to protect his daughter from someone like him. And Amy was… well, she was everything he wasn’t.

But still, he couldn't shake the feeling that lingered when he saw her. An unfamiliar urge to talk to her, to find out if there was something more than what he could see from a distance. He’d spent so long keeping people at arm's length that the impulse surprised him. She was too young for him, he reminded himself. Too sheltered. And his life wasn’t one he’d wish on anyone, least of all someone like Amy Roberts.

He sighed, setting his mug down, his gaze still pulled in her direction, almost without his consent. "Get a grip, Caldwell," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. He reminded himself that his days of getting involved with people—especially people who could complicate his life—were over.

But as the waitress set his plate down and he took the first bite of his lunch, he found that, despite his best efforts, his gaze still kept drifting back to her.

 

[Serenity30822]

Thoroughly engrossed in her daydream, Amy hadn't taken a bite of her food, noticed the waitress coming to check on her, or even when Nate had come in. She was completely lost in thought. Until someone in the kitchen dropped something and the loud noise startled her out of her dream. Her head snapped up and she spun quickly, looking for the source of the jolt, only to spot him. And not just him, but him looking at her!

Amy quickly dropped her gaze to her untouched plate, knowing her cheeks were bright red. She picked up her fork and shoveled in a big bite of eggs in an attempt to hide her embarrassment at her reaction, the noise completely forgotten. She fought the urge to peek over there and see if he had looked away too, but found that she couldn't quite stop herself, glancing up just enough to catch a quick peek.

 

[Mr_Positive]

Nate watched her reaction out of the corner of his eye, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. She’d been lost in her own world, clearly startled by the clatter from the kitchen, and now she was doing everything she could to hide the flush in her cheeks. He leaned back slightly on his stool, sipping his coffee as he let the moment play out.

He didn’t look away this time. Not immediately, anyway. She’d glanced his way—just for a split second—and though she tried to mask it with her attention to her plate, Nate caught it. He’d been on the receiving end of enough looks over the years to know when someone was curious. Her quick, shy glance only confirmed what he’d already started to suspect.

It was a strange thing, that flicker of attention between them. Nate wasn’t sure what to make of it, but he didn’t mind it, either. There was something innocent about it, something that made him feel like he wasn’t entirely invisible, despite how hard he tried to keep it that way.

He cleared his throat, more to himself than anyone else, and looked back down at his plate. Picking up his fork, he focused on his food, cutting into a piece of his omelet with slow, deliberate movements. He wasn’t going to make this any more awkward than it already was—for her or for himself.

Still, a thought nagged at the back of his mind as he ate. What did she see, exactly, when she looked at him? A curiosity? A puzzle? Or maybe just another face in a small town where everyone knew everyone else’s business? Whatever it was, he decided it didn’t matter.

But when the waitress came by to refill his coffee, Nate broke his silence just enough to say, “Thanks, Mae.” He spoke low, his tone casual, but he didn’t miss how Amy’s shoulders straightened ever so slightly at the sound of his voice.

He allowed himself a small smile as he wrapped his hands around the warm mug. Quietly confident was how he’d lived his life since coming here—no need for complications, no need for drama. And yet, as he sat there in the diner, with Amy Roberts stealing glances his way, he couldn’t deny the faint tug of curiosity pulling at him, too.

 

[Serenity30822]

Amy had tried to put him out of her mind, but it was much more difficult to accomplish when he was in the same room. And when she heard his voice, barely there with the din of idle chatter from the other patrons, her whole body stiffened for a moment. It was the sort of voice a writer would describe as smoky and smooth like an expensive whiskey, not that she really understood that sentiment. She'd tried some alcohols before but hadn't really enjoyed any of them. No, if she were a writer, she would describe his voice as sultry and mysterious, like he had a sordid past he never told anyone about.

And that was a thought she would never give voice to. Just thinking it had her blushing all over again, embarrassment at what could only be described as pining for a man she'd never even really met. Finishing her eggs, Amy stood and grabbed her things, picking up the check she didn't remember the waitress dropping off, and heading to the pay counter, deliberately avoiding looking at him.

The register wasn't far at all from where he sat, only a couple of currently empty seats down, so she kept her eyes straight ahead, afraid that even a glance would give away the silly musings in her mind. Amy waited for one of the waitresses to have time to come close out her check, pulling out her phone to feign being busy so she wouldn't be so tempted to turn toward him and start a conversation.

 

[Mr_Positive]

Nate heard the soft scrape of her chair against the floor, a sound that cut through the white noise of the diner’s lunchtime hum. Without lifting his head, he tracked her movement in his periphery as she stood and made her way to the register. She passed close enough that he caught a faint whiff of something subtle and sweet, like lavender or vanilla—something simple, nothing overdone. It fit her, he thought, understated but noticeable in a way you couldn’t quite ignore.

His gaze lingered for a moment longer than he intended, catching details he hadn’t allowed himself to dwell on before. She had a way of carrying herself that was both determined and hesitant, like she wanted to be bold but wasn’t entirely sure how. Her jeans fit just right, hugging her curves without being showy, and the casual tank top showed a hint of soft, sun-kissed skin at her shoulders. She was young, sure—maybe too young for someone like him—but there was a maturity in her posture, an awareness of the space she occupied that he couldn’t help but notice.

Nate took a slow sip of his coffee, setting the mug down with deliberate care. He leaned back slightly, his arm resting on the counter as his eyes flicked toward her again. She was pretending to be engrossed in her phone, her fingers scrolling just a little too quickly for someone who was actually reading. It amused him, the little games people played when they were trying not to be noticed.

"Morning's still young," he said aloud, his voice low and easy, as if to no one in particular. The words hung in the air between them, close enough for her to hear but casual enough to let her decide if she wanted to respond. He wasn’t about to force anything—he never did—but there was something entertaining about seeing how she’d react.

Nate’s lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile as he shifted his attention back to his plate. He wasn’t trying to fluster her, not really, but he couldn’t deny he enjoyed the quiet exchange. There was a spark in her, a nervous energy that made her interesting to watch.

She’d probably be gone in another minute, her bill paid and her phone tucked away, but for now, Nate was content to let the moment stretch. He wasn’t in a hurry, and he suspected she was trying harder not to look at him than she’d care to admit.

 

[Serenity30822]

It took every ounce of self control Amy had not to jump when Nate spoke again. And considering there was no one around the two of them, it had to have been intended for her, surely he wasn't just speaking to himself. She absolutely couldn't stand rudeness, to or from her, so she kind of had to respond to him.

Reluctantly, she lifted her head and tucked away her phone, trying to put on her best fake smile as she turned to look at him. "I suppose it is, isn't it? How are you?" She said, trying for the typical polite greetings when addressing a stranger. She did her best to keep her face neutral, to not betray any of the thoughts below the surface.

She found herself studying him, now that she was close enough to do so, while trying not to be obvious about it. She noticed his sun worn and scarred hands and wondered how they'd feel against her own skin. Amy's eyes widened briefly and she looked away slightly, not wanting him to see her embarrassment and wonder why she was starting to blush.

 

[Mr_Positive]

Nate glanced up from his coffee, meeting her gaze for the first time. Her polite smile didn’t quite reach her eyes, but he could see she was making an effort. That, in itself, was interesting. Most people didn’t bother much with pleasantries around him, especially if they weren’t looking for anything. But she was different.

“I’m doing alright,” he said simply, his voice carrying that calm, smoky undertone that seemed to linger even after the words were spoken. “How about you? Out running errands?” He gestured lightly toward the check in her hand, his tone casual, like they’d had this kind of conversation before.

He watched her for a moment, noting the subtle shift in her expression as she looked at him. There was curiosity there, almost like she was trying to figure him out but wasn’t sure how to go about it. It wasn’t the first time he’d noticed it—he’d caught her glancing his way before, in the pews at church, when she thought no one was paying attention.

The memory brought a faint smile to his lips, though he kept it restrained. He didn’t go to church often—maybe once every month or two—but when he did, he always saw her. The pastor’s daughter, poised behind the organ, hands moving with practiced grace as she played the hymns. It had struck him then, the quiet composure she carried, the way she seemed almost untouchable in her own space. Seeing her here, close enough to talk to, was a different thing entirely.

“You’re Pastor Roberts’ daughter, aren’t you?” Nate asked, though he already knew the answer. His tone was easy, unassuming, like he was just connecting the dots. “I think I’ve seen you at the church a few times.”

He leaned back slightly, resting his forearm on the counter. There was no rush in his manner, no need to fill the silence as he let the words settle. She was blushing now, faintly but noticeably, and he wondered what thought had passed through her mind to bring that color to her cheeks. It wasn’t his place to ask, but it made her seem less polished, less like the untouchable girl behind the organ and more like a real person.

He took a sip of his coffee, letting the moment stretch just enough to keep things interesting. “Nice to finally put a name to the face,” he said, a hint of a smile playing at the edge of his mouth. “I’m Nate, by the way.”

 

[Serenity30822]

Amy found herself nodding when he asked his questions, nervous about something she couldn't quite put her finger on. She watched his mouth as he spoke, noting the slight curl at the edges when he nearly smiled.

"I'm out looking for a job, actually, and decided to stop for lunch. And yes, I'm Amy. It's nice to meet you, Nate." she finally responded, a little bit of an actual smile on her face at the end of that sentence, for reasons she wouldn't admit even to herself.

Luckily, the waitress had finally come to take care of her ticket, drawing her attention away. She paid her tab, left a tip, and turned toward Nate once more. "Hope you have a good rest of your day, Nate." She said with a smile as she made her way to the door to leave.

Once out in the parking lot, Amy hurried into her car, cranking up the A/C and just sitting there, staring down at the steering wheel for a minute. She groaned inwardly, exclaiming more at herself than anything, "Why are you so awkward!" as she leaned forward and pressed her forehead to the steering wheel, getting lost in her thoughts.

She'd wanted very much to reach out and offer to shake his hand, her curiosity at the texture of her skin driving that thought, but she couldn't bring herself to do it, or to have a full on conversation with him at that. She was so used to being the quiet 'good girl' who never did anything wrong, or stepped out of line, or talked to strangers.

Amy was beginning to work on that part of herself, but she couldn't do much while still living in this town. She had no choice really but to remain under her father's thumb.

 

[Mr_Positive]

Nate watched her go, his eyes following her to the door as she offered him that parting smile. He nodded in return, the barest inclination of his head, but he didn’t say anything. Words felt unnecessary in the moment, and he wasn’t the type to fill silences with chatter. Besides, something about the way her lips curved upward, just a little, said more than anything else could. It was unpolished, maybe even hesitant, but it was real.

“Have a good one, Amy,” he murmured softly after she was already gone, the words meant more for himself than for anyone else.

He turned back to his coffee, letting the ceramic warmth seep into his hands as his thoughts lingered on her. A job, she’d said. He couldn’t help but smirk a little at the thought. It wasn’t hard to imagine how Alan Roberts might react to his daughter working somewhere like this diner, surrounded by the casual hum of gossip and the occasional sharp edge of the world outside the church walls.

Nate admired that, though. The effort she was making to step outside of whatever mold had been cast for her. It reminded him of the girl he’d noticed in church, fingers moving with practiced precision across the keys, a picture of composure on the outside. Now, though, he could see the edges of something else beneath that surface—something restless, curious, maybe even bold, though she might not have realized it herself.

He chuckled under his breath, shaking his head slightly. “Amy,” he said softly, testing the name out loud. It suited her, simple but with a quiet strength he hadn’t expected.

The waitress came by, refilling his mug without a word, and he nodded his thanks, though his mind wasn’t on the coffee. For some reason, he could still see her there, standing close enough that he’d caught the faint scent of her shampoo, the light flush on her cheeks when she looked at him. He hadn’t missed the way her eyes lingered, either, flitting between his face and his hands like she was trying to piece something together.

Nate’s smile deepened for a moment before he let it fade. He wasn’t blind to the unspoken tension between them, the tentative curiosity in her words and actions. But he also knew the complications that came with it. She was the pastor’s daughter, young and still figuring out her place in the world. And him? He was a man who’d seen too much, lived too long in the gray spaces. Their lives didn’t fit together, not in any way that made sense.

Still, as he drained the last of his coffee and set the mug down with a quiet clink, Nate couldn’t deny the flicker of something unexpected stirring inside him. Maybe it was her awkward charm, or maybe it was just the way she’d looked at him like he wasn’t just another face in the crowd. Whatever it was, it had left its mark.

He settled his tab and stepped outside, the midday sun warming his face as he walked to his truck. He didn’t look around the lot for her car, didn’t let himself search for another glimpse of her. But as he climbed in and started the engine, he found himself wondering if this would really be the last time they crossed paths.

Somehow, he doubted it.

 

[Serenity30822]

The sound of a truck starting up jerked Amy out of her thoughts, and without looking for the source of the sound, she checked her mirrors and pulled out of the parking lot, heading towards her apartment without a second thought. She had wasted enough time daydreaming and lost in thought, she really needed to get back and log in for school.

She let her mind wander as much as she dared while driving through town, replaying the exchange between herself and Nate in her head. Pulling into her parking space safely a few minutes later, she hurried upstairs and set her laptop up, putting her things away while it loaded everything for school.

During her classes she found that she was having some trouble focusing, her mind drifting back to the diner while she absently doodled on a bit of paper she'd been taking notes on. When her professor clapped his hands and said they were finished for the day, she realized she'd barely heard a word. Amy groaned inwardly, making a mental note to get someone else's notes for the days lecture so she wasn't completely in the dark.

When she closed the browser and lifted her arm to close her laptop screen, she paused, staring at the doodle she'd scribbled haphazardly on the note paper. She'd always been fairly talented, at most anything she chose to pursue, but drawing was something she'd always had to really focus on and try really hard to be good at. But here, somehow, barely paying any attention at all, she'd drawn something near perfect, without any effort.

Amy quickly tore the page out of her notebook and stuffed it into her purse, finishing cleaning up fairly quickly. As she sat down to relax, she got a call from the diner informing her that they'd love to have her join the team. She resisted doing a happy dance, got the information on when she would start, and what to wear, and hung up. It had been a pretty awesome day, despite her distractions.

 

[Mr_Positive]

A few days later, he was back in the diner for his usual lunch time. Nate leaned back in the corner booth of the diner, his arms resting on the worn vinyl seat. He glanced at his watch, the rhythmic tick of its second hand a steady companion to the chatter and clatter of the lunch rush. It had been a slow morning out on the water—too choppy to take any charters, so he’d decided to come into town to grab a bite.

The door jingled behind him as another customer entered, but he didn’t bother turning around. He’d claimed this booth partly because of its view of the harbor through the window and partly because it let him sit with his back to the wall, something he preferred. Old habits, he supposed.

He skimmed the laminated menu, though he didn’t need to. He’d been coming here for years, knew the offerings by heart. Still, something about going through the motions made the experience feel normal, grounding.

“Coffee to start,” he told the waitress when she swung by, not looking up as he handed her the menu.

His thoughts wandered as he waited, the hum of the diner a backdrop to the memories that seemed to surface more often than he liked. It wasn’t just the monotony of the water or the solitude of the job. It was the moments like this—sitting in a crowded space, surrounded by people, and feeling completely removed from all of it. Detached. It was easier that way, he supposed. Safer.

And then he saw her.

She walked out from behind the counter, wearing the uniform of the diner staff, and it took him a moment to place her. The polished composure he’d always associated with her was gone, replaced with a kind of nervous energy as she moved between tables. Amy. The pastor’s daughter. The same girl who’d been here just a few days ago, stumbling through small talk like it was a foreign language.

Nate watched her for a moment, quietly amused. She didn’t notice him at first, too focused on the order she was taking. When she turned and caught his eye, though, her steps faltered for just a second—just long enough for him to notice.

He allowed a faint smile, tilting his head slightly in greeting but keeping his distance. She looked younger here somehow, out of place yet determined, like she was trying to prove something. To herself, maybe. To someone else.

When she finally made her way to his booth, her notepad poised and ready, Nate met her gaze with his usual quiet confidence, the trace of a smile still lingering at the corners of his mouth.

“Didn’t expect to see you here,” he said, his tone low and even, as though this was the most natural thing in the world. “Guess you got the job, huh?”

He watched her reaction carefully, taking in the faint flush that crept up her cheeks. She was trying to seem professional, he could tell, but there was an underlying tension, a nervousness that made her seem more real than the polished image he’d always seen from a distance.

“Guess I’ll have to be on my best behavior,” he added, his voice carrying just enough of a teasing edge to soften the words. He leaned back slightly, the picture of ease, though his curiosity about her simmered just below the surface. There was something about her—something he couldn’t quite put his finger on yet—but for now, he’d keep it simple.

“Coffee’s fine for now,” Nate said with a slight nod, his gaze steady. “And maybe a burger. Medium rare.”

As she jotted down the order and turned to go, he let his eyes linger for a moment, thoughtful. The polished, untouchable girl from church was still there, but there was more to her now. Layers he hadn’t expected. Layers he wouldn’t mind unraveling—slowly, carefully.

But for now, he’d let things play out. There was no rush. After all, the best things, he’d learned, came in their own time.​