Second Chance with Love by Alana Hart, Ruth Tyler Philips Page B

find his wife and then his calling to become a pastor.
    The noise in the room graduated to murmurs of conversation to laughter and clattering of cutlery. Nathan finished his meal and thanked Jośe for his hospitality. Everyone helped gather the plates of food.
    "Let's go, men." Nathan's men followed him out. But before they left, Jośe requested Nathan join them in the next room for prayer. At first Nathan tentatively accepted. Everyone else happily walked into a room at the back of the building, where people sat waiting for the group prayer to begin. Nathan took his seat and his men followed. And before he closed his eyes to pray, his eyes caught a flicker of red. The afterimage imprinted onto his mind. It was Hilda. It just had to be.
    After the prayer, his suspicions were confirmed. Hilda sat a few rows in front of him, wearing a camel colored sleeveless top. Her shoulder length hair was tied in a ponytail. As she got up and said a few words to the people surrounding her, Nathan was aware his emotions arose from a man forced to endure the shackles of restraint when all he wanted to do was approach the woman who he once believed he knew better than himself. He looked on intently, making an inventory down to the speckles of earth that marked her blue jeans. As he caught sight of her face, though slightly more filled out, it nevertheless caused him to forget himself and remember how she made him feel every time he saw her.
    She saw him.
    Nathan had not intended to surprise her, but the visible blow from seeing him was obvious to him, even though she tried to hide it. Her body seemed to jolt and her mouth opened slightly. It seemed as if he had ambushed her intentionally. Someone stepped between their locked gaze. It was the man called Charles, and he was saying something to Hilda. She smiled and engaged Charles in conversation. After her conversation ended, Hilda met Nathan's eyes again, but this time, her look was unwavering and unabashed. Nathan wanted her to smile, but he knew it wouldn't happen. Looking away, she left him staring, walking away, she left him seated. Is that who she had become, someone who constantly fled her past?
    Nathan stood.
    A few people stood as well, and began filing out to exit the room. Nathan couldn't unclench his jaw. He felt a dull ache, as what he thought he'd accomplish when he saw her again begun to unravel. The situation was almost too clear to not see that they would never be again. That perhaps what they had before could be so easily forgotten. They didn't even seem room for friendship. Nathan doubted Charles would be comfortable with it.
    Nathan never imagined he would suffer as long as he did in the aftermath of their relationship. Although, in the past he told himself that, should he see her again, he would want to be with her. Now, exiting the room, frustrated and realizing the prescribed guideline for pain in a relationship was not always time; he needed closure. To learn the truth behind why she left. Discover where they had gone wrong. Perhaps it was the fighter in him, but he was not prepared to let her go so easily.
    Leaving the building he decided to turn back; there she spoke with and walked with her team. He looked at her with suppressed emotion. A young girl with mocha colored plaited hair. The girl watched Hilda, just as he did, but with glazed eyes, and nodded slowly at every word Hilda said. Nathan watched as Hilda smiled and listened to everyone. Nathan always knew people had high opinions of her. She interacted with everyone. Nathan knew it was going to take a lot of courage to approach her. Touching the cell through his pocket, it felt like his trump card.
    As someone gave her a camera to take a photo with her team and a group of children, Nathan wondered if she finished college, or if she still enjoyed photography. Hilda took the picture. It startled Nathan how little feeling she gave to taking the picture, her actions seemed mechanical, unfeeling and perfunctory.