by Hart, Alana
“You wrote it, mother,” Hilda’s voice sounded faint, but lucid. They stood deep in silence. No one blinked or moved. Outside, the world seemed to have stopped, and sound seemed to have been sucked from the air itself.
Then her mother nodded slowly.
“I see,” she said in a quiet voice. The deafening silence could be heard to reverberate throughout the house like a cymbal.
Touched by the retreating look on her mother's face, Hilda felt instantly apologetic. Her mother had always prided herself on her honesty, but that in itself had been a façade, Hilda began to realize.
“Mother,” she soothed, and she reached out and held her mother's hands. “ I can't begin to understand the type of pain you’ve experienced—”
“No, you can't,” her mother revealed in a voice heavy with burden..
“—but I know what it feels like trying to carry the world on your shoulders. I know you felt alone and unwanted,” Hilda said. She also connected with her mother's inability to weep. r expected to see her mother cry openlyHilda guessed her mother cried tears of many years of loneliness— and rightly so. A hard heart is sometimes a byproduct of loneliness. Hilda knew they had much work to do, work that involved prayer, talking, and sharing that would heal their relationship.
“Guilt haunted me every time I breathed,” Hilda's mother disclosed, “after all the years since Gerald left me when he found out I was pregnant, it still cuts deep.”
“I know mother, but speak with God when you feel you can't cope. It will visit less frequently if you call out to God and ask for His help,” Hilda explained.
“Wow, I've raised a really powerful woman,” Hilda's mother said. She stroked Hilda's face, which burned with a blush. “Thank you. You are truly a blessing from God,” she smiled.
Epilogue
The brilliant Guatemala sun reflected brilliant off Lake Atitlán.
The whole region was like an abandoned flower bowl, filled to overflowing with green, living things, protected on all sides by the ferocious barricades of mountains.
Hilda watched Nathan running with Aaron. Their wedding was a week ago and she still felt as if she was gliding on air. Although their parents offered to look after Aaron, Hilda and Nathan couldn't imagine not having him on their first newlywed break.
Getting to this point had not being easy, Hilda told herself. Trusting Nathan and allowing him back into Aaron and her life took a lot of faith. But it was worth it. Running had been easy, she just had to keep on going, fleeing her past, fleeing the Nathan that almost led to her losing something she never thought she would have the possibility of having. True love.
Then Hilda remembered something, a note Nathan had left on her pillow in the morning. Aaron had rushed into their bedroom before she had time to look at it and she promised she would read it later. Now was better time than any, she told herself.
It said:
To Hilda, the beauty in my life. I was a fool for never saying these words to you. The one person who could break my heart was they one person that was perfect for me. You are my soulmate.
Your Husband.
A silhouette fell over Hilda. Looking up, she saw Nathan standing in front of her and Aaron standing a few steps behind Nathan, smiling. Nathan leaned down to Hilda and they kissed.
The end.
About the Authors
Alana Hart
Alana Hart is an American romance writer who decided that writing with friends is better than writing alone. Hartfelt Books brings together a huge group of sweet and steamy romance authors, collaborating on a new line of books that will have your heart pounding.
When she’s not skyping and sharing her latest collaboration on googledocs, she’s typing away in her local coffee shop with a hot chocolate, complete with marshmallows and extra whipped cream, on hand. She claims it makes her happy ever afters that much sweeter!
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Ruth Tyler Philips
Ruth Tyler Philips is an author of Christian Inspirational romance. Stories of faith, testimony and family, to inspire, amaze and comfort.
Contact Ruth at [email protected], Ruth Tyler philips @RuthTylerphili1
Romance collaborations from the Hart
Also in the Second Chances series
Saving Her Bear: A Second Chances Romance - www.amazon.com/dp/B01513ZIOS
Never Forgotten: Second Chances - www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015GHM4BO
Alien Prince Seeking BBW Bride: First Love: A Second Chance Science Fiction Romance (Alpha Mail Order Brides) - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015AF3V8M/
Keep reading for an exciting excerpt from another book in the Alana Hart collaborations series. “Only For Now: Second Chances” by Mila Rose and Alana Hart
She vowed to protect her heart. He vowed to win it. Will a week in their tropical paradise give them their chance at love?
Only For Now: Second Chances
Alexa jumped at the sound of a low male voice. “Everything okay in there?” What was she going to do? She was trapped in this room with a virtual stranger on the other side. A stranger she had apparently spent the night with. She was going to kill Cara when she got out of this mess. Unbelievable. She couldn’t even count on her sister to watch out for her. She stood there, debating what to do next until there was another soft rap on the door. Now what? There was no escape, so she figured she might as well face him and get it over with. Summoning up every spare bit of strength and confidence she could muster, she tossed her deep brown hair behind her and strode to the door and yanked it open. Alexa wasn't sure what she had expected, but it most certainly wasn't this. Before her stood the most delicious specimen of male she had ever laid eyes on. Her already foggy brain slowed down even more as she stared. This man could have been a Greek god. Or an underwear model at the very least. He was at least six feet tall, his slightly longish brown hair falling across his forehead as he looked down at her with warm chocolate eyes. Her mouth went even dryer than before when her eyes trailed to his muscled abdomen. All he was wearing were cotton pajama pants. She was absolutely right. She hadn’t spent the night with a complete stranger. She’d spent it with the one man she’d spent the past four years doing everything in her power to avoid.
Buy it now at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015FFY5LE?
Coming soon…
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