“Why?”
“Aiden, I am not sure what is happening between you and Ava. But I do know, she does not like me. If you end your relationship with her and then if she somehow found out about our evening at the country club…”
“Aimee, nobody knows what happen at the country club except us. I don’t plan on saying anything about it and I know you are not, so there is no need to worry.”
“I guess you are right.”
“I have learned a lot about myself and where I want to go in life, in the past nine months and I am not so sure Ava will fit in. That is what our talk is going to be about. But, I don’t want to talk about her right now.”
“Ok. So what do you want to talk about?”
“You.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you, when you come back in September, I want to help you find out more about your mom.”
“Thanks. I am going to look around for something more we can use. Plus, her diaries are my summer reading list.”
“Great. Text me if you find something I can help you with.”
They spent the next hour discussing how they had spent summers in the past. Aiden could sit and talk to Aimee for hours about anything she wanted to talk about. They had so many common interest.
The room was cozy and comfortable and Aimee fell asleep with her head resting on Aiden’s shoulder. He must have dozed off as well because when Bart (his body guard) came in, it startled him. “Mr. Aiden, they just announced they are starting boarding for Miss Aimee’s plane.”
His voice startled them both awake. Aiden looked down at Aimee and they both started laughing. Aiden stretched. “Thanks, Bart.”
Bart nodded. “I’ll just wait outside the door.”
“We got caught sleeping again.” Aiden looked at Aimee.
“I guess so.” She sat up. She loved the way it felt beside him.
“Let’s get you on your plane.”
Aimee sat up. “Ok.”
He took her bag for her and walked her to the door. “I can’t walk you all the way to the gate. The press is everywhere, and I don’t want to chance someone taking photos that will cause you any more unnecessary worrying.”
Aimee stopped him just as he went to open the door. “I am really going to miss you.”
Aiden turned and looked her in the eyes. He could not believe it would be ten weeks before he would stare at those gorgeous hazel eyes again. He took his hand and brushed her hair. “I’m going to really miss you too.” He was about to move in for a kiss, forgetting all the reasons he shouldn’t, but Bart knocked.
Aimee smiled. “We better go.”
“Yeah. I’ll walk a little with you, then Bart will take you to the gate.”
They walked silently down the hall to the door that lead to the gate. Aimee paused before entering. She turned to Aiden.
“Call me, ok?”
“Every day.” He wrapped her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. “Let me know when you land safely.”
“Which time?”
“Every time you have to get on a new plane.”
“Good luck with Ava.”
Bart opened the door. “You don’t want to miss your plane.”
“Thanks.”
Bart joined Aiden shortly to let him know she was safely on her plane. “I like Miss Aimee a lot better than Miss Ava.”
“Me too. Me too.”
Aimee was finding it so much harder saying goodbye to Aiden than it was telling LJ bye.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Aimee took her window seat in First Class. It was a surprise upgrade. She was just settling in, when she heard the voice. “I guess we are sitting beside each other.”
Aimee looked up at the older lady. “I guess so.”
“My name is Claire.”
“Aimee.”
Aimee checked her cell real quick before the flight attendant came over the intercom and announced to shut them off. LJ’s picture came up signaling a message.
“Is that your boyfriend?” Claire asked. Aimee was holding her phone out and she could see LJ’s picture.
“No, he is a friend. I am actually single.”
“That is smart, you’re young. Enjoy your life.”
The attendant gave her instructions. Aimee looked out her window as the plane rose in the air. She was so confused. A huge part of her wanted to kiss Aiden again today. But, he is with Ava for now. She could think of very few reasons, other than Ava and the roommate thing. Which is going to be totally different in the second year of college. It was more like living in a co-ed dorm than a flat.
“Dear, are you ok?” Claire had a very concerned look on her face.
Aimee noticed at that time she was crying. “Yeah, just thinking about leaving my college friends for the next ten weeks.”
“Oh, I remember my college days. My friends and I had so much fun. Is this your first year?”
“Yes, and I had so much fun while still managing straight A’s.”
“Impressive.”
“Thanks.”
“Are you flying to London to shop?”
“No, I am getting on a flight to New York. What is bringing you to London?”
“You will not believe it, but I am flying to New York as well. Are you from New York?”
“No, I am from the south. Virginia and Georgia is where I grew up.”
“Lovely states. Georgia reminds me a lot of Neahovia.”
“I hadn’t really thought about that much, but it does.”
The connecting flight to New York was on time. Aimee and Claire had been seated together again. Aimee wanted to nap, but she had too much on her mind. She had text Aiden early to let him know she arrived safe in London and that her flight was on time. He text her back immediately.
“You look like your mind is already in the States.”
“I am sorry, I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Guy trouble.”
“How did you know?”
“You have that look every girl gets when she is having man trouble and, my guess, is there is more than one guy on your mind.”
“Wow, I bet your kids didn’t get away with much.”
“No, they didn’t. What kind of guy troubles are you having?”
“I don’t know. I met two great guys. LJ has really been nice. He seemed to be considerate of my Christianity, but we shared our first kiss on Valentine’s Day. He said he would call. He didn’t. In fact, I didn’t hear from him again until I ran into him at SSC the first week of May. He gave me a spill on how he realized he was not good enough for me.”
“You don’t believe him?”
“No. I think he was upset that I didn’t go any further with him.”
“If he was upset for that reason, then he isn’t really considerate of your Christianity.”
“I know. I told him we could be friends. So far, he has been cool with that.”
“You are still afraid he isn’t sincere?”
“Yeah. The next ten weeks will tell.”
“And the other guy?”
“The other guy. He is equally great. He is one of my roommates. We have the same major. We have so many things in common, we love to watch sunrises. I can talk to him forever.”
“How did your dates with him go?”
“I never actually went on a date with him. We did eat dinner several times as friends. He has a girlfriend.”
“Oh, honey, you don’t want to get involved with all that.”
“I know. I told him that several times after we almost kissed.”
Aimee wasn’t sure why, but she found herself telling Claire almost every detail about Aiden and LJ. In fact, the only thing she left out was that Aiden was Prince Aiden. She even talked about her mom and how he wants to help her find more out about her. How she and all her roommates felt that he and his girlfriend were on the verge of ending their relationship. She even shared how it was so much harder to tell Aiden by.
“Aimee, honey, I am sorry about your
mother.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. I know I am not your mother, but can I give you some motherly advice?”
“Yes, please.”
“Be careful with LJ. He sounds like he could be a player. As for Aiden, be careful there as well, you don’t want to be the rebound girl.”
“You have confused me more.”
“I am sorry. Love is not easy, honey. It is hard and confusing, but in the end, when you find your true love, it will be worth everything you went through to find love.”
“I am finding that out.”
“Pray to God about this. Be careful and make sure you are following His guidance. Don’t let your hormones overpower your brain. Sometimes our hormones overpower our brain and heart.”
“Thanks, I appreciate you listening to me. It was nice to talk it over with someone.”
“You are welcome, dear.”
“I am sorry, I have talked so much about myself, Claire. Are you flying to see family?”
“My sister lives in Canada. She was in an accident years ago that left her paralyzed. I found the best facility for her in Canada. I fly to see her every few months. This time, I am staying for a while. She has lived longer than the doctors ever thought she would. Her health is starting to decline.”
“I am sorry. I will pray for her and remember the doctors are not God.”
“Thanks, dear.”
“Claire, how long have you lived in Neahovia.”
“Off and on my whole life. I recently moved back. The base of my company franchise is in Neahovia and I decided it was time for me to stay there and run the company from Neahovia.”
“Can you tell me anything about the Radical War?”
Claire sighed before she told Aimee about how cruel the war was for the ladies her age. They had daughters that were in their late teens, early twenties during that time. All the mothers could think of, was about ways to save their families from the Radical men.
The men would try everything in their power to take over their homes. At first, it was just by trying to take care of the finances. Run their business affairs. The elderly ladies without children were the first victims. Then, they moved on to the widowers and young girls a few years later.
It was all about control. That was why they wanted to overturn the king. The radical leader thought he had a foolproof plan. He carefully chose the homes with the greatest social status, that he personally would take over. He wanted to force a young lady to marry the Prince; and then, after she did, he would kill the Prince and the King. Then, he would have her make him King.
She was unsure how he planned to do the last part. The mothers of the girls caught onto his plan and that was when they banded together and started protecting their families. One of the mothers had a direct connection to the Palace and she warned the King what the Radical Party was planning. That was when the King called and asked the Americans to help protect the ladies of Neahovia.
Aimee was so pale. She knew some of this from what her friends and Alice told her, but Claire was giving her a different view of the era. She closed her eyes and imagined the fear that her mother and Gran had to feel during those days.
“Claire, if he succeeded, do you think he would have possibly killed the girl after he killed the Prince and King?”
“I think he was capable of anything.”
The attendant announced the plane would be landing soon. Aimee hooked her seat belt. “I wish I had more time to talk to you. I am so interested to find out about my mom and Gran and their life in Neahovia.”
“Oh, sweetie. I know it must be hard. Just keep in mind, a lot of women don’t like to talk about that time in their lives. I think that if your mom and Gran wanted you to know how they escaped the Radicals and made it to the states, the answers will be close to you and, when God thinks you can handle the story of your mom and Gran’s life in Neahovia, He will lead you straight to them.”
“Thanks, I haven’t really thought about not being ready. I just feel that if I find out more about them, I can find me.”
“You don’t have to know their past to find you. The things you do and say, how you live your life, is how you find yourself. Learn from your mistakes and grow from them. If you see something is working, don’t change it.”
“Thanks. So how old were you when you figured out who you are?”
The flight attendant announced that it was time to exit the plane.
Claire gave Aimee a hug as they made it to the gate. “I hope we meet again.”
“Me too.” Aimee was walking to the lounge, she had thirty minutes to find her connecting flight’s gate.
“Aimee.” Claire turned and smiled at her. “I am still finding me.”
********
Letter from the Author
I want to thank you for reading my first ever book. God instilled a desire for me to write Christian Books for some time. I have gave reason after reason why I could not do this but I recently developed some major unexplained dizzy spells. I cannot stand up for very long so I have been sitting a lot. God put it on my heart to write my Love’s not easy Series now. I discovered how to become an Indie Writer while I was reading a book from one of my favorite authors. I knew God was speaking to me and I needed to do what he was telling me to do. I hope that you listen to what God is telling you through my books. I know for me the weeks I spent writing has lead me to finding me as well. I pray when I write my books that God gives me the words he wants to be in the book and for those words to touch the hearts of the people who read the books as well.
God Bless You
Love Nicole Rickman
Discussion Questions
Aimee compared the restoration of Wise Chapel to how God restores us from being ugly sinners to redeemed Christians. Think of how God redeemed you from sin and restored you. How has your life changed since you have been redeemed?
LJ admitted to Aimee that he did not understand Christianity. How would you respond to someone who told you they did not understand Christianity?
During the ski trip Aimee allowed Lexi and Piper to talk her into acting like someone she was not to impress LJ. Have you pretended to be something you are not to impress a guy? If so discuss how that has made you feel or if not why you felt it was important to stay true to you?
When Aiden got drunk and hangover he did not keep his commitment to Aimee. She became very upset with him and confronted. Later she felt like she did not act like a Christian to Aiden. How would you handle that situation?
When Aimee let LJ kiss her it was a huge thing for her because she did believe kissing was something special. Why do you think she felt that way?
How would you handle LJ not calling or texting for two and a half months? Especially after he said he would.
Aimee was upset at Aiden when he referred to himself as the spare. Have you ever felt like you were the spare? Why?
Josiah realized his was an alcoholic after he and Colin had their fight and he moved out. When he came back to let them know the changes in his life he told Colin that God used that fight to show him he needed to change. How has God used a bad situation and turned it to a positive for you?
How should Aimee handle her mix feelings between Aiden and LJ?
When you read the book.
About the Author
Nicole Rickman is a new author who feels she has been called to write Christian Fiction. Her dream is to write books that will inspire the young and the young at heart. She wants the readers of today to see we can have good books to read that is not full of profanity and negativity. She wants to touch them with stories of situations they can relate to and prays her readers can they find a piece of them in the book.
Nicole lives in Eastern KY with her husband Bill and their son Luke. Luke is their nine year old miracle that God gave to them after the doctors said she couldn’t have children. Every time she looks in his blues eyes and sees his face that is a combination of her and her husband she remembers how God is cont
rol.
You can visit Nicole on her Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com
Did you find anything about yourself? If so how?
Breakthrough
Love’s Not Easy Book Two
Chapter One
Aimee sat on her bed looking out her window. She had been back in the States four weeks now; and, the entire experience has been horrible for her. It began with her dad having her intern with his campaign team; instead of, working at his office, like they had planned. To make matters worse, all she did was stuff envelopes. She learned absolutely nothing about business or marketing.
Deandre decided that Aimee should be in more episodes of the Clint and Deandre Show. The producers were subtitling the show as The Reality of Becoming a Politician. Camera crews were everywhere Aimee turned. They were trying to get more footage of her for season three. Hiding was becoming nearly impossible; so, Aimee was doing the most boring things she could find, in an attempt to be edited out of the show.
Her job at Clint Pittman Campaign Headquarters’ was officially over; and, she could not be any happier, with the exception that being home more would mean more cameras. She would just have to get creative and find ways to avoid them.
No one else was planning on being home today, and the crew was following her dad. So, she planned to go up to the attic and search for more of her mom’s stuff.
First, she noticed her cell was blinking to alert her of text messages. Piper, her best friend she meet when they shared a room together in a European boarding school, had text her for the first time this summer.
Hi, Aimee. How has your Summer Holiday been so far? Mine is going so great. I am so excited because my parents got saved last night. James and I are spending so much time together. I love him more every day. We received the stuff you sent for Vacation Bible School and the kids are so excited. I wish you could be here to help us with it. Is LJ calling or texting you? I will call you soon. Love you Bestie.
Aimee hit reply: Hey, so glad you are having a great summer. You and James are so great together. I am so glad God chose him for you. I just finished my horrible three week internship with dad. It turned out to be with his campaign, not his office. Today starts my summer vacation. LJ is calling all the time. I will tell you more when we talk. Love you Bestie.
Finding Me (Love's Not Easy Series Book 1) Page 18