One Thursday Morning: Inspirational Christian Romance (Diamond Lake Series Book 1) by T.K. Chapin Page B
Authors: T.K. Chapin
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eyebrows went up and I looked over at him. “What about money? Bills?”
“I never liked paying bills anyway.” He laughed. “I’m just kidding. I already set everything up for that side business a few days before I quit. There are a couple of projects I already have lined up from old customers that don’t do business with Ikan anymore.”
“Wow,” I said, coming back over to the table. Resting a hand on the back of my chair, I nodded. “So you’re finally going to do it.”
“Yep.” Standing up, he pushed in his chair and walked around the table to me. My heart fluttered as his fingers touched my arm and made their way up my shoulder and to my neck. Tilting his head, he said, “I’ll have all the time in the world to spend with you. That is, if you can stand me.”
The words warmed my soul. There were no limits to the amount of time I wanted to spend with Charlie. “You seem so different since you’ve come back.”
He nodded. “I am. Once I realized that God didn’t punish me by making me go through what I’ve been though, I’ve been a changed man.”
“Why did He make you go through it?”
His fingers traced my neckline, back down my shoulder, and to my arm as he continued speaking. “Going through difficulties is part of life. It’s how you come out the other end that really matters. God showed me that I can help others who are struggling by my own experience. God willing, I’ll be a certified Christian counselor at ‘A New Me in Christ’ in a couple of years. Just as a side passion project of sorts. That’s my hope.” Taking my hand, Charlie placed it on my shoulder and said, “May I have this dance, my dear?”
Smiling, I said with a dip of my knees, “you may.” Laying my head on his chest, we began to sway slowly in the dining room of my house. My thoughts turned inward as I began thinking about the abuse I endured. Maybe my experience could help someone someday. Charlie was a man who had crossed over from the dark shadows of sadness, possibly even depression, and come out a new man. He was an inspiration to push on through the dark times that I had found myself in. Tomorrow’s community potluck could go well and according to plan or absolutely disastrous, but I had to trust God that He was in control.
Chapter 15
Arriving at the Inn at the Lake with my arm wrapped around Charlie’s free arm, we went inside and were greeted by Jody in the kitchen. He stayed and chatted with her while I broke off into the dining area just outside the kitchen to sit down with Emma. She was reading a book while sitting at one of the tables near the French doors that led out to the balcony. Meanwhile, people were chatting in the living room beside the dining area and out on the balcony.
A summer breeze was blowing lightly through the dining area as I sat down in a chair across from her. Setting her book down, she greeted me with a warm smile and grasped my hand. “How are you, Serenah? That eye feeling any better?”
“I’ll survive.” My eyes peered over at Charlie to steal a glance at his laugh.
Emma caught it and commented, “You’re in love.”
Dismissing it, I furrowed my eyebrows and said, “No. Maybe someday, we’ll be in love, but I don’t think I’m there yet.”
“Why?” she pressed.
“It takes a lot of time to fall in love.”
Emma rocked her head back and forth a couple times. “Maybe a deeper love, but I believe true love has a blossoming moment.”
John walked into the room out of nowhere and conjured all my anger inside with five words. “Ms. Montgomery and my wife.”
Charlie overheard and came over from the kitchen. Leaning over my shoulder, he planted a kiss on my cheek and looked up at John, saying, “Ex-wife. Right ?”
John’s jaw clenched and he didn’t respond.
Standing upright, Charlie said, “I see you have some lovely stitches from our little altercation yesterday. It’s too bad you don’t actually fight men, only women who can’t fight
“I never liked paying bills anyway.” He laughed. “I’m just kidding. I already set everything up for that side business a few days before I quit. There are a couple of projects I already have lined up from old customers that don’t do business with Ikan anymore.”
“Wow,” I said, coming back over to the table. Resting a hand on the back of my chair, I nodded. “So you’re finally going to do it.”
“Yep.” Standing up, he pushed in his chair and walked around the table to me. My heart fluttered as his fingers touched my arm and made their way up my shoulder and to my neck. Tilting his head, he said, “I’ll have all the time in the world to spend with you. That is, if you can stand me.”
The words warmed my soul. There were no limits to the amount of time I wanted to spend with Charlie. “You seem so different since you’ve come back.”
He nodded. “I am. Once I realized that God didn’t punish me by making me go through what I’ve been though, I’ve been a changed man.”
“Why did He make you go through it?”
His fingers traced my neckline, back down my shoulder, and to my arm as he continued speaking. “Going through difficulties is part of life. It’s how you come out the other end that really matters. God showed me that I can help others who are struggling by my own experience. God willing, I’ll be a certified Christian counselor at ‘A New Me in Christ’ in a couple of years. Just as a side passion project of sorts. That’s my hope.” Taking my hand, Charlie placed it on my shoulder and said, “May I have this dance, my dear?”
Smiling, I said with a dip of my knees, “you may.” Laying my head on his chest, we began to sway slowly in the dining room of my house. My thoughts turned inward as I began thinking about the abuse I endured. Maybe my experience could help someone someday. Charlie was a man who had crossed over from the dark shadows of sadness, possibly even depression, and come out a new man. He was an inspiration to push on through the dark times that I had found myself in. Tomorrow’s community potluck could go well and according to plan or absolutely disastrous, but I had to trust God that He was in control.
Chapter 15
Arriving at the Inn at the Lake with my arm wrapped around Charlie’s free arm, we went inside and were greeted by Jody in the kitchen. He stayed and chatted with her while I broke off into the dining area just outside the kitchen to sit down with Emma. She was reading a book while sitting at one of the tables near the French doors that led out to the balcony. Meanwhile, people were chatting in the living room beside the dining area and out on the balcony.
A summer breeze was blowing lightly through the dining area as I sat down in a chair across from her. Setting her book down, she greeted me with a warm smile and grasped my hand. “How are you, Serenah? That eye feeling any better?”
“I’ll survive.” My eyes peered over at Charlie to steal a glance at his laugh.
Emma caught it and commented, “You’re in love.”
Dismissing it, I furrowed my eyebrows and said, “No. Maybe someday, we’ll be in love, but I don’t think I’m there yet.”
“Why?” she pressed.
“It takes a lot of time to fall in love.”
Emma rocked her head back and forth a couple times. “Maybe a deeper love, but I believe true love has a blossoming moment.”
John walked into the room out of nowhere and conjured all my anger inside with five words. “Ms. Montgomery and my wife.”
Charlie overheard and came over from the kitchen. Leaning over my shoulder, he planted a kiss on my cheek and looked up at John, saying, “Ex-wife. Right ?”
John’s jaw clenched and he didn’t respond.
Standing upright, Charlie said, “I see you have some lovely stitches from our little altercation yesterday. It’s too bad you don’t actually fight men, only women who can’t fight
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