Second Chance with Love by Alana Hart, Ruth Tyler Philips

Nathan's turn to look away from Hilda. “I made it very clear that if no one went my way, then I would have left them behind. It hurts to say this, but you are right. Back then if I had known you were pregnant I would have felt you were trying to trap me."
    "Thank you for admitting that, Nathan. You have changed."
    "I am a Christian now. I gave up the military." Nathan looked directly at Hilda. He could see tremors going through her body.
    "He is not the sort of son you would have wanted. He is not the top of his class. He hasn't made any waves in the way of popularity."
    "But you love him more than anything in the world, I see."
    Hilda nodded. Her next works came with a lot of pain on her face.
    "Please don't take him away from me." Her eyes were pleading.
    Nathan always loved the inner glow that her hazel eyes contained. But never had he witnessed desperation in them like he did then. It stung worse than the bullet.
    "What support do you have?"
    "I work, Nathan. I have everything under control."
    "Having a son that doesn't excel at everything would have troubled the man I used to be. But now I just want to see him."
    "My mother has him now. She is getting him ready for our flight home." Hilda's brow creased.
    "Your mother." Nathan felt his jaw tighten before he had to tell himself to relax.
    Hilda turned to leave.
    "So there is no one in your life?"
    "Yes, that's the way I want to keep it right now."
    "You lied about Charles. I felt like such an idiot."
    "I never lied about Charles. I never led you to believe anything."
    "What were you afraid of? That I would come into you life again?"
    "I was frightened of the way you always looked at me. When you came to my room earlier today, I saw the same look in your eye you always had towards me." Hilda tightened her folded arms and Nathan s grew silent in anticipation. "You looked at me as if I were you possession. As if you owned me."
    Hilda left and Nathan could do or say nothing to stop her. Hearing her voice, softened as she spoke to someone outside of his room, he was sure she was speaking to his son. Nathan would not let her leave him again. They had a child now.
     
     
     
    Nathan exited the taxi and entered his duplex apartment. He had not called his parents. He had a lot of thinking to do in the hospital and on his journey home. A barrage of emotions coursed through his veins. He found himself frustrated to the point of anger, why couldn't Hilda see that he'd changed? Then he felt disappointed that things had ended the way they had, his relationship with her was the only one that he had never recovered from. Sadness has touched him as he realized how deciding to keep Aaron must have transformed her life. She changed her appearance, she had become an even more reserved, albeit more beautiful, woman, who seemed less conscientious about her appearance. He regretted neglecting her.
    He spoke with God. "God, you give us all we need but we get blindsided by secondary interests. Hilda was the perfect woman for me. I'm glad I have left the superficial kid I was behind. I have so much regret. How did I miss Hilda? I looked at her and I didn't truly see her.”
    Nathan turned on his computer and went to his website. There in the opening page was the letter. There were millions of letters that moved him. After so many years operating his business, he'd still loved the letters people sent to the site. They provided encouragement and support. There were no messages in his email account. There was a message on his cell. Scott had called to say they should catch up.
    Nathan decided he'd call Scott later. But at that point he didn't need any interruptions. He took his bible and sat down to read. Perusing his mind was a thought that made his heart beat with excitement, fear, and disbelief. I have son.
    In the five years Nathan had rekindled his relationship with the Lord, his son had been growing up without him. The thought was too engulfing to dwell on.
    He read for comfort, for strength,