Free Second Chance with Love by Alana Hart, Ruth Tyler Philips

remarked on the irony of once again being in a situation where he stood outside looking in. Before he realized it, he was approaching the school.
    Suddenly she turned to him, and her glare sucked something out of Nathan. She stared across at him. Just started. Nothing else. Nathan, took a breath: it was ragged, loud, and strained, and his pulse was all he could hear. She was all he could see. Staring into her hazel eyes, he felt and heard himself gasp and felt utterly helpless as he couldn't bring himself to take his eyes away, to disconnect from hers.
    Her lips tightened, brow furrowed. Hilda's look was a warning. Nathan felt his chest tighten. There was a time that his ego would not have understood her expression as a sign to back off, it would have been a mere challenge for him to exercise his ability to take charge of any situation. Nathan gave a slight nod before he turned and walked back to the bus that waited.
    Watching Hilda as she carried a little girl piggyback.
    "I hope you're ready to work, Mr. Hawks?"
    Nathan flinched as he was dragged away from his thoughts. Standing in the aisle of the coach was Jośe. Nathan moved across for the pastor to sit beside him.
    "Oh yeah, sitting around too long gets me all antsy."
    "Well that's good to know. We have all the provisions ready."
    "Great." And Nathan really did feel gratitude, primarily because he could rebuild the village houses destroyed by mudslides in Nahuala, but also because he would be gone for days and this would give Hilda the space she needed.
    He couldn't force the situation. If they were around each other they would be bound to talk sooner or later. Then perhaps he would get more from her. If he pushed the matter too hard, he was certain she would disappear again.
     
     
     
    Hilda spent the rest of the day working with the local orphan Kids Club. Singing songs, laughing. Playing, and just seeing the bright and energetic smile of the children brought on by the most simple of things, reminded Hilda that the bible teaches everyone to have childlike faith. She particularly took to Leticia, a child that had witnessed both her parents gunned down in front of her. And then Nathan's appearance at the orphanage, had exposed her weakness – him.
    When Nathan left, she spent the entire day feeling skittish. Watching out for him while working on arts and craft with the children. Seeing the children's eagerness to expressive their artistic creations, of pictures made from foil and paper, made her think about how proud Nathan was of her photographs, how it first inspired her, and his expectations about her love for art. The children were not exposed to vanity and pride. Even in Aaron, she often marveled at the sense of innocence and joy that seemed to shine from him. He enjoyed painting, drawing, and dancing. Didn't Jesus call upon us to become like children?
    She had been prepared for him to put up a fight. It surprised her that he visibly wilted when she stared at him. She had not been prepared for a confrontation and she felt shock when he approached. But judging from the way Nathan reacted, she must have looked menacing. Nothing was further from the truth. If Nathan pushed too hard, she would never withstand his overwhelming character. Yet Nathan had backed down, retreated, and left. Was this the Nathan of five years ago?
    Although she knew Nathan's team would be away for at least a week, she remained alert, constantly on edge, finding that she jittered and jumped when someone tapped her shoulder or the moment someone called her name. Her heightened nerves were not helped by Charles' presence.
    Charles took every opportunity to be around Hilda. Even though his group was assigned to teach the gospel to villages, Charles found any excuse to get involved with Hilda's tasks. Normally when Charles encroached on her work, she voiced her feelings of dissatisfaction that he intentionally undermined her authority. But, as Charles somehow ended up teaching the Kid Club beside