Meadow Valley book series- Everything's changed

Chapter 63: A mother's love

     Lisa walked out of the room and went to Ana's room to speak with her. Ana had just got out of the shower and was getting ready for her date. She had no idea that Zach was downstairs talking with her family. Her mother knocked on her door lightly and came in to see what Ana was doing. Ana was in her closet getting dressed and trying to pick out the right outfit because she was so nervous to see Zach. Lisa had called her over to the bed to talk with her about something. Ana was a little worried when she saw the serious look on her mother's face. She knew that her mom wanted to talk to her about Zach.

     Ana went over and sat down next to her mom on her bed. Lisa told her that Zach was waiting for her downstairs but before she left she wanted to have a serious talk about the two of them. Ana was very nervous to tell her mom how she felt about Zach because she didn't know if she would approve of him or not. Her mom kept asking her questions about how much time they spend talking to each other on the phone and if she likes him more than just a friend. Ana couldn't lie to her mother because she knew her too well and would see right through it. They used to be real close and talk every night about everything. Ana told her mom that she felt like her family fell apart when her father died and it really hurt her when they all stopped communicating with each other.

     Ana started to cry and her mom wrapped her arms around her and held on tight. Ana leaned over and put her head in her mom's lap and covered her face as she cried.

Her mom gently stroked Ana's hair the way she used to when she was a little girl and said "shhh, it's going to be okay."

     As if she knew why Ana was crying. They just silently sat there like that for almost five minutes. Ana sat up and began to wipe the tears from her face and looked at her mom as she spoke to her.

"I'm so sorry mama," she choked out the words.

"I'm sorry that I shut you and everyone else out of my life. It's just so hard because the pain hurts so deep inside. But it's finally starting to get better."

     Ana cried out as she apologized to her mom. Her mom stroked her hair and kissed her on the head and told her that she understood because they were all hurting and missing her father. After a few minutes Ana started to open up to her mother about Zach and how she really felt about him. She apologized for not being as open about their relationship and telling her how she was feeling about Zach sooner. She even told her mom about the time when Zach kissed her on the cheek and how they flirted with each other all of the time. Ana couldn't help but blush when she spoke about Zach to her mother. She couldn't understand why she was acting this way around a boy and was a little ashamed of her poor judgement in being alone with Zach a couple of times.

     Ana didn't mention Adam at all. She thought it best to try to forget about him and try to focus on her growing relationship with Zach. She just reasoned away the kiss between them in her head. It was a mistake. Poor judgement on both of their parts. They both got caught up with emotion and made a mistake. Ana had already forgiven Adam and wished she could forgive herself for giving away her first kiss to someone she wasn't dating.

     Ana was always hard on herself and saw things in an extreme way. Ana asked her mother what she should do about Zach and why she was acting this way around him. Lisa just smiled and chuckled at her and told her that she thought it was just best if she finished getting ready for her date. Then she instructed her to go downstairs to talk with Zach and let him know exactly what she was feeling about him.

     Ana didn't know if she had the courage to tell Zach exactly how she was feeling inside about him. What if he didn't feel the same way about her? Lisa reassured her that everything was going to work out for the best in Gods timing. She told her that Zach was a really good boy and if God wanted them to be together then it would all work out at the proper time. Ana was surprised by her mother's response and how she seemed to approve of Zach. She wondered if it was because of her past with Troy Smith.

     Lisa told her that there was also a slight change in plans. She was going to let Ana ride alone with Zach to the festival and meet up with her family later on. Ana looked quite shocked by her mom's announcement and wondered why her mom had a big change of heart. She couldn't believe that her mom trusted her to be all alone with Zach. Especially after she told her how she messed up and was alone with him a couple of times before and almost kissed him.

     Lisa told Ana to stop being so hard on herself because she trusts her and believes that as parents they did an amazing job of teaching her what was right and wrong. Lisa instructed her to stay true to her strong Christian values and morals and keep a hold of her purity promise to God until the day she got married.

     Ana had promised her mother that she would never forget what they taught her and most importantly her promises to God and her future husband. Ana also made a promise to her mom that she wouldn't keep any more secrets from her again and to always be open with her about all her relationships.

     Lisa hugged Ana and told her to have a fun and memorable first date and then left her room so Ana could finish getting ready.