Love In The Unexpected

CHAPTER 11

Chapter 10

It had been 5 months since Luke had come back from his Scotland retreat. During this time they had grown so close they saw each other virtually every day. He helped with babysitting Matthew when she had a business meeting. The house was now one down after Jamie went off to University to study sports science. She had cried with pride as she said goodbye to her brother after driving him to Southampton where he would be doing his degree in sports science. She had totally understood his need to escape London and was happy that he had given his life to God after a long struggle before he left. She was now left with the tough Job of pushing the other 3 and encouraging them to do the best they could in their lives. Matthew was thriving and was starting his reception classes in a week. Life had truly calmed down. She had also met Austin for lunch after his phone call and had been disappointed when he professed his undying love for her. She wished the guy would get a hint she didn’t feel the same way. She had told Luke thinking he would say something like give the guy a chance but had been surprised to see that same flash of jealousy she had seen that night. She didn’t understand Luke and neither did she understand Austin. She missed the carefree days when men had not been part of the equation. She had started praying fervently to God that he would lead her in the right direction. She felt that she could never be with Luke without feeling like she had betrayed Nicole, at the same time she felt nothing for Austin who was bugging her weekly and begging her to move to Birmingham. She sometimes thought the guy was deranged he could not take a no for a no. He had even started talking about marriage. Help me God she thought to herself. I want Matthew to grow up in a stable home with a father figure to look up to. Maybe Austin is the best you have for me and I’m fighting it. Maybe you want me to move to Birmingham and have a fresh start, she needed God’s help. The kids where stable but a new environment never did anyone harm. Her phone rang and it was unsurprisingly Luke. “Hey are you still up for the Christian concert tonight. I’ve got good tickets and the twins and Amie can babysit?” “Sure Luke pick me up at 6 where is it by the way?” "Excel Center in Custom house." "ok cool see you later." She hung up and smiled. Luke was such a big part of her life how could she leave him and London and move to Birmingham. She would miss their banter, she couldn’t do it. She was so comfortable around Luke that they were starting to be mistaken for a married couple. 

Amber put the finishing touches to her make up. Luke was impatiently waiting downstairs. She grabbed a casual river island bag and went downstairs. “Geez Amber someone would think you were going on a date.” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself.” He leaned in and gave her a hug that lasted 10 seconds too long. “I was only messing Amber, you look great, now let’s go and praise God.” He spoke with a smile. “Kids we are going to have to love you and leave you. Matthew be good for Amie, Jack and Chantal then we can talk about that secret present.” He ruffled Matthew’s hair as Matthew nodded in compliment. “Hmm mm I’m going to be really good Luke. And I’m going to listen to everyone because I’m a really good boy. Then I can get a secret present and you can take me to the fun fair.” “Yep only if you listen.” Amber squatted next to her little brother and gave him a peck on the cheek, “love you sweetie I know you’ll be good.” They headed for Luke’s car. “Luke I always wonder why someone with the kind of money you have never drives a flashy car, I mean for instance Austin is from a reasonably upper class family and he drives a crazy flashy car. You come from an even more prominent family and you drive this.” She pointed at the car. Luke laughed. “You say it like I drive the worst car in the world. The way I see it, all these material things will pass away, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with a flashy car but it’s just not me. I don’t put my confidence in wealth, yes my family is rich, yes my grandfather left me a substantial inheritance but all that doesn’t matter to me. I have the greatest inheritance because I am a child of God. Not to say I shop from the pound shop but I generally don’t buy things to show off, I’ll buy it if I like it.” “I think that’s one of the things I like about you Luke. Your heart is set on God.” He smiled, “You like me?” She laughed and patted his back, “Stop analysing my words, now let’s go to this concert because I for one cannot wait to hear Hillsong live.” Amber enjoyed the concert, there was a reoccurring theme of letting go and letting God. She was controlling her life way too much. There was a point during worship where she was confronted with where she was. She needed to truly let God work in her completely. For instance; ever since her siblings moved in with her, she hadn’t heard from her mother. It often filled her with an overwhelming sense of anger she had to give it over to God. This had truly been a crazy year but God was in control. She had come back home; business was booming; she had met 2 special people one of which had died; she had confronted her mother; she had become a parent to her siblings; and now she was in love. The last one left her with shivers she didn’t know how it had happened particularly to someone as inappropriate as her best friend’s fiancé. She had cried out to God after that realisation giving him everything she had. She had been trying to control and block her feelings but now she had to let go. She remembered a conversation with Nicole where she had asked, “How will I know I’m in love with Austin?” Of course it wasn’t Austin she loved at the moment but needless to say Nicole’s response hadn’t made sense then but now it did. She didn’t love Luke because he looked good and had all the money in the world. It was the Jesus in him that stood out. He had this light of God that radiated through him; it was so bright it was impossible to miss. He was like salt in that he made people thirst for God, and God used him to heal others emotionally just as salt would heal a wound. He was always there for her and everyone else. His heart was pure Gold and she had never met someone so kind. God had to throw in a bonus there by making him hilarious. For some reason she found herself laughing around him, whether it was at him or with him was beside the point, she laughed and that was all that mattered. Since Nicole’s death he had changed, her death had made him change for the better. He had been back for 5 months so it had been 11 months since she had died and looking at him, he was not the same. His life radiated purpose, he lived for God and God continued to bless him. She wanted to live a life like that. She closed her eyes and lifted her hands to the air as they worshiped God. “Let it not be my will lord, but your will lord. I give you full control…”