AFTER he left, it took a long while for her to breathe easy again, overwhelmed by the rising emotions she had locked away in her heart. After all the years since the painful break-up with her husband, someone she least expected had walked into her life.

She hadn’t believed in the love he spoke of, but he had slowly unlocked that door with his sincere words, casual charm and the undeniable love in his eyes.
She took a few deep breaths, running her hand through her hair to bring some calm to her mind, but it wasn’t easy, for she could still feel his lingering kiss.
“It’s true love,” a voice seemed to be saying to her, “for he never forgot you.”

But somehow, she just couldn’t dispel the stubborn doubts.
“I had loved once,” was the little cry in her mind.
Bryan came the next day with a Mediterranean lunch and his usual cool manner.

“I thought since you didn’t sleep well last night,” he said to her, “This might be good for you.”
“How did you know I didn’t sleep well?”
He looked at her with a look that seemed to pull her closer and he said, “I just know.”

She looked away and said, just to ease into something else to talk about, “Thank you for the lunch.”
The food was delicious, Nathan quite enjoyed it and after they had finished he told her, “I’ll be off to the West Coast, a little later and will be back tomorrow.”
“Sports?”

“Yes, an academy is opening there soon.”
“It’s great, what you’re doing for sports and the youths.”
“Yep, gotta give something back.”

He helped her to clear the table, then he said, “I was wondering if I can take you out to dinner tomorrow night.”
“Ah, I’m not sure—”

But before she could finish was she was about to say, Nathan interjected, “Yes, you can.”
Rachel looked at him, taken aback with surprise.
“Nathan, you can’t—”

Bryan wisely took that moment to leave, “Excuse me, I have to go now. I’ll pick you up at eight tomorrow.”
“No, I—” Rachel said hurriedly, but he was gone.
She turned to Nathan, not too pleased.

“What have you done?”
He apologised with a little guilty look.
“I’m sorry, Mommy, but Bryan is such a nice guy and he likes you.”
She sighed, sorry she was upset with him and hugged him, “It’s fine.”

Her six-year-old had just set her up on a date!
The next night as she dressed for the dinner date, a nervous feeling pulsed throughout her body. Since her divorce, she had never felt any attraction to another male, never invited anyone into her home, nor dated until now.

She opted for a simple, off-shoulder, blue dress that defined her body with a touch of sensuality, and looking at herself in the mirror, she voiced quietly, “It’s been a long time.”
Bryan looked at her, admiringly, and hugging her lightly, he expressed, “Simply beautiful.”
He took her to a Thai restaurant and touching her hand lightly after they had been seated, he said, “Try to relax, I know you’re nervous.”
She exhaled slowly and smiled a little with the glimpse of the happiness she once had.

So much of herself had been lost along the way.
Dinner was a nice affair, and she found herself relaxing in Bryan’s company. He told her a little about his life overseas and the successes he had gained through hard work.
“You have been doing great,” she stated.
“Thanks, I took your advice.”

“Happy that I impacted your mind to strive for your goals.”
He nodded and smiled, a smile that made her feel there was something more he wanted to say to her, but instead, he asked, “So what are your plans? Are you going to continue teaching?”
“I never gave a thought to anything else because I love what I do.”
“It’s of great value, and that I know.”

After dinner, he took her for a little drive, then back to her home.
“It was a nice evening,” she said, “thank you.”
“Not me, you got your son to thank. You do realise he wants to see you happy?”
“Yes,” she accepted, “But I—”

He put a finger gently to her lips and said, “Then give me a chance to help you find that happiness.”
He was standing close to her, his invigorating masculine scent overpowering her resistant mind, and he kissed her, softly, “Hope you have a good night’s sleep tonight.”
She did, wrapped in the embrace of something new and unique happening in her life.

He visited regularly, taking them out for drives, movies, ice-cream and Rachel was starting to have to answer questions from family and friends. All she said to them was, “He’s just a friend.”
Of course, no one believed that because they all knew what she went through and wanted her to have someone new in her life.

One day, whilst she was responding to Bryan about something funny he said, Nathan pointed out to her, “Mommy, you’re laughing.”
Rachel paused and realised she actually had been and glancing at Bryan, she responded to her son, “Yes, baby, I am.”
He knew she hardly ever did before.

Things were starting to be different now and it was a joy for the little boy.
Bryan spoke of his future plans with her, detailing, “I am looking at some long-term investments so when I return from the States, I must have something solid to stand on.”
“But you have several years more, I guess.”

“Nope, just maybe a few seasons left to play. My shoulder injury had been acting up too often.”
“Ah, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s all part of the game.”

“So why not invest overseas?”
“Because I want to come back home, build my own house with comforts, settle down and contribute to sports.”
“You seem to have it all planned.”

“Yeah, I came back with those plans, and to find you.”
“And if I was still married?”
“Well, I would have had to give up everything and go back, or,” he paused, then added, “I could have impressed you to run away with me.”
“What?!” she laughed, “You say these things in such a casual way, like it’s so easy to happen.”
“I like to think positive.”

“Like thinking of stealing another man’s wife?”
“Well, I loved her first.”
She laughed out loud this time, “You’re really amazing.”
“And do you like that?”

“Ah, sort of,” she said with a tease.
“I wait for that day,” he said, putting his arms around her, “When you can tell me everything that’s in your heart. You know what’s in mine.”
Every time she saw him, she felt herself pulled closer and closer to him, the past and the pain receding further and further away, “Am I falling in love?” she asked herself.
The feeling of delirium that filled her being was the answer to her question and she sat down and cried quietly from the realisation.

On Sunday, Bryan came to spend the day with them after church and after lunch, he said to her, “You seem different today.”
“How?”
“You haven’t said much. There’s a softness in your smile and a glow on your face,” he paused, “Like someone in love.”
She didn’t say anything for just like that first say when she had realised who he was, she was again left at a loss for words.

He got up and kneeled in front of her, declaring, “That’s the moment I was waiting for.”
He called Nathan who had been playing in his toy corner and said to him, “Can you stand next to your mom?”
Rachel looked a little puzzled, and finding her voice, she asked quietly, “What are you doing?”

Bryan took out a small jewellery box from his pocket and opened it so she could see the sparkling diamond ring inside.
“Rachel, will you marry me?”
That she did not expect and became so overwhelmed with emotions, she couldn’t answer at the moment but Nathan did.
“Yes, she will.”

Rachel looked at her son, tears filling her eyes, then at Bryan and answered softly, “Yes, I will.”
He slipped the ring on her finger and hugged them both as she cried with joy.
She hadn’t believed when he told her about his love for her but now she did, for her heart was saying those same words to him, “I’m in love with you.”