Follow Your Heart E-Book

Grace True

• Herausgeber: Grosvenor House Publishing
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 135

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

Follow Your Heart is a novel that portrays a friendship that develops in the beautiful direction of love. Jason, an intelligent man with a successful career who lives with his very faithful devoted mum, finds true friendship when he meets Audrey. She is a young lady that lives with her two aunties and works at the hospital as a nurse. Having common friends, they meet and enjoy each other's company. When an unexpected opportunity comes by, she choses to move as she is not sure that a successful man like Jason would have time for her. Being apart, she realizes that she would love to try to move forward and keep meeting Jason and was no point hiding her feelings for him. The truth always sets free and, having a good conversation, and dealing with their feelings, they decide to date. The Lord is leading them on a new path of being together, in spite of Jason losing his mum and being on a new path with the Lord. Working together, they are learning how to walk this journey of love as a couple.

Leseprobe

Dedication

I give thanks to the Lord

for my angels: Lawrence and Ophelia

and for a special friend.

But those who hope

In the Lord

Will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

They will run and not grow weary,

They will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Praise the Lord

for He is Good!

Contents

Dedication

Chapter 1 Start walking again

Chapter 2 The memory

Chapter 3 At the hospital

Chapter 4 Further away

Chapter 5 What shall I do?

Chapter 6 Wrestling with God

Chapter 7 My Mum went to heaven

Chapter 8 Shall I be with you?

Bible References

Copyright

Chapter 1

Start walking again

It was a beautiful day of autumn and today was my day. It ended up to be a day that I would never forget. It was better than my usual nights. I found the nights harder and harder to go to bed and sleep. It was harder and harder to deal with each night as the nightmares were slowly putting me down. Two days up and three days down was not much I was doing. The doctors, well, how can they really help? They did try all sorts of things. My friend Dennis told me I should try something new. Well, I was not taking medication anymore but doing some sort of therapy and was not helping me. Seemed to me I was just talking about my dreams. It felt stuck and not having a fulfilled life. Why? Sometimes some questions did not have answers and sometimes it seemed impossible, however I was moving forward and kept going. Not sure how but I was not the type to give up easily or to feel defeated by life and its ups or downs.

I was a solicitor after all, and had done pretty good in my life. At least at the career level. And when you think where I started, I really came a long way. You could say I dedicated my life to who I became today and it was a slow long process and following from studies to training, all kinds of policies and procedures and a job which I enjoyed and kept going up and up on the career level.

Took me years of dedication and patience with perseverance to be where I was and was offering me in a way financial security and a job that I really enjoyed.

“Are you coming?” I heard a voice behind me. It was my mother. She was living with me as I was looking after her. Maybe she was looking after me in a way. My brother Paul did not want to look after her and had a good excuse as he was living 3 hours away so I ended up looking after my mum. Her name was Ana. But I would not have wanted any other way as she was so dear to me and I loved my mum so much. Guess both of us had to deal with the same issue and that was loneliness. We both felt lonely but living in the same house, it started not to feel so lonely anymore. Anyway my mum could not afford living on her own anymore and was too much for her in some days and found it difficult as she was not so young anymore. But to me she always looked young and lovely.

“I am coming mum!” Just give me a minute.

She was at the main door waiting for me and I was not ready. That was happening every time and she kind of knew it by now. Looking three times in the mirror, I looked good. My dark hair was looking good and my blue eyes sparkled. I had a nice shirt and looked smart. I always looked smart dressed.

“You are not going to the court, it’s just Church!” she smiled looking at me with love.

“I am coming, mum, I am coming.” was rushing out the door.

Then as I helped her entering into the car I added:

“How did I convince myself of this going to church idea, I am not sure, but there you go. At least you will leave me alone, hopefully for a year!” I laughed.

She looked at me and pretended to be upset, touched my cheek with love.

“You need healing, Jason! Your dad did a lot of damage to this family before he died and only Jesus brought me peace. You need to find Jesus. I keep telling you.”

“I think God needs to find me, I am too much in my own busy world, not sure I have time for him, mum!” entered the car and was ready to drive.

“That is the problem, He always has time for you, and he loves you. You need to make time for the Lord.”

“One good thing, I started to love going with you to church and meeting lovely people. Seems like a very kind, peaceful environment. Totally different from fighting in court!”

We always had these conversations and I knew the Jesus path or the way and I was very excited about it, however that was when I was a child. As I grew older I felt Jesus was not there for me and was not answering my prayers and was so angry with the Lord.

But the Lord was always there and trying to reach me.

Never understood much of the paths of the Lord.

But yes, my mum kept telling me He was there, but that’s not how I felt. I wanted it my way and everything that I was praying about to happen right at that moment.

My mum was right, I was angry with my father as he hurt our family so much. Well, my father died many years ago drinking too much. And then I was just 10 at a time. That seemed a long time ago. But wounds heal hard and scars can still hurt.

As I drove after 20 minutes I was in front of a beautiful church building and had a large entrance. It was a big charismatic church and was here where my mum started going for so many years, all since my father died.

As I entered the building a few familiar faces said hello to me and of course they recognized me. My mum was always helping with all kinds of church groups and she had her little group of friends, all lovely ladies that were very chatty and they met weekly for a coffee and a cake.

A lady approached my mum immediately as we entered:

“Ana, glad you brought your handsome son, otherwise he would have never come. He is so handsome, and tall!”

They all looked at me with admiration.

Was true, I was actually a tall guy, 6′1 and yes, that was me. Very confident and very bold, but polite, kind. I worked hard to get where I was and was a pretty good solicitor working in a prestigious firm: Sunrise Family Law Firm. Now I was a senior partner and was working there since I was 22, and then was more than 15 years.

Yes, I was 37 years old. That was me, Jason Wright.

We all sat down and soon enough the service started.

The preacher was saying something but I did not listen much or if I did, I felt tired. All the same things to him that Jesus saves, forgives, loves, heals, restores. Mostly than anything when I went to church I felt emotional. Why would I go with my mum? But I promised her that each month I would go twice. It was quite a lot for me. But she was my mum and wanted her to smile and stop nagging me in a way. I was in my own world and was afraid to let anyone into my heart. Probably was too complicated or I was making my life too complicated in a way.

Today I was a bit tired as I had another nightmare last night and I wished my mum would have let me stay at home and rest as I could not sleep much. The service finished quicker than I thought. As I was walking toward the main door to leave, lots of people were going and coming and talking. I turned around quickly to see where my mum was and just bumped into a young lady that dropped a lot of papers on the floor.

“I am so sorry, please forgive me!” I spoke and leaned to help her pick them up.

As I was helping the lady to pick up the paperwork, I could see her beautiful face and I was very close to her. She smelled of roses:

“I am Jason!” I smiled and she raised her eyes and I could see her beautiful green eyes looking at me and a lovely blondish hair:

“I am Audrey!” and she stood up to leave.

“Ah, I am sorry!” I was a bit lost and did not find the words, but really wanted to talk to her.

“Is ok, Jason. Nice meeting you. I have to go to the kids groups! See you later.” and she left smiling shy at me.

As she was leaving I felt admiration in my heart for her. She had something special and could not tell what. In a way it was early days to say like this, as we just met.

On the way home, I ended up very chatty and my mum was so happy as she always was the one talking, especially when she went to church. Her heart was there, her friends.

My friends asked me to go to the pub with them tonight: The Red Bull, our favourite place but I was too tired and probably I would not go. Lately I was mostly at home and could not go out anywhere. My mind was still at Audrey and wanted to explore more about her and know more about her.

“Who is that lovely lady that works with kids: Audrey!?”

“Yes, she is a nice young lady, she is very good with children.”

And my mum wanted to change the subject and talk about her own thing and I was a bit impatient:

“... and Audrey, what else about her?”

“She is a lovely lady, she is always in church. She is a nurse.”

My mum was back talking about one of her own ideas.

I knew there was no point mentioning to her about Audrey as I would not get more information from her at that moment in time till she would finish her stories. So I dropped it for the time beign.

It was quiet in our home and my mum went to rest in the afternoon and I crashed on a couch. As soon as I reached the couch, I fell asleep.

I had a dream that I was on a road and that it was dark. And next to me was someone walking and I saw this girl Audrey and she did not say anything. As we were walking it seemed that the night was becoming morning and the sun was rising and we kept walking and on a hill we saw someone there waving at us and we started walking there.

A loud noise woke me up and it was my phone, probably ringing for some time. As I picked it up I heard my close friend saying:

“Hey, sleepy head, hope I did not wake you up, again? The boys are going to the pub as you know but I am staying home with my love, so if you want to come for dinner, let us know. We do not want you to always be alone!”

I stretched and looked at the clock, it was 3 pm and yes, I must have slept for 2 hours.

“Yes, that would be good, I think I am passing the boys this evening, will drop them a message.”

“We kept chatting: Lucy and myself that we do need to find a girlfriend for you, as otherwise we will hire you as a babysitter when we have kids.” and he laughed.

Dennis Taylor was my best friend and he was working at a big Company - a firm that was doing software. He has been my best friend since high school and amazingly we managed to keep going in spite of the years passing. We were a small group of friends, mixed jobs and we met over the years and became friends. We used to meet for barbecues and we kept in contact with each other.

As I was ready to leave for Dennis’ house, a few hours later, I felt in my heart, I would better not go and just take a walk.

Was not sure why but followed my heart. The park was not far away from us, like a 15 minute walk. I picked up my phone and texted Dennis that my plans changed and I would not come for dinner. Dennis was always so good and understanding, did not say a word and was probably used to me always changing the plans.

I told my mum I will take a walk and she approached me and looked at me concerned:

“Are you alright Jason? You rarely take walks like this, unplanned. Usually you are running in the morning!”

“Yes, you might be right, but that is what is on my heart today!”

As I started walking, I felt fresh air and for the first time in a long long time I looked at the birds and the air and felt the nice breeze. It was 5 already but I did not feel hungry!

As I was walking a few people said hello and I even stopped to speak with the neighbour. Well, I loved chatting with people, but some days I was a grump and forgot how to interact as much in my own world.

Suddenly I saw a car parked in a nice area, and it was a nice little red BMW. As I was thinking to pass it by, I noticed the same smell of roses and turned my head. That moment I saw the lady from the church: Audrey.

She turned her head the same time as I turned mine and our eyes met. She smiled and put her head down shy.

I stopped and turned around and started walking toward her:

“Hello Audrey! How are you?”

“I am fine, thank you. I just visited my grandmother.”

She was dressed in a lovely pair of jeans and a nice red t-shirt. As I looked at her, she seemed a bit shy, but a kind, nice lady. She was not very tall, slim and had a beautiful smile and lovely green eyes. She was glowing for some reason and I could not say anything.

For a moment I just looked at her and the solicitor, knowing all of me, felt lost, without words and did not know what to say to her or how to speak with her.

“Are you going for a walk?’’ she asked.

“Yes, I was thinking of going for a walk, would you like to join me?”

She looked at me surprised and she did not know what to say.

“I… Jason, it is late!”

Looking at her, I smiled but realised she was getting shy and confused with me. Well, I had an impact on many people, not only in court but in real life. Probably too direct and charming at the same time.

“What do you say, if I will take you for a walk and dinner.”

“But, I, … you must…!”

I was not planning to give up and was waiting for an answer getting my confidence and being who I was:

“Come on Audrey, you know my mum and you know a few things I am sure about me. I will not run away with you!” I laughed.

She started to relax a bit and looking at me curious added:

“All right Jason, let’s go for a little walk and a little dinner. I did not have any plans tonight, so, why not!”

As we started walking she looked at me and started the conversation:

“You are working as a solicitor, aren’t you?!”

I looked at her and for a moment she stopped and I spoke so serious:

“Yes I am a family solicitor, working for the “Sunrise Family Law Firm”, Jason Wright!”

Then I started laughing:

“Jason for you!” and our eyes met again and this time, I felt shy, which I never do.

“You are really funny, you know!” She smiled at me.

“Well I do not want to scare you, but yes, in my past years of work, like 15 I saw quite a lot of broken hearts, families, pain and hurt. In my own way, I try to make a little difference in this world the best I can! Trying to make a positive impact in people’s lives is not easy when they just want to fight and are all broken and they need a way out.”

“That is kind of you!”

We walked a bit in the park and then as we were getting to the other side of the park we noticed a small restaurant.

“Shall we eat there, we both spoke at the same time!” and we laughed.

“So, where do you work Audrey?”

“I work at the hospital, as a nurse.!” Then she looked down and said with a soft voice: