Changed Somehow

by Chloe Flanagan

  When she reached a nearby bus stop that was empty, she sat down on the bench and closed her eyes. Laughter and conversation from passing pedestrians layered over one another. They all seemed to be going somewhere together. Strange, how easy it was to feel isolated in a city of eight million people.

  She gave her head a shake. How ungrateful. Yes, being surrounded by couples, families, and clusters of friends was a stark reminder that she’d once again managed to find herself wandering the city with no friends or family, but she wasn’t alone now. God had been with her through her nerves and fears tonight and had helped her deliver a strong performance. It wasn’t right to ask any more at the moment, even if—

  “Natalie! Natalie!” a small, exuberant voice yelled, snapping her out of her reverie.

  She looked around for the source of the voice and did a double take. “Licha?“

  The girl rushed up and threw her arms around Natalie’s neck. It took a second for Natalie to recover from her shock, but once she did, she returned the embrace. “What on earth are you doing here?”

  “We saw the play!” she squealed.

  “We?” Standing up and moving away from the bus stop enclosure revealed half a dozen more kids. They crowded around, all chattering at once.

  “I liked the play.”

  “It was sooo good.”

  “You’re a great actress!”

  Natalie couldn’t keep the grin from her face. “You guys! This is so great. Thank you.”

  “Previews are a good time for a theater field trip, don’t you think?”

  She looked over the crowd of kids to where Darla stood behind them. “Darla! Hey! I can’t believe you brought the kids to see the show. How did you know I’d be in it? I didn’t even know until a few days ago.”

  Darla shrugged. “Friends in the business.” She leaned closer. “By the way, your performance tonight was inspired.”

  “Oh, thank you so much, Darla.” Natalie reached out and squeezed her hand. “You don’t know how glad I am to see you all.”

  Her eyes swept over the kids. “In fact, what would you all say to a quick cup of ice cream? My treat.”

  The kids expressed their immediate approval, but Darla pulled an exaggerated scowl. “You’re trying to stick me with six juveniles hyped up on sugar?”

  “Make that seven! I’m getting extra sprinkles on mine,” Natalie fired back.

  The kids dissolved into giggles. Their laughter sounded good. It was almost like being at the camp again … with one painful exception.

  She didn’t have to ask where Glenn was. If the fact that she had blown him off hadn’t been enough to keep him away, then the letter would’ve most certainly done the trick.

  Even though she knew it had been the right thing to do, her stomach still knotted when she thought of him reading her story.

  She took an unsteady breath. “There’s an ice cream place a couple of blocks away. Why don’t you all walk ahead, and I will catch up in a minute?”

  The kids scrambled to the crosswalk with Darla trailing behind them. But at the last minute, Darla turned and looked around. Her focus wasn’t on Natalie, though. Finally, she glowered at some spot behind Natalie and snapped, “For heaven’s sake, Glenn, don’t hover in the shadows. Put on your big boy pants, and come talk to Natalie!”

  Then she hurried to catch up with the kids, all the while muttering under her breath.

  Natalie whirled around and searched the sidewalk behind her. Sure enough, Glenn was leaning against a wall. A tiny gasp escaped her lips as she watched him straighten and slowly approach.

  He was wearing his nice suit again, with his hair carefully slicked back. His big brown eyes were searching her, as if he’d never seen her before.

  Well, that couldn’t be good.

  She plundered her brain for something to say, but he saved her the trouble. “Natalie, you were absolutely amazing up there tonight.”

  That was so him: endlessly kind, no matter what.

  A feeble “Thank you” was all she could manage.

  He nodded once and fidgeted with the buttons on his jacket. “I’d ask for your autograph, but I guess I already have it on this.” Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulled out an envelope. Her letter.

  Now it was her turn to fidget. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear with a shaky hand. “I—I figured after you read that, you’d stay as far away as you could.”

  His brow knit in confusion. “Why? Because you told me about your background? Are you kidding me? Everyone has stuff they’re ashamed of.” His face brightened. “Besides, that’s not who you are now.”

  “No, but up until a few weeks ago, that’s exactly who I was. I mean,” she waved her hand in frustration, “half of the time we were at camp, I was pretending to be a nice person just to fit in! And, yes, something radical happened while I was there, but I still have my issues. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have tried to deceive you about being involved with EJ.”

  He stepped forward eagerly. “Ah, but you came clean about that in your letter, right?” He studied her face. “You’re not involved with him now, are you?”

  “No.”

  The corners of his mouth lifted. “Then how about going out with me again?”

  She clenched her fists and groaned. “Glenn, you are deliberately missing the point here! We aren’t right for each other.” She couldn’t stop the slight tremor in her voice. “It’s not fair to you. I have too much growing to do.”

  “We’ve all got growing to do, sweetheart.”

  The endearment made her heart leap in spite of itself.

  He took another step forward until they were almost touching. “I’m not trying to belittle your past journey. But, as for the journey ahead of you … well, let’s just say that I wouldn’t want to miss a minute of it.”

  His voice was gentle and impossibly sweet as he echoed the same phrase she had used in her letter to him. But a hint of vulnerability shone in his eyes too, like he wondered if she’d meant what she’d written.

  “I want you to level with me,” he continued. “If you don’t want me around, that’s fine. I’ll get lost and leave you alone, I promise.” A flash of pain crossed his face. “But if you do, then I’m not going anywhere. I’ll come to every performance of every play you’re in. I’ll send flowers and burnt homemade cookies to your dressing room.”

  She released a startled laugh, but he pressed on, unperturbed. “I’ll stick around and wait it out until you’re ready to find out what God could have in store for the two of us.”

  She stared at him, his words trickling through her and wrapping their way around her heart. Tears gathered at the edge of her vision until his face became blurry, so she dashed them away with her fingertips.

  She couldn’t argue with him anymore. She didn’t want to. It had been this way since the very first. It didn’t matter if he was asking her to cook for thirty ravenous kids or trying to convince her to throw away her reservations and reach for an uncertain future … He was irresistible.

  She choked out a surrendering sob. Almost of their own accord, her arms reached for him, sliding up and around his shoulders as she pulled him into a tight hug.

  His whispered, “Thank you, God,” tickled her ear when he enfolded her in his arms and pressed her close. His whole frame seemed to radiate joy and acceptance, and she embraced it for all she was worth.

  After a lengthy moment, he pulled away enough to look into her eyes. At first, it seemed like he wanted to speak, but instead, he leaned down and kissed her.

  Her eyes closed and she kissed him back, savoring how his lips moved over hers with breathtaking tenderness, savoring the feeling of being cherished by the man she was coming to adore.

  When they finally pulled away, she reached up and stroked his jawline. “Hmm, I was right. You are a terrific kisser.”

  He blinked in surprise. “Huh?”

  Happy laughter bubbled up inside her. “Never mind. I’ll explain later. Besides, we should rea
lly probably see about Darla and the kids.”

  “Oh man, you’re right! I’m sure she’ll understand the delay up to a point, but we better not push it. Believe me, you don’t want to see Darla when she gets mad.”

  “I’m sure you’re right, if her little ‘put-on-your-big-boy-pants’ speech was any indication,” she said with a chuckle.

  “Yeah, what a force of nature! It’s hard to put on your big boy pants when somebody is kickin’ you in them.”

  Natalie stifled a giggle then slid her arm through Glenn’s and gave it a squeeze. “I can’t say I’m sorry she did, though.”

  “Me neither,” he murmured. “Okay, I’ll call to make sure she knows we’re on our way.”

  He pulled out his cell phone and dialed, but she didn’t really follow the conversation until he said, “We’ll be there in a couple of minutes, Darla. We’re right by that fancy dry cleaner on 65th.”

  Curious, she looked up at his reference point and froze. Sebastian’s overpriced dry cleaner! Had it really been only a month since she was last here? Memories of the day flooded back to her. The callback and floating on air.

  Her silhouette was reflected in the cleaner’s darkened window. The same woman … yet changed so much.

  “Darla, I gotta go. We’ll see you in a minute.” Glenn’s reflection was beside hers now, his head bent in concern.

  “Natalie, what’s the matter? I have a feeling that’s not your ‘Oh, shoot, I forgot to pick up my dry cleaning’ face.”

  When she faced him, his forehead was creased with deep worry lines, so she reached up to smooth them with her fingertips. “No.”

  Then, impulsively, she threw her head back and laughed. She laughed like she hadn’t laughed since she was a child—maybe even a baby, dancing in her mother’s arms.

  “No,” she repeated breathlessly. “I think it’s my grateful face. My loved and transformed, no-more-walls-of-Jericho grateful face!”

  His jubilant laughter mingled with hers as she took his arm again, and they strolled down the vibrant city streets together.

  The End

  THANK YOU!

  Dear reader

  I hope you enjoyed Natalie’s story, and that it encouraged you in your own personal walk with the Lord. You’ll find further inspiration and encouragement on The Potter’s House Books Website, (www.pottershousebooks.com) and by reading the other books in the series. Read them all and be encouraged and uplifted!

  Find all the books on Amazon and on The Potter’s House Books website.

  If you enjoyed Changed Somehow, please consider leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads.

  I’d also love to connect on Facebook, Twitter, or BookBub. Also, don’t forget to check out my author newsletter, where I talk about my books and the books and authors I admire.

  Blessings!

  Chloe

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I am so grateful to my fellow Potter’s House Series 2 authors. It is humbling to be on a team with these talented, spirit-led writers. A big thanks also goes to Becky, not only for her VA superpowers, but also for her constant encouragement; to Marion for the beautiful cover design; and to my proofreader Tracy for her precise and thorough work.

  I’m also thankful for my family, brothers and sisters in Christ, and friends who have given me so much love and support as I was writing this. I want to give a special shout-out to my beta readers, Valerie, Wendy, and Paula. In addition, I want to thank Alicia and Donna for helping me come up with the name, “Sebastian Claypool,” and Lauren for her theater expertise. In addition, thank you to the lovely friends on my street team. You all have been such a blessing.

  I’m also grateful for the musical inspiration of The Hot Sardines, whose scintillating rhythms helped keep the creative juices flowing as I wrote this book.

  Most of all, I want to thank my Creator for the countless ways He reveals His grace day after day.

  OTHER BOOKS BY CHLOE S FLANAGAN

  An Offer of Grace: A Christian Romantic Suspense Series:

  Forward to What Lies Ahead

  Ever since she was a teenager, Regina Whitman has relied on her tough, independent spirit to survive and to protect the ones she loves. Even when heartache and disappointment strike, she finds the strength to press forward, rebuild her life, and do meaningful work.

  But just when her outlook seems brightest, a tragic and shameful secret from the past catches up with her, jeopardizing her future and threatening the lives of the people around her.

  In the face of overwhelming danger and darkness, can Regina learn to trust God and embrace the love she doesn’t think she deserves? Or will the painful guilt of her past destroy her?

  A Time for Every Matter

  Seven years ago, Madeline Pine went mad. At least it seemed that way. She traded in her fast-paced New York City lifestyle for a quiet small town existence. On the upside, she now has faith and a sense of purpose.

  Yet her tranquil world is upended when her nephew witnesses a murder, and she is faced with the challenge of keeping him safe. Compelling and enigmatic business mogul, Hiram MacArthur offers to assist her, but their growing attraction makes him more distracting than helpful.

  New dangers, old memories, and a potential romance will all challenge what Madeline thought God wanted for her life. Will she trust His plan enough to embrace a new season?

  No Longer a Stranger

  EJ Handler is the perpetual class clown, but he’s also a loyal friend and dedicated worker at the tech company he helped found. Friendship and work are the only commitments he needs. Yet a dangerous scandal quickly upsets his laid back life and dredges up the old heartaches that made him fear responsibility in the first place. His only hope rests in his faith and the reluctant assistance of a mysterious female detective.

  Sloan is a tough, unemployed cop with a penchant for taking on the cares of the world by herself, when an unexpected job offer gives her the opportunity to do what she loves. Little does she know that a simple job will bring the infuriating, but endearing EJ and a chance at the friendships she’s avoided for so long.