Christian Romance: Heaven on Earth... [4 Beautiful Christian Romance Stories]
Page 4
Joanne Sawyer
Introduction
Sometimes life leaves you devastated, but God will always have a plan for you. Karen has her life turned upside down when her six year relationship ends suddenly, but God has a different life set out for her. She meets Gage in a remote village she volunteers to practice medicine in and sparks fly, but Gage is keeping his distance, can Karen eventually breakthrough?
Finding Karen...
Karen Johnston was on her way home at 1o:00 am after a grueling day. She was at the end of her one-year internship in Our Lady of Mercy Public Hospital and tomorrow, she will finally start her residency. It was cause for celebration but she just didn’t have the time or energy for that right now. She had been at the hospital for nearly 36 hours, catching only 15 minute naps now and then, if she was lucky. She just wanted to go home, have a glass of wine, and go to sleep. But she still had a lunch date with her boyfriend of six years, Brent Blake. He was 28 and a civil engineer, he’d already been working for a big firm for 2 years. He got a promotion last week and now, he asked her out on a surprise lunch date? Karen didn’t want to presume, but she knew that this promotion was one more step to stability, a big step up for Brent, and it might just be what he was waiting for to ask ‘the question.’ She had always made it clear to him that she would wait until after they were married and he had respected her values and her religion, she loved that about him.
When Karen got home, she just had enough time to wash her face and change into some comfortable denims before heading out and hailing a taxi so she won’t be late for her lunch date. Brent hated it when anyone was late, he was such a stickler for plans and she had gotten used to it actually. She told the taxi to head to The Green Room, it was a new fancy restaurant, like the ones that seemed to sprout up everywhere.
As the Taxi pulled up in front of the restaurant, she hurriedly paid the driver and ran towards the restaurant. Oh dear, she was nearly 10 minutes late. As she walked into the restaurant, she realized how terribly under-dressed she was. Everyone in the restaurant was dressed to the nines here. But there was nothing she can do now. She then went right on to the maître d’, who then quickly directed her to a rather stuffy looking Brent. Karen could tell he was getting impatient so she hurried over.
“Oh honey, I’m so sorry for being late, but there was another emergency and…”
“No, no. Its fine Karen. Have a seat.”
Karen could immediately tell that something was wrong. Brent was acting odd. Maybe it’s just nerves, Karen thought hopefully. She sat down and, as usual, Brent ordered her some salad and roast chicken.
“So…” Karen began, “How was work?”
“Oh it was fine. How was it at the hospital?” he said, while checking his watch.
“Oh it was hectic, you know, as usual,” she said, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he had brought a ring, and if he had, where would he have hidden it?
They talked a bit more, Karen was talking most of the time as Brent seemed a bit nervous, which only served to reinforce Karen’s suspicions. Finally, the food came and they could both turned their attention to something else.
As Karen was half way through her salad and chicken, Brent suddenly spoke.
“There’s something I have to tell you,” he said, straightening in his chair. “It’s about us…our relationship.”
“Honey, whatever it is. I think I’m ready for what you have to say,” Karen said, almost enthusiastically.
“I’m glad that you say so. I’m sure you must have seen this coming,” and Karen nodded readily, expecting him to whip out a ring then.
“Karen, honey, you know I love you dearly, but I think it’s time, this relationship has run its course. I think we should break up.”
Karen felt her world spinning out of control. She was stunned. “Why?” was all she managed to say.
“Honey, you’re going to be a resident, and I’m aiming to be junior partner by next year, we barely have time enough for each other as it is. You’ll need someone who can be flexible with time and be with you when you need it, and I need someone who’s willing to support me and be there for me as I work on my career,” He paused and took her hand. “I really think that this is the best course for us. You’re a wonderful girl, and I’m sure you’ll be an amazing doctor, but maybe we just weren’t meant for each other,” he stopped then, turning his brown eyes toward her hands, as if he couldn’t bear to look into her eyes.
“We could have made it work…you could have said something and I…I would have…” but she stopped when she saw him shaking his head sadly.
Karen swallowed. She felt as if a brown bear punched her in the gut. She couldn’t think, she couldn’t feel, there was only this huge lump in her throat. And the nausea.
“I…I have to go.” She pulled her hands away from is and got up quickly. She ran out of the restaurant and hailed a cab. When she closed the cab door, she was already in tears.