The Space Between You and I

Chapter 2

Heart pounding, Noelle quickly put on her red coat and exited the church in search of Henry. She knew that man better than she knew herself. He had to be hurting after a rejection like that by his fellow congregates. He wasn’t the type of person to speak up publicly, so when he did, he had to have been moved with a deep sense of rightness to what he was doing. He had put himself out there and was shot down and rejected.

 

  Noelle walked out the front doors of the church and into the chilly night air. Light snow was falling, and she spotted him beneath a street lamp in the parking lot. He was opening his car door.

 

“Henry!” Her voice strained as she called out.

 

He stopped at the sound of her voice and turned. Her heart fluttered and she made her way down the church steps and out through the parking lot over to him.

  “What is it, Noelle?” His words came soft and gently as she arrived at his car.

     

“Are you okay?”

   

His eyes fixed on the church building behind her. “They don’t take me seriously.” He then shifted his gaze toward Noelle. His golden-brown eyes pierced right through her, touching the very fabric of her soul. “I might be young, Noelle, but I know what I’m talking about. It’s not right what he is doing.”

   

She reached out and touched his arm lightly. She hoped it would help calm him down. “I don’t think it was about your age, Henry. It’s just this church’s passion to help those people who are less fortunate. It’s a good thing.”

   

  “A good thing. Handouts to keep people from bettering themselves. People keep saying that is a good thing but . . .” He shrugged. “Well, maybe you’re right. And maybe this church just isn’t for me.”

 

  Her eyes widened and her heart felt a slice of pain rip right through it. “You’re just going to leave?”

     

“Yeah, maybe.”

     

A chilly breeze brushed against Noelle’s cheeks and sent a shiver through her whole body.

 

“It’s getting cold out. I’ll meet you over at Bips for that late dinner.”

 

Turning, he pulled his car keys out from his coat pocket and got in his car.  As she walked through the snow to her car on the other side of the parking lot, she prayed earnestly and with an ache in her heart. God, soften that man’s heart.

He knows so much about You, even loves You, but his heart is not filled with Your Divine and Perfect love. Soften him, Lord. No matter what it takes. Amen.

 

  Noelle loved Henry dearly, but her patience with him was growing smaller by the day. She knew she couldn’t wait forever for a man who couldn’t commit. It wasn’t because he didn’t feel something for her. She already knew he did. The half-dozen times he had almost kissed her had confirmed that long ago. There was also the way he looked at her. It made her insides melt and the world feel like a less lonely place. There was no denying that there was a connection beyond friendship between them, but she was trying her best to stay patient while he figured it out.

     

       

         

           

         

       

* *

     

      Arriving at Bips, she ordered her food and brought it over to the booth where Henry was sitting. They prayed over the food and then started to eat.

 

carefully placed each fry side by side

though the silence. “I got

 

her with raised eyebrows. “Wow, that’s

 

four days of freedom left.”

 

job at the nursing home not that long ago, but they gave you

 

a nursing home closes. And I’m literally on my last

   

“What did your mum say about

 

of her mother. She and her mother, Sarah, had maintained a strained relationship ever since her father died in Nigeria in an accident and they had to move to the United States when she

 

. . . I

come on, Noelle! That’s your mom. She would be happy.”

 

as the anxiety rose within her, she shook her head. “Hey, I don’t mean

     

on top of his burger, he respected the shift of conversation and nodded. “I really

eyes couldn’t help but begin to well with

   

“What?” He furrowed his eyebrows.

   

at church than anywhere else, Henry! And it’s

 

  “Oh.” He went quiet for a

 

But whatever, Henry. You know, I should expect it by now. Whenever you don’t like something, you

 

long moment. Then he shrugged. “Sometimes,

 

how Henry had restarted the search for his mom again a few months ago made

   

“How come?”

   

her lips and her mind momentarily. She didn’t want to upset him.

don’t share the truth with him, though? She was

I get it. I understood when you did it for two

   

became quiet, even distant as the moment

 

anything . . .” Touching her forehead, she frowned. “Honestly, I couldn’t imagine not knowing my parents, and I have

 

for saying that.” He shrugged. “I won’t try to find her forever, I just feel stuck in my life not knowing who she is.”

 

do you expect to happen if you find

   

just want to look my mom in the eyes and

   

hear the pain in Henry’s tone. Noelle nodded and her

But I worry there’s no answer

  “Yeah.”

   

quiet between them for the next little while. Then  Henry inquired, “How’s your sister

 

He loves to smile and play. I’m pretty sure that’s all he knows how to do at this point. Well, that and nap.

   Henry smiled. “Babies are cute. How many did you

   

with joy bubbling up within her. “Yes, Ten”

shook his head. “You’re crazy, Noelle.”

in Nigeria.”

Henry asked.

Noelle replied.

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