SECOND CHANCE AT FOREVER

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Lily sat at her desk, the tips of her fingers lightly touching the keyboard. The office was silent except for the soft hiss of the air conditioning and, from time to time, the noise made by heels hitting marble floors. She glanced at the calendar pinned on the wall—another month had passed since that charity gala she had gone to with Emma. Days blurred together in a cycle of work and social functions, but Nathan's presence still seemed to loom over her life.

The day was just about to wrap up when suddenly she got a message. It was from Michael, that guy at the charity gala. They'd stuck to sort of seeing each other over the past weeks, and he was a comfortingly familiar distraction from the ongoing everyday battles. Michael's texts were always warm and considerate, and she came to appreciate his company.

**"Hi Lily, I've been thinking about our last conversation. Would you like to go to the concert this weekend? I got tickets and thought maybe this would be a nice way to spend some quality time together."

Tapping on her screen, Lily began to type her response. **"That sounds great, Michael. I would really love to. Thanks for thinking of me."**

She pressed send and then settled into her chair, excited and a little nervous. Michael had been such a breath of fresh air in her life, and she was really enjoying their time together. Still, every once in a while, Nathan's texts and displays of regret came to mind and mixed everything up.

Finally, the concert evening arrived, and much to her surprise, Lily was indeed looking forward to getting out for a night. She dressed casually but elegantly in a plain, neat dress that brought out this new confidence in her. Michael had been an influence on her for good, and she did want to have fun that evening.

The air in the concert hall was pulsating; the hum of the crowd combined with the reverberation of music across the huge space. Michael smiled warmly on meeting her at the entrance. "You look beautiful tonight," he said, offering an arm.

"Thanks," replied Lily, meaning it. "I'm really looking forward to this.".

They had no problem finding seats close enough to the stage. Well, then it got dark and the music started. With that came a feeling of liberation in Lily. The show was excellent, and she found herself caught up in the rhythm and energy from the crowd.

For the whole evening, Michael was scintillating company, yet comfortable to be around. They laughed and talked—shared stories—and something in Lily responded to the companionship that she'd been missing. The concert ended with a well-deserved standing ovation, and Michael took Lily's hand as they filed out.

"Do you want to get some dinner?" Michael asked, his eyes blazing with hope.

She hesitated for a second. "I'd love to, but I have a real early meeting tomorrow. Maybe some other time?"

Michael nodded in his understanding. "Of course. We can plan something soon. I truly enjoy our time together."

As they bade each other farewell, Lily did feel a pang of disappointment that she wouldn't be able to spend some more time with Michael. As she walked back to her apartment, however, her thoughts drifted back to Nathan. The second heartfelt message of repentance from him had arrived that day—things he should have done, what he was doing to make things right.

**"Lily, I know I've done enough harm that will never be repaired. But let me tell you, I am really trying to make things right. I have been working with some charity that deals with fraud victims; with the resources available to me, I am doing my best to help those whom Sophia has harmed. I pray that one day you can find it in your heart to forgive me."**

The letter had been read with mixed emotion by Lily. The efforts that Nathan did to me were, without doubt, admirable on their own, but they still did little to erase the hurt that she had gone through. She had seen his sincerity, yet trust was an easy thing to break and very hard to rebuild.

The next day, Lily was back to work with a different view. She was focused on her tasks and trying to keep her mind busy. Still, the relations with Nathan nagged at her heart. She could not even turn a blind eye to the fact that deep down, she still had feelings for him, even when things were getting closer between her and Michael.

Emma persevered in being there for Lily and eventually learned to telephone her once in a while to see how she was doing. On one sunny afternoon, they decided to meet up with each other over cups of coffee. Emma could feel it in her eyes—the torn feelings Lily still had regarding Nathan.

"Did you hear from Nathan lately?" she asked softly.

"Yes," she returned slowly as she sipped her coffee. "He's written me another letter. He said that he has been doing some work with a charity involved with fraud victims."

Emma raised an eyebrow. "That sounds like a real atonement. But how do you feel about that?"

"I don't know," Lily shrugged. "A part of me wants to believe he's really sorry, while there is another part that's still in pain. You just don't forget what he did to me."

Emma nodded reflectively. "I understand. Just keep in mind, you do deserve to be happy. Don't let your past dictate your future."

The conversation lightened, but the thoughts of Nathan stuck in Lily's mind. She was still dating Michael, whereby her relationship had become very strong. However, the dim memories of her past with Nathan cast shadows on the present to tug at her heart.

That evening, after Lily's night out with Michael, the unexpected happened: Nathan called her. The conversation was short, but it made her feel very uneasy. Nathan wanted to see her regarding something important.

She agreed to meet him in a café, feeling both curiosity and apprehension. She pulled up to the café and saw Nathan sitting at a table waiting for her. He looked so worn and distressed than she remembered him from before. His appearance gave absolutely no indication of the confident CEO that she knew.

"Thanks for seeing me," he said, his voice laced with weariness. "I've been trying to reach you for weeks."

Lily took a seat across from him. "What is this, Nathan?"

Nathan inhaled sharply. "I have been going through more evidence of the wrongs Sophia did. More than I originally thought. I want to let you know I have been working with several legal experts trying to right those wrongs. I am extremely dedicated to making it right."

She listened intently to him, but still unconvinced, Lily shook her head. "I appreciate it, but that doesn't erase everything that went down between us."

Nathan's eyes reflected hope and desperation in them. "I know I cannot change things now, and I am trying to make amends. I want a chance to prove myself—not only to you but to all the people I have wronged."

Their conversation was very emotional and very intense. Nathan spoke most passionately about the things he did to right things, and Lily found it hard not to get swayed by feelings. She wanted to believe Nathan, but past wounds still remained fresh.

When they parted, Lily was in a deep puzzle. Something about Nathan's pleading for forgiveness had moved her, though she did not want to make a decision right there. She continued seeing Michael, whose presence gave her comfort and relief. But Nathan's continued pursuit and unsettled feelings for him set up a lasting battle inside of her.