Chapter 16
Nate
I had to kiss her.
I just… couldn’t not.
I can still feel her lips, like the memory of them hasn’t quite decided to leave yet. The pull toward her is strong—strong enough that I actually have to rein myself in.
At dinner we had a moment. And I knew then I didn’t want to end tonight without another chance. In case she leaves… I wanted to make the most of whatever time we have.
I take her hand, and we start walking back toward the car.
“I’ve had a great time with you, today.” I look over at her.
“Me too,” she replies, a blush warming her cheeks, a grin slowly spreading.
I reach for the towel in the back so we can both use it, handing it to Lizzie first. I don’t know what got into me at the beach, but she brings out the playful side of me. I’m not normally playful. I’m usually… measured. Steady.
But there’s something about her that loosens something in me. Makes me want to be freer. To enjoy life instead of just stewarding it carefully all the time.
“Oops. You got really wet,” she says, sounding only mildly apologetic.
“I’ll have to bear your competitive spirit in mind in the future,” I laugh, taking the towel from her and drying my legs, trying to soak up as much water as possible. It’s a good thing it’s not cold tonight.
“Don’t come up against me in ping pong or volleyball, I’ll tell you that,” she teases.
“Oh, yeah? Are you good?”
“I’m not a bragger…” she shrugs, very much bragging without technically bragging.
“I’ll make sure you’re my first choice for volleyball,” I grin, tossing the towel back into the car once I’m about as dry as a beach towel allows. These clothes are definitely going straight into the wash when I get home. Entirely worth it, though.
“Do you play any sports?” she asks.
I slide into the driver’s seat as she settles into the passenger side, reaching for my seatbelt before answering.
“I used to. But I think work and life just… took over. I didn’t really make space for it. I mostly just walk now.”
“Well, walking is good,” she says, one side of her mouth tugging up. “I’ll just make sure not to pick you for any of my teams.”
I chuckle as I start the car, rolling the windows down slightly so the scent of the sea lingers longer while we make our way back up toward Recife.
A comfortable silence settles between us as we drive. Like we’ve said a lot today without needing to say everything out loud.
We’ve been out almost all day—learning more about each other in a handful of hours than some people learn in months.
I pull up in front of the farmhouse and put the car in park, switching the engine off. The quiet that follows feels heavier than the silence in the car did. More final.
I turn toward her, the weight of tonight settling fully on me now.
“I know you’re leaving,” I say gently. “And I loved spending time with you today. After everything I got to know about you… all I want is more time. But maybe we should take tonight, pray through where to go next with this.”
I exhale slowly. Every part of me wants answers right now. Clear, immediate, certain. But I know better than that. Rushing ahead of God has never ended well for me.
“I think that’s a good idea,” she says quietly.
I know this isn’t simple for her either. If we’re going to be together, something will have to change in her life. That’s not a small thing to ask of anyone.
She lifts her head, and I gently cup her face before I can second-guess myself. I pull her in for another kiss — slower this time, deliberate, like I’m memorizing it.
“I’ll see you at church tomorrow?” I ask softly.
“Yeah. I’ll see you then.”
She climbs out of the car, and I watch her walk up the steps to the door. Halfway up, she turns, gives me a small smile, and waves.
I wave back, feeling—irrationally, maybe—like I’m watching my future walk through a door.
I keep replaying that kiss in my mind as I back the car out. The way she looked at me lingers just as much as the kiss itself. Something shifted tonight. I can’t quite put words to it, but I know I won’t walk away from this unchanged.
I start to back the car up, and make the drive home.
I turn my music on as I drive, letting worship fill the car. I take a deep breath, allowing the sense of rest to wash over me.
Making decisions—especially life-altering ones—isn’t easy. There’s always that tension between what I want and what God might want. The real question is… do we want the same thing?
What it really comes down to is… surrender.
I pull into my underground parking lot and park in my usual spot. I press the button for my floor.
By the time I get inside, I head straight for the shower. I want to keep the good memories of today, but wash away the anxious noise trying to creep in about the future.
The shower has always been one of the easiest places for me to talk to God. No distractions. No noise. Just quiet and honesty.
I rinse the salt water from my hair and pray about today—for clarity, for wisdom in moving forward.
“Lord, if this is from You, I don’t want to run ahead. But if she’s the one… don’t let me hold back out of fear.”
The words feel simple, but they carry everything.
When I step out, I dry off and walk to my closet to grab what I’ll sleep in, my mind still circling back to Lizzie again and again.
I climb into bed, turning on my bedside lamp.
As I settle in bed with my Bible, peace settles in my chest. The warm glow of my lamp envelops the room, a reflection of the warm peace I feel in my heart.
As I sit there with God, surrendering all of it — the desire, the timeline, the uncertainty — my decision becomes crystal clear.
Every part of me wants her.
We’re on a timeline like no other. It’s sped things up between us in a way normal relationships probably wouldn’t be. But that doesn’t automatically make it wrong.
What matters is the choices we make with the information we’ve been given.
Love isn’t just an emotion. It’s a commitment. I’ve had enough experience in that to know.
Falling in love might not happen overnight.
But choosing love can.
It’s the next morning, and I’m getting ready for church when I hear the phone ring.
I walk into the kitchen, fiddling with my belt as I pick up the receiver.
“Hello?”
“Nate. This is Marc.” Lizzie’s dad. Calling me?
“Hey, Marc. How’s it going?” I’m not usually the nervous type, but with Lizzie involved, I feel a small flicker of it anyway.
“Yeah, good.” He pauses. “I was wondering if you’d like to come over for lunch today.”
My face brightens immediately. It’s been a while since we’ve spent any real time together.
“I’d love to. I’ll see you at church?”
“Yup. On my way now, but wanted to call first in case you already had plans.”
“Great. No plans until now. I’ll see you soon.”
I hang up and walk from the kitchen into the living room just as the front door opens and Camila steps inside.
“Camila, what are you doing here? It’s Sunday.” My tone isn’t scolding—I just genuinely want to make sure she takes her day off. I don’t want her working when she should be resting and with family.
“Hey, boss. I forgot something I needed to pick up.” She looks just a little too innocent.
“Really?” I raise an eyebrow. “Nothing that could wait until tomorrow?”
“Alright, alright,” she sighs dramatically. “I can’t lie. I was passing literally down the street and thought I’d take a quick detour to hear about yesterday.”
I laugh.
“Being nosy, are you?” I goad her.
“If after all these years you don’t know I would absolutely stop here if it’s within a one-minute detour,” she says, beaming, “then boss, you definitely don’t know me well enough.”
I chuckle. “Well, all I’ll say is… it went really well. I’ve prayed about it. I have peace. And by tomorrow, I’ll have a little more to share.”
“That’s it?” she says, looking deeply offended on behalf of her own curiosity.
I shrug. “That’s all you’re getting for now.”
She waves me off dramatically. “Come on, boss. Why you gotta do me like that?”
I laugh. “You’re supposed to be off today. Go relax. Rest. Tomorrow I’ll give you more updates.”
“Pfff.” She grabs her keys and heads toward the door. “You better have more to say tomorrow, young man!” she calls over her shoulder.
I shake my head, smiling as I slip on my shoes, ready to head to church.
The anticipation of the day hums quietly under everything else as I take the elevator down and get into the car. I have peace, yes. But excitement too. And nerves.
Because later today… I’m planning to have a conversation with Lizzie that could change the course of our lives.
Or at the very least, the course of the next two weeks.
After I’ve parked my car, I head up the steps of the church. The air is warmer today, significantly so, and I silently note that it’s ideal for my plans later.
As soon as I walk inside, the smell of fresh coffee hits me, instantly making my mouth water. Sunlight streams through the windows, filling the room and catching on the smiles and conversations of people milling about.
With the smell of coffee teasing me, I decide it’s time for my second cup of the day.
I make my way toward the coffee bar when I spot Gabby—Lizzie’s sister.
I glance across the room and see Lizzie on the far side, and suddenly an idea clicks into place so quickly I know I have to act on it now before she notices anything.
I walk up to Gabby and tap her on the shoulder.
She turns, confusion already forming when she sees my very serious expression.
“Nate. What’s up?”
“Gabby,” I say quietly, “this is going to sound sudden, but I think Lizzie might come over here any second and I need your help.”
Her brows knit together.
“Your dad invited me over for lunch later today. But there’s going to be a moment when I’ll need you to distract Lizzie for about ten minutes. I’ve got a surprise planned, but I’ll need time. I’ll give you a signal — probably a nod.”
Her face shifts instantly from confusion to absolute delight, like she’s just been handed the best secret assignment imaginable.
“Consider me Robin to your Batman,” she beams before slipping back into conversation with her friends, clearly thrilled with her new role.
I return to the coffee bar, anticipation rising within me, waking my veins far more than coffee could at this moment.
I’m not exactly afraid.
But the nerves are definitely there now.
Will Lizzie like my surprise?
This isn’t just a surprise. It’s a step. And steps mean direction.
Most importantly… by tonight, my life will change.
One way or another.