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TO LOVE AGAIN

By B Marshall Gistarb

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The downpour from the heavy rain and the noise from gale-force wind left no doubt how bad the weather was outside. Why couldn’t the weatherman be wrong again, just for today? This question Sydney Morgan had been asking herself for the last hour while watching the storm outside and the weather channel on the television inside.
The Battel Foundation would be evaluating all the projects tomorrow to select the winner in their community design competition. The design of the winner will be used to build a center in the city at a location selected by the Foundation. Sydney knew she would be competing against graduating architecture students, but her confidence and faith were strong and would get her through this as with so many times before. Even though she could get it to the hotel, there was no way she could get her model inside the hotel in this weather in one piece. The wind would rip it to shreds before she got to the door. Why didn’t I pay for the display booth earlier, then the model would have already been at the hotel and not subjected to the rough weather I’m now facing? She chided herself. She would have been given a pass to the garage and use of the service elevators to get her model to the showroom. She rechecked the weather channel, hoping a miraculous change in the weather condition would soon occur. Once again, in one of the few rare weatherman moments, the weather forecast remained on target.
A new center was sorely needed to accommodate the services she provided for the teens she tutored and counseled. Sydney had designed a building that spoke from her heart. The love and caring she had for her teens had been poured into the design. When the teens entered the center, they would know that it was their center. They would feel someone cared enough about what they wanted and most importantly, what they needed.
Sydney had learned through her own experience how the loss of a loved one could easily spiral an individual into a feeling of hopelessness and depression. Her husband had been killed in Afghanistan six years ago. She was devastated. She felt alone and unsure of what the future held for her. Her constant companions were tears and loneliness. All she had were memories and those were not enough. She needed her husband. He had promised to come home. They were to raise their son together. There could never be another man in her life. The love in her heart had died with her husband.
One day, when her son heard her crying out angrily to God, he reminded her not only did his father love her but also God loves her even more. “Where is the faith you’re always teaching about?” He had asked. “I miss my father too, mom.”
Having her son remind her of what she had never lost gave Sydney the strength to overcome the threat of continuing depression. What she still had was her faith and the belief that God would give her the strength she needed not only for herself but for her son as well.
I need to raise my son. Lord, please help me and forgive me for doubting you. Sydney prayed. Give me the strength I need to move forward. I know that I am not alone, for you are always with me.
Sydney was now not only physically strong but spiritually strong as well and ready to move forward. For the past six years, she had taught this to the teenagers in her Sunday School class. The “why” questions would often be asked:
Why did God let this happen?
Why did my parents have to die?
Sydney’s answers reflected her faith and belief but challenged the teens to seek their own spiritual answers. She had seen the transformation of those teens who had lost loved ones, who had felt neglected by parents, who were alone, lonely, and who wouldn’t speak to anyone about their problems.
It was for this reason that Sydney decided to enter the Battel Foundation Architecture Competition. She would show the teens how to put their faith in action. She was determined to get her model to the hotel despite the storm raging outside.
I know I can do this with your help, God.
Her son Jason helped with getting the model in the vehicle. The drive to the hotel was slow and difficult. The wind and rain were not cooperating at all. In fact, the weather had become even worse than before. She had made it through by sheer determination and help from Heaven.
Thank you. She whispered, glancing toward the sky.
She parked the truck and rushed inside the hotel. Sydney quickly glanced around the hotel lobby and noticed several people in uniform and one tall man standing as if waiting to check-in. Even in her hurried state, Sydney couldn’t help but notice how attractive the man was. When she glanced at him, there was an immediate reaction stirred within her, catching her off guard. She quickly dismissed the feeling and returned her thoughts to her model.
“Will you get someone to help me, please?” Sydney quickly asked rather boldly in the direction of the woman approaching her. She noticed the look of annoyance on some of the faces as if she had intruded on some private gathering.
“Excuse me miss, how may I serve you?” The hotel associate asked as she surveyed Sydney.
“I need someone to help me remove a display from my truck for the architecture competition.”
“Excuse me?” The hotel associate asked in a haughty tone. She seemed ready to contact security to escort Sydney out of the hotel.
“Isn’t this the Brentwood Hotel?” Sydney asked.
“Yes, it is.” The hotel associate replied, sounding appalled at the question.
“The Battel Architecture Foundation Competition is being held here, correct?” Sydney asked.
“Yes. That is correct.” The hotel associate replied for the second time.
“I have a model in my truck that I need someone to assist me in getting into the hotel. Is there someone that can help me do that, please?” Sydney was now getting more agitated because it seems as though no one was willing to help her.
“Isn’t this supposed to be some high-end hotel where the staff falls all over themselves trying to please the guest?” Sydney was thinking to herself, not realizing she had actually spoken out loud. From the moment a guest walked into the hotel lobby, design elegance was visible. There were floor vases throughout filled with live tropical plants. Hanging from the ceiling, was a large crystal chandelier with enough lights for a small airfield. Cherry hardwood covered the floors complemented by furnishings with a European flair. As a former architecture student, she could appreciate the work that went into the design of the hotel.
The hotel associate immediately reacted as if insulted and quickly stated. “The Brentwood Hotel provides services, not help. The staff is always cognizant of the guests’ needs, once they are on the Brentwood property. Each member of the front end has been trained to anticipate any services needed by the guests and respond accordingly. When a guest arrived at the Brentwood, their needs are quickly provided for.” The hotel associate spoke, giving Sydney a verbal brochure of the hotel qualities.
Sydney stood transfixed as the hotel associate spoke as if to challenge and chastise her for questioning the services offered by the hotel.
Could this situation get even worse or more embarrassing? Sydney asked herself.
“May I be of assistance?”
Both Sydney and the hotel associate turned upon hearing a deep and pleasant masculine voice. Sydney noticed it was the man she had seen earlier, standing near the front desk. That sudden attraction occurred again. Although Sydney had no interest in the opposite sex, she couldn’t help but stare at the handsomeness of the man standing before her. He must have been at least six feet tall because she had to tilt her head to meet his eyes. They were a captivating shade of green. He had an aged, smooth complexion surrounded by a well-groomed head of hair with a hint of grey around the edges that extended a short distance down the sides of his face giving him a refined and stately look. It was obvious the grey suit he wore was tailored-made just for him, accompanied by a soft grey shirt and striped tie. Of course, he wore a pair of expensive looking shoes to complete the whole wardrobe. He was definitely a man worthy of a second look.
Sydney could easily see and understand why the hotel associate was falling all over herself, trying to please this particular guest. A woman could easily get lost in those eyes, and that voice was a caress by itself.
Where did all that come from? I haven’t felt that kind of reaction to a man since Allen, and it has happened twice.
“May I be of assistance?” The soothing voice asked again.
Regaining her composure, Sydney knew she had been staring.
“Yes. Thank you. I would appreciate your help.”
At that moment, the hotel associate spotted a bellman across the lobby. She walked over and instructed him to assist Sydney with her model.
The hotel’s cover for the drive-thru did little to hold the strong wind at bay.
“You need some assistance, ma’am?” The bellman, who had returned from placing guest luggage in their respective rooms, asked reluctantly.
“Yes,” Sydney responded. “I have a model in my truck, and we need to bring it inside. Is there someone else that can help too? I don’t think the two of us will be able to maneuver it in this wind.”
“No ma’am, I’m the only one available at this time,” he replied.
“Okay.” Sydney sighed. The two of them headed for the truck to retrieve the model. Although it was a short distance to the door of the hotel, the wind could easily rip it to shreds. Sydney knew if the bellman didn’t hold the model secure, he would lose control and drop it. A strong gust of wind came just as they were removing the model from the back of the truck. The bellman lost his grip, and the model broke, almost in half. Sydney was devastated. The damages to the model were extensive.
Sydney went inside with the half that she had, and the bellman came behind her with the rest. Sydney surveyed the damaged model and knew she had lost any chance of winning or even placing in the competition. God had never failed her yet, and she will see this through. After all, isn’t that what she always told the teens at the center?
Just because a situation seems hopeless, don’t give up. Pick yourself up, draw on your faith, and start moving again.
Therefore, in spite of the huge setback, she will piece together her model as best she could and put it on display. While setting up her model, the tall stranger came into the display area. The attraction was still there.
“I’m sorry about your model.”
“Thank you.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No. Thank you for asking though.”
She wanted to get away from him, but he seemed intent on engaging in a conversation. She did learn that his name was Patrick. After setting up what was left of her model in the display area, they both left the display showroom.
Later, Sydney would think about the man and especially her reaction to him.
I doubt I’ll even see him again. For a strange reason, she felt a little disappointed.

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