Crossing Paths

Chapters 1 to 3 of a Christian Romance Novel

Chapter 1: A Nostalgic Train Ride

Natalie hunched over her knees in the back seat of the train. She closed her eyes and rested her forehead against her folded hands. God, please let me get this job.

Four months earlier, Natalie was relieved to have finally said “Yes” to Trent. It took her boyfriend eight years of practically living together to propose. But Natalie’s excitement drained two weeks after the engagement when Trent insisted on waiting one year for the wedding. His excuse was that he wanted to make sure his entire 100-member family would be there, even though half of them lived in Greece.

Two weeks after the engagement, Trent and Natalie began arguing about the wedding date. After a month of non-stop arguing, they had the worst fight of their ten-year relationship. That night, Natalie packed her bags, left her job, and stayed with her best friend Shannon at an apartment in Nicholson, California.

Now here she was, alone on a train, going to the city of Camden by herself for the first time. Natalie had only been on the train for five minutes, but it already felt like an hour. Only 25 minutes to go. She looked out the window as the rain trailed down the glass. A few tears fell from Natalie’s cheeks onto her open Bible, smudging the text in chapter 41 of Isaiah. Natalie was about to close her Bible when she saw a verse she highlighted years ago.