title: A Chance Encounter
author: Campbell, Kathleen
description: "How would you feel if throughout life, your trust had been broken? You've dreamed of how life could be with the right man, but the men you've trusted and loved deeply, have abandoned you. You refuse in your heart to EVER trust another man. This is the desperate plight of Gabriella "Gabby" Valiente. Preparing for the night when she thought Charlie was going to ask her to marry him; she leaves no room for the total devastation he throws into her life when he tells her he "needs" to date others to see how he feels. Seeing him walk hand in hand with a stunning brunette into church the following morning pushes her into a life changing decision. Without waiting any longer, she accepts a designer position in New York. She was running hard from the year of grief and sadness vowing never to trust men again.
  Leaving Memaw in Texas was difficult. Memaw played a vital part in Gabby's upbringing and taught her sewing and designing from the time she was 4 years old. Gabby loved her weekly sewing lessons with an assortment of girls of varying ages and would never forget the strong Christian values instilled by her grandmother.
  After some time in her new position, Gabriella realizes she has no life outside of work. One Sunday afternoon, Gabby and her hilarious dog Baby Jack go for a drive in the snowy countryside where her car breaks down in the parking lot of a small country church. While out checking on elderly neighbors, J.D. Parker notices the stranded motorist. J.D. falls endlessly in love at first sight. After they work together on the car, he invites her to return some Sunday and visit the little church where he often speaks. Unfortunately, J.D. fails to get her number before she leaves.
  A few weeks later when J.D. is phoning the visitors from church, he is surprised when Gabriella answers. Their moments together on several dates are passionate, intimate and romantic. Both seek a deeper relationship, but cannot reach it because of trust issues. Each is prompted in their heart of the need to share their secrets.
  After several twists and turns, Gabby heads back home to Texas and J.D. contemplates their relationship. Will they ever see each other again? They are often reminded that if they would follow Proverbs 3:5-6, their lives could be forever changed."