Forgiveness!

Chapter Seventeen

Early Wednesday morning Ryan stood outside his house, pruning an unwieldy rose bush that had grown wild. Evidently the former owners never cut it back. But Ryan didn’t mind the work. This was the first house he was paying to own, and it was cool taking care of the landscaping in his yard.

         The warm June sun beat down on him as he finished, and he wiped his arm against his forehead. The temperature would climb high today in Knotty Pine. He glanced down the street and raised his eyebrows. On the sidewalk, Goldie Silversmith walked toward his house.

         Toward him.

         A blue print dress swished around her knees, and the sunshine turned her blonde hair to gold. She turned the corner at his driveway.

         Ryan’s mouth went dry. 

         “Hi, Ryan.” She smiled, and the blue in her dress made her eyes bluer.

         Wasn’t she mad at him just forty-eight hours ago? So angry that she never wanted to speak to him again?

         “Um, hi, Goldie.”

         Her smile faltered, and she lowered her eyes. “I came by to ask your forgiveness. I’m sorry I was so mean to you on Monday morning. You tried to tell me you weren’t my blind date, but I didn’t give you a chance to explain.” She looked up, and tears edged her eyes. “I’m sorry, Ryan. Please forgive me for yelling at you.”

         He gazed into those pretty eyes that waited for his forgiveness. Eyes full of hope. Eyes full of trust. Eyes he wouldn’t mind staring at for the rest of his life.

         Maybe Goldie was the one.

         “Of course I forgive you, Goldie. I understand why you were angry. You were hoping to date Brian, and you got stuck with me.”

         “Got stuck?” The blue eyes widened. “Ryan, you were the best date I ever had. But I ended up dating Brian anyway, on Monday night.”

         “At the Kaffee Klatch?” So that’s who that guy was.

         She nodded. “According to my brother, Brian had a great time and he wants to go out with me again.”

         “Oh.” Ryan folded his arms. “So you’re dating him now?”

         “Are you kidding?” Goldie huffed out a breath. “Besides the fact that he’s almost mute, I don’t want to end up as Mrs. Brian Chowder…hum…kowski.”

         Ryan frowned. “That’s his name?”

         “Something like that.” She shrugged. “I had an awful time with his name—and with him, too.”

         Ryan tried not to grin too broadly. That was the best news he’d heard all week. “Hey, why don’t you come over for dinner on Friday night? I got a few recipes from Dirk, and I want to try them out.”

A touch of surprise flitted across her features. “You’re going to cook for me?”

“Goldie, I’ll make you the greatest gourmet meal you’ve ever eaten.”

She smiled. “I’d love that.”

“Good.” He shared her smile. “Friday night. Let’s say—six o’clock?”

“Okay. Six o’clock it is.” She turned back to the sidewalk.

“Wait!” Ryan pulled his cell from his pocket. “Maybe we should exchange phone numbers.”

“Yes! Great idea.”

He added her phone number to his cell, then told her what his number was. She didn’t have her phone with her, so she tried to memorize it.

“I’ll call you later.” Ryan stuck his phone back in his pocket. “You can add my number to your cell then.” He picked up a rose from his pruning pile and handed it to her. “For you.”

“Oh Ryan! How sweet.” She brought the flower up to her nose. “Hmm…it smells wonderful.”

“Here. Take some more.” He grabbed a handful and thrust them into her arms.

She laughed. “Thank you, Ryan.” She stuck her nose in the whole bouquet. “Well, I need to get to work. See you on Friday.”

“Yep. Six o’clock. See you then.”

Goldie walked back the way she had come as Ryan watched. He took a satisfying breath. Life was good.

Yep, Goldie might just be the one. He’d have to show her the plans to his dream house. She might live in it someday.

But he wouldn’t tell her he worked as a chef at the Blue Haven Resort of the Poconos. He wanted her to think of him as an architect—the career of his life.

If only he could get a job.

* * *

         We’ll see what happens on Monday.

         Until then, have a good weekend, and God bless!

Working as a Potter

Chapter 16

Goldie tried to open the door to the Gallery Connection, which was almost impossible, considering the large box she held in her hands.

         Mrs. Langford opened it from the inside. “Let me help you, Goldie.”

         “Thanks.” Goldie nodded to the owner of the Gallery Connection. Mrs. Langford looked like a sweet little grandma with her soft white hair piled up in a Gibson girl bun on top of her head.

Goldie walked back to her booth. “I made up a new pattern.” Opening the box, she pulled out a plate, covered in brown paper. A warm feeling filled her heart as she unwrapped it and admired the shiny pink roses and green leaves. She had spent hours hand-painting her design. “I’m hoping women will like it.”

         Taking the plate, Mrs. Langford brushed her fingers over the shiny surface. “This is beautiful, Goldie. You’re so creative!”

         Noreen Trennen, one of the other potters, walked up and looked over Mrs. Langford’s shoulder. “Such a pretty feminine pattern.”

         Carl, Noreen’s husband, nodded. “Very nice.”

         “Thanks.” Goldie smiled at the couple before reaching into her box. She carefully unwrapped each piece and arranged her pottery on the shelves of her booth.

         Noreen and Carl stood behind her, watching. The Trennens spent a lot of time at the Gallery Connection. Carl was retired, and he seemed to have nothing to do. Sometimes the couple disappeared for a week while Noreen worked on her pottery at home. Then she’d set the new merchandise out in her booth, and they both would hover in the store all day, every day.

         Noreen picked up the teapot. “I wish I was as talented as you.”

         “What a pretty piece!” Mrs. Langford smiled.

         Goldie gave a happy sigh. She loved that teapot. If it didn’t sell, she would take it home and use it.

         “Did you hear the news?” Mrs. Langford’s brown eyes jumped between Goldie, Noreen, and Carl. “A buyer from New York City will be here in a couple weeks. A woman this time. Her name is Ashley Wakefield, and she’s looking for a new line of pottery for Saks Fifth Avenue.”

         Goldie’s mouth dropped open. “Saks? Really?”

         “Wow!” Noreen laughed. “I’d better get busy on a new design.”

         Goldie touched her teapot. “I think I’ll have her look at this line. Since the buyer is a woman, she’ll know what appeals to other women.”

         “That’s true.” Noreen looked thoughtful. “I’ve been thinking of doing something with butterflies.” She walked the few feet to her booth and picked up a cup, painted gray. “This might be too masculine.”

         “A lighter color would be better.” Goldie didn’t want to hurt Noreen’s feelings, but all her pottery was dark and drab. Sometimes Noreen didn’t sell one piece of pottery in an entire month. Then she would take her pieces home, only to replace them with a new line—equally dark and drab.

         With a shake of her head, Goldie looked back at her booth. Hopefully Ashley Wakefield would like this line of pretty roses. Maybe someday it would be displayed in Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City.

         Her dream of being an established, well-known potter might soon come true!

          

* * *

Until tomorrow, may the Lord bless you with a good day!

A Conversation About Brian

Chapter 15

Driving home in her Volkswagen after the Building Committee meeting on Tuesday night, Goldie turned onto Oak Street and slowed down as she passed Ryan’s house. A faint glimmer of light shown through the front window. He was probably in the kitchen, but she didn’t want to talk to him tonight. She could catch him tomorrow, when she was fresh.

         If only she had his phone number.

         She pulled into her driveway, just as her cell phone rang from the depths of her purse.

         Turning off the engine, she pulled out the phone, wishing Ryan was on the other end. “Hello?”

         “Hey, Goldie.”

         “Hi, Mike.” Recognizing her brother’s voice, she leaned back against the car seat. “Don’t tell me you have another blind date for me.”

         He laughed. “No, I’ve concluded your blind dates. Brian worked out well, didn’t he?”

         Goldie raised her eyebrows. “He did?”

         “I finally found the perfect match for you. Brian just reveled in your date last night at the Kaffee Klatch.”

         “Oh, yeah. We really whooped it up.” She rolled her eyes.

          “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself, Goldie. Brian wants to take you out again.”

         Great! “Well, um, I don’t know, Mike.”

         “He delighted in your personality. I just got off the phone with him, and he wants your phone number. Do I have your permission to give it to him?”

         “No!”

         Her brother paused. “No?”

         “I’m sorry, Mike. Brian might have enjoyed himself, but I didn’t. Besides, I want to date Ryan.”

         “The Imposter?”

         “One and the same. I’m going to ask his forgiveness for yelling at him, and for being so…so stinkin’ mean to him!”

         “But Goldie—”

“I really like him! And it was my fault anyway. I’ve relived Friday night a thousand times, and I was talking so much at first that he couldn’t say a word.”

“See? You do talk too much!”

“Thanks a lot. Anyway, he tried to tell me he wasn’t my blind date, but I kept interrupting him. I thought he didn’t like to talk, and I couldn’t believe he was so good looking, and I just kept talking.” She sighed, wishing things could have been different.

 “So you don’t want to date Brian again?”

 Her heart melted at the sadness in his voice. “I’m sorry, Mike.”

 “Brian’s a great guy. I thought you two would be perfect together. He’s the quiet type who stays in the background, and you’re the talkative one out front.”

“Yeah, and he smiles enough for both of us.”

 Mike chuckled. “He does have that quirk.”

“I’m sure Brian’s a great person, but he’s not for me.” But maybe Ryan was. At least, she hoped so.

“All right, Goldie. I’ll tell Brian, uh…you’re dating someone else.”

“Thanks. You’re the best brother in the world. But do me a favor?”

“What’s that?”

“No more blind dates, okay?”

* * *

Tomorrow we’ll read about Goldie’s work as a potter, and her booth at the Gallery Connection. Until then, God bless!

At the Church Building Committee

Chapter 14

On Tuesday evening, Goldie tapped away on her laptop, recording the discussion from the church Building Committee. Eight other people sat at the large round table in the church basement. Pastor Thomas refereed the conversation, which was going in eight different directions. Goldie typed furiously, trying to keep up.

She wouldn’t be surprised if her laptop started smoking.

         “We need a good architectural firm.” Joe Cranston, one of the deacons, waved his hand in the air. “I still say we hire Milton, Trager, Reeves, Fitzsimmons, and Krober to do our church building design.”

         Goldie typed out his comment, getting lost after Reeves.

         “But they’re too expensive.” Frieda, as the owner of the Kaffee Klatch, was on the committee.

         “I agree with Frieda.” John Zeller, another business owner, nodded toward the pastor. “They charge 12% of the total cost. That’s outrageous! We need someone who only charges 8%.”

         “Or less.” As the treasurer, Wayne Huchel was taking his own notes.

         Ryan’s face popped into Goldie’s mind. If only they could hire him as their architect. But she and Ryan were on the fritz, as Frieda would say, and it would be awkward to be in meetings with him.

         “Okay.” Joe huffed out a breath. “Let me talk to Melvin Whitlock. I’m sure he would only charge us 7%.”

         Pastor Thomas shook his head. “He’s designed two nightclubs in Knotty Pine, and everyone knows it. I wish we could find a Christian architect.”

         Goldie typed out his words, then added “Ryan is a Christian” next to it. With a little gasp, she deleted her comment.

         The pastor stood. “Since we can’t come to a consensus, let’s conclude our meeting. I want each of you to pray specifically for a good, trustworthy architect who won’t charge us too much.”

         Should Goldie mention Ryan?

         Pastor Thomas dismissed them, and the level of conversation increased as the committee members left the room. Goldie closed her laptop and stored it in the case.

         Frieda sat down beside her. “Why were ya dating that grinning guy last night?”

         Goldie frowned. “Grinning guy? Oh! Brian!” She laughed. “He did have a toothy grin, didn’t he?”

         “But why were ya dating him and not Ryan?”

“It’s a long story.”

         “I have time.” Frieda folded her hands on the table and settled in her chair.

         Goldie sighed. “I was supposed to date Brian on Friday night, but he had an accident at work and ended up in the hospital. Ryan came by my house and pretended he was my blind date.”

         “Pretended? How did Ryan know about the blind date? What happened when he picked you up?”

Even though no one else was in the room, Goldie leaned toward Frieda and lowered her voice. “He came to the door and handed me a letter from Jessie.” She tapped her lips with her finger. “Come to think of it, he was trying to talk, but I kept cutting him off. I thought he was the almost-mute Brian, and I was nervous. It didn’t help that he was so handsome. I was trying to do the talking for both of us.” Her shoulders drooped. “I never gave him a chance to explain.”

“Then you should ask his forgiveness.”

Goldie looked at Frieda, a flash of anger zipping through her. “He should ask my forgiveness! He had plenty of time to spell out his predicament!”

Shaking her head, Frieda pursed her lips. “Goldie, see here now. I watched you and Ryan at the Kaffee Klatch. You have that chemistry a couple needs. No matter how it happened, you need to get back with him.”

Goldie thought about that. They did have chemistry! “Oh, Frieda! I’ve made a terrible mess of things. Ryan came by my house yesterday morning, and I think he was going to explain then, but I was mad about him being an imposter.” Her heart plummeted. “I was so mean to him. I’m ashamed of myself.”

“Well, then! You can start over.”

“Ryan will never forgive me.”

“You’ll never know unless ya ask.” Frieda placed her hand on Goldie’s arm. “He seems like an even-tempered guy. Forgive him in your heart for being an imposter, and then ya need to ask his forgiveness for being mean. I say he’ll grant it.”

Goldie nodded. “He deserves another opportunity, but I don’t. I deserve a guy like Brian Choderski—no, that’s not right. Choderhumski?”

“Chodakowski.” Frieda clicked her tongue. “Don’t sell yourself short, Goldie. Ryan really likes ya. Give him a chance.”

* * *

More tomorrow. Until then, God bless!

Goldie's Date with Brian

If you’re a new reader to my blog, you can start the story HERE with Chapter One.

Chapter Thirteen

At the Kaffee Klatch on Monday evening, a silent sigh escaped Goldie’s lips. She sat across from Brian Choderski, or whatever his name was, at the exact same table she had shared with Ryan Collins on Friday night.

Goldie concentrated on the menu, even though she knew it by heart, because every time she looked up, Brian’s dark eyes connected with hers and he flashed her a toothy grin.  

         It was unnerving.

Frieda walked out of the kitchen and raised an eyebrow at Goldie.

“Hey, Frieda.” Goldie motioned her to their table. “This is Brian, um… Brian—” She looked at him. “Sorry, I forgot your last name.”

His teeth shone in the overhead lights. “Chodakowski.”

Frieda stuck out her hand. “Nice to meet ya.” Her smile was conspicuously absent.

Brian shook her hand. He didn’t stand up, and his handshake looked pretty limp, especially for a construction worker.

Frieda glanced at Goldie. With a barely undetectable shake of her head, she walked away.

Goldie cleared her throat. “Frieda attends my church. We’re good friends.”

Brian just smiled and looked back at his menu.

“Um, you mentioned you’ve never been here before, Brian. If you have any questions about the Pennsylvania Dutch dishes, I’d be glad to answer them for you.”

No comment.

“I suppose you’re wondering about the Dutch Goose. It’s really pig’s stomach.”

His eyes scanned the menu.

“Dutch Goose is at the top.” She touched his menu. “And Souse is directly below it. That’s the meat from the head, ears, and feet of the pig.” She laughed. “They really do use the whole animal!”

Brian glanced up, once again showing off his pearly whites.

Lori stopped by their table. “What would yous like to order tonight?” She whipped out a small pad of paper.

“I’ll take the Dutch Goose.” Goldie handed her menu to Lori. Ryan had raved about that dish on Friday night, and Goldie hadn’t tasted it for years. She would see if it was as good as he claimed.

She glanced at Brian, who still studied his menu. Hmm…what new and interesting Pennsylvania Dutch dish would he choose?

“A hamburger for me.” He handed Lori his menu, and she left.

Goldie raised an eyebrow. “A hamburger?”

Brian shrugged, then glanced around at the Pennsylvania Dutch hex signs that decorated the walls. For once, he wasn’t smiling.

Goldie’s gaze followed his. “I love the way Frieda decorated this place, don’t you? It’s so nostalgic.”

Brian grunted. “Don’t like it. Superstitious.”

Goldie sighed under her breath. “It’s just Folk Art.”

He said nothing.

“So, um, Brian, do you have any siblings?”

“Five brothers.”

“Wow, a big family. I just have one brother, Mike.”

Brian’s grin came back.

Goldie thought he looked better without the smile. “I suppose you know that Mike is an endocrinologist.”

         “Yep, knew that. I don’t like doctors.”

Goldie leaned forward. “Are you saying you don’t like Mike?”

“No, no.” Brian lifted one thick hand. “As a group.”

She frowned. “You don’t like doctors as a group?”

“I hated being in the hospital. So many doctors. Poking and prodding.” He shrugged.

“But they helped you get well.”

“Nah.” He pushed out his lower lip. “I’ve been hurt worse than that. But seeing as I was unconscious, they called an ambulance. I had no say-so in the matter.”

Goldie heard the restaurant’s door open, and she glanced toward the front of the Kaffee Klatch. Ryan Collins walked in, looking tall and handsome.

Sitting up straighter, Goldie turned to Brian. “That is just terrible!” She raised her voice several decibels, enough for a deaf man to hear. “I’m so sorry that happened to you!” She glanced toward the front of the building.

Ryan looked at her, then glanced at Brian before he turned away and walked into the kitchen.

She followed him with her eyes, watching through the serving window as he greeted Dirk. The two men shook hands.

“Yeah, well thanks.” Brian grinned at her. “Glad that’s over.”

Goldie sighed. If only this date were over!

Lori brought out their food, and somehow Goldie made it through the silent meal. Brian leaned over his plate to chow down on his hamburger, barely taking a breath between bites.

At least he wasn’t smiling.

         Goldie took tiny bites of her Dutch Goose. The dish was just as tasty as Ryan claimed. Too bad he wasn’t sitting across from her.

When Brian finished his hamburger, he wiped his mouth with his napkin and smiled.

         “Well!” Goldie stood. “I guess we’re done! Thanks for taking me out, Brian.”

         For a second he looked startled, then he grinned. “Yeah, it was good.”

         Frieda took his money at the cash register (no free meal for him!) and they walked outside together. 

         “Good night.” Brian climbed into his truck and started the engine.

         Standing beside her Volkswagen, Goldie waved as he drove off. As his tail lights disappeared, she let out the tremendous sigh that had threatened to escape all evening.

         Ryan would never have left her standing by her car in the parking lot. He would have never driven off without seeing her home.

         And he was still inside the Kaffee Klatch with Dirk.

         For a moment, Goldie was tempted to go back into the restaurant and talk to Frieda. If she just happened to run into Ryan, she would be civil, sweet, kind. 

         And she would look totally desperate.

         Getting into her car, she slammed the door and laid her head against the steering wheel. “A fine mess I’ve made!”

         Ryan Collins was the best date she ever had, and she let him go. Yelled him right out of her life!

         “Lord, I’m sorry,” she prayed. “But what can I do?”

* * *

Until tomorrow, God bless!

A Depressing Day

Our story, Romance by Design, continues today. If you’re a new reader, you can begin the story with Chapter One by scrolling back to Tuesday, September 4^th, or you can click HERE.

Chapter Twelve

At home on Monday, Ryan just finished the dishes after lunch when his cell phone rang. He had spent the morning cleaning the house, putting things away, getting rid of moving boxes, and trying not to think about Goldie.

         A losing battle.

         His cell phone lay on the kitchen table, and he picked it up on the second ring. “Ryan Collins.”

         “Hello there! This is Sheriff Whalen.”

         Ryan sank to a kitchen chair. “Sheriff. Any news?”

         “You’re in luck. We apprehended the man who crashed into your Sunfire.”

         “Oh, that’s great!”

“Yep! Just happened to drive down a residential street this morning, not too far from your street, and I saw an SUV that was smashed in the front right side.”

“Really?”

“The vehicle even had red paint flecks in the smashed area. The guy who lives there confessed to hitting your car and then driving off. Evidently he’d been drinking on Friday night.”

         “Wow.” Ryan rubbed his hand across his forehead.

         “Do you want to press charges?”

         “No, I just want his insurance company to pay my car repair.”

         “Okay. Come into town.” The Sheriff gave him directions to the Knotty Pine police station. “The culprit’s name is Henry Nesbitt, and I’ll keep him at the station until you get here. You’ll need to fill out some papers, stating you won’t press charges, and he can give you his insurance company info.”

         Ryan breathed out a sigh of relief. “Thanks so much. I’ll be there as soon as possible.” He closed his phone.

         “Meow.” Archie entered the kitchen and rubbed against his leg.

         “Isn’t this great, Archie? Now I won’t have to pay my own car repair bill.” He glanced up at the ceiling. “Thank You, Lord!”

         Depositing the phone in his pocket, he grabbed his car keys from the hook by the side door. “See you later, Archie. The Lord is good!”

         A warm feeling filled his chest, and he smiled. He was right with God again. And even though a few bad things had happened—his smashed car, Goldie’s anger—Ryan knew the Lord would take care of him. He would work everything out according to His own will.

         Ryan had just pulled into the police station parking lot when his cell rang again. He turned off the engine and answered the phone. “Ryan Collins.”

         “Ryan. Tom Moss from Stratton, Moss, and Klein architectural firm.”

         Catching his breath, Ryan sat up. This was the call he’d been waiting for. “Yes, sir, Mr. Moss.”

         The man cleared his throat. “I’m afraid I have bad news. Our firm decided to hire another architect for the opening we had.”

         “Oh.” Ryan’s shoulders drooped.

         “I’m sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I voted in your favor, but Mr. Stratton made the final decision.”

         “I see.” It didn’t make Ryan feel better at all; he wasn’t hired. “Thanks for letting me know, Mr. Moss.”

         With a sigh, he closed the phone. Another bad thing to add to his depressing day. Now it was back to the drawing board in looking for a job. And he’d have to keep working at the Blue Haven as a chef until an architectural firm hired him.

Mentally, he added find another firm and apply for a job to his To-Do list. And there was something else he still needed to do—call his mom.

He certainly had a lot to tell her.

* * *

We’ll see what happens on Monday. Have a good weekend.

ACFW Conference Begins Today!

We interrupt this story for breaking news:

The ACFW conference begins today in Dallas, Texas.

In case you’re not a writer, ACFW stands for American Christian Fiction Writers, of which I’m a member. Their conference is the premier conference for Christian fiction writers. (Wish I was there!)

* * *

Ryan’s neighbor, Mrs. Schuler, gave him a Shoo-fly pie to welcome him to the neighborhood. She shared this recipe with him.

Recipe for Shoo-fly Pie

A favorite dessert and the most famous of all Pennsylvania Dutch pies is Shoo-fly Pie, so-named because in years past, when pies were placed on window-sills to cool, housewives constantly had to 'shoo' away flies from their sweet and sticky pies. There are two kind of Shoo-fly pies—Plain Shoo-fly Pie and "Wet-Bottom" Shoo-fly Pie, by far the most popular kind.

This recipe is for the gooey, wet-bottom version.

Shoo-fly Pie

•               1 cup flour

•               1-1/2 T. shortening (such as Crisco)

•               3/4 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed

•               1 cup molasses or dark Karo syrup

•               1 egg, slightly beaten

•               3/4 cup hot water

•               1 tsp. baking soda, dissolved in 1/4 cup hot water (in addition to the 3/4 cup water)

Mix the flour, sugar and shortening together until crumbly. Measure 1/2 cup of this mixture and set it aside. (This will be used for the crumb topping.) Add the molasses, egg and baking soda/hot water mixture to the remaining flour mixture. Pour the batter into an unbaked deep dish 9" inch pie shell. Sprinkle the reserved 1/2 cup of crumbs over top. Bake in a preheated oven at 400º for 5 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350º and bake for 30 more minutes. As the shoo-fly pie bakes, a gooey wet bottom will form in the pie crust, below the molasses crumb cake. Enjoy!