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!