Goldie Finally Meets Brian

Chapter Eleven

Walking down the hospital corridor, Goldie searched for Room 362—the room of Brian Chodski—no, that wasn’t his name. It was Brian… well, Brian whatever. She’d learn it eventually.

         Her morning as the church secretary had been unproductive, to say the least. She kept making mistakes, yelling at people on the phone, dropping things. Pastor Thomas finally asked what was wrong. “Nothing,” she’d told him, even though she was still fuming at Ryan.

Now on her lunch break, she decided to visit Brian in the hospital instead of waiting until after work. She would meet the man and discover what she had missed on Friday night.

Room 362 had a name plate beside the door: Brian Chodakowski. She’d never remember that! Her heart picked up its beat as she rapped on the door.

“Come in.”

A male voice—a nice male voice. Goldie pushed open the door.

A stocky man sat up on the lone bed, his brown crew cut matching his brown eyes. He stared at her as she walked in.

“Um, hi! You must be Brian Chodski, I mean, Brian Choderski.”

He smiled—a goofy smile. Toothy, too, just like Mike said. “Chodakowski.”

“Right. I’m Goldie, Mike’s sister.”

“Hi.” His smile lingered, looking toothy.

“Uh, Brian! I was so sorry to hear about your accident at work. I mean, of all things! You were going to take me out to the Kaffee Klatch last Friday, and you end up in the hospital instead.”

He just smiled, saying nothing.

“How awful for you, Brian! I hope you’re okay now.”

She paused, curling her fist at her side so she wouldn’t slap her hand across her mouth. She should let the man talk!

But Brian just kept smiling, looking goofy and toothy.

“Um, when do you get out of the hospital?”

The toothiness powered down a few notches. “This afternoon.” Then his teeth disappeared. “I need to apologize, Goldie. You must have been so worried on Friday night.”

“Well…” When she saw Ryan Collins standing at her door, worry wasn’t the feeling that filled her heart. “Let’s just say, when I found out about your accident, I was…” Totally mad! “That is, I was, um, totally sad. I certainly didn’t blame you.” That would be Ryan.

Brian’s toothy smile returned. “Could we start over then?”

“Sure! I’d love that!” Her words sounded a little too bright, even to herself. “Since you’re getting released from the hospital today, we could eat supper at the Kaffee Klatch tonight. Say, about seven?”

He nodded, keeping the smile in place.

“And, uh, no need to pick me up at my house.” She could just imagine what a ride with Brian Never-Talks-Just-Smiles would be like. “That’s too far away. Since my church is so close to the Kaffee Klatch, I’ll just meet you there.”

“Okay.”

She took a step back. “See you at seven.” Turning on her heel, she strode out the door.

Where did Mike find these guys?

If only Ryan had been her real blind date. She missed him. Missed the relationship they could have had together. 

Was she too hard on him this morning? True, she had been mad, but she didn’t let him explain how everything happened. Humph! As if that would have done any good.

But tonight he had an appointment with Dirk at seven-thirty. When he entered the Kaffee Klatch, he would see Goldie Silversmith chatting with Brian Chod-whatever-ski, having a good time. That would show Ryan!

Just what it would show him, she wasn’t sure.

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Until tomorrow, God bless!