All's Well that End's Well

Chapter Thirty-four

On Friday evening, Goldie stood outside her house with the garden hose and watered her rose bush. She only had one bush, but the pink flowers were so pretty. If only they bloomed like this all summer.

         She turned off the water and put the hose away. When she turned around, Ryan stood in her driveway.

         “Ryan! Hi.” Her mind flew to the photo she found at the Gallery, the one of the two of them, and his words on the back: “You’re the only one for me. Can we start over?”

         Without speaking, he reached out and plucked a rose off the bush. No stem, just the rose. With a smile, he handed it to her. “For you.”

         “Thanks, Ryan.” Goldie breathed in the sweet scent, looking at him over the flower.

         “I should have bought you a dozen long-stemmed red roses for winning the pottery commission on Wednesday.” He shrugged. “Anyway, congratulations. I’m glad Ms. Wakefield liked the Presidential line.”

         “Yes.” Goldie smiled. “Thanks for bringing that in. Sometimes I can’t believe my pottery is going to be sold in New York.” Her smile faded. “And thank you for putting that camera in my booth.” She sighed. “I still can’t believe Carl damaged my pottery.”

         “Yep, that was a big surprise.”

         Goldie stood there a moment, feeling awkward. “Um, won’t you come in?” She motioned toward the house.

         “Sure.” He followed her inside. “Just so you know—I got a job offer from an architectural firm.”

         Catching her breath, she turned to him. “Ryan, that’s wonderful! Now both our dreams will come true!”

         “Well, if I take the job, I’ll have to move to Connecticut.”

“What?” Goldie pressed her fingers against her mouth. “I mean…Connecticut? Really?” She swallowed. How terrible! “When are you moving?”

“I’m not.”

She raised her eyebrows. “You’re not taking the job?”

“No.” He shrugged. “I’d have to sell my house, leave my friends, find another church.” He gazed at her. “I’d have to leave you, Goldie.”

Her heartbeat took off. Ryan was staying here for her? “But Ryan, it’s your dream job. You went to college for this. You earned a Master’s degree. Don’t throw away your education!”

He grinned. “Don’t worry. God will provide another job for me someday, but this job is not His will. The Lord wants me to stay in Knotty Pine, work at the Blue Haven, and…design the new church building.”

“The church! Oh, Ryan!” It took all her willpower not to throw her arms around him. “Pastor Thomas will be so happy.”

“I already talked to him. I’m attending the building committee meeting next Tuesday night.”

“That’s great!” Goldie hugged herself. It wasn’t as good as hugging Ryan, but she had to hug someone.

“I wanted to let you know, before you heard it from someone else on the committee. And another thing—there’s nothing between Elisa and I. We were engaged at one time, but our relationship is over.”

“Elisa told me.” Goldie walked into the kitchen and looked for a bowl to put her flower in.

Ryan folded his arms and leaned against the kitchen doorjamb. “When you saw us the other day, uh, you know—when Elisa had her arms around my neck?”

Goldie pulled a bowl from the cupboard. She didn’t want to talk about Elisa. She didn’t even want to think about her.

“Well, uh…” Ryan huffed out a breath. “Elisa’s kind of possessive, and what happened on Wednesday was none of my doing.”

The phone picture lay on the counter. Goldie snatched it up and thrust it at him. “I found this in my booth.”

He glanced at the photo, then looked at his writing on the back. “What did you think about it?”

         Goldie raised her eyebrows. “What did you mean by it?”

         “Exactly what I wrote, Goldie.” Stepping close to her, he took her hands in his. “You’re the only one for me. And from now on, I’m going to be an open book to you. Completely honest. No more secrets.” He gazed into her eyes. “Will you be honest with me?”

         “Yes.” She whispered the word. Her heart was beating so hard at his nearness, she could hardly think. “But I do have a secret I need to tell you, Ryan.”

He didn’t say anything. Just cocked an eyebrow and waited.

Goldie had never told anyone this, but she wanted Ryan to know. She took a deep breath. “My real name is Brunhilda Gertrude Silversmith.”

His eyes widened. “Brunhilda?”

She nodded. “My mother’s idea, from an opera.”

“And Gertrude?”

“I was born on my great aunt Gertrude’s birthday. She turned seventy-three the day I was born, and she reminded me I was her namesake until the day she died.” She rolled her eyes. “Please promise you’ll always call me Goldie!”

Ryan laughed. “I promise.”

“And I promise to be totally honest with you, and not keep any secrets.”

He raised his eyebrows. “In light of being totally honest…” He pulled her into his arms. “I’ve fallen in love with you, Goldie Silversmith.”

“Oh, Ryan.” She tightened her arms around him. “I love you, too.”

Pulling her closer, he kissed her.

Goldie kissed him back. This was exactly where she belonged—in Ryan’s arms.

* * *

Until tomorrow… (last chapter!)