Romantic Tangles

And now, back to our story, Romance by Design.

Chapter Twenty-seven

Ryan had no idea how Elisa found his house, but when he went outside before supper to water his roses, there she was.

         “Ryan!” Elisa smiled at him, and the months faded back as if they were still engaged—especially when she threw her arms around his neck.

         She always did that.

         His hands automatically spanned her waist. “Elisa, how did you find me?”

         “It’s so great to see you again!” She gave him a hug, then stepped back, keeping her arms around him. “Oh, Ryan! I just know the Lord brought us back together.”

         “What?” She had been the one to ditch him. Now she wanted him back? After he finally purged her from his mind and heart? After he met Goldie Silversmith?

         He cleared his throat. “That’s not going to happen, Elisa.” He tried to pull away.

         Her arms tightened. “But Ryan, I’ve missed you.” Her voice softened. “I should never have broken up. Please forgive me. I can’t believe I found you! God must be giving us a second chance.”

         He hesitated. Was that God’s will?

         But as he stared into her brown eyes, the truth hit him. No current of electricity flowed between them. It never had. The only “energy” running between him and Elisa Hartwell had been a possible marriage. He’d been infatuated with her, but he’d never loved her.

         Goldie’s face popped into his mind. Now there was a woman he could fall in love with! Creative, interesting, fun. The one who zapped him with electric moments, someone with whom he could spend the rest of his life.

         “Elisa…” Taking a deep breath, he dropped his hands from her waist.

         Movement caught his peripheral vision, and he glanced at the sidewalk.

         Goldie walked toward them, her shoulders drooping. She looked up, and their eyes met. With a little gasp, she stopped, then turned and ran back the way she’d come.

         “Goldie!”

         He lunged toward her like a dog on the end of a chain. Elisa still had him in her grasp.

“Elisa! Let me go!”

         Panic filled her eyes. “You don’t want Goldie, Ryan. It’s not God’s will!”

         “How do you know God’s will for me?” Reaching up, he pulled Elisa’s arms off his neck.

         Sprinting away, he ran down the sidewalk. Goldie backed her car out of her driveway.

         “Goldie, wait!” He waved his arms over his head.

         She glanced at him. The gears shifted. The Volkswagen roared off.

         With a defeated sigh, Ryan stopped at her driveway and stared after the vehicle.        

         “Ryan Collins!” Down the street Elisa shouted his name, her hands on her hips.

         He walked back to her. As he passed the Schulers’ house, the curtains moved at a window. What must the neighbors think? It was suppertime, and all of them were home. “Great!” he muttered.

         Elisa folded her arms. “So, I suppose you’re going to marry Goldie.”

         He lifted his eyebrows. “Are you jealous?”

         “Ryan! Can’t you see what’s happening here?” Elisa stomped her foot. “God is giving us a second chance to get our relationship right, and you’re mooning over some blonde!”

         He gaped at her.

         “Ryan…” Her voice softened, and she took his hand. “We need to renew our engagement. You would make a wonderful missionary, you know.” She gave a laugh. “You already know Swahili, and you could help me learn it.”

         He pulled his hand from hers. “I’m not going to Africa. I know that is not the Lord’s will for me.”

Ryan also knew Elisa was not the one for him. But he might follow Goldie Silversmith to the ends of the earth. 

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Until tomorrow, God bless!