Picket Fence Pursuit

by Jennifer Johnson

  “Okay.” Kylie stood and smiled at Ryan. “I’ll be back.”

  Ryan’s heart sank as she walked away. He yearned to finish their conversation, but as the evening progressed, her duties continually called her away.

  After several hours passed, Ryan noticed her step slowed and her shoulders slumped ever so slightly. Once the newlyweds were nestled into their car and headed to the airport, Ryan touched Kylie’s arm. “You want me to take you home?”

  “I’m going to help clean up. Plus, I drove.” She stepped closer to him. “But I still want to talk.”

  Every manly urge within him wanted to grab her into his arms, to caress the exhaustion away from her face. He swallowed and shoved his fists into his pockets. “How ’bout I take you to dinner and then the Festival of Lights tomorrow night?”

  “Oh, I love the lights. That sounds wonderful.”

  He kissed her forehead. “I can’t wait.”

  Twenty

  Kylie plopped onto the wooden chair. “It’s early in the morning, the weekend, and I’m at school.” She slipped the book bag from her shoulder and dropped it to the floor beside the computer station. Clicking the computer mouse, she waited for the machine to wake up. Glancing around the university library, she sighed. “But this may be my last time in here.”

  The bittersweet reality pricked at her heart. For four years her focus had been on the pursuit of this prize—her degree. Not just a degree but one with the highest of honors. Summa cum laude. She figured the better the grade point average, the more likely she’d be to land a good, solid accounting position.

  UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE scrolled across the screen. She clicked the school’s icon, moved through the system, then typed in her screen name and password. Once the computer recognized her, she scrolled down the options until she came to GRADES.

  She took a deep breath. There was no way she could get an A in Nickels’s class this semester. She may not get a B. Failing her first test and doing only fairly well on the project, her grade depended on the final exam. Which had been excruciatingly difficult. If she received a C, she wouldn’t receive highest honors.

  Tapping the bottom of the mouse, she couldn’t seem to make herself click the screen. A bit of trepidation sailed through her veins, but not what she would have expected. Just a few short months ago, during the summer, she’d been stressed to the max about a possible B in Nickels’s class. Now the possibility of a C didn’t truly faze her.

  So much had happened this last semester. She thought her daddy might die of a heart attack. Miller Enterprises offered a job, took it back, then offered one again. Robin got married. Ryan—

  The thought of Ryan brought a smile to her lips. Kind. Considerate. Gentle. Handsome. Godly. He was everything she’d ever wanted in a man. But without a steady job. She chuckled and shook her head. Of all the requirements for a mate she’d ever had, her top two had been that he love the Lord and that he have a good, steady income. Ryan met only one.

  Somehow, I’m all right with that.

  Studying the options before her on the computer screen, she shrugged. “Might as well get it over with.”

  She clicked for her grades. The class courses popped on the screen. Within a second the grade followed. She bit her lip and grinned. “Three As and one C.”

  After closing her account and then the screen, she picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. She had several books she needed to return in hopes of getting some kind of refund. Glancing one last time at the library, she grinned as peace flooded her soul. “I’m not summa cum laude, and it’s okay.”

  ❧

  Ryan unbuckled the oversize black belt, then folded off the Santa suit and extra padding. The air had been nippy for the town’s annual Christmas in Santa Claus Parade, but sweat still beaded on his forehead due to the mass of padding. He didn’t mind. Seeing the children of the community’s faces light up when his sleigh approached them had been priceless. As he passed, he tried to make sure each one received a candy cane from Santa.

  He peeled off the white beard, mustache, and eyebrows. Rubbing the now-tender places, he hoped his face wouldn’t be red for his date with Kylie.

  “Tonight’s the big night, huh?” Gramps, adorned in a bright green shirt and candy cane suspenders, strolled into Ryan’s bedroom. Large, red pointy shoes with bells stitched at the tips covered the man’s feet. A matching hat sat on his head.

  Ryan shook his head and chuckled.

  “Oh, so it’s okay for you to dress up like Santa Claus, but I can’t be an elf.”

  “Are you kidding? You look great. Heading to Santa’s Lodge for the concerts?”

  “Yep, then St. Nick’s Restaurant for dinner. Wouldn’t miss the gingerbread decorating for the world.”

  “Hmm. I’m not sure if it’s the decorating or seeing Elma that you like so much.”

  “Tosh, son.” Gramps swatted the air. “That woman drives me crazy. Did you see her hair at church on Sunday? It’s back to blue! Blue, pink, blue, pink. You’d think the woman would make up her mind.”

  Ryan laughed out loud.

  Gramps moved closer to him. “I think you’re avoiding my question.”

  Ryan cleared his throat and glanced at his closet. “What question?”

  “I asked if tonight was the night.”

  “The night for the Festival of Lights? Yep. It sure is.”

  Gramps shook his finger. “Don’t play coy with me. If you don’t want to say, then don’t say.”

  Ryan smiled. “I’m just teasing. Yes. Tonight’s the night.”

  A sparkle lit Gramps’s eyes. “I’ll pray for you.”

  “That would be great.”

  ❧

  Kylie gazed at her reflection in the full-length mirror. The shimmering blue dress flared at the skirt as she twirled around. In truth, it was a bit fancy for a simple dinner and tour of the lights date. Flutters filled Kylie’s stomach as she prayed Ryan had something more in mind.

  “I can’t believe I want to marry the man.” She touched her cheeks when they began to blaze with the desire that filled her whole being. She closed her eyes. “Please, Lord, let him ask me tonight.”

  Bending over, she picked up her high-heeled black shoes. She sat on the bed and put them on. Standing again, she twirled once more in the mirror. Her feminine instinct yearned for Ryan to find her breathtaking.

  The doorbell rang, and Kylie glanced at the alarm clock on her nightstand. “He’s a full half hour early.” Kylie walked to the front door and peered through the peephole. “Brad?”

  Turning away, she leaned against the door, contemplating if she should pretend not to be home. Her heart pricked. “I know, God; that would be wrong.” Taking a deep breath, Kylie unlocked and opened the door. She plastered a smile to her face. “Hello, Brad.”

  Brad whistled and eyed her up and down, again making her feel cheap. “Where are you going, babe?”

  She inhaled a deep breath and bit back a retort regarding his lack of manners. “Did you need something, Brad?”

  He leaned against the door frame. “You want to invite me in?”

  “I don’t have much time.” She planted her feet firmly in the doorway.

  He leaned closer to her, and Kylie didn’t budge. He lifted his hands in the air. “Okay, okay. I quit. I just came to see if you were going to take the job.”

  Kylie frowned and folded her arms in front of her chest. “I’ve already talked to Mr. Miller.”

  “Oh.” Brad snapped his fingers. “He may have mentioned that.”

  “What did you come for, Brad?”

  He shrugged and slinked into one of her chairs on the porch. “I don’t know. Thought you might want to go out sometime.” He peered up at her, and for once Kylie saw a hint of sincerity in his eyes. “I haven’t met anyone like you, Kylie. Most girls fall all over me.”

  Kylie bit the inside of her lip. Even his attempt at honesty was laced with his inflated ego. Still, it was the first attempt at truthfulness she’
d seen from him since her first interview when Mr. Miller had been present. “I can’t go out with you, Brad.”

  “It’s that Ryan, isn’t it?”

  Warmth flooded her heart at the mention of his name. “Yes.”

  Brad stood and started down the sidewalk. “Well, it was nice meeting you, Kylie.”

  A twinge of guilt filled her. “Brad.” She walked toward him. “I would love it if you would come to my church sometime. We have a really great singles’ group. You’d probably enjoy yourself.”

  Brad half grinned. “I might do that.”

  ❧

  Ryan gazed at Kylie from across the booth in the restaurant. She was a vision of beauty with her hair held away from her face with a clip. Small wisps distracted him as they caressed her neck with each move of her head. Her bright blue dress enhanced her eyes, which shone against her creamy skin. “You’re stunning, Ki.”

  Her cheeks reddened as a smile of pleasure bowed her lips. “Thank you.”

  “I think you’d make a garbage sack beautiful.”

  “Ryan.” She smacked his hand. “You’re silly.”

  He inwardly growled at her playfulness. She had no idea how much he yearned to take her in his arms and kiss her sweet lips.

  She grabbed his hand. “I have some news for you.”

  He relished the softness of her skin. “I have something I want to tell you, too.”

  She removed her hand, and he missed her warmth. “Okay. You first.”

  Ryan shook his head. “No. Go ahead.”

  “Okay. First, I got a C in Nickels’s class. No highest honors for me.”

  He grimaced, knowing how much her grades meant to her. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” She shrugged. “It’s really okay.” Her eyes glistened with the smile that graced her mouth. “I got another job offer with Miller Enterprises, but it starts in December.”

  “That’s. . .great.” Ryan tried not to frown as his heart fell into his stomach. She wouldn’t be going on the missions trip, and that job would be so time-consuming.

  “I turned it down.”

  “You what?”

  She giggled. “Yep. I turned it down. This person, who remains nameless, paid for my missions trip. He said that God always provides. Well, I’ve been praying and searching, and I know God wants me to go on that trip. More importantly, He wants me to trust Him with my life. I was offered the position with the missions ministry, and I’m taking it.”

  “Oh, Kylie.”

  “I know you paid my way, Ryan. I’ve wanted to thank you—to tell you that I have deep feelings for you. I’ve—I’ve struggled with a lot of things, but I—I. . .”

  Ryan’s heart swelled. Excitement coursed through him. “Kylie.” He placed his finger across her lips. “I have to tell you something first.”

  He took her hand in his, caressing her palm with his thumb. “About eight years ago, I fell in love with a woman. I thought she was everything I was looking for. Until she found out about. . .”

  Ryan took a deep breath. This wasn’t the way he wanted to tell her. Ryan cleared his throat. “Let me start over. There’s a reason I don’t work a nine-to-five job. When I was in high school, I developed a machine to make logging easier. I sold my blueprints to a company in Alaska. I made a good amount of money from the sale, and then Gramps invested big chunks of it into different stocks and bonds.”

  He watched as her eyes widened. “I don’t understand.”

  “Vanessa, the woman I mentioned before, she loved my wealth, not me. I swore I’d never tell anyone about the money again. If God ever placed a woman in my life, she’d have to love me for me.”

  “You thought I’d love you for your money?”

  “When I first saw you, you were talking to Robin about yahoo men, and you were so focused on getting through school to get a good-paying job.”

  He watched as her shoulders slumped a bit as she let out a breath. Her gaze lowered to the table, and she moved her hand from his. “I see.”

  “No, you don’t. I was wrong. I wasn’t putting my trust in the Lord or you. I was too worried about what Vanessa had done. Ki.” He grabbed her hand again. “I love you.”

  She gazed up at him. Uncertainty filled her eyes. In a rush, Ryan reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring box. He knelt beside her and opened the box. “Please, Ki. You’re the perfect woman for me. The one God intended. I love you. Marry me.”

  Tears filled her eyes as she slowly shook her head. “I don’t think I can.”

  Twenty-one

  Kylie bit into her hamburger. The stale bun and overcooked meat stuck to the roof of her mouth. She sighed as yet another mall-going, happy couple walked past her.

  “What is the matter with you? You’ve acted all day like you lost your best friend.” Amanda swiped a fry from Kylie’s tray. “Our annual Christmas shopping trip is supposed to be fun.”

  Kylie halfheartedly gazed at her more-pregnant-than-ever little sister. Amanda’s hair looked fuller and healthier as it framed her sickeningly glowing face. She rested a protective hand on her belly as she drowned the fry in ketchup then shoved it into her mouth. A drop fell on the top arch of her stomach. Amanda giggled as she licked her napkin and wiped it off.

  Amanda’s happiness made Kylie’s stomach whirl. Kylie wrinkled her nose. “Just grouchy, I guess.”

  Amanda eyed her. “I’d say you’re more than grouchy. Remember, big sis, we shared a room far too long for you to play games with me. What gives?”

  Kylie twirled her straw in her now-runny chocolate shake. “Ryan asked me to marry him.”

  Amanda’s mouth popped open and her eyes glistened with excitement. “That’s great! Please, Kylie.” She placed her hand on Kylie’s. “Please tell me that you have realized that you love this man. It’s so obvious to the rest of us.”

  “I do love him.” Kylie tried to sip the milk shake, but it pooled in the back of her throat, making her feel nauseous. Her gaze found a teenage couple walking by hand in hand.

  “But—”

  “But I told him no.”

  “What?” Amanda smacked her napkin onto the table. “Kylie Andrews, why?”

  “He’s been lying to me all this time.”

  “Lying to you? About what?”

  “He’s rich, Amanda.” Kylie pushed the tray away from her. “I don’t know how rich, but enough that the man doesn’t even have to work.”

  “Okay.” Amanda furrowed her eyebrows. “So Ryan is rich. He didn’t come right out and tell you, but now he wants to marry you. I’m not following the problem here.”

  “Some girl he used to love wanted him for his money or something like that, so he didn’t tell me because he didn’t want me to want him for his money; he wanted me to want him for himself.” She flailed her arms and shook her head. “Oh, he just didn’t trust me to tell me, okay?”

  “Kylie.”

  “He knew how much I wanted to help take care of Mama and Daddy. He knew I was trying so hard to get a good job. He knew how afraid I was of ending up married to a coal. . . miner.” Kylie lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry, Amanda.”

  “Kylie.” Amanda placed her hand on Kylie’s arm. “I love my coal-mining husband. So, so much. And he loves me. And he loves the Lord. I wouldn’t trade my life for all the financial stability in the world.” Amanda let go of Kylie’s arm, then folded her hands on the table. “I’m sorry for you, Kylie.”

  Kylie frowned at her sister.

  Amanda closed her eyes. “God’s given you a wonderful man with the financial stability you’ve always dreamed about.” Amanda opened her eyes and let out a deep breath. “And you still don’t see it.”

  ❧

  Ryan grabbed a bag of potato chips from the pantry then opened the refrigerator and took out a can of pop. After snatching the remote control from the coffee table, he fell into the oversize recliner. Restless, he flipped through stations. Nothing interested him. He stopped on a station showing a commercial and dropped t
he remote on the end table.

  “Still sulking?” Gramps’s voice sounded from the couch where he lay facing the cushions, arms around a pillow.

  “I thought you were taking a nap.”

  Gramps turned around and pushed the pillow behind his head. “I reckon a man can’t sleep with the racket you’re making.”

  “Sorry.” Ryan shoved a potato chip in his mouth, then washed it down with a swig of pop. The commercial ended.

  “It’s a Wonderful Life is on.” Gramps sat up. “I love this movie.”

  Ryan groaned. Great. It’s a Wonderful Life. Oh, yes. Mine is absolutely terrific. He crunched another chip. Like I haven’t seen this a million times anyway.

  “You’re becoming unbearable to live with.” Gramps reached over and grabbed a handful of chips from the bag.

  “I’m not even saying anything.”

  “It’s what you’re not saying.”

  “What?”

  “You asked Kylie to marry you a week ago. Now you’re not saying much of anything.” Gramps looked at him. “Tell me what happened.”

  Ryan shrugged and watched the screen as Jimmy Stewart threatened to throw himself off the bridge. At this moment, Ryan understood Jimmy’s need, his feelings of complete failure. “She said no.”

  “Just like that.” Gramps folded his arms in front of his chest. “No.”

  “Just like that.”

  “Did she say why?”

  “She didn’t want me when I didn’t have money. Now she doesn’t want me because I do. Now, in my thinking, that means she flat out just doesn’t want me.” Ryan leaned back in his chair and looked at the ceiling. “I thought she was about to tell me she loved me, but—what does it matter now?”

  “You’re probably right.” Gramps stretched his arms over his head. “Think I’m going to head over to St. Nick’s for a cup of coffee. You wanna come?” He swatted the air. “Nah. You oughta stay here and watch some television.” He stood and patted Ryan’s shoulder. “You haven’t done much of that lately.”

  “Are you making fun of me?”

  “I’d never do that.” Gramps grabbed his coat off the rack and slid into it. “I’ll see you in a bit.”