By Summer's End (Christian Fiction)

by Rosemarie Naramore

  Holly smiled at that, imagining a lovely assemblage of colorful flowers. “Wildflowers sound beautiful,” she mused. She suddenly saw herself in a wedding gown, holding a lovely bouquet of wildflowers, and standing on a green hilltop overlooking the McGraw property. Her eyes widened in stunned surprise. Thankfully, Ryan couldn’t read her mind. If he had possessed the ability, he would have seen himself standing beside her…

  Ryan’s smile widened and he leaned over to push open the door. “Climb in. Let’s get that ice cream.”

  She decided to join him, despite her misgivings. She gave herself a shake, in order to center herself. She was being ridiculous, envisioning any sort of permanent relationship with Ryan. Yes, he’d kissed her and she had kissed him back, but for all she knew, the act of kissing her probably meant nothing to him. Annabelle had hinted he’d been a bit of a playboy in the past. For all she knew, he went around kissing women for sport.

  She, on the other hand, wasn’t casual about anything. Kissing him meant something—was significant. But he had no way of knowing that she lived by a particular set of values.

  “Belt up,” Ryan said, interrupting her thoughts.

  She did and then held out the pint of blueberries. He took a handful and popped them into his mouth. “So good,” he said. “I need to get over to the Burn’s place and do some self-picking.”

  “That sounds like fun,” Holly said. She hadn’t noticed any signage that indicated customers could pick their own berries. “Brianna would probably enjoy an afternoon of berry picking.”

  “She’d probably make a pie or tart,” he said, chuckling. “That sister of yours can really cook.”

  Holly smiled with pride. “She has really blossomed living here. I’m so glad we made the move.”

  Ryan forced back a sigh and searched for a change of topic. “How was church this morning? I’d intended to go but had to run by the business for some important paperwork I needed to fax over to my lawyer. Like me, he’s working around-the-clock on this deal.”

  “Church was very nice,” she answered, and then gave him a speculative glance. “How long have you been a member there?”

  He didn’t look her way when he answered. “I’m not a member anymore,” he said. “I mean, I guess they no longer count me as a member. I haven’t attended with any regularity for quite a while.” He laughed. “Do they kick you out for being a no-show?”

  “Do you … believe in God?” she asked, and braced for his answer.

  He hesitated to answer, since he sensed the next words out of his mouth might very well impact his relationship with her—though at this point, they didn’t have one, nor did he have much of a relationship with God. He believed in Him, yes, but…

  “Yes, I believe in God,” he said finally. “Your uncle was like a father to me and he was determined that Annabelle and I have a relationship with God. He spent a lot of time with his Bible, and urged my sister and me to do the same.” He paused. “I’m afraid I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching lately—trying to find myself, I guess—and I haven’t been especially successful.” Why he added that particular bit of information, he wasn’t sure.

  “Have you … prayed?” She turned in the seat to face him. “When I’m uncertain about anything, my first instinct is to pray.”

  He nodded. It didn’t surprise him. It was something she had in common with the uncle she hadn’t had the pleasure of knowing. As he spotted the town of Battle Ground ahead, he was relieved. “The ice cream place is just ahead.”

  Holly realized he hadn’t commented on her observation about prayer and she didn’t push him. It wasn’t her place. Jesus didn’t impose himself on anyone, but instead, offered the gift of his love for all to either accept or reject. He gave man free will to choose.

  As Ryan pulled his truck into the parking lot, Holly felt uneasy. She wanted to spend time with Ryan, but it was evident his faith was shaky at best.

  She silently scolded herself. She had no real basis on which to make the assumption. For many people, faith was a very personal thing. Maybe he wasn’t comfortable talking to her about it.

  She realized she was attempting to justify her choice to spend time with him. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers… She sighed. The scripture that abruptly popped into her mind made it clear what God’s expectations were when it came to marriage. But, it wasn’t as if she was marrying Ryan...

  They could be friends. Of course. Perhaps she could help him to find his way back to God, if indeed he was currently experiencing a crisis of faith.

  She suddenly had a headache. Her mind was like a ping pong ball, bouncing back and forth between opposing thoughts. Lord, help me, she prayed. Help me to make appropriate choices…

  “Hey, where’d you go just then,” Ryan asked.

  Holly gave herself a shake and forced a smile. “Oh, nowhere.”

  Ryan returned her smile and climbed out of the truck. He met Holly at the passenger side and helped her down. “I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a sundae.”

  “Sounds good,” she said.

  A moment later, they had placed their orders and taken a seat at a small table by a window. Holly glanced out at the town. Although it was Sunday, traffic was heavy. It never ceased to amaze her that Battle Ground always seemed to be bustling, despite the day of the week or the time of day.

  Ryan caught her staring out over the small town. “What do you think of Battle Ground?” he asked.

  “I like it. It’s small, but I’ve found that if I can’t find something I need here, I can drive into Vancouver. It’s so close.”

  He nodded. “Have you been to Portland yet?”

  “I haven’t. One of my coworkers mentioned she’s afraid to drive over there. It sort of scared me. I haven’t done much driving in a big city.”

  “If you avoid driving during rush hour, you’ll be fine.” He gave her a hopeful glance. “Maybe you and I can go together one Saturday soon. I enjoy walking around downtown Portland. It’s a beautiful city, with some terrific restaurants. We’ll get lunch and make a day of it.”

  She smiled eagerly. “That sounds like fun.”

  Wow, she thought, as she watched him retrieve their sundaes when their number was called, despite her conflicting emotions and feelings, she had readily agreed to essentially go on a date with him. It was as if her mouth had a will of its own.

  “So, why are you feeling gloomy today?” he asked, upon his return. He passed her her sundae and gave her an inquiring glance.

  “Why was I gloomy?” she said, emphasizing the ‘was.’ “Well, I found myself home all alone. And mind you, I’m used to being alone, or used to be used to it,” she amended with a smile. “I realized I was missing Brianna, and then got to thinking about all the years I’d missed with her and…” She sighed. “Anyway, I don’t know how I’d get along without her at this point. It’s as if I’ve known her forever.”

  “You’re very close,” he observed. “She adores you.”

  Holly smiled. “And I her. I’m so glad we made the move here. It turned out to be the catalyst for our reconciling. If we’d stayed back home…”

  He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I’m so glad you moved here too.”

  Chapter Thirty

  An hour later, Holly and Ryan left the ice cream parlor. The time had flown and Holly was surprised at how at ease she felt in his company. When he asked her if she would mind accompanying him to the grocery store to pick up a few items before heading home, she readily agreed.

  Inside the store, he reached for a cart. “Annabelle is determined to try out some new recipe,” he told her, pulling a small piece of paper from his pocket. He grimaced and glanced around the store, as if lost.

  Holly took the list from him and hurriedly directed him to the items. They were done shopping within moments. “Did you need anything?” Ryan asked.

  “No,” she told him, though she knew she could probably use a few staples. Unfortunately, her budget
precluded her from shopping for a few more days.

  Back in his truck, Ryan smiled her way as he started the ignition. “Hey, thanks. I would have been in that store for an hour or more searching for those few items. I’m not much of a shopper.” He grinned. “Hate shopping, really.”

  “I already know the store like the back of my hand,” Holly said with an answering smile. “I’d like to find my way to one of the Costco stores in Vancouver eventually.”

  “I can take you,” he said readily.

  “But you hate shopping,” she reminded him.

  He gave a shrug. “Turns out, I like shopping with you.”

  Holly smiled and felt heat rising in her cheeks.

  “You’re blushing,” he said. Their eyes held and his direct gaze electrified every nerve in her body. To her surprise, he leaned close and brushed her cheek with a kiss. He pulled back slightly, smiled into her eyes, and claimed her lips this time. She lost herself in the kiss, awash in sweet sensation.

  When they ended the kiss, he continued watching her, even as he started the ignition. Finally, with a contented sigh, he turned his attention to driving.

  Holly still felt the warmth of his lips on her cheek and lips. Ryan was the first man to kiss her in years, but she’d never enjoyed a man’s kiss more. Regardless of how things eventually turned out between them, she knew his kiss would be seared in her memory.

  She knew something else, as well. She’d fallen in love with him. Despite her resolve to avoid romantic relationships, Ryan had literally happened along and disrupted her neat, orderly world.

  She wondered, was it time for her to allow someone in? She’d been alone for several years before Brianna had entered her life. And now, Brianna fit seamlessly and she couldn’t imagine life without her. Brianna had enhanced her life and given her a reason to wake up each morning.

  She uttered a silent prayer, asking God for guidance. She honestly didn’t know what to do about her developing feelings for Ryan. It was all so new to her. And there was the matter of her firm convictions. And her debt…

  As if he sensed her unease, Ryan reached across the seat and took her hand. He gave it a squeeze and then his fingers curled around hers. Holly felt a calm settle over her. This closeness with Ryan felt right. Perhaps God had brought them together?

  Suddenly, the serenity of the moment came to an abrupt end, as Ryan pulled his hand away and sat up taller in the seat. His head suddenly spun, as if he was watching the car that had just passed them.

  “Is everything all right?” Holly asked worriedly.

  Ryan nodded, but raked a hand through his hair. “That car… I believe it belongs to the guy who showed up at your house the other night. I meant to tell you… I should have told you…” he muttered, as if angry with himself.

  “What, Ryan?”

  He suddenly pulled over to the side of the road and pulled his cell phone from his shirt pocket. Holly watched him, unsure what was happening. He quickly dialed and put the phone to his ear. He began speaking in a clipped voice. “That car I told you about the other night—the plate I gave you to run…” He drew silent. “Yeah, it’s headed into town. Yeah, currently traveling south on Meadow Lane. Right.”

  He ended the call and turned to Holly. “Sorry. I meant to tell you…” He shook his head, as if he was frustrated with himself. “Anyway, I’m a reserve deputy for Clark County.” He gave a dismissive wave as if that was neither here nor there. “I had a friend at the Battle Ground Police Department run the plate of your visitor from the other night. Turns out he’s bad news. He was recently released from prison.”

  “What…? What did he do?” She shook her head. “I thought he was just a kid.”

  “Apparently he looks younger, but he’s twenty-eight,” he clarified. “He did time for robbery. But he was also picked up for improper contact with a minor.”

  Holly gasped and her heart began thrumming in her chest. Panic gnawed on the edges of her composure, as she remembered the way the guy had looked past her that night, attempting to get a look at Brianna. She drew a shaky breath and tried to sound calm when she spoke. “Will they... Are they going to pick him up?”

  He nodded. “They hope to. At least they plan to have a conversation with him.”

  “But … can they arrest him?”

  He gave a weary sigh. “Not until he breaks probation or commits a crime.”

  “He knew about the fence out back needing repair, and that the barn door stuck. Is that cause to arrest him?”

  “I’m going to call the department again,” he said and quickly dialed. He spoke to his friend again in order to remind him about the guy’s knowledge of the fence and barn. Maybe it was enough to arrest him.

  After the call, as they drove toward home, Holly struggled to slow her pounding heart. She suddenly had a bad feeling and couldn’t stave it off.

  She was relieved when they reached her house, but she was surprised when he drove past. “I’m sorry. I should have asked you first. Will you come home with me? I’m sure Annabelle could use Brianna’s help with meal preparation… I could drive you and Brianna home after dinner…

  Holly suspected it was a ruse, to assure they were safe. He probably feared their visitor might return. Regardless of his reasons for asking, his eyes were hopeful and Holly couldn’t help herself. She nodded and found herself looking forward to an afternoon and another evening spent with the McGraws.

  When Ryan’s phone rang, he pulled over once again to take the call. Holly watched his face as he listened to whomever was at the end of the phone line. His expression drew tight, and then incredulous. “You’re kidding!” He raked a hand through his hair. “Okay. Okay.”

  After ending the call, he turned to her. “According to my buddy at the police department, the guy claims he’d been on the property before, with Ben’s permission. He said Ben hired him to do some work around the place.”

  “Have you ever seen him before?”

  “No.”

  “Do you think he’s telling the truth?”

  Ryan shrugged. “It’s hard to say. Ben had a heart of gold. It wouldn’t seem unreasonable that he tried to help the guy out.”

  He shifted into drive and pulled onto the road. Within moments, they arrived at his home. Inside, they found Annabelle and Brianna sitting at the dinette table, pouring over bridal magazines. “For Pete’s sakes,” Ryan said, “for a wedding that’s supposedly happening by summer’s end, you don’t seem to be making much progress.”

  Annabelle gasped. “We have too. I’m feeling pretty good with our progress, in fact. I have my venue—here,” she said, “and my gown is being shipped, as we speak. Brianna and I have narrowed my flower choice down to two.” She flashed a grin at Holly. “I wanted Holly’s opinion, and then we’ll make the final decision.”

  “Oh, my,” Holly said with a wince. “Please don’t look to me for opinions. I’ve never even been a bridesmaid before.”

  “Really?” Annabelle said, sounding surprised. She glanced at Brianna and back to Holly. “It’s funny you’d say that, actually, since…” She rose from the chair and brought her hands together. “Well, I’ll just say it. I was hoping that you and Brianna would agree to be bridesmaids in my wedding.”

  Brianna gasped and jumped out of her chair. “Are you serious?” She searched her friend’s face. “You’re serious. Holly, she’s serious! Yes. Yes!” she cried. “We’d love to, right Holly?”

  Holly was utterly surprised by the request. Although she and Brianna had grown close to the McGraws in a relatively short time, she was still stunned by the invitation to serve in Annabelle’s wedding. She turned to Annabelle, who had brought her hands to her mouth and was watching her expectantly.

  “Are you … sure?” Holly asked.

  “Yes! I’m absolutely certain. Frankly, I don’t know what I would do without Brianna—she’s like the little sister I never had. And you…” She smiled and nearly divulged her real reason for asking her to participate in her wedding�
�that she was certain her brother had fallen in love with her and she hoped to do anything in her power to bring the two closer together. What better way than to pair them off in her wedding.

  Holly smiled kindly. “Annabelle, I understand if you’d like Brianna in your wedding. I know you’ve grown close. I’m delighted that you want Brianna in your wedding, but please don’t feel obliged to include me.”

  “But I want you too!” she insisted. “I’ve always wanted four bridesmaids in my wedding. Two of my best friends are local, so they’ve already agreed to act as bridesmaids. My other friends have all moved away and we’ve lost any real closeness.” She gave a shrug. “I don’t know. I just feel as if you and Brianna are like family.”

  Holly couldn’t help the smile that lit her face. “Well, okay, I’d be delighted to be in your wedding. Just let me know what I have to do.”

  Annabelle closed the distance between them and gave Holly a quick hug. “Thank you so much.”

  Brianna, who was still beaming, grabbed Annabelle by the arm. “Okay, then, as one of your bridesmaids, I have to tell you that we have a lot to do…”

  “I thought you were making some sort of special dinner tonight,” Ryan reminded his sister.

  “Oh, you’re right.” She checked the time on a nearby wall clock. “Whew,” she with relief. “I have plenty of time. Holly and Brianna, you’re staying for dinner, of course. Harrison is coming and I’d like you both to meet him.”

  “Sure, we’ll stay,” Brianna said, before Holly could respond.

  Annabelle laughed. “I’m counting on you to help me out with the dinner,” she told Brianna. “I’m going to do all the work,” she was quick to add. “But I need you for moral support.”