Free Picket Fence Pursuit by Jennifer Johnson Page B

grown man working at Holiday World. Sure, he was godly and generous and fun to be around, but when the electric bill came due or the pantry emptied—then what? He’d take a side job as a lifeguard at a pool? No, Ryan’s picture would not be the one displayed in the dictionary beside the definition of “consistent.”
    And yet he was just that.
    Trying to forget the thought, she leaned closer to the mirror and brushed away an eyelash that had fallen on her cheek. “I wonder where he’s been.”
    She stood straighter and brushed invisible wrinkles from her sundress’s hem. “Classes will soon begin. Life will go back to normal. I will not worry about Ryan Watkins.” She squirted some blackberry-scented lotion into her palm and rubbed her hands together. “I’m going to mingle”—she zipped her purse shut and exited the restroom—“have a bit of fun, then head home and go to bed early before work tomorrow.”
    A purposeful bounce had formed in her step by the time she reached the recreation center. “Only two more weeks of work at Holiday World.” She pushed open the door. A groan sounded from the other side. She gasped, covered her mouth, and peered around the door.
    “Ryan!”
    “You pack quite a punch.” Ryan touched each side of his nose.
    “I’m so sorry. What were you doing right behind the door?”
    “Reaching for the handle.”
    Kylie grimaced and moved his hands from his face to see the damage. “I’m sorry. You’re not bleeding. A little red, maybe.”
    He sniffed and wiggled his nose. “I’m fine. How are you doing, Ki?”
    Flutters filled her belly when he shortened her name. Wow, she had missed him. “I’m good.”
    “How’s Brad?”
    She shrugged. Why would he ask her about Brad the Baboon? She almost chuckled aloud at the thought of the pet name she’d made up for the man. “Good, I guess.”
    Taking in his cool blue gaze and sun-kissed nose and cheeks, she acknowledged how cute this Richie Cunningham was to her, more attractive than she wanted to admit. “I haven’t seen you at work.”
    “I had some other things I needed to get done.”
    She furrowed her brows. “Don’t you. . .don’t you need to work? I mean, you said you didn’t have a day job.” She swatted the air. “It’s none of my business.”
    “You want to get some food?”
    “Sure.”
    Ryan led her to the table. She picked up a plate and loaded it with country ham biscuits, potato chips, fruit salad, crackers and cheese dip, and an oversize double chocolate brownie. After grabbing a can of pop, she sat at a vacant round table. Ryan sat beside her. “You want me to bless our food?”
    “Sure.” She bowed her head and closed her eyes.
    “Thank You for our food, Lord. Thank You for this time of fellowship. I pray You will draw us closer to You, that our lives will be filled with joy and contentment. Amen.”
    She looked up at him, then down at her plate. Was her life joyful? Could she say she felt contentment? The thought of working with Brad Dickson made her feel nauseous. Her brother barely grunted at her every time she called her parents’ house. Robin was preoccupied with Tyler. “Joy” and “contentment” were not words she would choose to describe her life right now. She bit into her sandwich.
    “Excuse me. Can we have your attention for a moment?”
    Kylie turned at the sound of Tyler’s voice. He stood in the middle of the room, with Robin holding tight to his side. An indeterminable queasiness overtook Kylie.
    “Robin and I have an announcement to make.”
    “No,” Kylie whispered and barely shook her head.
    Tyler’s bottom lip quivered. “God blessed me once with a wonderful wife. When Cheryl died, I thought my whole life belonged to my son and the youth.” He peered at Robin, and tears filled his eyes.
    “No, this is not happening.” Kylie gripped her fork.
    Robin pulled a tissue from her front pocket. She handed it to Tyler, leaned close, and whispered something in his ear, then