Page 26 of Courageous Yearnings

“I already contacted the dealership, talked to your boss, and told him what was going on. I asked him to order another set of keys for your vehicle, and he said that wasn’t a problem since you bought it there. The keys will be there in about a week, and then I’ll get it towed to the dealership to be programmed.”

“You did?” she whispered tearfully, touched and surprised.

“Yeah, and I had them send any paperwork for you to my address because I didn’t know your new home address. I hope I wasn’t overstepping, but things were kind of a mess for a few days and…”

“No, it’s fine. I really appreciate it.”

“Once you get settled in your place, we can forward your mail to the house.”

“I had just turned in the paperwork that morning at the post office, so I should have mail at my new home,” she agreed, nodding, and then looked past him. “That will work.”

There, just past his head, was a box of college essentials. A dish drainer, two plastic bowls, two plastic plates, and two small cups. Something like that would work for her at the house until she really got a chance to get settled or received a settlement for her things from the insurance company. Thank goodness for renters’ insurance.

“Nope.”

“What do you mean, ‘nope,’” she replied, looking at him in surprise.

“This is your chance to start over – why start with crap?”

“Excuse me?”

“I mean, hear me out,” he hesitated and looked a little nervous. “Close your eyes and imagine for a few moments, all right? If you were registering for a housewarming party or a wedding…”

“What?” she blurted out, her eyes opening and meeting his – only to see his frown as he put his hand over her eyes.

“Uh, hello? Pretending, remember?” he retorted in a hushed voice. “Close your eyes and daydream for a second. If you were registering, would you pick a cheap set of plastic plates for yourself?”

“Well… no?”

“Exactly. What would you select if you could choose anything? This is your moment to begin anew, to dream with a blank slate. Don’t skimp and ‘deal with things’ – but allow yourself to imagine.”

Blythe swallowed and nodded, keeping her eyes closed even as he pulled away his hand from her eyes… listening. His voice was weaving a spell around her, inviting her to think outside the box.

“Pretend you are setting up your home for the very first time. I want you to imagine holidays with family, candlelit dinners, meals in front of the television. You want something that is special, something you like, but something that you would also be proud to use in front of friends and family. If it was your birthday, what would you want to see a slice of birthday cake sitting on – a plastic plate or maybe something like this?” he asked softly and she opened her eyes, meeting his.

In one hand he was holding a delicate plate with swirls of petals and ivy… and in the other was a stoneware plate with big brown splashes. Both were nice but not exactly what she had in mind. Turning slightly, she hesitated and heard his voice again.

“Don’t you dare look at prices either… this is a one-time purchase.”

Blythe laughed nervously, glanced at him, and saw his knowing smile. He caught her, knew her better than she realized, and was drawn toward something a little more feminine and brighter toward the end of the aisle. He was already putting the two dishes back on the display stand and moving behind her as she stopped.

There before her was a lovely, scalloped plate with a spray of pink roses in the middle that was lovely yet delicate. She could see herself having dinner there in front of the TV, but there was no one in her life. No holidays, no candlelight dinners, or…

“This one?” Lance asked, picking up the pink floral dish. “This one’s very pretty and elegant.”

“It’s not too girly?” she began and saw him roll his eyes.

“You’re a girl, and I am completely comfortable in my masculine side. I can go for pink flowers if it makes you happy.”

“Um, we aren’t buying dishes together or setting up a house together,” she began, confused.

“Of course not. That would be crazy-talk, wouldn’t it? No, I was trying to explain that when I’m helping move the furniture or putting together shelves or stuff, I would be comfortable eating pizza off there.”

“Ah, okay.”

“Relax – and we’ll get the pink dishes. Did you see that there is cutlery that has little roses at the end of each fork, too?”

“There is?”

---