All You Need Is One, Part One (Short Story)

Valerie Baker arrived at the restaurant, knowing her fiancé, Ned, would be fashionably late as usual. Settling onto a bench just outside the restaurant, she drew out her phone to make notes regarding tomorrow’s meeting with her property manager. Real estate was in her blood, almost literally. She shared her father’s passion for the profession that had made him successful. Valerie smiled as she scanned the thumbnails of the ten properties she now owned. Not bad for a 24-year-old, she mused. Ned’s familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. She looked up expectantly, but he was talking to someone else, out of sight around the corner of the building. 

“Yeah, I’m in a bind again. Last night didn’t go so well.”

When Valerie didn’t hear an immediate response, she realized he was on the phone. She sat quietly to avoid startling him. Last night? She frowned. Ned told her he was going out with two of his friends. He had said nothing about them having any issues.

“Well, it was a bad beat. Beginner’s luck for that new guy Joe brought with us. I just need a few thousand to get me through until I get married.” A pause, then a chuckle. “Of course, why do you think I’m marrying the Miss Baker. Her looks are decent, but the looks of her dad’s portfolio are more attractive.” He stopped to listen. “Oh yeah, she’s well on her way. I’ll be set up with a few lucrative properties as soon as we get married. So, I’ll be able to pay you back and then some.”

Valerie felt her heart drop. Her looks were decent? That’s not what he usually told her. And how had she been so foolish not to realize he was after her only for her money? Also, why was the fiancé she thought to be so hard-working in need of immediate cash? A whisper of understanding washed over her. Gambling? She felt the blood drain from her face. Their marriage in three weeks was not based on love at all. Just a man’s need to pay off gambling debts by using her. Using her and her “decent looks.” 

By the time Valerie strode around the corner, her face flushed, her fiancé was rising with his characteristic handsome grin. He offered her a huge bouquet of roses as he stepped forward to greet her. “Well, hello, beautiful!” 

Valerie was pulling into her driveway before her mind caught up with her body. Her wedding plans were crushed, in shambles around her. Back at the restaurant entrance, a bouquet of two dozen roses suffered the same fate as Ned angrily stomped them on the way to his car. 

~~~~~~~

Carson leaned back to look at the rosebush with a satisfied smile. Earlier in the season, he wasn’t sure the red roses would make it, but they were vibrant and healthy now. Sweating in the July sun, he turned towards the house for a drink when he heard a sound coming from over the fence. Glancing in that direction, he saw a young lady sitting in the adjacent garden with her head in her hands.

She must be the new renter Dad was talking about, he thought. Turning away to give her privacy, he started towards the house. Then, a whim possessed him. Without stopping to think, he trimmed off one of the red roses with his shears and walked to the low fence. Resting his elbows on it, he softly cleared his throat. He regretted his action when the lady’s head jerked up. Her eyes wary, she looked at his apologetic smile, then to the rose in his hands. Something flashed through her eyes at the sight of the rose. 

“Sorry to bother you, ma’am. But it appears we are neighbors. I was just trimming my roses and thought I’d offer you one. As a welcome to the neighborhood.”

She stared hard at the rose for a moment, then composed her face into a semblance of politeness. “That is…kind of you. Thank you.” Quickly swiping under her eyes, she met him at the fence and held out a hand. “My name is Valerie.” 

He took it, smiling warmly as he carefully handed her the rose. “I’m Carson. I hope you enjoy it here. It’s peaceful, and the view is great.” 

She looked down at the rose she held, then smiled at him. “Thank you. This is a lovely rose.”

“Roses are kind of my thing,” he laughed. “All you need is one.”

She looked up at him quizzically, but he didn’t elaborate. 

“I was heading into the house for a drink, so I’ll see you around.” He turned and waved. He was almost at the door of his small cottage when she spoke again. “I made some fresh lemonade earlier. Let me thank you for your kindness by offering you a cup.” 

He turned to say, “Thank you, but I have work to do.” But something haunted and lonely in her eyes changed his words to, “That sounds delicious.”

Carson was at her table pouring his second cup of lemonade before he wondered why he was in a stranger’s kitchen. He left out the fact that her house belonged to his father. And Valerie had just finished pouring out her story of renting the cottage for a change of scenery after a betrayal. She left out the fact that her gambling former fiancé wanted her houses more than he did her. 

Thanks for reading Part One. Part Two will be published next week.