Goldie Madison let herself into her house and sighed as she threw her coat on the coat tree beside the door. The first day of school was always stressful, especially for the teacher. For Goldie it was even more stressful as first grade teacher in the village where she had lived all her life. It never failed, the kids all wanted to hear "the story". Goldie shook her head as she thought about what a crazy phenomenon a simple mixed up six year old had created. "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" was her story and it would follow her all her life. She sighed again as she thought back on the past.
Goldie had wandered away from home one summer day and gotten lost in the woods near her home. Dazed and disoriented when she came across a house far into the woods, she read the name on the mailbox and decided that the Bears lived there. When she was finally found later she told the wild story that became her fairy tale.
Later she found out that the "bears" were actually John and Sharon Baer and their son Thomas. They had feed her and let her rest before they woke her to take her to her parents but she had been so young and frightened that she had run from them. Later they called her parents and explained. But the story had stuck by then. And her 20 years later it still made the children wide eyed with wonder.
The Baers had actually become good friends with the Madisons and Goldie and Thomas had become great friends, playing and exploring together for three years until the Baers decided to move away. John had found a job with a company in Seattle and they left. Goldie cried for hours after she watched them drive away. The Baers never sold the house but they also never came back. She and Thomas had talked on the phone a couple of times after that but as children do they just lost touch.
A car door brought Goldie back to the present. She rose and went to the door. It was Mary Jones, the local realtor, and Goldie's best friend.
"Hey, how was Day One?" Mary laughed.
"Not bad, except for the one kid who threw up. Always one the first day, even after a year of Kindergarten, they are still scared." Goldie held the door open and Mary came inside.
"Soooo, I have some news that I thought you might want to hear." Mary said cryptically.
"Oh Lord Mary, you are such a gossip," Goldie rolled her eyes, "which is why I love you."
Mary laughed and smiled, "Exactly, anyway, do you want to know or not?"
"Go ahead".
"The BEARS are back!" Mary fairly shouted, "Or at least some of them are. I got an email from Tom, saying he was opening up the house this weekend."
Goldie digested the information and then sank down in her favorite chair. She wasn't sure how to take this information. She often thought about what she would do if she ever saw Tom again. They had been best friends for a long time but time had faded that friendship. Still she would like to see him, see how he was, if he had a family, children.
"That's awesome. I hope I run into him while he's here."
"Wellll, I gave him your number, so maybe he will call you. He's single you know, and I hear he's grown up nicely." Mary grinned, always the matchmaker. "I would take him on myself except well, Harry might not like that and I'm all preggo too." She rubbed her very large baby bump. Ever since she had married her high school sweetheart Mary had been trying to find love for Goldie.
"Mary, it's been 16 years since I saw him, and I don't have time for a man, you know that."
"Whatever," Mary rolled her eyes, "you need to live beyond the classroom, and the pickings are slim here."
"You certainly have the truth of it there." Goldie laughed.
"It's a shame you know that you are so beautiful and stuck here in this backwoods town."
Goldie smiled at her friend. She thought about the image she saw in the mirror every morning. Slightly rounded curves from a on the go diet and a love for cheesecake was not exactly the top of fashion but she loved her curves. And her crowning glory, her sun gold hair that hung to her waist. All in all she was happy with herself.
"Well I have a house to show, I just wanted to stop by and tell you before Mrs. Hall did." Mary smiled, referring to the ancient neighbor that had a penchant for meddling.
"Have fun." Goldie walked Mary out and then she sank back into her chair. She sat there a long time before she nodded off, thinking about the Baers and her great friend Tom.
Goldie awoke in a sweat. Whatever she had been dreaming about had been very erotic and her heart was still beating wildly. "Mary and her matchmaking, sheesh." She shook her head and rose from the chair and headed to her bed. Truth was Goldie was sometimes lonely and sometimes she fantasized about a man who would rock her world. But she was a realist too, and she knew that those men were few and far between.
Friday finally arrived and the last bell rang. Goldie had not thought about that dream again because she had been very busy with work. She stopped at the local fresh market after work, deciding she wanted fresh vegetables for dinner.
As she was picking over the tomatoes and cucumbers, she heard someone call, "Goldie?"
She turned and saw a man smiling at her. He was tall and dark haired with a goatee. He had broad shoulders and the darkest eyes she had ever seen. As she looked into those eyes, she recognized something familiar. "Tom??"
He smiled and grabbed her in a hug so quickly she lost her breath. He smelled like something bold and masculine and she was shocked by the sudden quickening of her pulse. Then she looked up at him, and his eyes flashed. He released her quickly, and cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry, that was a little awkward." He laughed nervously. "I just couldn't resist. I am not sure what I was thinking."
"It's ok," she demurred, feeling a little disappointed that he regretted the hug. "How are you?"
"Good, glad to be back here. I have missed this place. I know it probably sounds crazy, but this place feels more like home than the city ever did."
"Not crazy at all, this place pulls you in and you can't escape."
He laughed and then he took a deep breath, "Hey have you got a little while, I would love to sit and get a cup of coffee."
"Yes, I would like that."
Goldie paid for her vegetables and then they made their way to the diner across the street from the marker. They sat at a corner table and talked for what seemed like forever.
Then Goldie looked at the clock and shook her head. "It's late. I should get home, and get dinner. It has been so good talking to you again."
