Unwritten Chapters

What's a guy to do when he comes face-to-face with the girl he's been dreaming about for years?

Rylee Post is a romance writer who wants to use a museum setting for her next novel. Noah Parker hosts a TV show about museums called Let's Explore!

Rylee reaches out to Noah over a Zoom call to see if he'll help with answers to a few questions she has, to give some color to her upcoming book.

When they connect, Noah cannot believe what he's seeing when Rylee Post appears on his computer screen. She is the woman he has been dreaming about for years. He can't talk, can't breathe. He is intrigued and mesmerized by her. At the same time, Rylee sees "the real" Noah Parker, not the TV host with the flattened back hair, hipster glasses, and studio makeup, but a very casual, handsome man; and she's captivated as well. The two hit it off, and an online romance ensues.

Right away they hit roadblocks. First, they live eight hours apart. Weekend visits become a part of their lives, but the stolen bits of time are simply not enough for either of them. They want to get to know the real person, not just the weekend visitor.

Besides the distance issue, Noah is well aware he's forty-five and she's thirty-one. Although he desires Rylee more than anything, he heartbreakingly realizes she should be free to have a family with someone more her age. Forty-five is simply too old. Still, the thought of giving her up is killing him. And although he's dreamed of having a family all his life, he has decided it's too late for him to even consider following his heart-marrying Rylee and having children with her. His decision, without giving her any input, causes a serious rift between the two. Rylee doesn't think he's too old to be a great partner to her or a dad to any children they may have.

Through a series of conversations with his estranged father, brother, and sister, will Noah come to realize that age is just a number? Or will he selflessly let the love of his life go to allow her to find the happiness he feels she deserves?

-- Denise Nicholas-Shaw