Wishing for Wonderful (Serendipity #3)(31)

“Consider it a vacation,” John said. “Call your high school buddies, go to the mall, hang out and have some fun.”

“I’ve already called everybody I know,” Lindsay said. “Donna Bobbs moved to Ohio, and she left without even saying goodbye. Can you believe it? And it’s not just Donna, it’s everybody. All those friends I had in school,” she reminisced sadly, “every single one of them has gotten married or moved away.” She gave her head a rueful shake and asked, “How can such a thing be possible?”

John shrugged. “It happens, but it should be easy enough to find new friends. You’ve got to get out and start socializing. Go to the gym; there’s plenty of young people there. I’m sure you’ll meet—”

“I don’t go to the gym anymore,” she interrupted sadly. She didn’t mention how she feared the gym was a place where she’d meet another man like Phillip.

“I don’t know if this would be of any interest,” Eleanor said, “but do you think you would consider a temporary job?”

“Sure,” Lindsay answered.

“My nephew’s receptionist is out on maternity leave. I spoke with him last week, and he mentioned that he needed someone to fill her spot.”

“You think he’d consider me?”

“I’m sure he would, if he hasn’t already hired someone.”

“Wow,” Lindsay said. “That would be awesome.”

“I’ll call and find out,” Eleanor offered.

“Awesome,” Lindsay repeated. For the first time since she’d met her, Lindsay looked straight into Eleanor’s face and smiled.

The fact that Lindsay had actually smiled at her spurred Eleanor on, and in the middle of her pork chop she got up and made the call. When Eleanor returned to the table she was smiling. “He said to stop by any time tomorrow.”

“Awesome!” Lindsay repeated for the third time. She asked what type of business it was, although the answer really didn’t matter. It was only for a few months, and a job was a job.

“Matthew’s a veterinarian.”

“He works with dogs?”

Eleanor nodded. “Dogs, cats, horses, all kinds of animals. He’s got one customer who comes in with a black pot-bellied pig. Can you imagine?”

“Does he have rescue dogs?” Lindsay called to mind a picture of the dog she’d been looking for.

“Rescue dogs?” Eleanor questioned.

“Homeless dogs, dogs up for adoption.”

Eleanor wrinkled her nose and thought for a minute; then she shook her head. “I don’t think so. He mostly treats sick animals. I can’t say whether or not he does adoptions.”

Lindsay settled back in her chair. “I’ve got a good feeling about this.”

Eleanor couldn’t help but notice how the smile on John’s face was nearly the same as the one on Lindsay’s.

~

I can honestly say this is the first glimmer of hope I’ve seen in the Eleanor-Lindsay relationship. Oddly enough this turn of events was not of my making, but looking at the future I can see it might be advantageous.

You, like most humans, probably think every person has a single perfect match. Not so. Unlike Life Management events, perfect matches are something I control. If circumstances change I’m open to suggestion. A job change often means a new match pool, so if I see a better alternative I’ll go with it. Of course I’ve got to get The Boss’s okay, but He pretty much knows what’s gonna happen before I think to ask. Since Lindsay hasn’t picked up on any of the matches I’ve offered, her love life is in a holding pattern.

Eleanor and John are another story. They’re already committed. There is no potential of a different match for either of them, so before I give Lindsay the go-ahead on anything I’ve got to take care of them. They don’t know it yet, but there are a lot of problems ahead. Right now Eleanor thinks Lindsay is the major stumbling block, but she’s wrong. Ray is.

The night Eleanor told him about her relationship with John, Ray was like a wild man. Eleanor chalked it up to him having his father’s hot-headedness, but it’s a whole lot more. That young man is a pot ready to boil over. I saw what was in his heart at the Labor Day cookout and let me tell you, it was not a pretty sight.

I was hoping when Ray saw the Grays’ house, he’d realize John didn’t need his mother’s money. Regretfully, that was not the case. Every now and then I come across a human with a mind so closed up that not even I can look inside. Ted Bundy was like that. And on occasion, Eleanor’s son can be the same way. All along I’ve believed with Ray there was hope, but that hope is looking slimmer and slimmer. I’ve got to find a way to get inside Ray’s head and change his way of thinking. If I don’t, Eleanor and John are in a very precarious position. Young or old, no couple can withstand the weight of such family pressures.

Three weeks from now Ray is going to have a knock-down-drag-out argument with his mother, and he’ll tell her that if she marries John she’s as good as dead to him. I can’t let that happen. Parent-child love is not really my responsibility, but if I’m to save this match I have to do something.

It’s beginning to look like I’ve got the Lindsay situation under control, but when it comes to Ray I’m stumped. I’m tempted to turn him over to Life Management, and I would if I thought I could get away with it. Unfortunately, they’d just kick him back. Not his time, they’d say. Deal with it yourself.