Wishing for Wonderful (Serendipity #3)(40)
“He took his mom?”
“Yes. He gave Gracie that trip for her fiftieth birthday. I remember her packing her bag and getting ready to go; that was the happiest I think I’ve ever seen her.”
Lindsay sat silently as Eleanor moved the dish she’d rinsed into the drainer.
Eleanor picked up another platter and continued. “For years Gracie had talked of one day going to Paris, but there was never a right time or enough money. After we learned of the cancer, Matthew got tickets and said he was taking her.”
Eleanor hesitated a moment and allowed the memories to sweep through her heart. “When they got back from that trip Gracie told me now that she’d seen Paris, she could die a happy woman.”
“She died?”
“Yes.” Eleanor’s eyes began to tear. “Less than a year later. It broke my heart. She was the closest thing I’ve ever had to a sister, and I surely did love her.” While the thought was still hanging in the air she added, “Life gives and takes. It gave me a sister then took her away. It gave me a husband then took him too.”
“I’m so sorry,” Lindsay said, wrapping her arms around the woman she once hated, “but now you’ve got Dad, so maybe life is trying to make up for its mistakes.”
Eleanor squeezed a bit closer. “Honey, getting to know you has more than made up for the heartaches I’ve gone through.”
The words were barely out of her mouth when she realized what she’d said. “Oops, I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
“For calling you honey again.”
Lindsay laughed out loud. “You can call me honey any old time you want to. As a matter of fact, I like it.”
~
Ah, yes, as the saying goes, “Love makes the world go around.” If only more humans could come to see that. Love is like marmalade. The more you spread it around the sweeter everything tastes. Did you notice when Lindsay started to fall in love with Matthew, Eleanor came along for the ride? That’s how love works. When humans are in love they’re happy, and when they’re happy they’re nicer and more pleasant to everyone. It’s a virtual impossibility to be happy in love and ill-tempered at the same time.
At this point it’s safe to assume Eleanor’s problems with Lindsay are over, but unfortunately her problems with Ray are escalating rapidly.
Three times I had Traci come to bed in a flimsy little thing that should have gotten some reaction, but nothing. One night she fixed him a pot roast dinner that even I would have enjoyed. Then she followed it up with a homemade lemon meringue pie. After dinner he was about as mellow as a man like Ray gets, and Traci brought up the question of starting a family. He flat out said no and then dropped the discussion like a hot potato. Since I was able to see what he was thinking at the time, I can tell you it’s typical of someone with an ax to grind.
I’m out of ideas when it comes to Ray, and asking Life Management for help is not an option. They’re not the least bit flexible about altering their event plan. I’m giving this two more weeks, and then I’m going to The Boss. Nothing’s impossible for him. Not even a man stubborn as Ray.
Cupid
The Good and Bad
Watching humans fall in love is the best part of this job. In the early days, weeks, months and, for the most fortunate ones, years, humans are at their shiny bright best. Time doesn’t lessen their love, but it changes the mating dance. What begins as a wild and passionate tango evolves into a waltz with two bodies bending and moving together, whirling across the potholed landscape of life. After years of trial and error, that gracefully gliding waltz becomes a slow fox trot with smaller evenly matched steps, and when one partner grows weary they lean on their mate knowing they will be carried. This last dance may not be as exciting as the first, but I can assure you there’s true beauty in every step.
~
Once Lindsay discovered that Matthew had taken his mother to Paris, she let go of the sack of “what ifs” she’d been carrying around. Suddenly she could see clear as day. Matthew had tons of principles, more principles than a girl would ever need. Perhaps even more than her father.
On Saturday night they went to the movies and stopped for pizza, and on Sunday they returned to Philadelphia for a visit to the aquarium. Lindsay was amazed to discover that things she’d seen dozens of times before were now brighter and more lively.
“They must have changed the lighting in here,” she exclaimed. “The fish seem so much more colorful.”
“I was thinking the same thing myself,” Matthew answered. Then he snuggled her into the crook of his arm.
With his heart beating in harmony with hers, they stood and watched two grey sharks swim back and forth for nearly an hour.
“Fascinating creatures aren’t they?” Matthew said.
“Unh-hunh,” Lindsay replied and shouldered herself a bit closer.
On Monday Lindsay was up before the sun and already standing in front of the Kindness Animal Clinic when Matthew arrived to unlock the door.
“I thought I’d check the appointment schedule and get that out of the way,” she said. “Then you can start teaching me how to work with dogs.”
“Good idea,” Matthew answered. He touched his finger to her face and tilted her chin upward as if he were about to kiss her. Lindsay waited, but it didn’t happen. Instead he pulled a key from his pocket, unlocked the door and said, “Let’s get started.”