Lunar Love (9)
Pó Po and Auntie signal for me to join them. My heart beats faster as a few heads in the crowd turn to look in my direction. The moment isn’t lost on me. Pó Po coordinated the timing of the announcement so that the entire family could be here to witness not only her birthday but Lunar Love’s emergence into a new era. I stand up straighter knowing people are watching.
“It has been my life’s great honor to carry my mother’s legacy all these years,” Auntie says emotionally, dabbing the corner of her eyes with a paper napkin. “Her vision has lasted over five decades. That is a true testament to her ideas, her work ethic, and who she is as a person. We both feel comforted knowing that Lunar Love will be in great hands.”
Pó Po positions me between her and Auntie. “Truthfully, there have been more than a fair share of challenges lately,” she says. “It seems young people these days have greater trust in their phones to find them true love than experienced matchmakers, but after all these years, I know in my heart that it’s just a growing pain. A phase.” Pó Po grabs my hand. “It goes without saying that Liv will do an excellent job bringing Lunar Love into the future.”
I give her hand a squeeze. Challenges is putting it lightly. In recent months, more clients have left Lunar Love complaining about the high cost of services and lengthy matching process. They say they want to explore other options. More modern options. I have my work cut out for me.
I watch Mom pour small amounts of whiskey into glasses that Dad passes around.
“And now, in following tradition, this necklace is yours.” Auntie flips the gold crescent moon pendant between her thumb and pointer finger one last time before reaching behind her neck to unfasten the dangling gold chain. I’m beaming with excitement, and in this moment, I allow myself to feel it. The anxiety can wait.
Auntie extends her arms to place the necklace around my neck. I twist the little moon back and forth between my own fingers. The necklace itself is lighter than I imagined, but the weight of what it represents feels like a cinder block.
Before this necklace was Auntie’s, it was Pó Po’s. She bought it for herself with the money she made from her matchmaking practice in China, a one-woman show at the time. She wore the necklace when she moved from China to Taiwan, and ultimately over to America. Pó Po felt proud being able to not only support herself and her family but celebrate her small but good fortune with a special piece of jewelry. When she successfully transitioned her business to America, she attributed the accomplishment to hard work, late nights, single men and women who were willing to take a chance on an immigrant who promised true love, and good luck in the shape of a little crescent moon.
I turn to the crowd to say a few words. “I’m over the moon to be a part of Lunar Love’s legacy in this way. All I want to do is make Pó Po and Auntie, and all of you, proud. I am ready and excited for this next chapter in my life and for Lunar Love. If you know anyone who’s looking for love, you know who to talk to.”
All three of us hold our glasses up to our friends and family. They hold theirs high in return, and we toast to the future and good health. I take a sip of the amber-colored liquid, notes of oak and caramel dancing on my tongue.
Tears sting my eyes as I lean in to embrace Pó Po and Auntie in a group hug. “Thank you both,” I whisper. “For this opportunity, for believing in me, for everything.”
An overwhelmed laugh of disbelief escapes my mouth. I absorb every last detail of this moment, taking a second to appreciate how far this journey has taken me. Starting Monday, I’ll no longer be following in the footsteps of a well-worn path. A new adventure begins, and with all the challenges ahead, I’ll be forging my own path. I can hardly wait.
Chapter 3
As a matchmaker, I stay on top of my game by reading (and rereading) every English book on the Chinese zodiac and by attending as many relevant events as I can to stay in the know.
Today’s event is the one I look forward to most, and it’s just my luck that it falls on my very first day as Head Matchmaker of Lunar Love. Every fall, the annual Matched with Love Summit takes place in Los Angeles. The day-long conference captures the magic of new beginnings, optimism, and unspoken what ifs. If you’re a matchmaker, it’s the queen of all conferences. Thousands of matchmakers, behavioral scientists, CEOs, marketers, and investors from around the country attend to learn about the state of the industry, how to increase profits, and the science behind attraction. Basically, we gather to talk all things love and matchmaking.
This year, Matched with Love is being hosted on the outskirts of Chinatown, which Lunar Love has called home for the last fifty years. The speaker of this afternoon’s session, Dr. Annie Goodman, paces back and forth on layered carpets at the front of the event space. Rows of chairs facing her are lined up neatly in the outdoor veranda of an industrial warehouse that’s been painted all white. Flower garlands drip from the overhead beams, casting floral shadows on the concrete floor in the natural light. It’s all very romantic.
“Raise your hand if you believe that opposites attract,” Dr. Goodman instructs in a loud voice. “And be honest!” With silver hair, tortoiseshell round glasses, and her fingers steepled in front of her, Dr. Goodman looks like a glamorous therapist only seen in movies. She commands the room with her quiet confidence as she speaks methodically about the psychology of love.