The Matchmaker's Gift(83)
“Did you like it better than being a mom and a grandma?”
“Oh, sweetheart. Nothing could be better than that. I love being a mother and I love being your grandma. But I’m grateful that I was a matchmaker first. It taught me that I could support myself, and that I have something valuable to offer. One day, no matter what your career is, I hope it makes you feel that way, too.”
Abby thought about her grandmother’s hopes. She certainly knew she could support herself, but did working for Diane make her feel valued? Evelyn Morgan appreciated her, but that was because Abby had gone above and beyond the normal parameters of her job. Although Abby hadn’t made a match, she’d prevented Evelyn from throwing her marriage away. In her heart, Abby knew that what she’d done for Evelyn was more meaningful than much of her other work. She thought, perhaps, she was closer to understanding some of what her grandmother wanted for her.
The phone rang again, but Abby let the machine pick up. It was Will, sounding slightly confused. Like Jessica, he had tried reaching her at the office and had been told that she’d gone home for the day. Abby resolved to call him tomorrow—for now, she wanted to be alone. She scraped the remaining crumbs off her plate.
This was the last of her grandmother’s babkas, and she would not waste a single bite.
* * *
The next morning, Abby slept later than usual. She might have gone on dozing into the afternoon if Jessica hadn’t called at nine.
Although it was Jessica who’d woken Abby, the ophthalmologist was the one who sounded half asleep. “Abby?” she whispered dreamily. “It’s me.”
“Jessica? Hey—how was dinner?”
“Abby … I … I don’t even know what to say. It was the most amazing night of my life.”
“Victor must have taken you to one hell of a restaurant,” Abby said. “Let me guess. Le Bernardin? Bouley? That new one—Daniel?” Abby sighed. “I’d love to go to Daniel.”
“No, nothing as fancy as all that. We went to a tiny bistro over on First Avenue. I’ve never had anyone ask me so many questions. Victor made me tell him my entire life story, starting with the hospital where I was born. He wanted to know why I became a doctor, why I’d never been married, why I loved sneakers so much.”
Abby groaned. “Please don’t tell me you wore your sneakers to dinner.…”
“I had no choice! I met him right from work. There was no time for me to go home first.”
“Did he shower before he met you, at least? He was kind of rank yesterday morning.”
“Yes, he showered, but he still looked tired. He hasn’t been sleeping well lately. Abby, he told me all about Nicole. How they met, their work together. She sounds incredibly smart and creative. That’s what drew him to her. They have a wonderful working relationship.”
Abby hesitated. “Did he say whether he’s still planning on marrying her?”
“He’s having doubts, like you said. He feels connected to Nicole in terms of their work, but not in other important ways. Victor is finally settling into a good routine with Chloé and Isobel, but Nicole isn’t interested in spending time with them. It’s been a painful realization for him. He told me he wants to find someone who loves his daughters as much as he does.” Jessica paused. “I told him how I’ve always wanted children and how I used to think it was too late for me. Anyway, Nicole only wants to talk business these days. She’s been distant with him lately, and he thinks she may have found someone else. He isn’t sure what either of them wants.”
“What about you? What do you want?”
“I don’t know, Abby. It’s so … confusing. The way Victor looks at me—I’ve never felt so beautiful. We stayed at the restaurant until one in the morning. We never ran out of things to say.”
“Did he kiss you? Did you guys—sorry, is that too personal?”
Jessica laughed. “We kissed, yes. But that was it. He’s still engaged.” For a few moments, there was silence on the other end of the line, and Abby wondered whether Jessica had hung up the phone.
“Jessica?” Abby asked. “Are you still there?”
Eventually, Jessica spoke again. “I’m here,” she said. “Sorry about that.”
“Are you going to tell me how the kiss was?”
Jessica’s answer was barely above a whisper. “I didn’t want it to end.”
* * *
Abby had another piece of babka for breakfast. She made more coffee and called Will at work. “Do you have time for lunch today?” she asked. “I can meet near your office—I have the day off.”
“A day off?” Will asked. “That doesn’t sound like you.”
“Long story,” Abby told him. “How’s twelve thirty?”
Abby arrived at the diner first and scored one of the leather banquettes in the back. She scanned the twelve-page laminated menu and tried to decide what she felt like eating. She was still pondering when Will walked in wearing new glasses—–a pair of speckled tortoiseshell frames. She waited until they got their food before she complimented him on them.
He flashed her a slightly sheepish grin. “They’re a lot snazzier than my old ones, I guess. More fashionable, maybe?”