by Kathy Bosman
Chapter Five
Pauline sat on Ella’s little patio that extended onto the back of her property. The patio gave a view of a dishevelled back garden with an unused rusty bench and table at the bottom. She shuffled in her chair but had a serene expression on her face.
Ella smiled and then peered down at her garden. “I really should do something about my back yard.” She sipped her pineapple juice and clinked the ice blocks around. “But what for?”
“Yeah, what for?” Pauline raised an agreeable eyebrow at her.
“I sometimes walk around the yard and breathe in the fresh air—especially in winter when the stuffy humidity has eased. I would love to pick flowers sometimes. But there’s nothing growing. I think I’ll plant some soon.”
“Good idea.” Pauline smiled and focused back on her novel, then back at her. “Why aren’t you reading? I thought you wanted to read the green books.”
“Nah.” The pineapple juice made an acidic sensation in her throat. Indigestion had been her companion since she’d ripped Ross’s heart out.
“Had any clients this week?” Pauline asked.
“Only Carol’s work colleague. I managed to match her with one of my other clients. They’re meeting on Friday night for a blind date.”
“Why so quiet?”
Ella shrugged. How could she tell her? “It’s picking up tomorrow.”
“Are you still enjoying it?”
Pauline always asked things with concern and a chance to sympathise. She never gave the impression of checking up on her, like Andrea and Carol sometimes did.
Ella shrugged and turned away. Her eyes still stung from all the crying episodes at night while trying to fall off to sleep.
“How did your date go?”
“Good. We’re going out again on Sunday. He’s taking me for a game drive.”
“Sounds wonderful. Carol told me about it. She was most upset, but really, didn’t the letter say The Album would change your life for good?”
“It did, I suppose.” She looked at her friend and sucked in a breath. “Thanks.”
She’d needed to hear that. Maybe Dirk was the one for her. She just needed to let go and open her heart. She believed in happily-ever-afters now. Not in theory, but in practice. Sort of.
“I was kissed by two men on the same night.” Ella blurted out her thoughts without thinking too hard about the consequences. There, she’d let it out. It felt better.
Pauline looked up and registered surprise. Usually, she was good at keeping her surprise hidden to not make a person feel awkward. The statement must have really shocked her.
“You had two dates?”
“Yes, Dirk did kiss me—at the end of our date. Perfect gentleman—not asking for anything more.” Ella fiddled with a drinking straw in her hand.
“How was it?”
“Good.” He’d kissed her perfectly. Tender, tentative at first—almost shy, and then deeper and more sensually, but nothing over the top like serious tongue tangles or sticking roaming hands up her shirt. Afterwards, he’d given her a warm hug and a peck on the cheek to say goodbye.
She’d expected to swoon for hours afterwards, but she supposed she wasn’t in her late teens anymore and had experienced many first kisses with guys. Just Dirk was supposed to be ‘the’ one or at least, a great boyfriend experience to remember into grandparenthood.
“And the other kiss?” Pauline tilted her face and her expression was soft, questioning.
“Ross.”
“Really?” She didn’t look as surprised this time. “Why?”
“He confessed he’s been in love with me for a few months but never had the courage to tell me.”
Pauline gaped. “So he kissed you instead?”
“Yip.”
“How was it?”
“Not what I expected.”
Her friend frowned. “What do you mean?”
Ella’s face heated. “Not as icky as I expected.”
“You mean it was sexy and romantic?”
“Well, I was mad as nails but it didn’t feel like my brother kissing me.”
Pauline laughed. “So now you have to choose between hunk Dirk and geeky, best friend Ross.”
“Ross isn’t geeky anymore. But no, I sent him packing.”
“Who?”
“Ross.”
A strange expression flitted over her friend’s face. “You what?”
“I told him it wouldn’t work between us. He wanted to break off the friendship for good—said he couldn’t handle not having all of me, but I offered a break instead. Give him time to calm down and realise how stupid he’s being.”
“You didn’t say that, did you?”
“Well, not in those same words.”
Pauline stared out at the trees blowing in a salty breeze from the sea only a few kilometres away. She didn’t say anything. Sometimes, her silence made Ella feel uncomfortable. Today, it only made her wonder again if she’d been mean to Ross. But she couldn’t go out with him just to not hurt his feelings.
“You sure you don’t want to give him and you a go?” Pauline ran her fingers down the pages of her book with tenderness.
“Why?” Ella’s voice came out indignant.
“Well, if you felt something with that kiss…”
“That means nothing. I felt something with Dirk’s kiss.”
Pauline shrugged. “Pity you can’t use The Album.”
“Argh.” Ella pressed her hands onto her temples. “Don’t even suggest I give up The Album for this. I know it wouldn’t work with Ross.”
“Sorry.” She looked sheepish. “I just assumed…Well, I’d kind of like to have a friend turned lover romance. They always seemed so sweet and romantic.”
Ella pretend-gagged. “You’ve been reading way too many of those romance novels. Yes, I believe in true love now after getting The Album, but I don’t believe in those standard romance stories. Real life is a lot messier. And I can’t see Ross as a lover. As hard as I try, it just doesn’t work in my mind.”
Pauline closed her book and stretched for a drink. She popped a strawberry into her mouth and leant back in the deck chair. “I could.”
“What?” Ella squealed. “You never told me you like Ross.”
“I thought it was pretty obvious. I’ve always had a crush on him.”
“Why?”
“You make it sound like he’s not worth nursing feelings over.”
“Not at all. I can’t wait for him to settle down with the right woman. He’s been messed around so much by witches and bitches.”
Pauline laughed. “Haven’t we all? Well, jerks and losers from our side.”
“Shall I set you and Ross up?”
Pauline sat up. “No way! I don’t want him to go out with me if he’s in love with you. That stinks. I want him to be crazy about me.” She twirled a strand of hair and looked dreamily into the distance. “And besides, I’m still trying to get over Roan. It’s happening faster than I’d expected. Mmmh, I’m sure Ross wouldn’t break hearts like Roan does.”
Ella giggled. “I love it. I so didn’t see this. I wish you’d told us earlier and we could have done something.”
Pauline smiled whimsically. “Nah, it’s only been a distant dream. We’d kill one another. We’re too similar—both quiet and serious. It wouldn’t work, as much as I’d love it to.”
“Mmmh, maybe this break from Ross isn’t a good idea. If I can get him around more often, especially when you’re here, he’ll start to forget about me and go for you.”
Pauline came to Ella and patted her on the shoulder. “Ever the matchmaker, my friend. Ever the matchmaker. Stick to your clients.”
She harrumphed. Her mate went inside, leaving her to her thoughts. Ross and Pauline. A perfect combination. Yes, they were both quiet but what was the hassle with that? They would understand one another—be sympathetic to each other. She’d be so thrilled for Ross to have a good person like Pauline, and of course, her sweet friend would be
a perfect cure for his broken heart. The heart she’d broken!
Tears sprang unbidden back to her eyes. She had to stop beating herself over the head for what had happened. He’d gone against their agreement, okay, not by choice, but maybe if he’d been more vigilant…
How had he fallen in love with her? She’d pondered the question the last few days and had come to no solid conclusion. Had their decision to stay platonic made things worse? Maybe by restricting him, she’d made herself the forbidden fruit.
Placing her finger over her lips, she chewed on that thought, and the more she considered it, the more she knew it was exactly that. So, should she tell him?—fine, let’s give it a go. Get me out your system. What about Pauline? And Dirk? Argh! The confusion!
If only The Album would allow her one chance. That’s all.
What was she thinking? She stood up, brushing shortbread crumbs off her jeans. No matter what, she could never, ever break The Album rules. The Album and the business were her life now. Not worth losing over love. Love had never stood up to its side of the bargain for her.
Why was she in the matchmaking business then, with a niggling doubt still running in an undercurrent through her heart? Maybe her uncle or The Album had chosen her to show her something—to restore her faith in love.
She remembered she had a handful of couples to try out in The Album and who would see her tomorrow. Time to get back to the fun! Grabbing the tray of empty glasses and plates, she took it inside and found Pauline so they could work together on the couples’ options.
