“Good morning, Mrs. Summers.” Like most of my neighbors, he still calls me that even if I’m no longer married.
“Hi, Coby, do you have something for me?”
“This is for you.” He stretches out his hand to give me a fancy-looking cream envelope with a gold GG monogram sticker at the back.
“Thank you.” I frown at the envelope. “But you didn’t have to bring it to me personally. You could have left it in the mailbox.”
“I was asked to deliver this letter by hand.”
“Oh, okay. Thank you.” I smile at him and he gives me a small wave.
I remain on the doorstep for a moment, watching him walk through the gate. I finally close the door and return to the dining room, the envelope heavy in my hands. I’m pretty sure it’s another medical bill, but it looks too elegant for that.
As I sink into my chair, Justin glances at the envelope, but doesn’t speak.
It’s fine when he doesn’t communicate with me. He doesn’t need to say a word for me to hear him.
I finish my coffee before I take a deep breath and bring my attention back to the envelope. Opening it is like pulling off a stubborn Band-Aid.
“What a Heart Wants?” I whisper as I read the header. “What is this?” Even more surprising is the fact that the letter is handwritten.
“What is it?” Justin asks, curiosity getting the best of him. It feels good to have my first full sentence of the day from him.
“I don’t know, baby.” I flatten out the letter on the table. “Let’s find out.”
The letter is from a woman named Grace Graham. The name doesn’t say anything to me.
Dear Ms. Summers,
I’m writing to you with exciting news. After weeks of going through my database, I have finally found you the perfect match.
His name is Caleb, and he lives right here in St. Louis. I do hope he’s the kind of man you would be interested in creating a connection with.
Inside this envelope, you will find a letter from the gentleman as well as his photo.
If you choose to pursue this relationship, please mail me a handwritten letter from you to him, and I will forward it as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, the gentleman has requested that I not share his personal contacts at this stage.
I do hope I have made the right choice for you, and wish you an exciting new adventure in love. Should you be unsatisfied in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Grace Graham
“What the hell?” I murmur, snatching the envelope from the table. My heart is pounding hard as I push a slippery hand into the envelope to find the second letter.
There has to be some mistake. I have never contacted anyone called Grace Graham or a matchmaking service.
The handwritten letter from the man is brief and to the point.
Dear Ellie,
I can’t believe I’m doing this. My name is Caleb and Grace Graham thinks we would make a good match.
To be honest, I don’t normally do this type of thing, but my brothers thought it would be a great idea to sign me up for this service. After seeing your photo and reading through your profile, I realized that you seem like someone I would love to meet in real life.
I have no idea where this will lead, but I’m willing to take a chance, if you are.
Sorry that this letter is brief. I’m not much of a writer. If you would like to pursue this thing, I look forward to hearing from you.
Caleb
“What is it, mom?” Justin asks again.
I stare back at him, my eyes clouded with questions.
“It’s nothing. The letter is meant for someone else.” I push the letter back into the envelope, without bothering to look at Caleb’s photo. Instead, I give Justin the brightest smile I can manage. “It’s time to get ready. We’re visiting grandma today.”
ELLIE
“How is my grandmother doing today?” I ask Mariela, one of the caregivers at the Rosemary Nursing Home.
“She knows who I am, so I think it’s a good day.” Mariela gives me a warm smile. “She’ll be happy to see you. If you need anything, you know what to do.”
“Thank you.” I follow Justin’s wheelchair down the hallway, walking past the other residents of the home.
When we reach Grandma Ruth’s door, I take a deep breath, just as I do before entering Justin’s room every morning.
My grandmother and my son are my priorities, but sometimes I need to take a breath or two to help me keep going. Just as Justin’s muscles are wasting away, Alzheimer’s is wiping away my grandmother’s memories.
I push the door open wide so Justin can wheel himself into the room. We’re met by Grandma Ruth’s smile and the scent of roses. Once upon a time, she owned a flower shop. Now all she has are two vases of flowers on the windowsill of her small room.
Justin parks his wheelchair next to his nana’s bed while I remain in the doorway, watching the two people I love more than anything in the world.
My shoulders sink with relief when grandma picks up Justin’s hand and brings it to her lips, kissing it lightly. “My favorite boy,” she says in a warm, slightly deep voice. “What a treat to see you today.”
“Morning, Nana,” Justin says. His grandma has always been one of his favorite people. And today, she remembers who he is.
I close the door behind me and lower myself into a chair next to the bed. “Hello, grandma. How are you feeling today?”
Grandma Ruth is over eighty-years-old and every time I visit her, I find more lines on her once vibrant face. It’s hard to think that her shock of gray hair once used to be coal black like mine and Justin’s.
“I’m excited to see both of you. I haven’t seen you in a while.” She pats my hand.
Her words are like stones thrown at my heart. We came to visit her two days ago, but only her body was there, not her mind.
“Tell me how you’ve been doing. I want to hear everything.”
Making the most of the moment, I tell her about the usual things that go on in my life, and new things that Justin learned or adventures we’ve experienced together. Occasionally, I throw in a little lie to cheer her up.
When I’m done, she narrows her eyes at me. “Why do I get a feeling that something is troubling you?” Her voice is low, but clear.
“It’s nothing,” I force a smile. The last thing I want to do is waste the little time we have together. Next time I visit, she might not even remember who I am.
She pulls herself to a sitting position, still holding on to Justin’s hand. “If the thing on your mind is putting early wrinkles on your pretty face, then it’s not nothing. Come on, sweet girl, tell me.” She glances at Justin. “Just a moment,” she says and presses a button on her nightstand.
Less than two minutes later, Mariela comes to the room.
“Mariela, please be a dear and take my Justin to the TV room.”
“Of course.” Mariela smiles at Justin. “Come with me, handsome. Let’s get some hot chocolate first.”
Justin glances at both me and Grandma Ruth, but soon follows Mariela out of the room.
“Ellie, my darling,” Grandma Ruth says to me. “Tell me what’s troubling you. Don’t even try to lie because I know you by heart.”
Of course, she does. She was the one who raised me from the age of five, after my parents died in a car accident. Before Tim entered my life and Justin came along, it was just the two of us.
I cross my legs at the ankles and let out a breath. “I received a strange letter today.”
“What kind of letter?” More wrinkles appear on Grandma Ruth’s brow.
“Maybe it’s best you read it yourself.” I dig into my bag for the envelope and pull out the letter from Grace Graham.
“It must be serious,” Grandma Ruth says, her fingers closing around the letter.
“It’s just weird.” I rise from my chair and go to stand by the window, gazing into the well-manicured garde
n of the home, watching the other residents sitting on benches to admire the fresh blooms of spring.
“It’s from a matchmaking service,” Grandma Ruth says after reading for a while.
“Yes.” I back away from the window and lower myself onto the edge of the bed. “I never signed up for such a service.”
Grandma Ruth is quiet for a long time, her mouth working as though she’s chewing something. “Someone else must have done it for you,” she says finally.
“But who?” I run a hand through my tangled hair. “Who would do such a thing?”
“Someone who loves you deeply.”
“I don’t understand. I’m not interested in a relationship.”
“Maybe it’s time you get interested.” Her voice is so low now, it’s almost inaudible.
I narrow my eyes at my grandmother, wondering if there’s something she wants to tell me. “You didn’t do this, did you?” Even as I ask, I know it’s a stupid question. She wouldn’t do something like that.
Grandma Ruth raises her chin and holds my gaze. “I did it. I sent in an application packet on your behalf.” She pauses. “I had to.”
My mouth falls open. “But why? Why would you do that?”
“Because I hate seeing you struggling alone with Justin. You need a man in your life.”
“I don’t want anyone else in my life.” I shoot to my feet, crossing my arms in front of my chest. “I don’t need a man.”
“You can keep telling yourself that, but it doesn’t make it true. You do need a man.” She sighs. “I want you to be happy, Ellie.”
“I have you and I have Justin. I’m happy.”
“Your whole life revolves around the two of us. You need to think of yourself for once. Life is short.” She clasps her leathery hands in her lap. “Fall in love and have a little fun.”
I sink back into my chair, unable to believe that she did this. “I don’t have time for fun.”
“You should make time.” Grandma Ruth drops her head. “Sorry that I did it behind your back. It’s just that Julie Smith told me that her niece found love through that matchmaking service. I thought it might be a good idea.”
“What if it isn’t, grandma? What if I meet the wrong person?”
“Apparently the owner does everything she can to match her clients with the perfect person. If Julie’s niece was able to find love, maybe you can too.” Grandma Ruth tilts her head to the side. “Do it for me, if not for you.”
I shake my head, my mind running wild. “Grandma, what is this really about?”
“I’m disappearing every day,” she sniffs. “Before I go away, I want to see you happy.”
“You’re not going anywhere for a very long time.” I clutch her hand with mine. Tears flood my eyes. I wish my words were true. If only I could store some of her memories inside my own brain so she doesn’t have to forget her life.
“Please, Ellie.” She wipes her cheek. “Before I go, I want to see you smile again.”
“But I do smile.” My lips stretch into a big smile to prove my point.
She chuckles. “Only when you force yourself to.”
She’s right. I don’t remember the last time I smiled from the heart. My smiles are always tainted with sadness these days. The truth is, there’s really not much in my life to smile about.
Grandma Ruth squeezes my hand. “Why don’t you just give it a try?”
Before I can respond, Mariela returns to the room with Justin.
We spend a few more minutes with my grandmother and then, shortly before she’s served her lunch, we say our goodbyes.
When I press a kiss to her soft cheek, I tell her what she wants to hear. “I’ll do it, grandma,” I whisper into her ear. “I’ll try.”
ELLIE
Justin and I eat meatballs and rice for dinner, then we settle in front of the TV.
Even as I stare at the screen, my mind is so scattered that I can’t focus on anything.
The envelope from the matchmaking company is next to me on the couch. Even though I promised my grandmother that I’d give this thing a try, I still can’t bring myself to look at the photo inside.
Halfway through the science fiction movie, I finally find the courage. Holding my breath, I reach into the envelope.
The moment my eyes land on the photo of a middle-aged man with sandy blond hair, and laughing moss-green eyes, air whooshes from my lungs.
He seems to be in his mid-thirties, and he’s devastatingly handsome, but it’s not only his good looks that arrest me. He seems so happy that his joy radiates from the picture and touches a deep part of me.
My heart is racing as I think back to what Grandma Ruth said to me today. Can I really do this? What if I end up getting hurt?
I put the photo back into the envelope, then I get off the couch and walk to the door. Justin is too engrossed in his movie to even look up.
Inside my bedroom, I can still hear the TV blaring. Justin must have increased the volume.
I sink onto my bed and call Cindy. She’s not only my neighbor and friend, she’s also a physical therapist who ensures Justin gets his exercise. If there’s anyone I can’t do without, it’s her.
“I need your advice,” I say as soon as she picks up.
“That’s what I’m here for.” She laughs. I’ve always envied her for her laughter. Even though she’s had her own share of heartache—including two broken marriages—she still manages to laugh.
Sometimes I wish I could ask her to teach me how to let go.
“You won’t believe what I’m about to tell you. I received a letter from a matchmaking company. The thing is, I never signed up for their services.”
“That’s interesting. Was the letter intended for someone else?”
“That’s what I thought at first, then I spoke to my grandmother.”
“How is Grandma Ruth doing?”
“She was herself when we visited her today. She recognized us.”
“Great.” Cindy pauses. She knows how much it hurts me to see my grandmother disappear. “What did she say about the letter?”
“She’s the one who signed me up for the service.”
“Holy hell.” Cindy’s laughter fills the line. “I’m sorry, but that’s exciting.”
“She says she wants me to be happy before...before the illness takes her.” I massage my left temple. “But I don’t have time for a man in my life. I don’t know what to do.”
“Maybe it’s time you do something for yourself, Ellie.” Cindy’s voice grows serious. “It’s been almost two years since you went on a date.”
“Yeah, and it was a disaster, remember?” The last man I went out on a date with bolted after I told him about Justin. He stood up to go to the restaurant bathroom and never came back. He didn’t even pay for his own meal.
“Maybe this will be different. There are so many good men out there.”
“I don’t know.” I fall back onto the pillows and close my eyes. “You really think I should do this?”
“I think you should. It sounds like fun. What did the letter say?”
“I actually received two letters. One from the owner of the matchmaking company and one from a potential match.”
“Ooh! What did he say?” Cindy sounds breathless now.
“He said his brothers were the ones who pushed him into it. It didn’t sound like it was his kind of thing either.”
“What made him write to you then?”
“Apparently he saw my photo and I’m the kind of woman he would love to meet up with in real life.”
“Do you by any chance have a photo of this man?”
“I do.” A smile sneaks up on me. “His name is Caleb and he doesn’t look bad.”
“Send it to me. I want to see for myself.”
“Okay. I’ll take a photo with my phone and send it to you. Let me call you back.” I hang up the phone, check on Justin to make sure he’s fine, then use my phone to take a photo of my potential match. Less than two minutes aft
er I send it to Cindy, she calls me back.
“I need you to do something for me,” she says, her voice firm. “Write to that man to tell him you’re interested. He’s hot as hell. If you don’t want him, I’ll pretend to be you.”
I close my eyes and inhale deeply, then I exhale for a long time. “Okay. Okay, I’ll do it.”
Before I change my mind, as soon as we hang up again, I write a short letter to Grace Graham to thank her for finding me a match, and another to Caleb. I keep it very short.
Dear Caleb,
Thank you for your letter. My name is Ellie, and I also didn’t sign up for this service. It was all my grandmother’s work.
Anyway, if the offer still stands, I would like to see where this takes us. But there’s something you need to know about me. I’m the mother of a disabled son who happens to be my whole world. I think it’s best you know that from the start.
If you would still like to continue this thing, I look forward to hearing from you again.
Take care.
Ellie
As soon as I finish writing the letter, I send Cindy a message to let her know. Minutes later, she shows up at my door. Since she lives next door, it doesn’t take her long to get to me. She’s wearing her faded pink pajamas and her fiery red hair is in two pigtails.
She extends her hand. “Where’s the letter? I’ll mail it for you tomorrow.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to give you a chance to change your mind.”
“Fine.” I put the letter in her hand. “This better work out.”
“I have a good feeling about this. Now go to bed and dream of Mr. Maybe.” She kisses both me and Justin on the cheeks and leaves.
I go to bed, wondering if I did the right thing. But it’s too late. There’s no way Cindy will give me the letter back. I guess I just have to see what the future will bring.
ELLIE
Cindy arrives at my house at eight on Monday morning to do some exercises with Justin before class starts. Two years ago, I made the decision to homeschool him, after he was bullied way too many times. It’s my way of protecting him from the world.
Dear Mr. Maybe: The Matchmaker Series Page 2
