by Kathy Bosman
Chapter Six
Ella watched Pauline sitting next to Ross in her office. Their gazes faced the computer screen and they spoke awkwardly with one another. Pauline kept on looking at her as if to say, “How could you?” but she’d agreed to the whole set-up. Reluctantly at first.
Ross spoke business-like. In fact, since he’d arrived, he’d spoken very little to her except for formal greetings and yes and no answers to her questions. Very different to the relatively open message conversation they’d held a week ago.
She wished they could work somewhere else. Stupidly, she’d set up the extra computer in her office because of the large desk space, but now, she’d have to watch him, feel his withdrawal and sense Pauline’s angst. How would she concentrate on her work? She had about ten couples to try out in The Album.
She took out the sacred book, running her palms and finger pads over the cover. The rough ancient texture sent shivers through her. Or was it the magic? The book drew her. She often spent her spare moments paging through the blank sheets, trying to imagine who would grace the pages next to her face. Should she have given it over to Carol and let her run with it? Find answers to her heart? Seeing Ross and Pauline now brought out the despair she’d pushed aside for years. Would she ever find this elusive ideal man? Was there such a thing? When you really, really wanted to believe in something, you did. But doubt eroded her beliefs on a day like this. Especially when one of her clients just wouldn’t match with anyone.
“I’m going to the other room.”
They looked up and nodded at her, oblivious to the turmoil inside. And Pauline and Ross always seemed to pick up her turmoil. Had they gotten wind of her matchmaking scheme? Were they angry? Too bad. I’m helping them.
Sitting at the mini bar nursing a glass of water with ice, she set to work on The Album, careful not to spill her drink on the heirloom. Now to try out three more women for the man who refused to be matched. He seemed like such a nice guy. Nothing particularly sexy in her books, but definitely could be another woman’s type. Nothing off-putting about him, so why the bad luck?
The Album sprang to life as soon as she put the second photo in. It didn’t light up as much as the first time but she experienced the same jolt of electricity through her body while the pages clung to her hands, refusing to let go. Once the shimmers had passed, the papers fluttered as if in a breeze and she turned to the next page. Nothing. Only about five pages with him and the pretty woman together.
She worked the second one and the third.
“Argh.” She flung the last photo down in frustration. What would the man think? He’d be a potential bad word for her business—oh, she couldn’t match me with anyone. Useless woman, didn’t find a single suitable candidate. And she had plenty of eligible ones on file.
She could just match him up with one of the mismatches and move on with her life. Work with an easier client. But her conscience wouldn’t allow that. How could she bring more heartache to the world? What effect would another broken relationship have on the man? And the girl he went out with? Would it be the last straw that made them give up on relationships forever and decide to remain single? Would they give up hope in love? A bit like her.
Picking up another man, she tried him with the third photo she’d flung down. The Album jerked and worked and then filled up with glorious pictures. Six kids! Phew, should she match them together? Imagine having six kids. The family photo of all the grandkids and extended family near the end of The Album showed people full of life, smiling faces, healthy complexions, complex, living creatures. How could she not give them the news?
She stared at the picture for a long time. Was she playing god? This didn’t only bring people together; it made people appear on the earth. Couples birthed children. What if she matched together a couple that birthed a serial killer? Or the new president who moved the country into a new dimension? The inventor of the first successful time machine?
Her hands shook as she removed the photos and tried out another man with the third woman photo. Dreadful. Divorce, one kid. Heartbreak. Yet, could that kid be the new medical researcher who came up with an Ebola cure? Did happy families automatically produce valid humans? She hadn’t exactly had a perfect family life. Neither had Ross. And Carol. Imagine the world without her friends. What if someone had crooked the books and made her not exist because they knew her parents would end up divorced?
“I can’t do this anymore.”
A noise of footsteps behind her broke her intense thoughts. She turned to look right into the piercing eyes of Andrea.
“What’s wrong?” Andrea came up to her and hugged her from the side.
“I can’t play god anymore.” Ella sighed.
“What do you mean?”
“The couples I match—they have children, right?”
Andrea pursed her lips. “So, that’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but if a couple’s relationship doesn’t last, does it mean that the child they brought into the world isn’t good or useful or supposed to exist because their parents messed up or weren’t meant for each other?”
“Are you thinking of your folks?”
“And Ross. And Carol. And millions of people who have lived before them.”
Andrea smiled and rested her forehead against Ella’s. “You can’t see it that way. You’re helping the couples to be happy. Wouldn’t you have liked your parents to be together still? To not have to have gone through all that heartbreak?”
Ella nodded and swallowed the lump in her throat. Andrea pulled away and gave her the kindest expression. As bossy as she could be, she had a way with people that transcended simple kindness. Her words, her gestures, her concern, could pierce the most closed soul. That’s why she did so well in human resources. She inspired people.
“I want to help these people, I really do. I want to change lives. It’s been a dream, like, for forever.”
“Then do it. You’re not going to match up the whole world and cause a population explosion.”
Ella laughed. “You’re right. I’m just operating from a small corner of the earth, reaching a handful of people, changing a few couples’ lives. It can’t be a bad thing overall.”
“It’s a good thing. Look at the first one you matched up—she’s already written to the newspaper.”
“What?”
“That’s why I came here. To show you.” She took out a paper clipping from her handbag resting on the chair.
Ella held the paper with shaky hands and read. Her heart warmed as she discovered how much peace the match had brought to Queenie’s life.
“It’s awesome.” She looked up to find Ross and Pauline in the room. Pauline shuffled from foot to foot, ‘awkward’ oozing out of her. Ross’s expression resembled a thundercloud.
“What’s up?” she asked, her calm voice hiding the tremor inside. She’d done the wrong thing bringing them together.
“We need your help.”
Andrea turned to face them. “With?”
“They’re helping me set up a website for the business.”
“Oh.” Andrea frowned. “Sounds good. Are you paying them?”
“A bit.”
Andrea waved them. “It’s a good thing. We really need your help, Ross.”
He merely nodded. Pauline pursed her lips, her blue eyes the colour of the sea at night.
“I’ll go see what’s wrong,” she said to Andrea. “Thanks for bringing this.” She handed her the newspaper clipping.
Pauline stepped forward. “What’s that?”
“It’s our first glowing review.” Andrea puffed out her chest. “Take a look.” She summoned Ross and Pauline with her hands. They gathered around and soon the awkward atmosphere was broken.
But Ross didn’t stay long with all the girly talk. He excused himself to go back to the computer. She considered joining him to find out what the problem was but decided against it. Better keep her distance. Wean him off of her and onto Pauline.
Andrea received a call and Pauline pulled her aside, uncharacteristically roughly.
“Why didn’t you tell me you also hired Ross for the job? I thought I was doing this all alone.”
“You needed his help. He has lots of website design knowledge and a bit of experience. You’re only clued up on a design. You make a perfect team.”
Pauline narrowed her eyes at her and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Did you only think of your business or did you consider what I told you the other day?”
Ella shrugged. Keep it casual. Break the tension.
“A bit of both.” She grinned. “Aw, come on. It will be fun. You’re cute together.”
Pauline dug her fingernails into Ella’s arm flesh. “We’re so not! It’s freaking exhausting with him—he’s so quiet and I can never think of what to say.”
Ella pulled away. “Well, it always takes time to break the ice. What better way than to do a task together?”
“I’ll kill you.”
Pauline’s face didn’t match her words, though. She had a small grin which put Ella’s heart at ease. At least, she seemed to be warming up to the idea.
“What do you need help with?” Ella asked.
“Well, we’re setting up the application form on the website and need you to answer some questions about it.”
“Okay.”
She gestured to Andrea that she was going to the office and then followed Pauline in. Ross seemed intent on the screen, deep in thought. Pauline sat next to him and a strange sensation swirled through her. She didn’t like it. He turned to look at her friend, his face serious, his eyes broody. Pauline blushed and her leg moved closer to Ross’s.
Suddenly, she saw her guy friend through Pauline’s eyes—saw how attractive he really was. Straight out of high school, Ross had been quite skinny. At the time, he’d just gone through a massive growth spurt and his legs and arms hadn’t seemed to fill out enough. He’d always had an awkward stoop to make himself appear shorter. Now, he held himself with a sense of pride and Pauline watched his every movement. He’d filled out, built some muscle, and developed a more mature look with his daily shaves and older skin. Life experiences had changed his look. Made him yummy. Why hadn’t she noticed how attractive he was lately?
“Well, what questions do you have?” Ella moved behind her desk—to create a barrier between them.
“I’ve done a form for you but I don’t know if I’ve covered all the questions you want to ask the clients,” Ross said.
“The most important thing is the photo. Everything else is just filler.”
“Don’t you think you need to ask some questions to get to know the couples?” Pauline said. “I mean, The Album sometimes offers more than one match per person.”
“But The Album said we should ignore the outside stimuli. It’s just to make my company look legit. It’s not to influence my decision at all.”
“I agree with Pauline,” Ross said. “You can’t just rely on The Album. You have to use common sense, too. I mean, what if The Album gives one of your clients three valid options? How are you going to choose? Pick them out of a hat?”
She shrugged. She played god anyway. What difference would it make? Maybe that way, she’d feel less like she manipulated people’s lives around. Looking at them both sitting together, opposite her, opposing her, she suddenly wished she hadn’t manipulated their lives together so they would get to know each other.
“Um…okay. I see your point. Let me type up a form for you on my computer. Can you work on something else in the meantime? I’ll do it in my study. Or the dining room.”
“You can stay here,” Pauline said in a small voice. She shot Ella an almost guilty look. Probably feeling bad for ganging up against her.
Ella shrugged. “Don’t want to disturb you.”
She grabbed some papers and her laptop and went through to the other room, relieved to see Andrea still there. At least she had some company.
Andrea still talked on her phone so she set up her computer on the mini bar and set to work. How come Pauline had bounced back from her relationship with Roan so fast? Ready to go full on with Ross? What was her problem judging her friend? That’s what she’d wanted the whole time, anyway. And she really did want her friend to move on from idiot Roan. What would she tell Dirk now? Oh, no, I’m so upset I matched them together. It’s made me jealous and realise just how attractive Ross actually is. They had a date for tomorrow night. Should she even go through with it?
Ella managed to concentrate on her admin work and cut out her troubled thoughts. She’d always been able to cut off personal stuff at work—a good skill to have, especially through all the horrible break-ups she’d been through. And her friends. Every time one of them had had a bad relationship, she’d feel their pain and worry about them constantly. They’d correspond through every moment, every fight, every difficult decision involved in conflicted relationships.
Andrea put the phone down and came to her. “So, how was your date with Dirk at the game reserve?”
“Good.” Suppose she hadn’t spoken to Andrea in a while except for business-related things.
“Anything else since?”
“Tomorrow night, we’re going out for supper.”
“Think there’s any promise?” Andrea asked cautiously. She had all reason to wonder.
“I don’t know. I feel more positive about dating since I started using The Album. It gives me hope and it’s not just from what I’m seeing. It’s like it infused hope in me. Its magic goes beyond just matching couples up.”
Andrea’s eyes softened. “Cool. I could do with some of that hope myself.”
Ella dropped her hands off the mouse and keyboard to give her friend full focus. “Any interesting guys in your life at the moment?”
“Only a colleague at work but he’d never look at me.”
“Why?”
“He’s a newbie, a junior. Yet, there’s something about him. He has a confident air about him despite his youth.”
“Toy boy, hey?” Ella winked.
“Not quite. According to his file, he’s only a year younger than me and he’s been traveling the world—working in Dubai, Taiwan, even the Philippines. But the jobs he’s held have given him very little office experience.”
“Sounds like he has itchy feet.”
“Maybe it’s good he’s done all his traveling young and probably now wants to settle down. Anyway, I’m assuming all these things about him. I’ve hardly seen him. He’s cute. That’s what got me interested at first.” Andrea smiled. “Not that I let that sway me anymore. Been burned too many times.”
“Oh, what about the pizza delivery guy?”
Andrea waved her hand down. “Argh, he was nothing. Not my type.”
“Too below you?”
Andrea frowned at her. “Hey, that’s…. I suppose I do like a man with a bit more ambition. I’m not a money-grabber, but I like him to have some sense of pride.”
“We never know where someone has come from.”
The frown gave way to a relaxed laugh. “Oh, Ella. You always try to see the best in people. Always want to help them.”
She shrugged. At the moment, she’d made a dumb mistake helping Pauline and Ross. Typical—messing up her matchmaking attempts. As if on cue, Pauline came through. Her face was flushed more than usual. She walked up to them and sat down.
“He’s opening up,” she said quietly to Ella. “Finally.”
Andrea stared at Pauline and then at Ella. “Are you up to what I think you’re up to?”
Ella shrugged, suddenly embarrassed. Andrea always saw through her. “And what’s that?”
Andrea narrowed her eyes at her but then addressed Pauline. “About time you told Ella you had a crush on Ross.”
Ella gritted her teeth. “You mean you knew before I did?”
“Carol and I have known for years. We didn’t think it wise to tell you for the very reason you may try to make something happen and mess it up badly.”
/> Ella stood up. “Hey, I don’t intend to mess anything up this time. It’s going to happen naturally.”
“You can’t force love,” Andrea added.
“Well, I can certainly accelerate it,” Pauline said, her face flushing a deeper shade of red. “I’m going to be a total flirt.”
“You are?”
Ella and Andrea looked at her for a drawn-out moment. So unlike Pauline. Had her relationship with Roan made her bolder, more go-getter with regards to men? A horrible, sick feeling started in the pit of Ella’s stomach. Maybe because she’d forgotten to eat breakfast. Or could it be a little jealous bug eating at her again? Problem was, she was so used to being the centre of Ross’s attention, she didn’t take too well to the thought of him showering it on someone else. Especially someone who’d lap it up and return it fully.
Not like her. She pushed the jealousy away. It didn’t make sense. In no way did she love Ross romantically. About time she learned to let him go and stop him from finding the right woman. Maybe she’d always stood in his way.
And Pauline would be her top choice in the world. Her gentle, kind friend would never break his heart. She’d get used to the idea soon enough when she saw her two friends become happy with each other. Inwardly steeling herself, she pasted on a smile and went back to her work.