by Amanda Tru
“Stella, I’d be delighted. The only thing more enjoyable than good food is good company.”
With matching smiles that bordered on giddiness, they returned together to Stella’s table. While they normally should have noticed being the center of attention, they were so absorbed in each other that they seemed oblivious to everything around them.
“Congratulations, Cupid,” Ryan whispered beside her. “It looks like you just made another successful match.”
“I hope so,” Elise replied. “George and Stella deserve to be happy. But only time will tell.”
“Won’t they find out about the set up? Won’t Stella try to thank George and the whole thing unravel?”
“No, Stella won’t mention it. She knows George wished to remain anonymous. She’s a classy lady. She won’t draw attention to what she perceives as him being a gentleman. If she does happen to mention it at some point, they won’t be upset by it. They’d probably even get a kick out of the kids at the diner trying to set them up. Believe me, they’ve both been waiting for this day. They’ll seize this opportunity and be grateful for however means it was delivered.”
Ryan still didn’t look fully convinced, but Elise had a hard time regretting anything about what had just happened. George and Stella were happy, and that was what mattered to her.
Amber soon appeared with separate checks for their meals, as requested, and two decadent-looking hot fudge brownie sundaes.
“These are on the house and come with a big ‘Thank you,’ from the entire staff,” she announced with a big smile.
“I should be the one thanking you and Susie,” Elise replied.
“We were only too happy to help out. Now that you’ve made Valentine’s Day special for George and Stella, along with the entire diner, I hope you two can make yours special as well.” With a wink, Amber was gone.
“Why do I get the feeling you may just have created a bunch of monsters?” Ryan asked dryly. “Amber and Susie might have liked their task a little too much. I’m not sure Seattle can handle more than one Cupid. What am I saying? I’ve watched you all day, and I’m still not sure Seattle can handle even one Cupid. You were serious when you said Valentine’s Day was a busy Day for you. You’ve given me a lot to think about.”
“Oh, we’re not done yet.”
“What do you mean?” he asked suspiciously.
“We have one more stop before I let you go for the night. Hurry and eat your dessert; we’re on a timeline.”
To Elise’s relief, Ryan didn’t object, and fifteen minutes later, their hot fudge brownie sundaes had been devoured, and with Elise’s brief wave at the happy couple, they were on their way.
The drive passed quickly, and Elise was soon pulling into a parking space at a destination she knew would be undoubtedly recognizable to Ryan even in the dark of this time of night.
“Oh, no,” Ryan groaned. “You set somebody up at the Space Needle, didn’t you? I really didn’t think you would be so cliché.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being cliché,” Elise said defensively. “I think it would be very romantic to be surprised by a date at the Space Needle. But no, that’s not why we’re here. Do you know how expensive it is just to go up in that thing? This Cupid does have her limits. I try to avoid fancy restaurants, expensive tourist attractions, and the pressure that would go along with both. ‘Warhorse’ was a definite splurge. Maybe someday I’ll be able to set up that kind of date, but not now, especially with needing resources for other matches as well.”
“Then why are we here?”
“You’ll see,” Elise said, once again wanting to keep her plans to herself as long as possible. The longer she waited to tell Ryan, the less time he’d have to object. “We need to hurry.”
Ryan followed her as she walked directly beneath the Space Needle and then kept going. Elise finally entered a small shopping mall-type building and took a stairway to the second floor. The building was arranged so that the stores and restaurants were positioned around a center open area with hardwood flooring. A railing on the second floor bordered the open area so that people standing there could look down on it, almost like in a courtyard or stadium.
Immediately after reaching the second floor, Elise walked to the railing and looked down, scanning the area.
“There he is,” she said under her breath.
She then took out her cell phone and dialed a number without a word of explanation to Ryan.
“Hi, Greg, this is Elise. I’m not going to make it tonight. I’m really sorry I didn’t let you know sooner, but I’ve had a change of plans.”
“Well, that stinks,” Greg said. “I guess I’ll just go home, and we can do it a different time.”
“Oh, are you already there?”
“Yeah, I guess I got here a little early.”
“No, please stay,” Elise urged. “In fact, would you do me a favor? My friend Chelsie needs a partner. We usually have to dance together for the class because there aren’t enough men to go around. I was going to share you tonight, but would you mind being Chelsie’s partner? She’s really nice, and I’d feel really bad if she didn’t have anyone for the class.”
“I guess I could do that. I’m already here. What does your friend look like?”
“Chelsie is taller than I am with long medium-brown hair and brown eyes. She usually wears a silver bracelet around her right wrist.
“Okay, I think I see her. I’d better go. The class is getting started, so I need to go introduce myself.”
“Thank you so much, Greg! I’ll owe you one.”
“Don’t worry about it, Elise. I’ve noticed you’re always doing stuff for others. This is the least I can do. I’ll talk to you later. Maybe I can come again next week and do the class with you.”
Elise signed off and pressed ‘end.’ She felt Ryan’s eyes on her.
“So that’s how it’s done?” he asked.
“We’ll see,” Elise responded. “Greg is the tall, blond guy with glasses down there. Chelsie is the pretty brunette sitting on the bench.”
They watched as Greg walked up to Chelsie and introduced himself, holding out his hand to shake hers. After a few brief moments of conversation, Chelsie rose from the bench, and they both walked to the center of the court area where the class was getting started. There were about ten others in the class. Soon the music was echoing a through the space and the couples were swirling over the hardwood floor, learning the steps to the waltz.
“I should have brought my opera glasses,” Elise muttered. The lighting in the building wasn’t great, and from their angle looking down from a distance, it was difficult to see the expressions on the faces of the dancers. It looked as if Greg and Chelsie were having a good time. Every once in a while she would catch a glimpse of their smiling faces.
“Oh, it’s hard to do any decent spying from afar?” Ryan asked.
Elise tried to ignore Ryan’s comment but realized it was probably time for her to give him an explanation. Maybe Ryan wouldn’t judge her so harshly if he knew the background to her actions. Because this was the first time Greg and Chelsie met, there probably wasn’t going to be much to see anyway. Somehow, though, a familiar, awful feeling still nagged her. No matter what she said, it wasn’t going to change Ryan’s impression of her. He would still find her guilty.
Chapter 13
Though refusing to answer his sarcastic question about spying, Elise turned to Ryan and explained, “Greg is my dentist. Or, rather, he’s my dentist’s son. He took over the practice for his dad a few months ago. Since he just moved here recently, he’s been looking to find things to do here in the Seattle area. He’s come to our church singles group a few times, but he was also interested when I mentioned this dance class I’ve been attending. It’s just a casual thing. Whoever shows up on Thursday nights can participate. We’ve learned different types of ballroom dances and even swing and country line dancing. I met Chelsie here at class. She’s like me, though. She comes alone and just ta
kes the class for fun.”
“So you decided to deceive Greg and set them up.”
Elise winced. “I don’t usually do blind set ups like this. The couples I match usually know each other, and I’ve had a chance to observe them interacting. I was originally just going to have Greg come with me and introduce him to Chelsie. But then I thought it might be better if I wasn’t there, so it would be more natural than a formal introduction. It’s always better if a couple doesn’t know they’re being set up. That way, there’s a lot less pressure and they feel more free to talk and get to know each other. It also helps that my absence kind of forces them together.”
“So what’s Chelsie’s story? Why did you feel that she needed your help?”
“Chelsie’s husband was in the military. About three years ago, he was killed in the line of duty. She and her son moved back here to Seattle to be close to her family. Her son Liam is five now. She is a physical therapist, and when she’s not working, she’s spending time with Liam. Her parents finally told her that she needed to get out and find some friends and a hobby. They watch Liam so that, one night a week, she gets a break and can come take this class. She’s been through so much working through the grieving process. I would love to see her happy with someone else to love.”
“I can see why you wanted to make a match for her. But I’m a little nervous about you matching her with Greg. Did you ever think that Greg may be interested in you? After all, you’re the one he agreed to come dancing with?”
“No. We’re just friends. I’ve mentioned to him the possibility of setting him up with one of my friends, and he was game.”
“I can’t imagine a single guy being interested in just being your friend,” Ryan said quietly.
Choosing to ignore the undercurrent of Ryan’s comment, Elise shrugged and replied, “I have a lot of guy friends, or maybe I should say guy acquaintances. I’ve been told I’m hard to get to know. I guess I still have the residual effects of being painfully shy. There’s no attraction between Greg and me, so he’s definitely in the friend category. He and Chelsie, on the other hand, are perfect for each other. They have a lot of similar interests, but she tends to be reserved, whereas he’s more outgoing and adventurous. Since they’ve never met, though, I can in no way guarantee that it will work out. I guess it’s just a hunch. I didn’t see the harm in helping them each have a date for Valentine’s Day, even if it is just one evening. I really think that they’ll at least develop a good friendship out of this. Even if that’s all that results, I’ll consider it a success.”
“And to you, that success is worth the tactics it takes to achieve it. The end justifies the means. You just lied to a man in order to set the poor, unsuspecting guy up on a blind date with a woman he’s never met.”
“I did not lie to him. I said I had a change of plans. And I already told you that I don’t usually do it this way. I usually like to observe people who already know each other and then make arrangements for them to find each other. This isn’t a typical match.”
“You’ve said that before. For just about every match I’ve seen you do. They never are typical, are they?”
Elise looked at him. He wasn’t angry; his tone was weary and maybe a little sad. And he was right. Every match she did was unique. She really couldn’t say she abided by any rules because there were always exceptions. The only constant was her sense of integrity and her desire to act in a way that would please her Savior. And from Ryan’s perspective, she had failed miserably at that.
Having no response, she turned back to the rail, and they were both quiet as they watched the dancing below a few more minutes. Elise saw Chelsie apparently step on Greg’s toes. Even from this distance, their tinkling laughter flitted up to her ears like delicate butterflies being released from below.
“I’m ready to go if you are,” Elise said, suddenly feeling very weary. Obviously, Greg and Chelsie had passed the awkward stage and were thoroughly enjoying their time together. “I don’t think I’m needed here. They seem to be doing just fine.”
Ryan nodded, and they walked back down the stairs and out into the Seattle night. They took a leisurely pace back past the Space Needle and to Elise’s car. She kept waiting for Ryan to say something, to ask a question or make another sarcastic comment about this latest match, but he remained silent.
As she drove to take Ryan home, Elise kept waiting for him to speak. This was her last stop for the night. He’d known it was the last one. Why wasn’t he asking questions or rendering a verdict? Her nervousness increased as Ryan’s silence lengthened. Was he not going to say anything?
Elise pulled to the curb in front of Kerry Park. This is where she had picked Ryan up, but she wasn’t sure which building was his.
Elise cleared her throat, trying to work up the courage to break the uncomfortable silence. “So I guess that’s about it. I know I only said 24 hours, and it’s been longer than that. I’m sorry. Thanks for sticking with me to the end. I appreciate you giving me this chance.”
He must still think her a terrible person. Why else would he be so silent? He was probably trying to find a way to tell her that he was going to follow through with exposing her secret. Elise felt tears burning in the back of her eyes. She had hoped that, once he’d gotten to know her a little better, he’d understand her and not be so judgmental of her character. That had obviously not happened, and now she just wished he’d leave so she could cry.
In her mind, she kept hearing Ryan’s tone as he’s said her matches never were typical. She didn’t play by the rules, and to him, coloring outside the lines was not acceptable.
When she felt she couldn’t stand the tension for one more second, Ryan finally spoke. “It’s not raining like it was earlier today. This park has the best view in Seattle. Do you have time to get out and talk a minute?”
Chapter 14
It was a beautiful night. With the rain that had lasted most of the day and the late hour, the popular little park was nearly deserted. As they walked to the railing that bordered the overlook, Elise pulled her coat tight, thankful that the air was chilly but not miserably cold. The view of the city below was breathtaking. The Space Needle and the rest of the Seattle skyline stood outlined in lights against the black canvas of night.
“I doubt the view from inside the Space Needle could be more spectacular than this one from outside,” Elise mused.
Ryan looked at her funny but didn’t comment. Elise had lived in Seattle for years, and yet she was probably the only resident in the city who had never been to the top of the iconic Space Needle. She’d like to go someday, but she’d rather not go alone. So for now, this view from the park at the top of the hill was more than adequate.
Once again, Elise found herself waiting for Ryan to speak. He’d said he wanted to talk, but now it was as if they were both facing forward in an elevator, pretending that the other person didn’t exist. After several moments, the view began to lose its soothing effect on Elise.
What was Ryan thinking about? Was he secretly delighting in torturing her with the silent treatment? Or maybe he was trying to think of how to give his guilty verdict without having her fall apart. Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. She decided on a preemptive strike.
“Look, Ryan. I know you dislike me. You think I manipulate people and purposely deceive them to suit my own whims. You saw the flowers Britney received as a lie from me because they had your name as the sender. And apparently, you’ll never forgive me for that single sin against you.
“Even after spending all this time with me, it’s clear that you still think my methods unethical and doubt my character. But the truth is, I think you’re judging me unfairly. I do not deliberately try to lie to people or deceive them in any way. My motive is to help. I do not make any matches lightly. I don’t take any action without thought and prayer. Contrary to your opinion of me, I do not believe that the end justifies the means. I’ve actually struggled a lot with trying to balance my desire to help people by anonymo
usly matchmaking with methods that do not compromise my integrity. I put a lot of effort into it. I would never want to hurt any of the people involved, and if I thought anyone would object, I would never make a match.
“I don’t know how you can call it deception when those supposedly deceived would not want it any other way. Is it a lie if the people being lied to would not expect or want the truth? My grandmother died last year of Alzheimer’s. Before she died, there were times my grandma would ask where my grandfather was. We had to knowingly lie to her, saying that he’d gone fishing for the day, when in reality, my grandfather passed away ten years ago. But it was kinder to lie to Grandma than tell her the truth and have her live once again a fresh grief she was not able to process.
“Likewise, if given the choice, I don’t believe the couples I make matches for would want the truth, if that’s what you want to call it. I do not deliberately lie to people. I present them with a scenario, and I let them choose to believe what they want. Even if a match doesn’t work out, I’ve offered them the hope of a fairy tale, if even for a second. There is so much ugliness and hardship in the world, people want a little bit of fantasy and magic. They long for romance. They search for that special someone with the hope that something or someone will manipulate fate to help them find each other. They want the hope of an epic love story that will end in happily ever after. They need a Cupid.”
As Elise’s final words melted into silence, her heart was pounding with conviction, and yet, she had a strange peace as well. It was the peace of knowing she had laid her heart bare and said what needed to be said.
“That was a very good closing argument, Elise,” Ryan said seriously.
“What?” Elise responded, thoroughly confused.
“Yesterday you asked me to allow you a defense. Just now, you gave a beautifully worded, wonderfully executed argument to your case.”