by Erynn Mangum
“I’ve failed.” Ryan is moaning.
I pat his arm sympathetically. “Happens to the best of us. Let’s go inside.”
He opens the door for me, and I wave at Brandon and Hannah.
“Iron your dress, Laurie?” Brandon yells as they join us.
“Lay off, Knox.” I grin. “Hannah, you look beautiful. Doesn’t she look gorgeous, guys?”
Hannah blushes. Brandon blushes. Ryan smiles, nods, and then pinches the back of my arm.
I yelp.
A man in a white tux and a frown stares at me, and I smile apologetically. “Sorry,” I whisper. “Heels.”
“Name, please,” he says stiffly.
Ryan steps in front of me. “Ryan Palmer.”
Frowning Tux checks his book and then nods. “Right this way, please.”
He leads us to a table behind a large aquarium holding a school of orange fish that blink at us.
“What kind of fish are those, Laurie?” Hannah asks as we sit down.
I give her a look. “How should I know?”
“You’re the one going on the fishing trip.”
“Oh yeah, right. Okay. Let me think.” I tuck my dress down in my chair. “These are the dreaded Citrus Husk Fish. Resembling an orange peel, they float along the top of the water and trick people into picking them up.”
Ryan and Brandon roll their eyes. Hannah grins. “What happens next?”
“They eat them.”
“The people eat the fish?” Ryan asks, feigning seriousness.
“The fish eat the people, actually. Gang up on them. Ant that ate the elephant kind of thing.”
Brandon grimaces. “Could I restrict all conversation to work, family, and Ruby and Nick?”
“Where are they?” I crane my neck, trying to see. I see aquariums. Fish in the aquariums. And fish on a platter.
Ryan touches my arm and points. “Right there, Laur.”
Nick and Ruby sit toward the middle of the restaurant at a romantic little table lit only with two candles.
“Aw.” Hannah and I sigh together.
“They are perfect together.” I smile.
Brandon looks across the table at me. “You did well, Nutsy.”
“Wow. Brandon. I’m flattered.”
“Yeah, well, don’t get used to it.”
Ryan holds up a hand. “Wait, quiet, folks. It’s happening!”
Nick leans over the table and hands Ruby a small box.
She blushes.
“Open it,” Nick mouths.
She does and blushes darker. “Oh my,” she mouths back.
He slides out of his chair and cracks his knee hard against the floor. Ryan winces along with Nick.
“That had to hurt.” He hisses this in my ear.
Ruby erupts into giggles. Nick laughs. Then he turns his head and we can’t read his lips anymore.
“What’s happening? What’s happening?” Hannah screeches.
“Shh,” I whisper.
Ruby nods. Vigorously. Nick stands with difficulty, leans down, and kisses her.
“Yay!” Hannah and I yell. Ryan and Brandon grin, laugh, high-five. Hannah and I hug over the table.
Someone clears his throat over our table.
I look up.
Uh-oh.
“Nick.” I smile. “And . . . Ruby.”
Hannah shoots me a What-Are-We-Supposed-to-Say-Now? look.
Ryan covers well. He stands, shakes Nick’s hand, and envelops his sister in a hug. “Congratulations, you two.”
Brandon and Hannah join them. I stay at the table, watching.
Hannah and Ruby swipe tears. Brandon and Ryan smack Nick’s shoulder, congratulate him, and smack him again.
My father once told me there comes a time in every woman’s life when she desperately desires to be married.
No offense, Dad, but I think you were wrong.
I think there’s more. Most women desire matrimony — but with the guys God has created for them. My job is to be still and wait, knowing He is God.
And occasionally pushing a couple together. Just now and then, of course. I smile at Brandon and Hannah.
What does that verse in Colossians say? “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
I watch Ryan hold his crying sister and grin at her. Matchmaking is a deed, right? Thanks, God. Ryan winks at me and then mouths, “Please come take her.”
I slip my arms around Ruby and hug her tight.
“I’m so happy for you, Ruby. Now, what do you think about June?”
About the Author
ERYNN MANGUM is a twentysomething single who still lives at home and has no immediate plans to leave. She has been published in Teenage Christian Magazine, has completed the two-year apprenticeship course given by the Christian Writers Guild, and recently completed the one-year Journeyman course. While Miss Match is not autobiographical, let’s just say that Erynn can relate. This is her first novel. Look for the sequel in stores in September 2007. To learn more about Erynn, visit her website at www.erynnmangum.com.
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
About the Author