Page 16 of The Matchmaker's Melody
After the concert, of course, came the party. Every Christmas concert needs a reception afterwards, where everyone could relax and let loose and just enjoy each other’s company without worrying about the rest of the rehearsal. There was also a sort of gift exchange that Taylor had helped to organise for anyone interested. It had sounded like fun, and Emma was always interested in anything that might appeal to her fans. And so, when Taylor asked her if she’d be willing to help out, she’d jumped at the chance.
It also provided an excellent opportunity to get Halli and Phil together at last.
The premise was simple. Everyone who wanted to participate was to buy a small, generic gift, with a very low maximum price. Ten dollars could buy something interesting, while not being out of anyone’s price range. A dollar-shop mug and a packet of hot chocolate. A few fancy chocolate balls. A gift card to a coffee chain. The idea was to have fun.
At some point at the party, Emma would hand all the participants a card with an image on it. A stick person, a butterfly, that sort of thing, Then, matching cards would be placed in a bag and people would stick their hands in and pick one at random. As long as it wasn’t the match to their own card (in which case they’d just choose again), the match would receive the little gift.
Emma was proud of her purchase, a little set of bamboo travel cutlery that fit into a case that could roll up and fit into a backpack, or even a pocket. Handy, practical, sustainable, and suitable for everyone. She’d liked it so much, she bought enough to toss into the presents for all her friends, and had contacted the local company to see if they wanted her to talk about it on her channel or on social media.
But the best part of the exchange was that, since she passed around the initial cards to the givers, she knew who had what. Or, more precisely, she knew which one Phil had. It would be easy, when the time came for folks to randomly select the matching cards from the bag, to ensure Halli received the one that matched Phil’s. All she had to do was keep it aside, go to Halli last, and make sure it went into the bag before her friend drew it out. What could be simpler?
And, indeed, things went exactly according to plan. She knew who was involved with the exchange, and she wandered around the room as everyone filed in, giving out the cards seemingly at random, just taking the next one off the pile. Then, a few minutes before the exchange people were to move to the end of the room where they could enjoy their game without interfering with those who just wanted to chat, she took the bag of matching cards and did the rounds again. Now everyone had their own cards, and the matching cards for the recipients of their gifts.
It was so simple. It was perfect.
Emma stood at the side of the room near the snack table, surveying the scene. How could she not beam with delight. “It’s going to be amazing,” she breathed.
“Do you have something up your sleeve, Emma?”
She swung around to see Gordon standing just to the side, a cup of watery coffee in one hand.
“You wound me. Why would you think that?” she returned.
“You look too smug. Don’t try anything. It will go wrong.”
She rolled her eyes. “What could possibly go wrong? It’s all random. It’s all in the cards.” She chuckled at her little joke. “But why aren’t you participating? You’re a bit of a spoil-sport, you know.”
Gordon grinned at her, white teeth glinting. “I am, in a way. I brought an extra little gift with me, just in case someone forgot theirs or something. I suggested it to Taylor, and he thought it was a good idea.”
“Always the practical one, aren’t you?” She punched his arm playfully, making the coffee slosh around in its paper cup.
“That’s me. Practical. That’s why I’m worried you’ve got some funny business in mind.”
She was about to counter his claims, despite having planned exactly that, when she saw people heading their way. It was Elise with her new boyfriend. He was certainly handsome enough, but was probably just as dreary-dull as Elise was. Gordon would enjoy their company much more than Emma would. Time to move on.
“Oh, I see Phil and Jean-François over there,” she announced. “I’d better make sure they know what’s going on with the exchange. I’ll see you later.” She flashed him another grin and slid away towards the two men before Elise could monopolise the conversation with talk about some charity or another.
“Emma,” Phil called as she wandered close.
Jean-François echoed the greeting with his “Cherie, viens.”
“We were just discussing the exchange,” Phil continued. “What a clever idea it was. It could only have come from someone as brilliant as you.”
“And there is none more brilliant than our Mademoiselle Massey,” Jean-François added, which gained him an unaccountable scowl from Phil. “Beauty and brains in one charming person.” Wait—shouldn’t Phil be saying that about Halli, anyway, rather than Jean-François saying it about her? And where was Halli? Why wasn’t Phil with her? But subtle undercurrents of animosity between the two men grabbed her attention, and for a moment, she forgot about her friend.
And so the conversation went for a couple of minutes, all the while Emma noticed Gordon staring at them from his place by the table, even as Elise and her boyfriend chatted on about something.
“What time are we starting?” Phil asked at last. “I’m hoping to draw a very special person’s card this evening, and I can’t wait.”
Good. He was finally ready to speak to Halli. With a great smile, Emma pulled out her phone and glanced at the time. “In about ten minutes. I should find Taylor and see if he’s ready. Did either of you see where he went? I can’t spot him.”
Jean-François shrugged, palms up, a very Gallic gesture, and Phil shook his head. “No, but I’ll help you find him. Perhaps he’s out in the hallway.” He took Emma’s arm and led her from the large reception room where the party was in full swing.
Taylor was not in the hallway. In fact, no one was in the hallway.
“Down there, by the office?” Phil suggested. He began to walk, and Emma scuttled after him.
But instead of finding Taylor, they found nothing but an empty, dark room.
