Page 2 of A Heart to Find
Megan grabbed the sides of Keira’s arms.
“Remember what we vowed to one another on the shuttle ride? No self-doubt. Our matches are here, they will love the women we are, and we will not be insecure no matter what. We pinky-promised.”
“You’re right.” Keira blushed at the thought of breaking a vow so soon after it was made. “I appreciate the reminder.”
“Great. And don’t worry, I had to give myself the same pep talk on my way up here.” Megan pulled her phone out of her purse and checked the screen. “We need to hurry and get down there. We don’t want everyone looking at us if we slip in late.”
Keira ran the brush through her freshly waved hair, refreshed her lip gloss, and said a silent prayer that she’d feel the magic as soon as she was introduced to her match.
If there was anything she needed these days, it was a wave of magic. A tsunami would be nice, but she’d settle for a gentle, comforting wave.
The walk to the orientation hall felt as comfortable as walking through ankle-deep lava. She had to remind herself over and over that she had signed up for this, used her life savings to pay for the two-week vacation, and begged her best friend to water her plants and take care of her cat while she was away. Best friend duties, yes, but since Robyn abhorred cats, it had taken quite a bit of bribing to get her to agree.
She wasn’t the only one to be hit by nerves in the form of swirling bees in the gut, if Megan’s pale face and sudden nail biting was any indication.
“You okay, Megan? We can go to the bathroom for a few minutes before we walk in if you want.”
“No, I mean, uh, I’m okay.” Megan’s nose scrunched up. “Okay, I’m terrified. What if my match isn’t a match? What if he’s as horrible as my exes? What if?—”
“My turn to remind you of the promises we made to each other. We aren’t going to think about our past failed relationships. Remember what you told me about why you chose this matchmaking resort?”
Megan nodded somberly. “Because I am terrible at picking men for myself, so I might as well let someone else do it for me.”
“Exactly. No more abusive jerks. The man waiting for you on the other side of that door is someone who will adore you. Care for you. Treat you the way you deserve to be treated. The man you’ll meet has been carefully vetted, background check and all. You have nothing to worry about.”
Megan inhaled deeply and twirled her earring.
“Thank you, Keira. Your words of confidence will be my fight song all night.”
“Good.” Keira pulled Megan into a tight hug.
“What do you think your match will be like?” Megan asked. Keira wondered if her question was a delay tactic. “When you imagine someone matching you with someone else, what qualities do you think your match would have? Slick business owner? Hardworking construction worker? Single dad with an adorable kid?”
Keira’s shoulders tensed, and the once-buzzing bees in her gut died a hasty death, leaving a heavy feeling that made her clutch her stomach. “No, definitely not that.”
“Oh, I was just thinking since you love kids so much, maybe they’d want to set you up with an instant family. You’d put to rest all those crazy ‘evil stepmother’ clichés.”
Keira closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. “You’re right, I do love kids. But, well, I’ll tell you my horror stories later. Right now we need to get in there before our matches think we’re flaking out on them.”
“Sorry if I ventured into dangerous territory with my silly conversation.”
“Not at all, my friend. Your train of thought has merit. All I know is that this is our chance. We put our faith in the Matchmakers, and they will come through for us.”
Megan’s smile encompassed her entire face.
“I know you don’t have the same abusive past as me when it comes to boyfriends, but I just know that your match is going to be exactly what you deserve.”
Keira smiled. “I sure hope so. Otherwise, I’ll need to get a few more cats for companionship.”
Jared breathed in the sweet scent of Hailey’s bubblegum-scented hair as her little arms gripped his neck ferociously.
“I’ll miss you, Daddy!”
“Not nearly as much as I’ll miss you, my tiny puffer fish.”
Hailey pulled away enough to show him her impersonation of her nickname, puffing up her chubby cheeks and pushing her lips out. He responded in kind, eliciting giggles from his precious girl. The sparkle returned to her eyes, helping him breathe a sigh of relief.
“You’ll have so much fun with Auntie Meredith. I’ve heard she has big plans for spoiling you rotten.”
