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ELIZABETH
I wrapped my coat a little tighter around my waist. I'd broken the zipper of the expensive jacket the week before when I’d gotten into a wrestling match with the air compressor hose and a pneumatic tool. My best friend, Alexandra Reeves, wasn't in town anymore to help me with domestic tasks.
Sewing a straight line was not one of my many talents. Not that I couldn’t learn. I just didn’t want to learn.
However, I could fix anything with a screwdriver and as I finished up the final remodel of a client’s deck and Jacuzzi addition, I couldn't help but wish I had a little bit more domestic talent. What man would want to marry a woman that couldn’t make a TV dinner? At least I can order Chinese like a pro.
The snow didn’t fall fast or heavy, but more in a lazy pattern that comforted me. Finishing up a job in time to go home and enjoy some tea while watching the snow was a great way to wind down. I couldn’t wait.
Mr. Hindenburg called out from the top of the patio I’d just finished. “Thank you again, Lizzie. You did such a nice job. Are you sure you won't marry me?” The man was in his 60s or 70s, which wasn’t old necessarily, but it was certainly more maturity than I wanted in a man.
I was still looking for someone who wanted to have children with me, not great-grandchildren. Waving at him from behind my silver Dodge Ram, I called out in reply, “Thank you, Mr. Hindenburg. That's really sweet of you. I’m going to go visit my friend though.” Plus, well, I wasn’t interested in marrying a man who only wanted me around so he didn’t have to twist a screwdriver.
“Oh, the one that walked out on her wedding?” He guffawed and slapped his thigh. “I still can’t believe that happened. Who does that?”
The stigma Alex had left was going to follow Elizabeth around the rest of her life – or as long as she stayed in Arkansas.
“Yes, sir. That's the one.” But I didn't care. Mr. Hindenburg was my last client. I didn't work on closing my business for the last three months since I’d been to Alex's wedding for nothing. I’d signed up with ClickandWed thanks to Alex repaying me her signup fee. Waiting for my match was slowly killing me with impatience.
I wasn’t surprised though. Dating me would be like dating one of the guys. I loved tools and talking shop. If the guy didn’t cook or care about how the house was decorated, we’d both be left living in a hovel and eating takeout every night... and lunch... and morning.
When I had emailed ClickandWed’s owner, Colin Davies, for an update and find out how long it took people to get matches, the reply had been that it wasn't a widely used service yet and my match would come in when it was time.
The answer didn’t make me feel that comforted since I’d already turned in my notice for vacating my place and my last day was next weekend. If not before.
Visiting Alex in Snoqualmie was the only thing I could think of to help me extend my homeless lifestyle until I had a match and a place to call home. I really just wanted to get started on my next adventure.
Closing up shop and packing up everything was heartbreaking. I'd already established a solid working company and had taken on so many clients I had a hard time keeping up with the demand. I’d been considering hiring a manager, since honestly, I hated the business part of things anyway, and then I’d sent Alex to Washington and decided to do the same thing to myself.
My phone buzzed as I put my smaller toolbox into the back of my truck. I pulled the cell out of my pocket, ducking under the glass window hatch and yawning. Putting in eighteen hour days in the freezing winter weather was catching up to me. This time of year was usually my down time, but I’d promised too many people completed projects in the spring. I’d taken the jobs as a personal challenge to finish before finding a match.
Too bad, I wasn’t matched yet. I wasn’t a fan of failing.
A red heart icon flashed on my phone. I pushed it, anxious to see what would be the answer. Had someone asked a question? Was there interest of some kind? Any kind of movement? I needed something to keep me going on this path I’d started on.
I licked my lips, suddenly shaking and it wasn’t from the cold.
The ClickandWed app dinged and a red dialogue box flashed. “You have a match! Read the profile by pushing the red heart! Congratulations.”
I was so nervous. Pulling off my slim gloves, I blew warm air into my cupped fist and stared at the touch screen. Button. Button. Button. Did I push it? Or did I just continue to dwell in the mindset that I hadn’t been matched yet?
Do it. Just do it. I wouldn’t be committing anything. I was just checking him out. I pushed the button and a handsome man’s profile popped up on the screen.
Almost too handsome, like he knew his charming smile with blondish brown hair and dark eyes were like honey for women. Okay, there was no such thing as a too handsome man. And this one was matched to me. A white dress shirt with a blue tie set off his tan. He had broad shoulders and long lashes.
I could only imagine what his hands felt like.
I hoped charming meant friendly, because I could do with a friendly man for once. I’d hold out hope he wasn’t a jerk and be happy with what I got.
What would he think when he saw my profile? What if he didn’t like that I was a brunette? A lot of guys preferred blondes, like Alex. Or that I couldn’t cook? I hadn’t lied on my questionnaire or in my comments when I’d pretty much warned the men away.
How did I have a match that said he wanted to marry me? All I had to do was approve and click I do.
The app said he was from San Francisco, California. Hmmm... warm temperatures year round? I could work all the time and not have to worry about my fingers falling off or if my lips were going to stick to the metal nails when I held them between my teeth.
What was his name? Tyler Manning? He looked like a man’s man and I didn’t know how our compatibility was almost at a hundred percent. How was 99.5% even possible? We were probably matched like buddies because I could talk sports and tools and most women couldn’t.
I thought Alex’s compatibility score was high but this was crazy.
Glancing around at the snow-covered streets and trees with their branches over laden with snow, I couldn't find one thing wrong with having such a high score. There was a guy out there that was my perfect match. My happy-ever-after was just around the corner.
I’d be as happy as Alex and Jeremy were. Excitement made my lips curve up and I closed the hatch and climbed in the cab. Starting the engine, I waited for it to warm up. I moved to hit I do, but hesitated. What if he expected someone other than what he was getting? What if I wasn’t the right one for him and he didn’t know, but I did? I wasn’t the one the guys took home to mom and dad to marry. I was the one they brought the street rods to for repair.
A little yellow heart blinked on the bottom right hand of the screen. There was a note attached the profile for me. I brought it up, a very simple note from Colin Davies. “I hope you're happy with your match. I checked everything over myself and he seems amazing for you. What a great compatibility score. Don’t hesitate to reach out, if you have any questions.”
Why wasn’t I completely convinced the guy was my type? His clean appearance and amazing good looks should’ve had me clicking that I wanted to marry him immediately, but I wasn’t shallow. That wasn’t enough.
What if he was the type of guy who didn't even know what dirt was? He might not like the outdoors and he might only like the inside of an office.
True, my feminine side would love to go on a date with him in that suit with me dressed in a dress and heels. The last time I wore heels I was sixteen and going to the senior prom with Drake Madison.
This guy could definitely be Drake, but I was no longer a sixteen-year-old girl.
Colin said she matched us. After Alex’s wedding, and how happy they were, I found it hard to doubt anything that Colin did.
I pushed the home button and called Alex. Before she could even say hello when she answered, I blurted out. “I got matched. But it's like a ridiculous score, 99.5 or something and the guy is in California. He's dressed like Bob Hope. True, he's not that old, but still. Oh my gosh, though, he looks like that one guy from that show Suits. The blond with the eyes and the jaw line? You know who I'm talking about. Remember? Anyway, I got a note from Colin on the match, too. Colin said the match was made by she or he or whoever Colin is. What do I do? What would you do?”
I took a deep breath, staring at the fogging up windshield. My friend waited another moment, as if I might start talking again. And I might. Who knew what I was going to do. Everything was up in the air, especially since I had pushed my best friend into abandoning her husband at the altar and eloping with someone she’d never met.
“I think you should do it. I didn't know if I was really going to love Jeremy, but it's working out well. I’m happy.” She hesitated as if she sensed that I had to hear something more concrete. “Actually, since we’re on the phone. I was just going to call you. You really need to come see me in about seven months give or take. Wherever you're at.”
Seven months. Where would that put me? I'm sure the weather... Wait, why seven months? Why such an arbitrary number? She was trying to tell me something... I calculated quickly in my head. It had been only a few months since the wedding and I knew for a fact, they had waited for the wedding night. Wait a minute. I dropped my jaw. “No. Are you pregnant?”
Alex squealed. “Yes! Apparently honeymoons really do work. We’re due in about seven months. You have to come up. I hope by then you're desperately happy, too. Maybe that'll be around the time you guys will come up here and have a real wedding like we did. You know you can use Forever Akers whenever you want.”
I bit my lip and blinked back the sentimental tears she brought out in me. Leave it to Alex to bring out my softer side. It wasn’t easy to cry and be emotional when you worked with chop saws and metal grinders for a living.
“Do you really think I should do it?” I snickered at my insecurity. “He might not be impressed by me.”
“I do. And he’s lucky to have you. You’re impressive in so many ways. You’re amazing. Stop talking like that. I really think you're going to be pleasantly surprised.” She had such joy in her voice.
I wanted that for myself.
“Okay. I'm going to do it. Love you.” I hung up and before I could think too much about what she said, I clicked I do.
I only get to live once, right?
