Page 10 of The Matchmaker and the Marine

She could feel Adam watching her as he moved around the perimeter of the patio. “In all honesty, the winter months. It doesn’t seem like a long trek with a hose, but its daunting just thinking about hauling containers from the house so they have fresh water, then worrying about cold temperatures, I would hate for any chicken to freeze to death; the wind whips through the backyard like it’s a tunnel.” She glanced right and left. “I’m zoned for chickens and I don’t think the neighbors would mind, especially if I was to share the bounty. But I think it’s just too much to take on.”

“Well, if you’re serious, I could come up with a design, add some insulation and maybe some kind of heated area to alleviate those issues.”

“Probably not, but thanks anyway.” She held the tape while Adam went kitty-corner to her. As an afterthought, she said, “Well, I’ll think about it. Who knows what the future will bring.”

He tucked the pad and pencil into his pocket and clipped the tape to his belt. “Let me know if you change your mind, but there would be one stipulation.”

She looked at him, unsure if he was serious or trying to be funny. “What might that be?”

“I’d want fresh eggs from time to time.”

Melinda could see the corners of his mouth twitch and laughter filled his eyes. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Adam retracted the tape and grinned. “I’ve got all I need for now.”

“Let me know when the design is ready.” Melinda tucked her hands into the front pockets of her shorts. She shifted from foot to foot. “I should get back to the flowers.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I should be going too. I have a couple of other things I need to wrap up before the end of the day.”

Melinda walked next to Adam, around the side of the house and stopped at his truck. “Thanks for coming over on such short notice.”

“Not a problem. It looks like it will be a fun project and, more importantly, a nice addition to your backyard.” He opened the truck door to get in and said, “I’ll give you a call later.”

“Oh, wait. You forgot the drawer.” Before he could get out of the truck, Melinda ran lightly up the front steps and through her office door. She returned moments later with the broken pieces. She handed them to Adam through the open window.

“Thank you. I’ll have the drawer ready for you in a couple of days and the quote even sooner.”

“And I should have a potential match for you by tomorrow. I’ll email you her contact information.” She felt an odd twinge of envy when she thought of the potential match, but dismissed it as quickly as it came.

“Okay, great. And all I’ll need to do is give her a call?”

“Or you can send an email and get acquainted first. It might be easier to break the ice, so to speak.”

“Good idea, coach.” With a laugh he started up the truck and dropped it into reverse. “We’ll talk soon.”

Melinda watched as he drove off down the road. She mused, “I really hope I can find him the perfect match. He’s a great guy and some girl is going to be very lucky.”

Chapter 5

Adam spread the plans for Melinda’s pergola over his drafting desk. As he reviewed the details, his mind drifted to the time he spent with Mel. She was an intriguing woman. A widow and a matchmaker, with a passion for gardening.

He slid the pergola design aside and added a few details to the next page. His idea for a chicken coop looked more like a cottage for a child’s playhouse, except with an easy access panel to clean out the mess the chickens would make. He smiled as he added a couple of birds into the drawing. When she was ready to talk chickens, he would be prepared.

His email pinged. He opened a message from Mel. He scanned the contents, clicked on the attachment. A picture of an attractive lady with a nice smile and pretty eyes filled his screen. Using the mouse, he minimized it to half the screen, then carefully read the information Melinda sent him.

Hi Adam,

Meet Susan. She lives in Newton, which is about twenty minutes from here. She enjoys the outdoors, movies and reading. You should contact her and arrange a coffee date. I’ve listed her email address below. But of course, the choice is yours.

If you decide to pass, please let me know and I’ll send you another match. We’ll do this one at a time. If you do meet her and don’t feel any sparks, drop me an email and I’ll let her know.

Above all I want to encourage you to have fun with the process. Meeting potential matches is like shopping for a new car. Sometimes it can take several test drives before you find one that is a good fit.

Melinda

Adam looked at Susan’s picture again. She was pretty, with nice brown eyes. He started a new email. In the subject line he typed: Matched by It’s Just Coffee.

Hello Susan. I received your information from Melinda Phillips, It’s Just Coffee. I was wondering if you’ve read my profile and if you have any interest in meeting. The location is lady’s choice. I look forward to hearing from you.

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