Page 33 of Merry Little Midlife Matchmaker

When Lizzie finally followed their gazes and saw me, her smile bloomed as it always did, showing off the dimples in her full cheeks. She walked toward me. “My brother just asked me if you’d talked to me,” she said by way of greeting. “Any idea what it’s about?”

I rubbed the back of my neck and glanced toward the school doors, which remained closed. “I asked him about a babysitter for Saturday night, and he said you might know someone,” I lied.

Lizzie’s eyebrow arched. “He said I might know someone, or he told you to ask me?”

I huffed, tilting my head. “Told me to ask you. But you’ve done enough favors for me. I hate to ask you for another one.”

“That’s very thoughtful of you,” Lizzie said, reaching over to squeeze my forearm. Her eyes were kind and a little sad. She took a deep breath, like she was bracing herself. “Tell you what, how about we organize a sleepover? Zach would love it. That way you don’t need to worry about being home by a certain time in case things with Laurel go well.”

“Lizzie…”

“It’s no problem,” she insisted, her smile brightening, but not quite shaking the shadows from her eyes. “Mikey is so well-behaved, and it would make Zach happy. I really think you and Laurel are a good match. I’d hate for you to have to cut your date short if you’re getting along. Trust me! It’s a win-win.”

It didn’t feel like a win-win. It felt like Lizzie was taking a giant step away from me, but I knew how to take a hint. I’d madeher uncomfortable with what happened with the tree, and she was drawing a thick line in the sand between us. So despite the pinch in my chest, I dipped my chin. “Thank you,” I told her. “That sounds great.”

She gave me a nod, then turned to look at the school doors. We didn’t speak until they opened and released the horde of children to their waiting parents’ arms.

FIFTEEN

LIZZIE

Saturdays were always busy,with swimming lessons for both kids in the morning followed by dance for Hazel and sports for Zach in the afternoons. The baseball season was over, but Zach had signed up for indoor soccer at the insistence of one of his friends this year, which he was enjoying. I played taxi, my favorite game of all.

On this particular Saturday, I tried not to think about what was to come this evening. I dropped my kids off then ducked home to do errands and chores, including the usual seventeen metric tons of laundry, picked Hazel up, fed her, and dropped her off just in time to do the same with Zach. It was hectic up until about five o’clock, when the kids arrived home with appetites that belied their ages. I could only imagine what kind of bottomless pits their stomachs would become in a few years’ time.

An hour later, when the dishes were done and I was doing my best not to watch the clock, the doorbell rang. I took a deep, calming breath. I did not think about the Boner Incident. And if a hint of it drifted through my consciousness, I chose not to acknowledge it.

A bright, happy smile stretched my lips as I looked at myself in the hallway mirror. It came out a bit deranged, so I dropped it and tried again, turning down the wattage by about thirty percent. There. Better.

The front door hinge squeaked as I pulled it open, my just-right smile still plastered on my face. “Mikey!” I exclaimed. “Come in. The kids are in the living room.”

“Go on,” Sean said, squeezing his son’s shoulder.

Mikey didn’t hesitate. His shoes were off in a flash, and then he was hurrying down the hallway toward the sound of my children playing.

I brushed my cheek to make sure my smile was still intact, then turned to the man on my stoop. “Hi,” I said, impressed by the way my voice sounded nice and casual. That was good. I’d need to sound nice and casual when he and Laurel hit it off and started dating in earnest. But maybe it would be easier then, when these silly possibilities about me and Sean were proven to be just that: silly. The sooner he found a new girlfriend, the sooner I could put my attraction to rest. “You look nice,” I added.

Sean looked down at himself like he was surprised to find clothes on his body and he wasn’t a grown man who’d dressed and groomed himself presumably only an hour or so earlier. “Thanks,” he said. “Haven’t worn a shirt in a while.” He rubbed his jaw and gave me a half smile.

It would be a lot easier to do this if he wasn’t so dang attractive. Every time his lips tilted this way or that, my hormones went on a wild roller coaster ride.

“It suits you,” I declared, nodding. “And black is a classic color. Serious but not brooding. Very good balance to strike. The Spiderman backpack is particularly good.”

“Oh, shit.” Sean jerked and slipped the backpack off his shoulder. “Mikey’s things.”

“I figured.” My smile felt a little easier as I curled my fingers around the strap. The tips of them brushed against his warm palm, and I ignored the pitter-patter of my heart. The man was going on a date with another woman. A date I had set up. He’d probably pop a boner with her too.

“You okay?”

I glanced up to see Sean frowning at me and discovered my smile had fallen off my face and clattered to the floor. I nodded and forced myself to brighten as I picked it back up and slapped it on my mouth again. “Long day,” I explained.

He dipped his chin. “Thanks for… Thanks.”

“Of course.”

“If I’m done before Mikey goes to bed, I can stop by and pick him up.”

“And deny him the sleepover he’s so excited about?” I shook my head, my resolve firming. This man was not for me, but his son was a darling and I would do my best to be a good friend and great hostess. Sean was my brother’s best and oldest friend, and he’d be part of my life for the foreseeable future. I had to get used to being near him. I waved him off. “Just go and enjoy yourself. You’ll love Laurel. I just know the two of you will hit it off.”

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