Page 93 of Matchmaking the Rival

Chapter Twenty-Three

Meredith

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"Girls, this is... You'reridiculous. You're young. You don't want this old hag cramping your style."

Natalie laughed. "Jeannie, where do you even get that expression from?"

"I'm trying to keep up with slang. I always had to stay on top of things in my working days. I'd usually bring some modern flare to my interpretations. Not classic ones, of course. I wouldn't make Shakespeare say 'cramp your style.' But as I reached my seventies, I didn't want to be out of touch."

Jeannie lit up when she spoke of her acting days. Natalie and I had gone back and forth about what to do with her, then decided getting mani-pedis was an activity everyone enjoyed.

"This place looks amazing," Jeannie went on.

Natalie nodded. "I discovered it recently. I love the nail bar. It's so relaxing. It's almost like a visit to the spa."

They didn't have an actual bar, despite the name, but they served drinks and had decorated everything, so it resembled an oasis in nature. The three of us were sitting in a semicircle, and our respective professionals were explaining the procedure to us. I thought that was pointless because everyone knew how to get their nails done, but Jeannie was having a field day with it, so what did I know?

“I want red nails,” Jeannie exclaimed. “I've had a french manicure for so long. I'm sick of it. They should call it the old lady manicure.”

"Hey, I like them," Natalie said.

"Girls, mark my words. Go for red while you're young enough. You'll have plenty of time for nudes and french manicures when you're an old bat."

I burst out laughing. “If there's anyone who shouldn't refer to herself as old, it's you, Jeannie.” She truly was sharp as a whip. One could only hope to reach that age and be just like her.

"I saw a tea shop next door. I’ll go in after we’re through and buy Abe some hibiscus tea. He loves it.” It was so endearing how she always seemed to be thinking about her husband.

"You spoil him rotten," Natalie said.

"Oh, I do. I think spoiling each other is a prerequisite of a long and happy marriage."

As the manicurists started to work on our nails, I listened to Jeannie intently. I always liked to listen whenever my parents spoke about their marriage, but she and Abe were an entirely different level altogether. They must have had something like six or seven decades together. That was remarkable. Natalie was also leaning in a bit. We made eye contact, and she winked.

"It doesn't even have to be big things. Just small things that show appreciation on a daily basis. It's important to keep it up, especially when you're going through hard times."

Definitely wise words.

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