last relationship ended and rather than wasting her time dating men who couldn’t commit, she’d decided to enlist a professional to help her. Instead, she found herself pouring out the whole sorry saga of life with Tom, from their first date in college to their four-year almost-engagement to Tom’s unromantic proposal and the final breakup.
“So I’m just looking for someone who’s ready for marriage and a family,” she finished. “You helped Dana and Tish, so I was hoping you could help me.”
Edwina nodded. “Tell me a little bit about yourself.”
“I’m twenty-seven. An only child. You know about my engagement. Tom’s the only serious boyfriend I’ve ever had. I work at a hospital, in the dining services area. I enjoy cooking and sewing. I’m more of a homemaker than an adventurer, and I’m looking forward to having a house of my own. And I want kids. At least two, maybe more.”
“Do you like your work at the hospital?”
“It’s an important job, making sure the patients have nutritious meals.”
“Do you like it?” Edwina was watching her closely.
“Sure. It’s okay, I guess.”
“Do you want to keep doing it for the rest of your life?”
Aimee scrunched up her nose. “No. I’d like to be a stay-at-home mom, or maybe work part-time.”
“Doing what?”
“Something related to food. Tom and I started a catering business, but it didn’t work out.” And she was still paying off the loan they’d used to finance the business, but she saw no reason to mention the fact. “Tish still hires me occasionally for events at the hotel.”
“So you think you’d like to work in catering?”
“Maybe, but the hours don’t always work well for someone with a family. Lots of late nights and weekends.”
“If not catering, then what?”
“I’ve always liked the idea of opening a little mom and pop store with my husband. Maybe a bakery or candy store, where I’d make some of the items we sell.”
Edwina jotted a note on the legal pad in front of her laptop. “What about your family?”
“It’s always been just Mama and me. I’m an only child.”
“And your father?”
“He died when I was four. I can hardly remember him.”
Aimee shifted in her seat. The statement was true enough. Most of the images she had were of a shadowy figure with upraised fists, yelling. Her mother would take her to the basement and lock the door. They’d play games or listen to music and ignore the yelling and banging from above. He’d left before Aimee turned five, and she hadn’t seen him since.
“You listed compassion, and commitment as the traits you value most highly?”
Aimee nodded.
Edwina consulted the sheaf of papers she’d just had Aimee complete. “You described your ideal man as a gentle soul who’d rather talk things out than fight?”
“Definitely. No violence, no yelling. Someone who can work things out in a reasonable manner.”
Edwina made a note. “And the period in history you’d most like to visit? You left that section blank.”
“There’s no particular period in history I’m drawn to,” Aimee said. “I’d say a time when family was important. I like the idea of going back in time, to a point where the world was simpler and life wasn’t so… confusing. When right and wrong were clearer.”
“No particular time. Simpler life,” Edwina repeated.
“Yes.” When Edwina didn’t follow up with another question, Aimee asked, “Do you think you can help me?”
“Yes.” Edwina slid a glossy folder across the desk. “This packet explains our program. In Phase 1, you’ll have up to three initial matches, with two dates each, one on your match’s terms, and one on yours. After each match, I’ll meet with you to gather feedback and see if you want to move on to Phase 2 with that match or get another match. If you don’t choose to move to Phase 2 with any of the three initial matches, we’ll meet to evaluate what’s not working before we try another batch
“So I’m just looking for someone who’s ready for marriage and a family,” she finished. “You helped Dana and Tish, so I was hoping you could help me.”
Edwina nodded. “Tell me a little bit about yourself.”
“I’m twenty-seven. An only child. You know about my engagement. Tom’s the only serious boyfriend I’ve ever had. I work at a hospital, in the dining services area. I enjoy cooking and sewing. I’m more of a homemaker than an adventurer, and I’m looking forward to having a house of my own. And I want kids. At least two, maybe more.”
“Do you like your work at the hospital?”
“It’s an important job, making sure the patients have nutritious meals.”
“Do you like it?” Edwina was watching her closely.
“Sure. It’s okay, I guess.”
“Do you want to keep doing it for the rest of your life?”
Aimee scrunched up her nose. “No. I’d like to be a stay-at-home mom, or maybe work part-time.”
“Doing what?”
“Something related to food. Tom and I started a catering business, but it didn’t work out.” And she was still paying off the loan they’d used to finance the business, but she saw no reason to mention the fact. “Tish still hires me occasionally for events at the hotel.”
“So you think you’d like to work in catering?”
“Maybe, but the hours don’t always work well for someone with a family. Lots of late nights and weekends.”
“If not catering, then what?”
“I’ve always liked the idea of opening a little mom and pop store with my husband. Maybe a bakery or candy store, where I’d make some of the items we sell.”
Edwina jotted a note on the legal pad in front of her laptop. “What about your family?”
“It’s always been just Mama and me. I’m an only child.”
“And your father?”
“He died when I was four. I can hardly remember him.”
Aimee shifted in her seat. The statement was true enough. Most of the images she had were of a shadowy figure with upraised fists, yelling. Her mother would take her to the basement and lock the door. They’d play games or listen to music and ignore the yelling and banging from above. He’d left before Aimee turned five, and she hadn’t seen him since.
“You listed compassion, and commitment as the traits you value most highly?”
Aimee nodded.
Edwina consulted the sheaf of papers she’d just had Aimee complete. “You described your ideal man as a gentle soul who’d rather talk things out than fight?”
“Definitely. No violence, no yelling. Someone who can work things out in a reasonable manner.”
Edwina made a note. “And the period in history you’d most like to visit? You left that section blank.”
“There’s no particular period in history I’m drawn to,” Aimee said. “I’d say a time when family was important. I like the idea of going back in time, to a point where the world was simpler and life wasn’t so… confusing. When right and wrong were clearer.”
“No particular time. Simpler life,” Edwina repeated.
“Yes.” When Edwina didn’t follow up with another question, Aimee asked, “Do you think you can help me?”
“Yes.” Edwina slid a glossy folder across the desk. “This packet explains our program. In Phase 1, you’ll have up to three initial matches, with two dates each, one on your match’s terms, and one on yours. After each match, I’ll meet with you to gather feedback and see if you want to move on to Phase 2 with that match or get another match. If you don’t choose to move to Phase 2 with any of the three initial matches, we’ll meet to evaluate what’s not working before we try another batch
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