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“Oh, cheese-on-a-cracker, Ma! That dweebs name wasMario? Tell me he wasn’t a plumber…” June chuckled in disbelief, fighting the urge to slap her forehead.
“He was the guy your daddy hired to snake the drains in the kitchen sink.”
June laughed openly, turning onto Main Street and into Yonder… marveling at the small town and how quaint this suburb was out here in the middle of nowhere.
“So did you set me up again?”
“No – but you need someone in your life.”
“Mom, I think I’m a pretty good judge of what I need in my own life.”
“Junie, pumpkin,” her mother said emotionally. “You’ve got so much to give someone, and didn’t deserve what happened. No beautiful, smart, young woman should be widowed at twenty-five. You need a husband that adores you, children all around you, and a love that lasts a lifetime… I want that for my baby girl.”
Her mother’s plea didn’t go unheard.
June struggled to swallow back the pain that those gently said facts caused – because they were true. She had always imagined having a home, having children, the white picket fence, a little Yorkie puppy to flop around in her lap, imagining laughter and love so brilliant that it was like basking in the sunshine… only to bury those emotions on that muggy April morning long ago.
“Mother, that was whatyouwanted,” she croaked, trying to be strong and afraid to open herself up to wishing for more. “I’m not you – and I love you for caring so much, but I’m content.”
“Contentisn’thappy…” her mother stressed.
“But it will do,” June replied, trying not to sound caustic as she pulled into a parking lot and turned off her car. “I’m here and I need to go. So, you didn’t give my email address to anyone to set me up on some weird pen pal program?”
“A pen pal? Noooo…oh no…”
June closed her eyes and braced herself.
“… Oh Junie. I did. I amsooosorry. I gave your email address to a woman that had a friend looking for a house almost a year ago, honey. She was a teacher at one of the elementary schools in Tyler, and was in the middle of mailing a bunch of care packages to soldiers overseas. Her friend was a police officer and just married one of those Flyboys we are always hearing about in Yonder. Well, we got to talking, and she said she was always looking for people to correspond with the troops to keep up morale. You were in the dumps at the time, so I gave her your business card and told her you could use a boost. That’s it. I swear, honey. I don’t even remember the woman’s name. I think it was Lola, or Lulu, or maybe…”
“Mom, it’s fine,” June breathed heavily. “I know you mean well, but just leave any personal stuff to me… okay? Iwasin a bad place mentally a year ago, but I’m much better. I can shake this guy and tell him to bug off.”
“Or you could give him a chance?”
“Mommmm…” she growled in warning.
“I’m just saying that if someone else needs a morale boost, maybe they are in a tough spot like you were? Not everyone is as strong mentally as you are – and it might do you some good to hear this person out, be a friend, and see what happens.”
June looked up to see the couple coming out of the apartment, waving at her.
“We’ll see, Mom. I have to go. My clients are coming to the car, and I need to say ‘Hello’…” she rushed out, putting on a polite smile. “Love you, Ma.”
“Love you too, Junie.”
She disconnected the phone, got out of the car, and extended her hand politely in a handshake.
“It’s so wonderful to meet you both,” she smiled brightly, stepping into her business role with her carefully crafted intro, designed to put people at ease and get them to open up. “I’m June Peyton – and I see you’ve already got the princess in your story – so how about we discover your dream cottage… or fairytale castle, eh? I have a few questions for you, and we’ll get started with navigating the lay of the land for your new little kingdom.”
The couple looked at each other – and smiled.
Works like a charm, every time,she mused, and fought the urge to grin, knowing that this handsome couple was bought in.
Hook, line, and sinker.
2
SELKIRK
Ian sat at the computer,thinking.
