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One

Willow

“I’,” my mother says as I sit in the chair across fro the business”

“You’re what?” I stare over the desk at her in complete shock “Mom, you can’t be serious”

“It’s time, Willow Your dad and I want to travel the world while we still have the energy to do it”

“Okay, fine, but don’t sell the business! My Heart’s Desire is the nuo! You’ve spent twenty years of your life building it up” My mother is brilliant and has this innate ability to see a couple’s potential without any explanation It’s like she sees through all the pretenses and lies, and gets to the heart of what a person really needs

She sighs “I know, darling, but I’ any better at this”

It’s the truth, but I feel like I have to defend ”

“Willow, it’s been three years”

“It takes time to make a perfect match!”

“I had five es under my belt in my first year”

“Well … I’ve come close a few times, haven’t I?” I don’t actually know if this is true, but I like to think it is I’ve set up countless clients, followed all ofthe subtle nuances in interviews that I think a client would appreciatebut all my matches have been total busts

I’uru—in work and in life

“I suppose I could ask Aspen to take it over,” sheout the

“Aspen!” My jaw drops My ood idea I love my sister, but she needs psychiatric helpor even just a shower and haircut She took my parents’ hippievegan or keto She feels that she can’t partake in anything that supports the government Therefore, she lives on my parents’ land, steals—or borrows, if you ask her—their electricity, water, food, and anything else she needs Then tries to say she’s “living off the land” I called it being a lazy ass

And then a o, my mother hired her at My Heart’s Desire as an administrative assistant In that short time, she’s already made two matches!

“Well, if I’ to sell it, I need so it would be you In fact, that was the entire point of you coree, plusfor you to be ready, but …” She gives me a pointed look as she trails off

I sit up taller “I am ready, Mom Give me one more chance I know I can find someone a perfect match”

She releases another heavy sigh “And you know, I can’t help but wish that out of all the people for whoret not finding your happily ever after I’m positive that’s your problem”

Here we go

The fact that I’d rather be single than settle is a mystery to her “It’s not a problem, Mom I’m happy I don’t currently need or want a man”

“You can lie to yourself, but not to me”