“A man like Dad?”
She nods. “Yes. You need a man to keep you in line, and I know that sounds out of date, but I mean it in the most forward way. We’re the same, as much as you hate to admit it. And I needed a man like your dad to keep me grounded.”
“I think Neil wants something else. I mean, he went to a matchmaker for a specific kind of woman. And not a woman like me.”
“That’s the thing, sweetie, we often want the wrong thing. We think we know what we need, but the universe has other ideas.”
“I know he felt it. I think he was scared. Something is holding him back.”
“Then what are you waiting for?” she asks. “Go figure out what his hangup is. Ask for what you want.”
I snort. “You must really want me to go to Cancun with you.”
She shakes her head. Now there is a glimmer of understanding in her eyes and she reaches cross the table, resting a hand on mine. “You’re right, Imogen. I did know, with your father, after hearing him teach just one time. I knew that I would spend my life with him.”
A tear falls down my cheek. “What am I supposed to do?”
Mom dabs her eyes. “I would never have thought you’d be coming to me for advice. Me! The woman you roll your eyes at and think is so old fashioned—”
“Mom, I think it’s love at first sight between a mother and daughter too. You might drive me crazy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Mom bats the air, the tears filling her eyes. “Well, if you want to know what I think, I’d do something memorable. Big. And I’d do it soon. Tomorrow is Valentine’s day.”
“Like what?”
Mom leans in across the table. “I can’t believe I’m saying this to you, but I saw something on Facebook the other day and I think it might be the perfect thing.”
I spend the rest of the day making an elaborate plan. The hottest, dirtiest sex plan I’ve ever considered.
The fact Mom helped me both stuns and makes me a little anxious. Who knew she was such a sex-kitten herself?
I write a letter, and she drives it to his mailbox and delivers it for me. I hope when he reads it, he’ll take another chance on what we could be.
My invitation was a bit forward, but I don’t care. I asked him over at five o’clock on Valentine’s day.
The next morning I wake with butterflies in my stomach. I dress quickly, bubbling with nervous energy. God, I hope he shows.
I grab my purse to head to the cafe to grab a latte, but there is something at my doorstep that makes my eyes go wide.
It’s a bouquet of a dozen red roses, and attached is a card. Setting the flowers on my kitchen counter, I tear open the card.
Dear Imogen,
Love makes us do crazy things. For me, ten years ago, it was that exactly. I married my college sweetheart and we thought we’d have a lifetime together.
But then Margene died and a part of me died with her. A car crash took her life and it took my joy — I dove into work, into something I could control. I’d felt enough already, enough love and happiness, and who was I to ask for any more?
But I was lonely. I shared my bed with my wife for nearly five years and then, I’d roll over and be all alone. Each day, my heart to would close up a little bit more.
Before I met you I thought I knew what I wanted — someone safe and predictable. Someone who wouldn’t need anything from me emotionally because I didn’t think I would have anything to give.
Can you fall in love in one night?
I know people think it’s impossible — but isn’t that love, in and of itself?
It feels impossible to give ourselves over to another person, but then we meet the one — the person who changes everything — and we know that we’d only do something as crazy and reckless as falling in love if it was real.
We shared one night.
And that solitary night changed me.
I know it changed you too.
Tonight, I will see you at five o’clock sharp.
And I promise I won’t just wear a hard-on … I’ll do my best to wear my heart on my sleeve, too.
Yours,
Neil
8
NEIL
It’s impulsive and insane and exactly what I want.
Her.
Forever.
I don’t need to know her favorite color, whether she is a cat person or dog person. If she likes ice cream in a bowl or cone.
I need to know if there is chemistry.
If there is a flame.
If there is a fire burning when I think of her, when I say her name.
Linsey, my secretary thought I was crazy.
I couldn’t agree more.