Falling for the Matchmaker [ Chaennie ]

Chapter 22 : Roseanne

 Roseanne

"I can kind of see why your mom thinks that the mineral pool is the best. It's pretty neat. It feels strange. The water. Extra soft or something. I can't really tell the difference otherwise, but it's been a long time since I was in a pool and that's nice."

"I appreciate that." I stare pointedly at Jennie's chest.

She has a purple bikini on and it's killer. There aren't many people in the pool right now, since it's just after breakfast and I guess most people like to take things easy on a Saturday morning when they come to the spa, but there were two older ladies and a middle aged guy with his wife and they all turned to stare at Jennie as she walked in with me and slipped into the pool. The bikini is pretty modest. It's not one of those thong types that would give people a reason to stare, it covers everything. She just looks that freaking amazing in it. I find it kind of funny that she turned to me and whispered, right after we got into the pool and swam over to the deeper end, that everyone was looking at me. I'm wearing a black one-piece bathing suit. I don't think anyone was checking me out. We both had a good laugh about that, quietly, like an inside joke, while we were treading water. After a few minutes of actual swimming, we went back to the shallow end where it was warmer and we could sit down on the concrete ledges lining the sides of the pool, still submerged basically up to our necks.

"Do you think everyone passed your class?" Jennie asks. Apparently, she's learned how to read my mind, because I've been thinking about the tests that I need to grade tomorrow.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to be distracted."

"You weren't. I was just wondering. I know you have to do some grading tomorrow and that regular classes start up soon. My sister is really excited about getting Tildy back into school full time. The summer was rough on her, even with me and my parents helping her out."

"Is she doing okay? I know you said that she's splitting up from her husband. That has to be hard."

"I think things are easier for her and John now. They were horrible together. Even from the start, they fought all the time. When they're apart, they seem to be nicer to each other. It's weird. It's like, I think they care about each other and like each other, but only from a distance. When they're together, they can't take a breath. I don't really know. It seemed that way. I know that she's doing better now. She's a lot happier. She was getting headaches all the time. Now, hardly ever."

"Right. She had one last weekend. Tildy's a great kid. Mandy's super lucky."

"She's amazing. Despite the penchant for lattes."

I laugh at the memory of that. The first memory I have of walking in and seeing Jennie. Of thinking Tildy was her daughter. I could never have known, even just a few weeks ago, that we'd be here now. That gives me a strange sense of fate, which I don't believe in, so I choose to think of it as a sense of purpose. Of changes. Of decisions that brought us here. That makes me think about what I was thinking about yesterday, about all my decisions, right or wrong, feeling right in this moment, because I'm so thankful to be here right now.

"Do you want kids?" I don't mean to just blurt that out, but it happens and now I have to sit here and watch the surprise on Jennie's face. Stupid! That is totally not something to just drop on someone. It has expectation. Hidden meaning. I don't mean it that way at all, but I'm scared she'll take it the wrong way.

"I-I mean, I'm not trying to rush into anything. I definitely didn't mean that. I just mean sometime in the future. Not near future. Just sometime. Just in general."

"Yeah." Jennie whispers shyly. She doesn't look away. She's not angry. She's not afraid of the question. "I'm only twenty-four, and I don't feel ready for them yet. But sometime. I'd like that. I love Tildy. I don't mind little kids. I don't even mind older kids. So yes. I've always seen myself with a family when I thought about it."

"Okay." I need to change the subject. "What's something that you've always wanted to try? One thing? Something that you've always wanted to do or always wanted to learn or a place you've always wanted to see?"

"Umm, that's a tough one. I don't really know about a place because there are way too many. It's like books. I can't narrow it down to just one. Something I've always wanted to do? I can't really think about that either."

"Sorry. I'm not trying to put you on the spot."

"No, that's okay. I guess I've always wanted to learn how to sew."

"Sew?"

"Yeah. Like quilts and stuff. On a machine. I can do some basic hand sewing, but I've always wanted to learn how to make a quilt. I thought that would be cool. It's something you could have forever. I've never been very crafty, unfortunately."

"We should take a class! I'm sure there are classes! Let's learn how to do it!"

"Really? Seriously?"

"Yes!" I slap my hand down to emphasize, but I keep forgetting we're in a pool and I splash water into my own face. I laugh as I wipe it away. I feel wonderfully light this morning. Yesterday was amazing. Today is going to be awesome. I know that I will remember this weekend seriously forever. A quilt of my own kind of memories to treasure for the rest of my life.

"Anyway, about your class?"

"Right! Sorry. I got off track. Right now, before I grade the exams, everyone is passing. I think everyone did fine on the test too. Everyone usually does, because summer school lets us have time to work with students on a more one on one basis, so it's easier for them to get the help they need with the areas they're struggling. The class sizes are too big during the regular semester, so I can't really do that, as much as I want to. Not that I don't try. Because I do try, but—"

"I know you try. You care so much." Jennie gives me a look filled with tenderness.

"And you just got a raise. I haven't even asked you about it. Sorry. That's not caring at all. That's completely thoughtless."

"No, it's not. You've done nothing but think of me. Look at this place." Jennie glances around at the luxurious pool, the hot tubs off to the side, the swim out part where you can get to the outside part of the pool, the high rafters overhead and all the intricate tiling everywhere.

"But still. Are you happy about the raise? I could still ask my dad or brother about the company, if you ever want a change of pace."

"Thank you. Really. I guess I am happy about it for right now. It does make me feel good knowing that I helped people find their matches and even their happily afters, I guess. If you believe in that."

"Do you?"

"I-I guess I do. My parents are still together. They still love each other. I know lots of people that make it work. I know lots that don't too, but that's just how it goes sometimes. Life is tough. Things get hard. All of that. Sometimes things just don't work. But I'd still like to believe that for some people, they do."

"That's good." I'm so relieved to hear her say that. "That's really good. If you were working matching people up and you didn't really believe in it, that would be tough."

"It would be the worst."

I playfully splash a small amount of water in Jennie's direction.

"You know what's not going to be tough? That pedicure this afternoon."

Jennie splashes water back, not so innocently, straight into my face. She pushes off the wall, laughing so wildly and freely that I push off too, laughing through the salty taste in my mouth. I swim after her, back to the deep end. She's a good swimmer and beats me by a longshot, but treads water, waiting for me to catch up. When I'm close enough, she sets her hand on my shoulder and tugs me close. She kisses me there, full on, for all four people in the area to see. Not raunchy or anything, but enough to steal my breath. If that hadn't done the trick, the words she whispers in my ear sure do.

"Let's go back up to the room and try out that big glass shower. It's way larger than mine at home... I want to see how badly we can fog it up."