Ophelia peeked into the coffee shop and grinned when she saw Valo and Grant. She decided that she could waste a few minutes inside, so she headed over to the couple. “Hey,” she said, grinning broadly.

“Come sit down,” Grant said. “Want me to get you something?”

“Nah, I can only stay for a few minutes. I still need to run to get some tea bags,” Ophelia replied. “That was my excuse for leaving Jade and Graham alone. By the way, Valo, thanks for passing the address along.”

“No problem,” Valo replied, looking rather sulky. “I’m glad someone’s having a good day.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Ophelia asked, genuinely concerned.

“My family, that’s what’s wrong,” Valo responded. “My younger cousin… well, step cousin, really… Crystal just got engaged, and the family’s throwing this big party to celebrate. Needless to say, I’m obligated to attend.”

“Well, it’s good for her. Isn’t it?” Ophelia asked.


“Oh, you don’t know my family, kiddo,” Valo replied. “My mom and Charise’s mom would get along great. In my family, if you’re female, you’re expected to be married and/or have kids by the time you’re twenty-five. Big emphasis on traditional values, you know? I’m already something of a family oddity, given that I’m the first female on either side of my family to attend college. This party’s going to be hell. And the guy my cousin’s engaged to…”

“How bad?”

“Total redneck,” Grant spoke up. “Looks it, sounds like it, and even has a redneck-type job to match.”

“Ouch.”

“Not only that,” Valo continued, “but he gives me a really squicked-out kind of feeling, kind of like when I see Dunstan. Sort of like, ‘Get away from him, and fast!’”

Ophelia sighed and nodded sympathetically. “I wish I could do something about that, but, well… nothing I can do. Try to keep your sanity. I have to deal with enough craziness as it is,” she said, patting Valo’s arm. To Grant, she said, “Take care of her. I suggest taking her someplace she likes or getting her a movie she wants. She’s going to be half-crazy by the end of the day.”

Grant nodded. “Yeah, good idea,” he responded. “Take care of yourself, too.”

“Sure,” Ophelia said with a nod. “Now, I need to get some tea, or else it’ll be obvious I just made up an excuse to leave those two alone.”


“You probably think I’m one of the most unfriendly people in the world,” Jade said. “Especially given how I reacted earlier to the whole lunch thing.”

“Nah, I can understand why you acted like that. You didn’t have time to think, and I don’t hold that kind of thing against people,” Graham replied.

“Oh, good. At the risk of sounding completely cliché, it’s not you, it’s me. I just don’t like when people try to hook me up with someone they think I’d do well with,” Jade explained. “Last time that happened, I ended up with an abusive jerk. I just don’t want to have to go down that path again because, well, it sucked. Now, I’ve come here to give you some good news.”

“And what would that be?”

“I’m willing to give you a chance. However, it will be on my terms.”

“Such as?”

Jade took a breath and responded, “If I’m not interested by the third date, you are to just give it a rest and find someone else to try your luck with.”

Graham considered this for several seconds, and then finally said slowly, “It’s a deal.”

“Good. When should we have the first date?”

“Well, how about if we brainstorm some ideas and then discuss them over the phone?”

“Yeah, that’ll work, I guess. It’s a good idea to find something we’ll both enjoy,” Jade agreed. She scribbled her phone number onto a napkin nearby. “Call me when you get some ideas.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Well, I need to get going. I have plans to meet up with a friend for dinner.”

“Have fun.”

“Yeah, should be,” Jade replied. She gave him a quick hug and then made her exit. On her way to her car, she noticed Ophelia returning and gave her a smile and a wave. Ophelia grinned and waved back.


Ophelia watched the car drive away, and then let herself into Graham’s house.

“I’m back,” she said to him. “The store didn’t have the tea I was looking for.”

“Oh. That’s too bad,” Graham responded.

“So, how did it go?”

Graham grinned and held up the napkin. Ophelia laughed and said, “See, I knew you could do it.”