Page 88 of Pity Present
Ellen stands up. “Good. Now hand me your phone.”
I hand it over and watch as she types her phone number in. Then she calls herself. “Now you have my number. We’ll stay in touch.”
Ellen walks out of the room without a backward glance. While she and Molly have completely different personalities, it’s clear that neither of them are pushovers. I can only imagine what their parents are like.
After Ellen is gone, I brush my teeth and get into my pajama pants before sitting on the bed and opening my laptop.
The road to happily-ever-after is often fraught with disaster. Take tonight. I got caught in a lie, and Polly found out. As a result, she rightfully ended things with me.
I came to Trina Rockwell’s event at the Elk Lake Lodge certain it was a waste of everyone’s time. And while things didn’t work out for me, several couples seem to be well on their way to a happy ending.
Take Arnold and Olive. He works for the government, and she has a thriving career caring for animals. They are two unassuming people who, on the surface, don’t seem like they’d be a match. I’m not sure where they would ever cross paths in the real world, but here, they have managed to find enough common ground to become a couple.
I also met a circus performer who has matched with a dental hygienist. Then there’s the television show producer and the schoolteacher. Unless these people hang out in the same coffee shops, or have mutual friends, chances are they would have never met.
Not only does the Elk Lake Lodge offer them a beautiful, rural retreat, far away from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives, but they are also able to meet other singles outside their normal daily scope.
Trina Rockwell creates structure for people to get to know each other, and then she gives them enough space to pair off to share personal time. I did not want this assignment when it was given to me. I’d made my decision about what it would be like before having any evidence to back up my opinion.
I’m happy to discover that I was wrong. And while this event did not work for me personally, my lack of success is on my shoulders alone. Polly may not have been interested in me had I been honest with her from the start, but at least our budding friendship would not have been based on a lie.
I suppose if I had any advice to give, it’s this: If you book a spot at one of Trina’s retreats, make sure you’re genuine in your desire to be there. Present yourself honestly and without artifice. Keep an open mind and an open heart. And most importantly, treat everyone with the respect they deserve.
Closing my laptop, I feel a heaviness of heart that I haven’t felt in ages. In the last few years, I’ve dated my fair share of women. Some nicer than others. But none of them have inspired the desire in me to settle down again. None of them, except Molly. And I fear that I’ve irreparably damaged any chance for us to share a happy ending.
CHAPTER FORTY
MOLLY
I don’t know where Ellen took off to, but she’s not gone for long. When she comes back to our room, she announces, “I ran into Blake. He’s leaving tomorrow.”
I stop packing mid-sweater. “He’sleaving?”
She nods her head once. “He said to tell you how sorry he is.”
“Where did you run into him?” I all but jump down her throat.
“In the hall. He was on his way to his room.” She hurries to add, “He feels really bad.”
“He should.”
“Molly,” my sister says as she crosses the room and hops up on the bed. “Journalists often need to practice anonymity. It’s the only way for them to get the real story.”
“He’s writing aboutus, Ellen. Don’t you think I should have known that was going to happen?”
She shrugs. “Not necessarily.”
“You don’t think it’s my business to know my personal life is being used to entertain the public?”
She blows her nose before saying, “We have to run everythingthrough legal. Nothing he was going to write would have broken any laws.”
“Are legalities the only litmus test you use for deducing a good relationship? If so, it’s no wonder Henry broke up with you.”
Her face contorts into a look of pure shock. “That was mean.”
“But not against the law.” I throw her words right back at her.
“You know, I was glad that Blake is leaving because I thought it would give the two of us some nice time away together. But if this is how you’re going to act, then I’m going back to Chicago, too.”
