Page 25 of Forever Flustered

“That would be amazing – thank you.”

“My husband is Paradox over at Flyboys,” the woman continued as Maureen’s lips parted in realization and remembrance. Her husband was the man who presided over the wedding where she met Eli not too long ago. “I’ll have him pass out a few cards, too.”

“That would be much appreciated.”

And again, the woman chuckled, slowly arching her arm over her shoulder easily as she angled her whole body to the side. “That right there,” she said pointedly, referring to the movement in her back, “Is much appreciated – and was really needed, so ‘Thank You’.”

Maureen hesitated as a flurry of questions hit her at once with the mention of Flyboys, the wedding, and combined with Eli’s emails that she’d just received. Jumping forward, she bravely asked her question knowing how terrible it sounded to her own ears, much less anyone else's. “The Flyboys pilots - are they all so… uppity?”

Dr. Parr laughed in delight, shaking her head negatively before speaking. “Oh, I like you a lot – you just get to the ‘meat and potatoes’ of the situation, don’t you? Some of them are indeed ‘uppity,’ while others are a little too outgoing for me sometimes, and then there are others that are quiet, the whole ‘still waters run deep’ type… but they’re all married. I’m thinking you have a particular flyboy in mind – who isn’t. Am I right?”

“Archangel,” Maureen nodded. “I think they are trying to fix me up with him and, well… I don’t know if it’s working.”

“Harley or Glory – or both?”

“Probably both.”

“Oh, I really like you,” she chuckled once more and quickly texted someone. “Call me Mallory – I just needed to let Joshua know that I’m gonna be about five or ten minutes late. He worries sometimes.”

“That’s nice and perfectly understandable.”

“I’ll tell you, from someone who’s been there, dealing with all of this,” Mallory began, waving her hand as if it meant something. “Relationships are a lot – and they are even harder when you can’t see the person’s face, can’t look in their eyes, or you are wondering what is going on in their life – like if they are thinking about you.”

“I don’t think it’s gotten that far,” Maureen hedged – but Mallory stopped her.

“You met,” the woman said candidly. “You met, and you talked. You’re asking because there’s been some sort of communication. Was it an email, a package, or a phone call?”

“Email,” Maureen answered in a hushed voice, listening.

“Let me tell you, if a man is interested – he reaches out,” Mallory said bluntly. “It puts the next move on you. I’m assuming you replied?”

Maureen nodded once more.

“And he wrote you back?”

“Yes,” Maureen hesitated, glancing at her computer. “Three times.”

“In a day?” Mallory asked, her eyes widening in surprise before she cackled in delight, clapping her hands once before her in appreciation. “Oh wow, um, yeah – he’s on the hook.”

“What do you mean?”

“A boy plays stupid games, ignores you, leaves breadcrumbs, does the childish things that they think are ‘hot’,” Mallory uttered in disgust, using air quotes to get her point across. “When a man is interested in a woman, the ‘tells’ are different. He puts gas in her car so she doesn’t have to,” and paused to let her words process for Maureen. “He will fold the laundry to show he’s a partner. He will show up with banana pudding for your kid because he knows that’s your weak spot and the only chance he has getting to talk to you… And I will tell you – it works,” her voice was strong with conviction and a little pushy, but her phone beeped at that moment, causing her to look down at it – and Maureen saw a very different side. Her dark eyes softened as the corner of her lips curled upward, before she glanced up and met Maureen’s eyes once more. “A real man will give the kids a bath so you can just snuggle them when you get home – giving you time alone together.”

She pointed at her phone before getting to her feet, holding Maureen’s gaze directly. “Sometimes it’s not what they say, but what they do. A boy is words, but a man will do what it takes when he decides you’re the one… and that’s what you look for,” Mallory said simply. “You asked about the team at Flyboys, but I think you should have asked a different question.”

“Oh?”

“They are confident – not uppity. Confidence and a quiet strength that is focused directly on your happiness is sexy in so many ways. You just need to determine if his focus is on you or not – and if it is?”

The pause went on long enough that Maureen stood up nervously, making ready to say ‘bye’ to her newest client and confidant. Mallory smiled at her, getting out her car keys, before nodding.

“You’re in for a heckuva romance, sister,” Mallory answered finally – her voice brimming with approval. “You should come to a bonfire when he’s in town. It’s a nice way to bond, chat, and relax with the team in a casual atmosphere.”

“But he’s in Afghanistan,” Maureen volunteered, a little surprised by her words and the flush of joy that it brought just thinking about those beautiful grey eyes once more. He really was a handsome man and looked quite debonair in his uniform, she mused, hoping she didn’t look as flushed as she felt right now. “He’s clear on the other side of the world and…”

“Give it time,” Mallory interrupted simply. “I’m betting he’s here before you know it. See you next Friday – and I’ll be looking for an update on you two.”

And with that, she left.