Page 34 of Words Unspoken

He sat down slowly, bewildered and alone.

∞

Geanie had insisted that she go to the golf tournament. Ann supposed it was for the best. She needed to get thoughts of Michael out of her head and start searching for someone to be the father of her children, the husband of her life. It was time to move on and she was determined to do her best.

Geanie had managed to introduce Ann to Earle Milton before the tournament started. He and Ann had chatted amicably for ten minutes then had to join their golfing partners for the tee off. There were supposed to be cocktails afterward. They would make the effort to meet as many eligible men afterward as possible. Geanie was man hunting, a sport that she used to be very proficient at before she settled for Mr. Duvell.

“It is not like he is terrible or anything, he is just so…” Ann was having a hard time describing Earle.

“He is like a basset hound. Something you pet and then ignore,” Geanie grabbed her putter out of her bag.

“Geanie!”

“It is true,” she insisted. “He is not prince charming, but he is got good money and a sweet temperament.”

“He agreed with everything I said,” Ann shook her head and watched Geanie sink the ball. “I am not sure I could live with someone who is constantly trying to please me.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Geanie said with a mischievous grin. “Sometimes it is good to know that you will be the one in charge. His wife, whoever her patient soul may turn out to be, will manage his life quite nicely and Earle will be eternally grateful.”

“He is not the one for me,” Ann said firmly.

Geanie put her hands on her hips. “First rule, you need to have an open mind. None of them are Michael. You have been dreaming of Michael as Mister Right for twenty years. You are not going to be ecstatically, completely happy with anyone who takes that dream spot away from him. You need to settle for ‘Mister Okay I will Have Babies with Him’.

“Second rule, not all the men we meet here are hanging out for a wife. You are forty. You don’t have time to convince a man you are his permanent honey. You are going to have to choose from the very limited selection of those looking for a ‘Miss Right’ right now. Don’t strike Earle off the list until you have viewed the set of candidates. There are only three and I am not sure Trenton Bailey is actually seriously looking for a wife.”

“Maybe I should try speed dating or an online site,” Ann offered weakly.

“Sure thing. ‘My name is Ann, I am forty. I am looking to get married and have babies’. I think that should scare them off,” Geanie rolled her eyes. “Three respectable, independently wealthy men are here right now. You can be the stay-at-home mom you want to be. We just have to get one of those men interested in you.”

Ann nodded. She knew Geanie was right.

“You should flirt more. Stroke their egos,” Geanie lined up to take her shot on the next hole. She swung and the ball sailed away. “Men like that.”

“Is that rule three?” Ann asked dryly.

“Sure.”

They played on and at the hole nine rest area, Geanie introduced Ann to Trenton Bailey. Trenton was tall, blond, tan, muscular. His perfect white smile actually sparkled.

He had a weak handshake.

And bad breath.

He also talked exclusively about himself. Since he did not have a job or do anything of value, Ann found him rather boring. He said he was looking for Miss Right to become Mrs. Bailey but Ann thought he wanted someone who would make him look good and he was probably picky. His shoes coordinated with his golf bag, something that he pointed out.

It was not going to happen. She could not see Trenton with children. Children were messy, demanded attention, generally disrupted a person’s social life. Trenton was not going to like that. He felt the entire universe revolved around him.

She regrouped with Geanie at the tenth hole. “Strike Trenton from the list. I am not getting sucked into the selfish void that is Mr. Bailey.”

“Don’t be so choosy,” Geanie admonished. “He is a hottie.”

“He might be, but he is not dad material,” Ann felt that was a valid excuse, even for Geanie.

“Well, there is still Earle. As long as you can convince his mother,” Geanie grinned.

Ann groaned. “Are you serious?”

“Hey, she has managed Earle for forty-three years. I think she just wants the perfect daughter in law.”