Chapter Two: The Matchmakers
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y stomach was jumping all over the place. No matter what I did, I just could not relax for anything. I could hear my two best friends giggling over their hair and makeup in Rick’s old bedroom. I wished that I could share in the joke. Alone in what used to be my bedroom before I moved out after college, in my robe and underwear, I looked at my gorgeous gown hanging under the protective plastic. I had every urge to put it back in the closet, wash the makeup off my face, and take my hair down out of this damn ponytail. Okay, maybe I’d leave the ponytail up.
I’d let my mother work her magic on my hair. She made me bend over and brush my hair forward. Then she gathered it into a side ponytail on top of my head. She took a loose piece, wrapped it around the rubber band, and pinned it in place. Then she put soft drop curls in the ponytail, and finished it all off with a pretty comb that we made to match my gown. My gown looked like something from the 18th century. It was black velvet from my bodice to my waist. There were little hunter green cap sleeves, and then below the gathered waist, a gorgeous hunter green taffeta ball skirt descended to the floor, over layers of taffeta and crinoline. It would definitely show off my cleavage, and of course, give Joshua a reason to fall all over himself. Yet, I didn’t feel as happy as I normally would about wearing a dress that my mom made for me.
“Caitlin! Caitlin, can you please zip me up?” Autumn backed up to the door.
“Sure.”
“Thanks. Why aren’t you dressed? Daddy’s limo will be here at any minute to pick us up.”
“I um…I don’t know if I want to go.”
“Are you kidding? Caitlin, we’ve been planning for weeks to go to this banquet! You know that my parents are hosting! What am I supposed to tell them?”
“Tell them that I had a bad insulin reaction and that I’m in the hospital overnight for observation.”
“That won’t work.”
“Why?”
“Knowing my parents, they are going to want to see you and make sure that you’re okay.”
“Damn! Think of something, anything!”
“What’s going on…Caitlin, you’re not dressed! Come on, hurry up!” Rena urged me.
“She doesn’t want to go.”
“Why not? Caitlin, in about five minutes, you are going to have a handsome man on your arm and you are going to wear that killer dress.”
“I just feel weird, that’s all. What if something happens tonight?” Both of them sighed.
“Caiti, I told you…”
“Yeah, yeah, that the place will be crawling with security guards. Uh huh. Well, chloroform will sure keep them from doing their job!”
“Caitlin, why are you being so paranoid? It’s been over a month since we had any trouble,” Rena said gently. “What could possibly go wrong?”
“Don’t ask. I’m not going. And if you two were my friends, you wouldn’t go either.”
“WHAT?” They looked at me like I had eight heads.
“Guys, please, don’t go. I just don’t…”
“Girls, are you all ready to go?” Mom came out of her room, all dressed in her gown, a wine sheath with an Empire waist and long sheer, bell shaped sleeves.
“Mrs. Ryan, would you please talk to your daughter?” Autumn begged.
“Caitlin?”
“Mom, I don’t want to go. Please don’t make me go.”
“What’s wrong honey? Are you sick? Do you need to check your blood sugar?”
“My sugar is fine, Mom. I just…I don’t want to go.”
“Girls, go wait for us downstairs. Go on now.” She closed the door behind them. She sat on my bed and looked at me. “Now, let’s talk. What is bothering you, Caitlin Michelle?”
“Mom…I…” She raised her eyebrows. “Mom I’ve been having those bad feelings again.” She sighed.
“How long has this been going on?”
“Since last night. I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want you to worry. I thought that they would go away, but they are much worse. Mom, if we go tonight, something bad is going to happen. I just know it. I feel it.”
“Caitlin, sit down.” I sat beside her. She put her arms around me.
“You know, when you were a little girl, I could fix all of your problems for you, a scraped knee, lost toys, forgotten lunches. But you’re an adult now, and I can’t fix everything for you anymore. But honey, you have never been the type to run away from a problem. I think that maybe these feelings you’re having might be a warning. What you’re feeling could mean that you might be able to save someone’s life, intervene with someone’s destiny.”
“Like if somebody had some kind of attack or something?”
“Yes.” She tipped my chin up to face her. “Caitlin, you are my daughter, and I love you so much. I wouldn’t trade you for anything in the world. I’m very proud of the young woman that you’ve become. When I look at you now, I see your father.”
“I know. You told me that Daddy was special too.”
“Honey, these powers that you have are a gift, not a curse. Honey, you can’t run away from what your powers are telling you. Aren’t you the one that tells your students that won’t kill them will make them stronger?”
“Yes.”
“I believe that too. There are times to turn away, but there are also times to face what’s scaring you. Joshua will be there to protect you.”
“Mom, things have happened when Josh was around before. That’s no guarantee of safety.”
“Well, I know something that you will have that you haven’t had before now.”
“What’s that?”
“Me.”
“Mom! Mommy, no! Mom, I love you. I don’t want you getting involved in my messes. They are very dangerous. God, if something happened to you too, I’d never forgive myself.”
“Nothing will. And besides, if you have me there, do you think that I would let somebody hurt you? My baby? If I even saw someone fixing their eyes to do something bad, I’d make them sorry that they even had the thought. Believe me, those criminals have never seen an angry mother coming their way.”
“Are you sure, Mom?”
“Caitlin, you are my child. You are my flesh and blood. I would kill for you if I had to. You and your brother. Everything is going to be fine. You have to relax and trust in who you are, and trust in God.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“Now, if you still want to stay home, I won’t force you to go.”
“I’m going. Can you help me into my dress?” She smiled.
“That’s my girl!” She hugged me and unzipped the gown. I held my arms up while she slipped it over my head and then zipped it up. I stepped into my shoes. I looked like an 18th century princess, minus the crown. I picked up my wrap and my coat and spun around for her.
“You look gorgeous.”
“So do you,” I said. Just then, we heard honking outside.
“The boys are here!”
“Calm down honey. Remember, carriage is very important. Don’t slouch.” We got into our coats, and I remembered to hold my chest up, but not out, and my chin up, as if someone were pulling a string from my toes to my head. The chauffeur held open the door for us.
“Well, if it isn’t the most beautiful girl at the ball.” That comment came from the tenor voice of my fiancée. Joshua held out his hand to me as I slid onto the seat beside him.
“You look absolutely stunning,” he said, before pulling me into his arms for a long kiss.
“Break it up,” my brother Rick, said in an exasperated voice.
“Bite me Richard,” I answered back. He stuck his tongue out at me.
“Ricky, are you causing trouble again?” Autumn was the next one to climb into the limo.
“Of course he is. That’s his life’s work,” I said, and caught another stuck out tongue.
“Now, now, be a good boy,” she said, patting his head and then pulling him close for a kiss.
“Where’s my girlfriend?” That comment came from my other friend, Eric Malone.
“Right here!” Rena got in and slid over to him.
“What’s on other that coat?” he asked after they’d kissed hello.
“Oh, you’ll see in time, my darling.”
Mom was the last one to get into the limo. She sat beside Joshua and I.
“Hi Mom,” Joshua greeted her.
“Hi son.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
“Kissed twice in one night by two of the most beautiful women at the ball. I could get used to this.” He put one arm around me and the other one around Mom.
“Ma, Caitlin’s been in here causing trouble,” Rick said.
“I have not!”
“Richard, don’t tease your sister,” Mom scolded him. Now it was my turn to stick out my tongue.
“Hi, Mrs. Ryan. Having fun yet?” Eric asked.
“Never a dull moment when my children are around,” Mom said with a smile.
The limo took off down the street and headed for the expressway.
“Mrs. Ryan, where is your date?” Eric asked.
“I don’t have one.”
“What about that nice man that my mum wanted to fix you up with?” Autumn asked.
“He’s an octopus,” I told her.
“Really? He seemed like such a nice kind widower.”
“Don’t they always?” I joked.
“Oh don’t worry you guys. There will be lots of eligible bachelors at the banquet tonight.” Autumn said.
“High rollers too Mom,” Rick pointed out. Autumn gave him an elbow in the ribs to shut him up.
“Daddy’s friend, the one who’s co-hosting with him and my mum, he’s single.”
“What’s his name?” I asked.
“Caitlin!”
“Mommy, all I want is his name. I promise, no playing matchmaker.”
“Stacey Van Dyke.”
“Stacey Van Dyke?” I repeated. “A man named Stacey?”
“Yep,” Autumn nodded.
“Van Dyke. Isn’t that Dutch?” Eric asked.
“It sure is. His family is from Holland, but he’s an American citizen. Mrs. Ryan, I think you’d really like him. His wife died a couple of years ago, and he’s been single ever since. He’s so charming, and he’s a hopeless romantic.”
“If he is so wonderful, then how come he’s not married?” Mom inquired.
“I don’t know. Maybe he’s waiting for the right woman to come along.”
“I told my daughter already that I’m not looking to get married again.”
“Mom, you don’t have to pick out a wedding gown tonight. Just talk to the man. Have a drink with him. You might find that you really like him.”
“Well…”
“Come on Ma. It’s been years since you’ve been on a date,” Rick urged.
“That’s not true…I um…I go out at least twice a month.”
“Cappuccino with your fellow professors doesn’t count,” I said playfully.
“Okay. If I meet this Stacey guy, and talk to him, will you children be happy?”
“Yes!” we all said at the same time.
“Fine. I guess it couldn’t hurt. I didn’t wear this fine gown for nothing.” I laughed and kissed her on the cheek. This was going to be a fun evening. I felt so silly about worrying earlier. Anybody from the old school has heard this saying, “My mind plays tricks on me.” Well, I’m from new school and I say that my powers were playing tricks on me. Sometimes, things get confused in my head. There was nothing to worry about.
Nothing at all.