page10 (1/2)

“Well, I don’t really think so,” I answer Am I? Granted, I’ heart, but I don’t think I’m really fussy, either…

“I think it’s better if you keep an open ive you a call, and you can arrange aand have a chat How’s that, dear?”

After Gifted Roger, I think I’d rather feed o on another blind date “Yeah…no,” I say

“Maggie,” Father Tihtly “Let irl, but I think you need a little help when it co”

From a priest? I yelp in my head

“We can’t have you e yourself every time we run into each other, now, can we?” Father Ti sweetly

I slide lower in the booth My fists are clenched so hard in mortification that the skin over my knuckle cracks My knee buht in my seat

“Think of it as your penance, Maggie,” he says, eyes twinkling “For overindulging last night”

“What about forgive and forget?” I mutter “Turn the other cheek? Go and sin no more?”

“Save it, lass, you’re with a professional I won’t take no for an answer”

I sigh Rolly spins on his stool toward me “I think you should try it, sweetheart,” he offers

“Thanks, Rolly” I close my eyes “Okay, Father Tiood, okay? Real possibilities” I think for a le, isn’t he?” Martin works out of town, a see His wife and he divorced about a year ago

Father Ties over with his plate “Thank you, Judy, darlin’, thank you That’s lovely” He takes a bite and closes his eyes in pleasure “About Martin, no He’s divorced”

I frown “Can’t we be Vatican II about this?”

“Well, Maggie, you couldn’t get married in the church, and ouldn’t want that, would we? It wouldn’t be a true et an annulment, that is”

Maybe I’ll check Martin out on my own, outside the auspices of the papal police here Father Tim continues “No, I’ve a few ideas I spoke with Father Bruce at St Pius, and we’re sure we’ll co”

Great Two priests plotting my love life Sadly, they’ll probably be better at it than I a tossed away nity many ti your friends pick out someone for you isn’t a bad way to meet a man Father Tim knows me, he likes me?surely he’ll pick someone decent

“Yeah Okay,” I say,“Thank you, Father Tiht, I can’t believe you’re even talking toain”

“Water under the bridge, Maggie,” he says around a ie! How are you, lad?”

“Hi! Hi, Maggie! Hi, Tiie? It smells so nice in here! I love the sie slides in next to ie!”

“Hi, Georgie,” I say “How’s my best buddy?”

Father Tie fond smiles over his breakfast, and for the first time in a while, I feel some real hope

THE FIRST DATE is less than pleasing for both parties involved

I’ve agreed toalley outside Jonesport This way, I think, we’ll have so to do in case we hate each other

I get to the ratty little building, which is packed Once inside, I realize that I’ve neglected to ask Oliver what he looks like or tell hireed tocrash of bowling pins thunders arounda few unfire twisting together in a rather interesting cacophony I don’t see any men by themselves; instead, there are fathers and team members and buddies

I stroll the length of the alley again, pretending to look simultaneously a I stop at the end of the alley, where a cute little fairls, watch as their little brother heaves the ball onto the lane with both hands He must be only four or five, a small kid, and the ball rolls with hypnotic slowness toward the pins It hits the left bumper, then drifts back to the center

“Won’t be long now, pal,” calls the dad “Getting closer!”

“I think you er sister

The parents are sitting at the scoring table, holding hands The woives her a quick kiss

“No!” the little boy cries out His ball has stopped in the center of the lane “No!” He bursts into tears

Iirl picks him up “Don’t worry, buddy! That’s really special when that happens! Hardly anyone can do that, right, Melody?”

“That’s right, Jae a conspiratorial big-girl smile over Jamie’s head

The alley attendant comes over and ventures out to retrieve the ball He has a sticker for the boy, which cheers him up immensely “I won a sticker, Mommy!” he shouts

I s the parents They seely, fat nor thin And yet they obviously love each other and have tenderhearted kids How is soet?

Soie?”

I turn “Oh! Oliver?”

He nods “Nice to , even features, lovely brown eyes that hint at s My heart rises with hope

“Hi Yes, I’ie Beau this cute family The boy’s ball didn’t make it to the pins, and the sisters picked hi the city of Babble-On “Well They were very nice”

“Want to get so

“Sure”

We rent our shoes and find our lane, nuet if thirteen is lucky or unlucky, so I decide that it is indeed lucky We’re between a group of serious league bowlers and another fa kids

“So you own a diner?” Oliver asks

“Yes, I own Joe’s in Gideon’s Cove”

“I’ve never been there,” he says “But now I have a reason to come” He has dimples when he smiles, and I blush in pleasure

“Why don’t you go first?” he asks

The first few rounds are fine We cheer for each other and chat easily It’s when Ishot across the bow is fired