The Matchmakers

Coffee Break Tale

He’s such a nice boy,” said Gran fondly. “Who?” asked Kate, though she had her suspicions. Gran’s neighbour Dolly was there, and they had been trying to pair her up with Dolly’s grandson since forever. “Rhys,” said Gran and Dolly together. Kate had to nip this in the bud. “Sorry, but as I’ve said before, Rhys and I don’t even like each other. Besides, hasn’t he got a girlfriend?” “That’s over,” said Dolly, firmly. “He’ s been waiting for a girl like you…” sang Gran, who loved her old songs and had one for every occasion. Kate rolled her eyes. “Your gran was telling me you need a date for Tammy’s wedding,” said Dolly.

Tammy was Kate’s cousin. They were close in age and very competitive. Tammy was delighted to be getting married before Kate and liked to rub it in.

“Well, I happen to know Rhys is available,” said Dolly. “And he’s the right height for you,” said Gran practically. “You’ll look great together in the photos.”

“Gran, I don’t choose my boyfriends by height!”

“Well, choosing them by personality hasn’t worked, has it?” said Gran.

Kate shook her head. These two were incorrigible. “Why would he even want to go with me?”

“You loved playing together as children,” said Dolly. “No, we didn’t. You made us.” It had been fun, though, some of the time. None of her girlfriends had liked building dens and climbing trees.

“You were his date for the Cubs Christmas party,” said Gran.

“We were seven.” She’d spilt ice-cream on her dress and he’d joined in with his friends when they laughed.

“He helped you with your maths exams,” Gran reminded her. “You’d never have passed without him.”

That was true. Numbers were like a foreign language to Kate. A language Rhys spoke fluently. She was sure Dolly had bribed him to help her. “And you liked each other well enough to go to the same uni.” That was coincidence, though it had been nice to have a familiar face around in her first term. Rhys had been smitten with Kate’s roommate, but Carla had a boyfriend back home. Kate had hummed and hawed about telling Rhys – she’d never forgiven the ice-cream incident. But she’d never forgotten his help with the maths either. So she’d told him. He’d split up with Carla… but he’d stopped talking to Kate. “And Tammy told your Gran she saw Rhys coming out of your flat at the crack of dawn,” said Dolly, slyly.

“Stranger sin the night …” Gran warbled the old Sinatra song.

Kate turned pink. Trust Tammy to stir things. She remembered that night. She’d been coming down with a cold but stupidly still gone to a party. Once there she’d felt awful and just wanted to go home. Everyone assumed she was drunk, though she’d not touched a drop.

Rhys had been there. He’d taken one look at her, taken her home and put her to bed with a hot drink. He’d slept on the sofa to keep an eye on her.

Kate wondered if she had ever thanked him properly. Probably not. She’d been too embarrassed.

“Tammy will take great delight putting you on the singles table,” warned Gran. That was definitely true. “Why would Rhys even come with me?” Kate knew she was weakening. Dolly grinned. “He’s already agreed.” “You told him I didn’t have a date? That I was Milly-No-Mates?” “We didn’t quite put it like that…” A pity date. Oh well, the damage was done. And Rhys wasn’t bad looking. “OK. You win. But after this, you both have to promise to stop meddling.”

A week later, Kate floated into Gran’s kitchen on a cloud.

“Gran, he’s incredible. He’s funny and generous… What are you singing?” Gran’s eyes twinkled. “Allwearesaying,” she trilled, “is giveRhysachance…”