Page 6 of Always Almost You

Kathy listened without interrupting as Lauren poured out every detail. When she finished, Kathy blew out a breath. “Girl,” she said, “that is some story. What a complete jerk! I know I only met him once, but I honestly thought Darren was a terrific guy. I never saw this coming.”

Both women lifted their cups and drank. Pumpkin, who had long since finished her pupcake, curled into a tight ball at Lauren’s feet.

“I was gobsmacked,” Lauren said quietly. “I stayed awake most of the night replaying every conversation and every moment, looking for clues I missed.”

“Don’t do that to yourself,” Kathy replied. “Plenty of people get fooled by someone they trusted. Look at Bernie Madoff and all the other famous con artists throughout history. Their victims always say they had no idea, until the money was gone.”

“I guess.” Lauren sighed. “And here I thought I was lucky meeting the perfect guy on my first match.”

“I know you felt like you’d hit the jackpot with Darren,” Kathy said. “But you didn’t. You’ll just have to keep trying, like everyone else.”

“I don’t know.” Lauren stared into her cup. “I don’t trust my judgment anymore. I don’t want to put myself out there and get hurt again.”

“So that’s it?” Kathy leaned across the table. “You’re giving up on the idea of a happy life with someone?”

Lauren looked away and shrugged. “Travis was a wonderful husband. Many people never find what we had, even once. Maybe I’m being selfish for wanting it again.”

“Travis was a gem,” Kathy said softly. “But you’re a ‘we’ person, Lauren. You thrive in a partnership.”

Lauren lifted her cup to her trembling lips.

“You know it’s true,” Kathy continued. “And Travis knew it, too. I’ll reiterate his words from his last days, facing that awful cancer. He told you he wanted you to fall deeply in love again, and to have the family you so desperately wanted.”

Lauren nodded.

“He insisted that you shouldn’t give up on that dream.”

“I know,” Lauren whispered.

Kathy rested a reassuring hand on Lauren’s arm. They sat in silence, ignoring the steady hum of conversation around them.

“I don’t know how to find someone,” Lauren finally said. “This disaster with Darren shook my confidence. I’m not going back on a dating app.”

“Give it time,” Kathy said. “You might feel differently in a few months. And there are plenty of other ways to meet someone.”

“The only places I go are home, the office, and the dog park,” Lauren said. “People say dog parks are great places to find a partner, but I don’t see it.”

“I’ll bet you’re not expecting to meet anyone when you’re there,” Kathy said. “The perfect guy could be right in front of you, and you don’t notice him.”

Lauren shrugged. “Like when you suddenly see red cars everywhere once you decide you want to buy a red car?”

“Exactly,” Kathy said. “And there’s one additional place you go almost every single day—this coffee shop.”

“I’ve never seen anyone interesting here,” Lauren retorted. “And even if I did, I wouldn’t know how to talk to him.”

“Marrying your high school sweetheart clearly didn’t equip you with flirting skills.” Kathy chuckled. “You’d strike up a casual conversation. It’d be easy if Pumpkin’s with you. She’d insist on saying hello, and you’d be chatting in no time.”

Lauren shrugged.

“You know I’m right,” Kathy said.

“That assumes there’s anyone I’d want to talk to.”

“Have you looked around here this morning?”

“No,” Lauren said. “I was a little distracted. And most of them are probably married, anyway.”

“Then you check for a ring and move on if they’re wearing one,” Kathy said. “There’s a really tall, handsome guy two tables behind you. He was here when I sat down, and I’ve been watching him out of the corner of my eye.”