Miss Match (40 page)

Ryan nods. "Yeah." He clears his throat and grins sheepishly. "Which
is why I'm going to do this."

He pulls his cell phone out of his pants pocket and dials, one hand
on the steering wheel. "Hey, Sis. It's me. Uh, it's about two thirty or
so, and I guess you're in with a client or something. Anyway, Hannah,
Brandon, and I are taking Laur out for a nice dinner tonight before she
has to eat bass for a month, and we were hoping you and Nick could
come. So give me a call back. Love ya." He hangs up.

I shake my head slowly at him. "You sad little liar, you." I smirk.
"Wait a second, you're taking me out to a seafood restaurant before I have
to eat bass for a month?"

"Pitiful, huh?" He parks in front of the Marriott, looks over at me,
and grins. "You were right, Laurie."

"Yeah, I know. About what?"

He rolls his eyes. "Funny girl. About this. It'll be interesting to watch
my sister get engaged."

I stare out the windshield, feeling sappy. "A June wedding."

"You don't know that she'll get married in June."

"Sure, she will. I'll help coordinate the wedding."

Brandon's car pulls into the parking lot and we watch as he goes
around and helps Hannah out. Brandon's all spilled up in a navy suit.
Hannah gets out and I feel my jaw drop slightly. She looks amazing in
a powder blue long drapey dress. Her hair curls gently down her back.
Even from this far away, I can see that Brandon is completely smitten.

He opened her door, for Pete's sake!

"Hey, Ryan?" I say slowly, a smile spreading on my face. Forget whatever I said about hanging up my matchmaking hat.

"Yeah?" He looks over at me, follows my gaze, and immediately
starts shaking his head. "No, Laurie. Resist it."

I point. "Brandon and Hannah look really cute together."

"Just say no, Laurie."

I tip my head, watching her hold his arm as they walk across the
parking lot. "How could we get them engaged?"

"I've failed." Ryan is moaning.

I pat his arm sympathetically. "Happens to the best of us. Let's go
inside."

He opens the door for me, and I wave at Brandon and Hannah.

"Iron your dress, Laurie?" Brandon yells as they join us.

"Lay off, Knox." I grin. "Hannah, you look beautiful. Doesn't she
look gorgeous, guys?"

Hannah blushes. Brandon blushes. Ryan smiles, nods, and then
pinches the back of my arm.

I yelp.

A man in a white tux and a frown stares at me, and I smile apologetically. "Sorry," I whisper. "Heels."

"Name, please," he says stiffly.

Ryan steps in front of me. "Ryan Palmer."

Frowning Tux checks his book and then nods. "Right this way,
please."

He leads us to a table behind a large aquarium holding a school of
orange fish that blink at us.

"What kind of fish are those, Laurie?" Hannah asks as we sit down.

I give her a look. "How should I know?"

"You're the one going on the fishing trip."

"Oh yeah, right. Okay. Let me think." I tuck my dress down in my
chair. "These are the dreaded Citrus Husk Fish. Resembling an orange
peel, they float along the top of the water and trick people into picking
them up."

Ryan and Brandon roll their eyes. Hannah grins. "What happens
next?"

"They eat them."

"The people eat the fish?" Ryan asks, feigning seriousness.

"The fish eat the people, actually. Gang up on them. Ant that ate the
elephant kind of thing."

Brandon grimaces. "Could I restrict all conversation to work, family,
and Ruby and Nick?"

"Where are they?" I crane my neck, trying to see. I see aquariums.
Fish in the aquariums. And fish on a platter.

Ryan touches my arm and points. "Right there, Laur."

Nick and Ruby sit toward the middle of the restaurant at a romantic
little table lit only with two candles.

"Aw." Hannah and I sigh together.

"They are perfect together." I smile.

Brandon looks across the table at me. "You did well, Nutsy."

"Wow. Brandon. I'm flattered."

"Yeah, well, don't get used to it."

Ryan holds up a hand. "Wait, quiet, folks. It's happening!"

Nick leans over the table and hands Ruby a small box.

She blushes.

"Open it," Nick mouths.

She does and blushes darker. "Oh my," she mouths back.

He slides out of his chair and cracks his knee hard against the floor.
Ryan winces along with Nick.

"That had to hurt." He hisses this in my ear.

Ruby erupts into giggles. Nick laughs. Then he turns his head and
we can't read his lips anymore.

"What's happening? What's happening?" Hannah screeches.

"Shh," I whisper.

Ruby nods. Vigorously. Nick stands with difficulty, leans down, and
kisses her.

"Yay!" Hannah and I yell. Ryan and Brandon grin, laugh, high-five.
Hannah and I hug over the table.

Someone clears his throat over our table.

I look up.

Uh-oh.

"Nick." I smile. "And ... Ruby."

Hannah shoots me a What-Are-We-Supposed-to-Say-Now? look.

Ryan covers well. He stands, shakes Nick's hand, and envelops his
sister in a hug. "Congratulations, you two."

Brandon and Hannah join them. I stay at the table, watching.

Hannah and Ruby swipe tears. Brandon and Ryan smack Nick's
shoulder, congratulate him, and smack him again.

My father once told me there comes a time in every woman's life
when she desperately desires to be married.

No offense, Dad, but I think you were wrong.

I think there's more. Most women desire matrimony-but with the
guys God has created for them. My job is to be still and wait, knowing
He is God.

And occasionally pushing a couple together. Just now and then, of
course. I smile at Brandon and Hannah.

What does that verse in Colossians say? "And whatever you do,
whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father through him."

I watch Ryan hold his crying sister and grin at her. Matchmaking is
a deed, right? Thanks, God. Ryan winks at me and then mouths, "Please
come take her."

I slip my arms around Ruby and hug her tight.

"I'm so happy for you, Ruby. Now, what do you think about June?"

ERYNN MANGUM is a twentysomething single who still lives at home
and has no immediate plans to leave. She has been published in Teenage
Christian Magazine, has completed the two-year apprenticeship course
given by the Christian Writers Guild, and recently completed the oneyear Journeyman course. While Miss Match is not autobiographical, let's
just say that Erynn can relate. This is her first novel. Look for the sequel
in stores in September 2007. To learn more about Erynn, visit her website
at www.erynnmangum.com.