Page 9 of Surrender
“Yeah… yeah, everything is fine.”
“Your face is flushed. Who was on the phone?”
I sighed. “The woman from Arranged Hearts. She matched me.”
It seemed like everyone’s forks clinked against their plates at the same time. They all stared at me.
“You’re really going through with this, Kachelle?” my sister, Ebony, asked.
“Yes.”
She shook her head. My mother dropped her head in her hands, before looking up at me.
“I really wish you would reconsider this, Kay,” she said. “This isn’t normal. It’s not the way to find love. This is some reality TV type of shit.”
“Mom, they have a ninety-seven percent success rating. That’s not just this location. That’s across the board. Whatever they are doing is working. Clearly, they know something I don’t about dating.”
My father shook his head. “You don’t find love from the jump, Kachelle. It takes work. Hard work and commitment. You’re taking the easy way out?—”
“The easy way out? Daddy, do you really think I think I won’t have to work at this marriage? I’ll have to work ten times harder because of the way I chose to do it. I have to juggle being married will still getting to know my partner. We have to figure out living situations, learn each other, and so much more. It’s work that I’m willing to do.”
“You’re being a fool. I won’t stand for it.”
I gave a tight-lipped expression as I dropped my fork and pushed off from the table.
“Then I guess I’m a fool. I appreciate your concern. I understand where you’re coming from; believe me, I do. But this is my life and my decision. I’ve made my choice.”
I stood from the table and walked out of the dining room. After grabbing my things, I left the house.
That was three months ago and of course, it wasn’t the last discussion we had about my pending nuptials. Every time we talked about it from there on out, it ended the same way, with me storming out. My family had reluctantly agreed to come to the wedding, but nobody wanted to be in the wedding party because they felt I was making a mistake. My father refused to walk me down the aisle because this wasn’t how he dreamed of giving me away.
They all told me they would be here, but they couldn’t in good conscience support me marrying a complete stranger. I almost wanted to tell them not to come all together, but how pathetic would I look walking down the aisle with no one on my side? I was doing this with or without their support. It didn’t matter if they thought I was making a mistake. It didn’t matter if they viewed my attempt at finding love as desperate.
I knew my reasons for why I chose this route. My past relationships and entanglements weren’t rooted in the right reasons. Before I ever decided I would seek Arranged Hearts, I listened to the testimonials of past clients. I watched every video and read every interview. Even through detailing their highs and lows, I could see the genuine love and care that each couple displayed. They were just like any traditional couple.
Kelcy’s words had been on replay in my head since I got the notice stating they found a match for me. “It works if you do the work.” I was willing to do the work. I just prayed that my husband-to-be was ready, too.
JACOB’S FIRST LOOK
I sat there lost in my thoughts so long that I didn’t hear Jessa or Chance come back in the room until they tapped my shoulder. I jumped to my feet.
“Were you sleeping?” Jess asked.
“Nah… just deep in my thoughts. What’s up?”
“It’s time,” Chance said. “Oh, and I got that information you asked for.”
He handed me an envelope that I quickly tucked into my suit pocket.
“What’s that?” Jess asked.
I grinned. “A surprise for my wife.”
She eyed me suspiciously as we left the room.
“You might have a winner in the looks department,” she whispered. “I saw her family… all attractive. Now, unless there are some boogerwolves in there, you’re in the clear.”
I chuckled. “Thank you, Jess.”