Page 13 of Fervor
“Yeah. We fly out Sunday. I’m just trying to soak up time with my mama and new niece.”
“Congratulations, man.”
“Thanks. You gon’ find what you’re looking for. Umm… Yunique got matched with Arranged Hearts yesterday. My sister spilled the tea on that shit since they are best friends, and she referred her.”
My heart sank for some reason. Deep in my soul, I felt like she would get matched quick as hell. “That’s good, I guess. You have a sister?”
“Yeah. I met her, my brother, and my mama about four years ago. She was my wife’s psychiatrist, and she knew who I was upon first sight. Eventually, it was a pleasant reunion,” he said and chuckled.
I was willing to bet that voluptuous woman in that picture on Arranged Hearts’s website was his sister. He said she and Yunique were best friends. I refused to tell him I was going there today. So I said, “Well, again, thanks for the insight. I gotta go though. I have an appointment in a little bit, and I still have to get ready.”
“A’ight, man. We ought to hook up before we leave.”
“Yeah. How Jungle gon’ feel about that though?”
“That nigga cool. We talked things through. He know you ain’t like that nigga.”
“Okay. Well, let me know.”
“A’ight.”
I ended the call and took a deep breath. I supposed I was doing this. I was still gonna eventually get married. This shit was crazy and so unlike me, but I supposed it was time to step out of the box and try something new.
“What are the most important values you look for in a partner? For example, honesty, loyalty, kindness, etcetera. You responded, I look for all those things mentioned in the example, however, loyalty and honesty weigh a lot more than kindness.”
She glanced up at me with a slight smile. “Why do those two things weigh more?”
I was at Arranged Hearts for my consult, but it felt more like an interview. She seemed friendly, but I could tell she was reading me. She looked me up and down then she stared into my eyes. They always said eyes were a window to the soul, so I wondered if she found what she was looking for. After I took a seat, she went right in.
“Where I’m from and how I grew up, no one was really kind. Two things that weren’t tolerated, though, was a liar and a backstabber. We could always work on that kindness thing.”
She nodded. I slid my hands down my pants. I’d worn slacks and a white Polo shirt, looking like I was going to play golf. I was so damn uncomfortable it was unreal. The wait alone had me damn near sweating. When the receptionist called my name andled me to Mrs. Joan’s office, it felt like my knees were knocking. I’d never been so nervous in my adult life.
“Which three qualities are absolute must-haves in your ideal match? You said that she must be confident, assertive, and soft.”
She looked up at me, I supposed waiting to see if I wanted to add to that. So I did. “I want her to be soft enough to let me lead but assertive enough to be able to handle things in my absence.” Briefly thinking about Yunique, I continued. “I want a boss… a woman who won’t take any shit but, with aggressive coaxing, will submit to my lead.”
She nodded with a slight smile. I could tell I had this little woman nervous as hell. She didn’t elaborate much at all, just went on to the next question. “Okay. Do you have a preference for your partner’s education level or career path? You said, no. Anything you care to add?”
“Yes, ma’am. I don’t want a dummy. I want her to be smart and intelligent, not just mentally but emotionally as well. I don’t care about a career or if she furthered her education or not. I just want her to have good sense.”
She chuckled as she looked over something on her laptop. I could see she scrolled down, then she asked the next question. “What are your top two interests and hobbies that you enjoy most? You said, I love playing basketball and just hanging out with friends, whether at a sports bar or someone’s home. I don’t trust a lot of people, though, because of how I grew up, so it would have to be longtime friends. Can I ask a question, Mister Moore?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“When you lived in Houston, were you selling dope?”
I almost choked. I wasnotexpecting her to just come out and ask that question. “That is a part of my past. Does that disqualify me?”
“It doesn’t since you don’t have a record. The reason I asked is because you keep referring to the way you grew up. Is your lifestyle even conducive to being in a relationship?”
“Yes, ma’am. I left that life behind. I want a family. It’s the one thing I’ve never really had. I mean, my mama and brother were there, but my father wasn’t nearly the man he should have been for his sons. I want to be better than him. I’ve always known how to treat a woman, thanks to my mama, and I’m ready to treat one woman the way she deserves, with love, devotion, and fervent affection.”
“Hmph. Fervor, huh? Don’t judge a book by its cover. You sounded so passionate about that just now, totally different than how this interview started. Thank you for being expressive in this moment.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said and smiled slightly.
“What do you do for a living now that you’ve left that life behind?”