Chapter 1
“You know you are in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”
Dr. Seuss
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Melina sat in her office, admiring the view of Ocean Beach. She needed a break from her work. Maybe just a quick walk in some fresh air, she thought. In the midst of thinking about what to do next, her mother, Rada, walked in.
“Hello, mother”
“Why aren’t you working?” she quipped. “How else are you supposed to pay for all these things?” She waved her hands around.
Melina rolled her eyes, ready for one of Rada’s infamous ramblings. As Rada went on and on about how they would go destitute if she didn’t work, Melina slipped into a calming daydream, one she visited quite often; finding her soulmate.
As a matchmaker, it was Melina’s job to find the perfect match for other couples. Most often, they came in wanting to settle down, but they could never find the time in their busy lives to do it themselves. Tthis is where Melina and her grandmother, Bubby, came in. Bubby and her Great Grandmother started the business when they moved to America after the second world war. Now, it was up to Melina to continue. Her mother, Rada, had tried her hand at it, but lost tooto many clients with her rude comments.
Because she spent so much time matchmaking for other couples, she never really had time to find her happily ever after.
“And another thing,” Rada continued, pulling Melina from her thoughts, “Maybe if you started looking at some of the clients as a potential match for you, you could forgo this entire business and focus on spending their money on what it is I need.”
Melina had heard enough. “Mother, as always, thank you for your inspiring words of wisdom. I will take them into consideration.” Melina stood and walked to the door. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have an important meeting to attend.” Rada quickly moved in front of the door.
“Oh no, you don’t. What could possibly be more important than tending to your mothers needs?” Rada pleaded. “You must do as I say. Every vegetable has its time. And right now, it is not yours!” Rada stamped her feet to make her point.
Melina shook her head and smiled. “But mother, you were just telling me how I should be working in order to pay for everything around us. How can I do that if you want me to stay and tend to your needs?”
Rada blinked. “Fine.” She headed out the door. At the end of the hall, she turned and shouted, “But do not forget me!”
Melina sighed and headed out of the house. She didn’t actually have a meeting. She just needed to get away. She headed out to the sandy beach for a quick walk. The wind was gently blowing, and the warm air whirled around her. At 22 years old, she was starting to feel that she might never fall in love. It was always a mystery to her how, as a matchmaker and writer that helped others find love, she hadn’t found hers. She knew that her grandmother, Bubby, had found love, but lost him due to the Vietnam war. And even her mother, she thinks, may have found love at one point. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be sitting on the beach.
Melina dropped her head into her hands. She enjoyed the spray of the ocean on her skin, the sun on her back. It had a very calming effect on her. She sent up a silent thank you to her great grandmother. San Diego was definitely one of the better places to live.
As she sat and enjoyed the breeze, her long black hair blowing around her, her phone started ringing.
“Hello Bubby,” she smiled. Her grandmother was definitely her favorite person in the world.
“Darling,” she said in her Russian accent. “You will never believe what happened at the deli just now. Run home, change into a nice dress and come meet me at the pier. I have much to tell you.”
Melina stood up and replied, “What have you done this time, Bubby?” Bubby was notorious for being a little on the mischievous side.
“Nothing you won’t thank me for later. Now hurry!” and the line went dead.
Melina met her grandmother 15 minutes later at the Ocean Beach Pier. It really was a beautiful day, and getting this extra time outside had lifted her spirits.
Bubby was sitting on the end of the pier watching the waves roll in. Her gray hair was tied up in a neat bun. Her wrinkled face smiled in the breeze.
As Melina stood back and looked at her, she realized how old her grandmother really was.
As a child, Melina never believed the stories that Bubby told her. She had never thought she was old enough to have been a part of the Resistance during World War 2, being only eleven at the time. She had helped her mother and father gather intelligence and pass out flyers. Bubby did not talk about that very often, and when Melina told her it was fairy tales, Bubby never mentioned it again. Now she could see how wrong she was.
Melina walked up to Bubby and put her arms around her. “Babushka, when did you get so old?”
Bubby patted Melina’s cheek. “May nezhnaya devochka, I have always been old. You were just too naïve to realize it.” She smiled and exclaimed, “Which is why we are here!” Bubby jumped to her feet. “Melina, I have found the man for you!”
Melina chuckled at her enthusiasm. “Bubby, I am so glad to hear it. Who might he be?”
“Sit, child.” Bubby exclaimed. “Sit, and I will tell you the tale.” Melina smiled as Bubby settled in beside her.
“I went to the deli to get some of their Matzo Ball soup. There was this Adonis of a man in front of me. I was very impressed with his backside, so I stood there imagining what his front side would look like. That is when I heard his voice,” she sighed.
Melina looked at her grandmother. Bubby was staring as if caught in a daydreamday dream. “I have never seen you like this before. Are you sure this man is for me?” Melina questioned.
Bubby cackled. “Of course, silly. Now, his voice, it is like a heavenly angel. Deep, soothing, and it could just melt you.”
It was Melina’s turn to laugh. “Okay, Bubby. I get it. His voice is a dream. but besides that, what makes him so perfect for me?”
Bubby’s eyes sparkled. “His voice may have caught my attention, but,” she continued, “it’s what he said that made me know.”
Melina raised her eyebrows. “Bubby, you sure do know how to draw out the suspense.”
“Darling, he ordered the exact same sandwich that you do.”
Melina was shocked. She had been made fun of all her life about her pairings for a pastrami on rye; coleslaw, caramelized onions, and Havarti cheese. She had never heard of anyone else eating it the same way. “You have to be making this up,” Melina whispered, not daring to raise her voice.
Bubby winked. “Nope. I had to talk to him. I introduced myself and let him know that I knew of another certain someone that eats their pastrami the same way. He couldn’t believe it either.” Bubby playfully pushed Melina as she talked. “He had the same reaction as you.”
“Well, I should say so,.” Melina responded. “There are only two of us in the world that I know of that eat it like that. What are the odds?”
Bubby continued. “Anyway, I showed him a picture of you, and he agreed to meet you.” Bubby clapped her hands. “So, you are meeting him,” she stood up and looked down the pier, “right now.” She smiled, almost wickedly as Melina stood up and looked in the direction she was facing.
When Melina looked up, she saw the most perfect man walking her way. He was tall, with sandy blonde hair. He walked with confidence, holding his head high.
Bubby leaned over and said, “Amazing isn’t he?”
Melina couldn’t form any words to respond. Her mouth was dry, and she couldn’t take her eyes off the hunk that was headed her way.
As the mystery man approached her, Bubby stepped between them and said, “Melina, I want you to meet Dorian. Dorian, this is my granddaughter, Mmelina.”
Dorian stretched his hand out, Melina was on autopilot as she stretched hers out as well. “Hi,” Melina breathed.
“It’s nice to meet you, Melina,” Dorian spoke low.
Bubby had turned and left after the introduction was done. At the end of the pier, she turned around smiling as she watched the two interact. “My work here is done,” she said aloud.
