Читать книгу The Perfect Spouse: A Novel - Sioux Dallas - Страница 9

Chapter One

“Hello. Welcome to The Perfect Spouse. Please have a seat. My name is Corella Swanson and I’m the manager. How may we help you?”

“I’m Jason,” he said nervously, “Jason McBride.” He sat cautiously in the comfortable leather captain’s chair and looked around. He was in a large, open room with maroon carpeting and three long tables. Near the front was an arrangement of several small, round tables and chairs to offer a pleasant opportunity to visit with other people.

Corella flipped an ash-blonde page boy cut that framed a sweetheart-shaped face. Long eye lashes framed hazel eyes and fell on peaches and cream complexion that needed no cosmetics. Her five-four height appeared taller due to the three inch stiletto light green suede heels. The ridiculous heels complimented the A line lime-green sheath that flirted just below her knees on well-shaped legs. Gold fan-shaped earrings dangled from small ears. Dimples danced in and out on both cheeks.

“Well, Jason. We’re very glad to meet you and hope you’ll be interested in joining with us. We have forms for you to fill out which will tell us about you. Then we match you with a nice lady whose information will be compatible with yours.”

“I -- I’m not so sure about this. I just want information.”

“That’s fine, Jason. There’s no pressure on anyone. Everything is confidential except what you wish to share with others. Why don’t you read through these papers and then decide what you want to do.” She handed him several sheets of paper on a clipboard and two number two pencils.

Jason walked over to a round table of black and white swirled marble top.

Farther back there were three long tables and two desks with a lady at each desk. Doors showed rooms on two sides of the long room.

He sat in a comfortable, padded Spanish-style chair and read through all the papers. He then slowly, and carefully, began filling in the information.

There was a promise of confidentiality. The fee for joining would be thirty dollars and thirty dollars per month for membership. Anyone could resign at any time without penalties.

NAME: Jason Allen McBride

ADDRESS: 286 Main Street, Apartment 2B, Village of Fayette, Ohio, 43521

TELEPHONE: 419-555-8095 - home 419-808-7964 - office

DATE OF BIRTH: November 16, 1979

AGE NOW: 30

HEIGHT: 5’11”

WEIGHT: 187

HAIR: Brown

EYES: Hazel-green

NATIONALITY: Caucasian (Irish, Italian)

OCCUPATION: Accountant (CPA)

EDUCATION: BS in Business and Accounting, Masters in Business and Accounting. Minor in music

LIKES: People just because they’re people, animals, especially horses, reading, walking, hiking, church and music.

DISLIKES: Eating in public alone, bitter cold, overly spicy foods.

I WOULD LIKE TO MEET SOMEONE: who is interested in being friends and take time to see what develops. I’d like someone who is not possessive, who enjoys musicals, attends church and who likes people.

TELL SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD: Here he hesitated. How much should, or could, he share? He wanted to forget the earlier part of his childhood. From the age of six he was raised, and loved dearly, by maternal grandparents. His beloved Grandpa died during his second year of college and his Grandma had died just as he graduated from college.

While in his third year he had met Linda Ann Preston. She was a type A personality and loved him for his shyness, gentleness and beautiful baritone voice. They attended the same church and both sang in the choir. During their last year he had proposed and was so pleased that his much loved Grandma had approved of Linda and was looking forward to their wedding.

Jason and Linda were married soon after graduation. He was only sad that his grandparents were not living to rejoice with him.

His Grandma had always said “The truth is best, even if it hurts. If you once tell a lie, you have to tell more to cover up, and soon you’ll forget what you’ve said and get caught.

He finally wrote about his fond memories and how fortunate he was to have had so many wonderful people in his life. His beloved mother had died just before his fifth birthday and his father was killed in an accident when he was six. He didn’t tell his father was in prison, killed during a fight.