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ôItÆs exactly because the President has so many things on his mind that he doesnÆt have time to go out and find himself a partner,ö said Emma Kulhanek. ôThe man is so busy all the time I can easily imagine how he would turn to a dating site to find love again.ö She smiled a little smileas she demurely crossed her fingers in her lap. ôIn fact I think youÆre providing a wonderful service, Valina. To bring people together is an act of compassion.ö

Lynnette glanced over to Emma. For some reason the two ladies had never got on. Perhaps because Lynnette saw herself reflected in Emma, though in a more banal way.ôYou would say that, Emma,ö she said. ôYouÆre exactly the kind of person Valina caters to.ö

Emma frowned.ôAnd what kind of person is that, may I ask?ö

ôWell, the hopeless romantic, of course.ö

ôThereÆs nothing wrong with being romantic,ö now Charlene piped up. ôIn fact itÆs romance that provides a glimmer of hope for humanity.ö

ôWhich brings us right back to our book,ö said Marge, managing a nice segue.

ôDidnÆt you and Valina go to school together, Emma?ö asked Carlotta Brook. The archery clubÆs chairwoman was tall and boyishly coiffed, and had at one time been a professional archer, even going so far as to earn herself an Olympic medal in her chosen discipline. She still had the sinewy athleticism that had served her so well, as well as the no-nonsense attitude.

ôYes, we did,ö said Valina, whoÆd been checking her phone. ôSeems like such a long time ago now, doesnÆt it, Em?ö

Emma smiled.ôIt certainly does. Though having kids of my own, it all seems to come back to me. Especially since theyÆre going to the same school we went to. Though itÆs all quite different now, of course. Especially since IÆm teaching at the very school I was a student at.ö

ôHard to credit that youÆre both the same age,ö said Lynnette, glancing from Emma to Valina. ôYou seem soà different.ö

EmmaÆs smile wavered. ôIf youÆre trying to tell me I look old, you can come right out and say it, Lynnette. No need to beat about the bush.ö

ôLadies, ladies,ö said Odelia, holding up her hands like a referee. ôWeÆre all friends here. All united in our appreciation of fine literature?ö

There were murmurs of agreement, though judging from the looks Emma was shooting in LynnetteÆs direction, it was clear that the latterÆs insensitive remarks would be addressed at a later date.

ôIs it true that George Clooney found his Amal through your site?ö asked Adra, whoÆd dipped in and had secured herself another chocolate chip cookie. The old lady clearly was more interested in any gossip Valina was willing to dispense than in fine literature.

ôThat would be telling, now wouldnÆt it?ö said Valina finely.

ôGeorge doesnÆt need a dating site,ö said Carlotta. ôThat man had to fend off the women throwing themselves at his feet back in the day. With all the ladies vying for his attention he could have started a dating site on his own, with him the only male.ö

ôIs there anyone here who actually found love through a dating site?ö asked Lynnette. ôAnd it doesnÆt have to be ValinaÆs site, though of course hers is the Rolls Royce of sites.ö She gave the businesswoman an ingratiating look. ôIÆll go first, shall I?ö she immediately added. ôI responded to some of those dating ads in the paper onceùyour paper, actually, Odeliaùbut unfortunately found them slim pickings. The men I ended up going out with were all horribly uncouth, I must say.ö She slightly tilted her chin. ôDross of mankind.ö

ôSo how did you find Franco?ö asked Charlene, referring to LynnetteÆs husband.

ôQuite the old-fashioned way, actually,ö said Lynnette. ôWe bumped into each other at a fundraiser for orphaned kids. He had just bid on a marvelous Willem de Kooning, and I had bid on an amazing Jackson Pollock, and when we went backstage to make the necessary arrangements, we got to talking. His views on life and art perfectly matched with mine, and so when he asked if I wanted to see his art collection, of course I said yes.ö

ôYouÆre sure he was referring to his art collection and not something else?ö said Emma.

Lynnette shot a look that could kill in her fellow book club memberÆs direction and shrugged. ôYou donÆt have to tell us how you met your hubby, Em. IÆm sure itÆs a story so saccharine itÆll make our teeth hurt.ö

ôIt wasnÆt through a dating site, if thatÆs what you mean,ö said Emma, bridling a little. ôBut it was a romantic tale, thatÆs true. When our school needed a new online learning platform, Norwell was the man in charge of design and construction. So we got to work together very closely indeed. And during one of those late-night meetings I suddenly realized that I was looking forward to seeing him much more than I should. And as he later admitted, he felt exactly the same way. Three months later we were married.ö

ôAnd how about you, Odelia?ö asked Valina. ôHow did you and Chase meet?ö