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ôThrough work, I guess,ö said Odelia. ôHe was this cocky cop whoÆd joined our local police force and hated me meddling in police affairs. So we ended up crossing swords quite a lot, even as we tackled some of the most baffling murder cases. But once I saw past his cockiness, and he got downfrom his high horseà Well, we just hit it off.ö

ôOh, how romantic!ö Adra cried. ôAnd so much more interesting than discussing a boring book, wouldnÆt you say?ö

ôOdd that they would get together for book club and think talking about books is boring,ö said Dooley, who was lying on the couch next to me.

ôIÆm sure theyÆll get around to discussing the book eventually,ö I said, though clearly Marge wasnÆt holding out hope, as evidenced by the fact that sheÆd already put her copy of the book down and was sitting back, resigned to listen to stories about first meets.

ôI guess when you and Tex first met dating sites werenÆt around yet, were they?ö asked Lynnette, addressing their fearless book club leader.

ôNot sites as such,ö said Marge, ôthough just like you I did respond to an ad in the paper. Though when I say responded, it would probably be closer to the truth to say that my mom responded and then guilted me into going. You see, IÆd just broken up with my boyfriend, and was feeling a little down in the dumps, and Ma thought I needed cheering up.ö

ôMom!ö said Odelia. ôYou never told me you met dad through a personal ad.ö

ôWell, I did,ö said Marge. ôHe was a medical student back then, and one of his fellow students had actually sent in that ad, so when he showed up for our date he was less than excited, feeling he had to go through with it, or be accused of being disloyal. And since I felt exactly the same, itwasnÆt a propitious start. But much to our surprise, we hit it off immediately, and have been together ever since.ö She smiled at the recollection. ôThough IÆm not sure my mother still doesnÆt regret setting us up for that date.ö

ôAre you kidding?ö said Charlene. ôAny mother would kill to see her daughter go off and marry a doctor.ö

ôI know, but my previous boyfriend was the son of a local millionaire businessman, so in my motherÆs view a mere doctor was a step down in my fortunes. Though I never saw it that way. Also, my former boyfriend is in prison now for kidnapping his own wife, so itÆs safe to say my motherÆs views on him have since gone through a major modification.ö

They all laughed at this, but then ValinaÆs phone chimed and she got up. ôIÆm sorry, but I have to take this,ö she murmured, and hurried off into the kitchen. We heard her talking rather heatedly into her phone, but then as more people shared the details of their love life with the others, we forgot all about Valina and her urgentcall. Until, that is, she came hurrying back into the living room to grab her coat. ôI have to go, Marge,ö she said, shooting a look of apology in the latterÆs direction. ôSomething came up at the office.ö

And without further ado, she shot out of the room like a flash.

ôWhat kind of an emergency can there be with a dating app?ö asked Carlotta laughingly.

ôA bad match?ö joked Charlene.

ôOr maybe the site has gone haywire,ö said Lynnette. ôAnd people are all being forced to swipe left when they want to swipe right. Or is it the other way around? IÆm not well-versed in the latest minutiae of dating, and glad of it, too, if you want to know.ö She performed an exaggerated eye roll. ôIÆm just happy I found my perfect match before the days of internet dating became the hype du jour. It all seems so complicated now!ö

ôDoesnÆt it just,ö said Adra. She held up her hand and flicked her wedding ring. ôBeen married fifty years this autumn. Hard to believe itÆs been that long.ö

ôSo how did you and Gene meet, Adra?ö asked Carlotta.

The old ladyÆs eyes flickered. ôIn a book club just like this one, only a slightly saucier one I must admit. It was one of those underground book clubs that focused on the racy kind of book. Most of the members were women, of course, but there was one brave soul whoÆd ventured into the unknown, though hewas under the impression it was a Jane Austen book club. Until he discovered the kind of books we were reading. He gamely went along, though, and soon was the center of attention, of course. The only man in a club full of women. Later on he told me that he liked me from the first. And I must say I fancied him, too. Especially since he had such a nice voice when he read out those long erotic passages fromLady ChatterleyÆs Lover!ö

More laughter filled the room, and I slowly drifted off to sleep.

MargeÆs book club members may love to share stories of first love, but frankly the only story IÆm interested in is the story of my perfect couch. Talk about love at first sight!

Chapter 2