Page 109 of The Matchmaker Club

“Are you still leaving?”

“No.” He smiled softly. “I have a list to finish.”

“But you have to go back, eventually.”

“Yes.”

“You only have two items left. Which do you want to work on?”

“How about a mixtape? Have any blank cassettes lying around?”

I had one left from my mother’s stuff. But I could give it up for this.

“Yeah, come on into my room.”

I grabbed Muffy and Tuffy and opened my chest of memories. “There’s more of my mother’s cassette tapes in here. You’re welcome to use them… or the ones she left for me.”

He tucked hair behind my ear, his fingers gently gliding down my cheek. “Thank you.” Chills swept across my skin at his touch.

“You’re welcome.” I went to my desk and grabbed a notebook and pen. “Since each side only has about forty-five minutes, the best thing to do is write out a list of songs you want, along with their time. That way a song won’t get cut off in the middle of recording.”

He took the notebook I offered.

“Do you have a theme in mind?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Are you going to tell me?”

“No.”

“Oh. You want it to be a surprise?”

He smiled. “Yes.”

“Do you want me to leave?”

“No.”

I laughed. “You can’t secretly record. You have to play it.”

“I thought that maybe we could listen to some music and I’ll write out my list as we go and record later.”

“That’s doable.” I picked up my mother’s shoebox of tapes and handed it to him. “Pick one.”

He pulled one out. “This one.”

I nearly lost my breath. It was perfect for this moment.

For Taylor - Mixtape #6: Fork in the Road

There will be times you’ll have to make some life-changing decisions. It’s only natural to feel confused, uncertain, or even scared. So many end up taking the safest and most predictable path because they fear the unknown. They think of all the things that could go wrong, instead of all the things that could go right if they took the path their heart most desired.

The Freemans have a saying I’ve always loved: “If you don’t have a lick of fear, then you will never know the meaning of courage.”

There is a reason the unknown path often holds the best gifts.

Love, Mom