The Things Friends Know About Us

"That's good that Rog is properly insured," Rebecca said continuing to cook the meal Madeline had laid out.

Madeline was still feeling a little worried about Rog. Her motherly instincts had begun to nag a little harder. Still she tried to stifle the desire to grab her own car keys, drag Rebecca with her, and go in search of her son.

Rebecca sense the worry in her friend and decided to change tactics. Perhaps bringing a new subject into the conversation was just what was needed.

"Anyway, how is that graphic designer daughter of yours?"

Madeline gave a smile to this. Poor Penny, ever to be associated with her Nemesis called graphic design. The child had been trying to leave that and every other part of herself behind since her divorce. She had planned to start anew. But Madeline could see no indication of that in Penny's directives. Yes, she had moved to an apartment in the city, had managed to isolate herself from her old friends, but had been unable to shake the graphic design habit. Though her daughter professed to not being a designer anymore, every morning was filled with calls from clients asking her to do "one more" project and sure enough the afternoons would be spent fulfilling these requests. There seemed to be no evidence of a new job search or even the mention of a future occupation. Madeline thought perhaps that Penny just liked to complain about it and would miss it more than her old life if she were to truly give it up.

"She's fine," she said, "though she is supposed to be coming for dinner as well." How long had it been since she had last talked to Penny? Surely she was due any moment now. Then Madeline remembered her plan to sign Penny up for a dating service. "By the way, I meant to ask you, which dating service did Rachel use to met Gary?" Rachel was Rebecca's daughter, who like Penny was divorced but as opposite of Penny as one could get. She was outgoing and seemed to be a barbie doll of a person.

"eHarmony.com. Why?"

"Well, I was thinking about signing Penny up for a match making service. It is time she started getting out more." As Madeline heard the words coming out of her mouth, she suddenly knew she would try Match.com instead. It was not so much about being contrary, but more about playing the opposite of what had worked for Rachel. Penny had always loathed Rachel, so if she knew Madeline had signed her up with the same service, she would be mortified. Ha. She would be mortified anyway, but in a different, unhateful way. Plus Madeline's last words reeked of a pesky, nosey mother who might be living vicariously through her daughter. It was not that Madeline wanted Penny married off again, but she wanted to see some life put back into Penny. And it had always seemed to her that when Penny started dating a new guy, there was a little more sparkle to her daughter's earthiness.

Rebecca nodded knowingly, "Rachael has only good things to say about the service. Though there is a difference here. It was Rachel's idea to try eHarmony.com. Some how I feel this is not Penny's choice."

"True enough," Madeline sighed.

Rebecca looked suspiciously at her old friend, "Are you even going to tell her?"