"Have you met Jimmy?"
"I've got to introduce you to Jimmy."
"You and Jimmy would be so perfect for each other."
Mutual friends kept telling me about this guy, Jimmy. They described him as an average guy. Brown hair. Blue eyes. Great sense of humor. What else did a girl need, right?
But every time Jimmy and I were supposed to meet, something happened to wreck our plans. We dated other people in the meantime. I was busy visiting amusement parks and riding the most thrill-seeking roller coasters with my roommate-slash-bestie, Michelle when we weren't teaching at the preschool where we worked. Jimmy was busy working his day job at a grocery store and saving lives in his free time.
That's right, he was a volunteer firefighter. He chose to rush into burning buildings and assist people on the worst days of their lives. And he did it without any expectation of pay. In the meantime, here I was with a PhD in kitchen catastrophes.
So, on my final day of work at the preschool, I walked next door to the firehouse to give them a letter of recommendation. These guys not only let us bring the kids over to see the fire trucks several times a year. They also helped when kids fell off playground equipment. They shoveled snow from our sidewalks before we arrived to start our day. They were heroes in every sense of the word who went above and beyond in their service to the community.
One of the firefighters said, "Wait, it's your last day? You can't go. You haven't met Jimmy."
Here we go with this Jimmy guy again, I thought. I had sort of been hanging out with a guy I wasn't even sure I liked anymore, so what could it hurt? Aloud, I conceded, "Okay. Where is he?"
"He just went to get pizza. Stay and have a slice of pizza with us. It can be your going away lunch." I didn't have the heart to admit that Miss Pat, the preschool's cook, had already fed me a delicious goodbye lunch of Tater Tot Casserole. Besides, I always had room for pizza.
Jimmy came in with the pizzas. When I first looked at him, it was as if lightning struck and rooted me to where I stood. Our friend introduced us. When I returned to the preschool, I called and gave him my phone number.
"If I don't marry this guy, I will never get married," I told her.
She laughed. "You're crazy."
That evening, Michelle and I dropped by the grocery store where Jimmy worked so I could nonchalantly introduce her. By the time we left, she agreed. Jimmy was the one for me.
As we got to know each other, Jimmy and I were amused at all the times we'd met but had not been introduced. I broke my finger, and he splinted it. I twisted my ankle, and he wrapped the ace bandage for me. For a few months, I lived around the corner from him, and we had passed each other on our evening walks around a nearby lake
But if I had been introduced to him anytime before we officially met, things would not have worked out. Timing is everything. At the time that I am writing this, we're facing down our 30th wedding anniversary. It has been a long road. At times, it seemed the potholes wound send us careening in different directions. We always pulled through, and I am so thankful we did.
How did you meet your one true love? I’d love to hear about it!
Myrtle Beach Melodies Is Now Available on Amazon
And the pre-order pricing is still in effect for today only!
Much like my happy-ever-after with Jimmy, Amelia and Hudson, the main characters of Myrtle Beach Melodies, develop a history of near misses.
By the time they finally catch up to one another, will she even still be interested in this guitar-playing guy with the adorable dimples?
Get your copy and start reading now, and if you have Kindle Unlimited (like me), you can read with your membership at no extra charge. https://amzn.to/3EB7OBY
That's all for now. I hope your day is filled with books and coffee (or whatever is in your favorite mug). Have a great rest of the weekend!
Happy reading,
Becky
P.S. Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read my books at no extra charge with their membership. And if you’re not a member, grab your FREE trial so you can enjoy a bunch of books at one low monthly fee!
And be sure to check out my books at the links below!
P.P.S. If you enjoyed reading this, please show it a little love by clicking the heart below. ❤️ Thank you!
For Authors
Are you an author? AutoCrit is the writing tool that has helped me become more productive and raised the quality of my writing. You can try the free version, but you’ll love the pro features.
Authors Get Social is a Patreon that helps authors level up their social media and newsletters with monthly calendars, graphics, and prompts. Check it out today!
For Readers
This cat speaks French. But will he help his witchy human solve a murder?
This is the sweetest story!
You just know when you meet the one - I did - 41 years and counting