Our Little Matchmaker

CHAPTER 7: THE PEOPLE WHO STAY

For one ordinary evening...

Home was exactly where Isabella wanted to be.

The thought lingered quietly as Sophie placed the bakery box on the dining table and Ethan pulled a chair closer with far more confidence than strength.

"I get the biggest one."

Sophie looked offended.

"You didn't even see what's inside."

"I know."

"How?"

"Because I have good feelings."

Isabella sat down across from him.

"Good feelings?"

"Mhm."

"That's your scientific explanation?"

Ethan nodded seriously.

"Yes."

Sophie opened the box.

Inside were six perfectly decorated chocolate éclairs.

Ethan gasped.

"Six!"

"One for each person."

He looked around the table.

There were only three people.

"Who are the other three for?"

Sophie blinked.

"Excellent question."

"Maybe they are invisible."

"Maybe."

Ethan leaned closer.

"Can invisible people eat chocolate?"

Isabella reached for her glass of water.

"That seems like something you should research."

"I will."

Sophie smiled as she watched him.

"You know, most children ask normal questions."

"Like what?"

"I don't know."

She thought for a moment.

"Why is the sky blue?"

Ethan nodded.

"I know that one."

"You do?"

"Because the sky likes blue."

Sophie looked at Isabella.

"Never mind."

"What?"

"I think he's too advanced for us."

Isabella laughed.

The sound came easily.

That was one thing Sophie had always admired about Ethan.

He never tried to make people happy.

He simply was.

A child who found joy in tiny things and somehow reminded adults that they used to do the same.

After dinner, Ethan disappeared into his room to choose a movie.

Sophie watched him run away before turning back to Isabella.

"He gets that from you."

Isabella raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"The way he notices things."

"I don't think so."

"You don't?"

"No."

Sophie leaned against the chair.

"Isabella."

"What?"

"You once remembered the name of a receptionist you met for thirty seconds at a conference."

"She looked nervous."

"Exactly."

"So?"

"So most people would have walked past."

Isabella looked toward the hallway where Ethan had disappeared.

"I just don't like people feeling invisible."

The words came quietly.

Sophie didn't answer immediately.

She knew Isabella well enough to understand when a sentence carried more weight than it appeared to.

Instead, she reached for another éclair.

"You're aware you sound like a fictional character sometimes."

Isabella smiled.

"That sounds like an insult."

"It is."

"Thank you."

"You know what I mean."

"I do."

The conversation shifted naturally after that.

They talked about work.

About Olivia's impossible ability to manage chaos.

About Sophie's latest case.

About Ethan's upcoming school event.

Normal things.

The kind of things Isabella valued most.

Eventually, Ethan returned carrying three stuffed animals.

A dinosaur.

A bear.

And a rabbit missing one ear.

Sophie stared.

"Are they joining us?"

"Yes."

"Do they have names?"

"Of course."

He placed them carefully on the sofa.

"This is Captain Green."

He held up the dinosaur.

"He protects everybody."

Then the bear.

"This is Mr. Buttons."

"I know him."

"He is very old."

"He looks tired."

"He had a long day."

Sophie nodded seriously.

"Understandable."

"And this is Fluffy."

She looked at the rabbit.

"Fluffy?"

"He was named before he lost his ear."

Sophie covered her mouth.

Isabella looked away, pretending to study the room.

"Don't laugh."

"I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm trying not to."

Ethan narrowed his eyes.

"You laughed."

"I did not."

"You did."

"That was a cough."

"That was not a cough."

Isabella finally laughed.

Sophie pointed at her.

"See?"

"What?"

"He knows when you're pretending."

Ethan smiled proudly.

"I know everything."

"Everything?"

"Mhm."

"Do you know where your socks disappear to?"

He froze.

A long pause.

Then:

"No."

Sophie laughed so hard she had to set down her coffee.

—

Later, after Ethan had chosen a movie and spent twenty minutes explaining the entire plot before it even started, Sophie helped Isabella clean the kitchen.

"You know you don't have to do everything alone."

Isabella rinsed a glass.

"I'm not alone."

"I know."

Sophie dried the dish.

"That's not what I mean."

The apartment became quieter as Ethan's movie played in the background.

Isabella looked over.

Sophie continued carefully.

"You have people who love you."

"I know."

"But sometimes you act like needing anything is a weakness."

Isabella placed the glass down.

"I don't."

"You do."

A small smile appeared.

"You sound like Olivia."

"She and I are usually right."

"Usually?"

"Always."

Isabella shook her head.

"You two are impossible."

"Maybe."

Sophie glanced toward the living room.

Ethan was lying on the carpet, surrounded by his stuffed animals, completely focused on the movie.

"He adores you."

"I adore him."

"I know."

Sophie leaned against the counter.

"And he deserves to see you happy too."

Isabella looked at her.

"I am happy."

Sophie smiled gently.

"I know."

"And?"

"And happy people can still want more."

The words stayed between them.

Not painful.

Not uncomfortable.

Just something to think about.

Before Isabella could answer, Ethan appeared at the kitchen doorway.

"Mummy."

"Yes?"

"Can Sophie sleep here?"

Sophie immediately looked at Isabella.

"I've been invited."

"You have."

"I think this is serious."

Ethan nodded.

"Very serious."

"Why?"

"Because my movie isn't finished."

Isabella laughed.

"That's your reason?"

"Yes."

Sophie placed a hand over her heart.

"I have never felt more needed."

Ethan smiled.

"Good."

A few minutes later, the movie continued.

Ethan sat between them on the sofa, holding one of Isabella's hands and one of Sophie's.

Eventually, his questions became slower.

His answers became shorter.

And before the movie ended, he fell asleep.

Isabella carefully adjusted the blanket over him.

Sophie watched quietly.

"You know..."

"What?"

"He really is a wonderful kid."

Isabella smiled.

"He is."

Sophie looked at the sleeping child.

"He has no idea how lucky he is."

Isabella looked down at him.

Then gently brushed a strand of hair away from his forehead.

"No."

Her voice softened.

"I think I'm the lucky one."

Outside, the city lights continued shining through the windows.

Inside, the apartment remained quiet.

For a moment, everything felt simple.

Then Isabella's phone, resting on the table, lit up.

A new email notification appeared.

She almost ignored it.

Almost.

Until she saw the sender.

The National Entrepreneurs Foundation.

Her expression changed slightly.

Sophie noticed.

"Everything okay?"

Isabella picked up the phone.

"I don't know."

She opened the email.

And as she read the first line, the comfortable quiet of the evening slowly began to shift.

Dear Ms. Laurent, we are honored to formally invite you...