Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Ginger said, being ushered into the home. I know it was last-minute.

Mrs. Needleman smiled, and Ginger noticed how cute she lookedeven with the intricate web of wrinkles that decorated her face. It had to be the little old lady's beady brown eyes, she decidedthey burned with a zest for life. As Ginger lowered herself onto the crackly plastic seat, she realized she'd never before allowed the words cute and wrinkles to coexist in the same thought.

How do you like your tea? Mrs. Needleman asked, already scurrying toward the kitchen. Oh, fiddle. I'll just bring out cream and sugar and you can serve yourself.

Thank you, Ginger said, sighing, reevaluating why she had decided she needed to come here. She was a grown woman, after all. She really should be able to sort out her emotions on her own.

I must say, you look quite well, Genevieve! Mrs. Needleman called out from the kitchen. Bright-eyed and glowing! You must be getting extra sleep these days.

Not exactly, Ginger thought to herself. In fact, she'd been getting more than enough fabulous sex and not enough shut-eye. She knew she was doing a bang-up job making up for a lifetime of sexual deprivation but might never catch up on her lost sleep. In fact, she'd been utterly exhausted the last few days.

Here you are, dear, Mrs. Needleman said, handing Ginger a circa 1950s china cup and saucer.

Thank you so much, she said, inhaling the comforting aroma. This looks like the real thing, like my grandmother Ola used to make.

Oh my, yes! Mrs. Needleman took a seat next to her on the sofa, a loud crunching noise filling the room when the petite lady's bottom hit the plastic. I think half the world's troubles would disappear if we'd only just slow down enough to make a real cup of tea. How long does it take to boil water on the stove, pour it in a teapot, and steep the leaves? About fifteen minutesenough time to let the mind and soul rest.

Ginger nodded politely and took a sip of the strong black tea. Truly, it did taste a lot better than her usual tea bag in a mug of microwaved water, but she wasn't sure it was the secret to life.

Now, Mrs. Needleman said, setting her cup and saucer on the coffee table. What is it you wanted to talk to me about? Did you ever find the man who was waiting for you?

Ginger laughed, shaking her head, placing her cup next to Mrs. Needleman's. I do believe I have. She kept her eyes focused on her clasped hands in her lap. But I need some advice, and I don't know who else to ask.

I see, Mrs. Needleman said, patting her hands. Have you consulted with your mother?

Ginger looked sideways at Mrs. Needleman. Uh, no. My mother has better taste in shoes than she does men.

All right. And what about your wonderful friends?

Ginger nodded, pursing her lips. Well, I've asked them, but I'm not sure I'm getting an accurate read from any of them. I mean, Josie is living on Planet Bliss right now. She's like an Amway salesman for true love. I'm not sure she sees my situation clearly.

You don't say? What about Roxanne?

Roxie? Please! She wants me to fall flat on my face, just so she can prove her point! She's Rush Limbaugh and I'm President Obama!

Ah, Mrs. Needleman said. And Bea?

Ginger blinked a couple times, then fell back against the couch, her hair picking up static from the plastic slipcover. Look, I love Bea. I do. She's always been there for me. But the truth is, she's had about as much personal experience with romantic love as the Dalai Lama.

Mrs. Needleman giggled, her narrow shoulders moving up and down in her short-sleeved polyester blouse. But you know, part of the Dalai Lama's wisdom comes from the fact that he's not in the thick of things. Maybe Bea's objectivity can be helpful to you. After all, no one can see the whole battlefield if they're down in the trenches.

Ginger laughed. Bea sees the battlefield all right, and in her opinion, it's nothing but wall-to-wall land mines.

Mrs. Needleman giggled again. Bea is a special person. We've been spending quite a lot of time together.

That surprised GingerBea hadn't mentioned she'd been socializing with Mrs. Needleman. Somehow, Ginger couldn't picture what the duo would do for funrun five Ks together? Play a little one-on-one basketball? Tackle a new agility course with Martina?

We discuss the whole gamut of things. Philosophy, spirituality, fate. We debate the limits of science and the realm of the unexplained.

Ginger's eyes popped wide. My Beatrice Latimer? She laughed uncomfortably. Are you sure we're talking about the same person? The Herald' s assistant sports editor?

Mrs. Needleman smiled sweetly. You know, Genevieve, it could be that you are only acquainted with one side of Bea.

Ginger shrugged. Maybe.

It could be she only shares one part of herself with you, Roxanne, and Josephine, because it's what you've come to expect from her. People are often a lot more complex than we give them credit for.

Ginger felt herself frown. It was true that she'd never been to Bea's home. She'd only met Bea's mother once, and that was more than enough. In all the years she'd known Bea, she'd never once had the courage to come right out and ask Bea about her sexual preferenceshe'd been waiting for Bea to have an epiphany and share it with the group.

For the first time, Ginger considered the possibility that Bea had always known exactly who she was and didn't give a damn what anyone else thought. Maybe she didn't feel the need to explain herself.

That's an interesting theory, she told Mrs. Needleman.

All I'm saying is that you might give Bea a little more credit. Mrs. Needleman gave her a pensive smile. In the meantime, what can I help you with?

Ginger crossed her arms over her chest, crossed her legs, and swung her foot back and forth.

You are nervous, Genevieve.

No.

Yes.

Ginger turned her head toward Mrs. Needleman and sighed. Look, I know you set us up.

Mrs. Needleman looked surprised.

Lucio told me how you gave him the scoop on me at the wedding. You told him that I was divorced, that my husband had cheated on me, that I had two boys, what I did for a living, and that I was staying in the upstairs bedroom of the guesthouse.

Mrs. Needleman shrugged, but said nothing.

And you told him to wait for me outside your guest room that night.

Mrs. Needleman took a sip of her tea.

So? Did you?

The old lady sighed and set down her teacup. Perhaps.

Ginger laughed. Here's the deal, Gloria. At this juncture, I've got it bad. I'm in deep doo-doo here and I'm scared to death. I'm already in love with him. So, since this is all your doing, you could at least tell me the truth. Did you arrange for us to be together? Did you set us up? And, most importantly, why?

Mrs. Needleman held her hands out in the universal gesture of mea culpa. So shoot me, she said. Sometimes fate needs a little kick in tuchus. What can I say?

Ginger's lips parted in amazement. That's it? That's all you have to say?

Mrs. Needleman shrugged again. Was I wrong?

Ginger blinked. A low-frequency buzz started between her shoulder blades and spread through her arms and hands, her chest, her belly, and her legs. It was as if her body were reminding her of the charge she felt in Lucio's presence, the power of their connection.

No. You weren't wrong.

Finallywe're getting somewhere.

But you don't understand, Ginger wailed. It's so intense and deep that I don't know what end is up. I feel lost in him, part of him already, like I've just been sitting around for forty years, killing time until he dropped into my world and pulled me to his side and said, ‘This way, Genevieve.'

That's very poetic, Mrs. Needleman said with a smile.