“My mom said it was sometime between twelve thirty and one p.m. Definitely during lunch hour because she remembers being hungry. Maybe that’s why I love food so much,” Harper ponders.
“That’s a narrow enough window for me to work with.” I calculate her ascendant, the animal sign that rules her specific birth hours. “People sometimes demonstrate more dominant traits from their birth hour animal signs. You were born in the hours of the Horse. This means you’re not only compatible with Monkeys and Rats as a Dragon but also to animal signs that Horses are compatible with, like Tigers and Dogs. It’s something we look at, but it’s not always part of the equation when matching.”
“Like a loophole!” Harper says as though she’s figured out something.
“Kind of?” I say.
“That’s amazing!”
And that, my friend, you don’t get from an app.
We spend the rest of the session discussing what’s important to Harper in a future partner. Later, I’ll type my handwritten notes into Lunar Love’s archaic but dense database. The system may be old, but it contains valuable information and contacts from the last fifty years. To convert the system to a new one without losing that precious knowledge would take time and money that we don’t have right now. If this database had a system or software that could complement our in-person matchmaking, we’d be unstoppable. In the meantime, it’s all manual, all the time.
I review Harper’s traits, habits, hobbies, and preferences all listed out on the page. “This is what I’m hearing: It’s important that the person you’re with has a stable job where shifts don’t last fourteen hours. And it sounds like you want someone to share your passion for food, whether it’s cooking together or eating at a new restaurant. And someone who’s honest, speaks his mind, and isn’t afraid to go after what he wants.”
Harper nods, her gold hoop earrings jiggling back and forth. “I like the sound of all of that!”
“Based on your birth year, your sign’s fixed element is Earth. As an Earth Dragon, this makes you stable and fair. And mixed with what I know about you so far, you seem to work hard on self-development, but sometimes you feel the need to control your environment and other people. Does this sound like you at all?”
Harper laughs and nods with a shrug. “Incredible.”
“I tell you this just so you’re more aware of yourself. As we get to know each other better, I’ll have a better sense of what traits you personify,” I explain. “This knowledge tends to come in handy when relationships are developing because Earth, Fire, Wood, Metal, and Water are elements that all react to one another. Once you go on a date, we can get into specifics so that it makes more sense in context.”
“How long until you find me my first match?” Harper asks.
“Because of the specificity of traits and preferences, there’s no way to put a timeline on it. We’re not as fast as ZodiaCupid, but I’ll get to work today and will keep you updated along the way.”
“Exciting! So, I’m curious,” Harper says, leaning in closer to me. “Do you have a special someone? You must know right away when a person would be good for you or what to look for in a partner.”
My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Me? No! There’s no one. No, I…no. It’s not as clear-cut for me,” I say. “It’s more difficult to find someone compatible in the right ways than you’d think, especially when it’s for yourself.”
Harper watches on amused as I dance around her answer. “Sounds like the matchmaker needs a matchmaker,” she says.
I laugh. “I’ve got plenty of those in my life. Besides, I prefer to focus on my clients, like you. My time and energy are focused on finding you someone compatible.”
Harper waves her hand in front of her. “I was only wondering! It’s incredible how dedicated you are. This is going to be so fun. I can’t wait to see who you’ll find.”
Chapter 7
On Friday morning, I exhale a deep sigh of relief. I survived the very first week, which is saying a lot, all things considered. I start working my way through emails when a new one materializes at the top.
Hello Olivia,
I have to cancel our session today. Work is keeping me busy these days, and I have to focus on that for now. I’d also like to suspend further sessions until my schedule clears up. Apologies for the last-minute notice.
Regards,
Greg
Damn Greg using “Regards” like we’re colleagues in a corporate setting. I’ve known the man for a year! I even helped him decide between festive ties for his company’s holiday party!
This is the third cancellation this week. I want to revel in a successful onboarding session with Harper, but we need more sign-ups. The tug-of-war on my emotions won’t end.
On the edge of my desk, Lunar Love’s planner is filled with crossed-out sessions. Auntie preferred not to rely on technology for appointments so we would all mark our meetings on the designated planner. Alisha and I now track our client sessions digitally, but we’re still in the habit of maintaining the paper calendar. Updating our client management system is yet another thing to add to my to-do list.
I cross out Greg’s session, adding one more tally to the series of recent cancellations. I refuse to let this moonquake shake me. My mind drifts off to what I’m going to stress-bake tonight. Something fudgy.
Needing a change of scenery and a more productive distraction, I decide that the only thing that can make me feel better right now is a Singles Scouting. When I first started working at Lunar Love, I learned about the lengths Pó Po would go to find clients love. She could talk her way into and out of anything and everything. She once secured two invites to the members-only magician clubhouse, The Magic Castle, for her clients who were obsessed with magic by obtaining and calling the entire list of magicians who were set to perform that month. She offered dating services in exchange. All but one magician thought it was an illusion, and Pó Po got her clients in. It was happy ever after for all parties involved, including the magician.
Stories like that have inspired me to be more hands-on, not only with creating unique dates but also in finding the matches themselves. Ideally, we’re pairing Lunar Love clients together, but if we don’t have someone already in our database who might be a good match for a particular client, I go out and actively find them myself. There have been a lot of laughably awkward encounters at yoga classes, movie theaters, and parks, but I do it for love. For every ten who say no, there’s one who says yes. I just need a yes from the right person.