47. "Be my daughter in law" matchmaking services

“I love your hair,” Henry tells me and smiles. We are sitting outside on the front porch. We are alone, just the two of us. Silvia never let me be alone with Peter in the past. Ever. Boys and girls, single men or women, are not allowed to be unsupervised in this family. But there are always exceptions to the rule. Especially if the “New daughter in-law” project is in progress. 

“Why did you change your hair?” he asks.

“I….I….your mother thought I’d look better with darker hair. Apparently, it makes my eyes pop.” I answered. I admit, I kind of like my new hair, maybe Silvia was right.

“Tell me more about yourself, Jarka. How do you like America?” Henry is so kind to me. He seems to  be truly interested in my story and my background. He smiles a lot and he has a twinkle in his blue eyes. He looks so much like Tim but also so much like Silvia. He is a perfect blend of them both. 

I tell him about Slovakia and about the piano. He is very interested in hearing me play. In turn, I ask him about his life and his kids. He is a divorced dad of two. I am not sure how he managed to get divorced in this family. I decide not to poke into this story. Of course, he now has a girlfriend, Sharon, who is about to move in with him. That sounds like a serious relationship to me.

“The kids are trying to get to know Sharon,” he pauses for a bit. “I know she can come across a little bit abrasive, abrupt perhaps. But she is a good person. I wish mom and dad saw that in her too.”

“I understand,” I nod. “Maybe they will come around eventually.”

“You are a good person, Jarka. I like you a lot,” he is giving me mixed signals but perhaps he feels as conflicted as I do. We like each other, but we like each other as friends right now. There is a little spark, a little attraction there. Nothing that would sweep me off my feet, but it could have potential. On the other hand, I had just broken up with Peter. I depend on his parents. I had arrived from New Jersey, where I got in trouble for meeting with an older, married man. I am in no rush to jump into something questionably manipulative, even though I would like to please Silvia and Tim. Similarly, Henry loves his parents and wants to please them too. But he is a divorced dad. He has a serious girlfriend. He probably loves her. Does he? I don’t know. Right now, he is being set up with a Slovakian girl who barely speaks English and has nothing. Absolutely nothing to offer him. 

“Henry! Jarka! You two darlings,” Silvia's chirpy voice interrupts us from our quiet conversation. If I am honest with myself, I do enjoy Henry very much so far. But I know Silvia’s ants in her pants won’t let her leave us alone for too long. 

“Timmy thought that you may want a dessert! I made some banana pudding. It’s delicious, mmmmm mmmmm,” She is licking a spoon and rolling her eyes in ecstasy over her banana pudding. It is the first time I taste it and I am 100% with her. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever had. Maybe I am getting used to this American diet now. The pudding has a layer of vanilla wafers, then a layer of creamy goodness, and a layer of, oh so good, whipped cream. I could eat it every day. Being Silvia’s daughter in-law would definitely come with some advantages. I am getting used to her diet of Hardee’s, Arby’s, Chinese cat chicken, Mexican, but also some wonderful home cooking! Biscuits and gravy, peach pie, banana pudding, mac and cheese, fried chicken….yes, I am well fed, I am on a Southern diet now. And I am subject to a Southern lady meddling matchmaking scheme too.

After Henry leaves, Silvia sits next to me, gives me a hug and asks. “So what do you think? He is great, right? Henry is our wonderful boy, our baby. You’d have a good life with him. And Tim and I would love to have you too.” Her hands are on her chest again, she has tears in her eyes. I am not sure what she sees in me, even though it feels good to be liked and taken care of. I just want to please her. I will let things play out as they may/ I think I will let Silvia’s God, Lord Savior decide. I have no other choice anyway. 

One thing in this family is clear. Life revolves around church. Time flows from Sundays to Wednesdays and from Wednesdays to Sundays. It is Sunday after our morning service and the entire family is meeting for lunch at Tim and Silvia’s house. We finish eating and I help Silvia and all the other women in the house with cleaning up, putting all the dishes and utensils away. I am about to be finished, wiping my hands in a towel, when Silvia approaches me. She is holding a plate of brownies in front of her. 

“Take this, Jarka,” she hands the plate to me and then points at Henry. “Take it to Henry. He looooves brownies,” she winks at me. “Be nice and smile, ok?” 

I carry the brownie plate to him and gently tap him on the shoulder. He turns around to face me. At the sight of me with brownies, he grins. 

“Would you like a brownie?” I ask with an apparent discomfort in my voice. “Your mother says you love them.” 

“Oh, yes, of course! Her brownies are the best! Have you tried one before?” He asks as I quickly shake my head “No.” 

“Sit down,” he pats the empty couch cushion next to him. “Have a brownie with me.”

The gooey treat is sweet and delicious. I love chocolate and this is the most chocolatey dessert I have ever had. I finish my first piece of brownie and reach for a second one. As I am about to take another bite of this chocolate goodness, I catch a glimpse of Sharon, Henry’s girlfriend. She is standing by the window across the room, glaring at me. If looks could kill, I’d be probably dropping dead right about now. Her eyes narrow into thin slits and they feel like they are shooting lightning strikes straight at me. I jump up from the couch, grab the brownie plate, and run back to Silvia. 

“I don’t think Sharon likes me,” I blurt out to her.

“Ohhhh, honeeyyy, don’t worry about her,” Silvia waves her hand over my worries. “She is harmless. Why don’t you go play something on the piano? Henry loves piano music!”

After our relaxing afternoon, we head back to church for our evening service. This time, it is Tim and Silvia’s son in law preaching and the service is not as long. It is a little bit more casual than the morning preachings, but I still wear my ankle length skirt. I am pretty exhausted from all the family and church activities of the day, and when the sermon wraps up, I am ready to go home. 

“Wait, darling,” Silvia stops me. “Look, Henry is standing over there all by himself, why don’t you go say hi to him?” She nudges me ahead so I obediently start walking towards him. 

“Jarka!” Silvia calls after me. “We will be waiting for you in the car!”

“Ok,” I mouth back. I see Henry’s pleasant face in front of me, watching me as I approach him.“Hiiiii, Jarka! I didn’t get a chance to tell you how beautiful your piano music was this afternoon! I just love it. I close my eyes and listen! What was it that you played?” His eyes are twinkling and his face transforms with a bright smile.

I can’t help but to return his smile because it seems to be contagious. He is so kind. We chat for a few minutes but then he touches my arm and leads me to the exit.

“I think we should probably go. I don’t want my mother to be worried about you and wait too long. It was so nice talking to you. I will see you again, alright?” 

He is beaming as he walks me out of the door but then he stays behind. The parking lot is pretty large and Tim and Silvia’s car is parked at the farthest corner away from the church. I start walking across the lot, heading to their car. It’s a few seconds long walk and I realize I am actually by myself for once. I am never alone and suddenly I am aware of this. Out of nowhere, I hear someone behind me and then a hand grabs me, clutches me,  and forcefully turns me around.

“Jarka!” Sharon’s face is furious. “Wait up! We need to talk!” 

I don’t know where she came from. I knew she was at the church earlier but I didn’t see her anywhere while I was talking to Henry or when I left the building.

Her face is scary, her gaze on me feels evil. My arm hurts from her fingers squeezing it tight, like a claw.

“You little……little…..” she is looking for a word that, in her mind, would be the best one to describe me…… Whore!”