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    The Matchmakers
    The Matchmakers
    The Matchmakers
    Ebook87 pages1 hour

    The Matchmakers

    By Janette Oke

    3.5/5

    ()

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    About this ebook

    In The Matchmakers, a young widow with two small sons feels very fortunate that her widowed father was there to help her care for the boys and make the adjustment since her husband's death. But now, a bit smothered by his caregiving, she feels ready to go on but is concerned about how to get him to step back a pace. A friend suggests a fine older widow in the church, who might divert his attention.
    The older widow has a son who appears rather distant, seemingly self-absorbed. The young mother hopes to engage his help, but is reluctant to approach him.
    When she finally decides to try the plan, to her relief she finds an ally. He has also been anxious to get his mother "to carry on with her life." Through scheming and friendly manipulation, they get the two "oldsters" together, but the results are hardly what they anticipate!
    A delightful story in the marvelous inspirational tradition of Janette Oke!
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBaker Publishing Group
    Release dateOct 1, 1997
    ISBN9781441270238
    The Matchmakers
    Author

    Janette Oke

    Bestselling author Janette Oke is celebrated for her significant contribution to the Christian book industry. Her novels have sold more than 30 million copies, and she is the recipient of the ECPA President's Award, the CBA Life Impact Award, the Gold Medallion, and the Christy Award. Janette and her husband, Edward, live in Alberta, Canada.

    Read more from Janette Oke

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    Reviews for The Matchmakers

    3.5/5

    20 ratings3 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Since the early passing of her husband, Cynthia has been grateful for her father's help with her two young sons. Now Cynthia wants a bit more space to get on with her life, but she's worried about her father being all alone. Her best friend Judith is rather sure that setting Cynthia's father up with a nice, older widow would be just the ticket in The Matchmakers by author Janette Oke.This author has been one of my all-time favorites for years, with her simple and touching stories, so I always knew I'd get around to reading this tale from the 90s eventually. What a light, cozy little story it is--and I mean that literally, with its fun and heartwarming plot and the lovely illustrations in the hardback I picked up. Not to sound corny, but this is a bona fide "curl up on the couch with a warm cup of coffee" kind of read.Or a warm cup of cocoa. I personally don't drink coffee.I got a little annoyed at some of the unnamed characters, and even at Judith at one point, for the attitude they'd take about Cynthia's situation. "I have a family," Judith reminds Cynthia once, as if Cynthia doesn't know that--and as if Cynthia doesn't have a family herself. (No, she doesn't have a husband anymore. But she does have a family.) And I'm not sure how well a "leave it all in God's hands and don't manipulate" frame of mind works in a matchmaking story. If you're purposely finding ways to leave two people alone in each other's company, you're still manipulating the situation.But, anyhow. I enjoyed this easy and delightful read--predictable, but then, not quite as predictable as I thought it would be.
    • 4/5
      Such a wonderful little story that tricks you in the end. I do wish it would have been a little longer and let you know what happened a little while down the road. Very true to life to the way people really think and feel.
    • 4/5
      Sweet story exploring the theme of loss and bereavement and how hard it is to "move on"

    Book preview

    The Matchmakers - Janette Oke

    © 1997 by Janette Oke

    Published by Bethany House Publishers

    11400 Hampshire Avenue South

    Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

    www.bethanyhouse.com

    Bethany House Publishers is a division of

    Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    Ebook edition created 2011

    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

    ISBN 978-1-4412-7023-8

    Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

    Design and illustrations by Dan Thornberg

    Dedicated with love

    to the special gals

    of the Tuesday morning group,

    Ladies Time Out,

    of the

    Parkdale Evangelical Missionary Church

    God bless!

    Contents

    1. The Seed of an Idea

    2. A Plan of Action

    3. Introductions All Around

    4. Some Minor Adjustments

    5. A Match Made in Heaven

    Chapter One

    The Seed of an Idea

    I don’t know what to do.

    The words were spoken with such wistfulness that Judith Wright’s head came up and she stared across the table at her longtime friend. They were at the Koffee Kup, their usual Saturday morning meeting place, and Judith had just finished fingering up the crumbs of her prune Danish. With one finger aloft, still damp from her last lick, she stared at Cynthia Longley, waiting for some explanation of the problem. When there was no further comment, simply a deep sigh, Judith lowered her finger and leaned forward, concern further deepening her chocolate brown eyes.

    What’s wrong?

    Cynthia glanced up from the coffee cup she absentmindedly twisted round and round.

    Oh, nothing’s wrong, she was quick to state.

    Judith slumped in relief. You gave me a start.

    I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… The words trailed off.

    It wasn’t like Cynthia to look so melancholy. She was back to fingering the cup again.

    Something is wrong, isn’t it?

    Not  … not really wrong. It’s just that Daddy  …

    I thought you and your father were  … well, close, Judith prompted when Cynthia didn’t continue.

    Oh, we are. Cynthia seemed to stir herself from her reverie, shifting slightly on the bright yellow chair. We are, she repeated more firmly.

    Judith stirred, too, not convinced that all was well. She had every intention of finding out exactly what was going on.

    I don’t understand, she began, a frown creasing her otherwise smooth forehead. What’s bothering you? C’mon, spill it. She looked intently into the pretty oval face, framed with soft, honey-blond hair.

    I’m not… not bothered. I’m just—

    You’re bothered. It’s written all over you. Hey, Cynthie. This is me you’re talking to. I know when you’re bothered.

    Cynthia sighed again, then shrugged. They both knew she did not easily hide her thoughts, her emotions, from anyone—particularly Judith. They had known each other too long. Had shared too many secrets. Too much intimacy. Judith in her own probing way could always pry the information from her.

    I feel guilty even sharing this, Cynthia acknowledged, and I wouldn’t  … to anyone else. I know that everyone thinks, well, that Daddy and I are  … that I’m so very—what—? Blessed? To have Daddy. And they’re right, she hurried on before Judith could make any comment. I know that. I don’t know what I would have done, how we ever would have managed, or made it without him since  … since Roger died, but lately  …

    She let the words drop and lowered her gaze.

    Judith, more than anyone else, knew how difficult the last three years since Roger’s sudden death had been for Cynthia. She had hoped that the worst was over. That the painful loss of her husband was behind her in more than just time, that Cynthia was now ready to go on with her life.

    Cynthia determinedly pushed the coffee cup away but began to toy with the spoon. It made little clinking sounds on the hard surface of the table, and Judith wanted to reach out and silence its intrusion in the conversation. At last she could stand it no longer and leaned forward, one hand pressing Cynthia’s fingers and the annoying clatter of the spoon firmly against the table.

    Cynthia’s eyes lifted and she stirred restlessly. Her face flushed slightly. I feel like a real… jerk, even thinking like this, she berated herself, "but sometimes  … sometimes I just feel smothered."

    Smothered?

    "He’s always there. Every evening  … every Saturday. On Sunday. I know the boys have needed him. I’ve needed him. But now  … I just feel like I’d like a little more breathing space. She stopped and lifted troubled eyes. I wish he’d let go. Do you know what I’m trying to say?"

    Judith was beginning to get the picture. She loved her own father dearly, but she was glad she didn’t need to live with him. That her mother was there to be the buffer to his moods. The salve that soothed all agitations. She nodded slowly. She hadn’t thought of Cynthia’s situation in that light before.

    Can you just sort of ask for a little privacy? she ventured.

    "Oh, Jude, I  … I couldn’t. I wouldn’t want Daddy to feel that he’s not wanted. Not appreciated. He’s been so sweet. I don’t know how we ever would have managed. He’s been so  … so gentle with me. I’m sure that’s why he agreed to take that early retirement package last spring. He didn’t really want to quit work. He did it so he would have more time for us. He has been so good with the boys. He says over and over how important it is for boys to have a male image to look up to. He’s—it’s almost like a broken record at times. But he’s right. It is. They do. I know that. Sports and fishing. Camping. All

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