Part Thirteen: Matchmaker, Matchmaker!
(Thanks to Snaggle for the title idea)

"Cameron?"

The younger woman slipped into Sydney’s room and pushed the door shut. "Yeah, I need to talk to you..."

"I was just about to turn in..."

"It’s important Sydney." She shuffled crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed despite her guest’s protest. "It’s about Nigel."

Here it comes, Syd thought, and she braced herself, not entirely sure what was coming next.

"He’s a really special person, isn’t he?"

"Yeah, that’s the truth." Syd agreed, having a funny feeling as to where this little conversation was going.

"He’s cute in a Hugh Grant sort of way but better, got a great smile, sensitive...Smart even."

Sydney thought about what she was saying, and swallowed, hoping the girl wouldn’t notice her sweat. Nigel indeed was all of those things, and much more.

"You’d have to have one foot in your grave not to notice his sex appeal... and that endearing little accent is to DIE for! I bet he has a gaggle of women who would give their first born to date him." She added, patting her hands on her tummy, then laughed at Syd’s paralysed expression. "That was a joke Sydney."

Those last comments made Sydney trip over her tongue. "A, a... actually, he does, but I’m beginning to think he needs new glasses. He walks past them as if they’re invisible."

"So, as far as you know he doesn’t go out of his way to date other women or show them any unnecessary attention?"

"That’s right... Not for a while, anyway." Syd was getting nervous. Was Cam about to ask her if she should ask Nigel out on a date?

"Well then, why, and for how long have you two been dancing around each other?"

"Excuse me?" Now that really got her attention.

"You heard me. Why do you insist in wasting so much time? You know, true love isn’t something that comes along everyday Sydney, trust me on that one!" She stated, leaning back enough for Sydney to see her rounded silhouette. "Professor or not, you aren’t immune you know. Sure, you wander all over God’s green acres in search of excitement, adventure and priceless treasures, but when it comes right down to it, all you really want is a place to hang your hat where you know you’re loved. That’s the priceless relic you’ve never been able to grasp, isn’t it?" Sydney made no reply. "You want the same things every other red-blooded female wants. A good man, a home and a family. I can see it every time you and Nigel are together. Shoot, I can see it in your face right now! Your eyes give you away Professor Fox."

"I don’t know what it is you think you see Cam," Sydney looked away, becoming suddenly evasive, "but things aren’t as simple as that."

"Why not?" She started to smile and shook her head. "You’re as hopeless as he is! I’ve been watching you two for the past week and let me tell you, it doesn’t get any better than this. Come on, you guys would be magic together! You fit perfectly, like a well oiled Pratt & Whitney engine!" She looked as if she was going to burst. "He loves you, Sydney. You, not me. That’s what I’m trying to say. If you’re leaving here tomorrow morning because you think Nige has a thing for me, you couldn’t be more wrong." Cameron hoisted up from the mattress and padded to the door. "Think about it Syd. Nigel’s one in a million."

Downstairs Nigel had just finished making himself some tea, and lifting the cup to his nose, inhaled deeply. Cam stood in the hall watching him for a moment. There he was dressed in a terry robe, wearing large woolly socks and slippers on his feet. Oh yeah, she thought, they belong together, weather they think so or not.

"Having a night-cap?" She asked and walked past him to the cupboard.

"Naturally. I was just going to settle down with a good book." Something about her made him stop and take a closer look. "Is everything all right?"

"Well, I didn’t know if I should tell you but..." She paused and let out a huge sigh. "I think there’s something wrong with Sydney."

He put his cup down on the table, a shadow of concern suddenly sweeping across his tired young face. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I know she’s still up. Why don’t you go and see if you can talk to her?"

Go to Part Fourteen.


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