For the second time this month Sheri listened to her best friend's tale of misbegotten love and inwardly rolled her eyes. She nodded her head as he continued his talk, but her mind started to wander. Half listening, she gazed into the face of the only man she would ever love, John Michael MacGregor. Mac to his friends.
She focused her attention back on the conversation. "Okay, Mac. So you're devastated about the break up with . ." she paused trying desperately to remember his latest girlfriend's name. It came to her in a flash " . . . Gina! Isn't this the second time you've found true love this month?".
"Sarcasm doesn't become you, Sheri. You know me better than any other person and you know I don't give my heart lightly!" Mac tried desperately to sound dramatic but couldn't repress a smile. Almost laughing, he continued "okay, so maybe my relationship with Gina wasn't made in heaven; and maybe she did seem to have permanent PMS and, well, so we lasted only a few weeks. But I'm still hurt by the breakup. The truth is I want so much to be in love and I was hoping maybe she was the one."
Sheri couldn't believe her ears. 'Dense' is what came to her mind. 'I love you so much, Mac' she wanted to say to him 'can't you see what's right in front of your eyes.'
Instead she just nodded and said "Be patient, Mac. When you least expect it, love will be staring you right in the face."
Obviously feeling better Mac hugged her and said "Thanks Sheri, you always make me feel better. You're the best friend a guy could have!"
Mac didn't notice the crestfallen look on Sheri's face. She wanted to be everything to him: friend, lover, confidant. But since she didn't have the guts to tell him how she felt, she would have to settle for being his friend.
Over the following few weeks Mac continued to date in search of his one and only true love. Frustrated over his lack of success, he called Sheri to complain.
"Sheri, its seems like I'm batting zero again. No luck in the romance department. What am I doing wrong?"
Sheri was glad that this time theirs was a phone conversation. She could mask the emotion in her voice when she spoke, but she couldn't hide the tears that pooled in her sad eyes.
"Why are you asking me?" she answered, a little too sharply. She did not want to continue this type of conversation; thinking about him in love with someone else was like twisting a knife in her heart. Although she would do anything for Mac, she certainly would not tell him how to fall in love with another woman!
Mac continued brightly "Well first of all, you're my best friend, have been since we were kids, and you know me inside and out. And you know the kind of women I like and, you know, since you're a woman you, uh, have an, uh, well you have sort of an inside edge on the whole thing. I thought maybe you could help me figure it out."
For the first time in his life Mac was stammering; caught off guard by what he had just told Sheri. He had a silent conversation with himself. 'Sheri's a woman!' 'Of course she's a woman, you idiot. If you grew up to be a man, then she has grown up to be a woman.' It was as if the realization of what his best friend was suddenly dawned on him. He'd always thought of her as one of the guys.
"Figure what out?" Sheri answered, now becoming a little agitated; she was getting tired of the whole subject.
"You know, the whole romance with the opposite sex thing." He paused for a moment and said "Wait-I have a great idea!".
Mac knew he had the start of a wonderful plan. Being a woman, Sheri must have the same desires that I have, he thought to himself. She has got to want to fall in love too! He continued "We can help each other out with this."
"Okay, I'm all ears." Sheri said aloud to him, thinking to herself that all he would have to do is hold her and tell her how much he loved her.
"Let's get together for dinner tonight and I'll tell you all about my idea then."
"Okay. Pick me up at seven."
