Chapter 1
"You did what?" Felicity looks at her mother in horror and hopes this is one of those times when her hearing has failed her.
"Felicity my baby you know as well as I do that you are not getting any younger and your biological clock is ticking!"
"My what?"
"Your biological clock, your baby timer, your pressure cooker, you're…"
"Mom!"
"You should thank me you know. How many can say that their mothers go to such great lengths to make sure their daughter is happy?"
"Mother how many can say that their mothers are crazy enough to enter their them into a reality show where their mother has to find a husband for the daughter who by the way has never met her husband to be!"
"Okay when you say it like that it does sound strange."
"Strange? More like ridiculous! This can't be happening to me." Felicity starts pacing and hyperventilating.
"Felicity baby just take it easy. Take a deep breath and just relax. You know stress is not good for you."
"Mom you are the cause of my stress. You!"
"Okay this must be a bad dream." Felicity keeps pacing while pinching the bridge of her nose. 'This is all just a bad dream. I will wake up any moment now and laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.'
"Ouch!" Felicity shrieks feeling a pinch on her arm. "What did you do that for?"
"Just checking to see if you are awake."
"Mom I can't. Please my life is about to end." Felicity bends at her waist and feels like she is about to go into shock.
"Okay Felicity just calm down. Come and sit with me. I will explain everything to you." Donna pats the seat next to her.
"Have I been alone these past few minutes? Mom you can't do this! Urgh!" Felicity stomps her foot in frustration.
Donna gets up, takes Felicity's hand and leads her to the couch.
"Sit and breathe, in and out, breathe in and out."
"Mom you look like someone about to go into labour!"
Felicity tries to compose herself.
"Okay mom – explain."
"Well you see I went out for lunch with my boo boo..."
"Wait, your who?"
"My boo boo, Captain Lance."
"Mom! I hope you don't call him that in public! Ewww
Donna clears her throat.
"Like I was saying. Bo…Quintin and I went out for lunch and he was mentioning how happy he is that Sara has finally…"
"Can we please get to the point?"
"Anyway there was an add on TV and it really caught my attention."
"Sure it did. I am surprised you saw anything else but Captain Lance." Felicity says relieved that her mom's quirkiness distracts her from the very bad situation that she is in.
"It really spoke to me honey. I saw so many parents who were so concerned over their sons and daughters. So many just like I am over you. Parents who lie awake at night and wish there was something more they could do to make their children have their happy ever after."
Donna starts getting emotional and dabs at her eyes.
"Mom I didn't know that it meant this much to you."
"Felicity you are my world! There is nothing I wouldn't do so you can find happiness."
"Mom it's not like I'm miserable. I have a good job, friends and a terrific mom." she winks at Donna.
"There is something more you want hun. I can see it in your eyes. I know I am right about this."
"Okay so you were saying?" Felicity relents and decides to hear her mom out.
Donna perks up at the first sign of hope.
"So these parents select prospective candidates who obviously have to meet a certain criteria. These parents will then decide who will meet their son or daughter. Once the son or daughter has been on one date with each of these candidates, the parents will then make a final decision and choose one guy. The candidate and bride or groom to be will not meet one another again. They will meet again….at the altar! And then start their lives together as husband and wife." Donna clasps her hands together and has a dreamy look in her eye.
"Wow sounds a lot like the stone ages."
"Hun there is nothing wrong with doing this. Yes it isn't common but this could really work. Besides what do you have to lose?"
Felicity can't help but think that there might be a possibility that this crazy idea could actually work.
'Can I trust my mother with this?'
"Okay I should probably get my head examined, I will do it."
"Yes!"
"But if at any time I am not comfortable with any of this-we call it off. Right?"
"Yes whatever you want." Donna beams and immediately starts planning her next move.