Later that day, Phoenix had a phone conversation with Maya. She expressed regret that most of their communication these days was by phone or letter.

"I wish I could visit you more often," Maya said. "You always make me feel young again."

"You're not that old," Phoenix laughed.

"I'm 27 now. The same age Mia was, when she...died," Maya said.

"Oh," Phoenix said. He hadn't thought of it that way, before.

"And besides, Mystic Jessica got engaged last week. That means I'm the only one from our graduating class who's still single," Maya complained. "Talk about making me feel super-old."

"I didn't feel any older when Larry got engaged," Phoenix said.

"Yeah, but he's been engaged, like, three times by now," Maya said.

"Five times," Phoenix said. "Six, if you count my 30th birthday party."

"Whatever. It's like a yearly ritual with him at this point," Maya said. "But hey, how are you doing on the dating scene? Have any good dates lately?"

Phoenix felt the beginnings of a cold sweat on his forehead.

"I bet getting your badge back has helped you out a lot with the ladies. Women love lawyers, you know? Besides, all the girls your age probably want stability. 'Cause they're working on their second marriages by now."

Yep, Phoenix thought. I'm definitely sweating.

"Nick, I know you're still on the line. I can hear you breathing."

"Er...Maya..." Phoenix said, scratching the back of his head. "I don't feel comfortable talking about this..."

"Tough. We're talking about it," Maya insisted. "I mean, we never get a chance to talk about relationship stuff with each other. Pearly always interrupts."

"I, uh...I guess you're right there..."

"So I'll repeat my question. Had any good dates lately?"

Phoenix's mind scrambled around for an answer. "Trucy!" he said at least.

"What?"

"I can't date anyone, because of Trucy. How many guys my age have eighteen-year-old daughters? She really scares away any potential dates, ha ha." Phoenix chuckled weakly.

"First off, Trucy is adorable, and everyone loves her. Second off, you don't mention your daughter until the first date."

"What? Don't you mention it upfront?"

"No, Nick! Don't you know anything? Look, what if I came up to you and said, 'Hi, I'm a spirit medium, and 90% of my family members kill each other!'? What would you say, then?"

"I...I guess I'd be a little freaked out."

"Exactly. It's like the time I went out with that bank manager dude."

"What?"

"I have a life, you know!" Maya huffed. "Anyway, we started talking about what we do, and he didn't like the spirit medium stuff. He said I was crazy, then he said I was fat, then he said I have bad taste in TV shows. So I busted him in the nose."

"You hit someone?!"

"He deserved it. Anyway, worst blind date ever," Maya said. "So I don't want to hear any excuses from you. There's no way your dates can be worse than that."

"I...um..."

Maya sighed. "You haven't been on a date in months, have you? That's why you're trying to dodge this conversation."

"Guilty," Phoenix said. "I haven't seen anyone since Iris moved away."

"Since Iris...Nick, that was, like, three years ago!"

"I've been busy!"

"Doing nothing! Unless you want to marry your toilet brush, you've got to step up your game!"

"My life is not a videogame!" Phoenix protested.

"If it was, it wouldn't be a dating sim, that's for sure!" Maya said. "Need me to introduce you to one of my spirit mediums? I can't be the only old maid in this village."

"Maya...Maya...Maya," Phoenix said, searching for something intelligent to say. His hands scrambled all over his desk, and like magic, they found themselves on top of the coupons for Larry's speed dating business.

Then Phoenix had an awful idea.

"You know, if you're looking for a boyfriend, I have an idea that could help..." he said casually.