NOT THE RIGHT ALEX
Daisy stood in front of the mirror, changing her earrings for the third time.
Well, Button, she said to her little dog, these or those?
Button yawned widely.
Thanks for the support. Daisy glanced at the clock. Another thirty minutes to go.
A strange nervousness fluttered inside her. Normally she felt confidentboys always seemed to flock around herbut this was different.
Nonsense, she told herself, giving her reflection a last once-over. Youre the best!
Maybe it was just that she hadnt seen Alexander yet. Three weeks of phone calls, but not a single real meeting.
Three weeks, and not once have I managed to out-talk him, she thought, a small smile playing on her lips.
Daisy sighed and grabbed her handbag.
Time to go.
THREE WEEKS EARLIER
When are you finally going to get married and move out? her father, a neurosurgeon, sighed at dinner.
Hed only just returned from a long operation, hoping for a quiet evening with his favourite Terry Pratchett novel.
Meanwhile, Daisy had been chattering on for half an hour, comparing classic British and American science fiction.
Dad, you yourself said Pratchetts the best
I did. Lets talk later. Right now, I just need some peace,
Daisy pouted and fell silentfor a whole three minutes.
By the way, about marriage, her father suddenly brightened. Do you remember Dr. Spencerthe GP at the practice where I worked weekends?
Yes?
Hes got a son. Word is, hes a fine young man. Dr. Spencer asked for your number, to introduce you two. I said yes.
Daisy grimaced.
All those set-upsso old-fashioned! And anyway, thats for plain girls or spinsters, not her.
But she didnt dare contradict her father.
THE FIRST CALL
The fine young man waited a few days before calling.
Hello?
Hi, its Alexander. Your dad mentioned me?
He did, Daisy replied, a touch coolly, though the pleasant note in his voice sparked her interest.
My father told me a lot about you. Said youre quite extraordinary.
I dont know about that, she laughed. Just an ordinary student. Second-year medicine, paediatrics. You?
First-year. Training to be a surgeon.
That explained the slightly self-assured tone.
They talked for an hour.
Then another two.
Then every day.
Alexander told her about his cat, Molly, his love of science fiction, and his worries about being too thin, too pale, or just too tired.
Daisy listened, though now and then she caught herself thinking
Arent I the one who’s supposed to worry like this?
It took some effort not to say, Alex, just relax. He really disliked being called Alex.
Still, if you overlooked little things, she did rather like him.
THE MEETING AT PICCADILLY
Eventually, they agreed to meet.
At the tube station at Piccadilly Circus.
The plan: see a new film, then stroll to Galaxy Café for sundaes on Regent Street.
And from therewho knows?
Daisy hopped out of the train and scanned the crowd.
A blur of people, a burst of noise, that unmistakable tang of the Underground.
There he wastall, attractive, holding a bouquet of red roses.
He stood by a pillar, watching every train with nervous anticipation.
Daisy approached with confidence.
Alexander?
The young man startled and looked at her, bewildered.
Im sorry, are you
Daisy, she replied crisply, extending her handan uncertain gesture, halfway between a handshake and an invitation for a kiss.
He must be awestruck by my beauty, she thought with a trace of amusement. He even started using you more formally
The young man froze.
Daisy? he repeated uncertainly. But I
Come on! she insisted, taking his sleeve in her hand. We still have to collect our tickets!
Wait, I was just going to say
Later! Well talk later, she declared, dragging him toward the exit.
He glanced back at the platform, as if searching for someonebut shed swept him up into the crowd.
The bouquet still in his hand.
He looked at the flowers, then herand surrendered.
All right, he whispered. Lets go.
FILM AND CAFÉ
They both enjoyed the film.
Daisy also admired his stylish coat, completed by a cleverly tied, homemade scarfhe clearly adored it.
The sophisticated scent of French cologne wafted from him.
And later, the sweet taste of a crunchy vanilla ice cream in Galaxy Café.
They seemed to agree on just about everything.
Wellmainly Daisy did most of the talking, but he listened, watching her with warm brown eyes, nodding along.
Every so often, his large, gentle hand would still her animated gestures by covering her own.
It made her feel protected. Wanted.
You know, he remarked as they wandered down the evening-lit streets of Covent Garden, youre just well He hesitated.
What? she asked, a bit on guard.
Lively. Genuine.
In return, Daisy gave him her most enchanting smile.
She was falling for him.
THREE MONTHS LATER
Their romance blossomed.
They saw each other nearly every day and phoned each other even more often. Had smartphones existed, it might have been constant.
After three months, Alexander confessed he loved Daisy, couldnt live without her, and wanted to marry her.
Daisy, keeping up appearances by hesitating for a good ten minutes, then gladly said yes.
I suppose we should introduce you to my family, the groom-to-be suggested, slightly worried.
Not just yet, lets put that off a bit, Daisy hesitated, suddenly nervous.
For all their desire to see her settled, her family was terribly particular, especially her grandmother.
No one was ever good enough for her precious granddaughter, and her mother and father usually followed suit.
Daisy didn’t intend to give up Alexander.
But she was in no rush to meet his parents eitherjust in case word got back to hers.
HER FATHERS BIRTHDAY
The perfect opportunity arose a couple of weeks later.
Her father, though usually not one for big parties, decided to mark his 55th birthday and invite friends and family.
Daisy announced with a mysterious air that she wouldnt be coming alone.
Most of the guests had arrived when Daisy let in her fiancé, bouquet of carnations and a bottle of French brandy in hand.
Dad, Id like you to meet she began, both proud and a little uncertain.
The phone rang.
Hold on, Ill just answer that, her father dashed off.
He came back breathless a moment later:
It was Dr. Spencer! Wanted to double-check the directions from the station. Im so glad hes comingI thought he was still cross about you missing your date with his son!
Daisy froze.
Missed a date?
Her father looked surprised.
Yes. He rang mesaid his son waited for you at Piccadilly for two hours. With flowers. But you never showed.
Daisy turned slowly to Alexander.
He stood by the door, pale, carnations in hand, looking deeply apologetic.
Well be right back, Daisy muttered to her bewildered father, grabbing Alexanders sleeve and dragging him to her room.
THE TRUTH
Daisy closed the door.
Turned to face him.
Hang on, she said, the words coming slowly, as if afraid to mishear. What does he mean, I never showed up?
Alexander was silent.
Youre not the right Alexander?
He shook his head.
Youre not Alexander Spencer?!
No, he said quietly. Im Alexander Clark. A friend set me up with a girl Natalie. I was waiting for her at Piccadilly. And then you came up and
And I just took you away, Daisy concluded.
They stood quietly, letting that settle.
I did try to explain, he said. That first day. On the way to the cinema. But you didn’t listen.
I never listen, she admitted. Its a gift.
Button whimpered at the door.
Daisy sat down on her bed.
So, now what?
Alexander looked at herseriously, intently, perhaps more so than ever.
At last, he knelt down by her.
I dont care, he said, how we met. Whether it was by chance or through someones father.
I love you and I want you to be my wife. For real. No more mix-ups.
Daisys relieved smile broke like sunshine.
All right then. Lets go meet the family. Just a warningmy lot can be a handful.
Sos mine. Plus, my cat is quite the character.
Well manage!
They left the room.
The guests were waitingamong them, just arriving, Dr. Spencer with his own tall, handsome son, clutching a bouquet of roses.
Daisy glanced at the real Alexander Spencer, then at her own Alexander: nervously pale, clutching carnations.
No, she thought. Not the right one at all.
And she burst out laughinga real, free laugh at last.
Dad, she said, I have some news. Its a bit of a story
Sometimes life gives us the wrong person at just the right momentand if we listen instead of always talking, we might find that the most perfect matches are born out of chance, not design.
