“I want to know a little about it.”
“All right. Is this for you, then?”
Flo laughs loudly, then covers her mouth. She still thinks that you’re meant to bequietin a library, all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding.
“No,it’s not for me!”
The librarian raises her eyebrows and looks over at Flo.
“It’snot!” Flo says.
“Oh, I believe you, it’s just that it’s not so out of the ordinary for mature people to want to use these sites.”
“I’m ninety-two!”
The librarian leans in so close Flo can smell her shampoo. She says, “Yesterday I helped a ninety-five-year-old gentleman get on Match.com. He was looking for a lady companion.”
“Ninety-five!”
Mimi nods. “Yup.”
“Do you think he’ll actually get adateout of it?”
“I think it’s entirely possible that he will!”
“Well, that’s hard to visualize, but honestly, I’m asking for a friend who thinks it’s too late for her. There’s not a thing wrong with her, she’s lovely, just lacks confidence.”
“How old is she?”
“Only fifty-one.”
Mimi throws up her hands.
“I know,” Flo says.
“I’m fifty-threeand I’m out there.It’s not too late for her!”
“Iknowit. So I thought maybe if I gave her some information about one of these date places, she might try it.”
Mimi takes one of the slips of paper in a holder on the table and starts scribbling furiously, furrows between her eyebrows. “I’ll write down the names of some dating apps that I think are pretty good. She might already know them. Mostly what she needs to know is that she has nothing to lose by going on. She doesn’t have to accept any invitations, but it can help her confidence just to get some responses.”
“Somehope!” Flo says, with such emphasis that her bottom rises up from the chair.
Mimi smiles over at her. “Exactly.” She writes down three suggestions, folds the paper over, and hands it to Flo. “Good luck,” she says. “You’re kind to do this for your friend.”
Flo starts to get up but then asks Mimi, “I hope it’s not rude to ask you, but have you ever tried any of these things?”
“I have.”
“And?”
Mimi shrugs. “Honestly? So far it’s just…meh.”
“Oh.”
“But I’m going to keep trying.”
“Good for you.”
