The Match

by Sarah Adams

Charlie is my dog.

he’s my seizure-assist dog. I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was sixteen years old.

Joanna Halstead, the woman from the coffee shop—also known as my fairy godmother—quickly became one of my best friends. I learned that she owned a service dog company called Southern Service Paws, and she trained and matched dogs with people living with all sorts of disabilities. Disabilities just like mine.

Miss Evelyn Grace Jones, daughter to Harold and Melony Jones of the prestigious Charlestonian family that resides SOB (South of Broad, aka Snootyville, and where I was raised).

My dad is an attorney and partner at Jones and Murray Law, the oldest and most elite law firm in all of South Carolina, and my mom is on the board of the Powder Society of Revolutionary Ladies.

It’s been two years since Natalie left us to move to Hollywood and pursue her dream of becoming an actress, and with each passing month it seems like we’re becoming less and less of a thought in her mind.

she looks at my daughter, Samantha, with a question in her eyes.

I’m frustrated that my daughter has evidently gone behind my back and contacted whomever this woman is without my knowledge,

Sam was born only ten years ago,

I pull up in front of Broaden Homes. It’s my residential architectural firm—as

Hannah, one of my head architects on staff,

my sister June

June (and my other three sisters)

Gary is Joanna’s husband, and he is just as likable as she is. He’s a sixty-six-year-old journalist who can work from anywhere and loves his job more today than he did the day he started thirty years ago.

Joanna and Gary Halstead

The Halsteads moved into the Charleston area about five years ago simply because they’d always wanted to live here. That was when Joanna founded Southern Service Paws.

she knows that sometimes people just need to talk and be heard—not fixed.

Evelyn Grace,

I’m twenty-six,

“This is Charlie. He’s four years old and a major bed hog.”

“Charlie belongs to me, not the company. He’s been my personal seizure-assist dog for the last three years.”

The next option was Daisy. She’s basically Charlie’s twin, just a little smaller.

He’s thirty-three to my twenty-six.

“I think she would have liked to come.” I flip my turn signal and move into traffic, pretending not to be overly curious about Sam’s statement. “Oh yeah? Why do you think that?” “Because she peeks at you as much as you peek at her.”

I’m ten years old, and she’s the cutest girl in class. I’m begging her to accept my Valentine heart, and she’s staring at it like it’s poison.

she trains service dogs for a living.

“I wish I could tell you that everyone will always understand your seizures—but they won’t. You can’t control other people, but you can control who you surround yourself with. So, if you think that these girls will be mean to you if you have a seizure, don’t go—they’re not worth your friendship.”

survived. It hurt at the time, but now I’m a strong woman who lives with a very scary medical condition, and I have every right to feel proud of myself for that. And you do too.

Don’t ever let anyone make you feel bad about who you are or scared to live your life.

“Life isn’t worth it if you can’t play a little. You’ve gotta steal fun when you can,”

I didn’t move out of my parents’ house until I was twenty-three because I was so scared of what life with epilepsy would look like living on my own.

“I’ll be whatever you want me to be, Evie Jones,” I say in a serious tone, because I am dead serious. In that moment where I thought she was going to walk out my door and out of my life, I was ready to take out a billboard and announce our relationship to the world if that’s what she wanted.

“Listen to me, hon, and remember this for the rest of your life: it’s always okay to go home. Anytime you feel uncomfortable or scared, never worry about what anyone else is going to think if you call your dad and have him come get you. Your house is a safe place, and you love being there, and that’s something to be proud of, not embarrassed about.”

“But…what if while I make her wait…she gets tired of it and leaves?”

side. “If she leaves again, she’s missing out on an opportunity to have a relationship with the best person in this entire world.” Sam snorts a little laugh. “I’m serious, Sam. I’m so honored to be your dad. You are funny, and kind, and brave, and strong. I love you and you can trust that I will always fight for you to have the incredible life you deserve. It’s you and me against the world.”

Apparently, whoever made up the phrase time heals all wounds meant a lot of time, because with every hour that has passed today, my wounds have only grown deeper. My heart hurts, and I wonder if it’s possible for an organ to physically split down the middle just from emotional turmoil.

“First, you and Sam are most important to me. Joanna can handle the fundraiser just fine without me. And second, you can explain it on the way to your house.”

I hope with all my heart that this is what every day of the rest of my life will look like.

I don’t think this life of mine can get any better. Except it does when I spot Jake walking into the hospital room with a chocolate chip muffin.