Over the next few weeks, while Nigel* was doing his best to atone for lying to me about the age of his daughter, he was also doing his best to convince me to take the next logical step- meeting him face to face.  He was convinced that it was high time and that we knew each other sufficiently to venture a prolonged “in-person” conversation. He liked me. I liked him. We both found each other attractive. We got along well enough. We wanted to know more about each other. Why not meet- he reasoned.

The more Nigel tried to convince that it was high-time we met in person, the more I resisted the idea. He was keen to put a meeting date down in concrete. I was keen to use a pencil- all the better to erase and make changes.  I just wasn’t convinced that meeting Nigel in his somewhat lonely town was the most splendid idea.  While I’d convinced myself that I’d forgiven him for his huge lie, I still had lingering doubts about him. What if, despite his assurances, that little huge lie wasn’t the only corpse in his closet?

My preference for online dating did not leave me completely oblivious to certain accompanying risks and dangers. What did I really know of Nigel that would make me feel super safe in getting on a plane to go see him?  Or, what did I really know of him to have him get on a plane, come see me and, possibly, introduce him to a friend or two and maybe family?  I just wasn’t sold on the idea. And, as usual, when I’m not sold on an idea, I try to undermine it by finding some evidence to show that idea to be a bad one. So, I went looking for evidence.

Enter Google.  Also enter that thing they say about what you WILL find if you go in search of something bad.

But first- enter Nigel’s ex-wife.  Her name is Karen*. Karen is also the mother of Nigel's fifteen year old daughter.  Nigel* and Karen tried to make their marriage work, but, in the end decided that they really couldn’t. They got divorced.  Karen then got remarried and moved some distance away with their pre-teen daughter. 

Now, back to Google.  Google Search is an amazing thing and has been an amazing educator. Thanks to it, I now know all the words to “Janie’s Got a Gun”. I also know the scientific names of several plants and animal species. And, I know what the “O” in “Jackie O” stands for.  I will admit that I’ve anxiously “googled” myself, when I was confident no one was looking, as if Google was the authoritative voice on whether or not I truly existed.

And, so… I googled Nigel. Sure enough, there were some links to and details on his business. There was what looked like a court case involving some land matter.  There was also a particular list of weddings which took place in a certain year in a certain place.  On that list was a Nigel with the same middle name and surname as my Nigel. Next to this Nigel’s name was that of a woman.

Her name was not, in any shape or form, Karen's….

 * Names have been changed

Coming Next Saturday: A Tale of Two Lies