Page 134 of The Merry Matchmaker

It was starting to snow, the sloppy, wet kind that would be just dry enough to stick and then turn icy and slippery as temperatures dropped and people and cars compressed it. So, Frankie was hardly surprised to see there weren’t many people in the bookstore when she entered.

An older man stood in the history section, perusing a book. A woman and her little girl were hustling toward the door with their purchase. William was still at the register, frowning at the flurry outside the window.

He smiled at the sight of Frankie. “Frankie, this is a nice surprise.”

“I’m looking for something to read,” she said. Well, duh.

“Anything in particular?”

It had been so long since she’d read a book. After Ike died, she’d found it hard to concentrate. Words blurred and swam on the page.

“Bedtime reading,” she decided, “so nothing scary.”

“Do you like to read the same kind of books as your mother?” he asked.

“Maybe more general fiction.”

“I have something you might like. It’s by a new author, Karissa Newcomb.” He left his post and picked a book off the sale table. The cover art showed a fountain in a Mediterranean courtyard. The publisher had added some shimmer and sparkle to the water, and Frankie could vaguely make out a hidden image of a woman’s face.

She took it and read,“The Woman in the Fountain.”

“It’s quite lovely for a first book. I think you’ll like it,” he said.

“Then I’ll take it,” she said, and followed him back to the register.

“Are you all ready for the new year?” she asked as he rang up her sale.

“I think so,” he replied.

She handed over her charge card. “Have you got any plans for New Year’s Eve? I bet you’re going to some fancy literary soiree.”

“That sounds like fun, but no.”

“You could do something here at the bookstore. An afternoon wine and cheese party to kick off the evening,” Frankie suggested. “That would be fun.”

He considered. “I never thought of doing something like that.”

“I bet a lot of your regulars would come.”

“Would you come?”

“Of course. I’d even close my shop early so my staff could as well.”

“They probably all have plans by now,” he said.

“Not so far as I know. Elinor’s been a little down lately. I think she could use some cheering up,” Frankie added.

“Oh?”

“Think about it,” Frankie said. Should she say more? Yes. Smart as he was, when it came to love William was a slow learner. “You know, William, I think Elinor needs a hero in her life.”

William looked more scared than encouraged.

“Not like a superhero, just a take-charge kind of man who’s not afraid to say how he feels. Someone who would do anything for the woman he loves, who’s not afraid to really pursue her. I don’t think that kind of man exists only in books. Do you? I mean, I found one like that.”

He nodded thoughtfully.

“Anyway, I’d sure like to see her find someone in the new year.”

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