Page 7 of The Merry Matchmaker

“Seriously, Frankie, why are you trying to give Mitch to someone else when you and he would be great together?”

“Because I don’t need to be with someone.” She didn’t. She couldn’t be.

“Ike wouldn’t want you to give up on love,” Viola said softly.

“I know. And I have plenty of love in my life. I’ve got Mom, I’ve got Stef...”

“Who will probably get married again and move away.”

“She wouldn’t leave her job at the paper. But if she did, I’d go visit her. And I have Natalie.”

“Who has a life.”

“Which I’m part of. And little Warner.”

“Grandsons grow up and get girlfriends and ignore you.”

“Who told you that?”

“Terrill’s grandma.”

“I’ll still have you. You’re not going anywhere, are you?”

“No.”

“And we’re still going to live in the same nursing home when we’re old, right?”

“Probably. It’s either that or end up on the ice floe my daughter’s threatening to put me on.”

“So, there you have it. Who needs a man?”

“You do.”

“Not happening,” Frankie said, and went back to the dating site. “Ha! Educated singles only. So, they’re snobs.”

“Looking for the cream of the crop.”

“Mitch qualifies as that. He’s got an MBA,” Frankie said, and checkedMan seeking woman, then got busy setting up his profile. It was easy to fill in interests—football, hiking, kayaking, nature.Likes to go glamping, she added.

“He does?” asked Viola.

“He does now,” Frankie said, and Viola giggled.

I’m a small-town guy with big-city tastes and hometown values, Frankie typed.

“What the heck does that mean?” Viola demanded.

“It means he has good values, but he has sophisticated tastes.”

“Unclear,” Viola said.

“Fine. I’ll add this. ‘Love my country, serve my community. Like playing Santa every year,’” Frankie said as she typed.

“That’s better. You should have him ask a question. It’ll make him more approachable.”

What’s your favorite holiday?Frankie typed. “Bonus points if she says Christmas.”

“Not bad,” Viola approved.

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