Page 96 of The Merry Matchmaker

Viola pointed a finger at her. “You’re jealous.”

“Of Elinor? I certainly am not.”

“You certainly are. All that talk about finding someone for Mitch,” Viola mocked.

“I did want to find someone for Mitch. Do,” Frankie corrected herself.

“Looks like you succeeded,” said Viola.

“Don’t be ridiculous. He’s just giving her confidence a boost.”

“That’s some boost.”

“They are Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. They have to look the part.” Although Elinor was playing her part a little too well, if you asked Frankie.

“I guess. I’ve gotta go meet Terrill at the station,” said Viola. “He’s off tonight. See you at the Santa pub crawl later?”

“Probably,” Frankie said. She and Mitch had done the pub crawl for the last two years. It was a tradition. They could crawl and drink and talk, and she’d find out exactly what he was thinking encouraging Elinor. And if need be, she’d explain that Elinor wasn’t right for him. Elinor was too quiet, too shy.

Except she hadn’t exactly looked shy in that sleigh.

The sleigh trundled on, and the crowd closed in after it, moving like a human wave in its wake. Frankie left Adele in charge of the store and joined them, making her way to the gazebo in the town center where Santa would be seeing children. Just to make sure Elinor was doing her job properly.

There was a crowd of parents and hyped-up children waiting to see Santa. Mitch was already on his Santa throne, listening intently as a little girl shared her holiday wish list, gesturing excitedly with mittened hands while Elinor stood nearby, beaming, looking like she was born to be Santa’s missus.

Well, good, Frankie told herself. This was good for Elinor, and Frankie had done a good deed by helping her get bold and get out there. That was all Elinor was doing, just getting into her part. Frankie had been imagining things.

In the background, she caught sight of Stef and the paper’s photographer. He was taking pictures while she interviewed parents, recording the event for local history. Elinor was doing a good job. Everyone was happy. Yes, all was well. Frankie couldn’t help but feel proud as she watched Elinor bend down and talk to a little girl who was next in line.

Behind the little girl and her mother stood a red-haired little boy, bouncing up and down with excitement as he waited his turn. With the boy stood a tallish man with short rust-red hair, wearing a parka and a frown. Next to him stood...Frankie’s coconspirator, the woman she had talked to about Stef in the shop. She hurried over to where they stood to say a casual hello.

“Hello there,” Frankie said to the woman. “Merry Christmas.”

The woman smiled in recognition. “Merry Christmas to you, too. I hope you have some good sales going on at Holiday Happiness. I want to get over there later today.”

“We do,” Frankie assured her.

“I never introduced myself. I’m Jenn, and this is my brother, Griff.”

The man looked vaguely familiar. Where had Frankie seen him before?

Frankie introduced herself, and he said a polite hello and shook hands with her. He was a fine-looking specimen, for sure—not much of a smiler, though. Of course, from what his sister had told Frankie, that was understandable. Stef was just the person to help this man find his smile again.

“And this is Corky,” continued Jenn.

“Hi, Corky,” Frankie said, smiling down at the boy.

“I’m going to see Santa,” he informed her. “Daddy says I can’t ask for a mommy.” He brightened. “But I think he’ll bring me one if I ask.”

“He won’t, so don’t,” said the father sternly, losing his forced smile.

Stef might be what this man needed, but Frankie wasn’t so sure he was what Stef needed.

“Is your sister here?” Jenn asked Elinor.

“Sister?” the man repeated, looking suspiciously at her.

“Just someone I thought you’d like to meet,” she said.

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