Page 110 of The Merry Matchmaker

Replacement. Nice word choice. Frankie took a big gulp of her drink. “I’m happy with how everything went. You did a good job of filling in this year,” she added, and offered Barbara her sweetest smile.

It wasn’t returned. “Well, we should get right down to it,” Barbara said.

The next forty minutes were spent analyzing all aspects of the event, from how the new location for the vendors had worked to the entertainment.

“The principal at the high school told me that she’d like the school glee club to be allowed an entertainment slot after Santa’s done with the kids next year,” said Hazel.

“That sounds good. James, will you make a note of that?” Barbara said.

“Will do. But I can’t be secretary next year,” James said.

Barbara looked at him in shock.

“Sorry,” he said. “I’ve got too much on my plate.”

“James. We all have things on our plates. We all have to make sacrifices,” Barbara said sternly.

“I’ll help with setup and takedown at the pageant again next year, but I can’t do all the other stuff.”

“All right, fine,” Barbara said in a clipped tone. “I accept your resignation. Now, we all do want to do the pageant again next year, don’t we?”

Everyone looked to Frankie. If she said no, they’d back her.

But maybe there were other women who wanted to have the fun of greeting the children who came to see Santa. She’d started the Santa Walk with pure motives, had played Mrs. Claus because it seemed like a great addition to the fun. She’d achieved what she started out to do. She’d created a successful party for the whole town. She didn’t need to hog the spotlight. In fact, she realized she’d rather be running the show than in it.

“I think the pageant is a fun idea, and we should do it as long as we have women who’d like to play Mrs. Claus,” she said.

Barbara smirked. She obviously thought Frankie was surrendering her role because she’d been beaten. Let the woman think what she wanted. Frankie knew she was surrendering her role because adding the pageant made the Santa Walk that much more fun for everyone.

One thing Frankie wasn’t ready to surrender, though, and that was being in charge of the whole shebang. This was her baby, and she wasn’t ready to adopt it out.

“I agree,” said Hazel. “Let’s keep the pageant going.”

Barbara nodded and made a note on one of the many papers in front of her. “So, we’re all in agreement then?”

Everyone was.

“And other than James...” here Barbara looked at him like he was a defector “...everyone else is still good with their responsibilities?”

The others nodded.

“All right,” Barbara said. “I hope one of you will consider filling the secretary position for next year. I’ll give you all time to think about it. Now, if that’s all, I think we can adjourn.”

“Wait. One more order of business,” said Theresia. “I’m thinking we should see if Frankie would like to come back as our chairperson.”

Barbara’s smile froze, then cracked and fell away. “Well,” she said.

“Good idea,” said James. “You up for chairing next year, Frankie?”

“Yes, I am,” she said firmly.

“We know you’ve had so much to deal with ever since, er, your loss,” Barbara said.

“It never stopped me from serving my community,” Frankie said. “And if you remember, I started this after my loss.” It had helped keep her sane.

“We thought you were burned out,” Barbara continued.

Only gaslit. “I’m not. And I’m sure you could use a break,” Frankie said.

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