Page 111 of The Merry Matchmaker

“Then I motion we elect Frankie to chair the committee,” said Theresia.

Barbara cleared her throat. “Well. We have a motion to elect Frankie as our chairperson for next year’s Santa Walk. Do we have a second?”

“I’ll second that,” said James, Autumn and Hazel simultaneously.

“All right,” Barbara said stiffly. “Shall we vote? All those in favor?”

It was almost unanimous. Barbara abstained from voting. Afterward everyone was smiling.

Barbara even managed half a smile. “I’m probably going to be busy this year now that I have someone new in my life,” she announced.

“How nice,” said Hazel.

Nice for Barbara. Poor Brock.

“I think Barbara did an excellent job of keeping things going,” Hazel said to Frankie as she followed the others out. “But it’s nice to have you back at the helm. I just wish you’d still be our Mrs. Claus.”

“Oh well. I can share.” The job, not the man.

“Maybe we need to have a Santa competition next year as well as a Mrs. Claus pageant,” Hazel said thoughtfully.

“Maybe,” Frankie agreed. She rather liked the idea of someone other than Mitch doing the pub crawl with Mrs. Claus.

Mitch. Hopefully, he’d be feeling better soon. She was anxious to talk with him.

Stef was coming out of a meeting at the paper when Harlan the receptionist found her and told her someone was waiting in the lobby to see her. An intriguing mystery. Friends and family simply texted if they wanted to get together. No one came to the paper. Who could be looking for her?

She froze on reaching the lobby and seeing who it was.Oh no. Not him, she thought as he left his seat and started toward her. She could feel her pulse picking up speed.

“What do you want?” she demanded.

“To make up for being a jerk,” he replied.

How did you make up for being a jerk when you were one? She kept the thought to herself and waited for him to continue.

He took a deep breath. “I’ve been going through a rough time, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

“You’re right. You shouldn’t have,” she said.

“I’m sorry.”

A man saying he was sorry. Now, there was a refreshing change.

“I’m not a total jerk. Give me a chance to prove it. Could I buy you a cup of coffee or a latte? I think I owe you one,” he added.

“Along with a big serving of sorry,” she said.

“As big as it takes.”

It was tempting. He was tempting. “So, you’re really not a jerk? I mean, you could have fooled me.”

He dropped his gaze and nodded. “I know. I’ve been fooling a lot of people.” His gaze returned to her. “How about it? Give me a chance to make peace?”

She considered. This man was broken. His out-of-proportion anger was evidence of that. But everyone got broken at some point in life. Hadn’t she herself been broken by her disastrous marriage? But she’d healed. Maybe he could, too. Maybe she should give this man a chance. Anyway, it was only coffee.

“All right,” she said. “I can make time for an eggnog latte in an hour.”

“An hour. Meet you at The Coffee Stop, then?”

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