Page 120 of The Merry Matchmaker

“TV,” Frankie repeated.Better not say...

“Cop Stop. It’s one of his favorite shows.”

“I know. He usually watches it with me,” Frankie said, her eyes narrowing.

Elinor didn’t see. She was too busy reliving her happy weekend. “I don’t usually like police shows. Well, not made-up ones with all that violence. But this was interesting. I hope we can do it again.”

Not in my lifetime, Frankie thought. “I’ll be back,” she said to Elinor. Then she marched out the door, headed for Handy’s Hardware Store.

19

There was probably enough steam coming out of Frankie’s ears asshe marched into the hardware store that she could have scalded half the customers in there. Brock was at the help center in the middle of the store, chatting with—oh good grief—Barbara.

She greeted Frankie with a smirk and an insincere “Merry Christmas.”

After Frankie reclaiming her leadership role for the Santa Walk, it was a wonder Barbara didn’t wish her a spanking from Krampus. But appearances had to be maintained.

Frankie repeated the wish, then turned her attention to Brock. “Where’s Mitch?”

“Home sick.”

“Still?” Mitch was never sick.

“Anything I can help you with?” Brock offered. In such a friendly way. Oh, how quickly the cold had melted and how quickly his wounded pride had healed.

“No,” Frankie said irritably. Then added a less irritable “Merry Christmas” in parting to show there were no hard feelings that he’d moved on so quickly from her dumping him.

He smiled at Barbara. “Planning on it.”

Great. Everyone was having a Merry Christmas. Good for all of them. Ho, ho, ho.

She returned to the shop feeling cranky, and Elinor’s cheerful mood exacerbated it. It was a good thing she was closing the shop early because by closing time at four, Frankie had had enough of Elinor and her beaming face.

“Have you got plans for tonight?” Natalie asked Elinor once they’d all donned their coats and were starting out the door.

“I thought maybe I’d go see Mitch. I didn’t hear anything from him yesterday,” Elinor said.

“That’s because he’s sick,” Frankie informed her. “Anyway, you’re coming to my Christmas Eve open house, remember?” It would be much better to have Elinor at her house under her watchful eye than at Mitch’s, banging on his door.

“That’s right,” Elinor said happily. “I almost forgot.”

“Great. We’ll see you there,” said Natalie.

“I am happy to have someplace to go tonight,” Elinor said to Frankie. “Thank you so much for including me.”

“Yes, so very kind,” said Adele. As Natalie rushed off and Elinor skidded her way through the snow to her car, Adele cocked an eyebrow at Frankie. “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?”

“We’re not enemies,” Frankie said.

“Oh. Frenemies.”

“Not even that. I like Elinor. I just don’t like her thinking she owns Mitch.”

“I hope, for your sake, she doesn’t,” Adele said. “See you later, daughter dear.”

Back at her house, Frankie got busy putting together her various food offerings—the mini quiches she bought at Costco every year, the bacon-wrapped dates and the meatballs in cranberry sauce, her brie cheese in puff pastry that Mitch liked so much...and wouldn’t be there to eat since he was still home sick. She took one of the frosted cookies she’d just set on a plate, a Santa-shaped one, and bit his head off.

“What are you so grumpy about?” she scolded herself. “If Mitch wants to watch TV with someone else, he can.”

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