Page 62 of The Merry Matchmaker

“We have just the one. It’s back here,” Frankie said, and led her to where a little engine pulled several cars on a track around a small Christmas tree. She had set up a village for it, complete with lampposts, a church, a store and some houses.

“Oh, that is cute. I think my nephew would love it,” said the woman. “It’s not on par with getting a mommy for Christmas, but it will have to do.”

“No mommy? That’s so sad,” Frankie said.

The woman’s face clouded over, and she shrugged. “She was way too young.”

“Cancer?” guessed Frankie.

The woman shook her head. “Aneurysm. It was a shock to all of us.”

“I can imagine,” Frankie said, remembering the shock of losing Ike so suddenly. “It’s hard to keep going after a loss like that.”

“I wish my brother would find someone. He’s a good man, and he deserves to be happy.”

The wheels began to turn. “Maybe he needs to ask Santa to bring him someone fun for Christmas.” Like Stef.

“I don’t think he and Santa are on speaking terms at the moment. His son wrote a letter to Santa, and my brother got it taken off theClarion’s page.”

The pieces clicked together. This was the angry dad Stef had talked about. “My sister does that page. That’s her, at the front of the store. She’s interviewing one of my employees.”

“I hope my brother didn’t get her in trouble,” said the woman.

“He might have. He probably feels badly about it. Might want to apologize,” Frankie suggested. Like in a cute holiday movie. She could already see the scene playing out.

“He should,” said the woman.

“Maybe you and your brother should bring your nephew to see Santa at the Santa Walk. Stef will be there, taking pictures for the paper. Did I mention she’s single?”

“Really?” A speculative smile bloomed on the woman’s face.

“You never know who you might meet at the Santa Walk,” said Frankie.

“You’re right. You never know,” the woman said, and they shared a conspiratorial smile.

Stef had left for other shops by the time their conversation was done. Maybe it was just as well, Frankie decided as she boxed up the train set for the woman. Stef might balk at meeting Mr. Grinch. And that would be a shame because Frankie had a good feeling about this.

Getting Elinor set up to be Mrs. Claus, possibly finding a man for Stef—all in a day’s work for Santa Frankie.

10

By the time Mitch dropped into the shop to pick up the collectibleDepartment 56 Snowbaby he’d ordered for his mom, Frankie had a Vote for Elinor poster in the shop window.

“Looks like you found a perfect candidate for Mrs. Claus,” he said to Frankie as she rang up his sale.

Elinor, working the second register, blushed and beamed.

“I’ll vote for you, Elinor. You up for spending the day with me?” he asked.

“Oh, yes,” she said, and the blush spread down her neck.

“We’re going to stuff the ballot box,” said Frankie.

“Thank you for doing this for me,” Elinor said to her after Mitch and their latest wave of customers had left.

Frankie shrugged off her thanks. “Like Mitch said, you’ll be perfect for the job. You’re sweet and kind, and you’ll make an adorable Mrs. Claus.”

She was also shy, as Stef had pointed out, but really, the main focus at the event was Santa. Elinor would be fine.

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