Page 64 of The Merry Matchmaker

“Then why are you pimping me out to Mountain High?”

Frankie lowered her voice. “I’m not pimping you out. I’m trying to help you. I know Jonathan’s been worried about his job.”

“Well, he’s not now. He just learned this morning that it’s safe. And even if it wasn’t, I don’t want a forty-minute commute to work, and I don’t want to work full-time.”

“But you love making candy,” Frankie protested. This was a great opportunity. Natalie should have been thanking her.

“Only small batches for gifts or for the shop. And I like working part-time. I thought you got that.”

“I do. I just thought you might like this better.”

“Well, I wouldn’t,” Natalie snapped. “I’ve gotta go.” And she did.

Frankie could feel her mother’s gaze burning into her.

“So much for Frankie Lane’s Employment Agency,” Adele observed.

Frankie turned and scowled at her. “Not funny, Mom.”

Adele instantly lost her snark and came over to give Frankie a one-shouldered hug. “I’m sorry. You mean well, I know. But I really think you should take a break from being so involved in other people’s lives. You have your hands full running your own life.”

“I was only trying to help,” Frankie muttered.

“No, darling. You were interfering. Help is something people ask for. I didn’t hear Natalie asking for yours.”

“This job would have been perfect for her,” Frankie insisted.

“And what was she supposed to do for after-school day care?”

“We could have worked out something.”

“What’s thiswestuff? Have you got a mouse in your pocket?”

“Come on, Mom. I would have pitched in and helped, and you know you would have, too.”

“If someone asked me. But nobody did. And nobody asked you, either. Get your own life sorted out, and that should keep you plenty busy.”

Stef read the text from Natalie.Lunch out? Please?

Oh, boy. What was going on? Had Jonathan’s position dried up?OK, she texted back.Salad Bowl at 1?

Yes!!!

“Okay, what’s going on?” Stef asked as soon as she and Natalie were seated.

“Mom,” Natalie said.

“I thought you were going to tell me that Jonathan lost his job.”

Natalie shook her head. “No, we’re good. He’s not going to be let go.”

“That’s a relief.”

Angie, their regular server, appeared with two glasses of water and a big smile. “How are you two doing today?” she asked.

Natalie didn’t look ready to give a cheery answer, so Stef answered for both of them. “We’re good,” she said. Any other answer could very well inspire Angie to sit right down at the table with them and offer a shrink session. Angie cared about her Holiday Happiness peeps. Much as Angie cared, Stef was sure Natalie wouldn’t want half the town hearing about what was bugging her.

“I assume you both want your usual mint tea with lemon?” Angie asked, and Stef nodded. “And how about some veggie soup?”

---