Page 63 of The Merry Matchmaker

In a way, getting temporarily bumped from the Mrs. Claus position was a good thing for Frankie. It would give her more time to concentrate on overseeing a meet-cute between Stef and the daddy in need of rescuing. Things did have a way of working out.

Meanwhile, Frankie had Natalie to worry about. Jonathan still didn’t know if his job was safe, and more than once in the last couple of days, she’d caught Natalie texting on her phone and gnawing her lower lip.

Natalie would nod bravely in agreement when Frankie assured her that everything would be okay, but when you were in the middle of a storm, it was hard to imagine ever seeing a rainbow.

“That is the last of our Elf on the Shelf dolls,” Adele informed her Friday afternoon. Starr March had just left with one to replace the elf the family puppy had discovered and shredded. “I told you those were going to fly off the shelf.”

“Well, who knew?” said Frankie.

“Me,” said Adele.

“I’ll see if I can get in a few more,” Frankie promised. Her phone dinged with a text from Brock. She’d deal with him later. At the moment, she had a business to run.

In addition to begging her supplier for more elves, she had a conversation with her business acquaintance Samuel Morgan, who owned the Mountain High Candy Company. “We lost the head of our creative confections team, and I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he said.

Now, there was an unexpected gift for her daughter straight out of Santa’s sack. “What about Natalie? You know her creations have been a huge hit here at the store. We can’t keep them in stock. Every time I turn around, she’s coming up with a new flavor creation.”

“You wouldn’t mind me luring her away?”

“I don’t have a problem with that,” said Frankie. Of course, she’d miss having her daughter around, but the timing of this offer of a full-time job was perfect. It would mean a forty-minute commute from Carol, and they’d have to brainstorm childcare options for Warner, but still, it could be a good thing. If Natalie went to work for Mountain High, she’d earn a higher wage and have better benefits than Frankie was able to give her. “In fact, I think she’ll jump at the chance. She’s off today. Why don’t you give her a call?” Frankie suggested, and shared Natalie’s number.

“Thanks. I will,” he said.

“I think I’ve just solved Natalie and Jonathan’s money worries,” she happily announced to Adele after the call ended.

Adele stopped putting more of the nutcrackers out on their display table. “I didn’t know she’d asked you to solve them.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Frankie demanded.

“Just what it sounds like.”

“They’re worried about his job.”

“He hasn’t lost it yet. Honestly, daughter dear. If you spent as much time managing your own life as you did everyone else’s...” She let the sentence hang.

“What?”

“I’m not sure Natalie wants you running her life.”

“I’m not running her life. I’m just helping. And you’re a fine one to talk. You’re always giving me advice.”

“Advice is one thing. Meddling is another.” Adele pointed a finger at Frankie. “If you’re not careful, one of these days all your helping is really going to backfire.”

“That’s ridiculous,” said Frankie. “Everyone needs help.”

A bell over the door jingled, a stranger walked in, and that ended the conversation.

Fortunately, the customer had left by the time Natalie called and a new conversation began.

“What the heck, Mom?”

This didn’t bode well. “What’s wrong?” Frankie asked, even though she already knew. There could only be one thing wrong.

Adele was watching her with an eyebrow raised. Frankie turned her back.

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” Natalie demanded.

“No, of course not,” Frankie protested.

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