Page 71 of The Merry Matchmaker

“You’re a fine one to talk,” said Frankie.

“I know. I’m a slow learner. But don’t be like me. Don’t wear your widowhood like armor for the rest of your life. You’re still young. You have a lot of years ahead of you. There’s plenty of time for you to enjoy a second helping of love.”

“I’m fine, Mom,” Frankie insisted. “And now, with another grandbaby on the way, I couldn’t be happier.”

Adele chuckled and kissed her cheek. “One can always be happier. Call Mitch and watch a cop movie. See you tomorrow.”

Frankie watched as her mother drove away. Adele had lost Dad way too early and always blamed their age difference. “Marry a younger man,” she’d advised both her daughters. “They last longer.”

But that wasn’t true. Anything could snatch away the one you loved.

Instead of going to her car, she did an about-face and walked to Handy’s Hardware. Mitch had already strung lights along her roofline for her, but now she decided she needed more. Lights around the windows. Lights on the rhododendrons sitting in front of the house. Lights. Lots of lights.

He was leaving as she walked in. “Here to see Brock?” he asked.

“No.” She sounded slightly snotty and wasn’t even sure why. Maybe because his question had come out sounding like some sort of taunt. “That’s not going to work out.” He opened his mouth to speak but she cut him off. “And don’t say ‘I told you so.’”

He shrugged.

“I’m here to get some more Christmas lights.”

“Hoping to start a brownout?” he teased.

“I’m going to put up lights on my windows.”

“I can help you with that,” he offered. It was so very Mitch. Always ready to help. “We can do it tonight if you want.”

She realized that was exactly what she wanted. Back hanging out with Mitch, putting up more Christmas lights—all was right with the world again.

“Okay,” she said.

“Pizza afterward?” he suggested.

“Pizza afterward. You get the lights, and I’ll get the pizza and beer.”

And just like that, she had something to do.

It felt companionable and right as they stood in front of her house, her feeding him the string of lights, him securing them.

The fresh snow that had been promised started to fall just as they finished draping the bushes. She turned on her roof lights as well, then stood on her front walk and took a picture with her phone.

“This might be my next year’s Christmas card,” she said, showing him the photo.

“Wait and get your family over, then it will be perfect.”

“We’ll have more family to include next year,” she told him as they walked back inside the house. “Natalie and Jonathan are pregnant, and I’ll have another grandbaby come August.”

He smiled. “Nothing like kids to make life great.”

Such a different attitude from Brock, who claimed not to want any. How could she ever have even contemplated being with a man who didn’t enjoy children?

She put the take-and-bake pizza she’d bought in the oven, and they got out the beer.

“Here’s to the new family member,” Mitch said. He held out his beer, and they clinked bottles. “Next year’s gonna be a good year.”

“Every year’s a good year when you have great family and friends,” she said. “I’m glad you’re mine.”

She thought he’d say,Same here, but he only smiled and took a slug of beer.

---