Page 95 of The Merry Matchmaker

“I can handle things here on my own for a while if you want to go on over and see how Elinor and Mitch are doing later,” Adele said, and Frankie decided that would be a good idea. They’d get some shoppers after the parade, but many would be standing in line with their children to see Santa or checking out the artisan vendors and food booths in the town square, so Adele should be able to handle things.

The parade wouldn’t start until eleven, but by ten in the morning, when the shop officially opened, people were already setting up camp chairs along the parade route and dropping into shops to take advantage of bargains and enjoy the various treats shop owners were offering. Snow was predicted for later, but for the moment it was holding off, hiding in a gray sky and merely breathing down cold drafts to keep everyone stamping feet and clapping mittened hands to stay warm.

“Hot cider, just what we need,” said one shopper as she and a friend entered the shop.

“And bargains,” added her friend.

“We’ve got both,” Frankie assured them as a young couple wandered in, both ready for the cold in their parkas, jeans and boots. He wore a Santa hat, and she had on a plush brown reindeer one.

Chatting with them, Frankie learned they were newly engaged and wanted to buy something special to commemorate their first official Christmas. Frankie had the perfect ornament for them, a rustic wood circle with Our First Christmascarved into it, along with two connected hearts.

“Perfect,” said the woman, and smiled at her man.

Watching them brought back the memory of Frankie and Ike decorating their first tree. Adele, who was into the Precious Moments brand, had bought them a first Christmas ornament that they’d proudly hung on the tree, right next to the personalized one his mother had sent them with their wedding picture on it. After they’d decorated the tree, they’d started Christmas music playing and made love under it. They’d also made Natalie that night.

Other customers were coming in, and there was no time left to hang out on Memory Lane. Frankie rang up the couple’s purchase, wished them a Merry Christmas and then got busy helping the next person in line.

The hour before the parade went faster than a reindeer on speed, and before Frankie knew it, Viola was at the store, informing her she was going to miss seeing Santa if she didn’t get outside.

Frankie could hear the Carol High School marching band playing “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” as she and Viola squeezed into the crowd.

There they marched, in all their red uniformed glory, almost in tune. Behind them came the drill team, in black leggings and boots and red sweaters, Santa hats perched on their heads. They were followed by the local dance school, which had a gaggle of sugar plum fairies and little lords a’leaping.

Grandma’s Tree Farm had a truck decked out for the holidays with a giant decorated tree in the truck bed, surrounded by elves tossing out candy for the kids.

The nearby equestrian riding school followed, the pooper scoopers walking behind with their shovels. Actors from the community theater, who had been performingA Christmas Carol, were walking behind them, with Bob Cratchit holding Tiny Tim’s hand as the boy limped along beside him. They were followed by a scowling Scrooge and other Dickensian characters.

The police and fire department were out in force, the firefighters waving and throwing candy—more sugar overload for every child in town—while the police looked properly serious. Except on seeing Viola, Terrill grinned and waved as his wife jumped up and down and blew him kisses.

Two floats from neighboring towns lumbered by with their local princesses waving white gloved hands at everyone, then came the main attraction—Santa and Mrs. Claus in their sleigh.

Even that scraggly white beard and the padding couldn’t hide the fact that Mitch was a handsome man, and Frankie’s heart gave an appreciative flutter as he waved in her direction. Elinor made a cute Mrs. Claus in her red cape worn over her Mrs. Santa outfit that Frankie had loaned her. She, too, should have been waving, but instead she was snuggled up against Mitch with her arms threaded through one of his.

“Wave,” Frankie called to her.

Elinor probably hadn’t heard because she stayed glued to Santa.

Frankie’s mouth dipped down at the corners. What was Elinor doing, for crying out loud? And why was Mitch letting her do it?

“They’re sure cozy,” Viola observed as Mitch smiled at Elinor.

Frankie’s frown embedded itself more deeply.

“I thought you said she was into William Sharp,” Viola continued.

“She should be,” said Frankie. All those times he’d been coming into the store, all those cozy conversations. What had that been about?

“It doesn’t look like it.”

It sure didn’t.

“You did want Mitch to find someone,” Viola reminded her, and Frankie forced her lips into a smile.

“I did,” she said. “But...”

“But what?”

“Elinor’s not right for Mitch.” That was the problem. There was no jealousy here. Frankie could feel Viola’s assessing gaze on her. “What?”

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