AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Merry Christmas,” Frankie greeted her.
“It is!” Elinor replied, and hustled to the back room to shed her coat and stow her lunch.
Adele and Natalie came in right on her heels, each also in a happy Christmas spirit. “I’m glad we’re closing early,” Natalie said. “Santa still has a lot to do between now and tomorrow. Don’t worry, I’m still bringing cherry coffee cake to Christmas brunch,” she said to Adele.
Adele grinned. “Good, because I’m too busy to bake.”
“Yes, and we know who you’re busy with,” Frankie teased. “You are bringing Mario to my open house tonight, right?”
“Of course,” said Adele, and followed Natalie to the back room to dispose of her coat and gloves.
Elinor passed them on her way back to the counter. This was the perfect time to have a little chat.
“You’re looking happy,” Frankie began.
“I am,” Elinor said. “I can’t thank you enough for helping me...find myself.”
There were a couple parts Frankie preferred to see get lost, like the one that was glomming on to Mitch.
Their conversation was interrupted by William Sharp walking in, bearing a blended drink. “I know you love peppermint,” he said as he offered it to Elinor, who blushed and thanked him.
Frankie got busy somewhere else, giving him time to impress Elinor while she was under the influence of peppermint. There was still no one in the store, so she drifted toward the back to inspect the train display she’d set up to replace the one that Griff’s sister had bought.
“Don’t go up front,” she whispered to Adele and Natalie, who were ready for duty.
“Why not? And why are we whispering?” Adele asked.
“William’s with Elinor,” Frankie explained.
Her daughter nodded her understanding.
Adele looked skeptical. “I think that Christmas ship has sailed. She doesn’t want him.”
“Why not?” Natalie wanted to know.
“Because she’s fallen for Mitch,” Adele explained, which made Frankie frown.
“You know he’s not right for her,” Frankie insisted.
Adele said nothing, just wandered off to another corner of the shop. The bell over the door rang, and Natalie went to see if their new customer needed help. Frankie edged closer to the cash register to eavesdrop.
There was nothing to hear. William had already left. This was not good.
She returned to stand next to Elinor as if ready to work the twin cash register. “William is such a nice man,” she said, gesturing to the blended drink sitting on the counter.
“He is,” Elinor agreed. Pleasantly but not enthusiastically.
“Whoever ends up with him is going to be one lucky woman,” Frankie added.
“I hope he finds someone,” said Elinor. “I want everyone to be as happy as I am. Mitch is so wonderful, and I’m the luckiest woman in the world, and I owe it all to you,” she gushed. “I’d never have...done anything if you hadn’t encouraged me.”
No way had Frankie encouraged Elinor to glue herself to Mitch.
“He’s the sweetest, most handsome man in all of Carol,” Elinor continued. “We had such a good time at the Santa pub crawl.”
Where you monopolized him.Frankie could feel the anger swelling inside her. She was turning into the Incredible Hulk.
“And things have been getting better ever since. I took Mitch brownies on Sunday, and we watched TV.”
