Free Paper Hearts by Courtney Walsh Page A

and her makeup looked professionally done. No wonder it bothered her so much that her daughter hadn’t married yet   —appearances were everything in Teensy’s world.
    In fact, when her husband left her, Teensy made a point of going to the grocery store in her Sunday clothes just to prove to everyone she was fine. Gigi knew better, of course. They all knewbetter. Teensy’s light went off that day, and she hadn’t been the same since.
    Her husband’s desertion had made a lifetime of difference to Teensy and, it would seem, to at least one of her children.
    “I thought she’d never leave,” Abigail’s mother said.
    “It’s a good thing you drove over with Doris, or she would’ve seen your car,” Tess said, crunching one of her tooth-breaking cookies.
    Teensy took Abigail’s spot on the sofa and clapped her hands in front of her. “This is wonderful news, don’t you think?”
    They all stared at Teensy, confusion on every face.
    “Don’t you see? She’ll finally be rid of that dreadful business. It’ll force her to start evaluating other aspects of her life.” Teensy reached toward the tray of cookies and caught Gigi’s eye. The slight shake of her head was enough to communicate that it wasn’t a good idea, and Teensy retreated.
    Tess frowned and started to speak, but Gigi jumped in before she could say anything. “I don’t think you understand how much that business means to her, Teensy.”
    Teensy waved her perfectly manicured red fingers in the air. “She doesn’t know what she wants. She’s just a child.”
    Ursula leaned forward in her chair. Gigi knew that look. It was the put-her-in-her-place look, and it wouldn’t go over well. These two women had butted heads before, and Gigi still hadn’t decided which one was more stubborn.
    “You have no idea what you’re talking about, Teensy,” Ursula said. “She is not a child, and that store is all she has.”
    Teensy turned to Ursula. “Exactly my point. She needs to branch out and see what else is out there. She needs to get married. Start a family. It’s what she’s always wanted.”
    Doris’s head began moving back and forth, as if the woman were having a conversation in her head. “I don’t think that’s true, Teensy. I think she wants her store to succeed.”
    Teensy’s lips drew into a tight line. “I didn’t ask you all to evaluate my daughter. I asked you to find her a husband. I came to you because I mistakenly thought you were the best.” She gave Gigi a pointed look. “But maybe you’ve lost your touch.”
    “Teensy, evaluating Abigail is part of the process,” Gigi said. “Girls?”
    Ursula pulled the manila folder from her purse and Tess retrieved the large bulletin board from the other room. They’d barely stashed the evidence away when Abigail arrived.
    “Your daughter will be one of our toughest cases yet,” Gigi said.
    “Is she that unlovable?” Teensy opened the folder.
    “Not at all. Just that wounded.” Gigi reached across the table, opened the folder, and flipped to a photo of Abigail and her former boyfriend   —a Loves Park native named Jeremy who had dumped her and married Lynn St. James after dating her for only two months. To add insult to injury, the young couple wasted no time starting a family and had since produced three blond babies.
    Teensy turned another photo over and gasped. “Where’d you get this?” She picked up the faded square photo of Abigail and her father.
    “Oh, I found that in the church archives,” Doris said. “We evaluate every aspect of a subject’s life, Teensy.”
    “This isn’t relevant.” She tore the photo in half. “ He isn’t relevant.”
    A notable stillness passed through the room. Gigi knew Teensy still held a grudge, but she hadn’t realized how big it was.
    “You want to know why your daughter is still single, don’t you?” Ursula’s usually gruff voice sounded almost kind.
    Teensy’s eyes filled with tears. “ He is not the reason Abigail