Free Paper Hearts by Courtney Walsh Page B

hasn’t found a husband.”
    “No, Teensy,” Gigi replied quietly. “You are.”
    Teensy’s face flashed anger. “Gigi Monroe, how dare you?”
    Gigi had a long history with Abigail’s mother. She knew the woman was difficult the day Teensy quit the Volunteers. It was only a week after her husband walked out, and she’d given a ludicrous excuse about having too many other commitments.
    And now her anger had turned her into an obsessed mother who’d practically driven her daughter away from the one thing Teensy most wanted for her.
    “I’m not trying to be unkind,” Gigi said. “But maybe it’s time to move on.”
    Teensy’s jaw locked in defiance. “We’re not talking about me, Gigi.”
    Gigi could see it was pointless to try to convince the other woman that she needed to let go of a grudge that was so many years old. “You did hire us. Stop signing her up for those terrible dating sites and let us do our job.”
    Flustered, Teensy picked up her purse and hugged it to her chest. “I did not come here to be insulted.”
    “We’re not insulting you, Teensy, just asking you to give us space to do what we do,” Gigi said. “For Abigail.”
    Teensy pressed her lips together and fidgeted for several long seconds. Finally she stood. “Fine. I’ll leave you. But I’m telling you one last time   —” she directed this at Ursula   —“saving the store is not your priority. Saving my daughter is.”
    Evelyn   —saint that she was   —volunteered to drive Teensy home. Once they’d gone, the others sat in silence for a few long moments before resuming their conversation about Abigail Pressman, great-great-granddaughter of Loves Park’s founders and the least likely to get married.
    “This poor girl,” Gigi said, examining Abigail’s photo.
    “Let’s discuss what she has going for her,” Doris said. “I always like when we compare and contrast. Makes me feel like a judge on one of those competition reality shows.”
    Ursula rolled her eyes. “You’re no Heidi Klum, Doris.”
    Doris scowled.
    Gigi stuck Abigail’s photo on the bulletin board and took a step back. “She’s quite pretty, in a sweet way.”
    “She does have wonderful hair,” Tess said. “And she’s a little quirky but always looks very put together.”
    “She has a good heart,” Doris said. “And she knows every single one of her customers by name.”
    “She’s weak,” Ursula said.
    “We’re doing the pros, Ursula. Say something nice.” Doris sipped her drink and stared at the other woman, waiting.
    Ursula said nothing.
    “She’s quite smart,” Tess offered, a fact no one could argue. “But she doesn’t think she wants to get married.”
    “Because she wants to be a successful businesswoman.” Ursula’s tone was like an audible eye roll.
    Gigi squared off with her old friend. “Ursula, she is a successful businesswoman. Not everyone does business like they’re part of the Mafia.”
    Ursula stared at her. “I resent that, Gigi.”
    “You know what I mean. Just because she’s different doesn’t mean she’s not successful. This girl has a lot going for her, but I don’t know anyone offhand who would be a good match for her.”
    Gigi had combed through their files of eligible bachelors and come up empty.
    “She said the doctor was handsome,” Ursula said.
    Doris gasped. “The evil doctor who is trying to take over her building?”
    “He’s not evil,” Tess said. “And he is quite handsome. I saw him the other day.”
    “I don’t think he is right for Abigail,” Gigi said matter-of-factly.
    Ursula frowned. “Let’s find out.”
    Gigi turned to her. She’d known Ursula since they were kids, and she knew there was little she could do to sway the old bat onceher mind was made up. But in this case, for Abigail’s sake, she had to try. “That is a very bad idea.”
    “He’s handsome. Successful. And if he is a good match, he’ll never kick her out of that building. Isn’t that the goal