“Yeah, probably not,” Joanna said with a titter as she opened the front door. “I’m really sorry I couldn’t help you.”

“Don’t give it another thought, Joanna. I’m sure by Monday, Fran will have a long list of possibilities.”

***

On Monday morning, as she finished the remainder of her third cup of coffee, Fran sighed as she read through the e-mails she had received over the weekend. After opening up an anonymous e-mail account, she had advertised on several dating websites, and the responses had left a lot to be desired. Contemplating whether her stomach could handle another cup of French Roast, she was saved by someone tapping on her door frame.

“You have a minute?”

Looking up, Fran smiled. “Of course. What do you need?”

Walking in, Millie sat down and crossed her legs at the ankles. Folding her hands in her lap, she pursed her lips as she thought about the words she wanted to say. “I know a young woman who’s having a hard time making ends meet.”

“Okay?” Fran said, staring back at Millie.

“She’s always struck me to be quite an honest person. She attends church regularly and loves her father, and works morning and night to make sure he’s taken care of. He’s been ill for quite some time, so she’s their only source of income.”

Clueless as to why Millie felt that she needed to know this information, Fran said again, “Okay?”

“I ran into her on Friday night, and it seems she’s working three jobs now. She looks awfully tired for someone so young, and I thought…well, I thought perhaps—”

“Say no more,” Fran interrupted, opening the bottom drawer of her desk. Pulling out her purse, she asked, “How much did you need?”

“What?”

“I’m assuming you’re taking up a collection for this woman. Yes?”

“No, of course not, and Joanna wouldn’t accept if I did. She’s much too proud for that.”

Fran’s eyebrows knitted. “Millie, excuse me for being blunt, but I’m up to my eyeballs reading messages from women looking for their soul mate. If you don’t want a donation for this...this overworked friend of yours, then I really need to get back to work.”

“What about Joanna?”

“You just said she wouldn’t take a handout!”

Millie looked toward the heavens, let out a slow breath, and very clearly enunciated the next five words she spoke. “What about Joanna for Addison?”

It took a moment for Millie’s words to sink in, and when they did, Fran’s backbone straightened. “What did you just say?”

“You heard me.”

“Did you ask her?”

“I mentioned it on Saturday night when I went for a visit.”

Fran leaned forward in her chair. “And?”

“Well, as you can imagine, she was quite stunned at the idea, and initially, she told me she wasn’t interested.”

“Initially?”

“Yes, initially.”