“That are age appropriate? Four,” Gwen said.
“Do we have to limit the search to this town?” Madge leaned forward. “I think we should include Malvern and Hot Springs.”
Peg shook her head. “Those cities are too big. How are we going to narrow down the suitable suitors?”
“I know!” Gwen held up one finger. “We open an account on Singles, Inc.”
“Yes!” Bea said. “We can create a profile for Olivia and find her true love.”
Erma looked at Myrtle, who shrugged and said, “We’re outnumbered.”
“I can see that.” Although her friends had good intentions, this scheme portended disaster. “I still think this is a bad idea,” she said above the din.
“Me too,” Myrtle added, then muttered, “For what it’s worth.”
Bea clasped her hands together. “This is so exciting! I can’t wait for her to start her quest for love.”
“We won’t let her down.” Gwen nodded solemnly.
“I know you won’t.” Bea smiled, but it soon faded. “By the way, does anyone know how to use Singles, Inc.?”
Peg shook her head. “I don’t even have Facebook.” The rest of the conspirators stayed silent.
“I can figure it out,” Madge offered. “I’ve never used a dating site, but it can’t be that hard.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Erma piped up.
Myrtle’s penciled-in brows lifted. “You will?”
“Absolutely. I am the most computer savvy out of all of us, besides Madge.”
Madge lifted her hand. “I don’t mind doing it—”
“But you’re so busy with your new interior-design business,” Erma said. “You need to focus on that, sugar.”
Madge hesitated, then nodded. “I am working on building up my client list.”
“What made you change your mind?” Bea asked Erma.
I’m trying to save y’all from yourselves.But she couldn’t say that, not without her friends’ noses getting bumped outof shape, not to mention Bea eating the rest of the peanut clusters in response. “I care about Olivia too. And since I have experience in this area”—unfortunately—“I’ll get the ball rolling.”
“Let us know if you need any help,” Gwen offered, and everyone else nodded in agreement.
“I will. But I’m sure I can manage.”
The rest of the evening they worked on their various crochet and knitting projects and discussed the latest Maple Falls scuttlebutt, which was rather lean this week. Erma wasn’t sure whether Riley and Hayden were ready to announce his intention to run for mayor—and hopefully beat the pants off that cretinous Mayor Quickel—so she couldn’t mention that. Fortunately, Olivia wasn’t brought up again until after everyone except Myrtle had left.
“All right, Erma Jean.” Myrtle put her fists on either side of the waistband of her fuchsia pedal pushers. “What are you up to?”
Erma sighed and wiped down the coffee table. “I’m not sure. I just had to do something to save poor Olivia.” She straightened. “Can you imagine the men they’d find on Singles, Inc.?”
“I’d rather not.” Myrtle dropped her hands and repositioned the easy chair near the couch. “But what about Bea? She really thinks Olivia needs a husband.”
“I know. I’ll figure something out eventually. If I lollygag long enough, maybe Bea will get that ridiculous notion out of her mind and let Olivia figure out her own dating life.”
“OrBea might go on Singles, Inc., herself.”
“She’ll never keep track of her password.”
