A Match Made in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad

mother needed her.
    â€œBut you don’t even date,” her mother said as she pulled her own tissue out of the pocket of her housedress.
    â€œI do so date,” Doris June said, relieved that one ofthem had a pocket. “Remember that guy—Bob—I told you about him. I dated him.”
    â€œThat was years ago.”
    â€œOh.” Doris June tried to remember. Had it been that long? “Well, maybe I don’t date every man I meet, but I do fine. I’m fine with dating. I could go out tomorrow if I wanted. Well, maybe not tomorrow since I’m here, but if I was back in Anchorage, it could be anytime. I’m fine with dating.”
    Doris June breathed much easier now that there were no new tears in her mother’s eyes. And she was telling the truth. She could date that new weatherman if she wanted. All she would need to do would be to pay the bill for both of them. Which would be fair enough since she was older than him. It would still count as a date, though, wouldn’t it? Men paid on dates all the time; a woman could pay, too.
    Mrs. Hargrove put her tissue back in her pocket. “So you won’t mind if I invite the Nelsons to dinner tomorrow?”
    â€œWhat?” Doris June looked at her mother. Where had that come from?
    â€œOf course, it would be easier than going on a date for you,” her mother said calmly. “Just the Nelson family. You’ve known them for years.”
    â€œYou mean Charley? And his grandson?”
    Her mother nodded. “And Curt, of course.”
    â€œBut Curt? Won’t he be busy?”
    â€œCharley might have an opinion about the carpet,” Mrs. Hargrove offered just as though nothing had been said about Curt.
    Doris June nodded. She supposed everyone would have an opinion. If not about the carpet, then about her dating life—or lack thereof.
    â€œAnd it’ll give us a chance to wear our new dresses,” Mrs. Hargrove added cheerfully. “You said you got me a couple—and one for yourself, too.”
    Doris June nodded. She didn’t know why she had bought a dress for herself when she picked up the two for her mother. Maybe she thought it wasn’t fair to let her mother make a fool of herself alone.
    â€œWell, I can’t wait to see us all dressed up.”
    Doris June didn’t say it, but she was quite happy to wait. She could have waited for this dinner for the rest of her life. It wasn’t that she was a coward exactly. Well, not totally a coward. There were some very good reasons not to have the Nelsons to dinner and none of them had to do with her dating anyone.
    â€œCurt won’t come,” she said with relief. “He’ll be working late plowing. It’s his busy time of the year. Spring.”
    â€œMaybe I should make lasagna,” her mother said. “It’s his favorite.”
    Of course, Doris June thought to herself. Her mother would have to lure Curt here. Still, there were ways. “I haven’t had liver and onions for a long time. Isn’t thatCharley’s favorite? I could drive you to Billings tomorrow if you wanted to get some.”
    â€œMy car hasn’t been working so good.”
    Doris June didn’t wonder at that. Her mother had driven the same car since the seventies; it was bound to die at some point.
    â€œI’ll talk to Linda,” Doris June said. “She might have some frozen liver at the café. Or maybe she’s going in for supplies and could get some fresh for us.”
    â€œYou really think I should make liver and onions instead of lasagna?”
    Doris June nodded. “Curt can buy that frozen lasagna anytime he wants from the grocery store. I bet they eat that once or twice a week. But liver and onions. Where can Charley get that like only you can make it? Besides, it’s good to let Charley know you’re thinking of him.”
    In the brochures Doris June had read, it said seniors needed to know