Marrying Maddy by Kasey Michaels

the family kitchen, whipping up a cake or something. Whatever it is, she isn’t using the electric mixer, and I sort of feel sorry for the spoon she is using. Congratulations, Allie. You really did it this time.”
    Almira patted the front of her dress as she turned, admiring her reflection in the mirror. “Yes, I did, didn’t I. Sometimes I even amaze myself.”
    Jessie had come to her grandmother’s room to scold her. But how did you scold a woman like this?
    â€œYou’re incorrigible. I don’t think it would be a good idea if you were to look quite so pleased with yourself the next time you see Maddy. She’s really upset, and I don’t blame her one bit.”
    â€œOf course she’s upset,” Almira said, waving Jessie out of the pink-and-white chintz chair, so she could sit down. She inspected her cherry-red fingernails, frowned when she saw a small chip in one nail. “You didn’t really think she’d be thrilled, did you, darling? People hardly ever are when you’re doing them a favor.”
    â€œA favor,” Jessie echoed, shaking her head. “Allie, you sicced her old boyfriend—fiancé, whatever you want to call him—on your youngest granddaughter only a few days before her wedding to someone else. You called him, you told him what he should do—I still can’t believe you actually got him to buy the Harris house—and now Maddy is going to look across the hedges at Joe O’Malley’s house as she walks down the garden steps to marry Matt.”
    Jessie took one small step back, her words fully sinking into her own head. “You don’t really think she’s going to marry Matt now, do you, Allie? Why? I thought you liked him.”
    â€œI do like him, Jessie. Everyone likes Matt Garvey. What’s not to like? You like him, don’t you?”
    Jessie spread her hands, turned and walked away from her grandmother. “Oh, no. No, no, no. We’re not going to go there, Allie.” She turned back, glared at Almira. “Are we?” she ended, the question more of a threat.
    â€œWho? Me? Of course not, darling. I don’t meddle, you know that.”
    â€œYou don’t—you don’t meddle? Oh, that’s a riot, Allie, a real riot. Okay, what do you call what you’ve done to my poor baby sister?”
    Almira twisted the two carat diamond on the third finger of her left hand, straightening it on her finger. “I call it common sense, my dear. And do you know what? If I were all plump and gray-haired and smelled like fresh-baked gingerbread, you’d just say I was being a silly, sentimental old matchmaker. Why, you’d probably think I was cute as a button. Dear old Gran. Matchmaking again. Isn’t that sweet?”
    She ran her hands down each side of her trim waist and hips as she stood up once more, patted her upswept hair. “Perhaps I should have let myself go to seed. I’d certainly find more sympathy from my ungrateful family.”
    Jessie stared at her grandmother, her mouth slightly open as she listened to this nonsense. “You’re evil, do you know that, Allie? You’re positively evil. ”
    Almira smiled, patted Jessie’s cheek. “Flattery will get you nowhere, darling. Now, let’s go see Maddy, all right? Last thing the girl needs right now is to be abandoned by those who love her.”
    â€œAbandoned? You threw her to the wolves,” Jessie said, chasing after Almira, who could probably outpower-walk most of the citizens of Allentown.
    â€œOh, don’t be so dramatic, Jessie, it isn’t like you. It was just one wolf,” Almira said as she headed down the wide sweep of stairs. “And I’ve given her a choice, that’s all. You know the stateMaddy was in when she came back to us eighteen months ago. No closure, no real settlement in her mind. And don’t forget the hives. You know, rather like the ones