Everything about thirty-five-year-old Stone Acres hardware store owner Frank McCord is old-fashioned -- from his bow tie and overalls to the way he happily makes house calls. He dreams of lasting romance, true love, and marriage. Frank’s ancestors have run the store and been mainstays in the small California town for over a century. While genial Frank upholds tradition and earns the respect of friends and neighbors, he fears he’s too dull and old to attract a husband. Maybe it’s time to break out of his mold. Then handsome thirty-six-year-old electronic games designer Christopher Darling and his fifteen-year-old son, Henry, come into his life. Christopher has everything Frank could want in a potential partner: charm, kindness, and compatibility. Also, he’s a terrific father to Henry. When their Stone Acres home turns out to be uninhabitable, Frank offers the Darlings temporary lodging in his ancestral farmhouse, where he and his tenant Emil reside. Since Emil thinks Frank is his, sparks fly. Suddenly, Frank’s monotonous life promises to explode with love and change him forever.

Frank at Heart

“We’re good, Frank? Really good? I love you, and you love me? We’re okay again?”


Christopher sounded so relieved that I smiled and nodded. We were back on course.


“Wait! Wait!” I took a breath. This was important. “Promise me one thing. Please.”


“Talk to me. Whatever happens. Talk to me. Tell me everything. I promise I’ll do the same for you. Let’s never have another problem like this. Ever.”


“I promise, Frank. Never again. We will always communicate, no matter what.” His face became still as he thought. “Not being honest and not talking has killed every relationship I’ve had and every failed relationship I have known about. I don’t want it to end what’s between us.”


Carefully and deliberately, he got up, came around, and kissed me in front of everyone.


I gave a sigh of relief. We would be okay now.


“Wait here, Frank. I’ll be right back.”


Chapter 36