The Matchmaker Bride

by Ginny Baird

  “Yeah, but I came the back way.”

  Derrick rubbed his chin. “There is a lady down the road selling lemonade.”

  “A lady? Not kids?”

  “Why not? It’s her business. Besides that, it’s hot here.”

  “Not like it is in Boston,” she said.

  Derrick tilted his head at the challenge. “It’s getting warmer.”

  She scoffed. “It’s only June, Derrick. In Maine.”

  He tried not to notice that sexy mole by the side of her mouth, but his eyes kept straying to her very kissable lips. The only mouth he needed to contemplate now was Olivia’s. Assuming he even wanted to win her back. He hadn’t decided yet.

  She flipped back her hair and seemed to collect herself. If she’d noticed that niggle of attraction in which he’d momentarily lost himself, she’d decided to ignore it. All well and good. Better for them to focus on their deal.

  “We need to work on our plan,” she said, reiterating his thoughts.

  “Great idea,” he said. “We can do that at dinner. I was thinking I might go rowing for a bit first. I mean, if that’s okay with you?”

  “Oh sure, fine,” she agreed. “That will give me a minute to touch base with Beth and get her started on her detective work in tracking down Olivia.”

  Derrick frowned. “You won’t contact her yet?” He wanted to be 100 percent onboard with this before moving forward. And now, he was at about, oh, sixty-five.

  “Not until you and I have all the details worked out, and you agree.” She perused the living area, seeing a router on a shelf below the wide-screen TV, its green light blinking. “Mind if I log onto your internet?”

  “Go right ahead.” He pointed at the refrigerator, which was covered with colorful fish-shaped magnets holding photos and notes of various kinds, including his shopping list. “Check on the back of the pic of me with William and Brent. Username and password are there.”

  “Super. Thanks.” She settled in at the kitchen table with her laptop and looked up. “A few quick things before I reach out to Beth?”

  “Sure.”

  “Olivia’s last name?”

  “Collins.”

  “How long were you married?”

  “Less than a year.”

  If she was shocked, she didn’t show it. All businesslike. “Still in college?”

  “Part of that time. We eloped to Vegas our senior year.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Wow. Bet your family loved that.”

  “Yeah, well.” He shifted on his feet. “Not really.”

  She bit her bottom lip. “Sorry, shouldn’t have—”

  “It’s all right. Most of my family loved her, Sofia especially.”

  “Sofia? Really?” Meredith latched onto that. “Interesting.”

  “Yeah, Olivia interned for her and Sally at their law office, and she and Olivia got to be friends.”

  “Good information.” Meredith was typing rapidly, apparently taking notes. “So she was prelaw at school?”

  “No, a commerce major.”

  “You?”

  “French.”

  Her eyebrows arched. “Seriously?”

  “Oh oui, mon petit Mer,” he said with a joking lilt.

  She thought on this a moment. “You’re lying, aren’t you?”

  Derrick chuckled, not minding being called out. “Of course I’m lying. It was Latin. Classics, technically.”

  “Wow. Impressive. I only speak Spanish because we spoke it around the house when I was growing up.”

  “Bet you would have been great at classics, too.”

  “Thanks,” she said, but she looked doubtful.

  “That it?” he asked.

  She seemed to be thinking about something. She scanned back through her notes. “Law office, hmm. So she and Sally were close, too, then?”

  “Uh. Not exactly. There was no love lost there.”

  “Oh? Why’s that?”

  “No idea.”

  “Did Olivia go into law?”

  “Last I heard she was studying for the bar, so I’m guessing yes.”

  “Where did you meet her?”

  Derrick grabbed his sunglasses and his hat, hoping this interview was almost over. While he got that it was somewhat necessary, it was strangely uncomfortable sharing all these facts about his ex-wife with Meredith. Although he didn’t know why. She was only doing her job. In getting me back together with Olivia, he reminded himself. Weird.

  “Coffee bar at college. I worked there.”

  “You worked?”

  “We Albrights pull our own weight.” He balked at the assumption he wouldn’t. Then again, coming from a wealthy family he’d encountered that bias before.

  “Oh, sorry. Didn’t mean…”

  “That’s okay.” He met her eyes. “Bet you did, too.”

  “Scholarship girl, yep.” She beamed at him and her well-earned pride was alluring. He’d always admired people who took care of themselves and Meredith was clearly like that, so maybe they could find some common ground while working together. And if they were on common ground, maybe they wouldn’t get on each other’s nerves—that much.

  “What was your major?” he asked her, suddenly curious.

  “Communications.”

  “As in?”

  “Media and such.”

  “Figures.”

  She smirked. “At least my training was relevant.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You use classics in boatbuilding?”

  He set his chin. “Actually, I do.” The truth was he didn’t, but then lots of people held jobs that didn’t have to do with their college majors.

  “Oh nice,” she said. “How so?”

  “Ahh…” He thought fast. “There’s something very poetic about being out on the water.”

  “O-kay.” Her eyebrows knitted together like she had no idea what he was talking about.

  “The Iliad and The Odyssey?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Sounds like Greek to me.”

  “Ha ha.”

  He considered her a moment, trying to decide how he felt about her proposal. A little mixed up, he supposed. While he was fine with helping her get the syndication deal, bringing all this stuff back about Olivia made him uncomfortable. And yet, a tiny bit excited, too, at the thought of seeing her again. It had been a long time and she had been his first love.

  Would she even want to see him again?

  Would he have ever considered getting in touch with her had Meredith not barged back into his life?

  He glanced out the sliding glass door. His rowboat was moored to the dock beyond his large deck and the view of Blue Hill Bay was stunning from here. A sailboat glided past and then a lobster boat, but the sunlight was already waning. “I’d better get going,” he said.

  She nodded and he sent her a wave, but she was already glued to her computer screen. Probably creating an “Olivia File” for that assistant of hers.

  And why did that make him uneasy?

  Chapter Five

  Derrick slid on his sunglasses and headed outdoors, where he snagged a life vest from the back of a deck chair on which it had been drying. As he slipped into it, his cell phone rang. He pulled it from his hip pocket and answered. The call was from Grandmother Margaret.

  “Grandmother. Hey!” he said, walking toward his rowboat.

  “Why are the grandparents always the last to know?”

  His jaw tensed. No way. She’d either seen the story on TV, or one of her Boston friends had told her about it. He turned his back on the cabin, attempting to calm her. “Look. It’s not what you think—”

  “Let’s hope not,” her prim voice said. “Engaged without telling the family! And to Meredith Galanes? Not that there’s
anything wrong with the woman, other than her taste in best friends. She does have a certain energy about her. And anyone can see that she’s pretty. But how can you trust her to be honest with you?”

  “Grandmother.”

  “I mean it, Derrick. After what she and the others put us through last summer.”

  “I thought we’d all made our peace with that?”

  “Well, yes.” His grandmother tsked. “Some of us more than others.”

  “Are you saying you still hold a grudge?”

  “No,” she said with an indignant air. “I’m saying I’m wary. And, if you were smart—which I know you are—you’d be wary, too.”

  “I don’t have anything to be wary about. Not with Meredith.”

  “Now that’s a very naïve sentiment from a man who’s abruptly gotten engaged.”

  Derrick set his jaw. “I am not engaged, okay?”

  “It was on the news!”

  “Yeah, well, the media’s information was wrong.”

  He peered back toward the cabin where Meredith sat at his kitchen table working at her laptop. She’d obviously been eager to get on the internet and begin working her matchmaker magic. The real question was: Was he ready for it? “I’ll explain everything to you,” he said to his grandmother. Better yet, he should make Meredith do it. “I mean, she will. Very soon.”

  “She? Is Meredith there?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Fantastic,” Grandmother Margaret said. “You’ll have to bring her to dinner.”

  “What? When?”

  “Tonight. I think it’s best we get this settled before the others arrive.”

  Derrick smacked his forehead. His niece’s christening was Sunday. If he’d remembered that all his family was parading into town, he might not have agreed to Meredith’s ten-day plan. Getting together with Olivia again—for the first time in ten years—was going to be challenging enough in private. But on display before the whole crew? His head throbbed. Just what had he signed on for? Maybe there was still time to remove his signature from the page.

  But was that what he wanted? Canceling this whole deal? No. What he wanted was more time to work things out in this scrambled brain of his, which meant continuing to work with Meredith at least through tonight.

  Derrick exhaled. Maybe getting this over with quickly was the right move. He’d let Meredith explain everything to his grandparents in advance of the onslaught of others arriving, and he could observe how they took it. Maybe they’d even endorse the idea.

  Could Meredith really make this work? Bringing Olivia back into his life? And what would his family’s reception be? What about his own reaction? He didn’t know, but it was probably worth a shot to give things a chance. Maybe he and Olivia could finally bury the hatchet. Sofia would like that and a little closure would be good. That would help Meredith out, too.

  “It’s nothing fancy,” Grandmother Margaret said when he didn’t answer. “Your grandpa was going to grill out some steaks. We’ve got plenty of extras in the freezer. I’ll just pull out two more and toss a salad together. If she’s game, maybe Meredith can help me.”

  “That sounds great,” he said. He was conflicted about Meredith putting him in this position. Then again, he’d put himself here, too. Would seeing Olivia again be worth it? He sure hoped so. Maybe some good would come from all this. Sofia would sure like to see Olivia again, if that’s how things worked out.

  “Want to come at seven?” Grandmother Margaret asked brightly.

  That would scarcely give him time to go boating and grab his shower, on top of driving over there. And he still wanted to get out on the water. “Can we say seven thirty?”

  “Delightful! Seven thirty it is. I can’t wait to hear your story. Naturally the press was wrong. They so often are.”

  Except this time, Derrick thought, they’re going to have to keep believing they’re right.

  Annnd. He shook his head at the notion. I am going to help with that.

  …

  “Okay, great,” Meredith said, finishing her call with Beth. “Let me know what you find out.” She’d shared what she’d learned about Olivia and had also emailed Beth a copy of her notes. Beth’s boyfriend Cody worked for a telecommunications firm and was a whiz at locating people. Meanwhile, Meredith intended to conduct her own research online. She liked that Olivia and Sofia had shared a connection, and was hoping to somehow use that to her advantage.

  Olivia Collins had left behind a hard-to-find social media imprint, if she’d left one at all. Maybe she had gone into law like Derrick hinted. Sometimes those folks stayed off social media for various reasons, depending on their specialization.

  Wait! Her new search turned up a fresh result that included Olivia’s middle name: Constance. The link went to an obituary page for…ah. How sad. Olivia’s grandmother.

  Leaving behind her son and daughter-in-law, et cetera, et cetera. Three grandchildren, including…and Olivia Constance Collins of Acadia, Maine.

  She checked the date on the obit. Just six months ago. So…

  Her chin jerked up as Derrick stepped through the deck doors.

  “Howdy,” he said, seeming in better spirits. He’d been a little gloomy before but now appeared bright and sunny. That time in his rowboat had done him good. “Have any luck?”

  Meredith shot another glance at the computer screen and then back at him. “I think she lives in Acadia.”

  He jerked a thumb over his shoulder and toward the water. “The National Park? Doubtful. I don’t think she could get a manicure or find a hairstylist there.”

  Meredith’s cell rang before she could respond. It was Beth. “That was fast.”

  “That was easy,” Beth reported in her efficient manner. “Cody said her old cell number is just one step removed from the one she had in Bangor.”

  “One step?”

  “She only changed it once when she switched carriers and picked up a new phone. Now she’s got a high-tech satellite cell. Probably needs it in her line of work.”

  “Which is?” Meredith asked, while Derrick watched her, interested.

  “Park ranger.”

  Meredith frowned. A park ranger? Talk about a big jump from working at a law firm, not to mention manicures and hair appointments. Derrick might have a point. “Can you send me everything you’ve got?”

  “No problem.” Beth paused. “How are things going?”

  “Well enough.” She couldn’t very well go discussing Derrick now, not when he was standing right in front of her. “Look, um. Gotta run. But thanks tons for your help!”

  Derrick removed his hat and then his sunglasses. “You’ve got the wrong girl. Olivia doesn’t do nature.” He checked out Meredith’s feet under the table. “Her heels might not be as high as yours, but she definitely wears them. Not hiking boots.”

  Meredith flinched at his assertion. Why did Derrick always have to believe he was right? People changed. Except for—apparently—him. He clearly wasn’t thinking logically. “You haven’t seen her in a decade.”

  “Yeah, but still. I know what I know. And I know Olivia.”

  “Do you?” Meredith challenged. “Really? Maybe she’s matured. Grown into her own woman. And, look-it, hey. Maybe into an even more perfect woman for you.”

  Derrick stroked his chin. “That would be something. Seeing Olivia facing down a bear.”

  “It’s Acadia,” Meredith quipped. “Maybe she’s more about facing down tourists. Getting them to mind their ecological manners. That kind of thing.”

  Derrick got a distant look in his eye, and just said, “Huh.” After a few seconds of blank-staring, he mused, “Olivia? Back to nature?” Then he chuckled at the absurdity of the idea. “Nope. Don’t buy it.”

  Meredith’s email dinged, diverting her attention away and she grumbled. She scanned Beth’s new message. The a
ttachment, too. “Then maybe this will convince you,” she said. Beth’s boyfriend had tied phone records into data at the DMV. She turned her computer screen around to face Derrick, showcasing the photo on a Maine driver’s license. “This her?” The image was a little grainy but the woman in the photo was recognizable enough with big green eyes and long red hair.

  He blanched but only momentarily. “That’s Olivia.”

  “So you admit I was right!”

  “I admit you got lucky.” He frowned. “What’s your plan for reaching out to her?”

  “I’m…working on it,” she hedged, because she was. He gave her a scrutinizing look like he was second-guessing their deal, and her pulse raced. Maybe now that this was seeming real to him, he was changing his mind. But he couldn’t!

  Beth had told her that buzz was building at the station. Network execs had amped up their interest in Matched Up now that Meredith was making the local media, seeing that as an indication she might achieve a broader reach. Her fake relationship with Derrick couldn’t fall apart now. It had barely gotten started.

  “You’d better work quickly,” he said, “because my grandmother’s going to ask what you have in mind when you see her.”

  “Grandmother Margaret?” She guessed she shouldn’t be surprised about interacting with his family. In a way, she’d expected this. Given that they were all so tight.

  “Yeah. She invited us to dinner tonight. Seems she saw the news.”

  What? You’ve got to be kidding me.

  She was in no way prepared to deal with his grandmother. She hadn’t even developed her pl…pla…plannn…

  Derrick yanked off his damp T-shirt, exposing a smattering of chest hair and extremely taut muscles. Meredith fought to keep her bearings, which was kind of hard to do—considering she’d never seen Derrick bare-chested before. He scrunched up the shirt and mopped it across his brow. “Sorry,” he said. “A little sweaty.”

  “Hot out, huh?”

  “I told you it gets hot in Blue Hill.” He shot her a triumphant grin that bordered on flirty, and her world turned upside down, her heart thump-thump-thumping in some crazy cadence. “Even in June.” He flipped open the washing machine and chucked his shirt inside it. “I’m going to grab a shower and freshen up for dinner,” he said. “You can go next if you’d like.”