The Matchmaker Bride

by Ginny Baird

  “Actually,” Clarita said. “She appeared in the kitchen looking like one of those au natural actresses out of the movies.”

  Darn it. “None of them are au natural. They use makeup. Every last one.”

  “I don’t think she had any on at the time,” Clarita reported. “Some women are blessed like that. Their coloring and features give them that fresh-faced look regardless.”

  They stared at each other wide-eyed.

  “Not us,” they said together and giggled.

  “She was in a pretty great mood, though,” Clarita said. “Something about going out for frozen yogurt with Derrick.”

  “Yeah, I think Derrick was looking forward to it, too. He seems eager to put their rocky past behind them. Olivia’s clearly into him, though. She’s probably hoping he’ll come around. And maybe he will. That kind of perfection is hard to pass up.”

  Meredith frowned and Clarita leaned toward her. “You don’t look so happy about this interest of Olivia’s in Derrick.”

  “Of course I’m happy.” She bared her teeth in a fake smile. “See.”

  “What’s going on with you?” Clarita lowered her voice to a whisper. “Oh no. Are you jealous?”

  “Jealous, me?” Meredith whispered back. “Don’t be ridiculous. That’s never happened before.”

  “What? Falling for a client?”

  Meredith shook her head. “I don’t do that. It’s not professional.” Besides that, what was the point? Derrick had had his chance to put his moves on her last summer, but he hadn’t. He’d been stepping back ever since she got here this year, too. Except when she’d seen that look in his eyes when he’d given her that gift. Okay, and a few other times. Like after they’d been watching TV together, and when he’d showed her Julia’s cradle. Even this morning when they’d fought about that trash bag, she thought she’d felt something. Then again, her imagination had always been really good.

  “He made me a shoe rack,” she told her aunt. “Can you believe it?”

  “A what?” Clarita chuckled. “How sweet. What for?”

  She shrugged. Honestly, she wasn’t sure why he’d thought to make her a gift. It was such a thoughtful gesture, and really sweet when it came down to it—and “sweet” wasn’t a word she’d have used to describe Derrick. At least not before. “As a thank-you I suppose for all my help.”

  Clarita smiled mysteriously. “And you think he doesn’t know you.”

  “Oh, he does know me.” And feeling seen like that, even if it was because she had a shoe addiction, was unexpected and…nice.

  “Just not in the way you’d like?”

  “Titi Clarita.”

  Clarita’s eyebrows perked up. “He is pretty dishy.”

  “Sure, but he’s Olivia’s main course and not mine.”

  “But you want him to be?”

  “No!” Heads swiveled their way and Meredith lowered her voice again. “Titi Clarita, that’s not how it is with me and Derrick. He and I are helping each other out. That’s all there is to it.” She decided to change the subject since the topic at hand was making her testy. “I almost forgot to tell you. I got the best news from Beth.” Meredith’s spirits brightened at the thought of reaching this goal. So, okay, she didn’t have love, but she was going to have money. Yay! “Our general manager’s meeting with a streaming service exec tomorrow.”

  “Streaming? That sounds promising.”

  “Could get that and the syndication deal. And the plus side?” She grinned broadly, and this time her smile was genuine. “No commercials.”

  “Ooh, I like that idea.”

  “I think my audience will, too. Just think! They could binge-watch the first four seasons of Matched Up. Fingers crossed.”

  Clarita crossed her own. “Fingers crossed.”

  …

  When Meredith and her aunt returned to the Albrights, Sally was standing in the drive beside her car, chatting with her grandparents. The effusive blonde with long, wavy hair and big, dark eyes bounded toward Meredith for a hug. “I heard you were here, and on a mission.”

  Meredith laughed uncomfortably because of what Derrick had said regarding Sally and Olivia not getting along. She grimaced. “You okay with that?”

  Sally heaved a sigh. “What’s good for my big brother is great with me. As long as Olivia’s changed.”

  Grandmother Margaret scowled, but Sally’s gaze was on Clarita. “Oh, hi! I’m sorry—”

  “This is Meredith’s aunt,” Grandpa Chad supplied. “Clarita Rincón.”

  The women nodded their hellos as Sofia and William emerged from the house.

  Sally hugged them. “So, where’s the precious bundle?”

  “Upstairs.” Sofia smiled. “Sleeping, thank goodness.”

  William picked up Sally’s bag. “I’ll take this upstairs for you.”

  “Such a gentleman,” Sally teased. “Or maybe you just don’t want me waking up the baby.”

  “I always knew you were smart,” William said, then darted away laughing when Sally made to chase him.

  “All the Albright men are so gentlemanly,” Clarita said with a sigh.

  Grandmother Margaret nodded. “They’d better be.” It came out stern, but made everyone laugh.

  “So, where are the lovebirds?” Sally asked as they all walked toward the house.

  “Wait,” Meredith said. “They’re not back yet?”

  Grandpa Chad shook his head. “Saw the two of them leaving when I was out working in the garden.”

  William checked his watch and smirked. “And that was two hours ago.”

  Meredith’s heart sank. But this is good, she tried to tell herself. Fab.

  “So, I know the parental units can’t join us until tomorrow,” Sally said. Her expression turned impish. “In the meantime, I’ve planned some fun and games.” She glanced around at the group now, standing in the hall. “Grandmother and Grandpa, will you all play?”

  Grandpa tugged at his snug vest. “That all depends—”

  “Of course we will,” Grandmother Margaret said, giving him an elbow. “We wouldn’t want to be spoilsports.”

  …

  Derrick and Olivia sat in his SUV at a pullover on a high cliff. The waters of Blue Hill Bay roiled and splashed below them. Neither one had said much since the frozen yogurt stand and the silence was starting to get uncomfortable.

  “This feels pretty crazy,” he said. “Being here together again.”

  “Well, we’re not together together.” She rolled her eyes and he chuckled.

  “Hey, you know what I meant.”

  She relaxed in her seat. “Yeah.”

  “Do you…” He proceeded cautiously. “Think much about the old days?”

  “I have.” She met his gaze and her eyes glimmered sadly. “I mean, I do. But that was a long time ago, Derrick.”

  “It was,” he answered, thinking it was seeming further and further away instead of closer. Which only had to mean he wasn’t trying hard enough. Meredith had gone to all this trouble to get Olivia here. It would be like letting her down to not at least make an effort with his ex. Besides, he really wanted Meredith to get that syndication deal and her calling off her supposed relationship with him because of Olivia could build so much viewer sympathy. When he spoke, his throat felt scratchy and dry.

  “I’ve thought about you a lot these last ten years.”

  “Yeah. I’ve thought about you, too.”

  “Did you ever wonder? What things might have been like if we’d kept at it?”

  Her lips crept up in a smile. “Tearing each other’s hair out you mean?”

  “Ha!” He shook his head. “Yeah.”

  “Yeah, sure.” She cocked her chin. “I wondered.”

  “Do you still wonder now?”

  “A little bit.”

&
nbsp; “You’re not seeing anyone?”

  “No. And you?”

  For some unbelievable reason he thought of Meredith. His gut churned and his heart gave a painful twist. Then he snapped himself out of it. She didn’t want him and she’d never want a life in Blue Hill. And he definitely wasn’t moving to Boston to become the sidekick to some big television star. “No. No one,” he said and his heart sank.

  “What’s Meredith to you, really?” she asked, like she’d sneakily invaded his mind.

  “Mer—edith and I are just friends.”

  “Just friends? Hmm.”

  “Yeah,” he said, only this time when he said it, it felt like a lie.

  Olivia’s eyebrows arched. “Are you sure she knows that?”

  “Yes.” But the problem was he wasn’t sure he did. “You ready to go back?”

  She studied him, then gave a wistful smile. “Sure.”

  Chapter Twenty

  William lowered the green party balloon he’d inflated and knotted the end. “How many more of these do you want blown up?”

  Sally finished a yellow one and dropped it in the laundry basket in front of where she sat on the porch swing. She glanced at Meredith, Clarita, and the others, who were helping out, too. Grandpa Chad and Margaret had also completed a couple of balloons. Sofia participated as their cheerleader, holding Julia on her lap. The baby wore a cute onesie, leggings, and a tiny knit cap. Even in June, it was on the cool side for a little one.

  Hope and Brent were due to arrive any minute, but Derrick and Olivia still weren’t back yet, which concerned Meredith more than it should. That had to mean they were enjoying each other’s company. Maybe they’d even gone back to his cabin for a little privacy.

  And wasn’t that just awesome.

  “We’ll need a total of ten,” Sally said. “No. Let’s go for an even dozen to have a few spares.”

  “I think this is fun,” Clarita said. “I haven’t been to a baby shower in forever.”

  “It’s a first for Julia, too,” Sofia joked and everyone laughed. It was late afternoon and they sat around on cushioned wicker furniture, sipping bubbly pink champagne. Even the guys indulged because Sally said it was mandatory. Since she was nursing, Sofia stuck to the non-alcoholic sparkling cider Sally had brought along. That also was pink in honor of Julia, and the back porch had been decorated with streamers and a big sign proclaiming: It’s a Girl!

  Grandmother Margaret had ordered tea cakes, savory treats, and petits fours from a local bakery and set out bowls of salted nuts.

  “These goodies are so delicious,” Meredith said, sinking her teeth into a tiny-tiered square of layered chocolate.

  Chad polished off a mini ham biscuit. “Going to ruin our appetites.”

  “We’ll have a late dinner.” Grandmother Margaret turned to Sally. “What are we going to do with all these balloons?”

  Sally just grinned. “You’ll see, Grandmother.”

  Sally glanced at Clarita and Meredith. “You ladies want to help with a special project?” When they both nodded, she grinned. “I expect you both have experience putting on diapers?”

  Meredith exchanged glances with her aunt and Sofia held Julia a bit tighter.

  “Um, sure.” Meredith said on behalf of the two of them. “Why?”

  Sally giggled and moved aside the balloon basket. She got to her feet, encouraging the rest of them to keep up the good work. Then she motioned to Meredith and Clarita. “Come with me.”

  Once they were in the kitchen, Sally hoisted a canvas bag out of a chair at the kitchen table. The table stood by a bay window overlooking the front lawn and beside a white brick hearth. A painting of some garden gloves and a basket of blueberries hung above the mantle.

  “Here we are,” Sally said, taking five naked baby dolls out of her bag and laying them on the table. Next, she dug into the bag for some disposable diapers and—wait. A big jar of chunky peanut butter? “And here you go!” She handed the peanut butter to Meredith and the diapers to Clarita. “Let me just go and grab two spatulas.”

  Meredith started putting things together. “Oh no. You’re not planning to—”

  Sally laughed. “Oh yes, I am. We’re going to have a contest to see who can clean and re-diaper their baby the quickest. We’ll divide up in teams.”

  Meredith hooted, trying to imagine Derrick’s face when he removed the diaper and found nasty-looking peanut butter inside.

  “New babies are messy.” Sally pulled a face. “If you get my drift.”

  Clarita cackled. “All right. I’m in. Just tell me what you want me to do.”

  Sally handed Meredith and Clarita spatulas. “Load those baby bottoms up!”

  …

  A short time later, the women carried the five diapered dolls onto the porch and set them on a wicker rocker. “Oh how sweet,” Margaret said. “Dolls!”

  Grandpa Chad shook his head. “Sailing might have been better.”

  William chuckled. “Come on, Grandpa. Get in the spirit.”

  A car door slammed shut around the front of the house and then another.

  “Derrick and Olivia?” Sally questioned. But the couple that rounded the corner was Brent and Hope.

  Derrick’s middle brother was dark-haired and dark-eyed and slightly shorter than William. His fair-skinned, brunette wife was Jackie’s identical twin. Only Hope’s layered brown hair was a little longer.

  “We thought we heard voices out here!” Brent said, as they drew nearer.

  “Hi everyone!” Hope held out her arms as the senior Albrights and William went to greet them.

  “Greetings!” Sally called over to them. “You’re just in time.”

  Meredith watched as Grandpa Chad, Margaret, and William took turns hugging Hope and Brent. She’d half expected things to be awkward between Hope and the family after what had happened last time in Blue Hill, but everyone appeared relaxed enough. Meredith had heard they’d all seen each other over the winter holidays and then again at Easter, so that buffering time had probably helped.

  “Meredith!” Hope grinned broadly, approaching the porch. “I heard you were here!”

  The women exchanged hugs and Meredith was instantly reminded of all the things she liked about Hope. Her sunny nature and optimism were paramount among them.

  “It’s nice seeing you both again,” Meredith said.

  “Where’s Derrick?” Brent asked, noting his absence.

  “And Olivia?” asked Hope. “We heard she’s here, too.”

  “I texted Derrick a couple of minutes ago,” William offered. “They’re on their way.”

  Meredith’s stomach knotted.

  Get ready to see the happy couple…

  …

  Derrick pulled into the driveway at his grandparents’ house. “Looks like Brent and Hope are here,” he said, noting the extra SUV in the drive.

  “I’m excited to meet Hope,” Olivia said. “And see Brent again.”

  “Yeah,” Derrick said. “They’ll be happy to see you, too.” While he wasn’t entirely sure that would be the case with Brent, he’d said it anyway.

  Of all his family members, Derrick had shared most of his post-Olivia angst with Brent. Brent had gotten him back last summer by bemoaning his issues with Hope. Yet, things were working out for the two of them. Maybe things would work out for him and Olivia, too.

  When Olivia climbed from the SUV, she said, “I’m going to dash down to the guesthouse for a sec if you don’t mind, and grab my gift.”

  Derrick swallowed hard. “We’re doing gifts today? I thought that would be on Sunday? The day of the christening?”

  “Well, this is a shower gift. I picked it up yesterday afternoon after I heard there was going to be one. It’s really more for the mom than the baby.”

  “Right. I see,” Derrick said. It hadn
’t occurred to him to pick up a present for this event. Even if it had, he’d have been at a loss over what to buy. Hopefully, he’d make up for his misstep today with the gift of the cradle. Maybe he should even bring it by tomorrow.

  Derrick entered the house but it was empty, with happy chatter spilling in through the open windows. He found everyone on the back porch drinking sparkling pink libations from champagne flutes. To his dismay, Sally handed him a glass the moment he set foot on the porch and filled it to the brim.

  “Welcome, brother,” she said in a teasing way. “We were worried you’d gotten lost.”

  “Where’s Olivia?” Meredith asked, trying to look over his shoulder into the room behind him.

  Had Olivia been right about her?

  “She ran down to the guesthouse to grab something,” he said before Hope popped out of her chair.

  “Derrick,” she said, hugging him. “Great to see you!”

  Brent stood and clapped him soundly across the back. “How ya doing, man?”

  “Good,” Derrick said. “Really good.” He sipped from his pink champagne, which was…awful. A little too sweet and a lot too fizzy. He’d stomach it, though, for the cause. He noticed the brimming basket of inflated party balloons, the streamers and banners, and five bare-chested baby dolls in diapers on a chair. “Wow, Sally,” he said. “You outdid yourself.”

  She smiled at Meredith and then at the others. “Oh, I’ve had some help.”

  Olivia reappeared with a prettily wrapped package. “Hi, everyone! Is there someplace I should set this?”

  “On the coffee table in the den,” Margaret said. “Along with the others.”

  “You guys didn’t have to do gifts.” Sofia ducked her chin. “This is all really sweet.”

  “It’s about to get sweeter,” Sally said. “Olivia, hi!” She pasted on a bright smile and Derrick could tell she was doing her best to be polite. “Can I pour you some bubbly?”

  “Sure,” Olivia said. “I’ll take some.”

  A few bottles of bubbly later, the group was all champagned up and ready for their first game, according to Sally. Derrick cast a glance at Meredith. She seemed to be enjoying the party. Her Titi Clarita, too. For his part, he was doing okay, with Olivia sticking very close by his side. The group kept them from needing to pass the time with idle chitchat.