The Matchmaker's Plan

by Karen Toller Whittenburg

  “It’s my privilege to present to you—Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Shepard…and family.” The minister stepped back as Miranda and Nate kissed and then gathered Cate, Will, Kali and Kori into a big hug. The older twins looked a little embarrassed, but the younger ones beamed with excitement. The small group of guests stood to applaud, and then the whole group of Shepards moved down the aisle in a happy, halting procession.

  Ainsley clapped enthusiastically, caught an approving smile from Ilsa Fairchild Braddock who was sitting two rows back, and felt that she’d finally found her niche in the world, finally proved she belonged in the rather extraordinary family of her birth.

  “Ready?” Ivan slipped the strap of her purse up onto her shoulder, then placed his hand at the small of her back to urge her forward. “It’s time for my favorite part of the wedding.”

  “You can’t be hungry already. You ate about a million peanuts before we got here.”

  “Why do you think the food is my favorite part of weddings?” he asked, trying to sound indignant. “I could have been referring to kissing the bride.”

  She laughed. “You could have been, but I happen to know you have the appetite of a small whale.”

  “But did you know that I save all my favorite kisses for you?” He pressed one to her ear. “Oh, Matt.” Catching sight of his brother-in-law, he pitched his voice to reach Matt. “Would you mind if Ainsley and I rode to the reception with you and Peyton? We came early with Miranda to help with all those important, last-minute details—” He raised his eyebrows and exchanged one of those male-superior looks that indicated it was only women who were concerned with details. “So we have to hitch a ride to the coffeehouse.”

  “Sure,” Matt said. “Follow me to the parking lot.”

  Ainsley sensed tension, noted the effort her big brother put into sounding breezy and unconcerned. She glanced at Peyton, who offered a bright smile. A too-bright smile, maybe? From the first, Ainsley had felt there was something not quite right about their elopement, something that didn’t ring true about their secret romance. She’d alternated between being a little miffed that she’d missed the signs to convincing herself that Matt and Peyton had simply done a great job of keeping their private moments private. But the feeling lingered. And today, she felt as if she could reach out and touch their tension. She was suddenly certain it was not her imagination…and just as sure she had to find out what was going on and do something about it.

  When it came to family, a matchmaker’s work didn’t necessarily end at the wedding. Sometimes, the course of true love needed a little extra assistance.

  THE RECEPTION was on its last legs. The toasts had been made, the dinner eaten, the cake cut, the pictures taken, and now the adults were winding down and the kids were revving up. The deejay was reduced to playing tracks from the Living La Vida Mickey CD by request, and the children had long since taken over the dance floor. Kali, Kori and their buddy, Calvin Braddock, had discovered the delights of the karaoke microphone.

  “Kali Shepard!” Calvin’s voice blared like a seasoned newsman. “You just got married! What are you gonna do next?”

  Kali took the mike. “I’m going to Disney World!” she shouted, the sound reverberating with childish energy. “Kori Shepard, you just got married! What are you gonna do next?”

  “I’m going to Disney World!” Kori didn’t bother with the mike. She yelled instead.

  Then the two girls jumped off the dais to bounce around the dance floor like bunnies. Calvin, who was nobody’s fool, regained possession of the microphone. “Calvin Braddock,” he rumbled in a deep voice to an imaginary clone. “You just won the Super Bowl. What are you gonna do next?” His voice rose to a normal little-boy falsetto as he took on the other persona. “I’m going to Disney World!”

  “We’re going to Disney World!” The girls whooped and bunny-hopped some more.

  “How much sugar do you think they’ve had?” Miranda asked with an unconcerned smile, her chin propped on her hand.

  “At least a pound apiece,” Nate said, watching his youngest twins cavort and somersault in their frilly dresses, one pink, one red. “They’re not going to sleep a wink tonight. Who’s idea was it to take them to Disney World, anyway? I thought this was supposed to be our honeymoon.”

  “It is,” Miranda laid her head against his shoulder for a minute. “First we take the whole family to Walt Disney World, then the kids go to your mother’s, and you and I go off on our cruise.”

  “Ah, the carrot in front of the donkey’s nose. So that’s how you persuaded me this was a good idea.”

  “I think we should just count our blessings that we didn’t offer to take Calvin along, too.”

  “Well, I’m not a complete idiot,” Nate said. “Except when it comes to you.”

  Their smile was intimate and full of promises. Peyton looked away, feeling that simply by witnessing it she’d intruded on their privacy. Ainsley, who was sitting next to Peyton at the table, obviously had no such qualms. She was watching the newlyweds with interest, a glint of satisfaction sparkling in her eyes. Ivan, Andrew and Hayley, Linney and Charles, and Matt and Peyton filled the other seats at the round table, which was covered with a white cloth and decorated with Valentine hearts and red and pink roses. The whole Danville family, Peyton thought, her gaze traveling the circle. One set of parents, their four children, and their respective mates.

  Miranda and Nate had invited a crowd to the reception, many more than had attended the small wedding, but the coffeehouse had cleared out as midnight approached, and only the die-hard friends and family were left.

  Connie and Rick were still here, of course, although Scarlett had left with Covington Locke some long time ago. Peyton hadn’t even attempted a protest this time. She’d had numerous run-ins with her mother lately about the wedding gift that was just waiting for an okay. The decorators were on retainer, all Peyton and Matt had to do was say yes. They kept saying no. Which aggravated Connie, which made her more determined to get her way, which kept Peyton on edge. Which only meant that she simply hadn’t had the energy to fuss about the way Scarlett was allowed to run wild.

  Andrew suddenly pushed back his chair and stood up, picking up his champagne glass. “I have something to say.”

  “Not another toast,” Miranda groaned. “I’m already sloppy with good wishes.”

  Andy made a face at her. “Not everything is about you, Miranda,” he said with a grin. “This happens to be about Hayley. And me.” His eyes turned to his parents, seeking their approval and blessing. “I’ve asked her to marry me and, you won’t believe it, but she actually said yes.”

  The table filled with immediate oohs and aahs, congratulations, and one enthusiastic “Yes! The matchmaker scores again!” Ainsley whooped and jumped to her feet, pumping the air with her fist. Cal Braddock picked up the action from across the room and repeated it into the microphone, which sent Kali and Kori bouncing and tumbling wildly around the dance floor, giggling uncontrollably. The irresistible sound of children laughing proved contagious and soon everyone had joined into the spirit of celebration.

  Linney and Charles got up to embrace Hayley, welcoming her to the Danville family with the same graciousness they’d offered Peyton earlier in the week. Somehow the memory brought a mist of tears to her eyes, a wistful smile to her lips. Lately, hormonal surges zapped her energy and left her weepy. Or maybe it was simply the knowledge that she was deceiving this wonderful family. Matt’s hand brushed her shoulder and lingered at her back as he stood, too. “I have an announcement to make, as well.”

  Peyton realized what he was going to say too late to stop him.

  Of course, she couldn’t have stopped him any more than she could stop the life events her choices had already set into motion. She wasn’t ready for this moment, and yet, she didn’t know why the announcement seemed so momentous—perhaps because it was so irrevocable, perhaps because it deepened the deception, added another layer to her guilt. But ready or not, here it cam
e.

  “Mom. Dad.” Matt lifted his glass to them, then to the next table over, where Peyton’s parents sat. “Connie. Rick. Congratulations, you’re going to be grandparents!”

  Peyton’s heart sank even as she revived her smile to reflect a happiness she wanted desperately to feel. She did her part, as she had done for the past six weeks. She held Matt’s hand in a death grip and pretended that the only thought in her head was her incredible good fortune. A husband. A baby. A future filled with the kind of love and acceptance this family gave so freely.

  She was hugged and patted, coddled and crooned over, but Matt deflected any questions as easily as he seemed to do most everything else. He held her close to his side, protectively, lovingly, as if she was the most precious gift in his life, and Peyton realized that under a different set of circumstances, this would have been one of the happiest times of her life.

  But she knew, even if no one else suspected, that Matt’s arm around her was there for the sake of appearances. His smile singled her out only because others were there to notice. His laughter was warm and genuine only because he wanted to convey to everyone present that everything was right in his world.

  And Peyton understood suddenly that he was totally convincing because he’d been playing a role all his life. She’d watched him at the Foundation, seen the way he adjusted his demeanor to fit the expectation of whatever situation confronted him. He’d been juggling responsibility of one sort or another his entire life. Charles and Linney were truly wonderful people, selfless and committed, and yet they had sacrificed being present in their children’s lives for what they perceived to be the greater good. As the oldest, the firstborn of his generation, Matt had naturally taken up the role vacated by his father—head of the family, head of the Foundation, expected to be as selfless in his roles as his parents were in theirs. No wonder she felt at times that he was soul weary and simply going through the motions of living.

  “Are you okay?” Matt leaned down to whisper in her ear, his breath warm against her face. “You look…pale.”

  Was he really concerned? Or simply reminding her that she, too, had a role to play tonight? “Fine,” she said, seeing him in a different light, seeing everything from a whole new perspective. “Just fine.”

  And then she smiled at him. A real smile. A smile meant to cut through his defenses and touch his heart. A smile that said everything was right in her world and that, somehow, she was going to make everything right in his world, as well.

  His hand tightened at her waist and he leaned in to brush a kiss across her lips. Her body responded as it always did to his touch—with instant, embarrassing heat—and his body answered in kind. That part of their relationship, at least, was real. Even as accomplished an actor as Matt obviously was couldn’t fake the passion that virtually possessed them behind closed doors. They had that…and a baby on the way.

  There was no reason to feel guilty about the choices they’d made. They were adults. They were married. And although she hated to admit her mother might have been right, Peyton thought perhaps change was exactly what Matt needed in his life. And change was one thing she was confident she could provide. “I’ve never been so happy,” she said softly, just for him to hear…and ponder.

  It wasn’t the truth yet, but it would be soon. Very soon.

  “This is so exciting,” Ainsley said, her dimples flashing with her pleasure. “Another wedding and a baby. Mom, Dad, you’re going to be making more trips home.”

  Andrew agreed with a nod. “Since Ainsley got married at Halloween, Matt after Christmas, and now Miranda at Valentine’s Day, Hayley and I thought we’d carry on the holiday tradition and get married on the Fourth of July.”

  “That doesn’t give us much time to plan,” Miranda said, clearly already thinking ahead. “Of course, it’s more time than Ainsley and Ivan gave me.” She turned to Hayley. “And it won’t hurt my feelings if you and Andrew want to plan the whole thing yourselves.”

  “Give us a break, Miranda.” Ainsley laughed. “Hayley, take my advice and let her take care of all the details. Otherwise she’ll drive Andrew nuts reminding him to remind you to take care of them.”

  “You forget, Baby, that I’m a changed woman.” Miranda snuggled her hand in Nate’s, gave him that private smile again. “I have a family of my own now and the rest of you will have to manage your own details from now on.”

  The family’s laughter was good-humored, if skeptical, of her new philosophy.

  “So,” Linney said approvingly. “We’ll have another wedding in July and a baby in the fall.”

  Peyton felt Matt tense beside her, and stepped in to rescue him from himself. “A little sooner than that, actually,” she said, casting Matt an I’ll-handle-this smile. “Matt and I have done things a bit backward. A first for both of us.” She squeezed his hand, trying to ease his tension. “The baby might even be here in time for the wedding.”

  If that surprised anyone, it didn’t show. There was simply another round of excited comments, some discussion from Miranda—mostly with herself—about whether to schedule the baby shower before the wedding shower or vice versa, and a few questions to Peyton about how she was feeling, if she’d found a doctor, and if she’d had an ultrasound. It was a subject most interesting to the women, a subject that didn’t exclude the men, but left them unsure how, and if, they wanted to be included. Nate was the only one of the men to venture a comment. “It could be twins,” he said. “They run in the family, you know.”

  “Not in my family they don’t.” Peyton laughed and realized it felt good. Genuinely good. She had absorbed Matt’s worry these past weeks, worried about what someone else might think, allowed his expectations that he would somehow disappoint his family to rob her of the pleasure of anticipation. The arrival of this baby—hers and Matt’s—should be anticipated with wonder and the expectation of joy. No matter what the circumstances of conception, she wanted this baby. She believed Matt did, too.

  It was time for him to realize that their mistake held the possibility of more blessings than his heart could hold.

  And it was time for her to admit she was falling in love with the man—and the life—she had so unexpectedly chosen.

  Chapter Nine

  Jessica walked into Matt’s office without knocking and closed the door behind her.

  Not a good sign.

  “Jessica,” he said coolly. “What can I do for you?”

  She sat across from him, in one of the chairs in front of his desk, and crossed her legs, the split in her skirt draping conveniently to show her assets to best advantage. “I’ve postponed this as long as I can, Matthew, and I hate to be the one to do it, but we have to talk about Peyton.”

  He’d been expecting this, but hoping Jessica would have the good sense not to put him in this position. Apparently, that had been too much to hope for. “Peyton, my wife?” He stressed the word, wanting her to understand where he stood before she started.

  “Don’t be that way, Matthew. You know I’d never come to you with this if it wasn’t absolutely necessary. But when it affects the Foundation, I feel you must be informed.”

  He settled back in his chair, offering no encouragement, knowing she needed none. She’d been advocating for this discussion from the minute she’d found out Peyton was pregnant, had been pregnant before they married. Matt wasn’t a fool. He knew Jessica had disliked Peyton from the start, had championed her only to create conflict and reveal her for the Louisiana rube she thought Peyton must be. Anyone hailing from below the Mason-Dixon Line was suspect to Jessica. Being nouveau riche, as the O’Reillys undeniably were, made it worse. Add to that the possessive attitude she had mistakenly adopted toward him and that Matt couldn’t seem to dispel, and he’d known they were headed for trouble.

  Which wouldn’t have mattered under different circumstances.

  But, with the well-honed instincts of a coquette, Jessica had seen Peyton as competition long before he had admitted the attraction to himself.
He knew he was correct in believing Jessica thought he’d been tricked into this marriage. And, from the glint of steel in her eyes, he could see now that she meant to rescue him.

  Pulling the fabric modestly over her knee, she adjusted the front slit of her skirt, only to have it fall open again, revealing even more of her shapely thigh. “You know, of course, Matthew, that I haven’t been happy with the way she’s handled the Black-and-White Ball almost from the beginning. But, as you have pointed out on other occasions, I am the one who cast the deciding vote in her favor and handed her the event chair. She seemed such an enthusiastic volunteer, I truly believed she deserved the opportunity to prove herself.”

  Her pause was merely for effect, although her pretty frown made it seem as if she was struggling to find the right words. “No one has been more surprised than I at how poorly she’s handled the responsibility. I know she’s your wife, and even if she wasn’t, I understand—probably better than anyone—that it is not the policy of this foundation to criticize its volunteers. Especially those with deep pockets…and the O’Reillys have been very generous.”

  He said nothing, just waited for her to go on.

  “But Olivia Renwick has served on our advisory board for years and has chaired the Black-and-White Ball more times than anyone can recall, and done an absolutely splendid job each and every time. She’s a major contributor to this event, as well as various other fund-raisers, every single year and, regardless of our personal feelings, her opinion has to be considered, Matthew. We can’t afford to offend her over something as trivial as table decorations.”

  Table decorations. Some days—a lot of days, actually—he really hated this job. “It’s the Black-and-White Ball,” he said wearily. “The tables are covered in black-and-white cloths and the centerpieces are a variety of white flowers in black-and-white vases. What did Peyton do to offend Mrs. Renwick? Order a few white carnations to mix in with the white orchids?”