Fixer-Upper (Spinning Hills Romance 3)

by Ines Saint

  Minutes later, she pulled in to the Gypsy Fortune Café and Bakery, a happy place and unique reality in its own right. It was nearly four. A perfect time for a visit.

  “Here she is! We’ve been waiting for hours,” Ruby exclaimed the moment she walked through the door.

  Sherry tossed Ruby an amused look. “Hardly hours. Rosa told us it would be sometime after three.”

  “What’s that on your finger?” Abuela Rosa’s voice came from behind the counter. Her grandmother had zeroed in on her engagement ring immediately. Was it that big, or was her grandma that sharp-eyed?

  Marissa put her hand up and smiled. “I’m engaged!”

  The three women squealed and hopped like women one-third their age, and bombarded her with questions.

  “When did he propose?” Sherry asked.

  “Saturday night.”

  “How?” Ruby’s blue eyes shone.

  “At Progressive Field in Cleveland.”

  “Did he get down on one knee?” Abuela Rosa asked, hungrily eyeing the ring.

  “Yes. He had them flash ‘Marry Me Marissa’ on the Jumbotron.”

  The three women piped down and studied her more closely. “What?” Marissa asked, suddenly uncomfortable.

  Her grandmother waved a hand and said, “It’s nothing. We’re just wondering why you didn’t say anything sooner.”

  “Oh.” Marissa twisted the ring around her finger and looked down at it. “Well, it happened Saturday night, and everyone was up in arms over what happened between Johnny and Melinda, so it just didn’t seem like a good time.”

  Her grandmother smiled sadly and pulled her down onto a chair, sitting in front of her as she did so. “We’re always ready to hear your good news. No matter what.”

  Marissa nodded and looked up. “I know, but . . . about Saturday night—”

  Three faces hardened. “I don’t understand that boy. He’s been going on and on about how he’d met the girl of his dreams and how he was turning over a new leaf for her, and then Saturday night happened,” Ruby said.

  Marissa felt hot and cold flushes rush through her at dizzying speeds. He’d thought she was the girl of his dreams? No. There was no way he could think something like that. They’d barely spent time together that night. His penchant for teasing everyone around him had caused him to exaggerate. Now everyone was mad at him.

  Abuela Rosa frowned. “I don’t understand it. His eyes nearly bugged out of his face when he saw your sister. Everyone noticed. Then she led him outside, and next thing anyone knew, Marty was yelling at Johnny and Melinda was almost in tears because Johnny had told her he’d made a mistake about her. Rejected her in less than two minutes, and in front of all her friends, too. And you know how that lot is.”

  The other two women shook their heads as if they still couldn’t believe it, and Marissa fought off guilt over the twinge of discomfort she’d felt at learning Johnny’s eyes had nearly bugged out when he’d seen her sister.

  “Did he say why he thought the mystery girl was Melinda?” Marissa had been wondering how he’d come to that conclusion. Maybe if she knew, she could help defend him. He’d handled it horribly, but she knew he’d never intended to hurt Melinda. Johnny’s good intentions were as legendary as the scrapes he got himself into, and out of.

  Abuela Rosa squinted at the table, as if she was trying to make sense of things. “I’ve been trying to understand just that. He said he’d met this girl at a masquerade party a year ago, that he felt a great connection with her, and that she seemed very familiar, but that it was dark and she was wearing a mask and she left before he could find out who she was, but he found an invitation addressed to Melinda Medina, so he put two and two together.”

  Marissa froze. She’d left a clue that night?

  Ruby nodded. “He came here the next day and tricked Rosa into telling him that Melinda had been in Columbus and at the masquerade party the night before. She even told him what costume Melinda was wearing.”

  Sherry looked at Marissa. “That’s what the three of us have been trying to figure out. All roads led to Melinda. The invitation, the costume, the familiarity, the masquerade party. Melinda even confirmed she’d met a guy that night.”

  Panic rose in Marissa’s throat. It was time to change the subject. “Well, it turns out I’m working with Johnny.”

  Talk about eyes bugging out of faces. Marissa took advantage of their unusual silence and rushed on. “He’s the recently hired school psychologist at my new school and, well, he’s good. I can see how what happened hurt everyone, but I’ll be working with him and I need to be on good terms with him.” She began twisting the ring again. “But I feel bad for Melinda. I know her confidence took a hit in LA, I can only imagine the huge romance Mom concocted when she heard Johnny’s story, and then to have it all fall apart in front of those barracudas she calls friends . . . I feel bad that I wasn’t there and haven’t even had a chance to talk to her yet. But I’ll talk to her tonight.” Marissa was so not looking forward to that conversation. The idea that Melinda knew Johnny had confused the two of them left her cold.

  “Talk to him, too,” Ruby said. “Find out what was going on in that head of his. Like Sherry said, all roads lead to Melinda, and yet he hightailed it out of there. We’re all too exasperated with him this time to ask him ourselves.”

  Marissa nodded. She felt she owed it to him to help him out of the mess.

  Abuela Rosa turned questioning eyes on her. “So, you and Johnny are on good terms now? You two have been avoiding each other for years.”

  Marissa swallowed and began toying with a napkin. “Well, we’re adults now. And you should’ve seen him with the kids today. They already look up to him. He was so good with them.”

  Sherry softened. “Of course he is. We knew he would be.”

  “So it was the first day for both of you. How did it go?” Abuela Rosa asked. “I should have asked you sooner, mamita, but I got sidetracked by that diamond. You know how I love diamonds.”

  “I know.” Marissa laughed. “And it went really well. Johnny even adopted five abandoned puppies, just to make the kids happy. He let them name them, and he even promised to bring them to school once in a while.”

  Sherry’s eyes went round. “Five puppies?” she echoed.

  Abuela Rosa looked unamused. “You are joking.”

  Ruby stiffened. “Where in the world is he going to keep a litter of puppies? He lives above Sam’s office! And there’s a town ordinance. Even if he bought a house, he’d still have one dog too many. When will that boy stop courting trouble? How will he keep his promise to those kids now?” She gasped. “Unless he moves away. Is that what he’s planning on doing?” Ruby turned to Rosa with an accusing glare. “Maybe you drove him out!”

  “Me? I haven’t even spoken to him.” Rosa glared back.

  “Exactly!” Ruby fell back and folded her arms across her chest.

  Marissa managed a smile. They were angry at him and they’d make him pay, but they loved him, too. He was like the town’s leprechaun. A cute troublemaker who carried around a heart of gold instead of a pot. “Nobody drove him out. He has a plan. Of sorts.” She hesitated. “He, uh, mentioned one property here in Spinning Hills that could accommodate five puppies.”

  There was a long silence. It was as if she’d hit a magical mute button that managed to quiet all three of them at once. Many people in town would pay big for such a button.

  “No.” Sherry shook her head. “He wouldn’t. It’s too crazy. Even for him.”

  Abuela Rosa shuddered. “It’s too crazy and too wrong. His own great-great-great-grandfather burned a woman to death in that house!”

  Ruby slapped her hands on the table, hard. “It’s perfect. He’ll break the curse! All he has to do is find his mystery woman. We’ll help him!”

  Abuela Rosa sent Ruby a frustrated look. “What are you talking about now? If he moves in to that godforsaken house, I tell you he will be cursed for real. And trust me, I will not be h
elping him. I think it’s finally time we butted out. Look at what happened on Saturday. I talked to Melinda to confirm Johnny’s conclusions, Michelle found out, became too excited to keep it to herself, told everyone and their mother, and the whole world witnessed the debacle.”

  Marissa gave her grandmother an assessing look. So that’s what it was. Her grandmother and mom were probably feeling guilty for their own part in the farce.

  Ruby got up, swept over to the counter, and took out a box from behind it. “Look. When I read Dan’s tarot cards, the first card read Creative Project, and it had a picture of angels fixing a harp. And Dan and Sam both rehabilitated houses for women they loved! The next one said, Activation, and it had a picture of an angel blowing fire. Their creative projects were the catalyst for breaking the curse. See? The last card, if you remember, was the Three Elements card that had three angels, one hovering within a spiral of wind, one swimming underwater, and one planting seeds, its hands full of earth.

  “Dan was moving around, blowing wherever the wind took him, until he met Holly. Sam was underwater, both in his business and personal life, until Cassie came along and helped him breathe again. And now Johnny must finish the work so the curse can finally be broken and our Amador boys can have love! He must make the house that someone else nearly burned to the ground rise again. That is his seed!”

  Sherry and Abuela Rosa burst out laughing. Marissa felt bad for Ruby and didn’t join in. They waited for them to stop, but the two women were having a real fit. They at least looked guilty about it, but they couldn’t seem to stop. Marissa cleared her throat and, wanting to say something nice, commented, “I’m surprised Dan let you read his fortune. Although I guess he’s changed. I can’t wait for the wedding next month.”

  “You’re invited?” Ruby clapped her hands together, looking delighted.

  Marissa nodded. “I think it was more because Marty is one of the best men and they knew Melinda and I were moving back, so they invited us both, but I met Holly last year and we got along great.”

  The other two women were now chuckling at the idea of anyone comparing the Amador boys to angels, but Ruby seemed happy to ignore them. “You must ask Holly to create a perfume for you.”

  Marissa smiled. “She already did. Marty got me a gift certificate last year for my birthday. That’s when I met her. It was a lot of fun.”

  “Speaking of weddings, have you and Brian set a date?” Sherry asked.

  “We’re thinking about December.”

  Abuela Rosa’s eyes widened. “Why so soon?”

  Marissa shrugged. “When you know, you know. And I’ve known exactly what I wanted in a relationship for a long time now.”

  “But you two have been in a long distance relationship for a year, and you haven’t had time to really get to know each other.” Her grandmother’s tone softened.

  Marissa laughed. “I’ve known him my whole life!”

  But there was something else in her grandmother’s eyes. “What?” she asked, sobered by her grandmother’s anxious look.

  She watched as her grandmother’s throat worked, and Marissa knew she was considering her words. It was a first. “Your head is set on him. We all know that. We’ve heard you recite your list. But what about your heart?”

  “My heart always leads, Grandma, but I’ve worked hard to teach my heart to slow down and let my head catch up. Everything works out so much better when they’re working together. With Brian, I let my head lead and my heart follow. It’s the same thing.”

  Sherry shrugged and looked over at Abuela Rosa. “That works, too, you know.”

  “I know.” Abuela Rosa nodded and patted Marissa’s hand. “As long as you’re sure they’re working together.”

  Ruby placed her hands on the table and pushed herself up. “And I know how we can find out! Now, what dessert will it be for you today, Marissa?”

  Marissa laughed and glanced over at the chalkboard menu. One item sounded so good it made her mouth water. “Dark chocolate cream pie.”

  “That’s funny.” Sherry chuckled and turned to Ruby. “Remember how last year . . .” But her voice died away as she and Ruby exchanged surprised looks.

  “What?” Marissa asked with a faint smile. But they were now looking at her grandmother. Sherry’s eyebrows were raised, her grandmother was shaking her head, and Ruby was nodding yes.

  “What?” Marissa asked again, bewildered.

  Her grandmother’s head swiveled her way. She met Marissa’s gaze so steadily, it was impossible to flinch or look away. “Where were you the night of that infamous masquerade party?” she suddenly asked.

  Marissa froze.

  “Does this mean you finally believe?” Ruby asked Abuela Rosa.

  “Ruby, this is not the time!” Sherry slapped Ruby’s hand while looking at Marissa with the same urgent expression her grandmother was wearing.

  Ruby nodded. “Right. Where were you?”

  Marissa let out a nervous laugh. “How am I supposed to remember where I was that night? It was a year ago!”

  The three women frowned at her in disbelief. A change of subject seemed best. She turned to Ruby and smiled. “So. About that pie. I can’t wait. My mouth is watering . . . What craving will dark chocolate cream pie fulfill for me?”

  “Sweet lust,” Sherry said with relish.

  Marissa’s eyes widened. Sweet lust. That sounded good. Except the simple words brought her back to the night of the elevator and the wonderful, sweet torture she’d felt at the mercy of the stranger’s hot hands and mouth. Except he wasn’t a stranger, was he?

  She mentally shook herself. “Well then, one sweet lust to go, please. Mom’s expecting me at five sharp.” She started to get up, but Sherry covered her hand, in a move that told her they weren’t done with her. The fun and comfy soda-shop pink and green café suddenly felt more like a mob’s den. Now that she thought about it, the gilded mirrors and huge wedding cake chandelier looked like they belonged in a gangster’s jazz club, not in a café.

  “How is Brian going to feel when he finds out you’re working with Johnny? Do you think he’ll feel threatened?” Ruby asked with a too-innocent look in her eye. “Men can be completely irrational when they’re jealous, you know.”

  “Why would Brian be jealous of Johnny?” Marissa asked, focusing her attention on the dessert display, to remind herself these women were the warm, elderly owners of a charming, small-town café, and not seasoned interrogators.

  Sherry reached over to squeeze Marissa’s hand. “Oh honey, forgive us. We’re in our seventies and our minds just aren’t what they used to be. Sometimes the years get all jumbled up on us and we get stuck in the past. I think the three of us are just remembering how everyone used to think you had a crush on Johnny. We’re worried Brian will remember, too.” Sherry’s posture and sad eyes suddenly made her look so sweet and old and Marissa felt bad for thinking they were like the mob.

  Abuela Rosa and Ruby, too, were now looking vulnerable. Why hadn’t she noticed before that their backs were becoming slightly humped and their shoulders were sagging? It was almost like they were aging before her eyes.

  She loved these women so much, it was easy to believe they’d be around forever. Marissa’s throat clogged. If caring about the people around them made these women happy, Marissa wouldn’t deny them. “Johnny was the only one of Marty’s friends who went out of his way to be nice to me and we became good friends, too. For a time. But I developed a crush on Brian soon after,” she explained. “I’d forgotten all about it until we ran into each other last year.”

  Abuela Rosa smoothed Marissa’s hair behind her ear, the way she used to when she was little, and sighed a sad, tired sigh. “Yes, Sherry’s right. Our memory is not what it used to be. Why is it that you and Johnny were only good friends for a time? I forget.”

  Suspicion prickled up Marissa’s spine. “I never told you.”

  “No?” Her grandmother’s eyes now looked too confused. Maybe the prince in the elevator�
�Johnny—was right. Maybe she was too naïve.

  “Yes. My memory fails, too. Remind me again where you were the night of the masquerade party?” Ruby asked with a croaking voice.

  A thump came from underneath the table and Marissa quickly ducked to see Sherry kicking both Ruby and her grandmother.

  Marissa got up and glared at them. The little old ladies instantly disappeared, replaced by the bright-eyed, sprightly, meddlesome, and unapologetic women she knew. “You should be ashamed of yourselves, preying on my feelings like that.”

  Laughter followed her out the door. Boy, was she gullible. That was something she needed to work on if she was going to be an effective teacher. She pulled out of the parking lot and drove north through the sloping, softly winding roads and rolling hills, and gave herself a pep talk. She had to face Melinda next.

  Chapter 7

  Johnny rolled into the parking lot beside Amador Construction and Preservation, grateful it was empty. His first day had gone great, but not at all like he’d expected, and he didn’t feel like getting into it. He and the puppies stopped by to visit a veterinarian he used to date, and he was now ready to be a daddy to the pups, but not ready to explain his plans to anybody else.

  He went up to the second-floor apartment he’d been sharing with Sam the past two months.

  “Surprise!” a chorus of voices shouted the moment he walked in.

  Dan, Holly, Sam, Cassie, and their kids were standing around a cake, smiling and clapping. Johnny dropped his keys. He quickly picked them up and set the box down near the entrance. “Happy first day of work!” Cassie yelled, and she and Holly kissed his cheeks. Johnny took a quick look around. His mother wasn’t there to celebrate with them. It didn’t surprise him she wasn’t there, but it would’ve been nice if she was.

  “What did you do to your hair?” Holly laughed.

  “He thinks it makes him look professional,” Dan said as he and Sam bro-hugged him.

  “Kind of like Cass’s bun,” Sam added, pulling at the tight bun that tamed Cassie’s wild red hair.