The Matchmaker Bride

by Ginny Baird

  “I’m sure that’s probably enough,” Meredith said, holding her one little book.

  “Ah yes!” Clarita agreed. “Plenty of spooky stories to keep me up at night, thanks.”

  Chad ducked behind the doorway and out of view from the den. “So how do you think it’s going?” he asked quietly. “Between my grandson and Olivia?”

  “Well, uh.” Meredith licked her lips. “She’s only just gotten here.”

  “And looks very lovely,” Clarita put in.

  “She always was a looker, that Olivia,” Grandpa Chad said. “She had a kindness about her, too.”

  “Oh, really?” Meredith knew she should feel pleased and not disappointed by this, but she wasn’t. Not completely.

  “Heart of gold.” Chad motioned Meredith and Clarita closer. “Used to foster rescue kittens. Adult cats, too. Puppies and dogs. I believe rabbits, at one point, she told us.”

  “Rabbits?”

  Grandpa Chad nodded. “Olivia’s like a regular…who’s-it? The woman who talked to the animals?”

  “Doolittle?” Clarita asked. “No, he was a doctor, a man.”

  “Not Doolittle.” Chad shook his head. “The one who lived in the woods with all the dwarves?”

  “Snow White?” Meredith asked weakly. What? Now I’m competing with Disney Princesses? No. Not competing! Where was her head?

  “Oh! Well, that’s…awesome,” Meredith said, regrouping. “And great information to have. Thanks so much for sharing it, Chad.”

  The older man nodded. “There was not one thing wrong with that girl besides her age and immaturity. Derrick had those problems, too. Now that they’re past them…” He smiled. “There could be a happier ending in store.”

  “Could be!” Meredith agreed.

  “He’s a very eligible bachelor, your grandson,” Clarita said. “It’s amazing he wasn’t snatched up earlier.”

  Chad confided behind the back of his hand. “Oh, there’ve been plenty of single ladies trying, believe me. But the lad’s heart wasn’t in it. Now we all know why.”

  Derrick appeared in the doorway to the library. “Grandmother Margaret wanted me to find you and let you know we’ve moved onto the porch. Can I get you ladies a drink?”

  “I’d love a glass of wine,” Meredith said. “Red, please.”

  “I’ll take the same.” Clarita nodded, her arms heavy with books. Grandpa Chad relieved her of them.

  “Here, dear, let me take these for you and set them on a side table in the den. That way you’ll remember to take them to the carriage house later.” Clarita thanked him, tittering on about which book she’d read first, and followed Chad out of the library.

  Then it was just Derrick and Meredith. “Wow,” she said, beaming up at him with the most pleasant smile she could muster. “Olivia seems great.”

  “Yeah.” He shifted on his feet. “Are you all right?”

  “Me? Mmm-hmm, yeah. Why?”

  “You just seem…not sure.”

  “I’m fine,” she said. “Really, really good! You?”

  He rubbed his cheek. “I’m good, too.”

  “And happy?”

  He stared down into her eyes, then he blinked. “Happy? Yeah, of course. This is…great. Thanks for arranging it.”

  She nudged him playfully. “It’s only going to get greater.”

  He touched her arm and her pulse fluttered. “Mer,” he whispered. “About Olivia…” He leaned closer and she stared up into his dreamy blue eyes.

  “Huh?”

  “She keeps looking at me. Like…differently. I’m not sure what she’s thinking. Is she interested, or? Maybe just trying to figure me out?”

  “You mean you can’t tell?” she teased. “Considering all your experience with women?”

  “Yeah, but I haven’t experienced this one in a decade.”

  She lightly shoved his arm. “Derrick, it’s still so early,” she said in low tones. “So hard to say.”

  “What?” He grinned. “Come on, Mer.”

  She rolled her eyes at the nickname but truthfully it was growing on her. He wasn’t nearly as awful as she used to think. He actually had a few positive personality traits.

  “We’re a team here,” he said. “I value your opinion.”

  She arched her eyebrows at him. That was a first.

  He chuckled at her reaction. “You’re a matchmaker, right? Maybe you have a feeling?”

  She had a feeling all right and she wasn’t liking it at all. The feeling that Olivia was beyond-belief-perfect and that no single guy on earth could resist falling for her, especially a guy who’d spent the past decade pining for her. “I think…yeah. Things are going well. But, Derrick,” she whispered. “Let’s give this a little more time, okay?”

  “Oh, right. Sure.” He glanced toward the den and the bar. “I’d better go and grab that wine for you and your aunt. See you on the porch?”

  “Yeah. Good.”

  …

  “Olivia!” Sofia said once they’d all made it outside. “I want to hear all about you. I can’t believe you’re a park ranger now. That’s exciting.”

  “Yeah, it is,” Olivia said. “And perfect for me. I get to spend lots of time outdoors.”

  Meredith could just see her now, talking to deer, black bears, and rabbits.

  “That’s a far cry from where you started, dear,” Margaret said. “With law and at Sofia and Sally’s practice.”

  “That’s true.” Olivia gazed out at the horizon before answering. “But, let’s say life had other plans.” She turned to William and Sofia. “What about you guys? Did you ever buy that cute bungalow you wanted?”

  “We did,” William replied.

  Sofia smiled beside him, sipping from her bubbly water. “Bought and renovated. It looks really super. We’d love for you to visit sometime.”

  Olivia’s eyes glistened and Meredith could tell she was touched. “I’d like that. I’d like that a lot. Thanks, guys.”

  “Derrick’s been busy,” Grandpa Chad hastened to add. “He was promoted to lead instructor at the boat school, and then just last fall became its director.”

  “How fab,” Olivia said.

  “He’s very talented,” Meredith added. She glanced at Derrick whose forehead rose, like he wondered what she was doing. “He’s working on a couple of amazing projects right now.”

  “At the boat school?” William asked him.

  “No,” Derrick said. “Home projects.” He shot Meredith a silencing look, but she hadn’t intended to blab anything. She was just talking him up in front of Olivia, which was part of her job. Although sort of a stinky one at the moment. Derrick didn’t need any talking up. If he did, then Olivia probably didn’t deserve him. Still, she wanted to help.

  “They’re top-secret,” she reported, as if she was in the know. Because she actually was. For whatever reason, she found it gratifying that she knew something that Olivia didn’t. She certainly couldn’t talk to animals. When she’d commanded her ex-Uncle Raul’s bulldog to sit, he’d only stared at her.

  Olivia giggled like she was remembering something. “Ooh, Derrick was always really great at keeping secrets.” She stared at him. “Like about our crazy elopement.”

  “That was crazy,” he said with an uncomfortable chuckle.

  Meredith begrudgingly continued her role in helping things along. That’s what professionals did. Some days your heart was in your work more than others, but dedicated matchmakers soldiered on.

  “Bet those were good times,” she said sunnily to Olivia and Derrick. “Back in the day.”

  Olivia looked wistful a moment. “Yeah.”

  Derrick shook his head. “When we weren’t fighting and tearing each other’s hair out.”

  “You were such a stubborn guy,” Olivia said, teasing. “I was alway
s butting heads with you.”

  He rolled his eyes. “You’re the one who inspired the headbutting as far as I recall.”

  “Not so. That was you.”

  Meredith watched with a keen eye. There was still tension between them. Maybe some low-lying heat, too.

  Good. This was good.

  So why did Meredith feel so terrible inside. What on earth was wrong with her?

  “Yeah.” He exhaled, apparently mulling over the happy memories. About fighting, apparently. “I guess we were a pair.”

  Olivia let out a peal of laughter that resonated toward the waves, and Meredith’s knee started bouncing. Oh nooo… Even her laugh was pitch perfect. Musical. Like it’d come off a soundtrack somewhere.

  “Oh, Derrick.” The woman giggled in a ridiculously beautiful way. It sounded like champagne bubbles of joy floating up toward the ceiling. “Those definitely were the days.” She cheerily studied the rest of them, then gratefully changed the subject. “When does Sally get here?”

  “Tomorrow,” Margaret said. “Just in time for the baby shower.”

  Sofia stuttered with surprise. “Baby what?”

  “It’s just a little fun time that Sally has planned for you,” Grandmother Margaret said.

  “A hen party sounds fine,” Grandpa Chad said. He nodded at his grandsons. “Maybe you boys and I can go out on my boat.”

  “Not so fast, darling.” Margaret leaned toward him. “The men are invited, too.”

  William sank down in his chair. “Oh boy.”

  Clarita appeared caught in the middle. “Don’t mind me. I’ll be sure to stay out of your way in the guesthouse.”

  “Nonsense,” Margaret said. “You and Meredith must be there. Brent and Hope are arriving at four.”

  Derrick appeared pumped to learn his brother and his wife would get there a day early. “That’s awesome. I can’t wait to see them.”

  “Yeah,” Meredith said. “Me, too.” While she’d kept up a ton with Jackie, who lived in Boston, she hadn’t seen Hope since last year.

  “I always loved Brent,” Olivia said. “So stable. And shrewd. Nobody could ever pull anything off on him!” She stared at the pale faces around her and everyone who had frozen in place. “What is it? What did I say?”

  Next, she misjudged her mistake. “Oh no. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it to sound like I was playing favorites. Naturally, William,” she said, addressing him, “I’ve always had the greatest respect for you. Loved Sally, too. So much sass! And well…” She glanced helplessly at Chad and Margaret. “Pretty much all of you.”

  Meredith sighed. “The Albrights are pretty easy to love,” she said mistakenly out loud. Her face burned hot and she avoided Derrick’s gaze as Titi Clarita gave her the side-eye.

  “Thanks, Meredith,” Margaret said warmly, accepting the compliment like the gracious hostess she was. She tried soothing Olivia next. “And it’s no problem, sweetheart. About Brent. We know what you meant.”

  “Oh, um…good.” Olivia drained her wine, appearing very intent on her toenail polish, which was expertly applied.

  Where had she found a salon out in the wilderness?

  …

  Dinnertime was pleasant enough, but it mainly centered on Olivia. How did she like her job as a ranger?

  Loved it. It was such a “natural” fit. Ha-ha-ha!

  Meredith had wanted to hold her head at the laughter.

  Fortunately, she’d restrained herself.

  What made her go in that direction?

  She’d always been a fan of the outdoors. That answer had caused Derrick to wince a little, but he’d covered it quickly.

  “Can I get anyone more coffee?” he asked, standing to refill his cup.

  “I’ll take some, thank you,” Clarita said.

  Meredith decided she’d better not. She was already jittery enough. Olivia sat next to Derrick and Grandpa Chad was to her left. Meredith was on Derrick’s other side near Grandmother Margaret and Sofia. William and Clarita were across the way.

  Meredith picked up her fork to savor her last bite of strawberry cheesecake. Grandmother Margaret was a baking fiend in the kitchen. It was no wonder that Grandpa Chad stayed a little thick around the middle. Margaret managed to stay slim, though. Maybe because she never stayed seated for long. “Julia seems to be sleeping like a lamb.”

  “Shh,” Sofia smiled softly. “Don’t jinx it.”

  The next instant, a sputtering cry broke out on William’s monitor. He’d laid it on the sideboard and reached for it behind him. “No truer words.”

  Margaret shook her head. “Oh dear.”

  “Babies that age never sleep for long. At least our Parker didn’t,” Chad volunteered.

  “I’m sorry that he and Mom will miss the fun and games tomorrow,” Derrick said. “Your folks, too, Sofia.”

  “My folks can probably do without the fun and games this time,” Sofia said.

  “This time?” Clarita questioned.

  “There were quite a few party games leading up to our wedding.” Sofia giggled like she hadn’t minded. “Sort of like the ones we played on the boat?”

  Meredith chuckled at the memory of the rowdy bachelorette party. “Oh.”

  “My folks were a little thrown off guard.” Sofia pulled a face. “They’re very serious.”

  “But terrific people,” Grandpa Chad said, finishing his dessert.

  Julia’s whimper became a whine and Sofia turned to William. He’d already stood up. “I’ll get her.” He exchanged a knowing look with his wife and rolled his eyes toward Olivia. “You probably want to stay and visit for a while.”

  Sofia nodded her thanks, addressing Olivia. “I was thinking you and I could take a walk after dinner? Before it gets too dark out.”

  “That would be great,” Olivia said.

  Derrick shot a questioning look at Meredith and she kicked him under the table. Olivia getting in good again with the family would work well for everyone. Besides that, it wasn’t like he was needing to work too hard to recapture Olivia’s interest. The woman’s interest in the youngest Albright brother was written all over her face.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Once the kitchen was tidied up—and after Meredith promised to check in the next morning—Clarita retreated to the guesthouse with her big pile of books. Derrick’s grandparents were clearly tired and Sofia and Olivia had not yet returned from their walk. Since William was still occupied upstairs with the baby, Derrick suggested to Meredith that they should return to his cabin and she’d readily agreed.

  Derrick had no clue what she’d been concocting in that matchmaking mind of hers, but he was eager to find out. “So,” he said on their drive home. “I think things went okay, don’t you?”

  Meredith stared out her window. The sun dipped low in the sky edging toward sunset, but it wouldn’t be down for an hour. “Yeah. I mean, Olivia seems perfect.”

  He frowned. That was an odd choice of words. “Nobody’s perfect, come on.”

  “Derrick,” Meredith said seriously. “She didn’t have a hair out of place.”

  “Maybe that’s because I’m no longer pulling on it,” he joked.

  “Were you really that bad?” She glanced at him. “The two of you constantly at each other’s throats?”

  “Not constantly. We did have our happy moments, Sweet Pea and I.”

  She pulled a face. “Sweet Pea? That’s what you called her?”

  “Well, I definitely didn’t call her Mer.”

  “Funny.” She scowled and slumped back in her seat. “I actually kind of wish you didn’t call me that, either.”

  Wait. “Why not?”

  “It sounds like a horse.”

  He chuckled at her indignance. “Neigh, neigh.”

  She harrumphed. “It’s no wonder you and Olivia fought.
You bring out the worst in people.”

  Why was she being so cranky? She should be elated, right? Her plan was working. Olivia was here. For better or worse. He hoped for the better, but he wasn’t sure.

  “Not always,” he answered. “I’ve been told—as an instructor—I bring out the best.”

  “I meant personally.”

  He grinned, attempting to encourage her. “Personally, I seem to be bringing out the best in you. Just look! Today went super.”

  “Super. Yeah.”

  She mumbled something under her breath. Maybe she was grumpy from thinking so hard about Olivia? If he was honest, obsessing about Olivia made him a little testy, too. He let out a breath, ready to let all that frustration go.

  There was one thing he could do to cheer her up.

  At least, he hoped it’d cheer her up.

  She didn’t say much else until he pulled into his driveway. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. Or maybe it was a great idea. There was only one way to find out.

  “You know.” He cleared his throat, feeling slightly geeky about what he was about to do. But no. This was good. He should go on ahead. “I made something for you. Or, I’m making it still. It’s almost done.”

  Her big, dark eyes went wide. “You what?”

  “A gift, Mer,” he rasped. “I was going to give it to you later, but I figure.” He shrugged. “Why wait?”

  She gaped at him. “Why?”

  “Just because.”

  She studied him curiously, but he could tell he’d piqued her interest. Good.

  “Oh. Wow.” A smile tugged at her lips. “That was nice of you.”

  He grinned. “Want to see it?”

  This time her grin was huge. There’s the money note. “Sure.”

  They reached his workshop and he flipped on the light. Then he led her over to the workbench and the project that was laid sideways but facing them. “This, Matchmaker Lady, is for you and all those shoes of yours.”

  She goggled at the short cabinet with an open front and multiple small compartments sectioned off, and tears sprang to her eyes. “Der-rick.” She cupped her hands to her mouth. “You didn’t!”

  He gestured to the rack he’d built out of quality white ash. He still needed to stain it. “It’ll hold twenty-four pairs. So.” His forehead rose. “That should get you through, I don’t know, a week?”