Chapter Thirteen

Derrick hefted Clarita’s heavy suitcase into the trunk of her rental car, and glanced at Meredith who sat behind the wheel of her convertible. “Are you sure you’re okay going without me?” It was warm and sunny so she had the top down and her oversize sunglasses on.

“Oh yeah, just fine. I remember how to get there. Three stone bridges then a left and a right. Right?” Margaret had told them at lunch that the guesthouse would be unlocked and that Clarita could settle in at any time.

Derrick smiled, probably glad to be left alone for a while. “Correct.”

Clarita hopped into her car preparing to back out of the narrow driveway first. Meredith would follow, then ease ahead of her on the road and lead the way. Clarita leaned out her window, talking to Derrick. “Thanks for your help arranging my stay at the guesthouse.”

“Thanks for your help in the Olivia department.” He winked and Clarita actually tittered.

“It’s not that your place isn’t great—”

“No worries. I get it. The guest cottage is much better.”

Clarita cast a worried glance ahead of her at Meredith’s car. “I hope I’m making the right call leaving the two of you alone.”

“You have my word as a gentleman. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Meredith laid on her horn. “Let’s get this show on the road!”

“That’s my cue!” Clarita said, inserting her key in the ignition.

“Safe driving,” Derrick said. “Enjoy your dinner with my grandparents, and Sofia and William.”

“And Julia!” Clarita said brightly.

Derrick smiled. “Can’t forget about her.”

Meredith began backing up, forcing her aunt to do the same. Clarita gave Derrick a parting wave.

As Meredith drove past Derrick, she said. “Ah, I almost forgot! Can you take the Crock-Pot container out of the fridge and plug in the base? Set it on level two?”

“No problem.” He pulled his cell from his pocket and stared at it.

“Derrick?” Meredith asked, unable to read his blank expression.

“It’s from William,” he said, appearing dazed. “Sofia’s already heard back from Olivia.”

“And?”

“She said yes. She’s coming tomorrow.”

Meredith had a weird sinking sensation in her stomach. Which was stupid and completely wrong. She was supposed to be glad about this, and she was. Elated. Yay! Somehow, though, that mental cheer sounded grumpy.

“That’s great!” she said, forcing her brightest smile. “Such great news. And tomorrow already? Wow.” Her pulse raced because she understood that the tables were turning. She and Derrick would fast forward from planning into action really soon. And that action would be all about getting Olivia to fall back in love with Derrick.

“Yeah,” he said, still looking stunned. “How about that?”

…

Meredith was halfway to the Albrights’ estate with Clarita following along when her phone rang. “Oh, hi Mom!”

“What’s going on with Clarita?” Dolores asked. “She was supposed to call me this morning, but all I got was a text. Something about lunch plans but she never followed up.”

“Ah yeah. That’s because we got invited to the Albrights.”

“Derrick’s parents?”

“His grandparents’ place. Summer place. Anyway…” Meredith held her breath, recalling her indignance at being babysat. “What in the world possessed you to send Titi Clarita up here?”

“What on earth possessed you to move in with Derrick?”

“I didn’t ‘move in.’ Not in the sense that you’re thinking.”

“I’d like to speak to Clarita, please. Can you put her on?”

“Can’t. She’s in the other car.”

“Other one? Wait. Where are you going?”

“On…um…a short tour of Blue Hill.”

“Well, let’s hope it’s very brief, because I’d love to hear what she has to say.”

“I’ll ask her to call you—soon. In the meantime, you honestly don’t need to worry.”

“It’s not me. It’s Gustavo I’m concerned about.”

“You can tell Dad things are fine. Totally aboveboard. Derrick and I are just…friends.” She had a hard time bringing herself to say the word, after their confusing interactions in his workshop. For that fraction of a second they’d felt like more than that. Thank goodness her Titi Clarita had interrupted, because neither she nor Derrick wanted a risky involvement. She was a professional anyway, and he’d essentially hired her to make his match.

“Friends with which kind of benefits?” her mom prodded.

“Zero,” Meredith answered. “Look, it’s a long story, okay? When Titi Clarita gives you a call, I’ll ask her to explain everything. In the meantime, all you need to know is that I’m here in Blue Hill on a mission,” she said, using her aunt’s words. “A mission of mercy—helping Derrick get back together with his ex-wife, Olivia.”

Her mom heaved a sigh. “Gracias a Dios, that means there will be no monkey business going on. Not when he’s in love with her.”

Meredith rolled her eyes. “Exactly. And, hey. I’m not totally unvirtuous, either.”

“No! I mean, yes. Yes, I get that. I know your judgment’s good, for the most part.”

“And it’s my judgment that matters, Mom. Whatever I choose to do—or not do—with my own life is completely up to me. We’ve had this same talk I don’t know how many times. I’m thirty years old now and self-supporting.”

“I know, I know,” her mom said. “It’s just that we worry.”

“Well, try worrying a little less.”

Meredith told her parents what she needed to in order to calm them, then basically did as she pleased. With no serious guy in the picture for the past couple of years that meant not much.

“Did Titi Clarita give you the rosary?”

“Um, yeah. Thanks for that!” she said, trying to remember where she’d put it. Maybe in the bottom of her makeup bag. She should probably get it out and say a prayer or two. With Olivia arriving tomorrow, she needed all the positive energy she could get.

She flipped on her turn signal, spying the familiar Albright family flag by the mailbox. Clarita was right behind her.

“Look, I’ve gotta run, but I’ll ask Titi Clarita to call you.”

“Good. That’s good. And really good that she’s there.”

“Uh-huh.”

“You can’t play things too safe, mija. I saw Derrick online and he’s very nice-looking. Even if you think you two aren’t interested in each other, sometimes hormones take over.”

“Mom!”

“Hang on. I’m getting a hot flash. I need a sip of water.”

“All right. I’ll let you go. Bye!”

…

Meredith showed her aunt around the cute guest cottage situated about two hundred yards from the main house and facing the water. It had a big bedroom on the main floor with a tiny kitchen and a sweet living area overlooking a deck with a gazebo and the bay. There was a small den and another bedroom with twin beds downstairs, where Meredith had stayed last summer.

It was hard not to think about all the craziness that had gone on then, but she was glad everything had worked out okay. One thing she never could have predicted was returning to Blue Hill and partnering with Derrick on a project of any kind.

The man had irked her beyond belief at the wedding, but she’d apparently been unable to forget him. Why else had he popped into her brain when Tanya had put her on the spot? Heat flooded her face when she guessed at the answer. It had to do with their intimate moonlight talk. That night after the bouquet toss when he’d almost taken her in his arms, and part of her had wanted him to do just that—so badly.

“This is very nice.” Clarita surveyed her surroundings with a smile. “It will certainly do.”

“A lot better than the pull-out at the cabin, huh?”

“A lot better for me, yes.” She gave Meredith a sly once-over. “What’s really going on between you and Derrick?”

“What?” Meredith asked, remaining as guileless as possible.

“There’s some kind of tension there,” Clarita noted. “Or is a better word for it ‘chemistry’?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, although she most certainly did. There was chemistry between her and Derrick, darn it, and it had always been there. Now that they were getting along, it was hard to say whether that made things better or worse.

“I saw the look on your face when I surprised you in the workshop, mija. On both of your faces.”

“Titi Clarita,” Meredith asked firmly. “Where is this going?” As a professional matchmaker, she knew that relationships weren’t built on chemistry alone. Couples needed other things to glue them together. Common interests and goals. And right now her and Derrick’s interests were aligned and their goals were in sync, but not in ways that brought them romantically together.

She was getting syndicated and he was getting Olivia.

“I just want to make sure you’ll be okay with him out there, just the two of you all alone in the middle of the woods.”

“While plotting together to get him back with his ex!”

Clarita shrugged and studied the kitchen with its quaint glass-front cupboards and granite countertops. “Would you like a cup of coffee?” she asked, noting the machine.

“Sorry, I can’t stay. I’m expecting an email from Beth this afternoon, and I want to be back at the cabin with my computer handy. Oh! I nearly forgot. Mom wants you to call her.”

“I’ll bet. She’s been texting me nonstop.”

“What are you going to say?”

“That everything’s under control, because it seems that it is.”

“Will you tell her where you’re staying?”

Clarita stretched out her manicured hands, which were loaded with rings on nearly every finger. “Probably not. We wouldn’t want her and your dad coming up, too.”

“No.” Meredith’s heart pounded. “We definitely don’t need that.”

“Don’t worry about anything, hmm?” Clarita said. Her dark eyes twinkled. “Once I assure your mom that you and Derrick aren’t actually involved, things will be fine.”

“Great. After that’s settled, maybe you won’t need to stay?” Meredith said with a hopeful lilt. “You can leave Blue Hill in the morning.”

Clarita appeared crushed. “What? And miss the christening?”

“You didn’t even know William and Sofia—or Julia—until today.”

“Yes, but… I feel like we’ve bonded already.”

“Titi Clarita.”

Clarita frowned. “You can’t honestly expect me to go? Walk out on a family celebration?”

“They’re not your family!”

She eyed Meredith in a curious way. “Maybe not yet.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing, maybe nothing.” She cocked her chin. “Just that I have a feeling.”

“If that feeling has to do with me and Derrick getting together, I can tell you it’s wrong.” Her stomach churned and her palms felt sweaty. Why? It wasn’t like she was lying to her aunt.

Her face burned hot.

Or was she deceiving herself?

“You mean to say you’re not attracted to him?”

Meredith recalled that moonlight moment and shoved it aside. Derrick sure had. So she could, too. Extra hard. “Absolutely not. And I can guarantee the feeling is mutual.”

“Maybe that’s for the best,” Clarita said. “With Olivia on her way.”

“It’s definitely for the best. Derrick and I are like oil and water.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” she said, looking like she didn’t.

“You are going to help with Olivia, right? Titi Clarita, I can’t have you acting on a ‘feeling’ and completely ruining the plan.”

“Of course I’ll help. I’ll put in a good word for Derrick, and his awesome family. Although, honestly, Olivia probably can figure those things out for herself.”

Relief swamped through her. “That would really be so super. Anything you could do or say.” Meredith glanced around the room. “Is there anything else you need?”

“No. I can make myself comfortable here. Margaret told me there’d be snacks in the fridge and to help myself to anything. I’m invited to dinner at the main house at seven.”

“They’re being very kind to include you.”

“I know, and I won’t take their hospitality for granted. I plan to offer to help if I can.”

“Thank you, Titi Clarita,” Meredith said. “Also for your help with Mom.”

“My big sister is a little uptight, but she means well. You should have seen how quickly she packed her—” Clarita stopped herself. “Ay.”

A light bulb went off. “She was planning to come at first. Not you. Right?”

“I did catch her packing a bag,” Clarita admitted. “But I talked her down off that limb.”

“How?”

“By saying my schedule’s much more flexible—which it is, truthfully. And offering to take charge of the situation if it looked bad.” Clarita arched an eyebrow. “But you have to know that I wouldn’t have seriously interfered if I’d found you and Derrick together—and happy.”

“But, when you showed up, you said—”

“Hija, I wasn’t born yesterday. But also, not that long ago, either. I’m ten years younger than your mom, but mentally.” She tapped her temple. “I’m your age.” She proudly swept her hands across her figure. “Physically, too.”

Meredith laughed at her aunt’s conceit, conceding it was true. Clarita did keep herself in incredible shape, which probably hadn’t hurt in attracting so many husbands.

“In any case,” Clarita said. “If I hadn’t volunteered to come, it would have been your mom standing here in my place.”

“Yeah. That could have been bad. Mom’s a little pushy.”

“But she means well, and loves you very much.”

“I know that’s true.”

“I love you, too.” Clarita smiled. “That’s why I’m going to do everything in my power to help you land that television contract, including telling your mom I’m keeping an eye on you.”

She winked and Meredith hugged her.

“Aww, thank you, Titi Clarita. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”