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.

He felt conflicted about the conversation they’d had. He’d always wondered what it’d be like to see her again, but the reality hadn’t stacked up to his fantasy. Once again, he reminded himself of Meredith’s advice—don’t rush it. He and Olivia had rushed into marriage the first time, so they really did need to take things slow. They were older, wiser, and as Olivia’s new career made it clear, they were different people. Getting to know her again would take time. Maybe he’d finally get there, especially once Meredith left Blue Hill. He found her presence…distracting.

She caught his eyes on her, blushed, and quickly turned away, chatting with Sally. Sally and Meredith really seemed to be getting along. Maybe this go round Sally and Olivia would, too.

Sofia smiled down at the baby who’d drifted off to sleep in her arms. “I’ll just watch.”

“Oh, no you won’t,” Sally said. “Let’s put her down for her nap in the porta-crib in the den. If she wakes up, I’ll get her.”

“But—”

“Come on,” Sally coaxed. “Even moms deserve some fun.”

“Yeah,” Olivia concurred, chiming in like she was already a part of the family.

William nodded, shooting a gaze at the baby dolls. “I’m not doing any of this alone.”

“I’m not doing any of it at all,” Grandpa Chad said.

Grandmother Margaret’s light eyes twinkled. “Oh yes you are, Great-Grandpa.”

…

“Okay!” Sally called minutes later, taking charge. “Let the games begin!”

Derrick went along with everything because the other guys did, too, and hey, who was he to grumble at William and Sofia’s baby shower? The first game was a contest between “the boys” and “the girls” about pinning random baby things on a clothesline. The girls had squeaked out a narrow victory—in large part thanks to Meredith, by hanging up a higher number of items first. She’d been plodding along in her super tall shoes in the beginning, but then her competitive nature had won out and she’d kicked them off. He’d laughed so hard at her determination, which had actually paid off since her team won.

Then the boys took the lead in the relay race with people placing balloons under their shirts to look like fake baby bellies. That one had been pretty hilarious to watch. All the while Olivia had sent him happy, secretive glances, like she was enjoying being part of the fun and around his family again. He couldn’t help but wonder if it was all an act, though, because when she didn’t think he was looking at her, Olivia seemed to mostly be yawning or wearing a frown.

Meredith, on the other hand, was so engaged in the party it was hard to stop paying attention to her instead of Olivia. She got into the games in a very intense way. Highly competitive. Not at all like him. Okay. Maybe he’d been slightly competitive, too. He’d beat all the men across the finish line during the fake-baby-belly race, hadn’t he? That was after seeing Meredith secure that clothesline win for the ladies by nearly trampling over the others in her barefooted haste.

“This game will come as second nature to some of you,” Sally said, prepping them for their final challenge. She gestured to the baby dolls. “It has to do with changing diapers.”

Brent chuckled uncomfortably, but Grandpa Chad and William seemed cool with it.

Derrick wasn’t sure how he felt about changing baby doll diapers. What if he did something wrong and tainted Olivia’s view of his daddy potential? Or Meredith’s? He shook his head, wondering why Meredith’s opinion of him even mattered in the baby department. It wasn’t like he and she were going to go making babies together.

Okay. He really didn’t need to let his mind go there.

He glanced at Olivia, reminding himself that she was the woman he should be thinking of as mommy material, but somehow didn’t feel that vibe. He’d believed before it was because they’d been younger and not ready. Now he wasn’t sure what it was. He still didn’t feel ready with her. In the future, maybe he’d come around… Assuming they started over and got remarried. But Olivia being a mom? Hmm. He tried to picture it in his head, but drew a great big blank. It was like imagining a cartoon dialogue bubble with nothing written inside it.

“We’re going to have five teams,” Sally said. “Everyone will draw a playing card and you’ll find the person you’re matched with. There are two Aces, two Kings, two Queens, two Jacks, and two Tens.” She indicated the small pile of presorted playing cards on a side table. They’d been anchored by a bowl of nuts against the wind. “Sofia?” she asked, “Will you deal?”

“Sure!”

Grandmother Margaret got paired with Olivia.

Grandpa Chad with Hope.

William with Clarita.

Brent with Sofia.

And Ten of Hearts with Ten of Clubs, Derrick with Meredith.

Well, fine. If they were both out to win this, they might as well be working together.

Sally reached for a tote bag resting on the porch swing. “Grandmother, do you mind passing these out?” Next, she addressed William. “And could you grab those beach towels from the sofa in the den? Each team will need one of those, too.”

“What?” Sofia asked blankly.

“Things could get messy.”

“She’s really thought these imaginary messes out,” William joked, returning in short order with the towels.

Sally grinned slyly. “Maybe my imagination’s better than yours.”

Margaret peeked into her bag. “Travel packs of baby wipes and fresh diapers,” she reported all around.

“Each team gets one set of supplies and a baby,” Sally said. “You’ll each have sixty seconds to change your baby and leave its little bottom squeaky clean.”

“That hardly sounds like a contest.” Grandpa Chad winked at Hope. “I could probably do that job with my eyes closed.”

“I’m sure that you could,” Margaret said, handing him a diaper and some wipes. “But, let’s see if you can beat this old pro with ’em open,” she said, clearly speaking of herself.

“I’m so glad you’re on my team.” Olivia sighed. “I was never into babysitting.”

William glanced at Clarita. “I’ve got us covered, unless you—”

“Oh, I’ve changed plenty of diapers,” she chimed in. “Including Meredith’s.”

Meredith reddened. “Thanks, Titi Clarita.”

“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” Sofia said. “We were all changed sometime.” She smiled at Brent, who appeared a bit pale. “Don’t worry. We’ll do fine.”

“Sure,” he said, “as long as you do it.”

Meredith peered up at Derrick and giggled. He didn’t know why. The game wasn’t that funny. In fact, it sounded really straight-forward. All you had to do was process things quickly.

Sally walked around the porch, presenting each pair with a baby doll.

Olivia wrinkled her nose. “Does anybody else smell peanut butter?”

Meredith pursed her lips together and Derrick’s forehead shot up. “What’s going on?”

“No consulting in advance,” Sally said. “Except for on one topic. Each pair will need to decide who changes the baby and who’ll clean up afterward.”

“Clean up, ha!” William waved his hand. “If this were a real infant,” he said, holding his baby doll, “then maybe I’d be worried about it.”

“Funny,” Grandmother Margaret said. “I smell peanuts, too.”

“No time to waste!” Sally warned. “Who’s changing?”

Olivia vehemently shook her head.

“I will,” Margaret said.

Hope deferred to the older gentleman. “Grandpa Chad, would you like to—?”

“No, dear. You go ahead. I’ll do the dirty work after.” He chuckled.

William shrugged at Clarita.

“Why don’t you?” she said. “I’m probably out of practice.”

“Sofia’s taking the bullet for us,” Brent said.

Sofia grinned playfully. “Oh no, I wouldn’t dare. It’s probably good for you to learn how to. Seeing as how you’re newlyweds and all.”

“Wait? What? No.”

“Come on, Brent,” Derrick teased. “Be a man.”

Hope chuckled at this.

“I think you should both be men,” Meredith said, announcing her challenge. She addressed Sally, without giving him a choice. “Derrick will change for us!”

He cocked his chin at her and there was a defiant twinkle in her eyes. Those pretty Dark ‘n’ Stormy eyes. No. Stop. Get your head back in the game, dude.

Sally readied her stopwatch and glanced at the others.

Margaret began to lay down her doll but Sally interceded.

“Not yet, Grandmother! I haven’t started timing.”

“Oh,” the older woman said. “Sorry!” Derrick chuckled to himself, thinking a competitive nature ran in his family.

He assessed the situation, surmising he and Meredith would have more room to work in the yard. “Let’s go down to the patio,” he told her. “No one will get in our way there.”

“Good idea.” She checked her shoes and asked Sally, “Will there be running this time?”

“No running,” Sally said. “Just changing. Pick the spot where you want to work and then when I blow the whistle, you’ll all get started.”

They reached the patio and Derrick whispered, “When it begins, you lay down the towel and hand me the wipes. I’ll remove the diaper and swab the deck.”

“Aye, aye, Captain!” Her eyes danced. “You sure you know what you’re doing?”

“It was your idea I do it,” he contested. “Besides…” He shot her a confident grin. “How hard can it be?”

“Just don’t hurt the baby.”

“Funny.”

“I mean it. Olivia might be judging you.”

He peeked up at the porch to find Olivia peering his way. He gave her a small wave, then set his eyes back on Meredith. “We’re going to win this.”

“O-kay.”

“On your mark,” Sally said. “Get set.” She blew her whistle. “Go! Sixty seconds!”

Meredith spread out their towel and Derrick threw down the doll. Hard.

“Derrick, whoa.”

“Sorry.” He patted the thing on the head. “Didn’t mean that.”

“It would be wailing by now. Probably brain damaged.”

“You’re not helping.” He pried at the tiny strips of tape, but they didn’t budge.

“Get your fingernails underneath.”

“Fingernails?” He gawked at her. “What fingernails?”

“Maybe I should do it. Move over!”

“Ah-ah!” Sally called. “No changing places! Too late!”

“Fine.” Derrick tucked his fingers under the rim of the paper diaper and yanked hard. Rip! That did it! One side was free. But—yuck. Nasty. What’s that cool, slimy stuff?

He pulled his hand back in horror holding it up in the sun. Brown goo trickled down his fingers and his stomach roiled. “What the…?”

Meredith cackled with laughter and hoots and hollers broke out on the porch.

Olivia groaned like she was about to hurl. “Oh gross!”

“It’s only peanut butter,” Margaret said sternly. “Now, hurry up and hand me those wipes.”

Hope was busily cleaning up her baby and handing soiled wipes to Chad who accepted them, stone-faced, while Brent sat back on his haunches and stared.

“Come on, Brent!” Sofia urged. “Don’t give up!”

“Fifteen seconds!” Sally called.

“What?” Derrick sent Meredith a panicked look. “Already?” He held out his hand like a doctor awaiting a scalpel. “Wipes!”

She tore a couple free from their dispenser handing them to him. “Wipes!”

Derrick removed the rest of the diaper and grimaced. Only peanut butter, he told himself. Right. He’d probably never eat peanut butter and jelly again.

“Ten!” Sally announced.

“Nothing like pressure,” Derrick groused. He picked up the naked doll and held it upside down clamping its bulbous head between his knees. He quickly swabbed its front and bottom then scissored its legs apart, one of them forward and the other one back.

“Derrick!” Meredith said aghast. “What are you—?”

“Not now. I’m busy.” He held a wipe at both ends and buffed back and forth—and back and forth—until the plastic shone clean. Then he laid down the baby, as Meredith watched wide-eyed.

“Diaper!” He reached up and she was ready.

In a flash, he had the darn thing on, and had sealed the straps.

“Done!” He yelped just as Sally’s whistle blew.

Derrick stared up at Meredith, sweat beading his brow. “How’d we do?” he asked, panting.

Meredith surveyed the others and gaped at him, amazed. “I think we won.”

“And the winners are,” Sally said with a flair, “Derrick and Meredith!”

He leaped to his feet and raised the baby doll high above his head, dancing around like a fool. “Ye-es! Yes! Woo-hoo!” Who knew it could feel so great diapering a baby?

Until…wait.

Something that felt like bird poo plopped down and hit him on the head. Ick. He reached into his hair, discovering it was more of that sticky peanut butter.

He wiped down his head.

Meredith grinned and dabbed at his temple, further cleaning him up.

“I think you missed a spot.” She giggled but he wasn’t mad. His heart had never been so light. He was energized, like he and Meredith had just pulled off the world’s greatest feat.

From the look on her stunningly beautiful face, she felt the same way.

“Great job, Daddy.”

“We make a pretty great team, huh?”

Heat flickered in her eyes. Warm heat. Like the glow from a low-burning flame.

She blushed. “Yeah.”

His heart thudded and his neck grew hot.

And, suddenly, it was just the two of them.

The rest of the world melted away.