“That was a big can of beans.”
“Yeah,” Meredith agreed. “The hugest.”
Both women sighed.
“Have you thought about telling them the truth?” Meredith asked. “The Albrights and Brent?”
“Thought about? Sure. Dozens of times. But the right moment’s never exactly been there, and then there’s Brent… He’s so…” Hope shrugged, a helpless mix of emotions. “Just everything.”
“Uh-oh. Oh, no. You’ve fallen for him?”
“No. Not totally. I’ve been…reining myself in. But, Meredith, listen. It hasn’t been easy. Once he realized how upset I was about the marriage-of-convenience thing—”
“Wait a minute. How did he learn that?”
“We had this talk,” Hope explained. “Shortly after I got here and after everyone had mistaken me for Jackie.”
“Including Brent.”
“Yes.”
“So, go on. You had this talk…”
“Yeah, and it sort of spilled out of him about how this whole marriage was some kind of business deal. I was literally shocked and hurt, on Jackie’s behalf, and I guess I didn’t hide it.”
Meredith’s swift mind put things together. “So, Brent thought you were upset—as Jackie.”
“Exactly. And after that? He seemed to change. I mean, really, really change. Not that I knew him before. But, based on what I learned about his relationship with Jackie, this became all new territory for Brent. He decided to try to do better, I guess.”
“That’s sweet,” Meredith said. Then she frowned. “And a little sick, I suppose. Since he’s trying to do better with you and not your sister.”
“I know,” Hope agreed. “It’s horribly messed up.”
“Okay,” Meredith said, holding up her hands. “Here’s what we’re going to do. Preserve our loyalty to Jackie while trying to figure this whole thing out.”
“Keep pretending, you mean?”
“Yeah, keep pretending. I mean, what else are we supposed to do? I’ve only just gotten here, Hope. I don’t even have the lay of the land. Maybe once I do, I’ll come up with a bright idea.”
“That would be amazing. Thanks.”
“You don’t need to thank me,” she said. “I’ll probably need to have my head examined for this.” She cagily surveyed Hope. “Who else knows. Anybody?”
“Just my mom, but she’s promised to be cool.”
“What a mess.”
“You’re telling me.”
“Don’t worry,” Meredith said. “We’ll get through this. It’s just until Friday, and—in the meantime—maybe we’ll figure something out.”
…
At dinner that night, Brent kept trying to hold Hope’s hand under the table. Finally, she just let him because it was becoming too awkward trying not to. Plus, people were starting to notice.
“You never answered my text,” he said while the others were engaged in conversation.
“What?” she asked, feeling lost.
“I sent you some pics. From the boat?”
She bit her lip, panic seizing her, before she coolly worked her way out of it. “Ah yeah, those were awesome. Thanks!”
“How did things go with the wedding planner?” Parker asked from the head of the table. Hope was grateful for his interruption. She’d obviously messed up by not thinking Brent might try to text her. Then, there was that little business about her sister’s mysterious recurring illness that she’d had to explain to the group. This was turning out to be a pretty unappetizing dinner, though the food itself was really good.
“Oh, fine,” Elsa said.
Ava and Margaret echoed her sentiment. “Just fine.”
“There were only a few little snags,” Hope said, sipping from her wine.
“What kind of snags?” Worry creased Meredith’s brow. Fortunately, she was seated at the opposite end of the table from Derrick, which was honestly to everyone’s benefit. The tension between them was palpable.
“We had to make a few last minute modifications,” Hope explained. “But everything will work out okay.”
“Whatever you decided is okay by me,” Brent said good-naturedly. “After all, you’re the expert.”
“She is an expert,” Meredith agreed proudly. “And so great at what she does.”
“Brent tells us you’re a relationship adviser?” Parker inquired of Meredith.
“Professional matchmaker.”
Derrick’s eyebrows arched. “You mean that’s a real job?”
“Derrick,” Elsa admonished quietly.
“And what is it you do?” Meredith didn’t quite mask the combativeness in her tone.
“I’m a boatbuilder.”
Her eyes widened in feigned interest. “Ooh, you mean the ‘boat in a bottle’ kind?”
Derrick set his napkin down on the table. “Anybody else need more water?” he asked, standing.
“I’ll take a little,” Grandpa Chad said, holding up his glass.
After Derrick departed, Meredith glanced around and said sincerely, “I hope I didn’t offend him. I honestly didn’t know what kind of boatbuilder he meant.”
William stroked his chin to disguise his smile, and Brent pursed his lips against a grin. If anyone was going to get the best of Meredith Galanes by insinuating she didn’t have a real job, it wasn’t going to be Derrick Albright. That writing was on the wall.
“It’s all right, dear,” Grandmother Margaret said. “We’re sure you meant well.”
“Who’s ready for dessert?”’ Sally asked suddenly.
“I am,” Sofia said, easing out of her chair. “I’ll come and help you serve it.”
…
As folks were clearing the table, Brent tugged Hope into the den by latching on to her hand. “Come here, you,” he said. “We haven’t had a moment alone all day.”
“That’s not true. We had our run.” Her heart hammered when she saw the predatory look in his eyes. The sad thing was, it made her spirit soar and her pulse pound harder, because all she could think of was being alone with Brent, too.