Lucky Charm (22 page)

A series of “mmm-hmms” followed as Derek listened to whatever his ex-wife had to say.

“I understand, but I have her party planned here.”

Gabrielle narrowed her gaze. Obviously the conversation involved Holly.

“That's generous of you, but wasn't the idea for me to spend more quality time with her?” he asked.

“Mmm-hmm. Yes, I'd miss her, too, but—”

His gaze met Gabrielle's, and in his eyes she saw a wealth of pain. “I'll talk to her and get back to you tomorrow.” He hung up without saying goodbye.

She was dying to ask, but she didn't want to pry. Luckily, she didn't have to.

“Marlene had planned a four-week trip to Europe. She'd been gone about two and decided to come back early. She misses Holly and wants to take her home to New York when she gets back this weekend,” he explained, his tone hard edged, his disappointment obvious.

Gabrielle shook her head. “I'm so sorry.”

“I'm not sure I should agree to this. I rarely get time with Holly as it is.”

Gabrielle understood, but she also thought he should consider all sides before he reacted in a way that could hurt him even more. “But didn't you say Marlene's just starting to be reasonable about visitation? Do you want a fight that will get her angry and make her be even more difficult again?”

“You're right. She did promise to bring her back up for her birthday party as planned. She also said Holly could come up as often as we could arrange for the rest of the summer,” Derek said, the admission obviously difficult for him. “But it still bugs me that just because she misses her, I have to give her up.”

Gabrielle eased closer to him and placed her hand over his. “I'm on your side,” she assured him. “I just wanted to play devil's advocate.”

He smiled grimly. “I appreciate it.”

“Um…Derek? Does Marlene know that Holly's living with your father?” And did Marlene know about Gabrielle, period—past and present—she wondered.

He shook his head. “Not from me. I didn't think she'd appreciate the fact that no sooner had Holly moved in than I moved her out.”

Gabrielle groaned, her guilt returning. “I am so sorry. I really shouldn't be here. It's wrong. I can get a hotel in Boston and have all the security I need.”

“You could, but you won't,” he insisted. “I want you here where I can see for myself that you're safe. Besides, after the way Holly reacted when I left you home for dinner, can you imagine how she'd carry on if you moved out?”

Gabrielle shook her head and laughed. “I really do love that kid.” The words slipped easily from her lips.

She didn't want to take them back any more than she wanted to spook Derek. She glanced at him. If he'd heard her, he didn't react. No doubt he was more wrapped up in the fact that he was losing Holly sooner than planned. She ought to be relieved he wasn't paying attention to her.

Instead she felt a bone-deep emptiness. One she feared would grow larger over time.

 

L
ONG AFTER
D
EREK AND
Gabrielle had climbed into his bed, long after they'd made love and fallen asleep in each other's arms, Derek lay awake, replaying the night in his head.

I love that kid.
Derek had heard and processed every word that came out of Gabrielle's beautiful lips. He'd merely pretended he'd been preoccupied.

He didn't know what he was going to do with her, nor did he know what to do with feelings that were growing by the day. Right now, though, he had to keep her safe. And for that reason, letting Holly go home with her mother seemed like the most logical—if painful—solution. But he had no intention of allowing Marlene to think she could continue calling the shots where his daughter was concerned. There would be no more allowing Marlene to schedule silly things on
his
visitation weekends. No longer letting her find convenient excuses not to put Holly on the phone when he called.

In fact, first thing tomorrow, he was getting Holly her own cell phone with a limited calling plan so he could get in touch with her whenever he wanted.

He'd just found his daughter again.

He wasn't about to lose her.

 

T
HE NEXT FEW DAYS PASSED
in a haze of normalcy. Derek woke up beside Gabrielle, they'd shower, eat breakfast with Holly, then she'd head off to the library to work while he took Holly to the beach. In between, he'd have business appointments while his father took over hanging out with Holly and Fred. Holly had agreed to go home with her mother as long as she could come back as often as she wanted.

Derek knew how much she missed her mother. Because he didn't want her to feel torn between her parents, he'd made the decision an easy one for her. “Fred and I need some alone time to plan your birthday party,” he'd said.

She'd laughed.

In reality, Derek was glad Marlene was home in time for Holly's birthday. All Derek could offer her was cake, presents, Grandpa Hank and Fred, the dirty old basset hound. Her mother could give her the one thing she needed more. A party with friends her own age.

This morning, the sky was overcast, which nixed a trip to the beach, so he decided to go to the office for a few hours before meeting Hank and Holly for lunch at the Diner. He finished up early and decided to stop by the library to see if Gabrielle wanted to join them.

Along the way, he noticed all the new election signs posted along the town line and sporadically in well-traveled places in Perkins.

Bold signs with a bolder message, urging voters to listen to their conscience, to ignore curses and vote for change. In both towns there were fliers announcing a town meeting where people could meet Richard Stern and discover what he stood for. As promised, Richard had stepped up his campaign, putting pressure on his opponent.

The Perkins family's power in town was now, unofficially, in jeopardy. Derek couldn't imagine that Mayor Perkins appreciated the fact.

Derek parked and entered the air-conditioned library. Because it was a nice summer day, the place was empty. He found Sharon alone in her back office.

He knocked on the door to announce his presence and she jumped up, obviously on edge.

“Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you.” Derek placed a hand on the doorknob.

Sharon nodded. “It's not you, it's everything else going on,” she said.

He inclined his head in understanding.

“So what brings you by?” she asked.

He narrowed his gaze. “Gabrielle, what else? I didn't see her. I even checked the microfilm area. Is she around or did she step out to get lunch?”

Bracing her hands on the desk, Sharon rose to her feet. “Gabrielle isn't here.”

“Isn't she working on her book here?” he asked.

“I haven't seen her.” She bit her lower lip.

“Not today, but yesterday? Or the day before?” he asked, a bad feeling gnawing at his gut.

She shook her head. “But I'm sure she has a good reason for telling you she was here….” Sharon trailed off.

“I'm sure she just didn't want me to worry.” Or get angry with her, he thought. “She probably wanted you out of the loop, too. You have enough on your mind without worrying about whatever she's up to.”

Sharon exhaled a deep breath. Wasn't that just like Gabrielle? “Well, the least she could do was let me know she'd need a cover,” Sharon muttered.

She glanced at Derek, but he'd already turned and headed out the door. Sharon grabbed the phone to warn Gabrielle—wherever she was—but the ring went straight to voice mail.

Sharon had no doubt Derek would find her. She called one more time and this time she left a message. But it looked as if Gabrielle was on her own.

 

G
ABRIELLE SAT AT HER
adopted table at the Wave where she'd been working for the past three days. When she'd stopped by to talk to Curious George, Gabrielle had learned that the Wave was more than a nightclub. It was a place where people congregated at lunch hour, too. So Gabrielle had made it her mission to set up shop at a table in the corner, where she worked on her book, while at the same time, interviewed George, his staff and many of his customers.

At first people were wary about talking to her. But it was obvious George trusted her, so by the third day, the barriers had come down and people were sharing stories. She learned more about the Corwin Curse and its effect on the people of both towns; she heard tales of older women who'd been afraid to date the males of Hank Corwin's generation; and she began to renew friendships with people she used to know.

More important than incoming information was the fact that people in town left talking about Gabrielle and her book. People hoped they'd get their names mentioned in print. And because of their piqued interest, they were discussing Gabrielle publicly. She hoped word would make its way to Mary Perkins that Gabrielle Donovan's newest book would reveal—and dispel—all the towns' secrets.

Gabrielle wanted Mary to be nervous. On edge.

She wanted the mayor to feel cornered and act on impulse. She wanted to catch the mayor in wrongdoing and put an end to her reign of terror once and for all.

Her plan was going well, too. Until Derek stormed in, all his frustration aimed her way.

He walked in and braced both hands on her table, looming over her and her laptop. “Please tell me there's a reason you're here, making a public spectacle of yourself, that won't have me wanting to throttle you,” he said.

“I like the food?” She gestured to the plate of sliders George had made especially for her.

He shook his head. “Try again.”

“I enjoy the company?” She pointed to George, who waved at Derek from behind the bar.

“Gabrielle,” he said, drawing out her name through clenched teeth.

“You know exactly what I'm doing here. If I'd told you what I was planning, you'd have tried to talk me out of it.”

“You're damn right I would have—”

She stood up to face him. “And I'd have come here, anyway. Then you'd be upset, and we wouldn't have had such fantastic, amazing sex the past few nights,” she said, her voice dropping to a husky purr.

Her body reacted to her own words; the memory of his lips on her—all of her—flooded her mind.

She cleared her throat.

His gaze darkened with sexual desire. But his scowl remained. “You lied to me to protect our sex life?” he asked, folding his arms across his chest.

“I did not lie. I told you I was going to work. I just didn't say where.”

He curled his hands tighter around the table. His knuckles turned white. “You said you were going to the library.”

She shook her head. “As I recall, you said, ‘You'll be at the library with Sharon?' And I didn't answer.”

“You led me to believe it, dammit.”

Gabrielle nodded slowly. “Well, yes. But…wait. You went to the library to find me? Is Sharon still in one piece?”

He rolled his eyes. “She's in better shape than you're going to be in when I'm finished with you,” he muttered. “Let's go. We're meeting my father and Holly for lunch.”

Gabrielle knew when to retreat. With a curt nod, she closed her laptop and gathered her things.

His cell phone rang and he grabbed it. “Hello?” he barked into the phone.

He listened.

His frown deepened, the lines in his forehead growing more pronounced. Clearly this wasn't his day.

“What's wrong?” she asked when he'd hung up.

“What isn't?” he asked. “That was Hank. Seems Marlene decided to come today instead of tomorrow. She's waiting for me at the house.” He turned and started for the exit.

With a shiver caused more by the idea of meeting Derek's ex than by his current mood, Gabrielle followed him out the door.

D
EREK PAUSED OUTSIDE
his front door, not quite ready to face his ex or to give up his daughter.

Gabrielle placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, her touch conveying more than mere words.

I understand.

She'd always known him best, and even now, when his fear for her safety had caused him to lash out at her in anger and frustration, she was still by his side, still here for him when he needed her.

“Whenever you're ready,” she said at last.

He inclined his head, drew a breath and opened the door. Holly's voice drifted out to him, her rush of words conveying both her excitement to see her mother and the desire to catch Marlene up on her life as quickly as possible.

“And then Dad took me shopping for new flip-flops 'cause Fred chewed mine, but we had to stop at the library first 'cause you know how school's running that program where if you read a certain number of books you get a free pan pizza at Pizza Hut?”

“Yes, I remember that program,” Marlene said, her familiar voice reaching Derek as he quietly opened the front door. “Have you been reading a lot?”

“Sort of. Anyway, so I dropped off my books and picked up some new ones and then we went for new flip-flops and that's when I met Gabrielle Donovan. She's really cool, Mom. You'll like her a lot. She dresses pretty and she speaks French. Oh, and she was dad's girlfriend back in high school, way before he ever met you, though.”

Derek decided Holly had definitely rambled enough. “Hello?” he called out, as if he'd just walked in.

“Dad!” Holly said as both she and Marlene turned toward the front door. He stepped inside, Gabrielle behind him. “Look who's here!”

“I see. Grandpa called to tell me your mom was here a day early.” He deliberately held Marlene's gaze a minute too long, hoping to convey that he didn't appreciate the surprise. “How was Europe?” he asked her.

“Truly amazing.” Her cheeks were flushed pink and her happiness showed on her face. She'd cut her long brown hair in a short pixie style that suited her.

She looked well. And happy, he thought. He wanted that for her.

Marlene rose from her seat and gestured toward Gabrielle. “Aren't you going to introduce us?” Her question came out sounding as if she was chastising a child with bad manners.

“That's Gabrielle, Dad's old high-school girlfriend. I was just telling you about her,” Holly chimed in with all the tact of an unaware eleven-year-old.

Derek held back a groan. “Of course I was going to introduce you.” He'd just been being polite first by asking Marlene about her trip. He should have realized she'd feel threatened, so he tried to smooth things over first.

Derek made perfunctory introductions and Gabrielle stepped forward to say hello.

“I've heard so much about you from Holly and Derek,” Gabrielle said with a smile.

Only he would know that smile was filled with discomfort.

“I wish I could say the same,” Marlene said. “Derek never mentioned you.”

Which was true. When they'd met, Derek had been trying to forget losing Gabrielle. He'd never discussed her with Marlene except to say he was coming off a long relationship that had recently ended. His pain was too fresh and his feelings for Gabrielle too private to share with anyone. Same with the curse. He'd hoped to forget the damn thing ever existed.

But Marlene did know about Gabrielle. Once Marlene had become pregnant, Derek had brought her home to meet his family. Hank had filled her in on Derek's past with colorful detail, and whatever he'd left out, she'd learned during a trip to town. Gabrielle was no longer a part of Derek's life then, nor would she ever be, but gossip and history had placed her between him and his new wife.

Before her honeymoon, Marlene had softened. Falling in love had eased her resentment, but she had her guard up today. Her bitchy side had returned, and he wanted this moment over quickly, for everyone involved.

“I thought you were coming tomorrow?” Derek asked his ex.

“I wanted to surprise Holly.” She wrapped her arm around their daughter's shoulder.

Derek's stomach lurched. These were the tactics she'd used to separate them at her whim. Derek needed to let her know he wouldn't tolerate it anymore. “Holly, honey, why don't you take Gabrielle and get your things together? I want a few minutes alone with your mom.”

“Okay.” Holly bounced toward Gabrielle, grabbed her hand and headed for the door.

“She isn't staying
here
with you?” Marlene asked warily.

Gabrielle clearly winced. Derek gestured with a tilt of his head that she should just take Holly and go. He'd handle Marlene.

He waited until they'd walked out and shut the door behind them before turning to Marlene. “It's complicated. Holly was sleeping here until just a few days ago.” He went on to explain the situation in as little detail as possible, ending with how keeping Holly safe was his paramount concern.

“Safe would be with you,” Marlene said. “Alone with you. Instead you put your girlfriend's safety before our daughter's.”

He shook his head, but he knew better than to argue with Marlene when she'd made up her mind. And if Marlene was resentful of Gabrielle, which she definitely seemed to be, nothing Derek said or did would change her feelings.

He decided to switch subjects. “Let's sit. We need to talk about surprises like these and your sudden scheduling changes in my visitation.”

Marlene raised an eyebrow but didn't take him up on his suggestion they sit. She remained standing, rigid and obviously upset.

“What's bothering you?” she asked. “That I missed my daughter and came home to see her?”

He exhaled slowly. “No, that much I understand. But I thought we'd made some progress in our relationship. And if this is a onetime thing because you miss her, that's fine. I just want you to understand how much I value my time with Holly. I don't get her as much as I'd like, so I'd appreciate it if you'd stick to whatever time frames we set and not cut my visits short or cancel them at the last minute from now on.” He tried to sound reasonable and not accusing.

Marlene folded her arms over her chest and met his gaze. “Right now, Derek, I don't think you're in a position to be asking anything of me when it comes to visitation. Obviously there's danger surrounding your girlfriend, and by letting her move in here, you've brought it right to our daughter.”

The slap hurt, mostly because of the element of truth to her statement. Marlene wouldn't care or understand that Derek felt the need to protect both Gabrielle and Holly without choosing one over the other.

He decided to remain logical, not emotional in his point of view. “That's not fair. She's next door at night, and during the day she's with me or her grandfather, so we can keep an eye on her at all times.”

“Whatever.” Marlene waved a hand, dismissing him. “I'm taking her home where she's safe. Right now, you're lucky I don't file for sole custody based on the fact that you've exposed Holly to danger and will continue to do as long as you're with
her.
”

Panic and fury filled Derek at her easily tossed-out words. He'd suffered enough loss in his life with his mother's abandonment and the family around him falling apart. He'd lost Holly once by letting his guilt over working too hard and not loving Marlene enough rule his choices. He'd allowed Marlene to manipulate him into having no relationship with his only child.

Never again. “Nothing is more important to me than my daughter. Do not push this,” he warned her. But just because he remained firm didn't mean he wasn't choking on the fear of losing Holly.

“We're back!” Holly said, barreling in just in time to stop the argument from escalating further.

Derek kissed and hugged Holly tight. “I promise I'll drive to New York to pick you up next weekend. Or I can meet your mom halfway in Connecticut, if that works for her.” Over Holly's head, he met Marlene's gaze, daring her to contradict him in front of his daughter.

Gabrielle remained silent in the background.

“I'll meet you in the car,” Marlene said stiffly to Holly. She picked up the large duffel bag with all of Holly's things and strode outside.

“When am I old enough to fly here on an airplane?” Holly asked. “It's so much faster.”

Derek laughed. “That's something your mother and I will have to discuss. You have the cell phone I bought you. Call whenever you want. My numbers are programmed.”

“Your cell phone is number two, your home is number three and Grandpa Hank's house is number four,” she said, parroting what he'd been reminding her of for two days.

He ruffled her hair and grinned. “I loved having you here. You know that, right?”

She nodded, her eyes filling with tears. “I wish—”

“I know.” He didn't want her to finish her sentence. Whether it involved him still being married to his mother just so they could live together or whether she wished he lived closer, right now he couldn't bear to hear it.

“Give Fred another hug from me? Don't let him forget me,” Holly said.

Derek merely nodded.

By the time he walked her to the car and sent her on her way, he was drained, in no mood to discuss the events of the night, including Gabrielle's blatant flaunting of her book and research in Mary Perkins's face.

He sure as hell wasn't up to revealing Marlene's custody threats to Gabrielle. All he could think about was the emptiness in his heart with Holly gone and his fear that her mother was taking her away for good.

 

G
ABRIELLE WOKE UP
,
HOPING
Derek was in a better mood than when he'd gone to bed. She'd given him time and space, knowing it hadn't been easy for him to hand Holly over to his ex-wife. She'd hoped he would turn to her for comfort—sex or even just to be held, she didn't care which—but he'd climbed in beside her, rolled over and gone to sleep.

She could say she wasn't hurt, but that would be a lie.

Making her way downstairs, she approached the kitchen with cautious optimism.

He sat at the table, drinking coffee and reading the paper.

“Good morning,” she said with forced cheer.

“'Morning.”

She made herself coffee from the coffeemaker, adding milk and Equal before joining him at the table. “Sleep okay?” she asked.

He shrugged. “Fine.”

She took a long, hot sip for courage. “Derek, we need to talk about a few things.” Reaching out, she pushed the newspaper down so she could see his face. “Please.”

He folded the business section and faced her, waiting for her to speak first.

She cleared her throat. Although she'd rather discuss Holly's departure, she knew she had to deal with the more immediate issues between them.

Since he was obviously still upset with her from last night, she decided to tackle the problems head-on. “I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was working and interviewing at the Wave. I knew you wouldn't like it and it was easier not to argue with you.”

He raised an eyebrow, obviously surprised by her apology. “Thank you,” he said.

“You're welcome.” She'd lain awake last night tossing and turning, wondering how she was going to repair things between herself and Derek.

And they'd need repairing. With Holly gone, there was no chatty buffer between them. Nobody to keep them laughing. Nobody to force their minds off what drew them apart—that damn curse—and Gabrielle's work. And Derek, she knew, would keep the walls standing between them because he still feared their love more than he trusted in it.

“And I promise I won't do something like that again. If something comes up that you should know, I will keep you in the loop,” she said, adding it sincerely.

“I appreciate that.” He reached for the newspaper, but she smacked her hand down on top of it.

She had one more thing he needed to hear from her before he found out on the streets of Stewart or Perkins.

“I'm not finished,” Gabrielle said.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “What is it?”

She wanted to yell at his stubborn silence. She wanted to tell him that she knew he was using his anger at her as a shield, to not deal with the feelings between them. She wanted to tell him she loved him and she wasn't about to let him go, but he obviously wasn't in a receptive mood. And if that wasn't the understatement of the year, she didn't know what was.

Gabrielle drew a deep breath. “A television crew is coming to town today so they can tape a segment on ‘A Day in the Life of a Local Author.'”

His scowl deepened. “You being the local author.”

She nodded. “Any other local authors you know around here?” she asked cheerfully. She smiled.