Breakwater Bay (41 page)

“This may sound weird, but I don’t think the way I feel has as much to do with Peter as . . .” Meri cocked her head to the right.

Carlyn grinned at her. “Krosky?”

Meri pushed her. “You know, a few weeks ago I was looking forward to spring and spending Friday nights singing karaoke. Since then everything’s changed and I haven’t even gotten to the pub.”

“The pub will always be there. I’m not so sure Alden will be.”

“I know. He was planning to move to Manhattan before Nora ran away. We’re both hoping he’s changed his mind.”

“Have you asked?”

“No, and neither has she. I think we’re both afraid of what his answer will be.”

Carlyn huffed out a sigh. “Then ask yourself this. Would you move to Manhattan to be with him?”

Meri frowned at her, considered. “I don’t know.”

L
ater that afternoon Everett Simmons stopped by to get a progress report on the work. And he brought his wife. Meri was covered in paint bits, wearing smudged jeans and latex gloves, when Doug brought them in to see the chimney she and Krosky were painstakingly cleaning.

She immediately stood up and pulled off one glove to shake Mrs. Simmons’s hand, thinking that her emotional cup was about to overflow. Inez Simmons smiled cordially and said it was a pleasure to meet her. And Meri thought she meant it.

And that’s when she saw Alden in the group looking at her curiously. She hadn’t told him any details about Everett, and she certainly hadn’t told Everett about him. Now they were on a first-name basis. She wondered what they had figured out on their own.

“It’s looking very good,” Everett said. “And Alden’s designs will certainly enhance the presentations.” He glanced at his watch. “Have to get going. See you Friday night.”

The Simmonses left. Doug, Krosky, and Meri looked at one another as the reality intruded. Friday. They had to be ready tomorrow.

F
riday morning they all met in the kitchen at Gilbert House.

Only Alden was missing.

“Where is he?” Meri asked Carlyn as they listened to Doug outline the points they would each want to cover as they were talking to potential donors at the fund-raiser.

“Already at the college recording studio directing a voice-over by one of the drama students. The man is amazing.” She managed a tiny doo-wop hand movement beneath the table and sang in a whisper, “What he did for love.”

“Carlyn,” Meri pleaded.

“You think he did it for Doug?” Carlyn looked under the table. “Good, you’ve got your running shoes on. How about a little exercise before we go doll up for the evening?”

Exercise was just what she needed, Meri realized as they took the Cliff Walk at a brisk pace. Though the nights were still cool, the days were warm. It was almost May. And today was warm and sunny, which could go either way for a fund-raiser. Either it would be fully attended because no one would have to brave the rain to attend. Or everyone would be out sailing, or whatever they did on nice weekends, and no one would come.

“Out of our hands,” Carlyn said when Meri mentioned it. “You’re a control freak, you know that?”

“Takes one to know one,” Meri returned.

“Yeah, but I hedge my bets by only trying to control what’s possible.”

“If that were true, you’d be making big bucks for a corporation that didn’t survive on a wing and a prayer and the kindness of strangers.”

“True,” Carlyn said and broke into a jog.

They parted at two and Meri went home to try to calm down and figure out what to wear. Not that it was a big stretch. She had four little black dresses, one for each season. In the spirit of optimism, she went with spring. She showered, washed her hair, and spent a half hour attempting to repair and polish nails ravaged by restoration work.

Then she dressed, slipped her feet into high heels, and drove herself to the Rosecliff.

M
eri was on the early side, though quite a few people had already arrived. She showed her invitation to the majordomo at the door and stepped into the foyer.

She always loved going to the mansion, whether on a research recce or a guided tour, a special event or peering at a wedding from the Cliff Walk. Once she got inside, she paused just to take in the beauty of the fluted staircase, the way it flowed upstairs to a floor-length window before branching and curving upward to the third floor.

Meri was directed to the ballroom, the largest ballroom in Newport. It was breathtaking, even with the various projects presented on tables around the perimeter and interspersed with bars and food stations and roving waiters with trays of hors d’oeuvres.

She paused briefly to wonder how much the evening was costing and would have gladly forgone the flute of champagne she’d just taken from a silver tray if that amount could go to Gilbert House.

She spotted Doug and Everett Simmons across the room and went to meet them.

“You look lovely,” Everett said.

“Wow,” Doug said.

“I know, you hardly recognized me without the paint chips in my hair.” Meri smiled. “I hope I didn’t miss any.”

Everett chuckled. Doug beamed. Meri fortified herself with a sip of champagne before she went out to drum up interest for their
petit bijoux
.

Alden arrived a few minutes later, along with Nora, who Meri hardly recognized. She and her dad must have been on a shopping adventure that afternoon, because gone was the edgy teenager with spiked hair and trendy clothes and in her place was a sophisticated-looking young woman in a simple teal sheath, wearing a delicate necklace with her hair brushed back and only slightly spiked.

Her father, on the other hand, took Meri’s breath away. Dressed in a tux with that black hair curling wildly at the collar of a pristine white shirt, he was civilization and the wild all rolled into one. Meri didn’t think she’d ever seen him looking quite so . . . handsome.

She wasn’t the only woman in the room to notice his entrance.

While Nora made her way over to Meri, women from all directions glommed on to her dad. He caught Meri’s eye before he turned his attention to his bevy of admirers.

“You look great,” Nora said.

“So do you.”

Nora looked down at her dress. “It is sort of cool, isn’t it? Dad picked it out.” She looked back at Alden. “He’s handsome, isn’t he?”

“He certainly is,” Meri agreed. “But we’ve always known that.”

Carlyn came in soon afterward, dressed in a floral sarong that bloomed like an exotic plant against a room of basic black. She did a double take as she passed Alden who had barely gotten into the room.

“He does clean up rather nicely,” she said under her breath.

Alden finally made it across the room to join them. “We work hard for the money.”

“Some of us harder than others,” Meri teased.

He cocked his head. “You look amazing.” And he leaned over and kissed her cheek.

Meri didn’t miss Carlyn’s I-told-you-so look. And neither, she was afraid, did Nora.

“Here comes Everett Simmons,” Doug said and hurried through the increasing throng to meet him.

“And look who just arrived right behind him,” Carlyn said.

They all looked toward the door.

“Who are they?” Nora asked.

Meri had known they would probably be there, and she’d prepared herself for this moment. But apparently not well enough. She couldn’t speak.

Because the Rochforts had just entered the room.

M
eri turned her back on them. She wasn’t ready, and she certainly didn’t want to meet them in public. There was no reason she would have to actually speak with them. She’d pretend they had no connection; they didn’t know her from Adam’s housecat.

And that was just fine with her. She didn’t know how Everett could stand to sit on the same committees with the man. Of course, that might be different now that he knew the real story of what happened to Riley.

Doug and Everett had made their way across the floor.

“Great crowd,” Doug said. “Everett is going to introduce us to some people. Meri, why don’t you come along. Carlyn, you and Krosky team up.”

“Where is Krosky?”

“Right here.”

“Joe?” Carlyn stared at him.

So did Meri.

Krosky’s hair was cut, and his tuxedo fit him admirably. There was a light in his eye but no bounce in his step.

“Holy moly, you look . . . different,” Carlyn said.

“Yeah, well, it won’t last, so let’s go work this joint before I turn back to a toad.” He led her away.

Doug beamed after them. “Come on, Meri, let’s get cracking.”

Meri glanced at Alden.

“Don’t worry about us,” he said, taking Nora’s elbow. We know how to mingle.”

Nora giggled then lifted her chin and let her father lead her into the crowd.

T
he evening wore on, and they seemed to be generating some interest in Gilbert House. After a while Everett left them to talk to someone and Doug and Meri went on alone.

She was beginning to fade and wishing she had worn lower heels. It was taking a lot of energy to work a room, enthusiastically selling a project while carefully avoiding two grandparents she’d never met and who didn’t know she existed.

“Your smile is slipping,” said Alden, coming up behind her.

“My shoes are—oh no.” Across the room she saw the Rochforts approach a group of people that included Everett Simmons.

“What is it?” Alden asked and looked to where she was looking.

As he did, Everett said something to Rochfort, then looked straight at Meri. Even across the ballroom she could see he was angry. He reached for Rochfort’s arm, and for a horrifying moment Meri was afraid he was going to hit the older man. But he just turned him around and lifted his chin in Meri’s direction.

Rochfort looked across the hall searching, until his gaze fell on Meri. She quickly turned away.

“What’s going on?” Alden asked, automatically putting his hand in the small of her back.

“I think I’d better leave. Can you just tell Doug I have a headache?”

“Sure, but wait, I’ll take you.”

“No, that’s okay. I have my car.” She saw Rochfort sway, then push Everett away. He was coming toward her. To do what? Cause a scene? That would kill any chance Gilbert House had of getting funding. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She shoved her champagne flute at him and headed to the exit.

She collected her coat, keeping one eye out for the enraged man. She didn’t bother putting it on but headed for the front door. And then she saw Rochfort’s wife join him. They were both coming her way.

Heart pounding, Meri looked around and saw an open door to the terrace. There wouldn’t be many people out there. It was still too early in the spring to make outdoor parties comfortable. She retraced her steps, almost running until she was outside.

She was a coward. She hadn’t planned on ever revealing herself to them. She could have pretended not knowing them forever. But she hadn’t taken Everett into account. The years of anger and frustration finally boiled over as he saw his daughter and them in the same room while Riley was dead.

She didn’t blame him; she just wished he had contained it a little longer.

“Meri!”

Not the Rochforts, Everett.

She turned.

“I’m sorry,” he said as he strode toward her. “I’m so sorry. I just lost it—” He laughed, a hurt, painful sound. “Quietly of course. Good breeding counts for everything in this town. I’m so sorry. I would never cause you any kind of discomfort. Please come back inside.”

She didn’t have a chance to answer, before Rochfort came striding across the pavement. Slightly stooped and limping, he didn’t seem like someone she should have been afraid of. Besides, it was time she claimed her heritage.

“Just what are you trying to pull, Everett?”

“Nothing. Go back inside.” Everett turned in an attempt to shield Meri from the man’s ire.

“The hell I will. Who is this woman? What kind of scam are you running?”

Meri stared at the man. The same thing he’d accused Gran and her mother of. It was a lie; he knew it then and he knew it now. She didn’t think she’d ever met anyone so despicable.

He’d left his wife behind, but now she appeared in the doorway, two steps ahead of Alden and Doug.

Meri didn’t wait for her to join them, but turned on Mr. Rochfort. “How dare you. I’m Meri Calder Hollis. And I belong here.”

Rochfort bared his teeth in a satisfied smile aimed at Everett. “You will never be any good no matter what you try.”

“I’ll never be like you,” Everett said between clenched teeth. “And that’s enough for me.”

“Are you our granddaughter?” Rochfort’s wife had reached them. She was frail, her complexion almost gray, more than shock, illness.

“Be quiet, Doris.”

“Are you?” she repeated.

Meri glanced past her and saw Alden standing in the lamplight, watchful, Doug with his mouth opened in surprise. And she knew who her family was, had always known who it was—and who would be glad to make a place in it for Everett Simmons and his family. Doug, and Carlyn, and Krosky were her extended family.

She ignored Rochfort and spoke to his wife. “I’m Riley’s daughter.”

The old woman reeled and put the back of her hand to her mouth.

“Shut up, you little—”

“But I’m Therese Calder’s granddaughter. Not yours. Never yours. I’m a Calder Hollis.”

Now she turned to the old man who was vibrating with anger and maybe just a bit of fear. “So don’t worry about me trying to claim you.”

“You wouldn’t get a penny.”

“Or your money.”

“Stop it, stop it.” The old lady could barely stand, but no one went to her aid. “What’s your name?”

“Meri.”

Her lips quivered. “Can you ever forgive us?”

If Meri had been a better person, she might have said yes. But she wasn’t, and she owed Riley and Everett the truth. “It’s not my place to forgive. I’ve had the best family I could ever hope for. They’ve loved me unconditionally. I should thank you for that. But your daughter, my birth mother, that’s whose forgiveness you should ask. And Everett’s.”

“Riley was a little—”

“She was your daughter, Mr. Rochfort. And you drove her away. And she died because of it. So don’t worry. I don’t want any part of your family. Good night.”