Matchmakers Box Set: Matchmakers, Encore, Finding Hope (8 page)

“How often does your dad leave town?”

“He’s usually gone a week and then home for two. Things have been a little crazy with his schedule this month. He’s making sure he’ll be in town for the party.”

“So where is he now?” They pulled into the parking lot of the party store.

“Today he’s in Hawaii, I think. He’ll layover there and then fly back to L.A. tomorrow. From there, I’m not sure where he’ll be. He should be in on Saturday around dinnertime.”

“You keep close tabs on him, don’t you?” Sophia pulled the keys from the ignition and slid them into her purse as she climbed out of the car.

“Yeah. He calls me from every stop usually. Millie said he called while you and I were playing. She wouldn’t let him talk to me because we were having so much fun.”

“We sure were.”

They found confetti to sprinkle on the tables and balloons that said
Happy 84
^th
Birthday
. They put a small, disposable helium tank and ribbons for the balloons in the cart.

“Maybe we got too many cameras,” Carissa noted as she cleaned off the shelf.

“Two hundred people are a lot. We’ll need them.”

Carissa nodded in agreement as a mother and her daughter walked past them. They were shopping for decorations for the girl’s seventh birthday party, as the little girl kept saying over and over to her mother. The sight tugged at her. She looked over at Sophia, who was counting the cameras in the cart. Had she stayed, would they have shopped for birthday decorations or party dresses? Would they have had mother-and-daughter time? Would she have really loved her like she’d told David she would?

The little girl directed her mother down the aisle of princess party supplies. She picked up a tiara and placed it on her head. Carissa reached for Sophia’s arm and pointed out the little girl.

“They need tiaras.”

“Millie and Katie? Why?”

“Every little girl needs a tiara—to be a princess for a day—even if she’s eighty-four.”

Sophia laughed with a nod, and they went about collecting exactly the right tiaras for each woman.

When the cart was loaded, Carissa looked at her watch. “Oh man, I have to be to work in forty-five minutes.”

“I think we have everything we need. I’ll head home and let you have the car.” Sophia headed to the checkout stand.

“Why don’t you just drop me off? I can have someone give me a ride home. I only work a few hours today. It won’t be too late.”

“If you’re sure.”

“Yeah. In fact, why don’t you come in and see Mary Alice. She’d love to see you. People ask about you all the time.”

“They do?” Sophia’s voice shook as she laid the items for the party on the counter as the cashier began to total their purchase.

“You’re a celebrity around here.” Carissa fidgeted with a necklace on the display by the register. “You don’t think of yourself like that, do you?”

“Goodness, no.” She shook her head. “I’m a musician. That’s all I’ll ever be.” She handed her credit card to the cashier and signed the receipt.

Carissa reached for a bag, and they started out of the store.

“You’re much more than just a musician. People here see someone who made something of herself. You’re on TV, and you have your name on how many albums?”

“Twenty-seven.”

“Wow. Does the man drag you into the studio every week?” Carissa slid into the car laughing.

“Let’s say Pablo DiAngelo enjoys his own voice and feels that everyone else should too.” She backed out of the parking space. “He records every major performance and each album sells out. He’s amazing.”

Carissa watched Sophia’s eyes when she talked about the man. Her eyes lit up and danced. She loved him.

“Is he good to you?” Her voice wavered.

“Oh, yes. He’s been a blessing in my life.” Sophia started toward the juice bar, following Carissa’s directions.

Carissa thought of the fight Sophia had with her father. She figured they’d forged quite a friendship in the few hours they’d spent together. Would it be too soon to ask the questions that were now plaguing her?

“Do you love Pablo?”

“I love him very much.” Her answer was quick.

“Oh.” Her voice dipped lower.

“Why do you ask?”

“I was just thinking about the fight you had with Dad.”

“Did you hear everything?” She only nodded and watched Sophia straighten behind the wheel.

“Sophia, Dad loves you.”

“Don’t say that.” She pulled into a parking space at the juice bar. “It’s been a lot of years. People forget what they really felt. Your father loves
you,
and he wants the best for
you
.”

Carissa shook her head. The woman was in denial, and until Sophia forgave her father for helping her mother, she couldn’t convince her that he loved her. He’d have to do that himself, but she sure could plant the seed.

“C’mon, you need a chocolate-and-banana smoothie.” Carissa forced a smile, hoping to clear the air a bit.

“Peanut butter and granola?”

“What?” She shut the door and smiled.

“I like my chocolate-and banana-smoothies with peanut butter and granola, too. Do you have those?”

“Yes.” She opened the door for Sophia. “I’ll make it special for you.”

As soon as Sophia walked through the door of the juice shop, she recognized the old arcade. The thought brought a rush of fond memories. The loud, metal games had been replaced by quaint, metal sundry tables and the fragrance of fruit.

Carissa disappeared behind the counter and into the back.

“Sophia?” She turned when she heard her name and smiled when she saw Mary Alice. “It’s about time you came to see me.”

Mary Alice flew toward her with her arms held out wide to scoop her up into a warm hug.

“Oh, how long has it been since I’ve seen you?” She held her at arm’s length. “You look fabulous. Just fabulous!”

“So do you.” Her heart did a little flip as she noticed the generous sprinkling of laugh lines on her friend’s face. So much time had passed while she was away. She’d missed Mary Alice, and she hadn’t realized just how much until she was standing before her.

“I saw you on TV not too far back. What was it? Some cable special…”

“
Pablo DiAngelo Live from Monte Carlo.
”

“That’s it!” She clapped her hands. “He’s amazing and so handsome. How do you keep your hands off him?” she whispered.

“Every job has its temptations.” Sophia looked around the quaint shop with its modern decor. “This is a great place you have here.”

“Amazing, huh?” She shepherded her toward the counter. “This is where I met Jeremy, remember? It seemed like the right place to open business.”

Sophia nodded. She remembered it was the day Mary Alice and Jeremy said their young vows that she’d first laid eyes on David Kendal.

She hardly knew he was there.

It wasn’t that she didn’t notice David altogether. She’d seen him, smiled, and moved on. Her grandmother had said to her, “There’s Millie’s nephew. Isn’t he handsome?” She’d nodded and caught him looking in her direction. He’d just graduated college and was headed to flight school. She was headed to college. The matchmaking duo of her grandmother and his aunt wouldn’t try their hand at setting them up for another four years. Her life would have been so different if they hadn’t met. Despite the heartache, she realized getting to know him again, and getting to know Carissa, made up for some of the pain of losing them.

Mary Alice arranged the small display of treats on the counter.

“So what brings you into my little store?”

“I brought Carissa to work.”

“Carissa? Oh…oh!” Her eyes widened. “Are you and David back together?”

“Well…”

“Oh, this is wonderful!” She reached for Sophia and pulled her into another hug across the counter. “He’s missed you.”

“We’re not together. I’m only home for my grandmother’s birthday.” Her voice was softer, and the smile faded from Mary Alice’s face.

“Well, I’m glad you stopped in to see us.”

“So am I.”

Carissa arrived at the counter with Sophia’s drink.

“A chocolate, banana, granola, and peanut butter smoothie.” She handed it to Sophia.

“Thank you.”

Sophia handed Mary Alice her money, but Mary Alice pushed her hand away. “Oh, no. This is on the house.”

“Thank you.”

Mary Alice walked back around the counter while Carissa helped another customer.

“You have to come for dinner while you’re in town. Come by and see the house. Meet my family.”

“I’d like that.” She waited for Carissa’s customer to move from the counter. “What time are you done tonight?”

“I get off at nine.”

“Why don’t I just pick you up?”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I have nothing better to do. I think I’m going to go home and practice for an hour or so, then I’ll come back to get you.”

“Okay. Sure.”

She took a sip. “Yep, this is how I like it.”

“It’s how my dad likes them, too.” Carissa wiggled her eyebrows.

The cold of the drink slithered down her throat, but the thought of sharing this small bond with David warmed her far more than it should.

CHAPTER SIX

David wandered in and out of the shops that lined Maui’s Front Street. The surf crashed in the background, and scooters buzzed up the streets. Tourists from every part of the world jostled him; he’d probably brought some of them to their destination. It was a wonderfully eclectic place.

He stopped with a crowd out front of a store that sold hand-blown glass. A man in the window blew a bubble of glass into a small ornament.

Sparkling showcases of miniature musical instruments inside the window drew him into the store.

Behind the man blowing the glass, music played.

“Turn it up! Turn it up!” The glassblower’s voice carried through the store with his thick Italian accent. Before finishing the sale she was completing, the woman at the counter accommodated him.

David listened. It was opera. It was unmistakably the voice of Pablo DiAngelo. A chill ran down his spine. Yes, it was Pablo DiAngelo’s voice, and the cello was Sophia.

The woman approached him.

“Can I help you, sir?”

David shifted, startled. “I’m sorry. I was listening to the music.”

“Pablo DiAngelo.” It was a simple statement. “Do you know who he is?”

“Yes. I’ve met him before. Had dinner with him actually.”

The woman clasped her hands together. “You’ve met Pablo DiAngelo?”

“Yes.” He wished he’d been that impressed himself.

“Carlo! Carlo!” She shouted until the glassblower looked up. “This man knows Pablo DiAngelo!” The sound of shattering glass cut through the store, but she was still smiling.

The glassblower jumped up from his seat in the window. The beautiful ornament he’d been working on lay at his feet in shards. He kicked the pieces to the side, turned off the fire, and removed his protective glasses.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you drop…”

“Ah, nothing!” He held his hand out to David. “You’ve really met DiAngelo?” David could only nod. “He is my favorite. He’s amazing! He’s…” The man searched for English words to fulfill his sentence. “Angelic.”

“How did you get to meet such a man?” the woman asked, smiling and pumping his hand.

“My fiancée”—the words were out before he could retract them—“is his cellist.”

“His cellist?” The woman’s brows knit together. “Sophia Burkhalter? You’re engaged to Sophia Burkhalter?”

“Was. We’re…” He considered for a moment. “Very good friends now.”

She nodded.

“Pablo is very in love with her. You can see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice.”

The woman couldn’t have hurt him more if she’d stabbed him with one of the shards from the broken ornament. It was painfully clear to him that it wasn’t just about him and Sophia mending their relationship. There was Pablo. And Carissa.

He felt the energy drain from his body and wished he hadn’t walked so far from his hotel.

“You say you are close friends?” The man stood studying him.

“Yes. As a matter of fact, she’s at my home in Kansas City right now.”

“Come. I want you to take to her a piece I made.” The glassblower walked him to a section in the store that displayed the miniature instruments made from glass. He picked up one of the cellos and displayed it in his hand. “Please, you will take this to Sophia Burkhalter. Please tell her that I am Pablo DiAngelo’s biggest fan, and therefore, I am hers too.” He handed the fragile gift to David. The tiny loops of glass must have taken him many hours to create.

“Sir, I can’t take this.”

“It’s not for you,” he reminded him. “You give it to her.”

“But…” The man’s hand rose in front of him, stopping his excuse. “I’ll see that she gets it.”

“That pleases me. She’ll wrap it for you.” He handed the woman the figure and patted David on the back.

“Make sure you put your card in there. She’ll want to send you a thank-you note. That’s how she is.”

“And I will frame it on my wall.” He laughed. “Back to work. I must start that vase over,” he said with a shrug.

David waited for the woman to finish wrapping up the package. “This will give him such joy.”

“I know Sophia will appreciate his gift.”

David left the store, sat at the nearest bench down the street, and held the box in his hand.

What had made him walk into that store? They knew her. She was someone to them. Someone more than an accompanist to a man with an angelic voice, as the man had pointed out.

Who was he to think she’d leave all that and love him? She may have claimed not to have left him for Pablo, but with the shopkeeper’s words resonating in his ears, he knew she’d replaced him with Pablo.

David felt a tightening in his chest, and he raised his palm to it to ease it.

He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed the house.

“Hello.” Sophia’s voice pierced his heart.

“Sophie?”

“David.” Her voice softened.