Lucky Charm

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

DEREK 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.

GABRIELLE 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.

He didn’t. “Why now?”

She swallowed hard. “Why not now? Who knows why TV and newspapers decide to write and publish when they do?” She glanced down at her intertwined hands.

“Gabrielle?”

“Hmm?”

He leaned over and placed his hand beneath her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Did you set this television interview up now as a way to piss off Mary Perkins? To scare her into showing her hand?”

She bit the inside of her cheek. “Maybe.”

“Dammit,” he exploded, slamming his hand onto the table. “Have you no respect for your own safety?”

She narrowed her gaze. “I have plenty, thank you very much. I’m not safe as long as that crazy woman is sitting in her big old Victorian house, hiding behind her family power and the fear she’s instilled in people over the years. I’m not safe as long as she has the time to plan and to make sure she’s not caught trying to hurt me or the people I love!” Gabrielle’s voice rose with her temper.

“Then let’s go to the police. Let them handle it,” he said, his voice low, calmer than hers. His tone imploring.

“Like they’ll believe us? That the pillar of her own community is pulling strings to keep herself in power as mayor? That she wants to rule by fear? It sounds crazy.”

Derek shook his head. “We’ll give them enough information to investigate.”

“Richard already tried sending someone to talk to Stan Mancusi, the guy on the waterfront that Sharon’s ex-fiancé told them about. He denied calling Tony. He denied knowing about the photos, and he claimed that while he was in prison, all Tony talked about was revenge on Sharon for putting him away.”

Frustrated, Derek ran a hand through his hair. “Could it be true?”

“Doubtful. Richard did some investigating into Stan’s history. It seems he has a daughter with autism. That’s how Stan got into the petty thefts and things he was sent away for-trying to raise money for special schools. Guess where Stan’s daughter is now?”

Derek rolled his shoulders back and groaned. “Some expensive school that nobody knows how he’s paying for?” he said, obviously hazarding a guess.

“Bingo. Something else nobody can trace back to Mary Perkins, but I’d lay odds that that’s how she got him to get those photographs. We just can’t prove it.”

Derek rose and spilled his coffee into the sink, then ran water to rinse it away.

She stood and walked quietly to his side, placing her hand on his shoulder. “Do you really expect me to sit back and do nothing while she tries to stop me from doing the thing in life that gives me peace? She’s not going to take my writing away any more than she’s going to take my life. And she sure as hell isn’t going to dictate what my subjects are!”

“So you’ll write your book, my feelings be damned? Even at the expense of my daughter?”

Gabrielle stepped back, shocked by his words. “What are you talking about?”

“Marlene wasn’t pleased that her daughter was displaced so I could protect you. She wasn’t happy that I knowingly brought danger to her daughter’s doorstep, and you know what?” He ran a hand through his hair. “She’s right. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to let her sue me for sole custody on the grounds of the danger that’s surrounding you.”

Gabrielle’s stomach cramped and she eased herself into the nearest seat. “She threatened to do that?”

Derek treated her to a curt nod.

“I had no idea.”

“And now that you do?”

Gabrielle swallowed hard. “I’ll cancel the television crew, of course.” With shaking hands, she fished for her cell phone, and a few minutes later, she was speaking to Kayla Lawson, a friend she’d met from a prior interview for an older book.

Gabrielle made her request and listened to her friend’s reply. “I understand, but-”

A few minutes later, she hung up and faced Derek. “It’s too late. Kayla’s producer thinks this is a solid story. The money’s allocated, the time’s booked, nobody will pull the plug now.” She stepped forward. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m out of here.”

Nausea rushed over her. “Where are you going?”

“To see a lawyer in case Marlene goes through with her threat,” he muttered, storming past her.

Alone, Gabrielle settled back into her seat and exhaled a long breath. She’d have done anything to keep Derek with his daughter, even sacrifice her book. Now that retreat was no longer an option, the logical part of Gabrielle was glad. Because Mary Perkins had to be stopped.

But the emotional side of Gabrielle was torn in two. She’d unintentionally hurt the one person she loved most in the world and she’d do anything to make it right.

If only she knew how.

SHARON’S EYES GLAZED OVER the library budget. Each time she tried to focus enough on cutting back where appropriate, she ended up lost in thought, someplace else.

Gabrielle snapped her fingers in front of Sharon’s face as she’d done at least half a dozen times in the past few minutes.

“Okay, so I see Richard’s campaign has kicked into high gear,” Gabrielle said.

Sharon glanced up, paying attention this time. “He’s consumed by it.” And not by me, Sharon thought.

“And not by you?”

Sharon put down her pen and laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“You read my mind.”

“Isn’t that what friends are for?”

Sharon nodded. “They are and I’m so glad I have you.”

“You know it’ll all be fine once this Mary Perkins thing is over. It’s really stressful,” Gabrielle said, her voice tight.

Sharon met her friend’s gaze. “For everyone, not just me, right?” No matter how overwhelmed she was by her own problems, Sharon couldn’t forget Gabrielle was equally affected.

“Well, yes, I have my share of problems, but that isn’t what I meant. We’re focused on you right now. You’re worried Richard coddles you and thinks you’re too fragile? I say you show your fiancé the real you.”

Sharon raised her gaze. “You mean…?”

“Buy a teddy, strip for him, show him you aren’t as fragile as he thinks.” Gabrielle shimmied her top half and laughed.

“He might keel over,” Sharon said, imagining the look on Richard’s face.

Gabrielle shrugged. “Or he might be relieved. One way or another, you’ll know. Then you’ll be able to focus again on your relationship and not your differences.”

“Or the past?” Sharon asked. The photograph and the incident that still hovered between her and her fiancé.

Gabrielle waved a hand through the air. “It’ll stay where it belongs-”

“Once this Mary Perkins thing is over,” they said at the same time, and laughed.

“What do you say we forget the budget, forget the writing, and let’s go shopping.” Gabrielle jumped up from her seat, decision made.

Sharon gathered her papers. “Now, that sounds like a plan. Victoria’s Secret?” she asked, knowing that was Gabrielle’s favorite store.

Gabrielle nodded.

“You have this determined look on your face. Why is it I think this trip has less to do with me than with you?” Sharon asked her friend.

Gabrielle let out a long sigh. “I think I’ve brought more aggravation to Derek’s life than joy.” She wiped her hands over her eyes.

Was she crying? Gabrielle was an emotional person, but she rarely fell apart.

“What’s going on?” Sharon asked.

“Derek’s ex-wife is threatening to file for sole custody because he exposed Holly to danger. Because of me. And with the film crew coming, the situation is only going to get worse, not better. I know a stupid negligee isn’t going to make any of that go away, but it’s the only apology I can think of at the moment.”

Sharon sucked in a sharp breath. “I told you I shouldn’t be worried only about myself.” She pulled her friend into a hug. “Derek knows it isn’t your fault. Isn’t that what you keep telling me to believe about Richard?”

“There’s one difference. I knowingly invited that film crew here. I escalated the danger. For a man who believes bad things are destined to happen when he falls in love.” Gabrielle cleared her throat. “Now I’m going to have to live with the consequences.”

There was nothing Sharon could say to help her friend or herself because Gabrielle was right. They’d both just have to let things play out and see what the future held.

DEREK HAD LIED TO Gabrielle. His divorce lawyer was in Manhattan, where he’d been living at the time, not in Stewart. But he’d needed some time and space to cool off, away from Gabrielle and his feelings for her, which were so tangled up they didn’t let him breathe, let alone make a rational decision.

While driving around letting off steam, he had called his attorney, a friend of his who assured him that Marlene didn’t have a leg to stand on if she took this to court. Leaving his child for three nights at his father’s house didn’t make Derek a bad parent, just a cautious one. He could counter Marlene’s accusation with the fact that she left the country and her daughter for a selfish month-long honeymoon. That wouldn’t win him sole custody, either but he at least could threaten Marlene back. His lawyer had also assured him they could legally force Marlene to stick to the agreed-upon visitation schedule if she tried to make his time with Holly more difficult to come by.

Derek groaned. He hated the thought of being one of those parents who fought and made their children’s lives hell. He hoped Marlene would get over her snit quickly and let things go back to what they were.

Though his lawyer had reassured him that he wasn’t going to lose his daughter, Derek couldn’t shake the nagging discomfort Marlene’s threats had caused. History hadn’t been kind to Derek, and he wasn’t about to trust in the attorney’s platitudes.

He’d spent the day out, picking up tools he needed to do work around the house and clearing his head. Hours later, he arrived home to see Gabrielle’s car in the driveway. Was she there? He didn’t know, as he hadn’t touched base with her all day.

Though he was still irritated, he had calmed down since their last conversation. He wasn’t fine with her choices, but they were hers to make.

He let himself inside. It was dark downstairs, but a small light glowed from above in the loft. He dropped his keys on the counter in the front hall and headed upstairs.

He found Gabrielle watching television in his bed. “Hey there.”

“Hi.” She lifted her hand in a halfhearted wave.

Obviously she wasn’t any happier than he was at the moment.

He walked over and sat beside her. “What did you do today?”

“I went shopping with Sharon.” She gestured to a pink Victoria’s Secret shopping bag sitting across the floor.

“I’m glad to see the day wasn’t a lost cause.” He tried to keep things light.

“Wasn’t it?” She glanced down at her fingers as she toyed with the comforter. “I was stupid enough to think buying something sexy would solve all our problems. That I could apologize for risking everything you love with sex. But life doesn’t work that way.”

“It could.” He brushed his thumb over her cheek, loving the feel of her soft skin. “An apology is just that. An apology and I accept it, if you’ll accept mine.” He owed her one for blowing up at her earlier.

They’d both helped make the mess they were in.

“Do you mean that?” she asked.

He took her hand. “I’m not doing a tap dance that you’re antagonizing Mary Perkins, but you wouldn’t be you if you didn’t handle things out in the open. It isn’t your fault I have an ex-wife who will use any excuse to pull my daughter away from me. I’m upset with a lot of things and I took it all out on you. I’m sorry.”

She smiled a little. “It’s okay. What if Marlene does sue for custody?”

His stomach churned at the thought. “I’ll just have to deal with it. My lawyer said Marlene doesn’t have a leg to stand on.” He spread his hands out in front of him. “I can’t say I’m trusting that at face value, though.”

She nodded slowly. “I understand.”

“I’m actually glad Holly’s with her mother right now, though. That means I can focus on keeping you safe without worrying about her. If this television crew is going to be around, you’re going to need me to make sure Mary Perkins isn’t.”

He rose and started to walk across the room.

“Where are you going?”

“To get this.” He picked up the shopping bag and pulled out something wrapped in pink tissue paper, which he easily discarded. A red lace garment hung from his fingertips, looking skimpier than ever thanks to his large hands. “Think you can put this on for me?” He barely recognized his own rough voice.

His desire and need for this woman only seemed to grow rather than diminish. For as long as she was in his house, she was his.

And when the threat was over?

He refused to think about it now, burying his face in the warm skin of her neck, just as he’d soon bury himself in her willing body.