Chapter 15
Merry signed her name at the front desk and glanced up in time to see Brenda Yancy striding toward her with a smile.
“Hello there! Merry, right?”
“Yes,” Merry said, smiling. She shifted Chula in her arms and shook Brenda’s outstretched hand.
“Good to see you again. I’m sorry I can’t take you to Ruth, but I’m heading into a meeting. Trudy,” she said to the ponytailed woman behind the reception desk, “please be sure Ms. . . .”
“Please call me Merry,” Merry supplied.
“Right. Please take Merry to see Ruth Canton, will you? Enjoy chatting with Ruth.” She waved as she strode off.
“You timed your visit perfectly,” Trudy said, coming around the reception desk. “Ruth just returned from lunch. I thought she’d be exhausted, but she went back outside with—well, I think it’s either her grandson or her nephew, I’m not sure. Anyway, follow me.”
Merry followed Trudy along the same path she had taken weeks before with Nick. She set Chula down, pleased the little dog was so well trained to the leash, and the trio walked down the path toward where Ruth sat near the pond. Beside her was a man in an Adirondack chair. Merry couldn’t see his face, but Ruth was laughing at something he said.
“Hey there, Ruth,” Trudy called, waving when Ruth turned her head. “You have two more visitors.”
“Well, hello!” Ruth’s brows shot up when she spied Merry and Chula. Her eyes lit, and she offered a wide smile. “Another wonderful surprise. You’d think this was my birthday.”
Merry released Chula’s leash so the dog could greet Ruth. Chula trotted to her old friend, stood on her hind legs with her front paws on Ruth’s leg, and wagged her tail with unabashed glee.
The man in the Adirondack chair stood and turned.
Merry stopped in her tracks. Her smile froze in place. It faded when she swallowed hard and steeled herself against the rush of conflicting emotions.
“Hello, Merry,” Nick said. His eyes, more green than gold today out here on the lawn, regarded Merry with what she read as optimistic caution.
But his voice—the sound of it spread an ache inside her. She stared at him, unable to look away, and it was with effort she said, “Nick.”
“Please sit.” He indicated the chair he had vacated.
“No, thank you. I can only stay a few minutes.” Merry moved past him to help Ruth lift Chula onto her lap. Merry smiled at Ruth, a brittle effort that did nothing to mask Merry’s emotional turmoil.
“What brings you back to Naples?” Ruth asked, casting a sideways glance at Nick.
“I had some unfinished business here,” Merry said. “But I’m sure it’s—it’s over now, so I’ll be returning to Asheville. I wanted to be sure you got to see Chula again, because I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
“I see.” Ruth’s gnarled hand smoothed the wavy fur over Chula’s head, and she kissed the little dog between her ears. “Would the two of you mind taking a stroll around the pond? I’d like a few minutes alone with Chula, if you don’t mind. I don’t know when I’ll see her again, and I’ve got a few things to say to this furry girl.”
“Of course,” Merry said. She stepped back and gave Ruth and Chula one last glance before heading off toward the pavers that circled the pond. She heard Nick’s footfalls behind her, and he fell into step beside her a moment later.
“Did you read my apology?”
“The whole world read your apology, Nick. So what?”
“So what? That’s it?”
He caught her arm, and Merry stopped walking. She looked at his hand with narrowed eyes, and he released her when she tugged away.
“You’re a writer, Nick. It’s what you do. I get it, because I’m a writer, too. You know how to put words together to achieve a certain sound, a certain meaning. You did that. You used the words you knew would get my attention. And it worked. Congratulations. Here I am.” She spread her arms. “And you know what I learned? That I’m more gullible than I ever imagined.” She shook her head. “I don’t know, maybe you thought it would take longer for me to show up. Or maybe you didn’t care if I showed up or not. Was it a word game for you? Let’s see how that silly, naïve, happy-happy-joy-joy Merry reacts to this one?” Her eyes welled, and she looked away toward the pond. Lily pads ruffled in the breeze. On the far bank, several brown turtles had collected to sun themselves. A small fish jumped, silvery in the sun for a split second and then gone again beneath the surface, leaving a circle of ripples behind.
A breeze took Merry’s hair, and she tucked the billowing strands behind her ears and looked back at Nick. “It doesn’t matter anymore. You’re off the hook. I’m standing here looking at you, and I’m not even mad. Not at you. You only did what people always do. It’s my own fault for being so—so quick to trust. You know me, Merry-freaking-Sunjoy, always seeing the bright side, looking for that silver lining. But I’ve learned my lesson. It’s taken a long time, but finally—finally—I know how ridiculous I was—am.” She emitted a harsh laugh. “So thanks, Nick, for making sure my head is out of the clouds and my feet are securely on the ground.”
“Hold up a minute.” Nick caught her arm when she began walking again, and this time he didn’t let go. “What the hell are you talking about? You read between the lines, got the message and came down here, but now you’re cutting me off without even having a real conversation? Why did you bother coming if you had no intention of even giving me a chance? And if by ‘did what people always do’ you mean ‘open a vein’ or ‘spill their guts’ then you’re right. I did do that, and in a very public way so you wouldn’t doubt my sincerity. Damn it, Merry, give me a chance here.”
“I did give you a chance. It was your words that got me to come back, and it was your words that made sure I wouldn’t stay.”
Nick held her with the intensity of his stare. “What words? This is the first time we’ve spoken in weeks.”
“You should know by now that when you put things in writing they don’t stay secret. And let go of my arm.” She yanked herself free of his grasp. “As you wish must have looked real pretty when you typed it on your keyboard—and damn you for using that, of all things, even though you know what it means to me. But I know you’re already seeing someone else.”
Nick’s look of surprise was so genuine Merry might have believed it if she hadn’t read his note at the villa.
“What? I’m not seeing anyone.”
“What about your date today? I don’t know if you’ve already had it, or if it’s upcoming, but I know about it.”
“What are you talking about?” Nick stared at her, clearly at sea.
“You posted a note on the villa door.”
Nick nodded. “Yes, to Poppy Washington. She offered to bring me another batch of her jerked chicken. I knew I wouldn’t be there, so I gave her permission to go in.”
“You also mentioned having a date. A date with the same lovely lady Poppy had met at the villa earlier in the week.”
Nick continued to stare at Merry, but his expression of confusion shifted. His eyes lit and he tamped down a smile.
“I don’t see what’s funny.” Merry crossed her arms over her chest, annoyed with the heat rising into her face.
Nick’s smile opened up, full blown. He looked across the pond to where Ruth sat petting Chula. Merry followed his gaze.
“Yes, you are correct, Ms. Sunjoy. I did invite a lovely lady to the villa earlier in the week. I had lunch with that same lady again today. She’s a delightful companion, is cheaper than any therapist, and gives good advice to the lovelorn.” He waved at Ruth, and Ruth waved back. Nick looked back at Merry and leaned forward until their noses were almost touching and Merry could see the flecks of green and gold scattered in his eyes. “I’m the lovelorn, in case you didn’t know.”
“I—I—oh.” Merry looked at Ruth and then back at Nick. Understanding poured over her like warm water. “Ruth. You were talking about—about Ruth.” Embarrassment coursed through her. “I thought—I assumed—”
Nick’s eyes held Merry captive.
“There is no one else in my life, Merry. Only you. I had the Scurvy Rickets contract changed for you. I posted the apology for you. I’ve been hoping and waiting for you. Everything has been for you. Only you.”
“I—I saw the note and it sounded as if—I mean, I thought—I was so sure that you—but I shouldn’t have—assumed—I shouldn’t have—” She swallowed hard. “Please shut me up.”
Nick took her face in his hands. “As you wish,” he said and touched his lips to hers, a soft whisper. “As you wish,” he murmured, and brushed her lips again. “As you wish,” he repeated, now kissing the spot on her cheek where her dimple appeared. “As you wish.” His lips moved feather-light over her cheekbones, her eyes, forehead, nose, against her ear. “Forever, Merry, as you wish,” he whispered before returning to her mouth.
Merry trembled and curled her hands in Nick’s hair when he deepened the kiss. Their lips smiled against each other when a happy “Hooray!” and clapping sounded from Ruth’s side of the pond.
“I have a confession,” Merry said when she caught her breath.
“Okay.” Nick rested his forehead against hers.
“I lied to you.”
“What, you? Merry Sunjoy? I don’t believe it.”
Merry nodded. “I told you my head was out of the clouds and my feet were on the ground, but that’s a lie. The truth is, I’m floating on air right now, and I don’t want this to end.”
Nick drew her closer. “As you wish,” he promised again, and lowered his mouth to hers.