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“Not the slightest,” she said with forced confidence, swinging her purse over her arm. She could do this.
Claire jumped up first and came over to greet her big brother, giving him another effusive hug. He returned it, the motion exemplifying the muscles that seemed to run along his back.
Good grief. Had she really noticed that?
Claire released her brother and turned to acknowledge Meredith’s presence. “Hello, Meredith,” Claire said, her tone neutral. “I’m sorry to hear about Darcy. She’s a sweet kid.”
“Thank you,” she said, equally polite. “And thanks for letting us use your car.”
Claire nodded and, as if she’d been fulfilling her obligatory duty in greeting her, returned her gaze to Travis. She broke into a wider smile and grabbed his arm. “Do you have a minute before you go? I know your time is probably tight, but I’d really like you to meet Rick.”
Meredith had already had the pleasure on a couple of occasions. Unfortunately.
“Rick,” Claire said to the man in khaki shorts and a green polo shirt already rising from the blanket, “I’d like you to meet my brother, Travis. My little brother,” she added with emphasis even though the idea of Travis being little was impossible. “Travis, this is Rick Denton.”
“Hey, pal, how ya’ doing? I’ve heard so much about you that I feel like I already know you,” Rick said as they shook hands, the sun gleaming off a gold Rolex on his wrist. He was all polish and movie star shine with his golden-blond hair offset by a dark tan that made his toothy smile seem even more unnaturally white…and smarmy.
Travis nodded, not responding.
“And Meredith, nice to see you again, although I wish it were under better circumstances.” Rick’s brown eyes tried to look sympathetic, his brow furrowed, but the affect felt phony.
For a seemingly smart and rational woman, Claire’s inability to see that there was an artifice behind this guy’s gleam was surprising. Meredith was curious to see what Travis’s take on his future brother-in-law would be.
A loud clearing of a throat sounded from the blanket. The old woman cleared her throat again, not trying to be subtle, and Meredith looked over in time to see Allie roll her eyes at the woman.
Claire laughed. “And may I also introduce you to Allie’s grandmother Molly.”
“Thanks, Claire,” Molly said and huffed. “It seems that lately I’ve become invisible when it comes time to make the introductions to fine, hunky male specimens”—her gaze settled on Travis—“like yourself. So you’re Claire’s brother, huh? The hero.” She carefully inspected him, and Meredith was certain when Molly was done, even from her seated position, she could give Travis’s precise measurements and the cotton count of his shirt.
“Not a hero, ma’am,” Travis said. “But it’s nice to meet you.”
“Sorry to be so rude, but my arthritis is acting up today and it might take a crane to get me up off my duff. But take a seat. I made popcorn balls.”
Did people really make popcorn balls anymore? Sure enough, Molly pulled out a ball of pink popcorn wrapped in cellophane.
“Thanks,” he said accepting it, not yet taking a seat.
“Meredith, right?” Molly asked her and she nodded, mute, waiting for a jibe. Although she hadn’t seen Molly since she was fourteen, when she’d made a permanent enemy of the woman’s granddaughter, she knew the woman’s propensity for saying exactly what was on her mind. Instead, though, she surprised her. “Here, have a ball.”
Not sure there was really any other option, Meredith took the popcorn ball from the woman’s grasp. “Thanks, Mrs.…” Crap. What was her last name? It had been so long.
“Molly. I’m Molly, and I don’t want to hear any Mrs. or ma’am,” she said, throwing that last warning in Travis’s direction. “Got it?”
“Are you guys hungry?” Claire asked. “We decided to pack a huge picnic basket to enjoy after we played a round of golf. I can safely say that I have absolutely no skill or propensity to the illustrious game—sorry, hon,” she said and placed her hand on Rick’s knee. “Unlike Allie here.”
“Only because I’m determined,” Allie added. “I need to be able to at least tee off properly. Sam loves golf, and I was hoping we could make a day of it for his birthday next month. As a surprise.”
“From the way Sam looks at you, I don’t think you need to learn any new skill to impress him,” Claire said. “He’s completely head over heels for you, Allie.” She met Meredith’s gaze, and added, “You two were made for each other.”
It didn’t take a genius to realize the message Claire was sending her. Hands off.
Sure, Meredith might have hoped to ignite Sam’s interest when he first got to town a few months ago. But how could she not? He was handsome, intelligent, successful, and she’d hoped maybe he’d finally see something in her that he never saw in high school.
She had, after all, always had a thing for him.
A feeling that Allie also seemed to share, but far less conspicuously. Allie had mooned blatantly over Sam, writing her name with his on her notebooks and gazing at him like a little lost puppy dog. Meredith couldn’t stand for anyone to see her that vulnerable, so she’d kept her true feelings to herself.
Not that Sam had been paying attention to either of them anyhow.
