Page 14 of Hibiscus Heights

Rachel sat down beside Deb, pulling her from her thoughts. “So, are you seeing anyone? With all your success, your phone must be ringing. That was a great photo of you in the magazine. Wow, I’d kill for your legs.”

“I’m too busy to think about dating,” Deb replied. “And no one is calling, at least, not like that.”

Rachel arched an eyebrow. “Are you sure you haven’t heard from anyone? Maybe you should check your texts.”

Suddenly, Deb remembered that strange message. She took out her phone and scrolled to find it buried among those of her friends and coworkers.

“That’s what Deb always says,” her brother Kenny chimed in from across the deck. “Face it, Deb, you’re just picky. I think you’ve dated the entire local inventory.”

“Nothing wrong with having high standards,” their father said, flipping the hamburgers. “Better to be selective than settle.”

As the familiar teasing continued around her, Deb watched her mother coo over the various grandchildren scattered across the deck. Five daughters-in-law, a slew of grandchildren Deb could hardly keep up with, and more on the way.

Sometimes Deb felt like the family oddity. The successful career woman who had somehow missed the marriage-and-babies memo.

Lining up the right person at the right time proved more challenging than people thought.

Her father was right. She was selective, whether it was the perfect paint color or the right man for her.

Paint colors, though notoriously difficult to match, were far easier and much less complicated.

“Found it,” Deb said, showing Rachel the odd message.

Her sister-in-law was beaming. “That’s from Matteo. He owns vineyards in Argentina and Napa Valley. Imagine the life you could have with him, decorating his houses and tasting rooms. I met him on the ferry a few days ago. Didn’t you speak to him?”

“He sent a text. I figured it was a scammer.”

“Well, he might be a little younger than you. Everyone texts now. But he was chatting with an older woman, so I thought you’d have a shot.”

“Older?” Deb intoned. “Gee, thanks for that.”

Did people think she was old now? Rachel wasn’t that much younger than Deb, though she’d just given birth to her third child.

The thought unnerved her. Deb was athletic and took pride in staying in great shape. From a mental perspective, she didn’t feel much older.

Wiser, she preferred to think.

Rachel was undeterred. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just thought you might need a date for the big party.”

Deb crossed her arms, thinking this sounded awfully familiar. “Did you talk to April?”

“I saw her at yoga,” Rachel replied, blushing. “She asked if my brother might be in town, which he won’t be. Anyway, Matteo is spending the summer here and has staff to manage his business. Sounds like a dreamy life. You could leave this place.”

“But I like it here,” Deb said, surprised. She supposed her family meant well. Still, there was always a catch. She’d bet he had women tucked away across the continents.

Was that cynical? Maybe, but it might be true.

“It only takes one.” Rachel turned toward David and raised her voice. “Unless someone doesn’t carry his share of the load, and then you might have to replace him with a new model.”

Deb’s father chuckled. “It’s probably your turn to change diapers and make dinner, son.”

“I’m not really looking for anything permanent,” Deb said. “Relationships don’t work that way in my world.”

Rachel looked disappointed in her. “We all worry about you living on your own.”

Deb couldn’t help laughing. “Are you kidding? I have Duke, and I grew up with five older brothers. I love having my own space.”

“Of course you do,” Rachel said, squeezing her arm. “But a summer fling might lead to something more permanent.”

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