A gray cat peeked at me from under one of the chairs set up for Heather’s wedding, then turned its attention to batting the huge white bow taped to the chair arm. The dangers of an outdoor wedding. “Come out of there, you rascal.” I hiked up my yellow bridesmaid dress and lowered to my knees. Heather would kill me if I got dirty.
“Got ‘cha!” I gripped the cat behind the neck, resulting in a nasty scratch for my effort. “You beast.” I dropped the feline, which streaked into the reception hall. Let it be someone else’s problem. I straightened the bow and headed for the room at the back of the hall where my best friend was getting ready for her wedding.
“Everything’s good for the ceremony,” I said, entering the room. The worry on Heather’s face stopped me in my tracks. “What’s wrong?”
“What if this marriage is no better than my first?” She raised tear-filled eyes.
“David is nothing like your first husband.” I sat on a padded bench next to her.
“I thought Bobby was a good man, too, when I married him.”
“Well, I think David is the best. That counts for something. Dry your eyes before you ruin your makeup.” I gave her a one-armed hug. “You look gorgeous, by the way. It’s a beautiful day; the sun has cast diamonds across the surface of the lake. We’d best finish here if you want to make the ceremony by sunset.”
“You’re right. I’m being silly. Help me with my veil.” She stood so I could insert the comb holding the short veil into the bun on her head.
“Where did I put my earrings?” She turned and searched the counter. “They go with my necklace. David bought me these as a wedding gift.” She touched the diamonds at her throat.
“They’re here somewhere. Wear mine.” I removed my studs and dropped them into her hand. “It’s more important that you’re complete than me.” Smiling, I opened the door to peek out. “Guests are arriving.”
Mom and Shar, both wearing dresses that matched the one I wore, hurried into the room. My mother hadn’t stopped grinning since Heather asked her to be a bridesmaid.
“I feel like a young girl again.” She twirled, sending the hem of the dress dancing around her knees.
“There’s a cat running wild in the reception hall.” Shar smoothed her dress. “I tried to catch it, but it hissed at me.”
“I’m already wearing battle wounds.” I showed them my scratch, then headed to the bathroom to clean it. When I finished, Heather stood in the doorway, her arm linked with the arm of my father, who would give her hand to David’s.
“Someday, this will be me and you.” He smiled.
Yes, someday, when I let go of my foolish notion that marriage meant losing one’s independence. Brad, my fiancé, didn’t try to stifle my dreams or even keep me from sticking my nose where it didn’t belong. The fact we hadn’t set a date rested solely on my shoulders.
I pasted a smile to my lips, grabbed my bouquet from Shar, and took my place in line as the music started to play. As I moved toward the front of the white carpet runner, my gaze settled on Brad. I’d seen him dressed up before, but somehow today in his tuxedo, he’d never been more handsome.
He put his hand over his heart and winked.
Mercy, that man did things to my blood pressure.
Heather handed me her bouquet and faced her groom as the sun started to settle over the lake. Instead of diamonds, the water now sported a river of gold. The perfect backdrop for a special day.
After the ceremony and wedding photos, I headed to the reception hall to make sure the wedding table had been prepared to my standards. Crystal flutes, candles, and flowers set a romantic tone on each table. Guests partook of hors d’oeuvre before the meal was served. A DJ played soothing music from a corner of the room. Everything was set.
A gray streak speeding past had me gritting my teeth. That darn stray cat had a shrimp in its mouth.
“One of yours?” McIlroy grinned over the rim of a wineglass.
“No. It would be better behaved.” I chuckled. “Beautiful ceremony, wasn’t it?”
“Yep. Want to know what’s even more beautiful? The fact you haven’t almost gotten anyone killed in five months.”
“Shar is chomping at the bit.” Since she, myself, and my mother called ourselves The Waterfall Sleuths—Shar’s idea, not mine—she grew irritable without a dangerous crime to solve. “Excuse me.” I wanted to refresh my lipstick before giving the toast.
In the ladies’ room, a woman opened every stall, glanced around, then hurried to the hole in the counter for the trashcan. “It has to be here.”
“Can I help you?”
“I set my ruby ring on the counter before using the restroom, then realized I’d set it down after washing cocktail sauce off my hands, and now it’s gone.” She rubbed her temple. “Whoever I heard come in must have taken it.”
“Are you sure?” I helped her look until I had no more time to spare. “I’m so sorry, but I need to go.” A quick smear of lipstick and I was off.
At the wedding party table, I clinked my butter knife against my flute to grab everyone’s attention. The noise subsided, and I raised my glass of champagne. “I think everyone here knows me, but I’m Trinity Ashford, Heather Johnson’s best friend.” It would take some getting used to saying her new name. “We’ve been friends since kindergarten and taken part in every important event of each other’s life. I can’t begin to explain how lucky David is to have her as his wife.”
I cleared my throat and blinked away tears. “She’s a super woman, even if she doesn’t want to be a Waterfall Sleuth. Let’s raise our glasses to this couple who are beautiful inside and out.”
Cheers rose as flutes lifted high. I gazed up into Brad’s face. I was ready to set our own wedding date. It had nothing to do with the romance of the moment. Why put off what I deeply longed for?
After a meal of steak and baked potato, I took my place on the dance floor as the dancing started. After the specialty ones, I stood ready to collect the money offered to dance with the bride or groom.
Robbie stood next to his mommy, staring up at her with big eyes. “Dance, Mommy?”
“Of course.” Heather took his hands in hers and twirled him around the floor while I looked for his grandparents. Heather’s ex-husband’s parents would watch her son Robbie when she and David went to Hawaii for their honeymoon. After a couple of spins, she returned her son to my side.
“I’m special,” Robbie said, standing next to me in a tuxedo identical to the one David wore.
“Yes, you are.” I smiled down at him.
“I have a new daddy.”
“Oh.” I smiled. “That is special.”
He nodded. “I like him, but not him dancing with my mommy.” He marched to squeeze between them as those watching laughed.
David hefted him up with one arm, turning the dance for two into one for three. My smile widened. A special family indeed.
Brad swept me onto the dance floor as the wedding party was called to join the bride and groom. “Have I told you how beautiful you are?”
“Not today.”
“I’m sorry for that. You’re the prettiest gal here.” He pulled me close.
“Don’t let the bride hear you.”
“What happened to your earrings?” His breath tickled my neck.
“Heather misplaced hers, so I lent her mine.” I opened my mouth to let him know I wanted to set a date when I spotted the cat on the buffet table nibbling at a filet mignon. “That’s it!” I stepped away from Brad and hurried to the table. Since the cat was intent on its meal, it didn’t see me coming. I tossed a napkin over its head and snatched the thief off the table.
“Here.” Brad opened a nearby door which led to a small supply closet. “This ought to hold the rascal.”
I set the cat inside the closet and stepped back so Brad could shut the door before the little beast could escape. Who did he belong to? None of the servers seemed upset to see him; none of the guests seemed concerned about the cat. Most watched his antics with amusement. Which meant he was most likely a stray, and I’d need to contact animal control who would be closed at this time of the night.
“Let’s finish our dance.” Brad took my hand and led me to the dance floor as another slow song began to play.
Once again, I started to let him know I’d made my decision when one of the servers headed for the closet. “Don’t open that door!” I raced in her direction.
Too late. She opened the closet, pulled out a broom, and the gray cat shot out and darted under the buffet table.
This would be quite comical under different circumstances, but I didn’t want anything to ruin Heather’s evening. Especially a rowdy animal.
I rushed to the table and dropped to my knees. Lifting the tablecloth that brushed the floor, I came face-to-face with a dead guy. I knew he was dead because a steak knife protruded from his chest, and he stared at me with lifeless eyes.
- Publisher : Winged Publications
- Publication date : October 21, 2021
- Language : English
- Print length : 231 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1956654127
- ISBN-13 : 978-1956654127