Marry Me (24 page)

“Great. I told Mrs. Manning you were meeting with Devon about the wedding and got held up.”

Good grief, she'd missed an appointment? “Thank you for covering for me, Amy. I hope I didn't miss anything important.”

“We had the final fitting for Laurel's gown, which is going to be stunning by the way, and actually we're about done for today,” Amy said.

Mrs. Manning glanced over. “I hope you will be prompt for all our other appointments, Miss Richardson. The wedding is in three weeks, and there's so much to be done.”

“Everything is right on schedule, Mrs. Manning, and I can assure you, nothing will go wrong,” Julia said, keeping her smile firmly in place.

Mrs. Manning gave a little
hmph
indicating that Julia would probably screw up everything. Julia wasn't altogether certain she disagreed with the assessment, but the
hmph
stuck in her craw.

And since when did I start thinking hackneyed phrases like ‘stuck in her craw' anyway?

Mrs. Manning turned back to Amy. “Thank you for all your help, dear. I hope Miss Richardson knows what an asset she has in you.”

Julia clenched her teeth so hard her jaws ached from the pressure. “We think she walks on water around here.”

Mrs. Manning's red-hot glare could have melted the polar ice caps. “You shouldn't be flippant when referring to a miracle of our Lord.”

“Sorry,” Julia said, lowering her head in what she hoped was a submissive gesture.

With another little
hmph
, Mrs. Manning gathered her daughter and swept out the door.

The minute they were gone, Julia hurried over to the desk to look at the calendar. “I checked this blasted book Friday, and there was no—” She glared down at the page, where the very clear notation ‘Final Fitting: Manning' resided in black ink. “Where did that come from?”

“Maybe you looked at the wrong date?” Amy suggested.

“I may be clueless about the wedding business, but I can usually figure out the date.”

“I saw the notation when I came in this morning. I would have called, but I figured you already knew about it. Then they got here, and it was too late.”

Julia plopped down into the chair and started flipping through the book in case she'd missed any other important appointments. “Thank you for covering for me. Did the fitting go all right?”

“Of course. The dress is exquisite. Karen Collier outdid herself.”

Julia looked up from the schedule. “How in the world do you deal with Mrs. Manning and stay so chipper?”

Amy gave a humble little shrug in response.

“It's just another one of your many gifts?” Julia pressed. “Like the photographic memory?”

“Mrs. Manning isn't that difficult.”

Since when? “Are we talking about the same person?”

“She's used to being catered to, that's all. So I cater. I suppose you could say that's my gift.”

“Coddling massive egos?”

Amy giggled.

Julia flipped a couple more pages, making a mental note of everything she needed to do today. She stopped trying at the hundredth “to do” when a shooting pain streaked from the back of her skull to her forehead, indicating a coming brain explosion brought on by information overload. She lifted a hand to rub her eyes and squeaked in surprise when she realized Amy still hovered by the desk.

“Did you need something?” she asked.

Amy bit her lip. “I was wondering… about Seth?”

The ice pick to the brain lodged in her shoulders. “What about him?”

“I guess you know we're dating now.”

Do not flinch, Julia.
“Is it officially dating?”

“We've become quite close. In fact, I have a feeling—” Amy broke off with an adorable blush and looked away.

“It sounds serious. You haven't been going out long.”

“Sometimes it doesn't take long. The way he looks at me, I just know.”

I said, don't flinch.
“That's great.”

Amy let out a deep breath. “You mean you don't mind?”

“That you and Seth are—”

“Probably going to get married.”

How did they get from a couple dates to marriage? Bile rose in Julia's throat, but she fought off the sudden wave of nausea. “Why would I mind?”

“I know you and Seth are only friends, but you didn't look very happy to see us together at the restaurant the other night.”

Gee, and I thought I'd hidden my reaction so well.
“I guess I was surprised, but I'm fine with it.”

“You're sure?”

“Positive. I wish you both the best.”

“Thank you. I'm so happy we have your blessing.”

“Of course you do.”

“That's such a relief,” Amy said, a wide smile transforming her face. “I want us to be close, you know? After all, someday we'll be practically sisters.”

Julia flinched.

“This is such a beautiful street, don't you think?” Amy asked, her body practically quivering in anticipation.

Since Amy was regarding him with the rapt attention of a dog eyeing a perfectly cooked steak, Seth answered the only way he could.

“Yes, of course,” he said. “It's very beautiful.”

Truthfully, Seth had never given much thought to the relative beauty of West Magnolia before. It was a nice, tree-lined avenue, with two rows of elegant houses. Not unlike most of the other tree-lined streets in Covington Falls.

Amy let out the breath she'd obviously been holding and favored him with a blinding smile. “I knew you would think so. I've always loved it, too. When I was a little girl I used to ride my bike over here and ride up and down.”

“Really?” What an odd creature. Did all girls case their favorite street or just Amy?

“Mmm hmm.” She pointed to a pretty, white, two-story home with the requisite wrap-around porch and blue shutters on the upper windows. “I especially loved this house here.”

Seth studied the house in question and tried to drum up the same enthusiasm. Yes, it was nice. Sweet even. Someplace he could see raising a family in—

Whoa.

The sudden, blinding truth hit him like a two-by-four as he realized the purpose of Amy's little field trip. A cold sweat broke out all over his body.

“Can't you just see eating around the dining room table at Christmas?” Amy gazed at the clapboard home in complete adoration. “Tucking the kids into bed right up there in that room?”

Good grief. Amy had been dreaming of living in this house since she was a child. Had he been the husband in question even then? The chills running down Seth's back answered a resounding yes. What had he gotten himself into? Amy had about twenty years worth of dreams stored up in her pretty blonde head.

And he didn't know if he could ever live up to the fantasy she'd created in her mind.

Saturday dawned, and where else would Julia be but at a wedding? She pulled into the parking lot at the Rotary Club, marveling that it had been a pretty good day so far. Joy Bennett and Matt Nichols had managed to get through their wedding ceremony without any fainting or blood spurting. All clothing had fit as intended, and there had been no wildlife in sight.

Julia considered this a huge triumph.

Her cell rang, and she answered assuming the caller had to be Amy or Betsy.

“What's this I hear about Seth dating Amy Vining?”

Shoot. The Inquisitor. “Hello Sarah,” Julia said. “How are you?”

“I asked you a question,” Sarah said, obviously not in the mood for small talk today.

“Which I'm ignoring. I'm in the middle of a wedding.”

“I can't believe I had to find out Seth has been seeing Amy from my neighbor,” Sarah continued as if Julia hadn't spoken. “I assume you do know about her.”

“Yes. Actually, I was having dinner with Meredith at
Bon Appétit,
and they came in together.”

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“I've been busy, and anyway, it's none of my business who Seth dates.”

“Are you kidding? Weren't you the one pacing my bedroom not so long ago, telling me about kisses?”

“I still regret telling you that.”

“As I remember, you were also making up all kinds of reasons why you shouldn't date Seth.”

Julia rolled her neck in an effort to ease the knot that had formed. “We both realized there was no sense in pursuing something that would never work.”

“Of course. So, what did you do? Tell him to date Amy instead?”

Why did Sarah have to know her so well? “Oops. Sorry, Sarah, you're breaking up. Bad reception. Gotta go.”

“Don't you dare hang up—”

“Talk to you later.”

No more than a second passed before Julia's phone rang again. She knew her stepsister would only call back a million times until she answered.

“I can't talk now,” Julia said.

“Fine, but you're not getting out of this.”

“Can you grill me later? Please?”

“Okay,” Sarah said, on a gusty sigh. “Come over here when you're done.”

“I'll do my best. Bye now.”

“Julia—”

Pushing the looming unease over Seth and Amy from her mind, Julia rushed into the Rotary Club. Of course she spotted one of the people currently making her life crazy right off. Amy had assumed total control as usual. Julia surveyed the room, assessing the progress. Two buffet tables were lined up to her right, and the caterers were busy putting out the food. A dozen other tables were scattered around, waiting for the guests to arrive.

“Everything looks great here,” Julia said.

Amy preened, though she did her best to still look humble. “Everything has come together very nicely. How did the ceremony go?”

“No injuries to report. Betsy is helping to oversee the pictures, and I suspect guests will be showing up any minute. Can I help you with anything?”

“I've got it covered, boss,” Amy said, with a breezy smile. “This has been one of the least painful receptions. Simple and easy.”

Meanwhile, Julia would have been going out of her mind. “You're inhuman.”

The first of the guests started arriving, and about forty-five minutes after that, the wedding party made their appearance. Julia started to relax. Dumb move on her part because dropping her guard meant Murphy's Law kicking. The law in this case took the form of Assistant #1. Julia was helping to supervise the cake cutting when Betsy walked up.

“This is the best wedding
ever
!” Betsy declared.

Julia chuckled at her enthusiasm. “It's gone well.”

“Look at them,” Betsy said, in full gush mode. “Everyone is so
happy
. Joy and Matt look so
happy
. And everyone is so
happy
for them.”

Betsy flung out her arms as if to take in the entire room, nearly clubbing Julia in the ear. She managed to duck just in time, and stared at her assistant in bemusement. Sure Betsy resided in a land named Cheerful, but her current blissful state seemed too much even for her. The “happy, happy, happy” spelled scary, scary, scary.

Julia took a better look, noting the flushed cheeks and over-bright eyes. If she didn't know better, she'd swear… No way.

“You're feeling pretty good, huh?”

Betsy offered a wide-eyed grin. “I am
so
happy.”

Yeah, a happy drunk. Prickles of alarm snaked along Julia's skin. She scanned the room again and noticed the noise level has increased tenfold. People were laughing, but now they seemed more out-of-control. The dancing seemed a little wilder too. In fact, things were beginning to look more like a college party than a wedding reception of an Elder's daughter.

“Betsy, what have you been drinking?”

“Only punch,” she answered, blinking several times. “Why?”

Without another word, Julia bolted across the room, with Betsy close behind. There were two smaller tables set up with punch bowls and glasses. Julia hit the closest table, praying she was wrong. The law of averages, and her luck with these weddings, told her she wasn't.

She poured a small amount into a glass and took a sip.

“Is something wrong?” Betsy asked.

The punch had a definite kick not created by Ginger Ale. “Oh, I'm pretty sure something is very wrong.”

Betsy's eyes widened in apprehension. “With the punch?”

“This stuff is lethal.”

Julia looked around and noticed the tablecloth was bunched up on the bottom. The skin prickles returned full force as she leaned over and lifted the cloth.

“Is that what I think it is?” Betsy clapped a hand over her mouth.

Julia grabbed one of the empty liquor bottles. “Spiked punch. I thought these games only went on at school dances.”

A scream pierced the air and Julia's senses. She and Betsy popped up, searching for the cause of the commotion.

“Henry!” a woman across the room cried. “Oh, Lord! Somebody call an ambulance.”

“Call 911!” Julia yelled as she sprinted toward the commotion.

A crowd had gathered around, and Julia had to push her way through. At the center of the mass of people stood a middle-aged woman, with a head of tight, graying curls. The object of her concern proved to be an older man who was slumped over in a chair. The woman shook him frantically, but he didn't come to.

Julia knelt down by the man's chair and checked his pulse. Pulled up an eyelid to look at his pupils.

“Do you know what you're doing?” his wife asked.

“No, but they always do this on TV. His pulse seems strong, and his eyes reacted to the light.”

Julia leaned closer, slapping his cheeks. He stirred and let out a distinct snore. With the puff of air she also got a whiff of his breath.