Chapter Forty-six
It took all of her strength not to go into the boutique on Sunday. Jonathan showed concern, but Lenora simply could not explain her thoughts to her husband. What she did know was she needed to look deeper into a man she barely knew. First, she had to know his name. She was having a difficult time connecting the two photos of the men that Serena had shown her. It appeared as if it was the same man.
She awoke Monday morning, trying to appear normal despite the anxiety that had been there for a few weeks, and had now increased. Lenora kissed Jonathan after handing him a steaming cup of black coffee with two tablespoons of sugar. She fixed some toast and a boiled egg for Eliza. Finally, she encouraged Michael to grab a bowl of cereal. She was thankful Keith had returned to UNC late Sunday afternoon. In her pursuit to appear normal, she noted odd looks from her family.
No time for that!
She knew the reporter was after a story, but Lenora was grateful that at least someone was digging in areas of Charmayne’s life that the police probably wouldn’t. Lenora’s only real ally was now off on his honeymoon with Candace. When the couple returned in a week from the Bahamas, Lenora hoped to present convincing information to keep Charmayne’s case alive.
Her drive to Michael’s school was quiet. Her son was sullen as usual. Having to protect his grandmother over the weekend, and then have his mother drop him off at school as if all was normal had to be taking a toll. Jonathan and she had talked about getting Michael his own transportation but wanted to wait until he reached his senior year.
She waved good-bye to Michael and drove the Lexus with as much speed as she dared down the street and then off to I-77. Lenora fought to keep her patience in Monday morning traffic and within ten minutes, she pulled off at her exit. No one was parked at the strip mall where Lenora’s Bridal Boutique was located. It was just a little after eight o’clock, and most of the other businesses opened around nine.
Lenora unlocked the door and closed it behind her. Despite her day off, she needed to do research. She opened her office and turned her computer on. While she waited, she started coffee because she was going to need it.
The office phone rang as the coffee started to drip in the carafe.
Lenora picked up the phone. “Hello.”
“Mrs. Freeman?”
“Yes.”
“How are you? I wanted to be sure that you could still come in this afternoon.”
Lenora racked her mind. What appointment had she made?
The man on the other line reminded her. “Sorry, this is Charmayne’s lawyer. I had some instructions for you from her will.”
Lenora held her hands to her chest. “Oh. I’m so sorry. It’s been such a busy weekend with the wedding and . . .” She stopped herself from babbling. “What time was the appointment again?” She looked at her desk calendar. “Oh wait, I see it. I wrote it down. It’s one o’clock this afternoon, and your office is at Parklane.”
“Yes, that is correct. I will see you then, Mrs. Freeman. Good-bye.”
“Thank you, Mr.—” Before Lenora could finish her sentence, the man had hung up. She stared at the phone, not sure if the man had been rude or annoyed at her for forgetting the appointment. Lenora glanced down at her desk calendar. She didn’t notice where she jotted down a name.
It was a personal policy of hers to always get the name and phone number of people who called. Apparently she’d been so distracted she didn’t do either.
She’d worry about that later. Lenora turned to her computer and clicked to find the external hard drive she had attached last week. She went straight to Charmayne’s wedding folder. After a few clicks through her organization of folders, Lenora found what she was looking for in the files.
The invitation stated, The pleasure of your company is requested at the marriage of Charmayne Ann Hudson and Lance Ryan Matthews.
Lenora held her hand over the mouth, staring at the invitation and the name.
Lance Ryan.
Lenora asked out loud. “Who are you, and why would you have a reason to come back to harm Charmayne?”
The invitation that Charmayne had asked her to create wasn’t unusual, but it said a lot. Lenora remembered asking Charmayne why her parents weren’t doing the invitation. In fact, Lenora pulled up the original invitation. It stated Bishop William Hudson and Valerie Hudson request the honor of your presence at the marriage of Charmayne Ann Hudson and Lance Ryan Matthews.
Lenora had assumed the wedding would take place at Greater Heights Church, but in the second invitation, Charmayne asked her to add the Ritz-Carlton. What surprised Lenora even more was Charmayne’s off-hand comment.
“We don’t have to get married in the church.”
Lenora recalled responding. “No, but you’re the daughter of Bishop Hudson. Why wouldn’t you want the wedding ceremony at Greater Heights? I can see the reception being at the Ritz-Carlton.”
“No, it will be easier for the guests with the ceremony and the reception at the same place.”
At the time, Lenora didn’t question the logic but thought Charmayne could have chosen a venue for the reception in the vicinity of Greater Heights Church. It was like Charmayne used the wedding as some stance to rebel against her father. Lenora was used to Charmayne’s conflicts with her father, but she thought her friend would have moved forward with her wedding plans in an adult fashion.
“The wedding never happened. Why?” Lenora said out loud. Even though Lenora was furious at the months of work she had put into it, she never questioned or pushed Charmayne for an explanation. She had always assumed the bishop probably had managed to convince Charmayne to cancel the wedding.
Or did the decision come solely from Charmayne? The threats were directed at Charmayne after the bishop died, almost as if the man’s presence was no longer a hindrance.
Lenora pulled up the bridal portrait Charmayne had taken. The photo was perfect. Not a strand of hair had strayed from Charmayne’s updo. The makeup and Charmayne’s skin were flawless, not a single blemish. Her friend smiled back at her from the computer screen with a bright white smile and joy in her eyes. There wasn’t a hint of anything other than a woman delighted to be a bride.
Or was that what Lenora was seeing? The joy of finally being a bride, not so much a wife. How often had Lenora come across the woman whose sole focus was on the wedding day? Lenora could almost sense the crash of reality coming after, if not during, the honeymoon.
She had planned hundreds of weddings, with all races, nationalities, and religions. Like God was no respecter of people, love could come to a person in all forms, shapes, and sizes. Still, of all the men that had pursued Charmayne in her lifetime, why was this the man she chose to almost marry?
Who are you, Lance Ryan Matthews?