Chapter Seventeen

Kate straightened the pillows on the couch and cast a final look around the living room. The vacuum, dust rag, and furniture polish were put away. The air smelled of fresh ground coffee, vanilla, and cinnamon.

The doorbell rang. Kate smoothed the hem of her beaded V-neck sweater over her gray tweed slacks, then opened the door.

Jessica, Monica, Renee, and Kristin stood at the door.

“Come in,” Kate said. “Would you like me to hang up your jackets?”

“Oh, good, a fire,” Renee said, slipping off her faux leopard jacket. She set Kisses’ carrier on the floor and let out the little dog. “It’s gotten nippy out.”

Monica handed Kate her wool jacket. Monica looked around before she took a seat at one end of the couch closest to Renee, who had just sat down near the fireplace. Kisses jumped into her lap. Kate couldn’t read Monica’s expression.

Kristin sat next to Monica, leaving Jessica and Kate across from them on the love seat, as if they were divided into two opposing sides, and the odds were three to two. Kate noticed Jessica’s frown and gave her an encouraging smile.

“Can I get you some coffee or tea?” Kate asked.

Jessica jumped up. “I’ll help you.”

Jessica took orders, then brought out drinks and small plates. Kate carried in a tray of fresh apple-nut bread slices, which she offered around, then set on the coffee table. She sat and took out her notepad.

Monica took a bite of bread. “This is good,” she said.

“Thank you. I’m glad you like it. And I’m glad y’all could make it this afternoon.” They chatted for a few minutes, and then Kate steered the conversation around to the wedding.

“You must have so many arrangements to finalize for the wedding,” Kate said, nodding sympathetically at Monica. “How are you holding up?”

Kristin sat silently nibbling on a piece of the bread.

“It’s definitely time consuming,” Monica said, taking a sip of her tea. “But things are going well. I’ve received over two hundred RSVPs and only seven regrets.” She wiped her fingertips on a cloth napkin. “I’ve ordered special flowers shipped in from Hawaii. They’re going to be just gorgeous. We have a florist from Chattanooga who will bring them up and arrange them Saturday before the wedding. She’ll have the arch, a pair of tall baskets, kneeling bench, candelabras, and a scarlet run—”

“Monica, what happened to my pink roses?” Jessica interrupted.

Monica glanced up. “I think you’re really going to love these arrangements,” she said, pasting a smile on her face. “I ordered a combination of coral, mango, yellow, and green exotic tropical flowers. Trust me. They’ll be stunning.”

Jessica pursed her lips.

Monica described all the decorations and place settings she’d ordered. “And the Bristol is going to cater dinner.” Her eyes lit up as she described the meal. “There will be a five-course dinner with prime rib, smoked pheasant, and plank-grilled salmon for the entrées.”

“I still don’t think we need anything that elaborate,” Jessica said quietly. “Honestly, a cold supper would be fine.”

“We don’t entertain that way,” Monica said, raising her eyebrows.

“That might be fine for an afternoon luncheon, but not a formal wedding,” Renee added, shaking her head.

“I just think this is all way too fancy.” Jessica twisted her napkin in her lap. “All we want is to have our families and friends there to celebrate with us.”

Monica waved a hand dismissively. “This is your big chance, Jessica. Your father will only pay for one wedding.”

“I’m only going to have one wedding. I’m marrying for life. With God’s help, we’ll make it work.” Jessica sighed. “I wish...”

Whatever she wished, she left unsaid.

“The Bristol has these gorgeous heart-shaped cakes,” Monica continued, digging out a picture and passing it to Jessica.

“That’s beautiful,” Jessica said, studying the glossy picture. She passed it to Kate. The cake had an intricate sugar lattice and exotic flowers and bells.

Kate felt a surge of hope. Maybe the two women would agree on this, if nothing else.

“If they could leave off most of the decorations and just use a few roses and maybe some piping, it’d be perfect,” Jessica continued.

Kate thought that was a reasonable request. She passed the picture back to Monica.

“That’d insult the chef. He is famous for his intricate designs.” Monica shook her head. “I suppose we could change the flowers to roses, but I won’t ask him to ruin his masterpiece.”

“Monica’s got all these fabulous things lined up.” Kristin said, looking at Jessica. “You should listen to her.” She turned to Monica. “You’re so good at organizing all this. I’d love to have you plan my wedding.”

“Oh, are you getting married soon?” Kate asked. She remembered the way Kristin smiled at Brian.

“Not right away, but you never know,” she said, giving Kate a haughty look.

Kate wondered if Kristin had some scheme up her sleeve. No doubt her plans included Brian, but in that case, she needed to get Jessica out of the way, which would happen when she married Trace. Then what? Had she used Jessica’s trust fund to bankroll her plans?

Monica went on to describe more details, including music, and it became more and more clear that Monica and Jessica had distinct ideas about what they wanted. Kate wondered how it would all come together. She was glad Renee kept most of her thoughts to herself. Kristin hadn’t offered any constructive ideas either, but she made a show of supporting Monica’s plans. This wasn’t exactly the friendly break-the-tension tea Kate had hoped for.

By the time they left, Kate felt as if she’d been through a wringer. Jessica was giving in to Monica on most accounts, but the strain between the two women remained. Kate felt sorry for Jessica. Wedding details were unimportant compared to Jessica and Trace’s relationship, but time was growing very short. Kate believed Jessica and Monica could unite enough to pull off the wedding, but could they unite enough to become a family?

“I HAVEN’T HAD such strong reservations about an engaged couple in a while, Katie.” Paul stood at the kitchen counter tearing pieces of romaine lettuce into a wooden salad bowl as he spoke. “I had lunch with Brian Levy yesterday. I got the impression he’s concerned about Jessica. I suspect that’s why he’s still here.”

Kate flipped the pork chops that were cooking on the stove and pressed on them with the spatula. She added sliced onions and mushrooms to the pan. “How did you happen to have lunch with him?”

“He came into the diner alone, and I offered him a seat. Seems like a nice guy. I think you’re right that he’s in love with Jessica.”

“He doesn’t really try to hide his feelings, does he?”

Paul sighed. “I wish I felt certain Jessica and Trace should marry. I just have this uneasy feeling. And it’s not helping me put together my sermonette for the wedding.”

Paul pulled a vegetable peeler out of a drawer and started on the carrots. “They asked for something nontraditional that will bless their marriage and invite the guests to be part of their new lives together. Shouldn’t be so hard, should it? But I just don’t know what to say.”

“How frustrating. I’m sorry.” Kate put her spatula down and wrapped her arms around Paul’s neck. He hugged her around the waist and held her tight. Paul took his mentoring duties so seriously. He genuinely cared and wanted to help couples deepen their relationships. If Trace and Jessica didn’t grasp the concepts and apply them, they would struggle with each other as well as her family.

Kate gave Paul a kiss, then went back to turn the meat again. “I understand how you feel. I have reservations too,” she said. “I keep praying about it. There’s so much distrust between everyone connected to the Mackenzies. Even if Jessica and Trace are perfectly suited, they’re facing family strife.”

She watched as melted butter popped and sizzled in the pan. “I was hoping to find out about that job Trace lost and try to clear his name, but I’ve only run into dead ends so far. Meanwhile, the list of people who could have stolen the money from Jessica’s trust fund gets longer and longer every day.”

“So, Trace is still on the list?” Paul was back to peeling the carrots.

“Yes.”

“What about Brian?”

“I don’t know.” Kate stepped away from the stove and leaned back against the counter. “He seems to be wealthy in his own right. I see no motive unless he moved her money to protect her from Trace.”

“Plus, I can tell that Gordon really favors Brian. Still, I’m sure he’d come around if he could believe Trace is trustworthy.”

“Jessica and Trace say they’ve prayed about getting married, so they haven’t made their decision lightly,” Kate reminded Paul.

“That’s true.” Paul gave Kate a half grin. “So perhaps we should back off and exercise a little faith.”

“Wise words, Preacher. You always say God answers prayer. Maybe we should trust him on that.”

Paul held up a carrot and pointed it at Kate. “You’ve got a point.” He took a bite off the end of a carrot.

“Not anymore.”

Paul waved the pointless carrot at her and grinned.

“I TOLD JESSICA...” Trace looked over at his fiancée and smiled, squeezing her hand. “Maybe we should go along with Monica’s plans to keep the peace. After all, a wedding is just one day out of the rest of our lives. If she wants to do the fancy rehearsal dinner, let her go for it. I’m supposed to pay that bill. Fine. I’ll pay it.”

“But she’ll spend a fortune of your money—our money,” Jessica said. “We can’t afford that.”

Jessica looked down at their hands clasped together. They were sitting in Paul’s office at the church for the sixth premarital counseling session. “This is getting so complicated. Maybe we should elope.” Jessica looked up, her eyes wide. “Maybe you could marry us in a private ceremony, Pastor. Then we could just do a reception and forget all this other stuff.”

“It’s a nice idea, isn’t it?” Trace said. “But I know you better than that. You’d always regret it if the people you love weren’t there.” He ran his fingers lightly up and down Jessica’s arm. “You found your mother’s wedding dress, and I want to see you walk down the aisle in it with our family and friends there to celebrate with us. Other than that, I don’t care what happens. Let Monica do what she wants.”

“But she’s getting such expensive, exotic flowers, and I don’t even like them,” Jessica complained.

Trace pressed his lips together. For a moment, he didn’t answer. Then he gave a little nod, as if he’d made up his mind about something. “Why don’t you order the flowers you want. She can put hers on the tables for dinner, and we’ll use what you want in the ceremony. I’ve got some extra savings set aside. We could use that.”

“You do?” Jessica said, staring at him.

“Rainy-day fund,” he said, smiling at her. “We’ll manage. You should enjoy planning our wedding, not stress over it.”

Jessica beamed, but Kate felt a sense of dread. So even after their talks about money, Trace hadn’t told Jessica about his savings. Kate didn’t understand why Trace would keep that from his fiancée, especially when financial suspicion was hanging over him. She glanced at Paul and read hesitation in his eyes as well.

Paul shifted his gaze back to the couple, and they went over the previous week’s assignment, which was about personality differences. Jessica’s personality test revealed that she had an otter-like temperament, which meant that she was energetic and outgoing, and Trace was like a Golden Retriever, which meant that he was laid back.

The pair admitted that some of their weaknesses overlapped, but Kate could see their resolve to make their relationship work, regardless. As much concern as she felt for them, she couldn’t help but give a mental thumbs-up to the couple. Their love for each other was evident.

As Paul went over their test results, Kate thought about the little boy Trace had coached in the Special Olympics. She needed to tell him about the boy, but that meant she’d have to admit that she’d been investigating him. She’d told Jessica she would look for the trust-fund thief, but she suspected Jessica didn’t mean for her to investigate Trace. Kate didn’t know what to do, so she silently prayed for guidance and waited to see if she’d get an opening in the conversation.

She didn’t. She decided to wait.

But she couldn’t help wondering about Trace and his secret savings account. Why hadn’t he mentioned it before? And where had the money come from? Was it something he got from the bank where he’d worked? Or from Jessica’s trust fund?