Chapter 28
Twenty minutes later, on the dot, I was standing outside of Emily’s car as she looked me up and down appraisingly.
“Much better,” she said. “I love that dress on you.”
She was referring to my red dress and the strappy heels I’d quickly changed into. The look was not quite the diva aesthetic of Gina Ginelli’s loaner, but it was a little more strategically cut, and a whole lot more comfortable. Emily pulled down the fabric on my shoulders. I pulled it back. Strategic was one thing, but I still think there’s something to be said for allowing the imagination to work.
“Give me the keys,” I said as she rubbed her tummy. “How’re you feeling?”
Emily shrugged and got into the car.
“This is me these days,” she said. “A kick here, a kick there. I just need to get through the weekend and this little guy can come any time he wants.”
When we were about halfway to the chapel, I decided it was time to fill her in on a few things.
“I don’t want you to freak out,” I said.
Emily kept her eyes on the road.
“Talk to me,” she said.
I filled her in about Andy and my conversation with Jessica and Joe. I explained that the death of Simon Sterling might have something to do with the ring. Then, I broke the news to her that the Melville would be searched while the guests were at the chapel and the reception.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I know you told me no drama, but one thing led to another. You know how these things go.”
Emily said nothing, which was worse than yelling at me.
“What about Mrs. Sterling?” she finally said. “She loves her daughter, but there’s been something a little off about her this weekend, don’t you think?”
“I do, but I think it’s because she’s been concerned that Maria Blane still carries a torch for Joe. She found out that Maria arrived early and it freaked her out.”
“Weddings,” said Emily. “They’re supposed to be the happiest day of a couple’s life, but people lose it.”
“Promise me, when I get married, you’ll keep us all in line,” I said.
We had a good laugh at the idea of Emily keeping all of the Wrights in line as we pulled up to the chapel.
A true professional, Emily rolled out of the car and headed into the chapel for her last look. I knew that as perfect as the chapel had been when she left it this morning, she’d find a flower to fix or a bow to retie or a program that was not perfectly centered on the pews. Her swollen belly might have slowed her down last night, but only under doctor’s orders. Today was showtime and nothing was going to stop her from making sure the wedding went off without a hitch. As fast as she walked in her condition, however, her speed was an average gait, and we walked into the chapel together.
“You’ve outdone yourself,” I said when we walked inside.
I was not exaggerating.
The Sciasconset Chapel is a simple space. The pews are white wooden benches. Two simple windows with gothic arches framed either side of the altar. A modest gold cross hangs between them. I’ve been to a lot of weddings here by now and I’ve seen all sorts of strategies to decorate the space. In the end, I always find that unpretentious décor to match the modest design of the space sets a warm and welcoming tone for the union of two people.
From my first meeting with Emily and Jessica, I knew I liked their vision for the chapel, but the execution was stunning. Down the aisles, at about every third row, Emily had worked with the florists to design small, but robust arrangements of purple, pale blue, and bright rose-colored flowers, all of which would match Emily’s bouquet. The aisle’s flowers were held in place in small Nantucket lightship baskets. If you go anywhere in town, you’ll see these baskets. Here, the woven reeds added a warmth to the space.
When I undertook the candle theme, I knew I’d have a challenge with the chapel since sunlight would still be streaming in through the windows during the ceremony. It’s easy to build dramatic effects at night, so the rehearsal dinner and the reception were not hard to envision. During the daylight, however, I went for a different approach. I designed hearty pillars in a lighter shade of the purples from the rehearsal dinner and placed them on five-foot-high stands so that there was a string of color around the white walls. To compete with the sunlight, I’d put three wicks in these candles. I was now really pleased with the effect. The candles cast a twinkle of light around the chapel. They brought an aura of peace to the room. Given what had happened all weekend, and the challenges Joe and Jessica had faced, I was thrilled that at the moment of their I Do they would be surrounded by this warm and loving energy.
I was most thrilled, however, with my unity candle wreath. I approached the altar, as pleased in the daylight with my work as I had been last night, in the half light of the storage room, spinning my lazy Susan to create these new candles. Emily had cleverly worked with the florist this morning to raise the four candles higher since they were shorter than the original unity candle. They now sat atop a wreath of flowers in the purple, blue, and rose-pink arrangements for everyone to see.
By the time I’d finished reviewing my contribution to the chapel, the guests had begun to arrive. The Sterlings had kindly arranged for buses to bring the guests, so their arrival was en masse. The first group included the ushers and bridesmaids. They were nervous, as members of a wedding party often are, but Emily calmed them immediately and reminded them about their duties. When the second bus arrived, everyone was ready. The crowd piled in and their oohs and ahhs warmed my heart.
I was standing in the back of the chapel, off to the side, near one of Emily’s assistants, when I heard a voice behind me.
“Wow!”
I turned to find Peter in a navy blazer and a tie. In the breast pocket where he might have put a handkerchief, I noticed the spiral of a notepad. Behind his ear, there was a pencil. I appreciated that he had toned down the look by sticking a flower in his buttonhole, one which I knew he’d snagged from one of the decorative bouquets outside the chapel.
“Hi,” I said. I pretended not to see the looks Emily was attempting to telegraph to me from across the room. I could tell she was putting all sorts of things together, including my sudden interest in changing into my red dress. I felt bad when I realized I’d forgotten to tell her about my impromptu date. Fortunately, the arrival of the bride outside competed for her attention, so I was off the hook.
“These two are starting life with a little drama, huh?” he said. “I wouldn’t wish a murder on anyone, but I admire their spunk.”
Before I could answer, the harpist Emily had set up by the altar began to play and the congregation quieted down. Joe Handler joined the groomsmen gathered at the altar and shook hands with Tony. Then he looked across the chapel as the congregation stood.
Jessica appeared at the doorway. The gown I had admired while hiding out in her room yesterday was even more beautiful than I remembered. Complementing the embellished flower beading, she wore a lace cap with a long, thin veil spilling from behind it. In her hands, she carried a bouquet of flowers with a radiant coral satin bow tied around it.
In all the commotion of the weekend, I had never asked who replaced Simon to walk Jessica down the aisle. I saw, now, that Jessica’s decision was perfect. She stood with her mother, who looked prouder and more at peace than I had seen her look all weekend. Mrs. Sterling had been so sad that her daughter was leaving her. Now, I hoped she realized that her daughter was not leaving. Rather, she was expanding the dynamic of their tiny family to include the warmhearted Joe Handler.
The two women walked down the aisle. I noticed a few people both wipe their eyes and smile at their image. At the end of their walk, Jessica hugged her mother, then looked down at Joe. He looked back up at her as if he could conquer the world and pass out at the same time. I couldn’t help but feel giddy.
The reverend greeted the couple and smiled at the guests.
“Dearly beloved,” he began.
As he spoke, I sank into the moment, enjoying it all. For the first time since I had found Simon Sterling dead in the Game Room, I was happy to let Andy and Bellamy do their jobs. Here at the Sciasconset Chapel, we were all drunk with love. Maria smiled from the altar at David, who waved and gave her a thumbs-up. Even Tony, standing by his old friend, looked like he had forgotten the tough aspects of marriage. He laughed along with the reverend’s stories about Jessica and Joe. When it came time for him to recite his reading from Ecclesiastes, the inspiration for my new unity candle, he cleared his voice emotionally before he could begin. His deep voice filled the room, and I was so thrilled at how the reading would segue to lighting the unity candle.
“How’s Emily doing?” Peter whispered into my ear.
I shifted my glance to Emily, who was standing on the side of the chapel, about midway down the aisle.
“You mean because of the lopsided basket in the fourth row?” I asked, referring to one of the pews. “She’ll be fine about it. Emily’s attitude is that once the event begins, whatever happens happens.”
“No,” he said. “I mean she looks a little wobblier since Chris’s BBQ.”
I looked at Emily, who was wincing again. The reverend asked the congregation to stand and state its intention to support the couple throughout their marriage, which they did, followed by a few cheers. Emily was lost to me behind the standing crowd, so I made my way toward her to be sure she was OK. There was no way we were going to have her pass out, while this wedding was taking place.
“Hey,” I said as I reached her. “Everything OK?”
“I think the little one has the hiccups now.” She pointed to the altar. “Vows.”
“I, Joseph—”
In less than a second, her attention turned back to the altar.
Jessica and Joe finished their vows. Before they exchanged rings, they headed to the unity candle. As Jessica took her position on one side of the wreath of candles, she looked out at the chapel and caught my eye. I smiled. She winked. I had to admit it, but Andy was right. I was the Candle Lady.
There was an endearing moment when the match Joe tried to light would not catch fire. Then, Jessica and Joe held hands around the long match and lit each candle. After they were done, the reverend joined them and the couple began their ring exchange. Tony handed the rings to Joe, who in turn handed one to Jessica. The reverend lay his hand on Joe’s shoulder.
In the midst of the ritual, my phone vibrated. I know it’s terrible etiquette to check a phone during someone’s wedding, but I had to look. I needed to know if Andy had succeeded in getting Bellamy to send a team to the inn to start the search for the ring.
A text from Maude greeted me instead.
Can’t find ring. It said. Even checked toilet tanks and between mattresses. But I found an old picture of Mr. & Mrs. Sterling with Simon in her room.
Send it to me, I responded.
A moment later, I received another text with an attachment. I opened it to find a photo of a young Mrs. Sterling between Simon and her husband, Henry. From the date that used to be stamped on old photos, I realized the picture was taken before Mrs. Sterling had married Henry. The reason the picture struck me as interesting was Mrs. Sterling’s expression. She was looking up at Simon as if he were a God, while barely turning her shoulder toward Henry. Simon, however, seemed not to notice her, while Henry had his arm thrown over her.
Then another photo came from Maude. This time it was the back of the photo. Across it was one handwritten note: Simon, my love will last forever. Beatrice. I’d been wondering what Mrs. Sterling’s first name was. From this picture, I formed a new impression of Mrs. Sterling’s feelings for her late brother-in-law.
Mrs. Sterling had liked Simon, who, in turn, must have known how much Henry loved her. To distance himself from her, he never paid attention to the young woman. When that didn’t work, he probably went the extra mile and was cold to her. Spurned, she told Henry she never wanted to see him again. The legend of Simon’s cruelty was born. In Mrs. Sterling’s story, Simon loved her and his jealousy led to his cruelty.
I felt that I was closing in on something. I was missing one final clue. One more secret.
I put the phone in my pocket and stared straight ahead.
Jessica placed a wedding band on Joe’s finger.
Then, the strangest thing happened. Something that sent a chill into the bones of everyone who had spent any time with Simon Sterling, alive or dead. The scent of Simon Sterling’s cigar wafted through the chapel.