| |
I knew as soon as I walked into Amie’s house that this was an intervention of some sort. There was wedding stuff everywhere. I gave Orville an evil glare but he just shook his head and took a step back. He wasn’t claiming responsibility, and my man didn’t lie.
So this was all just rotten timing. And here I’d been looking forward to a night with the full family. Funny how it had never crossed my mind that the upcoming wedding would be the full focus of the evening.
Ruby gave me a big bear hug. “Sapphire told us how stressed-out you were about putting together the wedding, so we’re pitching in. Consider us your new wedding planners. I’ve already got a line on some beautiful silk flower bouquets, and I’ll start on the trellis archway and the flowers for that tomorrow.”
“And I’m in charge of photography and wedding invitations,” Amie said with a grin. “Both are kind of up my alley, you know.”
Sapphire (she and Archie had beat us there) grinned at me. “Unless I’m missing something, that just leaves me with doing the cake, and I think I’ve got a handle on that, too, by the way, and you with the dresses. It’s all coming together.”
I swallowed and nodded. It was all coming together, all right. Right up until the time when I pulled the plug.
Orville threw an arm around my shoulders and squeezed. Not that he had to worry. I’d given him my word on the seven-day thing. But the thought of putting my family through all of this for nothing... but then again, there would still be a wedding, wouldn’t there? Just a single instead of a double. The universe hadn’t seemed to take exception to the union of Sapphire and Archimedes.
Not that I held that against them. Not at all. I wished only the best for my sister. Her new husband, too. As much to my surprise, I found that I was growing rather fond of the man myself.
It’s just that I truly wished with all my heart that the universe had done the same for me and Orville. But no. Perhaps I was destined to be the crone of the coven forever. Who was I to try to change my destiny for personal happiness? At least, that’s what the universe seemed to be asking. A witch could take a hint.
The first part of the evening really put my acting skills to the test. I smiled and tried to join in on the wedding talk, as I knew they expected it of me. But my heart just wasn’t in it. How could it be? The only way I made it through was by pretending we were simply planning Sapphire’s wedding and keeping my own interest in it out of it.
Not that it worked, but I tried.
Amie, Goddess bless her, helped me tremendously mid-meal by changing the subject to the recent demise of Reverend Castle. Yes, technically it could be seen as still connected with the upcoming wedding, but at least it served to get everyone’s focus off the ceremony.
I’d take any port in a storm right now.
“So, how is the investigation coming?” she asked.
Orville shook his head. “It’s a nightmare. I went from having no suspects to having half the town having a reason to kill the man. Right now, I’m just trying to narrow down the top suspects. Come to find out, the reverend wasn’t the man I’d thought he was. Not by half.”
Amie nodded. “Yeah, that’s kind of what I’ve heard too.”
He raised an eyebrow at her. “Oh? You’ve been looking into the case too? Any insights come up that you’d like to share?”
“I hope me stepping in doesn’t upset you.” She paused. “But I kind of needed something to do, and I thought it might help out. But so far, all I’ve found out is that Reverend Castle didn’t deserve the title of Reverend. Which it sounds like you already knew.”
“Cheating on his wife, taking advantage of young women, and gambling. That’s what I’ve got so far. You find anything to add to that?”
“Unfortunately, no. That’s my list so far too. I’ll send you the names I’ve come up with, though, so you can compare notes. Most likely you have more on your list than I have on mine.” She took another bite, then chewed thoughtfully. “I don’t suppose I could get access to any security footage you might have?”
He shrugged. “You’re more than welcome to take a look, but there’s nothing there. My dispatcher had some time on her hands, so she took the initiative to contact area business with outside cameras. There were only two that covered the area of the church. And unfortunately, they only covered the front entrance. Nothing at all on camera within an hour of the time of death. Wind’s Crossing goes pretty quiet once the shops and stores close.”
“Believe me, I remember that.” She hesitated. “Still, I wouldn’t mind taking a look, if you don’t mind. I have some equipment that I can use to maybe see something she might have missed.”
“Knock yourself out. I’ll send the files over to you tomorrow.”
And then the talk went back to the wedding again. As in, who we were going to get to officiate the ceremony.
I just couldn’t catch a break.
***
AS HARD AS IT WAS, I survived. I think Orville had counted on driving us all home and then having me take him back to his house. But that wasn’t going to happen.
Besides, we went right by his place on the way to the farmhouse. Even he had to admit that it made no sense to have to double back to bring him home.
He turned to me as he got out of the van. “Thank you for tonight, Opal. I know in my heart that things are all going to work out.” He was being somewhat cryptic for good reason. We had an audience.
I swallowed and met his eyes. My vision was just a little blurry from the unshed tears. “We should know within a week, either way.”
Orville took a deep breath and nodded. We waited until he made it inside and then drove off. I think it surprised Kimberly I didn’t stay with him. Luckily, she didn’t question it.
Good woman.
We made quick work of putting the kids to bed. We’d come home to find the lights back on and everything in good shape. It was a close call, but we managed to save the food in our freezer and refrigerator. The bags of ice that Gray had dropped off that morning saved us.
By the time we got everything sorted out, I was more than ready to call it a day. Kimberly was still giving me odd looks, but she wasn’t intruding into my personal space. Hopefully, that would last for another week.
I wasn’t so sure I wouldn’t burst into tears at a single, well-meant question. I was that close to losing it right now.
While my body was exhausted, and my mind too, for that matter, sleep wasn’t easy to come to me. It never was when I was upset and emotional. And I’d never been that emotional in all my life.
There, in the quiet of my room, doors shut between me and the rest of the household, I wept. Long and hard. I owed myself that release.
It took me a while in my grief and heartache to realize that I was no longer alone in my bedroom.
I didn’t even have to open my eyes to know who it was. Her glow could be felt as well as seen.
“I’m not sure I’m in the mood to listen to anything you have to say right now. If you’re here to tell me this is all for the best, you can just leave right now.”
Not the way a High Priestess should talk to her Goddess, but I meant every single word.
“Opal Ravenswind, my beautiful child, I owe you an apology. Please, will you hear me out?”
I took a staggered breath, which was about all I was capable of at the moment, and opened my eyes. There She was beside my bed in all Her glory. Normally, that sight gave me comfort. Tonight, it only made me angry.
My mouth opened, but at the last possible second, I closed it before speaking. If I was about to burn all my bridges to the Goddess, I might as well take a few minutes to let her say her piece first.
She motioned for me to scoot over, and I did. She sat on the edge of the bed and laid one hand on my arm.
“I’m afraid when I made you and your family my team, I might have done you a disservice. The others now seem intent to wreak havoc in your lives. I’ve done what I can to contain their efforts, but the Goddess tree...” A single tear flowed down her face. “They managed to slip that by me. That one wasn’t directed at you, Opal, but at me. A warning that I might not be able to protect all of you as well as I had thought I could.”
I swallowed and stared at her. “You didn’t strike the tree down as an omen for me to stop the wedding?”
She blinked at me. “Why on earth would I have done that? Your union with Orville Taylor is well blessed by me. You should know that. My goodness, but the things I had to do to make that work out in the end. You know, he almost didn’t return to Wind’s Crossing after his stint in the Army?” She gave me a small smile. “Something about not being up to being around the woman he loved while she loved another.”
That lead to interesting future questions, but I didn’t want to get off track this quickly in the conversation. I wanted confirmation of her earlier words first.
“You give our wedding your blessings?”
Her smile said it all. “The two of you are meant to be together, Opal. That has always been your destiny, even if it took you long enough to see that. You should know that by now.” Then her smile slipped. “But, as I said, when I created Team Destiny as you all call it, I also seemed to have put targets on all of you.”
“You’re saying we’re in danger? Orville, Ruby, and all the others?”
“You as well, Opal. The other entities can’t act directly against any of you, though, so there is that small comfort. But they can certainly make it seem like omens are occurring when they are not.” She made a face. “And I’m afraid they can make your lives... rather interesting as the old curse goes.”
The Goddess leaned down and kissed my cheek. The warmth of it went straight to my quickly mending heart. The Goddess’s kisses were mighty powerful things.
“Good is always in danger from Evil.”
I nodded slowly. “But we still have you on our side.”
Her entire body glowed as she beamed down at me. “From now until the end of time, Opal Ravenswind. I will be there for you.”
I hesitated before asking the next question. It was too important to leave it unasked. “If I marry Orville, will I be putting him in mortal danger?”
Her fingers grazed my cheek in a loving caress. “Orville and you alike are in mortal danger from Evil every day of your lives, Opal. That is because of who and what the two of you are. Wouldn’t you rather be by his side to help him rather than send him off to fend for himself?”
I swallowed and resolve filled my body. Evil wouldn’t win. Not this time.
“Goddess, you know I treasure your visits beyond measure, so I hope you won’t take offense when I ask you to leave now. I have a rather important phone call to make.”
She smiled down at me. “I rather thought you might.”
And I was alone again.