Heather slid into a cobalt-blue evening gown her personal assistant had chosen for her to wear at Anna and Chad's rehearsal dinner. The black-tie affair would be the only time on this short cruise she planned to subject her feet to high heels. But just in case Jack had a special surprise planned, she brought a second gown and stiletto heels.
The knock on her door was Jack's, a syncopated rhythm of taps used only by the two of them. She took a last look in the mirror and nodded her approval. The dress accentuated her trim figure, and the ship’s beautician earned a sizable tip by giving her hair an elegant updo. The cut of the dress was deep enough to suggest the curves it concealed, while a silk shawl covered her bare shoulders, giving a conservative balance to the overall look. A platinum necklace with a single sapphire, the size of a robin's egg, with matching earrings, completed the look she hoped to achieve. She spoke to herself, “Sophisticated, yet not overdone. After all, the bride should be the center of attention.” She picked up her bag and went to the door.
"You're right on time," said Heather as she opened the door to two of the three most important men in her life.
Jack didn't disappoint when he stood with mouth hinged open and offered a one-word comment, "Wow!"
"You smell good," said Steve. "Let's go before Ingrid throws a wrench in the gears."
The threesome stepped into the elevator and rode it down until a mechanical voice announced they'd reached the lower floor of the main dining room. Steve asked, "Will the dinner be where we had breakfast with Ingrid?"
"Not exactly," said Heather. "There's a staircase that leads up to a balcony. There's also a private room on that level. We're to be treated to a five-course meal, each paired with an appropriate wine."
"Sounds fancy," said Steve. "A word to the wise: go easy on the liquor before the meal begins. I spoke with Adam Webber and his grandfather, Karl, about our problem with Ingrid wanting to derail the dinner. They're going to offer a series of toasts to start the festivities. Karl told me Ingrid only drinks peppermint schnapps. With any luck, she'll be mellow by the time the meal starts."
Heather wanted more information about the plan Steve put in place, but their arrival at the main dining room prevented her from asking. With a snap of his finger, the maître d’ summoned a waiter, who gave a stiff bow and led them through the dining room, up an elegant stairway and into a private room. Glasses shimmered, plates sparkled, and the silverware shone bright against snow-white tablecloths.
Heather turned to Steve. “We’re the first ones here. Each place setting has an embossed name card identifying who is to sit where. Here’s your seat. We’re going to do reconnaissance and see where everyone’s sitting.”
She and Jack made a lap around the table capable of seating twenty and reported back to Steve. "As expected, the bride and groom are in the place of honor at the head of the table. Sid put himself next to the groom with Butch next to him instead of the groom’s parents."
"That sounds like something Sid would do," said Steve. "Who's next?"
"Tim and Tammy Green, the groom's parents, with Carol Green next."
Heather looked toward the middle of the table. "Next is Shayla and then Howard."
"Not Howard and then Shayla?" asked Steve. "That puts Shayla and Carol sitting next to each other. Sid must have done it to see how tough Shayla is."
"Finally," said Heather. "Henry Drake is to sit next to Howard."
"That's eight on the groom’s side. How many on the bride's?"
“Let me check again.” She walked around the end of the table and began talking as she walked. "We’re going in reverse order. You're at the very end, then me and Jack."
Heather kept walking. "Then there's Bella and Adam."
"And next to Adam?" asked Steve.
"Ingrid."
"Ah," said Steve. "That doesn't bode well. Karl told me he rearranged the seating to show Ingrid he’s still the head of the family. So, I’m supposing Karl is next to the bride."
“Yes.”
Steve rubbed his chin. “That means Anna's parents, Kurt and Monica, are between Karl and Ingrid. Karl and Sid are sitting across from each other?”
“Yes, they are.” Heather walked back to where Steve sat. "Judging by the number of forks and spoons, this meal is going to be a long, drawn-out affair. I'll make sure you don't get confused." She paused. "Why did you warn us earlier about the toasts and drinking?"
Multiple people in the wedding party came into the room, which caught Steve’s attention. “You’ll find out soon enough. If you and Jack don’t want a tremendous hangover tomorrow morning, take small sips during the toasts.”
Sid and Butch were the last to arrive. The wheelchair rolled into place and Sid cast a slow, lingering gaze at the men dressed in tuxedos and the women whose gowns twinkled in the soft light. He nodded his approval to Butch, who acted as master of ceremonies.
“If everyone would take their seat. Sid and Karl had a friendly talk this afternoon and decided the best way to start the evening’s celebration was to toast the happy couple. The drink of choice for the family members will be served. For the rest of the guests, the staff will take your orders. This is to be a celebration of the marriage of two exceptional young people."
Servers returned with rolling trays topped with cocktails in a variety of glasses, serving each side of the table. The bride and groom sipped champagne while Howard had an amber liquid in a highball glass with ice. Ingrid looked at, but didn't touch, the slim glass placed before her.
Adam rose to his feet. "To begin, I'd like to offer a toast to the bride and groom. May they have a long and happy marriage." To show the way he expected the toast to be followed, he drained a glass that looked like sparkling wine.
Howard followed suit, as did everyone on the groom's side of the table, except Sid and Butch. Ingrid took in the scene and hesitated with lifting her glass until she saw Sid and Butch challenging her with crooked smiles. In response she took her nightly dose of medicine in a single swallow and repeated the show of turning her glass upside down with a flourish.
Servers appeared with seconds for everyone. Heather noted Steve returned an almost full glass of an amber liquid to the server.
Carol stood next. "I'm not about to let a Webber out-toast the Green family. Here's to the happy couple. May they live long and prosper." It took her several swallows, but she downed the tall, slender glass of clear liquid. This time it was Carol who challenged Ingrid with a haughty stare and fake smile.
Ingrid downed the schnapps in a single swallow and the empty glass rested upside down on a plate. The ritual kept going through four more rounds. With each round the toasts got longer. Well-wishers of note were Howard Green and his daughter, Carol, whose words now had a distinctive slur. On the bride's side of the table, Karl and Ingrid evened the score. One other person caught Heather's eye. Henry Drake, who should have been acting as Howard's body guard, downed six whiskey sours in the thirty-minute binge of toasts.
After Ingrid slurred her way through another toast in German, Sid thanked her and everyone who had wished the couple well. He then nodded to the head waiter, who signaled the serving of the first course, along with its wine pairing.
Steve leaned into Heather. "I called Karl while you were getting your hair done today. He told me that after three drinks Ingrid is prone to start singing."
"That explains the loud humming," said Heather. "I wonder what happens after four?"
"Karl said she used to get frisky, if you know what I mean, but that was thirty years ago."
Heather covered her mouth to hide a smile.
"With five, she reverts to only speaking German, and after six shots, there better be a bed or a couch close by because she's going down for the count."
When Heather glanced down the table, she saw Ingrid slump in her chair, her chin resting on her chest. “It looks like she’s hit her limit. She’s all but asleep in her chair.”
Adam and Bella were on their feet. Each took an arm and lifted the German grandmother to her feet. "Come on, Grandmother," said Adam, "Let's get you to your cabin."
The lead waiter motioned to a stout server. "Escort Mrs. Webber to her cabin and have someone from the infirmary check on Madame."
The only people who looked concerned were the bride and groom. Heather turned to Steve. "This looks like one of your schemes."
"It worked, didn't it?"
Across from Steve, Henry Drake laughed out loud. "Well done, Smiley. You got an old lady drunk."
Steve leaned forward. "Are you complaining?"
Drake held up his hands. "Not at all. You eliminated my prime suspect before she could poison Howard. Now I can sit back and enjoy the meal. It's not every day I get to live so high on the hog."
"Aren't you afraid someone else might try to take out Howard?"
He shook his head and drank half his glass of pinot sauvignon. "I'm not afraid of these people. I know them too well.”
By the third course, Sid had reached the end of his physical endurance. He signaled to Butch, who rose and prepared to wheel the patriarch to his cabin. Sid put his hand on Chad’s. “I’m afraid I must lie down now.” He looked down the table. “Everyone please stay and finish the celebration.”
Before he wheeled Sid toward the exit, Butch said, "As a reminder, the ship docks at nine o'clock in the morning and the wedding will take place on the beach at noon. Vans will be waiting outside the cruise terminal at ten-thirty to take us to the resort on the far end of the island. The full itinerary with instructions is waiting for you in your cabins."
Chad and Anna rose, thanking Sid for all he'd done to make their rehearsal dinner a success.
The vibe in the room changed as soon as Sid's wheelchair rolled out of sight. Carol, who continued to drink her way through each course, cast an accusatory look at her new stepmother. Howard caught her in mid-stare and said, "Daughter, I suggest you look someplace else."
"Or what?" said Carol with a tongue thickened by gin and wine.
"You need to remember that I'm next in line to control your purse strings. Think hard about that."
She wiggled a finger at her father. "You don't scare me. You'll be in prison for killing Mom. Then Tim and Tammy will be in charge. We already figured it out."
"Do you see my arm?" said Howard. "The same person who's responsible for this is the one who killed your mother. If you're looking for her killer, try the other side of the table."
Henry Drake stood. "Let's all relax. This isn't the time or place. Think about what Lucy would have wanted for Chad."
Howard tried to stand, but only made it halfway before he fell back in his chair. "That does it, Drake. I told you never to mention Lucy's name in Shayla’s presence. Leave the table."
Carol started a chorus of "Lucy, Lucy, Lucy…"
No one joined her but it had the desired effect on her father. Howard's face turned an unhealthy shade of red.
Shayla rose from her chair. "If everyone will excuse me, I'm not feeling well." She quick-stepped from the room.
Howard did a better job of making it to his feet on the second try. "Shayla, honey. Wait for me."
Carol picked up her bag and stood. She wobbled on her high heels but maintained her footing. "I’m going to find a bar with a better class of people. Tim? Tammy? Are you coming?”
Tim shook his head. "We're not leaving. Chad is our only son and this is his night. Someday he’ll be the heir to everything."
Carol’s eyes narrowed. "What do you mean ‘heir to everything’?"
"Nothing."
"Don't give me that,” she shouted. “Grow a backbone and tell me what you know."
Tim's face took on a lighter shade of crimson than his father’s, but it was plenty red. "Haven't you noticed? The Green family never passes down the big inheritance to daughters. Do you think Dad is that different from Grandfather? After Dad dies, I’ll be in control, then Chad. You’ll get whatever we decide."
Carol stood in place as if she were an ice sculpture, then thawed enough to push in her chair. "If anyone's looking for me, check the bar."
"Which one?" asked Chad.
"Start with the closest and work your way through the ship. I plan on visiting all of them."
Steve leaned into Heather. "That thinned out the herd."
Chad stood. "We understand tensions are running high, but we hope everyone else can stay and enjoy the meal."
Karl stood and raised his water glass. “I'd like to toast the bride and groom. We've set an awful example for you to follow, but some of us are trying to mend our ways. I pray for peace and reconciliation between our families."
"Amen," said Heather as she took Jack's hand.
Steve whispered, “There’s a wedding tomorrow. We’re not out of the woods yet.”