Saturday dawned bright and sunny—a perfect day for a June wedding. I fed Smoky Joe, then made scrambled eggs and toast for Dylan and me. He left an hour later to interview job candidates. Angela’s original plan to have her four bridesmaids get ready with her the day of her wedding began to fall apart when she learned that the room in the church where we’d be getting dressed was closed due to water damage. Her future sister-in-law took this as a cue to insist on having her hair done at her own beauty salon. Angela’s cousin Donna followed suit. Angela had thrown up her hands and said she’d see us an hour before the ceremony. And so I showered, then drove to nearby Merrivale to have my hair washed and blown out, then went for a mani-pedi a block away.
I drove home in a state of excitement. Jeez! You’d think I was getting married. I was even too nervous to eat lunch. Instead, I answered emails and played with Smoky Joe, aware of the minutes passing by. Dylan texted to say he was leaving the office and sent along a smiley face because he’d finally made his decision about who to hire.
“Tell you about it in the car. I’ll pick you up at three thirty.”
“I’ll be ready,” I texted back.
Finally, I slipped my bridesmaid’s dress over my head and zipped up the back. I smiled as I remembered choosing it when Angela and I had gone shopping one winter evening. Her wedding color scheme was yellow, silver, and cornflower blue, and we’d agreed that blue would look most flattering on her future sister-in-law, her cousins Frankie and Tina, and me. Finding the right style was much harder since the four of us varied in shape, height, and weight. I’d tried on several before Angela and I decided that the knee-length cornflower blue sateen dress with a sweetheart neckline and petal sleeves would suit us all.
Dylan whistled when I opened the front door of the cottage. “You are a vision in blue,” he said before he kissed me.
“My makeup,” I protested feebly before being swooped up in his arms.
I drew back a minute later to study him. “I didn’t realize you’d be wearing a tux.”
“The invitation said ‘black tie, optional’ so I thought I’d give the old tux an airing.”
“It looks great on you. Why do you own a tux?” I asked, suddenly aware of all the things I didn’t know about Dylan.
“Attending galas hosted by our wealthy clients as well as my share of friends’ weddings. I figured it was better to be fitted for a tux once than having to rent one each time I needed one.”
When we arrived at the church, I was surprised at the number of cars already in the parking lot. As soon as we entered, someone called my name.
“Carrie, hurry! They want you for some photos.”
“Donna! Roxy! What are you doing here so early?”
“What do you think? We’re here to help,” Donna said.
My gaze went from one to the other. Both slender and elegant, they looked like models about to strut down a runway. Or movie stars dressed for a red-carpet event. Donna wore a slinky black gown with a thigh-high slit and a cutout at the waist. Her long hair was pulled back and artfully arranged to fall in a cascade of curls, her only jewelry long dangling earrings studded with glittering diamonds. Roxy, meanwhile, had on an iridescent green gown that set off her green eyes and red hair, which she wore over one shoulder. Both wore spiked heels.
“You both look awesome,” I finally said, barely able to keep from poking Dylan to make him stop staring.
“You look lovely, too.” Roxy patted my arm, and I knew exactly how Angela had felt growing up with her older cousins. “And now it’s time for you to go inside, Carrie. Dylan, some of the guys are down in the basement.”
“I’ll find them,” Dylan said. He opened the door to the nave and I hurried to join Angela and the others in the bridal party.
After all the pictures had been taken and guests had been seated, it was time for the ceremony to begin. Once again, Marie, the friendly church parishioner who helped out at weddings, stood with us in the vestibule to tell each of us when to start down the aisle. “Remember. Walk slowly,” she whispered more than once.
So many people! I thought when it was my turn, noting the sea of faces on both sides of the aisle. Dylan caught my eye and I returned his smile. We four bridesmaids continued on to the front of the church, where we would stand near Angela as she took her vows.
How stunning she looked floating down the aisle on her father’s arm! How radiant with joy! I noticed a flutter of handkerchiefs and tissues and realized I wasn’t the only one moved by this special occasion.
The ceremony began. Angela had warned me it would be long, and it was. Finally, the part that we were waiting for began as Angela and Steve proclaimed their vows. The little ring bearer delivered the rings and they were declared man and wife. Cheering broke out when they kissed.
Slowly, everyone gathered outside the church. Dylan found me and clasped my hand. “Beautiful ceremony, but so long.” His voice was softer when he added, “And I missed you.”
I missed you. I kissed his cheek, reveling in his words.
We congratulated the new couple and their parents while the photographer snapped more photos.
“Didn’t she look like an angel?” Fran asked as she, Sally, Marion, and their plus ones joined us.
“Absolutely!” I agreed.
We hugged one another. Dylan exchanged greetings with the women and Sally’s husband Bob, whom he knew, and I introduced him to Matt, Fran’s husband, and Nelson, Marion’s significant other. It felt good being included in a group of friends and colleagues as though I belonged. I did belong, I reminded myself. Angela was my best friend and I’d just taken part in her wedding. Hard to believe how much my life had changed since October when I’d become head of programs and events at the library.
Dylan glanced at his watch, then at me. “I think we’d better leave.”
I turned to the others. “Angela wants photos taken in the beautiful rose garden before it gets dark. We’ll see you at the Gilbert House.”
Dylan and I made our way through the crowd en route to the parking lot. We’d just about reached it when I noticed Angela’s brother, Tommy, and his girlfriend Zoe a few feet ahead of us. He was in a foul mood, shouting at the top of his lungs.
“So suddenly Dr. Big Shot can’t afford to invest in my movie! That’s bullshit and he knows it.”
“Tommy, you have to stop pressuring him. It won’t make him change his mind.”
Tommy balled his fist and pounded the roof of a car. “He’s gonna be sorry he screwed me over this way. People don’t renege on a promise made to Tommy Vecchio!”
Zoe tugged at his sleeve. “Please! Your sister just got married. Let’s get through the reception in a peaceful manner.”
“Peaceful? I’m not feeling very peaceful today.”
They walked to their rental car in silence. A minute later, Tommy slammed his car door shut, then zoomed out of the lot.
“I hope Angela didn’t hear Tommy harassing Aiden,” I said when we were inside Dylan’s BMW. “She doesn’t need aggravation on her wedding day.”
Dylan shook his head. “That guy’s a nut job. I was talking to Aiden before the ceremony while you were taking photos. He said he never promised to invest in Tommy’s movie. Only that he was thinking about it. Tommy went berserk when Aiden told him he’d decided not to.”
“Tommy’s telling everyone that Aiden promised to put up money and then backed out. He must be desperate,” I said.
Dylan scoffed. “His pleasant disposition certainly won’t bring him any backers.”
“Angela’s parents always told her she was exaggerating about her brother’s behavior. It sounds like Tommy’s only gotten worse over the years.”
Dylan pursed his lips. “I’ve seen guys like this lose control and do some real bad stuff.”
I shivered. “I hope nothing like that happens tonight.”
The Gilbert House was a large white wooden-framed building that dated back to the early 1800s. Built as a private residence, it was eventually converted into an inn, and about twenty years ago turned into a highly praised restaurant and catering hall. As much as I looked forward to visiting every room and experiencing their renowned cuisine, I couldn’t wait to explore the rose garden, which had been featured in many magazines.
Rienzo, Angela and Steve’s scarecrow-skinny photographer, knew what he was doing. He shepherded the wedding party to the garden, where he took shot after shot of Angela and Steve, Angela and her four bridesmaids, then a few of the entire wedding party. By seven o’clock, the garden was crowded with wedding guests.
I found Dylan on the terrace that ran the length of the house and featured a bar and several small tables. He was chatting with Roxy.
“For you,” he said, handing me a glass of white wine.
“Thank you.” I took a sip.
Roxy gulped down a swallow of what looked like straight vodka or gin. Her words slurred when she spoke. Sloshed already? “Dylan was telling me he’s a private investigator.”
“He is.”
“Such a fascinating career.” Roxy winked and finished off her drink. “And so sexy.”
Dylan and I stared at her. Roxy burst out laughing as though she’d said something amusing.
“Well, time to mingle,” she said, wiggling her fingers. “See you guys later.”
We watched her join Donna and Aiden. She slipped her arm through Aiden’s and practically glued herself to his side.
“Now that’s interesting,” Dylan commented.
“Come on. They’re cousins.”
“By marriage. Which makes them kissing cousins.”
I grinned. “You just made that up.”
Dylan grinned back. “Maybe I did.”
The wait staff walked around with trays of delicious hot hors d’oeuvres for us to sample—mini-meatballs, tiny shrimp quiches, mini-pizzas. In between bites, Dylan and I chatted with Angela’s parents. When Steve and Angela joined us, she couldn’t stop grinning. I hugged her tight, taking delight in her happiness.
“So, how does it feel to be married?” I asked when the others were conversing and couldn’t hear us.
“Like I’m floating on a cloud and haven’t touched the ground.”
“You picked the perfect place for your wedding reception,” I said.
“We did.”
“And the perfect mate.”
Angela gazed fondly at Steve, who was talking to her dad. “I did.”
She placed her hand on my arm. “You and Dylan should get married here.”
“Ange! Just because you got hitched doesn’t mean everyone else should.”
“Just sayin’.”
Angela’s words stayed in my head through the rest of the cocktail hour. I loved Dylan, but marriage was a huge step, especially for someone like me who was just starting to get her life together. Still, I loved having him at my side as we chatted with various guests, sipped wine, and devoured more hors d’oeuvres. And I loved the Gilbert House—at least what I’d seen of it so far.
I caught sight of Tommy a few times during the cocktail hour, always with a glass of hard liquor in his hand. But he seemed to have his anger under control. Aiden came into my line of vision as well. I saw him smile and nod but not say very much. And he seemed to blink his eyes frequently and even stumbled once, like he was having difficulty staying awake.
Eventually, we were asked to find our seats in the main dining room. Dylan and I joined the crowd filing through the double doors.
Our library table of eight was situated near the dance floor. We chatted as we waited for the newlyweds to make their appearance, which they did with a flourish. How glamorous they looked, both tall, dark, and slender, and grinning with happiness. The seven-piece band played “Can’t Help Falling in Love” as they swayed to the music, their arms around each other. Then Angela danced with her father and Steve with his mother. The emcee invited everyone to join in, and Dylan escorted me to the dance floor. I felt a bit nervous. Despite how close we’d become, this was our very first dance.
But I had nothing to fear. We moved well together. Even when the beat sped up and our steps became more creative. Dylan was a wonderful dancer. He had a sense of rhythm and moved gracefully to the music. I had always loved to dance and could follow anyone around the dance floor.
The evening flew by. Dylan and I danced, we ate, we drank wine, and chatted with the library crowd, with Angela’s cousins, with Angela and Steve. I kept an eye out for Tommy, but he didn’t act differently than any other guest. He ate, he danced with Zoe, he chatted with the other guests at his table. He never approached Aiden, though I caught him glaring at his cousin-in-law a few times.
Aiden and Donna and Roxy sat with Frankie and her boyfriend, Tina and her husband, and another male cousin on the other side of the dance floor. I noticed Aiden and Donna dancing together a few times. He also danced with Roxy. One slow dance, Roxy seemed to drape her body over his like a cloak. Even over the music I could hear her drunken laughter while Aiden moved slowly, shuffling his feet.
Dylan caught sight of them and nudged me. “Do you think Aiden’s on drugs?”
“I hope not.”
And then it was time for the speeches. The dance floor cleared and voices grew silent.
Jake Borelli, Steve’s best man, got up to toast the new couple. He told a few stories at Steve’s expense that brought on good-natured laughter. After Angela’s dad said a few words, I walked to the front of the dance floor to address the newlyweds and their guests.
“I came to Clover Ridge last fall, a place I used to visit when I was small and my relatives owned a farm outside of town. Angela befriended me when I started working in the library. We grew close and soon were best friends. I got to know Steve, of course, and saw what a perfect couple they made. And now they’re married. They’re Mr. and Mrs. Prisco. I know they will have a wonderful life together because they are both wonderful people. Let’s raise our glasses and toast Angela and Steve!”
Dylan gave me a thumbs up when I sat down. As the tables were being cleared for cake and coffee, Sally and Bob got up to leave because Bob had an early tennis game. I hugged them both, suddenly feeling sad. The party would soon be over and I didn’t want it to end.
The wedding cake cart was rolled out to the sounds of oohs and ahs. The newlyweds came to the center of the room. Steve cut the first piece and fed it to Angela. Then Angela did the same. Guests cheered and stamped their feet as Rienzo shot photos. Several cell phone cameras videoed the scene as well.
The wedding cake was moved to a corner of the room where pieces were cut and placed on trays. Out came a much larger table laden with several varieties of desserts. An impressive chocolate fountain with three tiers of flowing chocolate had the place of honor.
“Yum! That’s my favorite!” Marion exclaimed. “Chocolate-covered strawberries.”
While the wait staff served pieces of wedding cake to each guest, most of us dashed up to the dessert table. I had my eye on the Italian desserts. Though I had no room for another morsel of food, I couldn’t resist eating a miniature cannoli, a mini-tiramisu trifle, and of course a few pieces of chocolate-covered fruit.
Dylan followed me as I worked my way up to the very popular chocolate fountain. I studied the dipping items available to dunk: strawberries, pieces of banana and melon, marshmallows, and a variety of cookies. Choose two, I told myself. Aiden, Donna, and Roxy were in front of me. When Aiden noticed me, he smiled and invited me to go ahead of him.
His words slurred together. Had he had too much to drink? But it wasn’t any of my business, so I returned his smile.
“No thank you. I’m still trying to decide.”
Roxy and Donna chatted together as they selected pieces of fruit, which they held under the chocolate fountain. They left and Aiden moved closer. He was spearing a strawberry when he suddenly fell forward. His face landed on the second tier of the fountain. I watched in horror as it slowly slid down to the first tier. Aiden made a gurgling sound as he crumpled to the floor.
Dylan was the first to move into action. He knelt beside Aiden and placed his fingers to his neck. His head shook ever so slightly as he felt for a pulse on Aiden’s wrist.
“Is he …?” I asked.
Dylan nodded. Aiden was gone.