by Amber Crewes
“Roses, of course, and a few sprigs of baby’s breath.”
“Anything else?”
“What about the dark purple plant?” Rebecca inquired. “What is that?”
The florist removed it from the bouquet. “It’s a Fiddlehead Fern,” he informed them. “I thought it would make for a pleasant contrast with the roses.”
Rebecca and Meghan gasped at the same time. “I’m allergic to Fiddlehead Fern,” she sputtered as she backed away from the florist.
“I told you that over the phone,” Rebecca gasped as the florist’s jaw dropped.
“I am so sorry,” he began, but Rebecca pointed at the door.
“Go,” she ordered. “Get out of my house. We will find a different florist for her wedding.”
Meghan watched as the florist’s shoulders slumped, and he made his way out of the library.
“That seemed a bit rude,” Meghan chastised her mother as Rebecca sat down angrily onto one of the leather couches. “I don’t understand why you had to humiliate him like that, Mama.”
Rebecca frowned. “He tried to kill you, Meghan.”
“Mama, please,” Meghan insisted. “I am mildly allergic to those flowers. It really wasn’t a big deal. I don’t understand why you had to act like that.”
Karen stood awkwardly in the doorway. “I am going to excuse myself for a little nap,” she waved as she left the room.
Rebecca shifted on the couch. “Your attitude is unbecoming, Meghan,” she scolded her daughter. “I am trying to give you a fairy-tale wedding. Why do you have such a problem with that? Don’t you want to feel like a princess?”
“No, I don’t,” Meghan told her as she sat down beside her. “I want to feel like me, Mama. I’m an easy-going, low-key girl, and all of this fuss is stressing me out. I want to feel like myself on my wedding day, not a spoiled princess. Jack didn’t fall in love with a princess. He fell in love with me, and I want our day to reflect that.”
Before Rebecca could reply, Henry strode into the room. “Meghan, doll, come here for a moment,” he urged as Rebecca’s face twisted into a grimace.
Henry guided her out of the room. “Dear,” he began as he led her to the back patio. “I don’t understand why you are trying to vex your mother. She just wants you to have a nice time and have a wedding you will never forget. Why are you trying to take that away from her?”
Meghan sat on the chaise lounge next to the pool and looked into her father’s earnest face. “Daddy, it’s too much,” she told him. “Mama is out of control, and I don’t want a wedding of this scale. It makes me uncomfortable, and I just want to marry Jack and be done with this.”
Henry nodded. “I understand,” he mumbled. “My Meghan has always been an easy-going gal with a heart of gold. I didn’t think you wanted this kind of wedding, but you know how it is when your Mama takes over…”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Can’t you say something to her?” she begged. “Surely, she will listen to you, Daddy…”
Henry sighed. “Your Mama didn’t have a grand princess wedding,” he admitted to her. “And it’s always killed her.”
“She didn’t?” Meghan asked. “I always thought you two had the best of everything.”
“We couldn’t have a grand wedding,” he repeated. “And when Mellie got married a few years ago, she and your Mama were on bad terms. Mellie didn’t let your Mama help with a lot, and it broke your Mama’s heart. She had her future Mother-in-Law plan most of her big day, and your Mama was devastated.”
Meghan hung her head. “It’s important to her, isn’t it?”
Henry laughed. “To say the least.”
Meghan bit her lip. “I don’t mind if she helps,” she admitted to her father. “I just want to tone things down a bit.”
He nodded. “Let’s make a deal,” he offered as Meghan raised an eyebrow. “You let your Mama help you with this wedding, and I will write you and Jack a check for the down payment of your first house. I know you and Jack would be happier in a house, and his bachelor pad isn’t suitable for a pair of newlyweds. What do you think?”
Her dark eyes grew large with disbelief. “Daddy, are you serious?”
Henry grinned. “Doll, I want your mother to be happy, but I also want you to feel at ease. Do you think you can get through this wedding if there is a light at the end of the tunnel?”
She wrinkled her nose. “The light at the end of the tunnel is getting to marry the love of my life,” she informed her father. “I’m not sure about the money. I would have to ask Jack.”
Henry shrugged. “Talk to him,” he urged her. “Talk to Jack and be nice to your mother. That’s all I ask.”
Meghan nodded. “Daddy? Can I ask you something?”
“Of course!”
She took a deep breath. “Who is David?” she asked her father. “Why is Mama so invested in having him bake the cake for my wedding?”
Henry’s face darkened. “I’ve been wondering that myself,” he told his daughter. “I wonder if she invested in his bakery while I was away in jail?”
“Do you think they know each other well?”
Henry frowned. “They had better not be too familiar,” he muttered.
Just then, they heard a shout from inside the house. “MEGHAN! DADDY! Come inside! NOW!”
Meghan looked at her father. “What do you think that’s all about?”
Henry shook his head. “I don’t know, but we had better go find out…”
12
H enry and Meghan entered the foyer to find a guest waiting for them.
“Pastor Winston,” Meghan happily greeted the guest. “I am so happy to see you.”
She embraced the Pastor, a tall white-haired man dressed in a suit and leather cowboy boots. “What are you doing here?”
Pastor Winston smiled at Rebecca, who was standing next to him. “Your Mama invited me over for lemonade and cookies,” he informed her. “She thought it would be nice if we all caught up before the wedding.”
“I thought you might want to talk with Pastor Winston about the ceremony,” Rebecca offered. “He will be officiating, and I know you want the ceremony to be very personal.”
Meghan smiled at her mother. “That was a very thoughtful idea, Mama,” she praised Rebecca, and out of the corner of her eye, she could see her father beaming. “Thank you for inviting Pastor Winston over, Mama.”
Rebecca nodded. “I know how fond you’ve always been of him,” she told her daughter. “You always loved attending the youth group he led at the church, and you loved the church camps he ran.”
Pastor Winston smiled. “It’s a mutual feeling,” he told the Trumans. “Meghan always showed such a generous spirit, kind heart, and an inquisitive mind. She was always mature for her age, and she was a natural leader at church camp. Since you moved away, your parents have kept me in the loop on your amazing accomplishments, dear Meghan, and I am honored to officiate your wedding.”
“It will be so nice to have you there,” she said earnestly, grateful her mother had honored one of her requests for the wedding. “You and Jack will hit it off, I just know it.”
The pastor looked around. “Where is Jack?” he asked kindly. “I can’t wait to shake this fellow’s hand. Meghan, you have no idea how happy I am that you are getting married. I always knew you would make something wonderful of your life, and here you are! A business woman, and soon, a wife.”
Meghan’s face fell. “He’s back home in Sandy Bay,” she muttered, her stomach sinking. “He had to stay behind for work. I am so sad he couldn’t be here to meet you.”
“I can tell that it’s upsetting you,” the pastor replied gently. “I’m so sorry he isn’t here.”
Rebecca shook her head. “We won’t let Jack’s absence derail us from a nice chat over lemonade. Henry? Would you lead us out to the patio? We can have the refreshments served there.”
Henry nodded, and he beckoned the group to follow him. They left the house, walking out onto t
he patio. “Your garden is looking wonderful these days, Rebecca,” Pastor Winston complimented as Rebecca smiled.
“What a kind thing to say,” she cooed as the pastor took a seat on a wicker chair. “We’ve been trying our best to keep up with the garden with the wedding so soon approaching, and we’ve been quite pleased by how it’s turned out.”
The pastor grinned as one of the housekeepers served the lemonade and cookies. “These look delicious,” he said as he took a bite. “Tastes as good as it looks.”
Meghan grinned. “Thank you so much for coming over today,” she thanked the Pastor. “Mama, thank you for inviting him. Pastor, what a joy.”
“I just want you to enjoy your special day,” Rebecca gushed, acting as though their heated exchange earlier had not happened. “As mother-of-the-bride, my role is to ensure your joy and comfort every moment along the journey of you becoming a wife.”
“So, tell me,” Pastor Winston began. “Tell me about Jack. I like to know as much as I can about the couples I marry before I speak on their big day.”
Meghan’s eyes grew dreamy as she imagined her fiance. “Jack is one of the best people I know,” she told him as she pictured his handsome face. “He is honest, kind, and has more integrity than most anyone.”
“What does he do for work?”
“He is a detective,” Meghan blurted, remembering her sister’s rude comment about him being a security guard. “It’s a very important position in our community.”
“I’m sure it is,” Pastor Winston commented. “A public servant! What a hero. I imagine it isn’t easy being a detective. I’m sure that means Jack is protective over you?”
“Very,” she agreed. “Which, I’m sure, makes my parents happy.”
Henry nodded. “With our baby girl living out of state, Rebecca and I are both pleased that her fellow can keep her safe.”
“That is so important,” Pastor Winston agreed. “When my daughter moved to New York City for college, I was worried sick about her until she met her boyfriend. He’s an officer in the Navy. There’s just something about having your little girl date someone in a uniform that helps ease your worries.”
“A naval officer?” Rebecca asked with a sparkle in her eye. “What a prestigious position! Please thank him for his service the next time you see him.”
“I will,” the Pastor agreed. “Meghan, please go on.”
She recounted their love story, telling the pastor about her first encounter with Jack, and how she had not warmed to him right away. She talked about lengthy walks on the beach with Dash, his dog, and how they loved making brunch together on the weekends.
“He sounds like a great guy,” the pastor praised Meghan as she finished her story. “I can’t wait to meet him.”
“It is such a shame he couldn’t take off work to be in Texas before his own wedding,” Meghan’s mother chimed in with a passive-aggressive tone.
“Tell me about your wedding day,” the pastor went on. “What is it going to look like, Meghan? Are you excited? Nervous?”
“A bit of both,” she confessed. “I don’t like a lot of attention, so I am a bit nervous. I am excited to marry Jack, though.”
“Is the wedding going to be intimate? Large?”
“It’s going to be fabulous,” Rebecca interjected. “Her father and I have spared no expense; Meghan’s wedding is going to be the finest affair in this town, mark my words. We’re having truffles flown in from Georgia, lobster fresh from Maine, a sushi chef, a live band, and gift bags filled with items from Prada, Gucci, and Adidas.”
“Adidas?”
“Yes, the athletic brand,” Rebecca confirmed. “I have a contact there, and they are making a custom shoe for all the gentlemen. It will be trendy; I designed it myself.”
Meghan crossed her arms over her chest, but uncrossed them as soon as she felt her father staring at her.
“How do you feel about all of this, Meghan?” the pastor asked. “You don’t strike me as a bride who wants that large of a party. Are you sure you really want all of this?”
“I’m not,” she admitted. “Jack and I would like a small wedding in the garden. We wanted a few friends, our families, and a good meal to celebrate. We are simple people, and we find joy in life’s simple pleasures. We would be pleased if we married on a beach, to be honest…”
Henry cleared his throat, and Meghan took the hint. “...but we are happy to celebrate in a bigger way, thanks to my parents’ generosity. They are so kind to help us throw this kind of wedding, and we are very grateful. We couldn’t be happier.”
Meghan plastered a smile on her face, and Henry nodded in approval. “It will be a fun weekend,” he told the pastor. “We are so happy to see our girl get married at last.”
“Most of her high school friends were married years ago,” Rebecca chimed in. “We were worried Meghan would never get married.”
Meghan bit her lip. Had her parents really thought no one would ever want to marry her? She knew she wasn’t a supermodel, and she knew the bakery was modest, but Meghan was proud of her kind heart, the friends she had made, and her positive attitude. Didn’t those attributes matter to her parents?
Pastor Winston met her gaze, and it was clear he sensed the tension in the room. “I think I’ll excuse myself for a moment,” he said. “I’ll just see myself to the restroom…”
As the pastor walked back inside, Molly, Meghan’s youngest sister, rushed toward them with a newspaper in her hands. “MAMA! DADDY! Have you seen this?”
“What’s going on?” Rebecca asked in annoyance. “Molly, ladies don’t rush about screaming in such a fashion. You look ridiculous, and you are making a scene.”
Molly’s face was pale. “I think a scene is warranted, Mama,” she murmured as she held up the newspaper.
Henry gasped as he read the headline out loud. “Truman Family Caught Up in Another Scandal,” he boomed as Rebecca gasped. “This article is by Cameron Barrington, Thelma’s husband. He owns the local newspaper. This trash says that he thinks our family had something to do with her death.”
“Our family?” Rebecca cried, her face turning red. “Our family has been through enough this year. Why would we have anything to do with that woman’s death? This is insane, Henry. How could this happen?”
Henry read on. “He says that I should be considered a suspect because of my past wrong-doings,” he told the group. “And that Meghan has been investigated for murder back in Sandy Bay.”
“How does he know that?” Meghan shrieked. Her throat grew tight. She had been investigated for murder because of some misunderstandings, not because she had killed anyone.
Henry crumpled the newspaper. “This is trash,” he declared as Rebecca cried. “Cameron Barrington is begging for trouble.”
“What are we going to do, Henry?” Rebecca moaned. “I can’t bear the thought of our name and reputation being tarnished again. Oh, Henry. This is just terrible.”
Henry’s eyes grew cold. “I am going to kill Cameron Barrington, and he’ll be dead and done with, just like his terrible wife.”
13
P astor Winston returned; his eyes wide. “Did I miss something?” he asked in jest. “We went from wedding planning to killing Cameron Barrington in a matter of minutes.”
Rebecca patted her husband’s shoulder. “Henry is a little frustrated,” she explained, taking the newspaper from her husband’s hand and giving it to the pastor. “Cameron Barrington wrote a nasty article about our family, and Henry is having a strong reaction.”
“Strong reaction? You bet I am,” Henry roared. “Sorry, Pastor. I apologize for my outburst. I am just disgusted by this. I worked hard to do the right thing; I went to jail, I served my time, and now, I am working to clear my name by being an upstanding member of this community.”
“He does fifteen hours of volunteer work each week,” Rebecca chimed in. “Even after his community service ended, Henry vowed to stay involved and continue serving.”
T
he pastor nodded. “I know what a wonderful family you have,” he complimented Rebecca and Henry. “I know Henry is repentant for his missteps. You both have been in church every single Sunday for the last decade, and Henry comes twice a week for our men’s group. I have no doubt that you will fully clear your name sooner than later.”
Henry smiled weakly. “Thank you, pastor.”
Pastor Winston embraced him. “Keep your eyes on the Lord, and prosperity and goodness will come to you and your family.”
Rebecca nodded. “We will certainly do that, Pastor Winston.”
