Tying the Knot

by Jeff Shelby

  It was horrible timing.

  And yet here this little puppy was, scampering around my house, his tail wagging as he explored every inch of this new space. I couldn’t help but smile. He was cute; I couldn’t argue with that.

  I sighed. I didn’t need a dog. But I had one, at least for the time being.

  What I didn’t have, however, were dog supplies.

  And I was pretty sure I was going to need them.

  Where was I going to get dog food and bowls and a leash and a bed? More importantly, when was I going to get them? We were twenty-four hours out from the wedding, and the last thing I could think about doing was leaving the house and running into town for a supply run.

  I thought for a minute and then called the one person I knew would be able to help out.

  Declan.

  “You need what?” he asked.

  I rattled off the mental list I’d created.

  “When did you get a dog?”

  “This morning.”

  “Isn’t the wedding tomorrow?” he asked.

  The puppy wandered toward me and I scooped him up. “It’s a long story.”

  This was becoming the refrain of the morning.

  He was quiet.

  “I’ll tell you when you get here,” I promised. “With all the stuff.”

  “It’s a good thing I like you,” he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice.

  “It really is,” I said. “Thank you. I owe you big time.”

  I ended the call and, with the puppy still in my arms, headed toward the kitchen so I could peek outside and check on how things were coming along.

  And froze.

  By the looks of things, all hell was about to break loose.

  Because Mabel and Zoe had shown up and the members of Midnight Robot looked shell-shocked as Zoe barked orders at them.

  “What’s going on?” I asked as I hurried outside and into the yard.

  Zoe jerked a thumb at Luke. “He says he doesn’t know anything about Grandma performing.”

  Luke looked at me.

  “She’s singing a song or two during the ceremony,” I explained.

  Luke frowned. “When were you going to tell me this?”

  Zoe set her hands on her hips and glared at me. “I can’t believe you’d rather have this…this band at the event than an accomplished vocalist. I asked if they would like to provide musical accompaniment for Grandma and he said they didn’t know the songs.” She snorted. “What kind of band are you, anyway?”

  Luke glanced at Thor, but he just stared at the ground. I wondered if he regretted spending the night with Zoe earlier in the week, especially considering her demeanor right now.

  “Why are you holding a dog?” Luke asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “You don’t know?” he repeated.

  “A lady brought him by,” I said.

  Zoe noticed the dog too, and although her frown didn’t immediately disappear, it at least softened a little.

  “So are you dog sitting or something?” Luke asked.

  “No. He’s…he’s mine. I think.”

  He smiled. “Really?”

  I nodded. The puppy had done something remarkable: he’d diffused the situation between Zoe and the band. If he could work that kind of magic for the next twenty-four hours, he was more than welcome to stay in my home.

  Luke abandoned his guitar, setting it gently on the ground, and hurried toward me. “What’s his name?”

  “I don’t know yet. I actually don’t even know if I’m going to keep him.”

  He lifted the dog out of my arms. “Of course you are. How could you give him back?” He held the puppy to his face and nuzzled him, and all I could think was, A cold-blooded killer wouldn’t cuddle a puppy.

  All of the sudden, everyone in the backyard noticed the dog. Jackson had been pounding tent stakes into the ground and he came over to say hello. Peter and Madeline oohed and ahhed over him, and Sunny and Billie each took turns holding the puppy. Even Thor reached out a burly hand to pet him, and Zoe stopped complaining about the music arrangements. Sophia and Laura continued with Diana, poring over photo albums she’d brought with, but they kept stealing covert glances at the dog and I knew Laura was itching to get her hands on him again.

  Who knew a puppy could do all that?

  Unfortunately, he was just the calm before the storm.

  Literally.

  I felt a raindrop before I noticed the sky. When I looked up, a bank of dark angry clouds were marching quickly toward us, clouds that looked thick and heavy with rain.

  Laura looked up, too. “It’s going to rain?” she asked in disbelief.

  “It already is,” I said.

  She glanced wildly at the half-assembled tents and the stacks of chairs and broken-down tables. “But what do we do with all of this?”

  Gunnar and Connor flew out of the house, with Mikey on their heels. “Let’s move everything into the barn,” Gunnar said. He was already grabbing a stack of chairs.

  “Everything is going to be ruined!” Laura cried.

  Luke and Thor unplugged equipment and rushed it inside the house, and Jackson tossed his hammer aside so he could grab his keyboard and speakers.

  Sunny handed Billie off to Peter and Madeline, who helped her into the house. Sunny bolted back outside, helping Sophia and Laura gather up the centerpieces and bring them into the house. Even Diana lent a hand.

  As for me, I just watched.

  Watched as the gentle rain turned to a torrent. The wind picked up and the half-assembled tent whipped around the backyard, threatening to become airborne with each gust.

  Watched as a flash of lightning streaked the sky and the resulting clap of thunder made the little dog I was holding whimper and stiffen in my arms.

  Watched as puddles formed in the grass, puddles that in all likelihood wouldn’t be gone by morning.

  I could hear Laura from where I was standing, on the small back porch that led into the kitchen. She was bemoaning the weather, and wondering if and when it would stop.

  I cradled the dog and smiled.

  Maybe it wouldn’t stop.

  Maybe the wedding would be postponed.

  Considering everything that was happening, that might not be such a bad thing.

  THIRTY FOUR

  I’d jinxed the wedding with my earlier thoughts.

  It was an hour later and the rain was still coming down by the bucketful.

  Declan had shown up within twenty minutes of the initial downpour, drenched to the bone but with the requested pet items. I would have hugged him if he hadn’t been so thoroughly soaked.

  “Spill,” he ordered, as soon as he dropped the bags to the floor.

  I pulled out the food and bowls he’d gotten, along with a leash and some little dog toys.

  “You didn’t have to get all this,” I told him as I pulled out a few bags of dog treats.

  “I didn’t know what exactly you wanted so I thought it best to err on the side of caution.” He glanced around the room. “Where is the dog?”

  I waved a hand toward the kitchen. “In there with everyone else. Waiting out the rain.”

  He shook his head. “They’re going to be waiting a while. Updated forecast shows there’s a good chance it may rain all afternoon.”

  “Really?”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Why do you sound happy about that?”

  I felt a little pang of guilt. “I’m not,” I lied. I glanced at his wet clothes. “You’re soaked. I’m sorry to make you come out here with all of this. I guess I could have gone into town, what with the rain putting things on hold out here.”

  Declan shrugged. “It’s fine. I’ll dry. Now tell me how you got a dog. And why.”

  I filled him in on Marlene’s visit.

  “She just brought you a dog? And…left him?”

  I nodded.

  “And you let her?”

  “What was I supposed to do?” I threw up my hands. “Sh
e literally shoved the dog in my arms, then transferred him to Laura’s, and then bolted.”

  Declan grinned. “I see.”

  I could tell he didn’t believe a word I was saying. I wouldn’t have, either. Most people didn’t just dingdong ditch a puppy, especially someone from an adoption agency. But that was basically what this Marlene woman had done.

  But he didn’t argue or ask any more questions. Instead, he craned his neck toward the kitchen. “How is everything going with the wedding?” He lowered his voice. “And with everything else?”

  “It’s fine,” I said.

  “Fine?”

  I nodded.

  “You don’t look fine,” he commented.

  “Gee, thanks.”

  “You know what I mean. You look worried. Anxious.”

  If there was one thing I’d learned during the time I’d lived in Latney, it was that it was impossible to hide anything from Declan Murphy.

  “I’m a little preoccupied,” I admitted.

  “With the wedding stuff?” he asked. “Or with what happened to Drew?”

  “Both,” I admitted.

  “Have you found out anything new?” he asked.

  I closed my eyes.

  “Rainy?” His tone held a note of alarm.

  “I’ve found out a lot,” I said, my eyes still squeezed shut.

  I felt his hand on my shoulder. It was cool and slightly wet, the result of his slog through the rain.

  “What’s going on?” His voice was gentle.

  I hesitated.

  Not because I didn’t want Declan to know, of course. I knew he was one of the few people in my life that I could trust with this kind of information.

  But speaking about suspicions made them somehow feel more real, especially when it came time considering Connor and Luke potential suspects.

  Like wishing for the rain to continue, it felt like if I didn’t say anything out loud, what I was thinking couldn’t possibly be true.

  I’d be the first to admit that it wasn’t the smartest approach.

  “Do you know who did it?” he asked quietly.

  I waited a beat before shaking my head no. “But I did find out some things.”

  My eyes were open now, and I saw the slight frown that creased his forehead. “Like what?” When I didn’t immediately respond he said, “I thought we were going to keep each other posted. That’s what we agreed to on Wednesday, when you came to the church and I showed you the drums.”

  “I know.” I sighed. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize.” He smiled, his blue eyes warm and kind. “Talk to me.”

  I stole a glance down the hallway. The sound of conversation and laughter echoed back to me, and I felt a twinge of jealousy. Everyone seemed to be having a good time despite the fact that all of our set-up plans had been thwarted. In fact, listening to the group of people gathered in my kitchen made it seem as though I was the only one in the house who had a care in the world.

  It didn’t seem fair.

  In a low voice, I told Declan what I knew and what I suspected, my voice hitching a little as I got to both Connor and Luke.

  Declan’s eyes widened as I filled him in, but he stayed quiet.

  When I was finished, he breathed in deeply, then exhaled. “That’s quite a lot of information gathered over the last couple of days.”

  I nodded.

  “I’m sorry you’ve been dealing with this on your own.” His face was lined with worry.

  “It’s not the kind of news I want to go and share with people,” I pointed out.

  He smiled. “Understandable.” He held out his arms. “Do you think you could use a hug?”

  It was a simple question and a simple gesture.

  But it was everything I needed at that moment.

  He wasn’t offering advice or giving me instructions on how to try to fix things. He was just…there.

  I didn’t think twice.

  His arms were wet, and his shirt was even wetter. The water seeped into my own clothes but I didn’t care. My arms wound tight around his neck and I placed my head against his chest, listening to the steady thumping of his heart.

  Someone cleared their throat. “Am I interrupting something?”

  I broke free immediately.

  And turned to look at Gunnar.

  He was standing in the hallway, holding two empty bottles of wine.

  I tugged at my shirt. “Declan brought stuff by for the puppy.” I motioned to the abandoned bag in the living room.

  “Just trying to help,” Declan said. “Rainy said you all were busy here and I was free, so...”

  Gunnar’s expression was unreadable.

  “And then I was filling him in on everything that’s happened,” I said.

  “Oh?” Gunnar raised his eyebrows. “I thought he was already in the know.”

  “He knew about the drums and that Drew’s death wasn’t being considered accidental, but I hadn’t told him about any of the…the suspects.”

  Gunnar said nothing.

  “I'm going to excuse myself,” Declan said.

  We both watched him leave.

  I swallowed.

  “Anyway, I got a little upset talking about it and…” My voice trailed off.

  Gunnar gave a slight nod. “Well, I’m glad he was here for you.”

  “Gunnar.”

  “Rainy.”

  “Don't be like this.”

  He held up the bottles. “I was just going to set these back in the box in the dining room. Mikey said he’d take them back to the restaurant.”

  I nodded. “How was the wine tasting?”

  “Fine. Connor chose a few that he liked.”

  “And how’s everything in the kitchen?”

  “Fine.” He didn’t smile. “Mikey offered to make some food because your guests were hungry. He has some cold cuts and cheese, and he made a dip with some ingredients you had on hand.”

  My guilt was fully amped. Mikey was feeding my guests. Gunnar was in with them, too.

  And what was I doing?

  Having a pity party for myself.

  And hugging my former lover in front of my current one.

  I bit back a sigh.

  I didn’t think the day could get much worse.

  THIRTY FIVE

  Declan was wrong.

  It didn’t rain all afternoon.

  In fact, soon after he left and I slunk into the kitchen to rejoin all of my guests, the sky cleared and the sun poked its head out between the clouds.

  And everyone rushed back to work.

  The band set up on the front porch, anxious to get through a couple more songs. Billie returned to the guesthouse with Peter and Madeline, and Sunny was helping Sophia and Laura with wedding stuff. Diana took off as soon as the rain stopped, as did Mikey. Declan had left soon after our confrontation with Gunnar in the hallway, apparently thinking it would be better to venture back out into the rain than to stay in what felt like an openly hostile environment. And Gunnar had remained aloof but cordial to me, focusing his energies on conversation with everyone but me when we returned to the kitchen.

  I’d tried to stop him from leaving once everyone scattershot back to their pre-rain jobs.

  “Can I talk to you for a second?”

  He glanced at me. “I was going to help Jackson with the tents. He’s not going to be able to get all of them up himself, especially if he’s practicing with the band right now. Connor offered to help and he’s out there already.”

  I nodded. “It’ll just take a few minutes.” The puppy was back in my arms, and after being the center of attention during the rain break, he was passed out for a much-needed nap.

  He jammed his hands in his pockets. “What?”

  “I…” I stopped.

  What did I want to say? Now that I had him alone, what did I need to tell him? The more I’d thought about it, the more I didn’t think I needed to apologize for hugging Declan. He was my friend, after all. My good frien
d. Gunnar knew this, and I thought he’d made peace with that.

  Gunnar looked at the clock. “It’s getting late,” he pointed out.

  I sighed. “Just go.”

  “You sure? You said you wanted to talk…”

  “We can talk later.”

  He waited a beat, shrugged, and then opened the back door. It slammed shut, a lingering gust of wind catching it just right, and the sleeping puppy startled in my arms.

  He squirmed and cried, and I reluctantly set him down. He immediately scampered off out of the kitchen and down the hallway, almost tripping over paws that were two times too big for his little frame.

  And I was alone.

  It was a day before the wedding and I had no idea what I should be doing.

  Did I go outside and help with the tents and chairs? Did I check with the band to see if they needed anything? Did I look in on my out-of-town guests and make sure they were comfortable? Did I volunteer to help Sophia and Laura with decorations?

  Or did I do something else entirely instead.

  Something I was good at.

  Like find the person responsible for Drew’s murder.

  The puppy came running back into the kitchen, a sock in his mouth, which completely distracted me.

  I yanked it out of his mouth. “Where did you find that?”

  He panted twice, then scurried away.

  I glanced at the sock. It looked like one of Laura’s, which meant the dog had braved the stairs. At least he wasn’t afraid of them.

  I walked it out of the kitchen, intent on taking it back to Laura and Connor’s room.

  But two people on the couch got my attention.

  Two people wrapped in a passionate embrace.

  I cleared my throat, and Zoe and Thor separated their limbs and their lips.

  “Are you done practicing?” I asked sweetly.

  Thor brushed at his beard. “We’re taking a quick break.”

  “I didn’t know you were still here,” I said to Zoe.

  “Grandma wasn’t ready to leave yet,” she said, a little defensively. “She’s in the guesthouse with Billie. I think they’re playing bridge with that other couple.”

  “I see.” They were still sitting practically on top of each other, and Zoe’s face looked like she had suffered a slight case of rug burn from all of Thor’s facial hair.