by Tara Randel
When she joined him, his heart slammed against his ribs. Her eyes were red-rimmed and she wouldn’t look directly at him.
“You know why I’m here.”
That’s all it took. She started crying and told Max where to find Tom.
When he got back in the truck, his cell rang. It was Bart.
“Any news?”
“Boss, you are one lucky man for hiring me.”
“I haven’t hired you yet.”
“After the news I have, Blanche will be adding me to the payroll.”
“Spill it.”
“Mr. Hayes is one bad money manager. I found the man’s financials, and trust me when I say he doesn’t have two dimes to rub together. His clients aren’t going to like the fact that he’s run through their money, as well as his own.”
“Good job. Get it all together for the chief. You did good, Bart.”
“Like that was a surprise?”
Max chuckled. “Talk to you later.” He signed off and called the police chief with the update. “I’m headed to find Tom now.”
“Wait till my officers get there before you do anything.”
“Chief, this guy framed Lilli.”
“Max, until this is over, think with your head, not your heart.”
Max knew that, but all he cared about was proving Lilli’s innocence. “I’ll scope the place out and give your guys a report.”
“We’re right behind you.”
* * ** * *
LILLI THOUGHT THE DAY would drag on, but with all the last-minute checks, the hours flew by. She stood in the event room, taking one final glance over the preparations. The room was more breathtaking than she’d originally envisioned.
She walked the perimeter with a critical eye. Tables set. Check. Loaner gowns safely delivered. Check. Silent auction table fully loaded. Check. Marisa had come through with the donations, even if Lilli had had her doubts. Flowers delivered. Check. Everything in place and ready to go. Tonight would be a success, and Lilli had everything to do with that. She should be proud, but instead, that old sense of loneliness crept over her.
An hour before the event, Lilli went back to the ladies’ dressing room to change into her formal attire for the night. She passed her mother’s wedding gown, still hanging in the same spot. As much as her mother’s request touched her heart, she just couldn’t wear it. She retrieved her black strapless dress with the bodice of black sequins and a full skirt in layers of chiffon. When she’d picked it out, she’d been imagining the expression on Max’s face when he saw her. Now, she didn’t want to think about anything.
She’d just finished the last touches on her makeup when Marisa and Sissy arrived, followed by a few of the other models. Lilli stayed out of their way. She had more important things to worry about than rumors and innuendo.
Packing up her makeup, she heard Marisa gasp. Lilli turned as Marisa fumbled with the locker door while trying to hold on to a cosmetics bag. Marisa glanced her way, her face pale, eyes wide as she hugged the bag to her waist.
“Are you okay?” Lilli asked as she crossed the room, afraid Marisa might be sick.
“I’m nervous about the fashion show.”
Marisa never appeared nervous, especially if she was guaranteed a spotlight. She looked down at her bag and with shaking fingers tried to zip it closed.
“Do you need some help?”
“No. I’m fine. I’ll be fine.”
“Okay.” Lilli went back to the mirror to collect her makeup. Concerned, she kept an eye on Marisa.
Marisa scanned the room before turning to open the locker. From her angle, Lilli noticed Marisa shoving a black bag into her tote. A funny feeling swirled in Lilli’s stomach. Marisa glanced her way, eyes wide and afraid as she blocked the door from Lilli’s view. Marisa never did anything on the sly, always wanting to be the center of attention. Lilli’s suspicions went on full alert.
“You’re sure you’re okay?” Lilli asked again, walking to Marisa’s locker.
“I told you. I’m fine.”
“Then why are you trying to hide that black bag?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Lilli moved into Marisa’s space and nudged her away from the locker.
“What are you doing?” Marisa screeched.
“Looking for something.” Lilli pulled out Marisa’s tote.
“Give me that.” Marisa grabbed the handle but Lilli held fast.
“Are you hiding something? A black jeweler’s bag, to be precise?”
“Don’t be absurd.” Marisa’s face grew even paler.
“I saw it,” Lilli told her. “Give it up.”
“It’s not mine,” Marisa whispered.
By this time, their scene had caught the attention of the other women in the room.
“Marisa, what’s going on?” Sissy asked.
“Nothing, Mother. Please, stay away.”
“Why, that’s silly. I know that—”
Marisa took one final pull and yanked the bag from Lilli, hugging it to her chest. Her wild expression searched the room for a way out, but too many women stood between her and the door.
“We’ll figure this out,” Lilli assured Marisa, her tone soft and assuring.
Tears glistened in Marisa’s eyes and began to trickle down her cheeks. “I don’t understand.”
A loud knock sounded on the door. Seconds later, Lilli glimpsed Max out of the corner of her eye. She didn’t stop to wonder why he’d shown up. Instead she concentrated on Marisa, who came close to losing it.
“Marisa, what’s going on?” her mother asked again.
“We know you have the bracelet,” Max told her as he made his way through the ladies. “Just hand it over and everything will be okay.”
“How can it be okay? I don’t know how it got here.”
“I do.” Max took a few steps toward Marisa. “It was Chandler. He hid it in your bag.”
Marisa looked confused. “Chandler? What has he got to do with this?”
“You had lunch with him today?”
“Yes.” Her gaze darted to her mother. “We talked about eloping. Leaving town after the benefit.”
“What?” Sissy placed her hand over her heart. “What are you saying?”
“Did you leave him alone with your bag anytime during lunch?”
Marisa blinked. “Yes. When I went to the ladies’ room.”
Max took another step closer. “Marisa, he had possession of the bracelet. He needed your bag to cover his theft.”
“But why? This doesn’t make sense.”
“He’s broke,” Max told her as gently as possible. “When Chandler discovered Tom was stealing from the club members, he convinced Tom to steal the jewelry in exchange for Chandler’s keeping his secret. Chandler planted the ring in Lilli’s bag to focus suspicion in the wrong direction. He needed you to get the bracelet out of town.”
More tears ran down her face, trailing mascara. As if losing her will, she slid down the locker into a heap on the floor, and the bag slipped from her hands. “I...um...” She turned helpless eyes to her mother. “Get Chandler in here. He’ll explain. This is all a mistake.”
“Not gonna happen,” Max said. “He’s having a discussion with the chief right about now.”
While Max took control of the situation, Lilli picked up the tote and removed the velvet bag. She turned it over, and sure enough, the bracelet tumbled into her palm, sparkling in the overhead light.
“Chandler?” Marisa asked again.
“Yes. I’m sorry.” Max nodded to a uniformed officer hovering nearby. “The chief needs to ask you some questions, but you won’t be arrested. Chandler admitted you knew nothing about his plan.”
The officers who
arrived after Max helped Marisa up and took her by the arms, leading her from the room while she tried to hike up her gown so she wouldn’t trip. Her mother hovered nearby, a red splash of anger coloring her face.
“Help me, Mother.”
Sissy followed behind hissing, “You’ve ruined our family name. How could you?”
“It was Chandler. Not me.”
Apparently that didn’t matter to Sissy.
Soon, their voices faded as they left the room. Lilli’s heart went out to Marisa. They’d never be friends, but she couldn’t help feel the other woman’s pain. All this time Marisa had thought she had the perfect man, would have a perfect wedding. In the end, she’d have nothing but heartache. And by the looks of things, her mother didn’t offer much sympathy. At least in Lilli’s hour of humiliation, Celeste had been there, her daughter’s best interests at heart.
For as long as Lilli could remember she’d been envious of Marisa and the way she floated through life. The current events made her realize that was only an illusion. No one’s life was perfect.
“So much for family support,” Lilli muttered as she watched the group leave the room. She turned to Max. “How did you know?”
“I found Tom. It didn’t take much to get him to tell the truth and rat out his partner. We caught Chandler about to skip town. He also admitted trying to break into the historical society office. Convinced himself he might be able to steal one of the gowns and make some money. You?”
She handed the bag to Max. “Marisa acted strangely when she came in to get ready for the fashion show. Something was off, so I questioned her. Then you walked in.”
An awkward silence fell between them as pandemonium reigned in the room and most likely out in the club. But it seemed as if she and Max stood there alone. She couldn’t read him, didn’t know what to think.
“I should probably do damage control,” she said.
“Lilli, wait—”
Before he could say more, Celeste burst into the room. “Lilli. Have you heard?”
Lilli stared straight at Max as she spoke. “Yes. I have. The authorities have the thieves. Max gets to leave on his business trip with his reputation intact.”
Oblivious to the tension surrounding Lilli and Max, Celeste hurried over, a huge smile on her face. “I couldn’t have paid for better publicity.”
She took Lilli’s arm and dragged her away, leaving Max to tie up loose ends before he would catch a plane out of town and out of her life.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
SERVERS SCURRIED ABOUT as they waited on the guests. Any minute now the committee members would take their positions and the fashion show would begin. The wedding gowns were ready, so the volunteer brides could change right before the show. They would wear their own dresses during the hors d’oeuvres hour, model the wedding gowns then change back before dinner. Clipboard in hand, Lilli met with each committee woman as she arrived, making sure they had everything they needed.
“So far, so good,” Jewel told her as she sidled up beside Lilli. “The drama about the jewelry has added some extra excitement tonight. You couldn’t have planned it better.”
“Gee, you think?”
Jewel laughed. “Yeah, getting blamed for something you didn’t do stinks, but it all turned out okay in the end.”
Maybe, but Lilli didn’t feel that way.
“I saw your mother. I’m glad she made it in time.”
“Me, too. She’s beside herself. Everything that’s happened today is better than she could have planned.”
“Where’s Max? I haven’t seen him since they took Marisa away.”
Lilli shrugged. “He’s needed at the police station.”
“He’s not going to be a groom?”
“Not now.” She didn’t want to talk about Max. Lilli wanted tonight to be over so she could go back to life without a troublesome man making her pulse pound and her heart less lonely.
“Who’s going to take his place?”
“Jim.”
“Our boss?”
“Yes. I’ve had him on standby.”
Jewel blinked. “Wow. You do have everything under control.” Jewel’s face colored. “Oh, there’s Bart. He’s the one who found out about Chandler. Basically solved the case. Isn’t he wonderful?”
Jewel hugged Lilli before heading off to join Bart. At least they had their happy ending. And again she asked herself how she could let Max get so close to her heart when in the end he’d leave her.
Feeling more than a little melancholy, Lilli circled the event room, waving at the mayor and his wife who were chatting with other guests. After hearing so many oohs and aahs over the display designer gowns, Lilli knew they were a hit. With Tie the Knot officially under way, people mingled and found their tables. The soft strains of the harp mixed with excited voices. Bursts of laughter spoke volumes. It looked like tonight would be a success.
Pasting on her happy smile, Lilli passed from table to table, greeting guests. Her smile drooped when she stopped at Laverne Sanders’s table.
“My dear, how are you doing?” Laverne asked as she took Lilli’s hand in hers.
“I’ll be better when this night is over.” She glanced at the ladies at the table, recognizing a few, including Dorinda Hobart.
“We’re so glad you reserved a table. The girls and I are having a grand time. Why, Carolyn drove herself here tonight, thanks to Max.”
“We all owe him,” Carolyn, a blue-haired grandmother remarked.
Lilli frowned and glanced at Laverne.
“Max has helped each one of my friends,” Laverne explained. “After Carolyn’s husband passed, she was afraid to drive. Max gave her refresher lessons to stop her fear of getting behind the wheel. And there’s Terri.” Laverne nodded to a frail woman with lovely snow white hair pulled away from her face. “She broke her hip and couldn’t leave the house for many weeks. Max went over to play cards.”
“And don’t forget my gazebo,” added another woman with thick glasses.
“Margaret’s gazebo needed new steps so Max built them for her.”
“And you know he’s the handyman at my coffee shop,” Dorinda added.
Lilli looked at all the women spouting the virtues of Max when suddenly it dawned on her. These were the names on Max’s calendar. He hadn’t been out dating a bunch of women. He’d been helping his grandmother’s friends.
“My grandson is a good man. But then, I think you already know that.”
She did know. Always had. Max was a good man. That’s why she loved him.
“Lilli!”
Her mother stood at the main door, waving at her.
“Excuse me, ladies.”
She hurried across the room. Once she reached the door, Celeste grabbed hold of her arm.
“Time to change into my gown. With this bandage on my wrist, I need help.”
“Okay. I only have a few minutes. The models are lining up to start the fashion show.”
Celeste led Lilli into the changing room, chatting nonstop. “Your father came through for me.”
Lilli thought of Max leaving and her throat tightened. Don’t think about him now.
“He joined me at the spa.” She took Lilli’s hand in hers. “We had many hours to talk and came to a major decision.
“When I came up with the wedding fashion show idea, I realized I had never gotten over your father. We made a mess of so many things, but I took a chance and called him. We agreed to meet at the spa to reconnect.” Celeste squeezed Lilli’s hand. “We haven’t exactly been the best example of a loving relationship, but we’re going to try again. I hope you aren’t too disappointed in us.”
“Disappointed in you? I thought you both were disappointed in me.”
Celeste gasped. “How could you ev
er say that?”
Lilli opened her mouth to answer, but too many memories filled her mind. She didn’t know where to start.
“We love you, Lilli.” Celeste’s eyes glimmered. “As I said, we haven’t been the best role models, but we plan to change that. This time, we’re going to make marriage work.”
Here they were taking a second chance to build a relationship and Lilli hadn’t gotten a first chance with Max. Still, she was happy for her parents. Lilli hugged her mother. “Good for you.”
Celeste wiped her eyes and took her dress behind the privacy screen. “I’m glad you understand. I hated to put all the responsibility of the benefit on you, but I was desperate. And I knew you could do this.”
“Thanks for believing in me, Mom.”
Just then, Sissy Vandermere rushed inside, cheeks flushed. “I cannot believe my daughter did this to me.”
Celeste came out from the screen in her silver full-length Valentino, presenting her back to Lilli. “Please finish zipping me.” To Sissy, she said, “You can’t blame Marisa. She looked forward to her wedding.”
“Of course she did. She couldn’t afford to lose another fiancé.”
“But she didn’t know what Chandler had planned.”
“That makes it worse. How will she ever find another man to marry her now?”
Lilli figured Marisa had other things on her mind right now. Lilli’s heart went out to her. Now they both shared the experience of being publicly humiliated by a fiancé.
“She’ll survive,” Sissy said. “But she’s too embarrassed to show her face here tonight. And Chandler’s in jail. What a disaster.”
Celeste twirled to face Lilli, her eyes wide with panic. “We don’t have a finale couple.”
The thought had occurred to her before her mother stated the obvious.
“Mom, there’s no time to fix this.”
“Of course we can.” Celeste grinned, the look she got when she came up with an idea Lilli wouldn’t like. “I sent my wedding dress here.”
