Death by Espresso

by Alex Erickson

  “She’s excited,” I said. “She can’t wait to see the both of you.”

  “We’d better gather everyone,” Gina said, and then, as if it pained her, she added, “Thank you, Krissy.”

  “Sure thing.”

  Both Frederick and Gina turned and headed back to the others as Cathy Carr appeared, carrying a large coffee, likely her triple-shot espresso. She was still chewing away on the chocolate-covered espresso beans.

  It’ll be a wonder if she doesn’t explode before we get there. I loved caffeine, but this was ridiculous.

  “Are you going to be okay driving alone?” Dad asked as we started for the rental car park.

  “I’ll be fine,” I said. “I can use the time to figure out how I’m going to tell Vicki about all of them.” I nodded back toward the group, who were just now starting to head for their cars.

  He laughed. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” He paused, glancing back at Laura, who was walking a few feet behind us as if not wanting to interrupt father and daughter time. “I hope you like her,” he said, keeping his voice down.

  “I’m sure I will,” I said, and I meant it. We hadn’t had a chance to talk all that much as of yet, but from what I’d seen of her so far, I had a feeling Laura and I were going to get along just fine.

  Dad put an arm around me and squeezed. “This is going to be a great week.” He released me and then held out a hand for Laura, who took it.

  As I watched them walk together, I realized that despite Cathy’s presence, and the extra couple of people the Pattersons had brought along, it would all work out in the end. Happiness was contagious, and Dad and Laura were the epitome of happiness. Nothing could ruin Vicki’s wedding, not even a gaggle of strangers.

  I would stop anyone who tried.

  2

  It was dark by the time I reached the bookstore and coffee shop Vicki and I co-owned, Death by Coffee. My back hurt from the journey, having sat bolt upright the entire way. I’d called Vicki on the way over, warning her of what was coming, and to say she wasn’t happy about it was a major understatement. I was definitely not looking forward to the confrontation that was sure to come.

  I got out of my car, wishing my boyfriend, Will Foster, had been able to make it. Unfortunately, he was in Levington, working at the hospital there. I’d considered stopping by before heading to the airport, but I hadn’t made it to the larger city in time. He’d been so busy as of late, I’d barely gotten much of a chance to see him over the last few months. I would have liked to have spent a few minutes in his presence, even if it was only a glimpse. He was something special to look at.

  Dad and the others found nearby parking spaces along the street and made their way to the front of the store, where I was waiting. The downstairs lights were still on, though Death by Coffee had been closed for the last hour. The lights by the books were dark, so all that could be seen of the shelves were shadowy outlines. I could see Vicki pacing inside. She still looked stunning with her long legs, blond hair, and movie-star looks, even in her agitation. Mason looked helpless from where he watched her beside the counter. He kept running his fingers through his dark hair, good-looking face contorted in worry.

  This is going to go great. Even my inner voice had turned sarcastic. I forced a smile in the hopes that it would magically make everything better as I turned to the group.

  “Everyone here?” I asked, doing a quick head count.

  “I think so,” Dad said. He rested a hand on my arm, and lowered his voice. “It’ll be fine.”

  “I hope so,” I told him, before taking a deep, calming breath. There was nothing I could do about it now but press forward. I led the way inside.

  Vicki immediately stopped pacing as we entered. Mason put an arm around her, which seemed to calm her some.

  “Mother,” she said.

  “Victoria.”

  Vicki’s eye twitched. No one called her Victoria. Ever. It wasn’t even her given name. Years ago, Gina had decided that Vicki wasn’t a good enough name for an actress, and had started calling her Victoria in the hopes it would catch on. Vicki hated it. Gina didn’t care.

  “Why are all these people here?”

  Gina glanced to Frederick, as if for support, before saying, “They’re here for your wedding. I know I should have told you how many I was bringing ahead of time, but well, it slipped my mind in all the excitement.”

  “Yes, you should have.”

  “It’s too late now,” Gina said. “I promise they won’t be too much bother.” She glanced around the coffee shop. “Small, isn’t it? And simple. I thought it would have a little more . . . flair.”

  I had to give Vicki credit. She merely stood there as her mother insulted our life’s work. I would have said something if it was my place to do so. Still, it took all my self-control not to speak up. What did Gina Patterson know about running a coffee shop? I clenched my teeth and continued to smile, even though my face was starting to hurt.

  “Maybe we should do introductions?” Mason suggested, stepping forward and extending his hand. “Mason Lawyer. Vicki’s fiancé. You must be Gina.”

  Gina put her hand in his own, but not to shake. He hesitated a moment before raising her fingers to his lips.

  “Frederick.” Vicki’s dad actually took his hand and shook, much to my relief. I wouldn’t have put it past him to make Mason kiss his ring, just to see if he’d do it.

  A tense silence followed. Mason stared at the Pattersons, who stared right back. I shifted from foot to foot, glanced at Dad, who shrugged. It wasn’t our place to speak up, but if no one said anything soon, I very well might.

  Finally, Mason turned his attention away from Gina and Frederick, and to the couple behind them. “And you are?”

  “Sage and Trey Herron,” the man said. He looked to be in his fifties, was well groomed, and had a soul patch dyed black. The woman next to him, Sage, looked twenty going on fifty. She’d apparently spent quite a lot of money to preserve her youth. Her skin appeared stretched, almost plastic, though she couldn’t hide the age in her eyes.

  “Pleasure,” Sage said, flashing a smile.

  “We apologize for coming on such short notice,” Trey added. “I hope we didn’t offend.”

  “No, you’re fine,” Mason said. His shoulders seemed to ease at Trey’s friendly tone and kind words. “We’re just surprised. We were expecting only a couple of people. We’ll make room.”

  “I’m Jacques Kenway.” A man in his mid-thirties, maybe early forties, stepped forward, hand extended. He was good-looking, and had a wide, toothy smile. Despite his name, there was no indication he had any French in him. “Friend of the family.”

  Mason shook. “Vicki hasn’t mentioned you.”

  Jacques glanced past him, to where Vicki looked on. “We haven’t had the pleasure before today,” he said. “Though, I would like to get to know her. Gina has spoken highly of her.”

  “She is something special,” Mason said, which caused Vicki’s frustration to crack as she smiled.

  He then turned his attention to the two people behind Jacques.

  They hovered near the large, plate-glass window, apart from everyone else. The woman was inspecting her nails, as if the introductions were boring her. She was tiny, almost elfin, and gorgeous. I couldn’t place her age. She could have been anywhere from twenty to her late thirties, early forties.

  The man next to her was tall, kind of gangly, and was watching her every move. Like everyone there, he was good-looking, but in a goofy sort of way. His hair was shoulder-length, and hung loose around his face and ears. He kind of reminded me of Shaggy from Scooby Do, just better groomed.

  Neither looked up nor spoke, as if they didn’t realize everyone was looking at them. Jacques chuckled, and jerked a thumb at the tall man with a roll of his eyes, in a “Get a load of this guy” sort of way.

  “That’s Vince Conner,” Gina said, breaking the brief, uncomfortable silence. “And Lyric Granderson.”

  “It’s
good to meet you both,” Mason said, stepping forward to shake.

  Vince jerked at his name, eyes briefly going wide, before he took Mason’s hand. “The pleasure’s mine,” he said. Jacques laughed again, drawing a glare from Vince.

  Lyric’s lips twitched into something that wasn’t quite a smile when Mason looked her way. She didn’t offer her hand and, apparently, had nothing to say.

  Dad stepped forward and introduced Laura next. I think he was trying to keep anyone from getting offended, but I could tell it wasn’t going to work. Mason’s eyes lingered on Lyric, whose own gaze had returned to her nails, before he turned to greet Laura.

  “I’m glad you could make it,” he said.

  “I’ve heard so much about you,” Vicki added, crossing the room to give Laura a quick hug before stepping back.

  “I’m happy you invited me,” Laura said. “I would have understood if you hadn’t—I don’t know many of James’s friends yet.”

  “I couldn’t imagine doing this without you,” Vicki said. “If you’re with James, then you’re just as much a part of the family as the rest of us.”

  Someone cleared their throat. Loudly, and with obvious intent.

  All eyes turned toward the short woman who’d gotten lost in the taller crowd around her. She popped a pair of espresso beans in her mouth and stepped forward. “Cathy Carr,” she said, eyeing the empty coffeepots behind the counter. “I’m going to be making adjustments to your wedding.”

  Vicki stared at her for a long couple of seconds before her gaze drifted to Gina. “Mother?”

  “She’s the best, dear. Trust me.”

  “I wanted a small, uncomplicated wedding. You know, with my friends and my family.”

  Gina sighed dramatically. “I know that’s what you said, but honestly, Victoria, you’ll regret it if you don’t think bigger. You only get married once.”

  Someone snorted a laugh, though I couldn’t tell who. My guess, it was Jacques, who looked amused by the whole thing.

  “Our wedding is already planned,” Mason said, trying his hardest to be diplomatic. “And we’re so close to the wedding date, I don’t think it’s feasible to make changes at this point.”

  “I was given an update by Mr. and Mrs. Patterson,” Cathy said. “I can make subtle changes that will drastically improve the quality of your wedding. The flower arrangement seems so . . . simple.” She fluttered a hand, and then tossed back another pair of beans. She chewed a moment before continuing. “I can have a more suitable arrangement here within two days if need be.”

  “I like my flower arrangements,” Vicki said, and I had to agree. We’d both gone to Flower Power, a local business, and picked them out together. “I don’t want them to be changed.”

  “Don’t be obstinate, Victoria,” Gina said, both hands finding her hips. “Trust me, I know what’s best for you.”

  Vicki made a sound that was akin to a growl low in her throat. I don’t think she would have actually leapt at her mother like a rabid animal, but I could tell it was a near thing. I didn’t know of anyone else who could elicit such a reaction from the normally even-keeled Vicki.

  “Excuse us a moment,” Mason said, taking Vicki by the arm and leading her upstairs, toward the books, and away from her mother, before one of them could say something they’d regret.

  “I don’t know why she’s so upset,” Gina said, turning to her husband. “We’re just trying to help.”

  “She’ll understand eventually,” Frederick said. “Give her time. We’re throwing a lot at her.”

  I met Dad’s eye. He gave me a look that said, “Hang in there,” and put an arm around Laura’s shoulders. She looked a little overwhelmed, and quite honestly, I didn’t blame her. Gina and Frederick were overwhelming people at the best of times. With a contingent of their Hollywood friends behind them, they were even more frustrating to deal with. In their world, image was what mattered.

  “You tell her we were coming?” Sage asked in a stage whisper.

  “She doesn’t seem very happy to see us,” Trey added.

  “It slipped my mind,” Gina said. “Victoria can be overly dramatic, especially when she doesn’t get her way.”

  The pot calling the kettle black? I wondered. Dramatic stubbornness was practically a way of life for Gina.

  “I just hope she realizes we aren’t trying to make things harder on her,” Vince said. “We might not know her all that well, but we did come for the wedding.” He glanced around the room, and then quickly lowered his eyes, as if he was afraid to meet anyone’s gaze for long.

  “That we did,” Jacques said. His gaze lingered on Lyric longer than it should have before he looked away.

  “What do you think, Buttercup?” Dad asked, keeping his voice low so the others wouldn’t hear.

  “She’ll get through it,” I said. “She’s just surprised by everyone. It’s sudden.”

  “I know I wouldn’t be happy,” Laura said. “Weddings are pretty personal.” The way she looked at Dad then made my heart flutter just a little.

  She really does love him, I realized. We’d barely spoken, but I could see it in the way she would reach out and touch his hand briefly, the way she spoke to him. It could have upset me since I’d never forget Mom, but I found I was okay with it. Dad deserved to be happy.

  Vicki and Mason returned then, looking much calmer than they had before they’d left. I hoped that meant they’d worked everything out and we’d be able to proceed with the wedding without further trouble.

  “It would probably be a good idea if everyone got a good night’s sleep before we discuss this any further,” Mason said. Apparently, he was going to get to play peacekeeper, which was fine by me. I definitely didn’t want the job.

  “At least let me give you this,” Gina said, producing a long black box from her purse. She weighed it in her hand for a few seconds before she handed it to Vicki.

  “What’s this?” she asked, looking down at the box like it might be full of spiders.

  “Open it and find out.”

  Vicki’s brow was pinched, eyes worried, as she opened the box.

  I couldn’t help but gasp when I saw what it contained. It was a necklace, studded with diamonds the size of Skittles, and had a large red gem in the center that I took for a ruby. If it was, it was the largest one I’d ever seen, though, granted, I hadn’t seen many. The piece was absolutely gorgeous.

  “I’d like you to wear it in the wedding,” Gina said. “It’s quite valuable.”

  Vicki looked at it for a long, pregnant moment, face unreadable, before she snapped the box closed. “It’s lovely,” she said. “But I’ve already chosen my accessories.” She handed the box back.

  Gina looked stunned. “Victoria . . .”

  “No, Mom. I don’t want it. I don’t want any of this.” She gestured vaguely toward the group of actors.

  “Vicki, please,” Frederick said. “Your mother is trying her best to make you happy. Consider the necklace.”

  “It was a gift to me,” Gina said. “It was worn in The Nest of the Viper by an actress I greatly admire. The director gave it to her as a gift after we wrapped, and then she passed it on to me afterward. I’ve waited all this time so I could give it to you.”

  Behind her, Lyric’s eyes narrowed, her lips thinned. Her gaze never left the box, even as Gina clutched it to her chest.

  Vicki looked like she was going to continue to argue, but at a look from Mason, she sighed. “I’ll think about it,” she said. “Keep it for now.”

  Gina held on to the box a moment longer before slipping it into her purse.

  “Does everyone have a place to stay?” Mason asked, looking relieved that another crisis had been averted before it had truly begun.

  There were nods around the room. Dad and Laura were staying with me, and the Pattersons were going to be staying at Vicki’s place. They’d asked about hotels, but Pine Hills doesn’t really have any, and definitely didn’t have ones they would find suitable.
r />   Gina glanced back, “Lyric? Did you find somewhere? I know you were having a beast of a time finding a place to stay.”

  “I did,” she said. “It’s a place called Ted and Bettfast, if you can imagine.”

  “Have you seen the names of most of the places here?” Jacques asked. “Coming in, I thought it was some kind of joke.”

  Admittedly, Pine Hills did have some strange names when it came to businesses. When I’d first moved here, I’d found it odd, but now, I thought the goofy names were charming.

  “Will you be showing us to your house, Vicki?” Frederick asked. “I’m not familiar with the area and wouldn’t mind a tour of the place. We don’t want to intrude where we don’t belong.”

  “Of course,” Vicki said, softening. For all their disagreements, she still loved her parents. “I’ll be staying with Mason, so you’ll have the house to yourselves.”

  “I’ll be staying with them as well,” Cathy said, stepping forward, mouth full of espresso beans.

  Vicki gave her a tight smile and a nod. “That’s fine. There are two bedrooms.”

  “What about that terrible cat of yours?” Gina asked. “Please tell me you’ve found him a new home.”

  Vicki took a sharp breath, but when she spoke, she remained calm. “He’s staying with me.”

  “Good.” Gina glanced back at her friends. “Everyone else know where they’re going?” There was a murmur of assent. “Good. Shall we?” Without waiting for an answer, she started for the door. The others piled out after her.

  “I’ll get the car,” Mason said, hurrying out with the others.

  “Meet you at your place?” Dad asked me.

  “You have the key?” I’d given him one when he’d last stayed with me. He lived so far away, and his visits were rare, but it made me feel better knowing he had one. I missed having him around.

  He nodded and patted his pocket. “Never leave home without it. Besides”—he grinned—“If I didn’t, I’d just pick the lock.”