by Lyndsey Cole
They zipped her gown, slipped her feet into her high heel sandals, pinned Camilla’s hair comb in place, and twirled her around to check every angle.
Ooh’s and aah’s filled the room.
“To Annie!”
Trisha stood at the edge of the room. She unhooked a pearl necklace from around her neck. “Here. This is for you. It belonged to my grandmother, your great grandmother, and I would be honored to pass it on to you.”
“Perfect,” Leona exclaimed. “Now you’re ready. You’ve got something old, Granny’s pearls; something new, Camilla’s silver and pearl hair comb; something borrowed, my gown, don’t think I’m giving it to you, I may still want to wear it someday soon; and something blue.” Leona winked and raised her eyebrow suggestively.
“Where’s the blue? Did I miss something?” Camilla asked, her eyes searching Annie’s gown.
Annie felt her face get hot.
“Show her, Annie,” Leona said through a laugh.
Annie hitched one side of the gown up high enough for a bit of blue lace to show just below her hip bone.
“Jason’s gonna love that view,” Camilla teased.
Annie heard the Westminster Chimes from the clock in the hallway. One. Two. Three. Four. “I told Jason he would see a beautiful girl at four fifteen. Time for one last toast.”
Mia poured the wine. “Don’t spill it.”
Annie pretended to trip.
Leona gasped.
“I do have a backup gown,” Annie said as she winked at Scarlet.
The wine disappeared. Scarlet and Trisha went to join everyone outside.
Camilla walked in front of Mia and Leona. Annie followed with her bouquet of peonies, her shoulders back, her head held high, and a smile spread across her face.
At the bottom of the main staircase, Annie saw Detective Christy Crank standing on one side. “Annie?” she quietly said.
The other women continued through the open front door. Annie slowed her pace so Christy could catch up to her.
“Nice wedding gown.”
“Thanks. Everything is sorted out now, right?”
“Yes. Harold is in custody. Tyler wanted me to tell you congratulations. I don’t think he was ready to see you but I’m hoping he can move on with his life now that you are definitely no longer available.”
A tear threatened to overflow the corner of Annie’s eye. “I hope so, Christy. He deserves to find someone to settle down with.”
Annie walked through the door.
The late afternoon sunshine warmed her face.
The sweet smell of lilacs filled her nose.
Her friends and family smiled and waited on the lawn overlooking Heron Lake.
Loons called in the distance.
Jason stood under a beautiful flower-covered arch. His hand covered his heart as Annie paused to take in the beauty that was her life. She smiled and walked toward her future husband with her heart about to burst with happiness.
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A Note from Lyndsey
Thank you to everyone for taking the time to read my cozy mysteries.
If you enjoyed this book in the Black Cat Café Cozy Mystery Series, be sure to join my FREE COZY MYSTERY BOOK CLUB! Be in the know for new releases, promotions, sales, and the possibility to receive advanced reader copies. Join the club here—http://LyndseyColeBooks.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lyndsey Cole lives in New England in a small rural town with her husband who puts up with all the characters in her head, her dog who hogs the couch, her cat who is the boss, and 3 chickens that would like to move into the house. She surrounds herself with gardens full of beautiful perennials. Sitting among the flowers with the scent of lilac, peonies, lily of the valley, or whatever is in bloom, stimulates her imagination about who will die next!
OTHER BOOKS BY LYNDSEY COLE
The Hooked & Cooked Series
Gunpowder Chowder
Mobsters and Lobsters
The Black Cat Café Series
BlueBuried Muffins
StrawBuried in Chocolate
BlackBuried Pie
Very Buried Cheesecake
RaspBuried Torte
PoisonBuried Punch
CranBuried Coffee Cake
The Lily Bloom Series
Begonias Mean Beware
Queen of Poison
Roses are Dead
Drowning in Dahlias
Hidden by the Hydrangeas
Christmas Tree Catastrophe
