by Kathi Daley
Ramos, who’d been ignoring me until I said the word walk, came trotting over. Rufus preferred fair weather walks, and it was a sunny but crisp day, but when I opened the door, he took one look at the mud and headed for the bedroom. I guess I didn’t blame him. He had a kitty box, so he didn’t need to brave the mud and wind if he didn’t want to.
Except for the most blustery days, I enjoyed bundling up and walking the trail along the edge of the bluff. There was something about the rhythmic sound of the waves crashing on the rocks below and the occasional mist on my cheeks created by the spray of the sea. I loved the birds that gathered in the area and the smell of wet dirt after a light rain. I loved everything about my life in Maine. My time here had not only allowed my heart to heal, but it had provided maturity and perspective I really hadn’t had before. Well, most of the time. Those times when I let myself get a little bit crazy about non-urgent matters such as my relationship with Colt, reminded me a lot that the old Abby was still in there somewhere.
I’m not exactly sure why I felt this need to analyze and control every aspect of my relationship with Colt. I enjoyed having him as a friend, but I supposed that if at some point the opportunity presented itself and we both felt ready to take the next step, then perhaps I was finally ready to do that. But that didn’t mean I needed to force things, and it definitely wouldn’t do me any good to overthink things. What I really needed to do, I decided, was take a step back and settle back into our friendship until the next opportunity presented itself organically. I enjoyed spending time with him. I enjoyed working on cases with him the way I often had with my cop husband when he’d been alive. I simply liked being with him. There was no need to overthink it.
Taking out my phone, I called the man I’d just spent the past thirty minutes obsessing over.
“You must be on the bluff,” he said after answering. “I can hear the waves crashing in the background.”
“I am. I was wondering if you wanted to come by for dinner tonight. Georgia and Jeremy will be occupied with the guests, so it will just be the two of us. I figured we could make up plates from the buffet Georgia plans to set out and then take them to the cottage to eat.”
“Sounds good. I promised Lonnie I’d stop by his place after work and help him move a dresser upstairs, so I’ll need to do that first.”
“Lacy did buy a huge nine drawer dresser when we went antiquing earlier in the week. Be careful moving it. It must weigh a ton.”
“I’m sure between Lonnie and me, we’ll be fine. I’m sure Lonnie will want to have a beer after, so maybe I can come by around seven.”
“That sounds good. The group that just checked in is having a cocktail reception at six, and I was going to stop by and meet everyone, so if you get here and I’m not in the cottage, just come over to the inn.”
“Okay. That sounds like a plan. I’ll see you tonight, but right now, I need to go. I have a witness to a robbery coming in to make a statement.”
“Robbery?”
“I’ll fill you in over dinner.”
I hung up and put my phone in my pocket. Calling the dogs back to my side, I turned around and headed back to the cottage. Georgia had set up a foot washing station on the deck at the back of the cottage. The dogs knew the drill. They stepped into the tub one at a time while I washed their feet and underbellies, then they stepped out while I dried them. Once everyone was mud free, I opened the door and let them inside.
Once the dogs were settled on their pillows in front of the fire, I headed in to shower and change. I wasn’t sure how the pre-wedding party would be dressed, so I decided on dress slacks, a lightweight sweater, and low heeled pumps. I figured the outfit was one that most likely wouldn’t present an image of being either under or overdressed.
“So, how’s it going?” I asked Georgia after joining her in the kitchen.
“It’s going well. Everyone is checked in, and so far, everyone seems to love their suite. I have the appetizers ready to set out, and Jeremy has set up a bar in the main lounge area. He’s going to stay and mix the drinks until dinner. I suppose if they want the bar open after that, they’ll be on their own.”
“Are we worried they’ll drink us out of house and home?”
She shook her head. “All the alcohol we’ve set out was purchased by the bride and groom. If the drinks were going to be provided by the inn, then yes, I’d keep a close eye on it.”
“Okay, it seems like you have everything handled. Do you need help with anything?”
“You can set those platters on the buffet. I’ve already set out appetizer plates and napkins. Once you’ve finished with that, you can fill the ice bucket behind the bar. I think once that’s done, we’ll be ready for our guests when they begin to come down.”
There were those in the community that felt that as the owner of the inn, I should take more of an active role, but the truth of the matter was I had no desire to run an inn. If not for Georgia, I would probably have set aside the idea of opening an inn, which had been Lonnie’s idea in the first place, and simply lived in the big old house rambling around with only my tortured soul and painful memories to keep me company.
By the time I’d set out the appetizers and filled the ice bucket, the first of the guests had come downstairs. I introduced myself to Mike Dover, Carson’s best man, and his girlfriend, Ambrosia. Both Mike and Ambrosia seemed to be down to earth sort of folks, not at all the stuffy rich crowd I’d been expecting. In all fairness, maybe it was a stereotype to think that all rich people were stuffy. I was sure that a lot of very wealthy individuals were as relaxed and easygoing as anyone else.
And then I met Lisa and her date, Alvin. Now there were the stuffy and hard to please millionaires I’d imagined. They weren’t thrilled with the glasses provided for the drinks we planned to serve from the bar, the brand of scotch we had on hand, or the shape of the ice. The shape of the ice?
Jeremy informed them that the glasses were the only ones we had on hand, so they would have to do for the evening, but also commented that we could look into obtaining other glassware in the future. He also informed the couple that the bride and groom-to-be had provided the alcohol and that he’d had nothing to do with the brand selection, and well, ice was ice. Take it or leave it.
Fiona and Carson, the bride and groom-to-be, were friendly and extremely complimentary, which made me feel better about Lisa and Alvin. Fiona’s sister, Naomi, and the maid of honor, Jennifer, both seemed nice, as did Carson’s sister, Willa. I couldn’t really get a read on the couple in suite one, Jordan and Stephanie. They weren’t downright rude like Alvin and Lisa had been, but they weren’t nearly as open and friendly as some of the others.
I supposed that in any group of people, there were those you liked and those you didn’t. This group was no different. After the first thirty minutes, I had a firm handle on which guests I knew I’d enjoy and which I’d be better off avoiding.
Chapter 4
“I’m sorry it took longer at Lonnie’s than I expected,” Colt said after we’d filled our plates at the buffet Georgia had set out and had settled in at the cottage to eat.
“That’s okay. It gave me more time to meet the new guests. Were you and Lonnie able to get Lacy’s dresser upstairs?”
“We did. And you were right about the fact that it was heavier than it looked. I’ll be sore tomorrow, but the look of delight on Lacy’s face when she realized it fit exactly as she’d imagined was worth the effort.”
“I’m so glad it fit the way she hoped. She hemmed and hawed at the antique shop about whether it would work in the space she had in mind.”
“Lacy has a good eye for design. I’ve never seen her guess wrong. She picked out a few pieces for my house that really make all the difference.”
“She does have talent,” I agreed.
“So tell me about your new guests,” Colt said, spearing a piece of broccoli.
“They’re an eclectic group that’s for certain.”
He lifted a brow.
“Care to elaborate?”
I set my fork on my plate and took a sip of my water. Colt wasn’t always interested in our guests, but talking about them was a pleasant way to fill the silence, so I decided to provide a detailed report. “So the bride’s name is Fiona Arlington. She’s the daughter of some businessman named Drake Arlington and an heiress to billions. I understand the trust fund she received from her grandmother is more money than most of us can even imagine, and that isn’t even taking into account all the money her daddy has, and she told me she also has her own clothing line, which I’ve been led to understand is quite successful. She is, as you would expect, sophisticated, educated, mature, and seems to be organized and hard-working.”
“I’ve heard of her father. And her grandfather.” Colt whistled. “The Arlingtons aren’t only rich; they are old money rich.”
“How old?” I asked.
“Old. The Arlington family is generally considered to be one of the heritage families that helped develop this country.”
“I had no idea. I knew she was rich but not that rich. Anyway, Fiona is engaged to a man named Carson Devonshire. Carson isn’t rich. In fact, his dad owns an auto shop. Not a chain of auto shops, just one. Carson works with his dad and hopes to take over the shop when his dad retires. Based on what I’ve observed, he is blue-collar all the way. Easy going, prefers beer to champagne, and plans to wear tennis shoes with his tux at his wedding.”
“So the polar opposite of Fiona.”
“On the surface, yes, but after speaking to the couple, I think there is a lot more to both individuals than their financial and social status. If you ask me, I think they have a real shot at making their unlikely pairing last the distance, although if Fiona does come from as much money as you say, I can see some obstacles along the way as well.”
“It does sound as if they grew up in different worlds. How’d they meet?” Colt asked.
“Fiona told me that her car broke down and Carson happened by while she was sitting on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck. Fiona shared that when Carson first pulled over in his old half rusted out truck, she found herself reaching for her stun gun, but then he smiled and offered to help her out, and the rest was kismet.”
“Stun gun?”
I nodded. “I guess I understand why she might have one. She’s rich and beautiful, and I’m sure to some people she looks like an easy target. Anyway, after Carson got Fiona’s car running, she wanted to pay him, but he refused to take her money. He did, however, tell her she could buy him dinner, which she agreed to. They went out for pizza and fell in love.”
Colt smiled. “That’s sweet.”
“Maybe. And as I said before, while I think the couple has a real shot at making things work, I’m equally sure there will be a few bumps in the road, and not everyone is happy about the impending nuptials.”
“Go on,” Colt encouraged.
“The wedding party, their guests, and a couple of family members are also in attendance. Fiona’s sister, Naomi, is going to be a bridesmaid. Like Fiona, she’s sophisticated, highly educated, and filthy rich, but unlike Fiona, she doesn’t work. It seems that she’s living off the trust fund she also received from her grandmother, which I assume will last her just fine until her daddy passes away, and she gets her hands on his money. A life built on nothing but travel and parties seems empty to me, but I don’t suppose that’s any of my business.”
“I take it she is not a fan of Fiona and Carson getting hitched.”
“She’s not. I spoke to her briefly, and it’s her opinion that Fiona’s engagement to Carson is simply an act of rebellion before settling down and marrying the man her parents have picked out for her, a business owner named Lance Sandler, who I’m given to understand, comes from a similar family background.”
“So, the sister doesn’t think the engagement will stick?”
“No, she doesn’t, and she isn’t the only one. I also spoke to the other bridesmaid, a woman named Lisa Churchill, who, like the Arlington sisters, is from a family with a rich history and a ridiculous amount of money. Lisa is what I would call a stereotypical rich snob who is impossible to please and seems to be the sort to think that anyone beneath her in terms of wealth and social class is no more than a bug put on this earth to do her bidding. I didn’t really care for her or her date, Alvin, who is as stuck up as she is, but being the gracious host that I am, I did stop to talk to them. It took a while to get anything real out of her, but eventually, Lisa told me that she agreed with Naomi to the extent that she didn’t think Fiona would actually go through with the wedding. The difference is that Lisa doesn’t think Lance is right for Fiona either. In fact, it was her opinion that Fiona would eventually go back to her ex.”
“And these people, who you just met, told you all of this?”
I nodded. “There was a lot of alcohol being consumed. I’d worry about that, but everyone arrived in a limo, so no one is driving this weekend.”
“I guess that’s a good thing.” Colt broke a roll in half and buttered it. “Go on. What else did you learn?”
“The final member of the wedding party on the bride’s side is the maid of honor, Fiona’s best friend, Jennifer Bolton. Jennifer isn’t wealthy and works for Fiona as her assistant. I guess the two met in college, and even though Jennifer was there on a scholarship and was barely getting by and Fiona had enough money to pay her tuition for the entire four years with the interest from her savings account, they became fast friends. After graduation, Fiona wanted to start her own clothing line, and she talked Jennifer into partnering up with her.”
Colt put down his fork and picked up his glass. He took a sip. “Partnering? I thought you said Jennifer was her assistant.”
“She is. Fiona was the one with the money and the connections, and Jennifer didn’t want charity, so she agreed to work for Fiona as her assistant, but Fiona told me she’s been gifting Jennifer stock in the company each year since the beginning. It’s her plan that Jennifer will become a true partner and not just an assistant.”
He refilled his water. “That seems nice of her.”
“Fiona seems like a nice woman. Don’t get me wrong, she seems to know exactly what she wants and will accept nothing less. I suppose that in some instances, she might be considered difficult, but I didn’t get the feeling that she’s unreasonable. I think she’s just the sort that doesn’t have time for slackers.”
“I guess she can’t be faulted for that. Who else is staying at the inn?”
I sat back in my chair, stabbing my fork into my salad but not really eating. “Well, there are the guys, of course. Carson’s best man is his best friend, Mike Dover. Mike is a plumber. He’s attending with his girlfriend, Ambrosia, who is a hairdresser. Mike and Ambrosia are by no means rich, but they seem to do okay. Mike and Carson both love old cars and partner up on refurbishing muscle cars and reselling them for a profit. Ambrosia is an expert marksman who competes in competitions, which given her petite frame, I found interesting. When she was in college, her name was being tossed around in terms of making the Olympic team, but she broke her arm in a skiing accident and had to take a year off from competition.”
“Interesting. Go on.”
“Carson’s two groomsmen are Jordan Pemberton and Alvin Connor. Alvin is the stuck up jerk I told you about who is dating the equally snobbish Lisa, but Jordan seems to be an okay guy.”
“So how did blue-collar Carson meet rich and snobbish Alvin? You did say Alvin was one of Carson’s groomsmen. I assume they’re friends.”
“Carson met Alvin through Lisa, who’s been dating Alvin for a while. I’m not really sure how long. I didn’t think to ask. After Lisa introduced them, I suppose Carson and Alvin must have become friends, but I didn’t sense genuine caring on either man’s part. I have the feeling that asking Alvin to be a groomsman was a political move on Carson’s end. I didn’t talk to anyone long enough to get the whole story. What I do know is, like Lisa, Alvin is a man of means, although he seem
s to be a self-made millionaire and he’s not as wealthy as either Lisa or Fiona’s families.”
“And how did he make his money?” Colt asked.
“He works as a stockbroker. Jennifer mentioned that he is a real force on Wall Street and does very well for himself.”
“And does Alvin think this engagement will go the distance?”
I shrugged. “He didn’t say. The men were nowhere near as gossipy as the girls were. The other groomsman, Jordan Pemberton, works as a real estate agent. He’s here with his date, Stephanie Stevens. I didn’t get the feeling that Jordan and Stephanie had been dating long. In fact, they didn’t seem to know each other all that well.”
“Anyone else?”
“Willa Devonshire, Carson’s younger sister. She’s quite a bit younger than Carson and is still in college. She’s bunking with Fiona’s sister, Naomi. I had the feeling that Willa isn’t a fan of Naomi, but she was assigned to share a room with her, so she’s making the best of it.”
Colt pushed his empty plate to the center of the table. “Based on your guest list, it sounds as if you’ll have an interesting week.”
“I think so.”
I picked up the plates and carried them to the sink. Colt brought the glasses and used napkins. Once the dishes were done, we walked into the living room and sat down next to each other on the sofa in front of the fire.
“So what’s going on with the robbery you interviewed a witness about today?” I asked.
“It’s nothing. Just some teens making a statement. I spoke to the parents of all the kids involved. I think we worked everything out, but if any of the kids are caught again, they’ll be looking at a formal arrest and jail time.”
“I hope they learned their lesson.”
“Me too.” Rufus jumped into Colt’s lap, and he began scratching him behind the ears. “I had the sense that there was one boy who was the instigator, and the others just went along so they wouldn’t appear uncool. I have a feeling those who were just following the lead of the one who came up with the plan will take the chance they’ve been given and make the most of it, but the other boy, the one whose idea it was in the first place, I won’t be at all surprised if I cross paths with him again. He seemed like he had a real chip on his shoulder, and his father, a single parent, seemed more irritated with me for taking him away from the basketball game he was watching than he was with his kid for stealing cash from the unattended drawer of a five and dime.”
