The Dying Room: A Faces of Evil Novel

by Webb, Debra

  She pressed her hand to her belly. A few months from now, they would be baptizing their child here. Perhaps their son or daughter would one day take his or her vows in this cathedral.

  Jess moved to the full-length mirror and checked her reflection one last time. The gorgeous earrings Dan had given her twinkled from her earlobes. Her wedding gown was only the third one she’d tried on and both Lily and Lori had urged her to look at others, but this had been the one. The gown was made of soft, elegant tulle overlaid with lace and accented with a grosgrain belt and a crystal gemstone bow. The three-quarter-sleeved wrap-over bodice was fashioned from the most exquisite lace. Jess loved the way it hugged her body. The floor length A-line skirt of the gown was embellished with lace appliques and a scalloped hem. The matching sheer veil fastened at the back of her head allowing the gauzy fabric to drape down her back and along the length of her gown. Jess adored the way it featured the same lovely lace and crystal appliques. The soft ivory color of the gown and veil made her skin appear more radiant.

  Wanda had done a marvelous job with her hair. The half up do was exactly the look she’d wanted. Wanda was right about Jess looking like her mother. Blinking back the tears that would ruin her make-up, she fingered the delicate silver bracelet. “Wish you were here.”

  A knock on the door sounded about two seconds before Lily, Maddie, and the others poured into the room with the soft rasps of tulle, satin, and taffeta.

  “Oh my God, Jess,” Gina cried. “You look...” She pressed her fingers to her lips.

  Sylvia smiled, her lips trembled just a little. “What she’s trying to say,” she finished for Gina, “is that you look stunning.”

  Lori nodded. “You were right, Jess. This gown was the one.”

  Maddie touched one of the lace appliques. “Looks like my dress.”

  “It sure does,” Jess agreed. As the flower girl, Maddie’s little dress had been made to complement Jess’s.

  “Dan is simply going to melt when he sees you,” Lily promised.

  “Thank you.” Jess surveyed her sister and dear friends. “And look at all of you.” Lily and Lori wore dresses of silver satin and taffeta. The formfitting bodices and long sleeves flowed into cinched waists and floor-length A-line skirts. Gina and Sylvia’s were a deep Christmas red in that same striking fabric. The dresses glittered as if they’d all been dusted with diamonds. Jess sighed. “Just wow.”

  Lily hugged her, careful of their make-up and dresses. “I’m so happy for you and Dan.”

  “Okay, okay, ladies,” Sylvia scolded, “no tears. We have a few last minute details to cover.”

  Lori stepped forward. “You have something new.”

  Jess touched one of the diamond earrings Dan had given her and smiled. “Yes.”

  “The chief also gave you something a long time ago that you asked me to be sure you didn’t forget to bring.” Lori held out the locket Dan had given Jess when they were seniors in high school.

  Jess’s breath caught. “Thank you for remembering, Lori.”

  Gina held Jess’s hair and veil aside while Lori fastened the tiny catch. The cool white gold of the locket rested against Jess’s throat. Inside was a photo of her and of Dan. God, they had been so young. Jess had kept this locket safely tucked away for more than two decades.

  She touched the cherished locket, relished the feel of it against her skin. “This was the first important gift Dan gave me.”

  “Stop,” Lily protested, “you’re going to make me tear up again!”

  “Moving on,” Sylvia announced. “You have something blue, that leaves the something borrowed. I brought the something borrowed.” She handed Jess a lady’s handkerchief. Tiny pink flowers were embroidered on the soft ivory linen. “My great grandmother brought that handkerchief with her from Ireland. You may borrow it for this auspicious occasion.”

  Gina produced Jess’s bouquet. “We thought you could tuck it into the bouquet in case you need it.”

  “Good idea.” Jess bit her lips together to stop their trembling. Tears brimmed on her lashes as she clutched her bouquet. She had selected every flower being used today and simply looking at them made her heart glad. They were so very lovely. Roses of red and varying blush shades, cream colored tulips, and orchids, with baby’s breath and delicate silver sprigs as accents. In the cathedral were more roses, tulips, and orchids, along with hydrangeas. The ends of all the pews were festooned with silk ribbons and hanging drifts of the gorgeous flowers. It was so lovely.

  “Since I’m walking you down the aisle for Dad,” Lily spoke up, “I brought the six pence for your shoe.”

  More emotional laughter had Jess battling tears. Lori helped Lily to place the small silver coin in Jess’s shoe.

  Jess took her sister’s hand in hers. “Thank you, Lil, for being an amazing big sister.”

  Lil squeezed her hand. “Any time.”

  A fluttering deep inside made Jess gasp.

  “Are you all right?” Lori searched her face, worry in hers.

  Jess smiled, more of those confounding tears burning her eyes. “I think I just felt the baby move.”

  “Oh!” Lil placed a hand on Jess’s belly. “Isn’t it incredible?”

  Another of those little butterfly flutters made Jess gasp again. “It’s incredible.”

  “Tissues!” Sylvia rushed across the room and grabbed the box.

  Jess couldn’t help smiling as her friends dabbed their eyes. Lori handed Jess a tissue and she did the same. A rap on the door made them all jump.

  “That’s probably the wedding coordinator,” Lil warned. “It’s almost time.”

  Lori went to the door and opened it. She looked surprised. “Just a moment,” she said to whoever was on the other side of the door before turning to Jess. “There’s someone here to see you.”

  “As long as it’s not Dan,” Lil cautioned.

  Lori shook her head and opened the door. Wesley Duvall walked in.

  Jess’s breath caught again and this time it had nothing to do with the baby. “Wesley!” He’d said he was coming. She was glad to see he’d made it.

  “Jess.” He nodded to the others. “Ladies.”

  Before Jess could make any introductions, Wesley kissed her on the cheek. “You are simply glowing, Jess.”

  Wesley Duvall was her ex-husband. They’d realized soon after the marriage that they were better at being friends. “Thank you, Wesley.” Jess glanced at her friends. “Does everyone know Wesley? He’s—”

  “The fool who let her get away,” Wesley announced.

  Sylvia thrust out her hand. “Sylvia Baron.”

  Wesley shook Sylvia’s hand. “Wesley Duvall.”

  “Gina Coleman.” Gina shook his hand next.

  “We’ve met,” Lori said with a nod and a brush of palms.

  “Yes, Detective Wells, we certainly have.”

  Lil took her turn but opted to give him a hug rather than shake his hand. “Did you see Blake and the kids out there?”

  “I did. In fact, I’m sitting with your family. The usher said that’s where I was to sit. I hope that’s right.”

  “You are family,” Jess assured him. She and Dan had discussed the issue of exes. Annette Denton and her daughter Andrea were seated with Dan’s mother. Technically, now that all the required paperwork was done, neither she nor Dan had an ex. This would be their first and only marriage in the eyes of the Church.

  Wesley smiled. “I have to leave right after the ceremony and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to say hello so I convinced the wedding coordinator to give me a moment.” He took Jess’s hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “I wanted to tell you that I’m so happy for you and Dan. I look forward to an invitation to the christening.”

  “Absolutely,” Jess promised.

  After a careful hug, Wesley hurried away to take his seat. Mary returned with the three-minute warning.

  After more careful hugs and air kisses, the bridal party filed out of the dressing room and moved to the v
estibule. Jess could hardly hold herself together as the heartrending notes of Canon in D Major filled the cathedral. Buddy sneaked over and gave her a hug.

  “Love you, kid,” he murmured, almost starting a flood of fresh tears. Thank God for Sylvia’s great-grandmother’s hankie.

  A moment later Buddy wrapped Sylvia’s arm around his and started their walk down the center aisle.

  Next Frank Teller escorted Gina along that same path.

  Dan’s father left a kiss on Jess’s cheek before taking Lori’s arm and heading down the aisle.

  “Ready, sis?” Lil asked, her face beaming with the same happiness filling Jess so completely.

  Jess nodded.

  The wedding coordinator gave the signal.

  With Maddie leading the way, Jess and Lil moved into the main aisle. The guests rose and turned to watch as Jess and Lil started forward. Sweet little Maddie wandered along just as she’d been instructed, leaving a trail of red and cream colored rose petals.

  Jess’s gaze settled on Dan who looked so very handsome in his black tuxedo. Despite how much time had passed, they had never stopped loving each other. No force on earth had been able to keep them apart.

  When it came time to take their vows, Dan and Jess stood facing each other. It was as if they were the only two people in the cathedral. All other thought vanished and there was only the man Jess loved with all her heart standing before her.

  “I Daniel Thomas take thee Jessie Lee...”

  The sweet words he spoke wrapped her heart with such love and tenderness, filling her with a sense of being honored and treasured.

  “I Jessie Lee take thee Daniel Thomas...”

  She pledged her endless love and devotion to him, her voice catching ever so slightly at the incredible happiness shining in his blue eyes.

  “You may kiss your bride...”

  Dan smiled down at her for a moment before taking her into his arms and kissing her breath away.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Thomas Burnett.”

  Chapter 6

  Tutwiler Hotel

  The Burnett Wedding Reception

  2021 Park Place, 7:00 p.m.

  The photographer didn’t need to tell Jess to smile. She couldn’t stop. The formal photos had been taken. The toasts had been made and the gorgeous cake had been cut. Jess wasn’t sure she’d ever seen a cake so beautiful or so enormous. Five luscious layers of decadent red velvet cake covered in sweet cream cheese frosting generously embellished with sweet fondant jewels. The middle layer was monogrammed with the letter B and crowned with silver and crystal columns that supported the top two layers. It looked as extravagant as it tasted.

  “Are you enjoying yourself, Mrs. Burnett?”

  Jess peered up into Dan’s eyes and her smile widened. “I am, Mr. Burnett. The wedding was everything I’d dreamed it would be.” Jess laughed. “Once I got used to the idea of a big wedding anyway.” She gave her head a little shake. “Really, Dan, it was perfect. Absolutely perfect.”

  “The Tutwiler was a good choice for the reception.” He surveyed the hundred fifty or so guests still celebrating, some swaying to the soft notes of the music drifting from the band, others simply mingling.

  Dan’s mother had personally overseen the decorating of the ballroom. The lights, the classic holiday ornaments, and the flowers, all of it was simply magnificent.

  “All right, ladies and gentleman,” the bandleader announced, “let’s clear the dance floor for the bride and groom’s first dance.”

  Dan leaned close. “You finally get to hear the song I selected for our first dance as husband and wife.”

  “I can’t wait to hear it.” He smiled and Jess’s heart skipped a beat. His smile had always had that effect on her.

  Dan led her to the middle of the dance floor accompanied by a round of applause. She wished she’d held onto Sylvia’s great-grandmother’s handkerchief now. She’d been afraid it would be lost so she’d given it back to Sylvia once all the formal photos had been taken.

  The slow easy notes of the song began as Dan took her into his arms. The female member of the band stepped to the microphone and started to sing.

  At last...

  My love has come along...

  Jess’s eyes filled with emotion as Dan guided her smoothly to the easy, gentle rhythm of the music. She looked up at him and whispered, “Good choice.”

  Their life together was finally exactly where it should be.

  At last...

  “I love you, Jess.”

  She smiled. “Love you, too.”

  “Earlier you said you had something to tell me.”

  After the ceremony there hadn’t been a moment of time alone. Though they weren’t alone now, the dance allowed a hint of privacy. “I felt the baby move.”

  “You did?” His face lit up. “Did it feel like a butterfly’s wings?”

  The books they’d read had described the first movements a mother could feel as a fluttery sensation. “It really did.”

  “I can’t wait to feel him move.”

  “Her,” Jess reminded her new husband.

  Dan laughed. “I guess we’ll know when the time comes.”

  They had opted not to be told the baby’s sex. Why spoil the fun? They were planning to decorate the nursery in shades of soft yellow and green with a little blue and pink here and there.

  “When I saw you coming toward me, Jess, I couldn’t breathe for a minute. You are so very beautiful. I wouldn’t have thought it possible for you to look even more stunning than you do everyday and somehow you did.”

  “I felt the same about you, Mr. Burnett.”

  “We’re very lucky.”

  Jess nodded. “We surely are.”

  The final notes of the song faded and the applause began. Dan leaned down and kissed Jess until she was dizzy.

  “Excuse me, son.”

  Jess turned to Dan Senior and smiled. “Are you cutting in?”

  He gave Jess a nod as Dan stepped aside. “No one can take the place of your father, Jess, but, if you’ll have me as a stand-in, I’d love to share the father-daughter dance with you.”

  Battling another wave of tears, Jess hugged him. “I would be honored.”

  What a Wonderful World floated through the air and Jess felt as if she were bursting with happiness. Across the dance floor, Dan danced with his mother. Soon, more couples joined them. Blake and Lil made a lovely couple. Blake Junior twirled Maddie around the floor. His sister Alice carried three-year-old Chester, Chet’s son, around the dance floor.

  Jess almost laughed out loud when she saw Buddy with Sylvia cuddled in an intimate embrace. She was reasonably sure Sylvia had indulged in a little extra champagne to allow Buddy Corlew to put his arms around her so tightly. Chet and Lori whispered to each other as they swayed with the music. Chad Cook danced with Gina Coleman and Clint Hayes maintained his wallflower status. Jess was very happy that every member of her team was here, alive and well.

  As the official parts of the evening were concluded, Jess lost all track of time. There were so many congratulations and hugs exchanged her head was spinning. Lori was still beaming after having caught Jess’s bouquet.

  Ralph Gant, Jess’s former boss at the Bureau, had even traveled all the way from Virginia for the wedding. Jess had spent a few weeks trying to be angry with him, but she’d failed miserably. Gant would always be a sort of father figure in her life. As much as she might deny it, she’d worked with him for two decades and she couldn’t pretend she didn’t care about him.

  Deputy Chief Harold Black caught up with her at the bar when she went for another glass of water. No matter that he’d lost his wife last month, he found a way to be here and that meant a great deal to Jess.

  “Harris, I have to tell you, with the exception of my wife, I have never seen a more radiant bride.”

  Jess smiled. “Thank you, Chief. I’m glad you came.” She wouldn’t have blamed him if he’d wanted to pass on the inv
itation. The loss of his wife was so recent.

  “I wouldn’t have missed it.” He gave her a hug. “You and Dan have a wonderful honeymoon. I’ll check in with your team from time to time to see if they need anything.”

  “Thank you, Chief. That’s very thoughtful of you.”

  “I suppose it’s time we dropped all the formality. If you’ll call me Harold, I’ll call you Jess.”

  “I can do that.”

  He gave her another hug. “I’ll have a word with Dan and then be on my way.”

  Jess watched as Dan chatted so easily with the power players of the city and the elite of Birmingham society. They were all here, too. Senator Baron, Sylvia’s father, was among them. They all wanted Dan to agree to run for mayor. If he agreed, they would make it happen. Jess intended to stay out of that one. She was fine either way.

  “Jess.”

  She smiled as Katherine Burnett joined her. “I don’t think I’ve had the opportunity to tell you how lovely you look, Katherine.”

  Dan’s mother had chosen a striking beaded suit in a gorgeous deep rose. The fit of the jacket as well as the pencil skirt showed off her trim figure. Her dark hair was fashioned in a lovely bun that accentuated her high cheekbones. Katherine really was a beautiful woman.

  “Thank you, Jess.” She gazed across the crowd. “Everything turned out beautifully. Sharon Pace from the Birmingham News was quite impressed. I expect a full page in the Lifestyle section as well as a front-page headline. This was the event of the year, hands down.”

  Jess hugged her. “Thank you, Katherine, for making this day more special than I could have ever imagined.”

  Katherine blinked rapidly, holding back tears. “Why, you’re welcome, Jessie Lee.” She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. “I wouldn’t have wanted anything less for you and Dan. The two of you are my world.”

  Jess tried to hold back the tears but it wasn’t happening. “I know that.” She nodded. “And... I love you for it.”

  “Oh, sweetie.” Katherine hugged her tight. “I love you, too.”

  When they had their emotions under control once more, they both laughed and shared Katherine’s handkerchief. Jess would never forget that moment. Something had changed in Katherine... or maybe Jess was the one who’d changed. Either way, it felt good.