Wedding Mints and Witnesses

by Kelsey Browning

  “It’s not all that expensive. Plus, we can use the cameras and stuff on other cases later.”

  Abby Ruth ran a hand through her spiked hair. “If anything happens to y’all, or this wedding, I won’t forgive myself.”

  Lil said, “We’ll be careful, but this is personal. You do want me to get my rings back from that woman, don’t you?”

  Abby Ruth’s nod was slow in coming, but it was all the yes Lil needed. “You seem so sure that Honey is the bad guy, but I’m not.”

  “She does have a tattoo and the opportunity,” Lil said. “What do we even really know about her?”

  “But…” Abby Ruth’s eyebrow did the doubting question-mark maneuver.

  Maggie said, “If she’s not the one, we’ll have enough traps and surveillance to uncover the real culprit. We have this under control.”

  “I don’t know. What if things go wrong? We haven’t yet worked a case that hasn’t gone a little sideways. The thought of ruining Jenny’s big day makes my head feel as if a marching band is on parade in there.”

  “Something we really haven’t thought of,” Lil said, “is that guests at this wedding might be hit.”

  “Oh great,” Abby Ruth groaned. “We invited every suspect on our list, and Honey is the so-called coordinator. What were we thinking? This wedding is doomed.”

  “And it’s not like we can somehow un-invite them. We have problems regardless.” Maggie paled.

  “Can you imagine how it would look if several people are fleeced while they’re attending the sheriff’s wedding? It could completely kill Teague’s reputation. Ruin his chance of reelection next time around,” Lil said. “This could end up bad. Very bad.”

  “Bad? Bad doesn’t begin to describe it. If that were to happen, he and Jenny might have to up and move. I want my daughter, son-in-law, and grandbabies nearby. And I’ve grown right fond of Summer Shoals.” Abby Ruth went stubbornly silent.

  Lil let the uncomfortable silence hang.

  “Okay,” Abby Ruth said finally. “I’m trusting y’all to bring justice discreetly. We have to keep this whole thing extremely quiet. Nothing memorable. Absolutely no wild take-downs.”

  The sudden sound of the front door opening and banging against the foyer wall made Lil jump to her feet, but before she could investigate the source, Sera bounded into the room. “I’m home!”

  “You’re early.” Maggie dropped a handful of Lego bricks onto the Scrabble board, then ran toward Sera.

  “I wanted to surprise you.”

  “You did!” Maggie hugged her, then stepped back to look over Sera’s yoga pants and flowing tunic. “You look like the Sera we met and fell in love with.”

  “You mean instead of the wife of a famous Hollywood legend who dresses like she’s headed to some society function?”

  “You always look lovely, dear,” Lil said.

  “You too, Lil. Abby Ruth, you look like your old self.”

  “I’m good. Healthy as can be, if not a little stressed out.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “This calls for a whole pitcher of my special tea,” Maggie said, waving toward the kitchen.

  They followed Maggie’s lead and took their places around the kitchen table.

  “I’m so glad to be back. I’ve missed you girls like crazy.” Sera smiled, reaching toward Abby Ruth to her left and Lil to her right. They each wore their G Team bracelets, which warmed Lil’s heart.

  Maggie filled four glasses with tea and set them on the table. “The G Team isn’t the same without you here. You came back just in time.”

  “You’re talking about the case, aren’t you?” Sera’s eyes were wide with excitement.

  “Of course! You tell her,” Lil said to Abby Ruth, hoping that retelling their progress might reignite some of her enthusiasm for the chase.

  Abby Ruth brought Sera up to date, not leaving out a single detail, including the Chicken Dance when Lil’s ring was stolen.

  Sera reached for Abby Ruth’s hand. “It’ll all be okay. Jenny loves you, and we love you. We have this, just like we always do.”

  One hand on top of the other, they didn’t need to utter a word to know things were under control once again.

  * * *

  After their little bonding ritual over their G Team bracelets, Sera announced she needed to check on things at the Gypsy Cotton Gallery. Before she left, she gave Abby Ruth a hug, her skinny yoga girl arms surprisingly strong and reassuring. “It’ll all work out. Believe it. Send that thought out into the universe and it will happen.”

  So Abby Ruth sent a mental telegram to the universe: Can you please whack Jenny Cady upside the head and let her know she needs to call her momma?

  Abby Ruth’s cell phone rang and displayed Jenny’s number. Whoa. Apparently Sera had brought some really good mojo or karma or whatever with her from California.

  Thank goodness Jenny was finally ready to talk. They’d get through this. After all, Jenny was a Cady, and they were sensible folk.

  “Hello?” Abby Ruth answered eagerly.

  “Mom?” At the sound of Jenny’s muted tone, Abby Ruth’s heart dropped.

  “I’m so glad to hear from you. Jenny, about all the—”

  “I can’t talk about everything right now. I called because I need a favor. Today.”

  “Absolutely. Anything you need.” Lord, this whole thing had turned into an emotional roller coaster. One minute Jenny hated her and the next she was asking favors.

  “Could Grayson stay with you for a couple of days?”

  “Are you feeling okay? If you’re still sick, maybe you should make an appointment with—”

  “I’m not sick, at least in the way you mean.” Her words wobbly, Jenny sounded close to tears. “Heartsick, maybe.”

  “Sugar, let’s sit down and—”

  “I need a few days away from everything—you, Red, this house, Teague.”

  A cold feeling raced over Abby Ruth, and she jumped out of her chair to pace a circle around the kitchen. “What do you mean you need to be away from Teague?”

  “I called off the wedding.”

  “What?” That cold feeling flashed to below-freezing. “Why?”

  “I think you know.”

  Okay, enough was enough. She had to stop tiptoeing around her daughter and get things back on track, so she steeled her voice. “I have absolutely no idea. None. This isn’t like you, Jenny. What in the world is going on?”

  “Apparently, a lot of lies of omission.”

  “You might be angry with me, maybe even with Red, but now you’re pushing everyone away, and that makes no sense.”

  “Teague knew,” she said on a ragged sob. “He knew that Red was my dad.”

  Yeah, Abby Ruth had had her suspicions that Teague had his suspicions. But they’d kept their thoughts to themselves. “I never told him.”

  “Then how?”

  “He might be the sheriff of a relatively small Georgia county, but Jenny, he’s a damn good law enforcement professional. The man is observant and smart.”

  “The real point is he knew—”

  “Suspected.” By this time, the chatter at the kitchen table had stopped, and the other gals were staring at Abby Ruth, concern clear on their faces.

  “—and he never said a thing to me. I’m not sure I can marry a man who thinks keeping secrets is the way to build a good marriage.”

  “Don’t take my mistakes out on Teague.”

  “I’m confused.”

  “Of course you are,” she soothed. “But you’re not confused about how you feel about Teague.”

  “I need a few days to work things out. Desi is letting me stay with her.” Jenny’s sigh was tired and sad, which made Abby Ruth ache for her. If she could only go back and fix this situation, make it right. But making it right didn’t mean she would’ve made a different decision in the beginning. Granted she could’ve told Jenny the truth right after they first ran into Red at the hospital in Atlanta.

  Not on
ly would it have ripped off the Band-Aid sooner, but Jenny might’ve been more forgiving of Abby Ruth’s mistakes while she was still battling breast cancer.

  At least Jenny wasn’t getting on an airplane and taking off for Boston or some other place. She was staying right here in Summer Shoals, which meant they could all do their best to help her see reason.

  “I’m more than happy for Grayson to come to Summer Haven for a few days. Bowzer too, if that’ll help.”

  “It would. I’ll ask Teague to drop them both by later today.”

  The other end of the line went dead, and Abby Ruth turned back to her best friends feeling as if someone had dropped a piano on her.

  Maggie’s eyes were as wide as a Houston freeway, and Lil was tearing a paper napkin to confetti. “What…what did she say?” Lil asked.

  “The wedding is currently a no-go.”

  Chapter Twenty

  After touching base with Teague to get his ETA at Summer Haven, Abby Ruth rounded up the rest of the gang, including Red. She, Lil, Maggie, and Red were already on the porch with tall glasses of Maggie’s special tea when Teague drove up.

  With his normal enthusiasm, Grayson bolted out of Teague’s truck with the energy God had reserved for the young. Bowzer jumped out after him, and Ritter lifted his head in pseudo-interest.

  Abby Ruth nudged the hound with her toe. “Go on. A little exercise wouldn’t hurt you.”

  He gave her a droopy-eyed look that she suspected was actually a canine glare. But he lumbered to his feet and shuffled his way down the front steps toward Grayson and the puppy.

  In contrast, when Teague stepped out of the truck, his normal healthy tan looked ashen, and his face was haggard, with dull eyes and grooves around his mouth.

  “That is one miserable boy.” Red slid a glance Abby Ruth’s way. “I know how he feels. I felt the same way years ago when we had to break things off, Ru.”

  Abby Ruth couldn’t think about all that right now. She had a wedding to fix.

  Teague’s footsteps were slow and heavy as he walked up to the porch. Maggie gestured to the rocker beside her and held out a glass. The fact that he slumped into the chair and just stared down into his glass told Abby Ruth everything she needed to know about his level of misery. Finally, his eyes met hers and he said, “I guess y’all know.”

  Lil patted his leg. “I’m so sorry, Teague.”

  He glanced over at Abby Ruth. “I really want to be pissed as all hell at you.”

  “You have every right to be angry.”

  “But you don’t make your daughter’s decisions for her.” Teague’s voice was steady. “She’s the one choosing her reaction to learning about Red.”

  “I made it clear that I never told you about Red and me,” Abby Ruth said.

  Red grunted his displeasure. Abby Ruth couldn’t win this one no matter what she did. She’d let everyone down.

  “Her mind is whirling right now,” Lil said. “You have to admit, this is all a great deal to process.”

  “We don’t have a lot of time for her to whirl.” Abby Ruth rocked and sipped. “The wedding is in nine days.”

  Maggie raised her hand like an elementary school student, waving it until finally Teague acknowledged her with a curt nod. “I hate to be the one to say something so potentially unpopular, but it’s not like that’s the only day the two of you can get married.”

  That was big coming from Maggie, because Abby Ruth knew how much she was looking forward to the wedding sting. And from the tightening of Teague’s face, he didn’t like Maggie’s comment one bit.

  His words reconfirmed it. “I’ve waited over ten years to marry the woman I love. I’m a patient man, but I am not a saint. And in case no one around here has noticed it, she is pregnant with our baby.” He shot a quick glance between Abby Ruth and Red. “And no offense, but I’d really prefer to have my last name on that baby’s birth certificate.”

  The rocking chair arm bit into Abby Ruth’s palm as she wrapped her fingers around it. Red reached over and carefully loosened her grip and lightly held her hand in his. He said to Teague, “We understand where you’re coming from. Believe me, Abby Ruth and I are willing to do whatever we can to make things right, but Maggie has a point. Sometimes these things shouldn’t be rushed.”

  Speaking of rushing, Grayson vaulted up onto the porch, Bowzer right behind him. Her grandson never slowed down, just went full speed toward Teague, who caught him around the waist and pulled him in for a big hug.

  The love between those two was bright and clear and real. Teague might not be Grayson’s biological dad, but he was the father of his heart. These two needed each other, and Jenny needed both of them. She knew it, but she needed to be reminded of it.

  And Abby Ruth had an idea about how to change her frame of mind.

  * * *

  After a sleepless night and day spent curled up in Desi’s guest room, Jenny dragged herself downstairs to the bakery. She shoved a bite of one of Desi’s amazing éclairs into her mouth. Even the creamy filling and chocolate couldn’t make her feel better. In fact, she was feeling sicker with each swallow.

  Something caught her eye just out of view. Desi watched her from the doorway. She looked fresh and full of hope in her pink and black apron, and although she wore a smile, Jenny knew she’d hurt her friend’s feelings.

  “I should’ve insisted you make my wedding cake,” Jenny told her. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what got into Mom.” And now, there would be no cake because there would be no wedding.

  “I’ll admit that I was hurt at first, but it’s your wedding day. I’m happy for you no matter if I make the cake or not.” Desi leaned against the doorjamb. “But you have bigger issues than a cake.”

  Issues Jenny didn’t want invading her head and heart right now. This situation was killing her. “You could’ve made me a wedding cake out of stacks of your éclairs, like those crème puff cakes. Do you know what I’m talking about?”

  “A croquembouche. Cream puffs held together with caramel. Now that would be a wedding cake to remember.” Desi softened her tone. “You can’t just sit here eating baked goods day in and day out.”

  “The only thing right in my life is Grayson.” She placed her hand low over her stomach. “And this baby. Every other part of my life is a mess. I even let you down.”

  “No, you didn’t. We’re friends no matter what.”

  “I’m so sorry I hurt you.”

  “Friends do that sometimes, and we forgive one another. Don’t you think you should consider doing the same for the people you love?”

  “You really think I should forgive all of them?”

  “I do, but what really matters is what you think.”

  “I miss Teague. I need him more than ever, yet I pushed him away. And right now, I’m not sure if I’m ready to pull him close again. How could he have kept such an important secret from me?”

  “Because it wasn’t his place to speculate, Jenny. Think about it from his point of view. What if he’d told you and he’d been wrong?”

  “But he was right.”

  “He knew learning the truth would hurt you terribly. All he wants is for you to be happy.” Desi’s gaze went to the window for a few seconds before she turned it back to Jenny. “I take that back. Teague wants you to be happy with him. He’s been so patient with you. He’s going to be a great husband and father.”

  “It seems like everyone—Teague, Red, Mom—had a choice in this. Everyone but me.”

  “Trust me, I know how choices can mess up things in ways you never expected. I’ve made my share of bad ones.”

  Jenny knew Desi was referring to when her ex-husband had gone over the edge and taken her daughter. Thank goodness Teague and his team had defused that situation.

  Jenny’s own marriage to Grayson’s dad hadn’t been the best choice either. Sometimes things weren’t as clear as they seemed when you made big life decisions. And when you made the wrong choices, righting them took time. Sometimes you j
ust had to find a way to move on, even if someone was hurt in the process.

  “You’re welcome here as long as you want to stay, but you should go back home to Teague. You love each other, and that’s the most important thing. Because loving one another means hanging on during the bad times, even when those bad times are your own making.”

  “I don’t know if I’m ready to—”

  “Maybe this’ll help you sort it out.” Desi ducked into the hall and came through the door carrying a large boot box.

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s from your mother.” Desi placed the fancy box in front of Jenny. “She’s trying. You have to give her credit for that.”

  Jenny stared at the box and pulled her hands to her chest to keep from reaching for it. “Does she think she can fix everything with a pair of boots?”

  “Lord knows she’s not perfect, but she’s your mom. I don’t know what’s inside, but she stopped by earlier and asked me to give this to you.”

  Jenny pushed away the plate with the half-eaten éclair on it and pulled the box into her lap. Her mom had probably bought her boots for the wedding. Totally her style. She wasn’t good at saying I’m sorry with words.

  “Open it,” Desi encouraged her.

  Jenny gently lifted the top of the box. She blinked, momentarily confused by the contents. No boots. Instead, stacks of well-ordered newspaper clippings, certificates, and pictures lay inside.

  “What is it?”

  “Memorabilia, I think.” Jenny remembered the day she’d found her baby book in her mom’s trailer. She’d been so surprised that her mom had kept anything like that. Now this. She sifted through a stack of ticket stubs, postcards, and a couple of keys. Even flowers pressed inside a book. These were the memories of a romantic woman. She’d never seen this side of her mom.

  Her heart ached for them both.

  Desi lifted a small frame from the box. Two wallet-sized photos were framed side-by-side. “You?”

  Jenny took the brass frame. “That’s me,” she said pointing to the one on the right. “I guess the other baby is my mom.” She turned it over and slid the frame apart, removing the sepia-toned picture. On the back of the picture in ink it read 1945 James Thomas Jenson. “It’s my dad.”