I shook his hand but didn’t release it. “Seriously, though, I think you’re a great guy. You are a hero. I’m just really mixed up right now. Thanks for understanding.”
He nodded. “Before I leave, I want to give you one piece of advice, if that’s okay?”
“Shoot.”
“Don’t blame yourself. For anything. You’re a fantastic person, and you deserve to be loved.” He gave my hand a squeeze and backed away. “Just think about it. I’m worried for you.”
His forehead was creased with lines of concern. Those deep blue eyes were fixed on mine.
“Thank you. And thank you for saving my life.”
I felt tears threatening again as he walked toward the door. He lifted his hand as he exited and flashed me one more smile.
When Lorea returned, I wiped the wet sheen from my cheeks and swallowed a sob.
“Where’s Luke, and why are you crying?”
“He asked me out. I told him I couldn’t right now.”
Lorea opened her mouth to protest but then closed it. She set a cup of water on the table and gave me a gentle hug. “Whatever you need.”
There was a tap on the door, and Tony poked his head inside. “Would you like some help out to the car?”
Lorea smiled in his direction. “Yes, I’m taking her to my house so she can rest.”
“I hope you can keep her out of trouble,” he replied.
I closed my eyes and took a shallow breath, trying not to feel the pressure of my stitches. It was definitely time for a rest.
Chapter 28
I Heart You Refreshments
Freeze ice cream in a 9 x 13 pan, then use heart-shaped cookie cutters to create individual servings. Drizzle ice cream hearts with hot fudge and top with a selection of berries. Garnish with a chocolate cookie and a mint leaf.
Courtesy of www.mashedpotatoesandcrafts.com.
I found out later that Dallas had confessed his love for me in his irrational state as the police hauled him away. He also inadvertently confessed to Briette’s murder. Tony reported that he had kept saying how much he loved Briette and tried to save her and that he was trying to save me, too. After the police presented the evidence of his babbling confession, plus Briette’s engagement ring, the district attorney charged Dallas with theft, murder, and attempted homicide.
My parents arranged for new carpet to be installed in my bedroom. The blood from my knife wound and Dallas’s head injury had ruined mine. They scrubbed and cleaned and removed every trace of Dallas from my life, but my heart still felt damaged by the betrayal.
I found myself focusing daily on the memory of tingling warmth I felt in the hospital when Luke suggested that Briette was at peace. It comforted me, but it didn’t help me sort through my feelings about Luke.
Four days after Dallas tried to kill me, Lorea helped me move back to my home. A stunning bouquet of zinnias caught my attention.
“I want to meet your hero,” Mom said.
The flowers must have been from Luke. I admired the fuchsia-colored petals and plucked the card from the vase.
Adri,
Be happy. I like your smile.
Your hero,
Luke
“Mom, you’ve read it.”
“Just wanted to make sure it was for you.”
I frowned and stuck the card in my pocket. The flowers were beautiful, and I was touched by Luke’s thoughtfulness. We hadn’t gotten off to a great start, but I felt like we were at least getting to be friends now.
“So tell me about him.”
“His name is Luke Stetson.”
“I know, I know. It’s that divorce lawyer you’ve had a crush on but didn’t want to admit it, right?”
“Mom, I’m injured here. Can you give me a break?”
“You’ll get to meet him, Laurel. I’ll make sure it happens.” Lorea waggled her eyebrows in my direction.
I decided not to comment. I didn’t have the energy to reckon with my mom and Lorea’s combined persistence. I reclined on my sofa for about ten minutes before I was accosted again.
“Try these, Adri.” Mom handed me a plate with some kind of heart-shaped ice cream.
“Ice cream therapy?” I asked as I picked up the spoon.
“Yes, and a test run for your next bridal shower. I let the ice cream start to melt and then scooped it into a 9x13 pan and refroze it.” She motioned to the heart shape. “Then I used a cookie cutter. Aren’t they sweet?”
I scooped a bite of the strawberry-flavored ice cream into my mouth. Mom had drizzled the heart with chocolate sauce and accented it with chocolate cookies. “Yummy.”
“There’s more in the freezer.” Mom gave my shoulder a squeeze. She was trying her best to keep my mind off my worries.
“Thanks, Mom. I love you.”
“I love you too.” Her voice cracked a little, and she hurried into the kitchen to tidy up.
The ice cream soothed my parched throat, but my mind returned immediately to the memory of Briette.
The story of the wedding planner who solved her bride’s murder hit the Associated Press within the week. My cell phone rang constantly with reporters, brides-to-be, and every busybody in town. My parents helped field the calls and sift through requests. After only six days, Lorea reported that we had eleven potential clients for fall weddings.
Caleb called as soon as he heard the news about Dallas. His voice cracked as he struggled to speak. “Adri, are you okay? This is the craziest thing! I didn’t believe it when I first heard. I talked to your mom. She told me what happened.”
“I’m healing. Eleven stitches from a knife wound have set me back a little.”
“I’m so sorry that you were hurt. I just keep thinking, what are the chances that Briette’s best friend would solve her murder?”
“I guess you could call it solving—or something.”
“It’s a miracle. I know you might not think so right now, but you have helped me and Briette so much. This past year has been hell for me. I couldn’t sleep knowing that the man who had killed her was out there, living life. But it’s over now. It’s really over.” He hesitated. “Do you know what I mean? Does any of this make sense?”
“I do. I think she’s at peace. I’ll always miss her, but when I think of her now, it feels . . . better.”
“Thank you, Adri. It will never be enough, but thank you for all you’ve done.”
We talked for a few minutes longer, and Caleb told me about the work he was doing for his father’s business in an effort to get through another day, another week. We wished each other luck, and I clutched my phone until it started ringing again, and my mom came running to answer it.
Fortunately, another news story overshadowed mine a couple of days later. It involved Sylvia Rockfort. Lorea and I were able to piece together most of the details through tabloids, Twitter, and Tony.
Sylvia had hired someone to steal her dress so she could call off her wedding. When she heard the news story about how I was attacked while running, she felt incredibly guilty—like stealing the dress in the first place didn’t make her feel guilty? Anyway, she was afraid I was going to be killed over her conniving plan, so she had the wedding dress dropped off at Necia’s consignment store.
After Dallas tried to kill me, she came clean over the whole thing. She mistakenly thought my attempted murder had something to do with the diamonds and stolen gowns. I didn’t press charges, but I did tell Tony “I told you so” plenty of times. Then I made him promise to let my detective skills have their freedom.
Lorea stopped by with a few wedding binders from my shop. The empty binders filled me with hope and excitement as I thought of the new growth in my business. “So, what’s the latest on Sylvia?”
“They left town right after she spilled the beans. I think she didn’t want to give you a chance to change your mind about pressing charges,” Lorea said.
“Good plan.”
“Sylvia has a contract for a new reality TV show—and a book deal.
”
I sat up. “A book? About what?”
“I think they’re calling it How I Sabotaged My Own Wedding.”
“Get out.” I snorted. Lorea raised one eyebrow and cocked her head to the side. “Wait. You’re serious?”
“The Rockfort mansion is up for sale.”
“Thank goodness.” We indulged in a good belly laugh, and I got back to work.
Tony stopped by the next day with bittersweet news. Jerry had identified a man named Roland Mayfield as an accomplice in the diamond smuggling ring. It had taken the feds longer to figure it out because he’d been using an alias. “Apparently, they were supposed to intercept the diamonds before they arrived at your boutique, but some of the boxes got mixed up.” Tony frowned. “Roland is in custody now, and we found out that Walter is okay. Roland stole Walter’s cell phone and encouraged Walter to go out of the country. It was the only way to shield him from the diamond smuggling operation.”
I saw tears well up in Lorea’s eyes. “Poor Walter. He’ll be so upset.”
Tony nodded. “At least he wasn’t involved directly. It’s still a shame, though.”
Thinking of Walter and the way his cousin had used him made my chest feel heavy with sadness. Tony said Walter would be arriving home in Ketchum in a few days. I hoped that he would still be able to continue with his business, but I was afraid that his genuine smile and light step might be forever affected.
By the time my stitches were removed, Natalie’s wedding was only nine days away. I struggled with overcoming the paralyzing fear that haunted me each night. My mom planned on traveling back and forth from Rupert every few days to help me until I felt like the “old Adri” again. Each day brought me closer to recovery, and I soon immersed myself in the business of weddings. Luke honored my wish to give me time to straighten things out in my head, but I found myself thinking of him more often than I would ever admit.
Chapter 29
Guest-Book Stones
Collect or purchase small river rocks (nothing larger than about three inches in diameter) and arrange on a table beside permanent markers (both black and lighter colors, such as silver). Invite guests to sign the “Stepping-Stones to a Happy Marriage” with brief words of advice. Present the bride and groom with a large (sturdy) glass container filled with the guest-book stones.
Courtesy of www.mashedpotatoesandcrafts.com.
I checked the seating of the wedding party one last time and gave a thumbs-up to Lorea. My eyes flicked to the center of the meadow, where Brock stood dressed in a gorgeous charcoal-gray tuxedo. I had instructed the photographer and videographer to capture his face when Natalie entered. She was beyond beautiful, glowing with happiness, and I was so happy to see this day come.
I could feel someone staring at me, and I turned slowly to meet Luke Stetson’s gaze. Of course I knew he would be present. The guest list was on my computer, and he and Brock were friends, but my stomach still flipped when he smiled at me. I smiled back, and it was sincere. Saving someone’s life gave a whole new motivation for full forgiveness—Lorea had ceased calling him “tontua”—and I could see the possibility of friendship between us. Smoothing out an invisible wrinkle in the cream ruffled skirt that brushed my knees gave me a moment to catch my breath. I lifted my hand to cover the scar that the doctor had assured me would fade, and I turned away.
Every layer of Natalie’s gorgeous dress was in place as she seemed to float down the aisle of stepping-stones. A light breeze brushed the tendrils of soft brown curls around her face as she gazed at Brock and took his hand.
Lorea smoothed out the train as bride and groom took their places at the altar, the remnants of a burned-out log from the forest fire. The hem of the gown moved easily, but it was hard for me to grasp all that had happened since I discovered the diamonds.
I caught Walter’s eye and he smiled, but I could tell he still carried the weight of his cousin’s crimes. Walter had returned from Belgium just a few days before with a batch of legal diamonds he planned to sell in his jewelry store. He was crushed when he learned of the attempt on my life and the crimes surrounding the wedding gowns he’d helped bring to our peaceful valley.
Lorea and I were looking into other options for specialty wedding gowns we could carry in the shop, and she had ordered some beautiful fabric with the idea of trying her hand at creating her own designs.
My wedding planning business looked solid for the next year. None of the bookings would be as lucrative as Natalie’s, but they would pay the bills. The happy thought was that none of the prospective brides came close to Sylvia’s attitude or penchant for trouble.
Things were definitely looking better, except in the matter of my confused emotions. I’d been too busy to spend much time feeling sorry for myself. That thought brought my attention back to the present. The pastor was nearing the end of the vows, and I perked up, watching the photographer to make sure he would get a clear shot of their first kiss as a married couple.
Brock whooped and then punched the air as he covered Natalie’s mouth with a kiss. Everyone laughed and cheered for the new Mr. and Mrs. Grafton. I felt truly happy for Natalie. She deserved to have her dreams come true. I caught Lorea wiping her eyes—maybe her hardened shell had a few cracks in it.
The rest of the evening was a blur as I ran from one person to the next, supervising the takedown of the wedding and moving guests to the reception at Brock’s home. When I pulled around to Brock’s six-car garage, I took a moment to admire the fantastic sunset tinting the sky with dark orange and pink highlights. I hurried to Brock’s garden and pool house and appreciated the joint effort of so many highly skilled workers.
Twinkle lights wound through the rose garden and across the canopy over the seating area. Once the sun disappeared and darkness set in, the place would be stunning. The table near the entrance to the backyard was covered with smooth river rocks of varying sizes and permanent markers. Each guest would be invited to sign the “Stepping-Stones to a Happy Marriage” and include some advice. Natalie loved the idea of incorporating the setting of their ceremony into the “guest book” and planned on using the stones to line one of Brock’s rose gardens.
“How are you holding up?” Lorea asked as she came up behind me with a box of supplies for last-minute touchups.
“I feel good. This turned out better than I could’ve imagined.”
“I’ve been worried about you.” Lorea paused. “I’m sure it’s hard seeing Luke.”
I started to shake my head, but she held up her hand. “I just wanted to tell you that you can trust your heart. Dallas can’t hurt you anymore.” She studied my face with a half smile. “Enough about that. I also wanted to say that you outdid yourself. The wedding was perfect.”
I followed Lorea into the house, saving the response I wanted to give to the sigh hanging on the end of her words. When she set the box down, I hugged her instead. “Thank you for looking after me. I know it’s been hard, but I appreciate it.”
“What are friends for?” Lorea said. “Now, let’s go party.”
She pulled me outside to do the final check before the guests arrived. I grabbed the bulky wedding gift I had prepared for the happy couple. Usually, I presented my gift to the couple just before their big day, but my creative juices had run dry after Dallas’s attack. I turned to my mom and her Craft Monster for inspiration, and she had finished the gift just in time.
We found Natalie and Brock moving into place under an archway of pink climbing roses. They would have an old-fashioned receiving line for the first hour, and then the dancing would begin.
Brock had his arm around his bride. He nuzzled her cheek, and she giggled. Natalie’s smile widened as I approached. “I don’t know how this day could get any better.”
“I do.” Brock tightened his grip on Natalie, and she blushed.
“I brought you a gift.” I held the box wrapped in silver paper. “I apologize that I couldn’t find a better time to give it to you.”
“Ad
ri, that’s so kind of you—and this is great timing,” Natalie responded as she and Brock opened the gift. “Oh, how did you find something so perfect?”
Brock lifted out the antique window frame by the silk ribbons attached to the back. The light caught the black vinyl lettering of their wedding date and “Brock & Natalie Forever.” Natalie traced her finger over the pressed wildflowers and leaves between the panes of glass that we had carefully arranged and sealed as a memento. “I love it.”
“My mom helped me make it. She’s really craftsy.”
“So that’s where you learned it.” Natalie hugged me. “Thanks.”
“Thank you, ladies, for making this day exceptional,” Brock said.
“I wish every couple was as fun to work with as you two have been.”
“Me too,” Lorea said. “But enough wishing. Let’s get out of the way so the photographer can take more pictures. Guests should be here in fifteen.”
Two hours later, exhaustion rode along every one of my nerves, and it was only nine thirty. I had pretty much run myself ragged keeping up with the caterer, the florist, the live band, and the few press people allowed in, not to mention mentally checking off my list a hundred times. The send-off for the new couple was scheduled for ten. Brock was surprising Natalie with honeymoon plans. I didn’t even know what continent they were headed to, and I was glad. Hopefully they would have time to themselves.
I stopped at the refreshment table and downed two bottles of exotic spring water before sampling one of Valerie’s concoctions. Platters of cream cheese-stuffed strawberries alternated with dainty butter cookies in the shape of flowers. I wanted to eat more than one of the melt-in-your-mouth sweets, but I needed to prepare for the send-off.
Someone tapped my shoulder. “You must be the wedding planner.”
I looked into the smiling face of a beautiful dark-haired young woman. Brushing the crumbs off my fingers, I extended my hand. “Yes, I’m Adrielle Pyper.”
She gave me a firm handshake. “I’m so happy to meet you. My name is Malia Wright, and I just got engaged last week.” A rather large ring balanced on her slender finger.
Diamond Rings Are Deadly Things Page 28
