by Donna Doyle
“Well, that about sums it up!” Barnes announced. “The dress you destroyed was your own, so I guess it was yours to do with as you please. But Michelle did break into your business, Gloria, so that’s up to you if you want to press charges for breaking and entering?” He looked to Gloria.
Her eyes widened in horror. “Oh, no. She only destroyed what she had already paid for, and I believe her when she says she’ll pay be back for the new dress. I’m not filing any charges. Calmhaven is a small place and publicity like this is not exactly great.”
“None?” The sheriff almost looked disappointed.
“None,” Gloria affirmed.
“There. I’m glad we got that all worked out. Now let’s get this place cleaned up.” Molly felt terrible about what had happened, but at least everyone knew the truth now.
Molly sent up a silent prayer that everyone gathered would find their own happiness. There would be a lot to unravel in the coming days, but that was not Molly and Dora’s concern. The truth of the dress disaster was out in the open. If only poor Michelle had summoned the courage to be honest with herself and others before this fiasco. Love is a very strange thing, thought Molly. As she began folding up chairs, she noticed Brian glance over his shoulder at Renee.
11
A New Picture
Two weeks later, Molly did her best to work while the sound of constant hammering drowned out her own thoughts. It didn’t make for an easy work environment, but she was happy to put up with it. The sound meant that the roof of the Cozy Bridal Agency was finally being fixed. The rain had stopped for good, and Aaron Taylor had finally worked his way down his list of customers to her.
Misty wasn’t particularly pleased at the noise, and every now and then she opened one eye to glare at the ceiling.
“Sorry again that it took me so long to get this done, Miss Molly,” Aaron said when he was finished. He stood in front of Molly’s desk, wiping his hands on a rag. “I had people all over Calmhaven calling me during the big rain, and I thought it was only fair to do it in order.”
“You’re very right,” Molly assured him. “And you don’t have to apologize to me. You kept the rest of the rain out with the tarps, and it’s fixed now. I’ve got absolutely nothing to complain about.” She smiled at the young man, wondering when some sweet young girl would catch his heart and come to her for wedding plans. Aaron was one of the good ones, she was sure. She wrote him a check and told him to have a wonderful day.
“Miss Molly, there’s a phone call for you,” Dora interrupted. “I told her I could help her, but she refused. She said she’ll only talk to you.”
“Did you get a name?” Molly raised an eyebrow. It was just the two of them in the office, and they never worked a wedding completely alone.
“No, she wouldn’t tell me that either. And before I forget, this came for you.” Dora stood up and plucked a postcard from the corner of her desk. “I have to admit that I read it, but I didn’t think you would mind.” She smiled and returned to her seat.
The front of the card displayed a glass pyramid situated in front of a palatial building. Molly recognized it instantly as the Louvre even before she noticed the title of the museum in the lower corner. She flipped it over to find foreign stamps and a personal message from Michelle:
Just arrived! Can’t thank you enough for everything you did for me. I couldn’t be happier. I’ll send a painting for your office soon.
-Michelle
It warmed her hear to know that, despite all the drama that had brought it about, the bride had still ended up happy. She couldn’t really blame Michelle for wanting one last chance to follow her dreams. It was just a shame that she had been too afraid to speak up and say what those dreams were before things had gotten out of hand. Still, she had left the day after the wedding was supposed to have been held, her bag of brushes under her arm. Molly did so feel for Brian though. Poor chap, he must be heartbroken.
Dora cleared her throat. “The phone?”
“Oh, yes!” She had completely ignored the gentle beeping that was supposed to be reminding her someone was still on the line. Molly swiftly grabbed it, still holding Michelle’s postcard in her free hand. “This is Molly Grey. Can I help you?”
“Oh, there you are! I was starting to think Dora had just hung up on me. I want to see if you could help me plan a wedding.”
“Weddings are my specialty, dear.”
The voice on the end of the line was bubbly and excitable, but strangely familiar.
“If I can just take a few details, that would be a great place to get started,” Molly said. “Now, what’s your name?”
“Miss Molly! Do you not recognize me? It Renee!”
“Oh my, I do apologize. Renee. It’s lovely to hear from you. Who’s wedding are you helping with this time, dearest? Who’s getting married?”
“I am!” Renee squealed, sounding far more like an enthusiastic little girl than the stern executive she Molly had experienced previously. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
Molly agreed that it was wonderful, but she couldn’t help but be a little confused by it all. A thought did occur that maybe… but no, surely not. “Congratulations, honey. Can I have the groom’s name?”
“Oh, you don’t have to joke with me! Miss Molly, I can’t tell you how grateful I am for what you did. If you hadn’t jumped in and figured out what really happened to Michelle’s dress, I might never have had the chance to be honest about my feelings for Brian again.”
“Again?”
“The two of us were quite the item back in high school. We broke up over something silly, like kids do, but it was such a mistake. When Michelle started dating him, I thought it was no big deal, but I couldn’t stand it! I always made excuses not to go out to dinner with the two of them because I hated seeing them together. Of course, I never would have done anything about it, because I wasn’t going to ruin their relationship.” Renee heaved a big, romantic sigh. “But when you saw everything for what it was and Brian found out I still cared for him, it made him step back and think about what he wanted in life. He loved Michelle, and I know she loved him, too, but they wanted completely different things.”
“And what about you, dear?” Molly couldn’t help but ask. “Do you want the same things as Brian?”
“I really do,” she replied softly, and Molly could just envision her twirling a strand of hair around her finger. “We want to get married and have kids and raise them right here where we grew up. He’s got a great job at the bank, and I’ll only have to leave work long enough for maternity leave. Brian’s mom is thrilled at the idea of having grandkids, and she’ll watch them while we’re at the office. It’s all worked out so perfectly!”
“It certainly sounds like it.” Molly Gertrude looked once again at Michelle’s postcard, a sense of comfort and happiness slipping around her shoulders like a warm blanket. A part of her had felt bad about outing Renee’s real feelings. She hadn’t wanted to embarrass the girl, and news like that was certainly not going to save Michelle and Brian’s relationship. But it was clear to her now that God had heard her prayer that they would all find happiness.
“Now, tell me your wedding date and we’ll get started.”
Misty purred contentedly. It was as if even Molly’s cat knew that all is well that ends well. Another case closed, and another heart opened. I love this job, thought Molly, as she reached for her pencil.
More From Molly
An elderly woman sleuth. The wedding of Calmhaven’s most beloved daughter. A sinister slice of cake criminality. This sounds like a perfect case for Molly Gertrude Grey!
Who in Calmhaven does not know Molly Gertrude Grey, the gentle aging owner of the Cozy Bridal Agency? But Molly and her enthusiastic assistant, Dora Brightside, have more talents than just matchmaking. They are amateur sleuths with a nose for trouble!
When poor Abe Mortimer, the town Mayor, keels over during the wedding reception of his dear daughter, Miss Molly is certain it’s no accident. Her
intuition tells her that something disturbing is afoot.
Seedy characters arriving on the scene, old ghosts from a shady past, and a grasping son-in-law with ulterior motives, lead Molly into the crosshairs of Calmhaven’s most frightening conspiracy. The clues pile up, but the culprit remains at large!
Will Molly and her assistant Dora be able to solve the case before Abe Mortimer ends up in the mortuary? Will Calmhaven’s secrets remain unspoken and revengeful grudges slip back into the shadows?
Wedding Cake Wipeout is a Christian Culinary Cozy Mystery that will keep you guessing until the very last page.
Click Here to Read Wedding Cake Wipeout Today
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