Emma was the flower girl, and she walked down the aisle leading Baxter at her side. She'd practiced with him several times, but no matter how hard she'd begged, he kept eating the cushion and swallowing the fake plastic rings that we'd strapped to his back. We weren't taking a chance that he'd eat the real ones on the wedding day, so Emma kept them safe in a small pocket in her dress. She told everyone how pretty she felt and that she couldn't wait until her wedding day in a few years. I explained that she would never be allowed to get married as long as I was alive. I won't share the inappropriate gesture Nana D taught her as an apt response—and at a wedding, no doubt!
Nana D shed another tear when the priest asked her who was giving away Aunt Deirdre. I handed her my handkerchief, but she brushed it aside, claiming her allergies were acting up from being outside near the lake. Grandpop Michael was with us in spirit; I could feel him at my side. I stepped off the gazebo and rushed to my seat, where April waited for me. I hadn't yet seen her that day. My attention had been occupied, keeping us on schedule and stopping others from bawling their eyes out.
When she came into view, my eyes bulged and my lips curled. She'd had her hair professionally styled into a chignon secured at the nape of her neck. A gorgeous green dress clung to her body, accentuating the shimmering lime pools that were her eyes. The perfect amount of cleavage peeked from the top of her dress, tempting me more than I desired, and a slit in the dress revealed two exquisite, shapely legs finished off with a pair of strappy heels. This was not the same sheriff I'd frequently seen wearing a tweed blazer, plain jeans, and boring boots.
“Who are you, and what have you done with April Montague?” I asked, sitting next to her and feeling my body react to the sudden hotness of my date.
“I assure you, Kellan… what you see is what you get with me. Everything is real, and there are many sides to me you've not been exposed to before.” April grabbed my hand and shushed me. “There's a wedding going on here. Don't make me do something to shut you up.” She opened her purse and showed me that Old Betsy was waiting inside, in case the need to make its appearance arose again.
When the ceremony ended, two new couples had become husband and wife. I reflected on my own wedding day—both the positives and the negatives that had since materialized. Despite a rough week, we had found our compromise, but my heart still panged for my wife's recent loss. I would visit her the next day to do whatever I could to help plan her father's funeral. She knew already, but I wanted to ensure they played a Billy Joel song to give Vincenzo a proper send-off.
The wedding reception was held at the country club not too far from Crilly Lake. After all the toasts, I turned to April. “This is probably an odd question, but have you ever been married before?” I knew she'd been engaged at one point, before her fiancé had been killed in a drive-by shooting.
“I feel like I know everything about your life. I guess I haven't shared much about mine other than what happened to my brother and my fiancé,” she replied with a devilish gleam in her eyes.
“You didn't answer the question,” I said, curious why she was avoiding the topic.
“No, I didn't answer it. Would you consider this our first date?” April countered, clinking our champagne glasses together. “Even though you are still married.”
“Yes, I believe I would.” I saw Nana D approaching and felt an urge to run for my life.
“We probably shouldn't cover all our history on a first date, right?” April said before swallowing half the contents of the glass. “Let's enjoy the process of getting to know one another.”
What was she trying to tell me? Had she been married prior to the last fiancé? “Um, that's not fair. You know about Francesca. Shouldn't you be equally forthcoming about—”
“Your grandmother is almost here. We have time to discuss all that stuff, Kellan.”
“Is it true?” Nana D asked, shifting her gaze from me to April, then back again a few times. “You understand my grandson is still a married man. And that I'm your boss based on our current jobs.”
“Am I here with Kellan in an official capacity, you mean?” April offered as a response to Nana D.
Nana D crossed her arms. “Hmmm… I need a minute alone with my grandson, Sheriff. Would you mind refilling my glass?”
April took Nana D's flute. “Rest assured, Mayor Danby, I'm not the kind of woman to pry in another couple's marital woes. For the moment, I'm enjoying the company of a handsome guy who helped me solve a few investigations. What the future holds, I suppose we'll all find out.” She winked at me, then seductively glided toward the bar on the other side of the room. Was that sashay for me?
My mouth hung agape until Nana D shut it with two fingers. “Maybe I misjudged that woman. You could do worse. You have done worse, actually, now that I think—”
“Please stay out of it. I have no idea what's going on, and my life is a mess, but I'm happy to be here with our family.” I scanned the room to verify Emma still stood on my father's toes as he led her around the dance floor.
“That's fine. We have plenty of time to talk about it this weekend after we figure out how to welcome Ulan when he arrives next month,” she complied, resting her head on my shoulder.
“Next month? I thought I had a few months before he flew here. How am I gonna find a new place to live?” I didn't dare bring up the phone call I'd gotten from Hollywood. Nana D might strangle me in front of everyone if I told her I had an offer to leave town again.
“Can it, or I'll slap your bottom silly in front of your new girlfriend.” She tapped her foot against the floor, deep in thought. “You know, the old Grey place was on the market. I'm not sure it is anymore, at least if you believe the rumors.”
Eleanor strode up just as Nana D mentioned the dilapidated house on the corner of Main Street near Millionaire's Mile that no one would buy. “The place that's been haunted for fifty years?”
Nana D smiled and slapped her thigh. “Yep, that one. The plumbing is leaking. The walls are falling. Just yesterday, a ceiling tile smashed into my shoulder and an angry spirit floated by me.”
“I thought that place was ready to be demolished,” I suggested meekly as my nerves prickled.
“It is,” Eleanor said, tossing her head back and forth to the beat of the music. “Too many people claim they hear noises and voices emanating from it all the time.”
“Ever since that woman vanished, there have been rumors about ghosts visiting the place. I blame it all on Hiram Grey,” Nana D replied.
“What's he got to do with the woman's disappearance?” I asked.
“Don't you know anything about our town's history, big brother? His first wife went missing the day of that big fire in the old library. No one ever heard from her again.” Eleanor shook her head repeatedly, reminding me of all the times she, Gabriel, and Nana D had ganged up on me in the past.
“That woman put a curse on their house before she skipped town. People always claim they see a spook haunting the place on the anniversary of the fire every year since it happened,” Nana D said.
“Are you two pulling my leg?” My stomach sunk and my throat began to close.
Nana D was never one to tell ghost stories or believe in that sort of nonsense. Even though Eleanor claimed she was in touch with her psychic abilities, it was only something we joked about. “I don't know, Kellan. All I know is that's an historical home, and it would be a shame to let it go to waste.”
“Are you proposing that I should buy the old Grey house, fix it up, and move into it?” I rolled my eyes at Nana D's foolish suggestion. “Nope, not happening. I will not deal with the paranormal or supernatural. I draw a line at the types of things I investigate when it comes to evaporating spooks!”
“You don't have to buy it. I already made an offer to the cantankerous old judge this morning. That restless tomcat couldn't wait to unload the place. You'll be able to afford it, trust me, brilliant one.” Nana D accepted her refilled champagne flute from April, who'd returned in tim
e to hear the news and toast my potential new home.
“I can handle dead people, but I'm not ready to live among a tribe of vengeful ghosts.” Then, I hung my head and accepted Nana D would always run my life. What kind of adventure were we in store for next? It couldn't be worse than all the chaos and drama I'd stumbled upon so far this year. Could it?
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Sneak Peek at Haunted House Ghost (#5)
It's Halloween, and excitement is brewing in Braxton to carve jack-o'-lanterns, go on haunted hayrides, and race through the spooky corn maze at the Fall Festival. Despite a former occupant's fervent warnings, Kellan renovates and moves into a mysterious old house. When a ruthless ghost promises retribution, our fearless professor turns to the eccentric town historian and an eerie psychic known for her explosive predictions, to communicate with the apparition.
Construction workers discover a fifty-year-old skeleton after breaking ground on the new Memorial Library wing. Could it be Prudence, Judge Hiram Grey's first wife, who disappeared during a fiery Vietnam War protest that destroyed parts of the campus? While Kellan and April dance around the chemistry sparking between them, a suspicious accident at the Fall Festival leaves Hiram in a coma and another dead body to investigate. Kellan's research digs up a tale of horror and pain about the true history and dastardly connections of the Grey family, forcing April to accelerate her plan to capture the elusive killer and placate the revenge-seeking ghost.
If you haven't read the first three books in the series…
Academic Curveball (#1)
Who killed professor Abby Monroe? When Kellan Ayrwick returns home for his father's retirement, he finds a dead body in Diamond Hall's stairwell. Unfortunately, Kellan has a connection to the victim, and so do several members of his family. Soon after, the college's athletic program receives mysterious donations, a nasty blog denounces his father, and a trickster attempts to change student grades. Someone is playing games on campus, but none of the facts add up. With the help of his eccentric and trouble-making nana, Kellan tries to stay out of the sheriff's way. But who is behind the murder?
Broken Heart Attack (#2)
Who killed Gwendolyn Paddington? When an extra ticket becomes available to see the dress rehearsal of King Lear, Kellan tags along with Nana D and her buddies. But once one of them dies of an apparent heart attack in the middle of the second act, Nana D asks Kellan to investigate. With family members suddenly in debt and a secret rendezvous between an unlikely pair, Kellan learns that the Paddingtons might not be as clean-cut as everyone thinks. But can Kellan find the killer, or will he get caught up his own stage fright?
Flower Power Trip (#3)
At a masquerade ball to raise money for renovations to Memorial Library, Kellan finds a dead body dressed in a Dr. Evil costume. Did Maggie's sister kill an annoying guest staying at the Roarke and Daughters Inn, or does the victim have a closer connection to someone else at Braxton College? As Kellan helps school president Ursula bury a secret from her past and discover the identity of her stalker, he unexpectedly encounters a missing family member. Everything seems to trace back to the Stoddards: a new family who recently moved in. Between the murder, a special flower exhibit, and strange postcards arriving weekly, Kellan can't decide which mystery in his life should take priority. Unfortunately, the biggest one of all hasn't been exposed. When it is, Kellan won't know what hit him.
About the Author
James is my given name, but most folks call me Jay. I live in New York City, grew up on Long Island, and graduated from Moravian College. I spent fifteen years building a technology career in the retail, sports, media, and entertainment industries. I enjoyed my job, but a passion for books and stories had been missing for far too long. I'm a voracious reader in my favorite genres (thriller, suspense, contemporary, mystery, and historical fiction), as books transport me to a different world where I can immerse myself in so many fantastic cultures and places. I'm an avid genealogist who hopes to visit all the German, Scottish, Irish, and British villages my ancestors emigrated from in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Writing has been a part of my life as much as my heart, my mind, and my body. I decided to pursue my passion by dusting off the creativity inside my head and drafting outlines for several novels. I quickly realized I was back in my element growing happier and more excited with life each day. My goal in writing is to connect with readers who want to be part of great stories and who enjoy interacting with authors. To get a strong picture of who I am, check out my author website or my blog. It's full of humor and eccentricity, sharing connections with everyone I follow—all in the hope of building a network of friends across the world.
When I completed the first book, Watching Glass Shatter, I knew I'd stumbled upon my passion again, suddenly dreaming up characters, plots, and settings all day long. I chose my second novel, Father Figure, through a poll on my blog where I let everyone vote for their favorite plot and character summaries. It is with my third book, Academic Curveball, the first in the Braxton Campus Mysteries, where I immersed myself in a college campus full of so much activity, I could hardly stop thinking about new murder scenes or character relationships to finish writing the current story. Come join in the fun!
List of Books
Watching Glass Shatter (October 2017)
Father Figure (April 2018)
Braxton Campus Mysteries
Academic Curveball - #1 (October 2018)
Broken Heart Attack - #2 (November 2018)
Flower Power Trip - #3 (March 2019)
Mistaken Identity Crisis - #4 (June 2019)
Haunted House Ghost - #5 (September 2019)
Websites & Blog
Website: https://jamesjcudney.com/
Blog: https://thisismytruthnow.com
Social Media Links
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/James-J.-Cudney/e/B076B6PB3M/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jamescudney4
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesJCudneyIVAuthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BraxtonCampusMysteries/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jamescudney4/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamescudney4/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/jamescudney4
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescudney4
Mistaken Identity Crisis: Death On The Cable Car (Braxton Campus Mysteries Book 4) Page 28
