by Amber Crewes
“It’s okay,” Jackie told her as she gave Meghan’s hand a squeeze. “I miss having a partner. I miss having someone to talk to in the evenings, someone to dance around the kitchen with, and someone to share my life with. Coming to weddings is a bittersweet experience for me. It makes me sad, because I miss all of the things I had with my husband. It also makes me hopeful: as I look at the bride and groom, so deeply in love and so eager to make each other happy, I feel hopeful for the future. I hope that I can have all of this again, and I hope the time comes soon.”
Meghan wrapped her arms around her friend. “It will happen for you again,” she assured Jackie. “And when the time comes, the barn will be waiting to host your big day. You would be such a beautiful bride here, Jackie. Whomever is the lucky fellow who ends up with you will be in shock when he sees you here, all dolled up in your wedding dress.”
“You think so?”
“I know,” she said confidently. “You’re an amazing woman, Jackie, and any man would be foolish to not see that.”
Jackie smiled. “You’re a great friend,” she told Meghan. “And I think someone else will have their time as a bride sooner than later…”
Meghan raised an eyebrow. “Have you heard something? Has Jack mentioned---“
“He hasn’t said anything to me,” Jackie said. “But I have a feeling that it’ll happen before you know it. You’ve been together almost a year, and the way he looks at you…I think sooner than later, you will be the bride dancing over there.”
Jackie pointed at the bride swaying alongside her groom on the dance floor. “I hope so,” Meghan murmured. “I do hope so…”
Jackie laughed as Jack Irvin walked through the doors. “Well, speak of the devil,” she said as she pointed to Meghan’s boyfriend, who was dressed in a black suit with a black silk tie, his hair combed over and styled. “Were you expecting him to be here?”
“No,” she replied, stunned to see her boyfriend. “He was invited to the wedding; the bride is his cousin’s stepsister, or his stepsister’s cousin, or something like that…you know how it goes in a small town. Anyway, he told me he was on duty tonight. I didn’t think he would make it.”
Meghan waved to Jack, and he walked over to her, his eyes bright. “Babe, you look so handsome,” she greeted him. “I didn’t think you were going to make it.”
“Neither did I,” he admitted. “But I am glad I did. You look amazing in that dress. I think black might be your color, Beautiful.”
“You say that about every color!”
“I mean it about every color,” Jack whispered into her ear as he leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. “You are gorgeous. That dress brings out your eyes…and your shoulders…and…”
Meghan blushed as Jack’s eyes traveled down the length of her body. “And other things.”
She giggled. “You are too kind,” she told her boyfriend. “I am so happy to see you here.”
The bride and groom’s song ended. “Good evening,” the DJ announced. “And welcome to this special day. We are so excited to celebrate with the happy couple. I would now like to invite all of the couples onto the dance floor. If you are in love tonight, take your sweetie by the hand and join us for a dance.”
Meghan looked to Jackie. “Do you want to dance with us?”
“That’s okay,” Jackie told her. “You two go. Enjoy yourselves.”
Jack led Meghan onto the dance floor, and she wound her arms around his thick, muscled shoulders. “You are almost too tall for us to have a proper dance,” Meghan remarked.
“I think we’re fine,” Jack replied, placing his hands on her waist. “As long as it’s a slow song, I’ll be good.”
As if the DJ had heard him, a slow song began to play through the speakers. “I know this song,” Meghan exclaimed happily. “It just came out last week. It’s that new love song by Tyler Slow.”
“You love her music, don’t you?”
“She’s my favorite singer. I’ve been listening to her since I was fourteen, and now, I’m dancing at a wedding to her new love song with my boyfriend, the love of my life.”
Jack raised an eyebrow. “The love of your life?” he teased. “Are you sure about that?”
Meghan looked into his bright blue eyes. “I’m sure about that,” she said seriously. “You make me so happy, Jack. You keep me laughing, you challenge me, and you always make me feel safe. I’ve never felt this way about anyone else, and I don’t ever want to think about being with someone else.”
Jack stared down at Meghan. “I feel the same way,” he told her softly as she blushed. “You are so pretty, Meghan. You are smart, wise, and you have a heart of gold. I am so happy to be your boyfriend, and I’m excited to see what the future has in store for us.”
Feeling bold, Meghan asked, “what do you think it has in store for us?”
Jack’s eyes widened. “We’ve been dating nearly a year now,” he began. “And I don’t want to be with anyone else. Not only do I want to be with you, but I want to be with you forever. I think you know what I mean…”
She nodded, and she felt Jack’s strong arms hold her tighter. “I do,” she whispered as she leaned up to kiss Jack on the lips. “I do.”
Ten minutes later, Jack received a call on his cell phone from Chief Nunan. Meghan could hear the chief talking a million miles a minute. “I have to go,” he lamented as he hung up the phone. “I’m sorry. She says it’s an emergency.”
“What a bummer,” Meghan said. “I’m glad you got to come for a little bit.”
“Me too,” Jack told her. “I’ll call you when I get off work. I love you, Meghan.”
“I love you too, Jack.”
She watched as Jack left the barn, her heart fluttering as she thought about their conversation on the dance floor. It was clear that she and Jack were on the same page regarding a future together, and Meghan could hardly wait to share the news with Jackie. Before she could find her friend, someone jostled her shoulder.
“What a beautiful night,” Karen cried as she ran up to Meghan.
“I didn’t know you were going to be here,” Meghan chirped happily. “How do you know the happy couple?”
“The groom is the son of my pilates instructor,” Karen explained. “His bride looked just marvelous. You will look beautiful as a bride someday, Meghan…”
Meghan smiled wistfully. “That seems to be the topic of the night,” she replied. “I hope that day comes sooner than later.”
Karen winked. “I’m sure it will. I’m so happy this barn has taken off again. You and Jackie put a lot of work into it. I was worried the events of Mrs. Sheridan’s wedding would spoil this, but it looks better than ever.”
Meghan beamed. “Thank you. We are thrilled that it is all working out. I just can’t believe the way things ended for Jodie Abbott.”
“What ended up happening with that?” Karen asked curiously. “The paper has been so hush-hush about the details.”
Meghan leaned in. “It’s pretty sad,” she told her. “Jodie Abbott didn’t come to Sandy Bay to reconcile with Frank,” she said. “She came to file papers to sue Noah Morrison.”
“What? The news guy?”
“Exactly! Noah was attempting to turn a book of hers into a film without her permission. He had originally advised her that he wanted to use her work for a film, but she denied him access when he wanted to kill off a main character.”
“She didn’t want him to kill someone? That’s ironic…”
“Anyway, she sent him cease and desist letters, but he hadn’t stopped. He shot her at the beach after luring her out there to have a business meeting.”
“That’s horrible,” Karen whispered, clasping her hands to her cheeks. “But how does Frank fit in?”
Meghan shrugged. “That part isn’t terribly clear,” she admitted. “Frank’s mind has been even worse since all of this happened, but the police suspect they had simply met to catch up. They aren’t sure why she went to the wedding, but I guess we
’ll never know.”
Karen shook her head. “What about Sally? Has she forgiven Frank?”
Meghan bit her lip. “I think it’s going to take some time,” she said slowly. “But I think they’ll get there. She loves him, and I know he adores her.”
Karen nodded. “True love always comes with twists and turns,” she told Meghan.
Pastor Livingstone walked over to join them. “Aren’t these the most beautiful ladies at the wedding?” he greeted them. Meghan was amused to see Karen blush, and she peeked down to see that the pastor was not wearing a wedding band.
“Nice to see you, Pastor,” Karen stammered, her face turning red.
“You as well, Karen,” he smiled. “Meghan, what a lovely ceremony. This barn is just perfect for weddings. I can feel the presence of God here, that is for sure.”
“I’m so happy you’ve enjoyed it,” Meghan beamed. “It is a gorgeous place.”
The pastor grinned mischievously. “Did you two hear the silly part in the wedding ceremony?”
Meghan was confused. “What silly part?”
“The part where I asked if anyone had objections,” he continued. “The part where the other wedding went wrong.”
Karen raised an eyebrow. “What happened? I must have missed it.”
He laughed. “I asked the audience, and for a long while, there was silence. Finally, instead of a wife marching down the aisle to object, a baby cried.”
Meghan giggled. “I was so focused on making this day perfect, I must have missed that part!”
“Me too!” Karen agreed.
The pastor chuckled. “For better or for worse, if a baby crying is the biggest issue at their wedding, I think this couple will have a marriage that is truly sweet.”
Meghan looked over at the bride. She was gazing into the eyes of her groom, and she couldn’t have looked any happier. “I agree,” Meghan said to the pastor. “I agree.”
The End
Thank You!
Thank you for reading these three stories in the Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery series. I really hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I had writing it!
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ALSO BY AMBER CREWES
The Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery Series
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Brownies and Dark Shadows (Book 2) – OUT NOW
Cookies and Buried Secrets (Book 3) – OUT NOW
Donuts and Disaster (Book 4) – OUT NOW
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Finger Foods and Missing Legs (Book 6) – OUT NOW
Gingerbread and Scary Endings (Book 7) – OUT NOW
Hot Chocolate and Cold Bodies (Book 8) – OUT NOW
Ice Cream and Guilty Pleasures (Book 9) – OUT NOW
Jingle Bells and Deadly Smells (Book 10) – OUT NOW
King Cake and Grave Mistakes (Book 11)– OUT NOW
Lemon Tarts and Fiery Darts (Book 12) – OUT NOW
Muffins and Coffins (Book 13) – OUT NOW
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Orange Mousse and a Fatal Truce (Book 15) – OUT NOW
Peaches and Crime (Book 16) – OUT NOW
Queen Tarts and a Christmas Nightmare (Book 17) – OUT NOW!
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