by Nancy CoCo
“What?”
“No strippers, right? The last thing I want is some half-naked man I don’t know sitting in my lap.”
“Aw, now you’re killing all the fun,” I said with a wink.
“Allie . . .”
“You don’t get to dictate what happens at your bachelorette party,” I said. “That’s for the maid of honor to do.”
“Your parents are coming for the wedding, aren’t they?” she asked.
I sighed. “Yes, they are coming. My mom can’t wait to meet your mom.”
“My mom wanted to come in the Sunday before the wedding, to,” she made air quotes with her fingers, “help. But I told her no, that you had it under control and she and Daddy should just fly in the Friday before.”
“So the night before? That seems restrictive,” I said.
Jenn laughed. “That’s exactly what Mom said, so we compromised and she’ll be here tomorrow.”
“Oh, so she’ll be here the bachelorette party night,” I said. “Should I invite her?”
“Oh no,” Jenn said. “No one wants their mom at their bachelorette party. Trust me, having Frances come is hard enough.”
“Fine,” I said. “What about a tea party on Friday? That way all the women family members can meet and we can invite some of our favorite seniors from the senior center.”
“Now that’s a great idea,” Jenn said. She tapped her fingers on her mouth. “That means I need to take time off from work from Thursday until Monday. Our honeymoon will be after the season so I can keep my business going. That said, I’ll need to rearrange my planning schedule to accommodate the tea, but I’m all in!”
“Great!” I exclaimed.
“Wait, how are you going to manage all this and your fudge business and the hotel and investigating?”
I shrugged. “I’ll figure out a way. I always do. Maybe by then Becky will be out of the medically induced coma and will help shed some light on the whole thing. Then I can let the investigation go.”
“Now that’s a happy thought,” Jenn said.
As an only child, I wasn’t used to big family to-dos. My parents had a tendency to stay out of their own family events. Jenn was also an only child, but she had a big extended family and loved being part of all the noise and business of it. I guess that made her more of an extrovert and me more of an introvert. That might be why we worked so well together.
Chapter 11
Wednesday
The next morning I was up at four a.m. I’d placed a notice on my website that online orders would not happen between Thursday and Monday for Jenn’s wedding. The last thing I needed was to get up before dawn to make fudge with all the people and events happening. I took my duties as maid of honor quite seriously. I didn’t want anything to screw up Jenny’s wedding.
What I hadn’t accounted for was that the minute I put up the days I wasn’t shipping, more orders piled up, as if people were stockpiling to get themselves through the days without it. That meant I was working double time to meet the demand.
I wondered if anyone had seen my ad for an assistant in the paper. So far, the sign in the window hadn’t brought in a soul looking for a job. It made me wonder if I needed to go farther and put up ads at local colleges. Maybe I could catch students who wanted a summer gig.
It was nearly nine a.m. by the time I had all the online orders filled and the cabinet stocked with enough fudge for a weekday. Frances and Douglas were working. So I packed up my online fudge and put Mal in her halter and leash.
“Going to the shipper’s,” I said. “Do you need anything while I’m out?”
“No, we’re good,” Frances said.
“Come on, Mal, let’s go.” We went out the back so that Mal could make a stop at her favorite patch of grass. Then I stopped by the shipping store, said hi to Sandy Seacrest, and put in my orders.
“That’s a lot more than usual,” Sandy said. “Are you having a sale?”
“No, but I am closing this weekend for Jenn’s wedding festivities. My announcement resulted in a larger number of sales.”
“Well, that’s one way to do it,” Sandy said. “Is Jenn’s wedding still on?”
“Sure, why wouldn’t it be?”
“I thought the police hauled Shane in today. Word is they’re getting ready to make an arrest.”
“That’s not good,” I said and frowned. “Thanks for the tip.”
Mal and I hurried out. It wasn’t far to the police station. The big white building was located on Market Street. One block up from Main. I opened the door and stormed up to the reception desk. “Is Rex in?”
“He’s busy right now,” the young Officer Hatch informed me.
“You don’t understand, Officer Hatch. Rex Manning will see me. Just give him a quick call.”
“I’m sorry, but he’s in an interview,” Officer Hatch informed me.
“If you don’t give him a call, I will,” I said and pulled out my phone.
“Hold on,” he said and picked up the phone, then punched in a number. “Officer Manning, there’s a woman out here asking about you. She has a dog. Yes, sir; of course, sir.” Officer Hatch hung up the phone. “He said to have a seat and he’ll be right out.”
I sat down on one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs that were pushed against the wall. Mal jumped up in my lap. I kept my phone out and debated whether I should text Jenn or not. I decided to wait and see what Rex said before I did that. I didn’t want to worry her when she was busy finalizing plans for the Wilkins wedding.
It was going to be a good event for the McMurphy. The family had bought out the whole inn for five days. They’d arrive the Wednesday after Jenn got married. If she got married. I tried not to worry too much about that.
The door opened and Rex walked out. He wore his Michigan State Police uniform, perfectly pressed and tailored to his wide shoulders. “Allie, let’s go outside,” he said and took my elbow.
I held Mal and went out with him. “I heard you have Shane in custody,” I said. “What happened? Why would you do that? His wedding is just days away.”
“Becky is awake,” he said. “We’ve got some new information from her and we want to go over Shane’s statement.”
“Becky’s awake? What did she say? Does she know who attacked her?”
“I can’t disclose information concerning an ongoing investigation,” he said and put his hands on his hips. “You know that. And don’t go bugging Becky, She’s still in Cheboygan and in critical condition.”
I squeezed Mal. “She’s not saying Shane did it, is she? Because I don’t believe it.”
“Allie,” he said, “stay out of it. Please. “
“I can’t if it means you’re going to arrest Shane or ruin the wedding,” I said.
Rex lifted his hat and ran a hand over his bare head before putting it back on. “I’m fully aware of the wedding. I’m the best man, darn it. I wouldn’t do anything that wasn’t by the book and you know it.”
“Just because you can’t doesn’t mean I can’t.”
“Allie, I’m warning you—”
“Haven’t you learned yet that warning me only makes me want to look harder?”
“Don’t you have a hair appointment to go to?” he asked.
“How do you know that? And it’s not for a couple of hours.”
“I know because Jenn tells Shane and Shane tells me,” he said. “Trust me, Shane wanted to come in the moment Becky woke up. This is all for the best.”
“Whose best?”
“Christopher’s best and Becky’s best,” he said. “Justice for the victim. Do you ever think about that?”
“I do think about it,” I said. “That’s why I try so hard to find the real killer. No one wants the wrong person to go to jail while the real killer is loose.”
“Listen, I’ve got to go back inside,” he said. “You don’t need to stay. I promise not to do anything rash.”
“Fine,” I said.
“Good,” he said. Then he p
etted Mal and looked me in the eye as if he wanted to say something more, but then his gaze went flat and he didn’t say a word as he went back inside.
I called Jenn and started back toward Main Street.
“Allie,” Jenn said. “What’s up?”
“Rex has Shane back down in interrogation,” I said.
“Why would he do that?”
“Becky woke up. They wouldn’t tell me what she said, but whatever it was, they want to hear Shane’s story again.”
“I’ll call him,” she said.
“I don’t think they’ll let him keep his phone,” I pointed out.
“Then I’m calling the lawyer,” she said.
“That might be a good idea,” I said. “Keep me posted. I’ll understand if you want to skip the hair consultation.”
“Let’s keep it for now,” she said. “I might need a distraction. Listen, I’m going to call the lawyer. See you soon?”
“Okay.” I hung up. And Mal and I walked quickly back toward the McMurphy. Mrs. Tunisian and Mrs. Schmidt met us on the corner of Main Street.
“Allie, we heard that Shane has been arrested,” Carol said.
“I just talked to Rex,” I said. “He said that Shane was only in for questioning. It seems Becky woke up, and now they want to understand what happened from her point of view.”
“How terrible for Jenn,” Mrs. Schmidt said. “Is she okay? Will they postpone the wedding?”
“No postponement yet,” I said. “Jenn is calling in a lawyer.”
“Someone needs to go to Cheboygan to talk to Becky,” Carol said. “Maybe she remembers things wrong.”
“I’m not sure we know what she remembers or doesn’t remember,” I said. “What I do know is that I’m pretty sure there will be a guard outside her door. So the trip would be wasted. Listen, ladies, I’m holding a tea Friday to celebrate Jenn. You’re invited. I’ll be sending out email notifications to all the ladies from the senior center and others. It will be a nice tea and time to congratulate Jenn and meet her mom and Shane’s mom. I hope you can come.”
“Oh, honey, we’ll be there,” Carol said with a hand to my arm.
“We wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Mrs. Schmidt chimed in. “Do keep us posted on Shane’s whereabouts. We’d hate to see Jenn left standing at the altar. That girl is too wonderful for that.”
“I agree,” I said, and Mal and I moved on to the McMurphy. We went in the front and the bells jangled as we stepped inside. It was warm from the light that filled the front windows. I took Mal off her leash and harness and she went running for her water bowl.
“Did you hear the news?” I asked Frances.
“That they took Shane in for questioning?” Frances said. “Yes.”
“News travels fast on a small island,” I said.
“I also heard you went straight to Rex about it,” she said. “You know that doesn’t help, right?”
“I had to try,” I said.
“They aren’t arresting him, are they?” Frances asked. “Some people think they are.”
“Rex said it was only an interview again. It seems Becky woke up,” I said. “I so badly want to go see her, but she’s in Cheboygan.”
“They questioned her, right?”
“I believe so,” I said.
“You don’t know what she said?” Frances asked.
“No. Rex wouldn’t tell me,” I said. “I tell you what, this is getting nerve-racking. I told him he can’t arrest Shane and make him leave Jenn at the altar. He assured me that he was doing his best. I just don’t understand what the motive might have been. I mean, Shane loves Jenn. Becky might have been his fiancée years ago, but he loves Jenn now. He wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize that.”
“I agree,” Frances said.
“Anyway, I’ve decided to have a tea here, Friday, for just the ladies. I would like you to come. I want to get all the ladies together, including my mom, Jenn’s mom, and Shane’s mom, and most of the senior ladies. That way we can all have a nice prewedding meetup.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Frances said. “Who’s going to cater?”
“I took Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off from fudge making,” I said. “So I will be happy to make some tea cakes and little finger foods. There won’t be more than twenty or thirty coming. So the batches will be small. We can hold it in the lobby because the family bought out the McMurphy.”
“I love the idea,” Frances said. “But I think you should cater it. You’re going to be too busy to cook. That said, I tell you what, I’ll make the tea. I have several nice teapots at home. We can brew different types and label them so the ladies can choose their own. Do you want to put out tables?”
“I was thinking bar-height tables, maybe five or so. That way the ladies can mingle.”
“But the older women can’t stand terribly long,” Frances pointed out. “It might be better to have tables.”
“I guess you’re right,” I said. “Well, then, eight tables of five people each it is. That way if we have anybody wander in, we’ll have room. And I guess I agree on the caterer. Oh, I’ll get Sandy Everheart to make us chocolate sculptures for the centerpieces, and we can surround them with flowers in Jenn’s wedding colors.”
“Sounds perfect,” Frances said.
“I need to go upstairs to make some calls,” I said.
As I hurried up the stairs, Frances called out, “Allie, your parents are here.”
* * *
“Mom, Dad,” I said as I came down the stairs to greet them with hugs. “You’re a day early.”
“Your mother wanted to be here to help in any way we can,” Dad said as he rolled in their suitcases.
I gave them each a hug as Frances came to greet them.
“Stephen, Ann,” Frances said. “Welcome. Your room hasn’t been cleaned yet. Let me put your suitcases in storage.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Dad said. “I know where the storage closet is.” He took the suitcases and Frances walked with him.
Mom grabbed my arm. “I heard that Shane might be arrested before the wedding can happen. What are you doing about that?”
“I’m doing my best to help,” I said to my mom. “But Shane isn’t talking. He doesn’t want to worry Jenn and he definitely doesn’t want my help.”
“Well, you’re helping anyway, right?” Mom said as she brushed the hair out of her eyes.
“Yes, Mom, I’m doing what I can.” I glanced at the time. “Oops, I’ve got to go. We have hair and makeup appointments. Talk to you later.”
“Definitely,” Mom said. “Don’t forget, I want to hear all about how you’re working toward finding that killer.”
Jenn, Liz, and I showed up at Emma’s for our hair and makeup consultation. We were sipping wine and watching Jenn getting her hair done into a Gibson Girl–like bun.
“Did you bring your veil?” Emma asked. “We can pin it in and see how you like it.”
“I’ve got it,” I said. The veil was lace and would touch the ground, but wouldn’t be as long as the train on the dress. The lace on it matched the lace on the dress. I unrolled it from its tissue paper and showed it to Emma. “This gets attached to the back of the bun. Then we have a silk orange blossom headband to mimic Queen Victoria’s.” I handed the veil to Liz and pulled out the floral headband. Jenn had had an artist friend construct it from silk flowers.
“Oh, these are beautiful,” Emma said. She carefully placed the headband to frame Jenn’s face. Then pinned the veil to the back. “Now, stand up and have a look.” She waved to her full-length mirror in her hair studio, a small room off the side of her home. It was at once welcoming and cozy.
“It’s perfect,” Jenn said as she studied herself in the mirror. She stopped for a moment and her eyes filled up with tears. “Shane is going to be all right, isn’t he? I feel terrible playing dress-up while he’s in the police station being questioned.”
“It’s okay,” I said and hugged her as best I could witho
ut harming her hair or veil. “Rex is Shane’s best man. He’s going to do his best to keep Shane safe.”
“Come here,” Emma said. “Let’s take off your veil and headpiece.” She worked quickly to take them off and I rolled the veil carefully back into its tissue container, then placed the silk headpiece in the box. “Now sit,” Emma said, pointing to one of the comfy chairs. “Have a nice glass of wine. It’s going to be okay.”
“I’m sure Shane wants you to go on with the wedding plans,” I said as I climbed into the stylist chair. My wavy, frizzy hair was going to be hard to capture and tame into a bun, but I would let Emma worry about that. “The last time I talked to him, he said he wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of your wedding.”
“It’s just so terrible,” Jenn said. “To think a man was murdered and a poor woman stabbed and nearly died.”
“I truly believe Shane came to their rescue,” I said.
Liz checked her phone. “It’s going to be all right. The police haven’t put out a press conference notice. That means that what Rex said was true. They’re only talking to Shane right now.” She handed Jenn a tissue. “Come on, wipe away those tears and enjoy this. It’s the only time you’ll get to be a bride. You should enjoy every minute of it.”
“Surely we’ll do this when you and Allie get married,” Jenn said and dabbed at her eyes.
Liz laughed. “That’s so far in the future, you won’t even remember this day. I’m not dating anyone right now. Allie . . . how is your love life?”
I felt the heat of a blush rush up my cheeks as everyone looked at me expectantly. “I’m not sure,” I said.
“She got flowers after making dinner for a very handsome man named Harry Winston,” Jenn said.
“Oh, is he the start-up millionaire who bought the Strauses’ old bed and breakfast?” Liz asked. “I have to admit he is some nice eye candy.”
“I made him dinner is all,” I said. “I’m Rex’s date for the wedding.”
“Does handsome Harry know that?” Liz teased me and sipped her wine.
“It didn’t come up,” I said nervously. “But I’m sure it will.”
“What about Rex? Does he know you made dinner for Harry?” Liz leaned forward, seeming to be having too much fun with this interrogation.