Sam took a deep breath and picked up her bouquet. “Ready.”
The door swung inward and Kelly stepped out in her long crimson dress, wearing the silver bracelet Sam had given her, carrying her own small bouquet from Zoë’s garden. Sam gave her a ten-step lead and followed. And there was Beau, smiling with a bit of awe. She didn’t notice anyone else—not the friends, the parents or the judge who’d agreed to come on such short notice—she only saw Beau.
Later, she barely remembered saying the vows, only that the words were heartfelt and that their voices came out sincerely and confidently as they promised to love each other forever. When they exchanged rings Sam marveled at the warmth in Beau’s hands.
“I love you, darlin’,” he whispered right before he kissed her.
Now, seated at the midpoint along the dining table, candlelight warming the faces around her, Sam raised her glass.
“To wonderful friends and dear family. Thank you for sharing this evening with us.”
Glasses clinked around the table and then Nina Rae pushed her chair back and stood up. “Samantha Jane, and our dear Beau. We are all so very happy for you. We were disappointed that the rest of the Sweet clan were not able to stay longer, but your Uncle Buster arranged a special surprise for you.” She turned to her husband. “Howard, where is that thing?”
Howard reached under the table and brought out a small black case. He searched the group for a moment. “Kelly, come here sweetie. You know I don’t know a dang thing about these computers.”
Sam and Beau exchanged a puzzled look. Kelly took the case from her grandfather and unfolded it, revealing a tablet device. A few murmured words between them and Kelly tapped the screen a few times.
“Hey, Uncle Buster. You’re on here live?” She said to the screen.
“You’re darn tootin’ I am,” came the hearty voice. “Hold the screen up to your mama and let me tell her somethin’.”
Sam didn’t breathe for a few seconds, wondering what was up.
“Sammy and Beau. Everbody’s sent you a greeting. Just touch that little button thingy at the bottom of the screen and you’ll see ’em. We got the whole fam-damly for you two.”
It was true. Each of the Sweet family who’d come for the wedding last weekend had recorded a short video greeting. The guests crowded behind Sam’s chair to watch.
Bessie and Chub came on first. “Are we on?” Bessie asked, looking around the room, which Sam recognized as their living room in Tulsa. “I can’t tell if the camera’s on, Chub.”
“It’s on,” he said, edging his eyes toward her but not turning way from the camera. “See the red light? Now just say something to Sammy and Beau.” He cleared his throat. “Samantha and Beau, your Uncle Charles here. Uh, we just want to wish you both all the very best on your wedding day, and uh . . .”
“Oh let me say it,” Bessie interrupted. “Sammy, I know you’ll just be the most beautiful bride and I know you two are gonna be as happy as two little birdies in a nest and we’re just so happy for you!” Her voice came out bright and high-spirited, and Sam wondered if she’d indulged in a glass or two of wine before getting up the nerve to do this.
“Have a happy life together!” they said in unison, apparently at the prompting of someone behind the camera.
Their film clip ended and there was a moment of fuzz before her cousin Willie came on.
“Well, shoot,” she said, “I don’t know how to do this darn thing and besides, I’ve gotta get back out to the barn and feed them—oh, really? You’re recording already?” She looked directly at the camera for the first time. “Hey Sam, hey Beau! It was so great to visit your place and meet your horses and the dogs and all . . . and I just want you guys to have a great life together, and Sam I sure hope that stupid stuff with the police is finally done.” She glanced sideways and back. “I shouldn’t have said that last part. You two just keep going strong, okay? I’m glad you finally got to have your wedding.”
Sam and Beau grinned at each other. He scooted his chair closer to hers and draped one arm over her shoulders while holding her right hand with his.
Rayleen came on the screen next. “Boys! Get yourselves over here!” She glanced up at the camera “Sammy and Beau, ya’ll are such a cute couple and I sure hope ya’ll have as great a marriage as Joe Bob and me.” She kept her eyes forward but stretched out a hand to pull her husband into the picture. Joe Bob grinned and wished them a happy honeymoon. The two teens ended the greeting with a bored “Hey, dude. Stay cool.”
When the recorded greetings were finished, Buster came back on. Lily sat beside him, her eyes full of warmth. “Sammy, I see that you look beautiful in your dress and I’m so happy for you, honey.”
Buster piped up again. “Ya’ll are gonna have a great life together, and if you ever need advice on where to invest your money for a good little retirement nest egg, I got just two words for you—oil futures!”
Sam burst out laughing and Beau was having a hard time keeping a straight face as they thanked him and shut down the connection.
“I have to say that was . . . very nice of them,” Zoë said as she gave Sam’s shoulders a squeeze.
“So,” said Rupert, returning to his seat across the table. “what’s the latest on the honeymoon plans?”
Sam had nearly forgotten. She looked at Beau.
He turned to her and reached for the inside pocket of his jacket. “I have a little wedding gift for you, my darlin’ Samantha.” He pulled out a small blue booklet. “We are on our way to Ireland tomorrow,” he said.
“But I never called the lawyer back. What about our tickets?”
“I did that. He is thrilled for you and says you have a wonderful surprise waiting for you on the Emerald Isle.”
What would it be, Sam wondered, running her fingers over the embossed gold lettering on her passport. Money? Property? Or simply a wonderful experience? She couldn’t imagine anything better than what she had right here. Around the table her friends were smiling and enjoying their meal; her family—scattered though they were—shared a bond, although sometimes a bit wacky; her wedding had turned out to be everything she wanted. And there was Beau, his arm draped over the back of her chair, his ocean-blue eyes occasionally acknowledging the others but mainly . . . mainly his attention was all for her.
For Dan, who has made my life
special and wonderful.
My thanks go out to Susan Slater; the books are always better with your editorial touches. And of course to all my readers—I keep writing them for you!
Discover all of Connie Shelton’s mysteries!
The Charlie Parker Series
Deadly Gamble
Vacations Can Be Murder
Partnerships Can Be Murder
Small Towns Can Be Murder
Memories Can Be Murder
Honeymoons Can Be Murder
Reunions Can Be Murder
Competition Can Be Murder
Balloons Can Be Murder
Obsessions Can Be Murder
Gossip Can Be Murder
Stardom Can Be Murder
Phantoms Can Be Murder
Holidays Can Be Murder - a Christmas novella
The Samantha Sweet Series
Sweet Masterpiece
Sweet’s Sweets
Sweet Holidays
Sweet Hearts
Bitter Sweet
Sweets Galore
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Sweets Galore
Published by Secret Staircase Books, an imprint of
Columbine Publishing Group
PO Box 416, Angel Fire, NM 87710
Copyright © 2013 Connie Shelton
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure the accuracy and completeness of information contained in this book we assume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or any inconsistency herein. Any slights of people, places or organizations are unintentional.
Book layout and design by Secret Staircase Books
Cover image ©Dmitry Maslov
First e-book edition: March 2013
Also published in trade paperback
First trade paperback edition: March 2013
Sweets Galore: The Sixth Samantha Sweet Mystery (The Samantha Sweet Mysteries) Page 20