Marriage and Murder (Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Book 4) Read online

  “We should have eloped,” Kelly said with a look of resignation in her eyes.

  “Kelly, Julia, I’m glad you’re here,” Father Brown said, greeting them, as they entered the church. “Please follow me. There’s a long private corridor we can use to get to the front of the church and avoid everyone. Cash is going to meet us there, so he can walk you down the aisle. I do have one question I have to ask you. Why did you invite so many people? Surely, you must know that St. Patrick’s can’t seat this many people.”

  “I only invited one hundred people, Father. The rest of the people weren’t sent an invitation.”

  “Well, we’ll make do, and just consider it a huge compliment to you and Mike. In all the years of my time conducting weddings here at St. Patrick’s, nothing like this has ever happened. Here we are. You can wait in this little ante room, and remain out of sight until the music starts. I’m going back now, but I’ll meet you in front of the altar where Mike will be waiting for you to come down the aisle. The two of you have about ten minutes until we begin.”

  “Mom, I have the ring you’re giving to Mike, and here’s the box with your bouquet of orchids.”

  Kelly took the box from her and opened it. “Oh my gosh! That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Amanda really outdid herself,” she said, looking at the spray of delicate pink, lavender, and cream-colored orchids mixed with baby’s breath. “I told her I’d be wearing a cream-colored dress, and this bouquet will be perfect with it.”

  “Well, it’s a good thing you’re getting married today and not in the fifteenth century.”

  “Why?” Kelly asked, taking her eyes off of her wedding bouquet and looking at Julia.

  “Because I read once that people who lived in the fifteenth century only took one bath a year and that was in May, so everyone got married in June, but they always carried flowers hoping the scent of the flowers would freshen the air, because it had been a month since their bath, and they were a little worried they might smell. That’s how the whole carrying flowers thing started.”

  “Julia, that’s the most disgusting thing I’ve ever heard,” Kelly said, laughing. “Where did you come up with that, and why would you even remember it?”

  “I don’t know,” Julia said. “It’s probably what makes me good at crossword puzzles and Jeopardy. The shrink I was seeing told me I have what’s called an eidetic memory. I can remember all kinds of things, like what I was wearing when I had a conversation with someone, or what I was doing before I talked to them. All kinds of things no one else ever remembers. She told me that kind of memory is unusual in children, but it’s almost unheard of in adults. Guess that makes me special. You should be proud of me!”

  “You know I’m proud of you, but you must have gotten that from your father. I certainly don’t have a memory like that.”

  The door opened, and Cash walked in. “Sorry, Mom, but I had trouble finding a place to park. I was about ready to go back to the house, leave the car in the driveway, and just walk over. Where did all these people come from?”

  “I have no idea. Uh-oh, I hear music. Is that our cue?”

  “Almost. Father Brown said we should get ready to walk down the aisle when we heard the first song. There will be a slight pause, and then it’s show time. Julia goes first, and you and I will follow her. Are you okay?” he said noticing the tears that were starting to well up in her eyes.

  “Mother, please don’t cry” Julia said. “I repeat, do not cry. Your makeup will spread all over your face, and you’ll look like a clown in the wedding photos.” Julia quickly dabbed at the corners of Kelly’s eyes with a tissue and said, “Cash did not come all the way from Afghanistan to escort a sobbing woman down the aisle. Am I making myself perfectly clear?”

  “Yes. I’m fine now.” She turned to Cash. “Sounds like it’s time, honey. Let’s do it.”

  He opened the door and Julia, her mother’s maid of honor, began to walk down the aisle towards Doc and Mike, who were both smiling broadly. Kelly and Cash followed her. Every eye in the church was on the handsome young man and the beautiful older woman.

  Kelly smiled lovingly at Mike and Doc and then noticed that Mike was wiping his eyes. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. It was completely out of character for the attractive middle aged man who wore the mantle of the power of his office as sheriff as if it was a second skin. She realized she’d never seen Mike cry or even come close to it.

  Whatever god that’s out there and is in charge of crying, please listen up. I can’t cry. I don’t care if Mike and everyone else is crying, I can’t. Julia’s right. I’ll look like a mess. I promise to never tell a white lie to Mike again if you can get me through this without crying. Honest.

  The ceremony was beautiful and while almost everyone in the audience was quietly or openly weeping with joy and happiness for the couple, the bride remained free from tears. Evidently the gods had listened to her urgent plea.

  Kelly and Mike had opted for a celebration of marriage which didn’t include Mass, because he wasn’t Catholic. Given the fact it was a second marriage, and that he was divorced, even though his ex-wife was now deceased, Father Brown thought it would be a good idea to not have Mass at the wedding. It seemed like only a few minutes had gone by when Father Brown said, “You may now kiss the bride,” and Mike did, heartily, to the amusement of everyone in the church. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Mike and Kelly, along with Doc, Julia, and Cash walked up the aisle. In an unheard of deviance from the norm, as the five of them made their way to the rear of the church, the well-wishers broke out in applause and whistles. Clearly, the couple was well-loved by all of the people in the church. Phil, the town photographer, hoped they’d keep smiling like that for the photographs that were to follow the ceremony.

  *****

  “Mike, if all those people who were at the wedding come to the house, we’re in trouble,” Kelly said as Cash drove them home from St. Patrick’s. “There’s not enough food, and I told Jesse to only plan on about one hundred people. I also told him a lot of them probably wouldn’t have any wine. I don’t know what to do.”

  “You’re not going to do anything. We’re going to enjoy the reception, and if they’re rude enough to show up when they weren’t invited, they just won’t get anything to eat or drink,” he said, bringing her hand up to his lips and kissing it. “Nothing is going to ruin this day, okay?”

  “Yes, but…”

  “No. No buts. This is not our problem. We’re going to enjoy the afternoon with friends and family, and that’s it. Do we have a deal?”

  “Deal,” Kelly said.

  Cash turned and gave Mike a thumbs up. “Glad someone can get her attention. I was never very good at it.”

  “Wish I could say she was this amenable all the time.”

  “Hey guys, it’s my wedding day,” Kelly said, laughing. “That’s enough.”

  When they got back to the house, Jesse’s big white refrigerated truck with the words “The Crush” prominently displayed in large letters on the side was already in the driveway. He’d left directly after the service while the wedding party had to remain for photographs. Roxie and her two friends were in the kitchen, setting up. They had opted to miss the wedding, so they could get ready for the reception.

  “How’s everything going, Roxie?” Kelly asked.

  “We’re fine. Just need some people, but from what I heard from Jesse, that’s not going to be a problem. He said the church was ready to split apart from the number of people who were there. I thought you limited the guest list to one hundred.”

  “I did. I don’t know where they came from, and I hope they don’t come here.”

  “They won’t. They were probably just happy to see the two of you get married and wanted to share your joyous day. By the way, since I missed the wedding in order to get this reception set up, and you know how I love photography, I claim first look at Phil’s photos after you get them from him.”

  “That’s a promise,
and Roxie, thanks for everything.”

  Jesse stood behind the large table that had been set up for wine and soft drinks. White wines were chilling in glass ice buckets, the red wines had been opened so they could breathe, and there was an ice chest filled with Pellegrino, soft drinks, and water behind the table. Kelly looked over at him, surprised to see that he was sweating and seemed to be on edge.

  Wonder what’s up with Jesse? She thought. I’ve never seen him look anything but unflappable.

  Mike clapped his hands in order to get everyone’s attention. “Would everyone please come over to where Jesse is?” Kelly, Roxie, her two friends, Doc, Cash, Julia, and Liz, Doc’s fiancée, joined Mike and Jesse. “Jesse, would you open the two bottles of champagne I asked you to bring?”

  “Mike, we didn’t say anything about champagne,” Kelly said, looking confused.

  “I want to propose a toast before the guests arrive. Jesse, would you hand everyone a glass?” A few moments later he said, “To Kelly, without whom my life would have been meaningless. You fill my soul in a way that nothing else ever has or ever will, and I’ve never been happier than at this moment. I love you. Please, everyone, raise your glasses to Kelly, the woman of my dreams.”

  Julia turned to Kelly and whispered, “Mom, don’t even think about letting those tears spill down your cheeks. I guess I have one job to do today and that’s keeping you from crying and making a mess of yourself.” Once again she wiped away the tears gathering in the corners of Kelly’s eyes.

  Cash walked over to Mike. “Julia and I want to welcome you into our family. There’s no one we’d rather see Mom with. We’re really happy for both of you and if you don’t mind, from now on I’d like to call you Dad.”

  Mike put his arm around Cash and hugged him. “Thank you and I promise I’ll do my best to make her happy.”

  Cash grinned at him. “I have no doubt of that, but if you don’t, let’s put it this way. I carry a gun, too, and I’ve probably had a little more combat training than you have, plus I’m about twenty-five years younger than you are. I don’t mean this in a mean way, but the extra twenty-five pounds that you’re carrying may not be all muscle. I wasn’t exactly sitting at a desk in Iraq, and I sure haven’t been in Afghanistan.”

  Kelly stepped over and hugged both of them. “Cash, I appreciate your trying to take care of me, but I’m a big girl now!” she said smiling at both of them. The moment was broken as the doorbell rang, and within minutes the house was filled with well-wishers. Three hours later Kelly and Mike had lost track of the number of people who had come to eat, drink, and celebrate in their house that overlooked Cedar Bay.

  When Kelly had said good-bye to the last guest, she closed the door, slumped against it and said, “We’re out of food, we’re out of drinks, and I’m out of smiles. If I’m exhausted, all of you must be too. I can’t thank you enough for making this one of the happiest days of my life.”

  “Wait a minute,” Mike said, “only one of the happiest?”

  “I’ve had a few other peak moments in my life, like when I gave birth to these two wonderful people,” she said, motioning towards Cash and Julia. “Don’t push your luck, Sheriff Mike. Anyway, again, thank you all for everything.”

  Jesse left a few moments later. The only things he had to take back to The Crush were the glasses, coolers, and ice chests. Everything else had been consumed by the thirsty celebrating guests, invited and uninvited. The clean-up in the kitchen was just as minimal. Everything had been eaten, so the only thing that had to be done was to wash the serving dishes.

  “Mom, I think all four of us are exhausted,” Cash said. “I’d planned on cooking a nice wedding dinner for you two on my last night here in the States, but I think we’re all too tired to enjoy it. Would it be okay with the three of you if we change clothes, and I’ll just make some sandwiches instead?”

  “Sweetheart, right now that sounds like the best wedding dinner I could possibly have. Okay with you, Mike?”

  “Absolutely. See how easy I’m going to be?”

  “Right,” Kelly said, rolling her eyes.

  CHAPTER 3

  Early the next morning found all four of them standing next to Julia’s bright red Nissan. Kelly, with tears shining in her eyes, said, “Thank you both so much for taking part in our wedding and spending the week with us. I know I speak for Mike as well as myself when I say how much both of us loved having you, and you know you’re always welcome. I may be married to him, but please consider this to be your second home.”

  “Mom, Mike, congratulations again! It was a wonderful wedding, but I’m sure you’re both glad it’s over, and your lives can get back to normal. Cash, are you ready? I’ve got to get you to the San Francisco airport for the first leg of your trip back to Afghanistan, and we’ve got a long drive ahead of us,” Julia said, getting into the Nissan.

  “Cash, I know I sound like an overanxious mother, but I worry so much about you. Please be safe. How much longer do you think you’ll be stationed there?” Kelly asked, chewing on her lower lip, a sign Mike knew meant she was really nervous.

  “Don’t worry about me, Mom, I’m very careful. I only have a few more months to go, so I’ll be even extra careful.” He looked at Julia who was drumming her fingers on the steering wheel. “Okay, I recognize that gesture from when we were kids. Time to go. Love you both!” He got in the car, and they both waved as Julia backed the car out of the driveway and headed south to San Francisco.

  Mike put his arm around Kelly when they got back in the house and said, “Sweetheart, try not to worry. I’ve told you before that he’s street smart, and in that war zone it counts a lot more than a fancy law degree from Harvard.”

  “I know, it’s just...just.” Tears slid down her cheeks. “I’m so worried about him. I still don’t even understand why we’re over there.”

  Mike held her close. “You’re not the only one. All we can do is pray for his safe return, and I predict it will be a safe return. To change the subject, Mrs. Reynolds, since it’s Sunday, and you don’t have to work today, now that your children are gone, I think it might be nice to take a little time and to properly consummate our marriage. Would that be acceptable to you?”

  “Absolutely, Sheriff Mike. Thought you’d never ask.” She turned to the dogs. “Rebel, Lady, stay,” she said, walking arm and arm down the hall with Mike.

  *****

  A few hours later, when they were finished with their honeymoon breakfast, Mike said, “I’d like to go over to The Crush and thank Jesse again for bringing all of the wine and soft drinks, not to mention the glasses. Want to come with me?”

  “Absolutely. He did a wonderful job for us. Let’s take the dogs. I kenneled them most of the day yesterday, and they’re probably chomping at the bit to go somewhere. Why don’t you get ready, and I’ll do the dishes, but don’t get too used to it!”

  “Deal. I’ll do them tonight.”

  “Deal.”

  While she was doing the dishes, she remembered she hadn’t told Mike about Julia and the new man in her life, Brad. When Mike returned to the kitchen, she filled him on Julia’s engagement to Brad and his worry regarding his daughters.

  “I’ve been thinking about their situation while I was doing the dishes. Isn’t there something about a DNA match that would positively determine whether Brad is the father of the girls? I seem to remember seeing some show on television that said it could absolutely be determined with a DNA test whether or not someone was the parent of a particular child. I’ve heard it takes an incredibly long time for most people to get the test results, but I was thinking, since you’re a sheriff, couldn’t you get it done faster?”

  “Yes, I probably could, but are you sure you want to get involved? I’m not sure I do.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “What if I was able to fast track the test and get the results? What if it turned out Brad wasn’t the father of the two little girls? What would happen to the relationship between Julia and Brad o
n the one hand, and my relationship with both of them, on the other hand, if I was the one who told her he wasn’t the father?”

  “I see where you’re going, Mike. Maybe we should tell Julia what we’re thinking and ask her if she’d like your help in getting a DNA test. If she decides she wants to do it, she’ll have to live with the results, but if it turns out he’s not their father…”

  “You mentioned something about Julia needing to see a psychologist after Roger left her. Do you think she’s emotionally stable enough to withstand someone else leaving her? I mean, we don’t know what Brad will do if he finds out he isn’t the father. Don’t forget, neither one of us has even met him. The only thing you know about him is what Julia has told you.”

  “I really don’t know. After your kids get to be a certain age, you only know as much about them as they’re willing to tell you, so in answer to your question, no, I don’t know if she could emotionally hold up if Brad left her. I’ll think about it, and we can talk later.”

  “Let me know what you decide, but I have to tell you my initial reaction is to stay out of it. Okay, time to go see Jesse. The Crush should be open by now. Rebel, Lady, car,” he said.

  The dogs ran out to the car, waiting patiently for someone to open the door for them. They hopped in the backseat and sat down, ready for their next adventure.

  CHAPTER 4

  When they drove past the front of The Crush, Kelly said, “No matter how many times I drive by Jesse’s shop, it always makes me happy. I mean look at the color of that awning, how perfect is purple for a place that sells wine? No wonder people love his shop.”

  Mike pulled his patrol car into the parking lot behind The Crush and said, “Looks like the back door’s open. Jesse must have just gotten here.” He parked the car, got out, and then opened the back door to let the dogs out. Kelly opened the car door on her side and got out as well.