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“Ms. Bravo, Ms. Stein,” a tall redheaded woman said as she smiled too broadly. It was more like an animalistic bearing of teeth than a welcome. “I was beginning to worry you weren’t going to make it. Nearly all the other guests elected to fly in so we could collect them from the airport.”

Carmela recognized the wedding planner’s irritating voice from all the calls and messages. “Ms. Rodriquez and I love a good drive,” she replied.

The planner’s face screwed up in confusion. “I’m sorry, do I have the wrong information? I have your guest as Elizabeth Stein. Allergic to dairy, bees, and pet dander.”

Maintaining a pleasant expression, Carmela tried not to look weirded out that she’d catalogued that information in her head.

“You don’t have to worry about me. I’m not allergic to anything, right honey?” Rhiannon smiled at both of them.

“I’ll let you two sort this out while I go check us in and get

our key,” she announced before planting an unexpected kiss on Carmela’s lips and flittering away.

The wedding planner’s eyes flashed with panic for a split second before she straightened and smiled. “Right, this doesn’t have to be a big deal. Let’s just get some information,” she said to herself, looking like a person pulled so tight that snapping was not only inevitable but imminent.

On a bound leather notebook, the names Jacqueline Hare and Vera Lerner were engraved just above the wedding date.

When the planner opened it, Carmela caught a glimpse of the guest list. It was much shorter than she expected. No more than twenty-something names. A very intimate a air.

“I’ll just make the adjustments,” the planner said, her green eyes dull and frazzled. “Let me get some information.”

As the woman asked some background questions Carmela could only guess the answers to, her eyes drifted to the portrait. The image of Jackie, her blonde hair in an elaborate updo and those piercing dark eyes, turned her skin to ice. At least the woman in the white suit standing behind her with salt and pepper hair cut short looked human.

I hope I don’t regret this.

“Ready, babe?” Rhiannon appeared at her side and intertwined their fingers. “I’ve got our key,” she said, holding up a card with Dr. and Mrs. Lerner printed on it.

“Is the toilet paper going to have their names on it too?”

Carmela muttered under her breath, earning a laugh from Rhiannon and a stink eye from the planner.

Turning around, Carmela gripped

Rhiannon’s hand tighter and headed for the door.

“Wait,” the planner called before dashing o to a table full of flowers. There were only two purple orchid leis left.

“Jacqueline and Vera handed these out personally. I’m sorry you didn’t arrive in time for it. It’s not quite the same, but

I’m happy to welcome you both.” She placed the ring of flowers over their shoulders.

Rhiannon smiled. “Oh good, I’m glad we didn’t miss a sacred and important part of Polynesian culture the happy couple is using for its novelty.”

Carmela didn’t wait for a response from the horrified wedding planner, and instead spun around and pulled Rhiannon out the door.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

THE WALK to the cottage was like strolling through a botanical garden. In the cool breeze and salty ocean air, it was a little bit of paradise Rhiannon had never experienced. Following the trail, they walked around dozens of little cottages of di erent sizes surrounded by palm trees. Each cottage either had a view of a small private garden, the ocean, or one of two pools.

As they neared the top of the loop and read the numbers on each of the cottages, it became evident they had one backing up to the ocean.

“Do you think they’ve rented this whole place?”

Rhiannon asked, her eyes fixed on the horizon and boats cruising in the distance.

“It’s a real dream wedding, huh?” Carmela released her hand as they approached number fourteen.

“Maybe for some people,” she replied. “It’s certainly not my dream. Give me an elopement in the mountains somewhere any day. We live in south Florida. What’s so special about a beach?”