Page 74 of Head Room

“Uh-huh.I read it at the library when I got there early for the program.It said you have to have all the events in one place.”

We definitely weren’t following that advice.

Friday at 11 a.m., we would be married at the Catholic church in Cody with the early arrivers from my close family and the wedding party, followed by a lunch back in Sherman at the Haber House Hotel.That night we had a cookout planned at the Circle B for all the out-of-towners and a few locals.

Saturday afternoon was what I thought of as the main event, gathering all the guests to celebrate at Tom and Tamantha’s church.

It would be followed by a reception at the Sherman Western Frontier Life Museum with a buffet catered by the Haber House Hotel.

That’s five events in five places.Sure to send that bride magazine article-writer into a tizzy.

Alas, also at the moment sending Tamantha into a tailspin.“The magazine says you have to do that or the bride will befrazzled.You’llbefrazzled.”

I could tell her I’d resolved to absolutely not be a stereotypical bride-with-nerves, but she’d previously shown herself to be unimpressed by my resolves.

“You know why we didn’t plan all the events in one place?”

She shook her head.

“Because your father and I have multiple ways and places we want to celebrate.We made that decision deliberately.We also spread out the events.”

She considered that.“So that should help with not being frazzled?”

“Absolutely.You know why else I will not be frazzled?”

Except, possibly, about meeting my in-laws for the first time and wanting to make a good impression, while knowing they were at least somewhat estranged from the man I love and no matter what, I was on his side of any cause for the estrangement.

“Why?”That small question reminded me of her child status.That happened rarely compared to Tamantha shocking me with her more-adult-than-most-adults approach.Not that I was comparing her to any specific adults, mind you.Certainly not a certain adult who was marrying her father soon.

“Because we have you and my mom.No bride could be frazzled with you two planning the wedding.”

Her serious expression lightened.“No groom could be frazzled either, right?”

“You are exactly right.”

“Good.I’m hungry.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

“Elizabeth Margaret Danniher.”The woman’s voice on the other end of the phone didn’t ask, it declared my identity.

“Yes.Is this...Kit?”

My answer was far wimpier than her greeting, but that matched our realities, too.The woman is fierce.Maybe she had to be to carve out a career as a midlist author in earlier decades of traditional publishing and now in independent publishing.

“Of course.Got your email.How are you?”

It had to be past midnight at her Outer Banks home.

Tamantha was in bed in the first-floor bedroom that had become hers.I was watching the news on my bedroom TV.

“I’m fine.”Before I could consider, I overrode that blandness with the truth.“Better than fine.I’m getting married soon to a man even you wouldn’t intimidate and who has a daughter you would respect and vice versa.”

“Hah!”she snorted in brief appreciation.“I knew you’d dumped that corporate type.Glad to hear you’ve found a good one now.And with a worthy daughter.”

“They’re the best,” I said simply.“And work is...different.Rough patches to get to this point, and new challenges now.As a matter of fact, I’ve been involved in investigating a number of deaths — murders — out here, along with colleagues.We’ve developed something of a reputation.”

“Have you?”There was a note in that response that flicked at my spidey senses, but before I could pursue it, she added, “We’ll have to catch up about that sometime, but I don’t suppose that’s why you called.”