Page 42 of Macaron Massacre
So, Rich gambled away all of his earnings. And he recently won big? Very, very interesting.
I’m about to dive into the crowd myself when Nell crops up, her forehead wrinkled with concern. “I just heard the strangest thing in the other room.”
“What was it?” I hiss, pulling her in by the hand, not at all concerned of what it might look like that I’m speaking to thin air.
“Mayor Nash and his opponent, Scott something or other, had a private chat before the debate began, and Winslow and I thought it best we listen in. Of course, they mentioned the deadly incident.”
“What did they say?”
“Mayor Nash said something or the other about it. Taking a guess that it could have been a robbery gone wrong. And Scott said that he heard that the killer asked Louie the Lion and his men to put a hit out on Richie.”
“I knew it!”
Nell’s body ignites in sparks, and she shakes her head. “Scott said he heard Louie said no. Whoever put in the request was left to their own devices.”
“Either they found someone else or they did it themselves. Or Louie was lying. Interesting. I’ll try to speak with Scott Dushane myself. And I’ll share that with Noah as soon as I can. Thank you, Nell.” I pull her in for a brief embrace and soak in the feel of her body—even if she’s more of an idea than a corporal frame, she still feels very much real.
Nell sticks around and watches as we have a big lunch catered by her very own restaurant, the Honey Pot Diner. She watches as we eat macarons, and I sit with Keelie, soaking in every moment of my sister’s shining moment. I cry with Lainey as she opens a gift from my mother, my sister, and me—a tiny blue heart made from the fabric of our father’s favorite dress shirt.
“Thank you,” she weeps over us. “It will be my something blue at the wedding. I’ll tuck it into my bouquet.” She brushes the tears from her glowing hazel eyes. “This day was perfect. Thank you to you all.” She looks to Meg and me and takes a deep breath. “And now I ask the two of you to give me one more gift for my wedding. Will the two of you please be my matrons of honor?”
Meg and I burst into tears ourselves as we enthusiastically accept the offer.
“Group hug!” Mom sings as she embraces the three of us and pulls us into a holy huddle.
Lainey tips her mouth toward my ear and whispers, “Nothing can go wrong for my wedding, Lottie. Please. Nothing must go wrong.”
I know what she means. I realize that my invitation comes with great apprehension.
I pull back and nod to my beautiful sister. “It won’t. I promise.”
And how I hope I didn’t just shed a lie.
Chapter 15
The bridal shower was an outrageous success. Lainey’s condo is a virtual maze of boxes that snakes from the living room to the kitchen as evidenced by the pictures she’s showing Keelie, Bear, and me. The bakery is at a lull. It’s almost closing time. Lainey stopped by after a full day at the library, and she’s still glowing from the first in a string of memorable events in her life.
“Lainey”—I shake my head in wonder as I stare at the endless packages piled in her foyer—“where are you going to put all this stuff?”
“Oh”—she flicks her wrist as if it were no big deal—“it’s out with the old and in with the new.”
Bear grunts, “So, Forest is moving in with you?”
“Nope. I’m selling my condo, and he’s selling his cabin, his spare truck, and the dingy he calls a boat. We’re buying a house.”
Keelie gasps. “Please tell me you’re not leaving Honey Hollow.”
“No way,” she says to my relief. “We’re house-hunting right here in town. Forest and I are hoping to buy a starter before the wedding. I mean, I realize the timing might not be perfect, with escrow and everything that can go wrong with that—but at or around the time of our wedding, we should be able to move into our very first home!”
The three of us break out into congratulatory cheers.
“That’s wonderful.” I lunge over the counter and pull her in for a quick embrace. “So much is happening for you. I honestly couldn’t be happier if it were me.”
“Well, it will be you, one day very, very soon. I need you to get hitched so our kids can be the same ages and grow up together.” Her fingers fly to her lips. “I’m sorry! That was so insensitive of me. I’ve been all over the place lately. I’m ornery, angry, and demanding. It’ll be a miracle if Forest shows up at our wedding at all.”
I slide a plate of colorful macarons her way, and she pops one into her mouth in haste.
“Of course, he’ll show up. You’ve been in love for as long as I can remember.” With the exception of that nasty breakup last summer which led to Lainey revenge dating Hook Redwood’s brother, Tanner, who was brutally murdered. I shudder at the thought.