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By the time everyone arrived at the mission for the rehearsal, it was about ten minutes past three. The afternoon had turned warm, and the sundress I’d chosen for the event felt perfect. I’d even taken off the sweater I’d brought just in case. It felt like the nature gods were blessing our wedding. Or at least our practice wedding. Emma rubbed against my hand. I swear she could tell what I was feeling most of the time. Today, it was just pure happiness and joy. It was finally happening. I was going to be Mrs. Greg King. Or Jill Gardner King. Or maybe Jill Gardner-King. Amy used the hyphenated form. It seemed modern. I also needed to make that decision before I signed the marriage license tomorrow. Or did I sign Jill Gardner one more time? I needed to ask my aunt.

We were just about ready to start the first walk-through for tomorrow’s ceremony when a scream came from the building behind us. Greg met my gaze and took off from where he, Jim, and Toby were standing by Pastor Bill at the stone arch.

He touched my arm as he ran by. “Get ready to call 911, but stay here until I call you over.”

“Okay.” I wanted to see who had screamed. I glanced around at the people near me. Aunt Jackie was standing next to Deek, who was serving as an usher. Harrold walked over and led her to a chair, then they sat, waiting. Amy, Darla, and Esmeralda were all standing next to me. Justin followed Greg and Toby toward the building. Jim gathered Beth as he came back to stand with Amanda. Matt followed them from where he’ d been sitting.

“What’s going on?” Matt put an arm around Darla, looking aro und the circle.

“I’m not sure. Did everyone hear a scream? It’s not like it’s a bobcat or a mountain lion, right?” I clicked Emma’s leash on her collar. We’d brought her to the rehearsal since she was going to be our flower girl. Maybe we should have chosen Olivia, the human child at the rehearsal, but I hadn’t known that Sasha was coming until it was too late to g et her a dress.

Evie had come to the rehearsal to hang out with her cousin, Sasha. Now, she sat on one of the white chairs, l ooking worried.

Maybe this wedding wasn’t meant to happen. Wait, where were Sasha and Olivia? They weren’t sitting in the chairs by Evie.

Soon, Toby came back up the path with a shaken-looking Sasha and a confused Olivia. Toby carried the little girl. “Stand down, Jill. There’s nothing to do.”

I put the phone back in my pocket. “Where’s Greg?”

“He’s walking through the building, just to make sure there’s not someone pulling a prank.” He handed Olivia to Evie, who took her to a chair. Sasha followed them. Then he came back to me. “Sasha says she was playing hide-and-seek with Olivia and saw a man in a priest’s robe dissolv e into a wall.”

Sasha must have heard him. “I did see him. He even looked at me, made the sign of the cross, then turned and walked right into a wall. I swe ar. I saw him.”

“Okay, honey. I believe you.” Toby smiled at Sasha, then pulled me farther away. Emma followed us since I still had her on a leash. “There are rumors about a ghostly priest who hangs out at the chapel. I guess anythi ng’s possible.”

“But you, and Greg, think that maybe someone was trying to scare her.” I glanced back at Sasha, who was telling her story to a small crowd gathered around her. “He’s looking for what ? A fake wall?”

“Or a spot someone could hide. Sorry to interrupt your rehearsal with this. As soon as Greg gets back, we’ll get started.” We walked back to where Pastor Bill was now ta lking to Sasha.

He looked up at me. “Are we ready to get started again?”

“As soon as Greg’s back.” I reached down and rubbed Sasha’s shoulder. “Do you need to go home? Evie can take you back to the house.”

She looked up at me, fear still shining in her eyes. “Do you mind? I know I’m being childish, and it is your wedding. But I swear, I saw him. Or I saw something.”

I glanced at Evie. She nodded, answering my unanswered question. “We can go hang at my house and make cookies. I bet you need some sug ar after that.”

“You can still come to dinner if you’re feeling better.” I hugged her. “Don’t worry about us. You do what you need to do. Just know that I’d love to have you at the wed ding tomorrow.”

The look of fear told me all I needed to know. Sasha and Olivia would be no-shows for the wedding. If someone was pranking her and I found out, I was going to give them a pi ece of my mind.

Evie pulled Sasha from her chair and Deek grabbed Olivia. He met my gaze. “I’ll be right back. Olivia’s booster is in my car.”

Greg was coming up the walk from the mission. He put his arm around me. “Never a dull moment around here, right? No sign of a prankster. Maybe our Sasha is just tuned into the other side. Where is she? I wanted to ask her if she’d seen ghosts before.”

“Evie took her back home. She’s wrecked.” I leaned onto his shoulder. “Nothing to worr y about, then?”

Greg looked behind us and groaned. “I didn’t say that. This place is starting to be a problem. Maybe we should have this wedding at Bill’s church.”

“I’m not letting one ghost chase me out of a wedding venue. You know how hard it was to find a place.” I shook my head. “Let’s get this practice over with so we can go eat. I’m starving.”

“When are you not?” He kissed me on the top of my head. “I’m going to mis s you tonight.”

“I suppose ditto is the wrong answer?”

He tapped me on the butt as he walked away. “You’re a brat, Jill Gardner. Which is probably why I love you. Strong women, we’re cursed wit h loving them.”

“Breaking up now wouldn’t make me a runaway bride, would it?” I ca lled after him.

He turned, walking backward away from me, and grinned. “You’d never make i t out of town.”

* * * *

The rest of the rehearsal went off without a hitch and Pastor Bill left for his next appointment. I noticed he kept looking at Greg as the practice went on. I hoped he didn’t think Greg was going to arrest him on the spur of the moment. Besides, he wouldn’t do that until after the wedding. I could assure our minister of that, at least.

Sadie was one of the first at The Wooden Bench as we gathered for the rehearsal dinner. She hugged me. “Less than twenty-four hours and you’ll be M rs. Greg King.”

“Are you taking Bill’s name when you get married?” Sadie would know all about this custom. I sat down in the lobby area, where we were waiting for our separate room to open. Greg was off looking for the catering director, who was supposed to have already opened the door. Maybe we’d have a ghost sighting at the dinner too. Things happened on the coast. And I wasn’t having the best luck with my wedding events.

“Of course I am. I guess it’s an old-fashioned notion, right? ‘Wives submit to your own husbands.’ I’ve always dreamed of being a wife and a mother. I’ve done both now, but I guess I want to jump into t he fray again.”

“You two will be so happy. You were made for each other.” We’d sat down on a bench covered in detailed carvings in a Spanish style. I hoped it was a replica and not an antique. “Honestly, I’m just glad we’re finishing this up. When a wedding gets pushed off so many times, it starts to lo se its wonder.”

Sadie took my hand. “How is Amanda doing? She looks good. Strong.”

“A lot better. She’s lost a lot of muscle strength, even I can see that, but her tests are all fine.” Amanda had chosen to ride to the rehearsal dinner with Jim and Beth. Probably to give Greg and me a minute alone. “It’s been nice spending time with her this week.”

Sadie shifted in her seat. “So now can we talk about the elephant in the room? Greg has to know Bill would never hurt another soul. Why hasn’t he cleared him in the death of that terrible man?”

“Sadie, you know Greg doesn’t talk to me about these things. He’ll find the killer, and everything will go b ack to normal.”

“The deacons are upset with Bill for letting that man needle him into a response. He’s just so protective of the work he does. He truly believes he’s doing God’s work. That New Hope place is a den of iniquity. Those poor parents. Someone should call in a welfare check on those children.” She turned toward me. “You went to that open house, right? Did you see the children?”

I shook my head. “They said they didn’t want to commercialize the children in that way.” I’d thought it odd that most of the women and all of the children had been kept away from the open house too. But this wasn’t the time to talk about it. “Sadie, don’t worry so much. Bill is goi ng to be fine.”

She leaned her head on my shoulder. “I know I shouldn’t bother you about such stuff on your wedding weekend. Bill even told me not to bring it up. I’ll be good. I’ll promise.”

“You’re fine. I know you’re worried. We’ve been through cases before that looked different than they turned out. Just trust the system. Greg will figure it out.” I hoped that was true, but we didn’t have any longer to talk about it as Greg was coming back with a young man in tow hopefully with keys to open the doors.

As I stood, the others came in the large doors from the parking lot and I was surrounded by people wanting to tell me how lovely tomorrow’s ceremony w as going to be.

“As long as the weather holds.” Aunt Jackie pointed o ut the obvious.

I turned to Esmeralda. “Do you have any contacts who know Mother Nature?”

She laughed and hugged me. “I wish I did, but mythical creatures aren’t usually hanging out in the spirit world, no matter what you see on television.”

“Well, I’m going to pray for good weather tonight,” Sadie offered. “We’ll see what He says.”

As we got seated, a large floral arrangement was brought into the room. I smiled at my aunt, who was seated next to me. The colors were in my blue-and-silver theme, with white carnations, blue cornflowers, and tulips that looked silver in the light. “You didn’t have to do this, but it’s stunning.”

“I didn’t order this.” Aunt Jackie stood and rooted through the arrangement and found a card. She read it, then handed it to me. “That ’s unexpected.”

I read the card aloud for Greg. “Blessed nuptials tomorrow. When two become one in the Lord’s eyes, nothing can come between them. Your new friends, Roger and Maryanne.”

“Roger and Maryanne. Please tell me you know someone else by those names.” Greg tucked the card in his jacket pocket.

“No such luck.” I stared at the too-perfect floral arrangement on our table. The Matthewses from the New Hope church had sent us a gift. Somehow, it felt more like a warning or a reminder that they were still her e. Watching us.

“Don’t worry.” Greg turned my head away from the flowers. “I’ll deal with it on Monday. This is our weekend. Come hell or high wa ter, remember?”

I smiled at his use of one of my favorite phrases. “We’re still getting mar ried tomorrow?”

“I’ll be at the mission at eleven o’clock with bells on. ” He kissed me.

“Bells are going to make quite a racket,” I teased as we were se rved our salad.

The dinner went smoothly, without any more hiccups. I was in the restroom, checking my makeup and hair before I went back out for dessert, when Sasha came into the room.

“Jill, I’m so sorry for the disturbance this afternoon. I don’t know why I reacted that way.” Sasha gave me a quick hug. “Do y ou forgive me?”

“If I saw a ghost, I’d freak out too. No worries. I’m just glad it wasn’t something serious. I’m so glad you came tonight.” I squeezed her forearms. Sasha had worked for me for years while she got ready to go to school. “It’s so good to see you and Olivia. I’m so proud of all you’ve accomplished.”

She sighed and looked into the mirror, checking her hair. “Thanks. Honestly, my success has made it impossible for either Toby or I to see a future between us. We’re ending whatever this is this weekend. I can’t move Olivia back here and keep my job. Toby won’t leave South Cove. Not even for us. So we’ve decided to be just friends.”

“Oh, Sasha, I’m so sorry.” I watched as she brushed tears off her face. “If being at the wedding tomorrow is too much, I ’d understand.”

She turned to me. “Oh no, missy. You’re not getting off that easily. That ghost isn’t going to scare me away and neither is a soon-to-be ex-boyfriend. Both Toby and I are grownups. We want to be here to celebrate with you and Greg. This wedding is long overdue.”

“That’s what everyone keeps saying.” I gave her a quick hug. “I’m so glad you’re here. I need to get back before Greg thinks I’m sneaking out and sends som eone after me.”

Sasha laughed and waved me off. “If Toby’s looking for me, I’ll be back out in a minute. Men in law enforcement do know how to keep tabs on those they lov e, don’t they?”

As I made my way back to the banquet room, I wondered about Sasha’s last line. Had the distance been the only thing that had separated the couple? Or had Toby’s need to have control over his life taken over when he thought about the future? The man had spreadsheets for everything. The one thing I did know was that their relationship wasn’t my business. I had enough to deal with in my own a lmost-marriage.

I shivered with excitement. I hadn’t felt this giddy in years. I was going to be Mrs. Greg King. And whatever our coupling would bring in the future, I was looking forward to it. Even if I decided to keep my old name. Or hyphenate it. Or ta ke Greg’s name.

Those were just details. Our relationship was more than that. Marriage was the joining of souls—one thing the New Hope founders had gotten right on their card. The sentiment was beautiful. Now, if only the source of the flowers didn’t give me the willies.

After dessert, Greg stood and pulled me up next to him. Then he addressed the room. “Thank you all for coming tonight and helping me get this one to the altar. It’s been a long journey to tomorrow’s ceremony and I want my fiancée to know that I’ve treasured every moment of our lives together so far. Even when we fought because she was wrong.”

I kissed him, then turned to add my part of the speech. “You notice he didn’t mention the fights where I was right. I’m sure he just wanted to use the word “fiancée” one last time, since tomorrow I’ll be his wife. The old ball and chain. I also want to thank my family and friends for being here with us. It means a lot to both of us.”

We raised our glasses. Greg looked at me, then at the table full of our closest friends. “Thank you, South Cove, for b eing our home.”

As we were saying good night to everyone, Jim came up to us with Beth and Amanda by his side. “Greg, where are your keys? I’ll run and get your bag.”

“Maybe Mom can have my room and I’ll go home with Jill. I hate leaving her alone with all that’s going on.” His eyes drifted to the flowers still on the table. We’d decided not to bring them home. The gesture sti ll felt creepy.

“No way, man. She’s got Toby just a few steps away in his apartment after we close down the bar.” Jim winked at me. “Beth’s taking Mom to the house now while we get you to your party.”

“I’m going to stay with Amanda until you get home.” Beth stepped up and gave me a hug. “I don’t want to intrude on you and your friends.”

“You’re family, it wouldn’t be an intrusion,” I reminded her, but I could see Amanda was worn out. “If you change your mind later, we’ll be at South Cove Winery. Darla got us the back room for the event.”

“As tired as I am, she might be there sooner than she thinks.” Amanda hugged me. “I’m so excited to have a new d aughter, Jill.”

Her words made me tear up, but after they’d left us alone, Greg pulled me into the hallway near the exit. “Look, I’m not going to overreact on this, but if you need anything, call. I’m not sure our friends at New Hope have the best intentions. After Toby drops Sasha off at the winery, I’m having him put the flowers in the vault in the station. I want someone to c heck for bugs.”

“Bugs that are not in the insect family?” I snuck a look back at the banquet room, where the floral arrange ment still sat.

He tapped my nose. “That’s why I’m marrying you. You r quick brain.”

“Do you think someone at the church killed Kane?” I whispered, hoping the sound wouldn’t carry back into the floral arrangement and its possible microphone. I’d been thinking it was more likely one of the parents from the group on Facebook that focused on bashing New Hope and cal ling it a cult.

“Let’s just say I’m curious.” He kissed me. “Have fun with your friends.”

I waved at Amy, who was waiting to ride back to my house with me to drop off the Jeep. “You too. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“You can count on it. Bell s or no bells.”