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Even though the rest of the night was uneventful, I slept poorly, again. I’m sure it had more to do with my upcoming wedding than the attempted break-in or the unsolved murder that occurred at the place I was g etting married.

Man, it’s hard to find a good wedding venue. At least one that didn’t have a history of murder on the grounds. The La Purísima Mission already had a famous murder and ghost story attached to the site. I just hadn’t thought there would be another murder so close to m y wedding date.

At least we’d gotten the ghost sighting over and done with, since Sasha had seen the unfortunate friar last night. Maybe he’d stay away today. Didn’t ghosts have to build up their ectoplasm stuff to be seen by the living? I’d have to check with Esmeralda, who was due at the house any minute. She’d know the rules of the ghost world if anyone did.

True to his word, Greg had disappeared with the Jeep sometime this morning before I woke up. A Bakerstown police cruiser sat on the street outside my house. My backyard was fenced, but that hadn’t stopped someone from escaping that way last night when the police showed up after Amanda’s call.

I poured another cup of coffee and watched as the hairdresser and makeup artist who had arrived with my aunt rearranged my living room to look like the backstage of a Broadway production. A rack stood in the corner, waiting for the bridesmaids’ dresses to be added to my wedding dress, which I’d moved downstairs and onto the rac k this morning.

Toby poked his head in the front door and frowned until he saw me over by the kitchen watching the chaos. He nodded at me, then pointed to the kit chen. “Coffee?”

“Coffee, donuts, cookies. Sadie did a treat delivery here this morning. We even have fresh fruit in case you’re afraid of not fitting into your tuxedo.” Emma and I followed him.

“Cool.” He filled a travel mug and grabbed a donut. “Are yo u ready to go?”

“Me?” I looked down at my sweats and flip-flops. I was clearly not ready. “The wedding is n’t for hours.”

“Not you. Although you do look lovely, boss.” He winked at me as he ate another donut.

“Now you’re just sucking up. Why are you still here? Did something happen last night when you were on the couch?” A headache was threatening, so I refilled my coffee. I considered adding a shot of Kahlúa to the mix, but figured there would be too much alcohol floating around today as it was. I didn’t want to drink so much that I slurred my vows. Or worse, tripped down the aisle. There’s a reason that women traditionally have help gettin g to the altar.

“I’m here for our girl. Emma has a grooming appointment. She needs her hair all pretty for the event too. I’ll have her back before the pictures at ten. The florist is making her a necklace in your colors. I don’t think we can get her to drop petals, but she’ll look festive.” Toby grabbed her leash and a third donut. “See you soon.”

“Hey, has Greg heard anything about last night’s break-in? Did they find anyone?” I tried to catch him before he stepped into the madhouse that used to be my living room.

“Not talking to you about police business, not today, Jill.” He waved and disappeared out the front door with my dog. She didn’t even look back.

“Well, isn’t that something?” I sat down and looked at the notepad in front of me. According to the schedule my aunt had made, I was already five minutes late for my shower. I grabbed my coffee cup and headed upstairs, letting my aunt deal with the s etup questions.

It was probably good that Emma was off-site during this craziness anyway, I thought as I came back downstairs. My hair was still wet but I had on clean shorts and a tank. I wore socks, just in case my feet found any speck of dirt in the living room. My aunt had laid out my clothes when I was in the shower. The wedding dress had its own set of undergarments that I’d bought with the dress.

Yesterday, I’d packed a suitcase for our night at the Madonna Inn, a well-known, pink hotel that catered to honeymooners and romantic weekends. I’d put the suitcase in the Jeep before I’d gone to the rehearsal. If I’d forgotten anything, the hotel wasn’t too far from civilization, so we could run to a store.

I kept going over items in my head, making sure I hadn’t missed anything. Like getting Emma to the groomer. Someone else had set that up, probably Greg, and I blessed him for the forethought. I packed her a travel bag with a bowl, water, treats, dog waste bags, and a small sack of food, just in case. I set it by the door, hoping I’d remember it as we left.

Aunt Jackie stood by me and pointed back to the hairdresser’s chair. “You’re late . What’s that?”

As we walked over to the chair, I explained it was Emma’s overnight bag. Aunt Jackie nodded, then snapped her fingers and Evie appeared. “You’re driving over to the mis sion, correct?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Evie reached out and hugged me. “It’s you r wedding day!”

The hairdresser was already putting product in my hair and held up her hands so Evie wouldn’t get stuf f on her dress.

“Put this in your car and don’t forget to give it to Toby as soon as we get to the venue. You are following the limo, right?” Aunt Jackie stared at Evie.

“Of course I am. Sasha and Olivia are coming in her car.” Evie smiled at me. “I’ll be right back.”

My aunt had the power of an army behind her. My army from the bookstore. I leaned back and let the hairdresser do her work. “You know you’re not the boss o f her anymore.”

“Oh, dear, I should think you’d know by now that I’m always the boss.” She squeezed my arm. “You’re going to be a be autiful bride.”

Tears started to threaten to fall, but I blinked them away. It was too soon to be crying. However, since I didn’t have makeup on yet, maybe this was the time. “Thank you f or everything.”

“Oh, this was a joy, dear. A joy.” She glanced at the door. “It’s just too bad your mother coul dn’t see this.”

Before I could respond, Amy, Darla, and Esmeralda surrounded me. Amy held a tray filled with mimosas. “A glass to celebrate this jo yous occasion.”

“One glass,” I warned her. “I don’t want anyone throwing up du ring pictures.”

“We’re smarter than that, but no promises after the wedding.” Esmeralda waited for everyone, including my aunt, to take a glass. “To our dear Jill. She came to South Cove looking for a new profession and found a home. And we’re the better for the addition to our family.”

Now tears were imminent. I knew red eyes were almost impossible to cover with makeup and I wasn’t looking like a hell-spawned raccoon for my wedding pictures. We drank and I waved them all away. “Go get pretty. I want us all to look so hot we me lt the camera.”

By some miracle, everyone was dressed, hair done, makeup applied and ready to go when the limo arrived. My aunt handed me a bag with my sparkly silver shoes and had Evie lean down and help me into a pair of white slippers wi th solid soles.

I felt like a princess. And now I knew why there were ladies-in-waiting with the princess in fairy tales. No one could do anything by themselves in these poofy dresses. We moved out to the limo, and I saw Deek coming up the path. “What are y ou doing here?”

“Your aunt asked me to make sure the house was locked up after everyone left. Don’t worry, I’ll be at the wedding with bells on.” He pulled out his phone and took a selfie with me. “You look amazing.”

“Thanks. And thanks for doing this.” I should have thought of it, especially after last night, but apparently my aunt had things in hand.

“No problem. Did someone already take Emma?” He paus ed at the gate.

I nodded. “Toby’s bringing her. She’s a t the groomer.”

“You girls and your beauty appointments. You know we love you without all that stuff too.” He waved as I got into the limo. Amy and Esmeralda tucked my dre ss in after me.

“I feel helpless. Is this a normal reaction?” I asked after Amy, Darla, and Esmeralda had gotten into the limo. Aunt Jackie was already in Harrold’s car and Evie would b e following us.

“Like leading a lamb to slaughter,” Esm eralda replied.

Amy slapped her arm. “Stop that. She’ll dive out of the car. We need to get these two married before anything else happens.”

Realization hit me. “I didn’t see Beth or Amanda this morning.”

“Your aunt got them through the hair and makeup first, then sent them over to be with Greg and Jim. Don’t worry about it. They’re fine.” Darla checked her makeup. “Last night was cra zy, wasn’t it?”

“You don’t even know what happened after we got home,” I responded, and told the group about the attempted break-in. Esmeralda filled in parts I didn’t know.

“I was wondering why there was a police cruiser in front of your house this morning,” Amy said after we were through explaining. “I thought it was Greg’s way of keeping you from running.”

“All he had to do was get me in this dress and I would be trapped,” I teased, and held up the bag that had my shoes. “Add in these, and I wou ldn’t get far.”

Amy pulled her phone out of her bag. “Time for candid shots. No one talk or laugh so I don’t get the ones with crazy mouths on all of you.”

Amy’s warning didn’t work. By the time we reached the mission, we were all laughing. The limo pulled up and my door suddenly opened. “Deek, how did you beat us? Did you get the ho use locked up?”

“Of course I did. Those people were quick to clear out. I didn’t set the living room back in order, though. Should I go back and do that?” Deek looked ba ck toward town.

“Don’t worry about it,” I said as I took the hand he offered. “Thanks for serving as an usher. I a ppreciate you.”

“I write at night when it’s slow in the bookstore. I’m doing this so you’ll owe me and you don’t claim the book was a work product of the bookstore and steal all my royalties when I make it big.” He grinned at me.

“I didn’t know I could do that. Thanks for the tip.” I leaned in and kissed his cheek, then brushed off the lipstick. “Seriously, thank you f or all you do.”

He smiled and helped Amy out. “Have you guys been doing shots in the limo? Jill’s acting weird. She’s all lo vey and stuff.”

I tapped Deek on his shoulder. “Hey, I’m alw ays like this.”

Amy laughed as she took my arm and led me to a golf cart, where she settled me on the back seat, facing the rear. My dress flowed over the entire seat. She climbed in the front and smiled at the driver. “No, no you’re not. We’re ready to go take pictures. Hold on, Jill.”

The day seemed to fly by after that. I kept looking over my shoulder. Would I see an apparition? Would a scream interrupt the ceremony? Would Emma run off barking after a deer or rabbit as she walked down the aisle in her flower collar? My worst fear was I’d fall and break something, causing one more delay in marrying Greg.

“Don’t be nervous, dear.” My aunt kissed me on the cheek as Deek stood by, waiting to take her to her seat. She was the last to be seated. Then we’d start the ceremony. “You’ll look like you’re grimacing in your photos. You want to relax your face and smile. This is supposed to be a happy day. Please at least act like you’re happy.”

“Now, Jackie, you’re making it worse. Jill, you’re beautiful, and any man in his right mind would be honored to have you as his wife. Greg’s lucky to have such an outstanding life partner.” My new(ish) Uncle Harrold always knew the right things to say. He pressed a coin into my hand. “It’s an antique Greek drachma. My grandfather gave it to my mother on the day of her wedding. I haven’t had the opportunity until now to pass this on to a daughter. I hope you’ll accept it as a symbol of my confidence that you will have a long and happy marriage. Just like my parents and their parent s before them.”

“Don’t you want to hold on to this for your son?” I felt the weight of the coin as well as the family herit age in my hand.

“No, dear, it doesn’t work that way. I have to pass it on to a daughter or someone I consider my daughter. I only have two. You and Lille. And you got married first.” He curled my hand around the coin. “Now you need to pass it on to your son, who will pass it again. Generation to generation. It’s the way the world works, and traditions keep us human.”

Great, one more reason for Lille to hate me if she found out about the family tradition. But that was my issue, not Harrold’s. “Thank you for this. I t means a lot.”

“The coin has a high monetary value as it represents your dowry, but what you bring as a person to your marriage is of even more value. You are priceless, Jill. And hopefully, Greg understands that.” He folded my fingers around the coin and kissed my hand.

Amy handed me Emma’s leash. “It’s time to send her down the aisle to Greg.”

I bent down to kiss my dog and aimed her toward Greg. She’d practiced this move several times on Friday. Hopefully, having all the people around wouldn’t freak her out. I wrapped her leash around and hooked it so she wouldn’t drag the leather. “Go get Greg, Emma. Go find Daddy.”

She woofed as I nodded to Greg, who had a treat in his hand. Emma hurried to the altar, and I heard the audience giggling at our unconventional flower girl. Then Darla and Matt walked down the aisle. Esmeralda and Toby were next. And finally, Amy and Justin. Jim was Greg’s best man, and he was already at the altar with him. Beth would join my side once Amy arrived and even out the optics. My aun t had insisted.

Finally, it was just me and Harrold standing in the walkway, waiting for the “Bridal Chorus” to sound. He kissed the top of my head, probably trying to not mess up my makeup or the veil. “Thank you for choosing me f or this honor.”

“Thank you for accepting.” I leaned my head toward his and hoped I wasn’t crying, yet. I didn’t want to test my mascara’s waterproof claim. The music started and I whispered, “Just don’ t let me trip.”

The squeeze of my hand and a chuckle let me know he’d heard me. And then the music started and I blacked out.

The next thing I remember was walking back down the aisle getting pelted with birdseed. So I’d said all the right things at the right time. I just wished I could remember the ceremony. As we moved to the reception line that would lead people into the area with the food, an open bar, a dance floor, and lots of tab les, I saw him.

A shimmery outline of a padre. The one who guarded the mission and blessed the couples who chose to be married there. The ghost smiled and I gasped. I felt Greg’s arm a round my waist.

“Are you okay? Too much input today? Did you eat anything?” Greg peppered questions at me as the ghost slowly disappeared. I didn’t turn to look at Greg, I didn’t want to b reak the spell.

I smiled as he vanished. Only then did I turn to my new husband. “Did I eat? Do you even k now me at all?”

He chuckled and leaned down to kiss me. “It was a dumb qu estion. Sorry.”

My feet were killing me by the time the reception line was finished. My high heels were sinking into the grass where we stood. Greg had been informed more than once that he’d finally bought the cow, and I was told that I looked beautiful for a ball and chain.

As the last couple left to find the champagne, I turned to Greg. “After that line, I’m sure you’re regretting thi s whole thing.”

He pulled me into a full-blown kiss. One that in cartoon land would have blown off my shoes and made my eyes pop out. In our world, it reminded me that we weren’t just best friends. We were soulmates. His eyes were smiling when he let me loose. “I think not.”

“Good, because I’m so glad we’re finally married.” I glanced at the tent where the reception was being held. “Would they notice i f we left now?”

Greg put his arm around my waist and pulled me close. “I’m afraid so. Let’s go party with our friends for a bit, then we’ll head off to the hotel. I hear the Madonna Inn has a unique restroom in t he restaurant.”

“That’s what you’re looking forward to? The men’s room urinal?” I followed him into the tent. I knew he was teasing me, but still.

He turned and took my hand, leading me to the head table. “Oh, that’s just the beginning, dear wife. The beginning of our adventur e-filled life.”