Chapter 43
CHAPTER 43
G irls’ Chat
Bizzy: Hey Trixie, how’s the case coming along? Are things finally calming down, or is there still trouble brewing?
Lottie: Yes, do tell! I’ve been on pins and needles over here! I swear, if you need backup, Everett and Noah are already itching to step in!
Hattie: Ooh, and don’t leave out the juicy bits. I’ve got my kettle ready, and I’m prepared to spill tea right along with you.
Trixie: Well, let’s just say it’s been one wild ride! Things got heated—literally. There was a food fight. And the killer? Let’s just say, she’s not a fan of my sleuthing skills or the fact the takedown evolved into a food fight that included a few baked goods. But we’ve got her cornered. Ransom made the arrest, and now it’s all about tying up loose ends.
Bizzy: Food fight?! I need details, please!
Lottie: I’m in awe of anyone who could turn a formal event into a bakery battle royale.
Hattie: You know what they say, never underestimate a determined bride-to-be! Also, remind me not to get on your bad side. Food fights and takedowns? Impressive!
Trixie: Haha, yeah, I’ve got my hands full. But you know what they say, all’s well that ends with cake! And luckily, I still get to have some.
Ask me how I spent the early hours of the morning on one of the most important days of my life?
If you think it was something amazing, like private access to the breakfast buffet on the lido deck, then you’d be sorely mistaken.
And I’m just sore.
I’ll tell you how I spent it.
Zumba.
Yes, Zumba .
Elodie carted me off while I was still half-unconscious and made me wiggle, jiggle, and certainly not giggle for one hour straight. I didn’t think there would be an official Zumba class on the day we disembarked, but there was. I suppose we need to satisfy the sadists among us, too.
The class was packed with enthusiastic women, and the entire time all I could think about was how wasteful it was of them not to be hitting the buffet one last time. They’ve got Boston cream pie donuts now, for Pete’s sake.
Elodie begins to hum and I take a moment to glare at her.
“I’m going to kill you,” I say flat out as we head for the elevator.
It’s the final day of the cruise, and the Emerald Queen is back right where it started from—New York, New York.
Typically, I’d be forced to leave the ship with Bess and Nettie, but Wes has generously allowed me to stay on board and I don’t have to surrender my cabin this time either. He let Bess and Nettie stay on board, too.
I should really get hitched more often—but only to Ransom. Who’s to say we can’t renew our vows at every new port of departure? And, of course, that would mean a honeymoon in every new port as well.
A dreamy sigh expels from me.
“You’ll have to do better than that,” Elodie says as we navigate a sea of glum faces dragging along a sea of suitcases on wheels. The passengers are never as pumped up to leave as they are to get here. “You’re going to have a wedding night. You’ll have to put some oomph into it. And I do mean oomph .”
I shoot her a look. “You’re lucky I can walk.”
“And if you’re lucky, you won’t be able to walk tomorrow.”
“You behave.” I laugh as we move along the brass and glass-riddled halls.
“And you had better not behave,” she says sternly. “I mean it, young lady. I want this ship a rockin’ and it’s going to be you who is making the waves.”
A laugh belts from me, and before I can respond, I spot two familiar faces headed this way.
“Josie, Kimball,” I say, pulling them both in for a brief hug. “It seems your adventure has come to an end.”
Josie gives a forlorn smile. “And thankfully, without being hauled off to prison. Quinn and Ransom told us what happened last night. I can’t believe she tried to frame me—and so expertly at that.”
Kimball ticks his head to the side. “That she did, but after hearing about her motive, I’m starting to feel as if Merritt framed Visalia in a roundabout way. What Merritt did was pretty low. And now it makes sense why she was trying to get me to seduce the woman. Merritt knew she was in deep with her, and she wanted to divert the woman’s attention.”
“It does make sense,” I say. “But don’t you for a minute feel as if you could have averted this tragedy. Visalia was pretty determined. It was bound to happen. ”
They both agree and we say our goodbyes, but not before they wish me well on my upcoming nuptials.
“Back to that wedding night”—Elodie starts—“I’ve left an assortment of naughty nighties in your room for you to choose from. And have you narrowed down a wedding dress?”
“I’m down to ten.”
“I only sent ten.”
“And that’s nine too many.” I catch a glimpse of four women heading this way, one of which stops my beating heart for a moment, and then my adrenaline kicks in full steam ahead. “ AAAAGH! ” I scream. We all scream as we charge at one another, and soon the two of us are sharing one big rollicking hug. “Lottie Lemon!” I pull back to get a better look at my friend. Her caramel waves dance over her shoulders, she’s every bit as gorgeous as I remember, and she’s as round as a house—a house built for a family. “You look amazing.”
“I look huge,” she says, patting her very pregnant belly. “March can’t come soon enough.” She laughs. “Hattie, Neelie, and Bizzy came along, too,” she says. “The men are all here hanging out with Ransom and the captain. And Carlotta even showed up.”
“So did Peggy and Clarabelle,” Hattie says, pulling me in for a quick hug herself. “And thank you for inviting us all. I’m so glad you can meet Bizzy.” She nods to the pretty brunette with denim blue eyes.
“Bizzy! I already feel like I know you.” I offer up a hearty hug her way. “I’m so thrilled you’re all here! And you, too, Neelie,” I say, reaching over and giving her hand a squeeze. “This day is already off to a great start.”
“That’s not what you said an hour ago,” Elodie snickers, and I quickly make the introductions.
“Well”—Lottie shrugs my way—“we hear there’s a wedding to be had. How about we come and help you get ready for the big event? That is, if you don’t mind. Otherwise, we will just mosey our way to the lido deck.”
“Don’t you dare,” I say in a panic. “I mean yes, help me get ready. I need all hands on deck.”
We rush to my cabin, and not only is my bed made, but there are a couple of bears fashioned out of towels with their lips locked and their arms snug around one another. But that’s not the showstopper here.
A crystal vase sits front and center on the dressing table along with two dozen long stem red roses in it. And next to it is a gold box in the shape of a heart with a dazzling display of gold-dusted chocolates inside.
I read the card attached.
We made it. Can’t wait.
All of my heart. Ransom.
Tears come and I try to blink them away.
I share the chocolate, Elodie finds a bottle of champagne, and soon it’s a party. I shower and then the girls take over. Bizzy dries my hair and styles it into a glamorous French twist while Neelie expertly applies my makeup. Bizzy and Hattie hem and haw over the dress selections, but they can’t seem to agree on which one steals the show more than the others. That’s because they’re all showstoppers.
Neelie suggests I wear them all. She says it’s a new fad at weddings to have the bride change every half hour.
Now that might work.
Elodie is busy filing my new collection of naughty nighties into a satin duffle bag, ranging from naughty to nice. Not that I believe there’s a single nice thing in there—not if Elodie had a say in it.
But soon they’re gone, and every last one of them is off to get ready for the wedding themselves—my wedding.
I go through the selection of dresses one more time and stop once I see it. Hanging in a beam of New York sunlight is the perfect dress. My wedding dress. It’s a white strapless number with a simple ruffle that sits across my chest and a long full skirt that moves with the appeal of an enchanting fairytale.
Of course, I’ve seen it. In fact, I’ve tried it on. But I’d swear there was a spray of pink miniature stars all over it at the moment via some magic only New York could provide .
“This is it,” I say, pulling it off the rack and holding it close.
“I agree,” a voice says from behind me and I let out a bloodcurdling scream.