Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Two hours later, Holly sat in a small apartment above the Devil’s Renegades Bakery and Café and decided she loved this town. Basically, Kingsmill was situated on a steep hill on the side of a mountain, with the river on one side and a steep valley on the other.
Main Street ran down the hill, parallel to the river. Mosby House, a huge Victorian mansion, sat at the top of Main Street overlooking the entire town. At the bottom of Main Street, where the road curved to match the river’s path, was a white church with a sparkling steeple.
Small shops and colonial-era buildings line both sides of the street.
But one of the first things she’d noticed while Eve had driven them to the café—a drive that had taken less than two minutes—was how many of the buildings were shut and abandoned, including an old tavern and inn that had probably hosted General Washington.
Yes, the town was even older than the American Revolution.
After being given the briefest historical tour of the town ever, Eve had ushered Holly into the café to help bake cookies for the wedding.
But when she proved that she could barely boil water, she was assigned the job of packing up dinner boxes for the rehearsal party later that day.
While doing that chore, she’d met many people.
Quirky, charming, curious, gossipy, wonderful people of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds.
She’d also learned, in a very short period of time, how quickly information moved in Kingsmill… even faster than the internet.
Honestly, she was surprised the town hadn’t already claimed she was Luke’s fiancée.
Now she waited in the apartment for Eve to try on her dress.
The apartment was a long rectangle above the café.
The galley kitchen and window overlooking Main Street was at one end.
The small living room was in the middle.
The back held the bathroom and bedroom that had been filled with gown bags, yards of tulle, and dress steamers.
For some reason it all smelled of lavender sachets.
Apparently, this is where all the Mosby women were dressing tomorrow.
“How are we doing up here?” Lily Mosby appeared in the apartment doorway carrying a tray filled with teacups, a teapot, and plates of tiny sandwiches.
“Good, so far.” Holly helped Lily place the tray on the table in the galley kitchen. Then she whispered, “Eve is trying on the dress but hasn’t come out yet.”
Lily, a lovely brunette who wore black leggings, a black T-shirt, and her black apron with her café’s gold logo embroidered on the front, shook her head. “I don’t know why Eve let Hawk talk her into this. He had plenty of men to choose for his best man.”
“That’s exactly why he chose Eve.” Izzy, the green-eye, red-haired bride-to-be entered the room and smiled at Holly.
A blond woman entered next. Clara Mosby, who was married to Jacob, wore a silk halter dress with embroidered flowers along the neckline. “Hawk chose Eve so he wouldn’t start a war within his family.”
“That’s probably true,” Lily said as she poured tea into the cups. “There are so many Mosby men, it would be hard to choose.”
Holly had spent the last few hours with these women, getting to know them, and enjoying their company.
But she now felt like a sad cow. She smoothed the wrinkled skirt of her blue linen dress and wished she’d done something more sophisticated with her hair.
Since she normally lived in scrubs and yoga pants, she never worried about being stylish and put together.
But now that she was being sociable, and “in the world” as her mother used to say, she wished she’d taken more time with her appearance.
She hated the rogue thought about the kind of women Luke normally dated. Did he prefer women like his aunt and sisters-in-law? Did he prefer surfer girls in bikinis? Would she ever be able to measure up?
“Doesn’t Hawk have brothers who could stand up for him?” Holly asked.
“He does,” Izzy said. “He has three brothers and thirteen male cousins—”
“Fourteen male cousins,” Clara said sharply. “If you include Damian.”
Izzy sent Holly a wry smile. “See? It’s complicated. That’s why we each have only one attendant. Except,” she checked her watch, “my Maid of Honor isn’t here yet. Her flight has been delayed.”
“Your Maid of Honor will get here soon. And it’s easier this way,” Clara said as she handed Izzy a cup of tea. “With Eve as his only attendant, there’s no jealousy or comparison or complaining.”
“Well?” Another woman appeared in the doorway, except this one—Lily’s aunt aka Nana Ruthie—was older with curly gray hair twisted into a bun.
She wore black yoga pants and a yellow and black T-shirt with the words Team Bride printed on the front.
On the back she’d printed Team Groom. “Have we heard from Eve?”
“I’m not coming out,” Eve shouted from the bedroom.
“It can’t be that bad,” Izzy said as she sipped her tea. “Hawk picked it, but I gave him the catalog. There was nothing ugly in it. It was also very expensive.”
“It’s worse than bad, and you should ask for a refund.
” Eve waddled out slowly, her expression a mix of dread and fury.
The mauve, empire-styled satin dress was too shiny and covered with embroidered red roses.
Black jet beads had been sewn on the short, puffy sleeves.
It clung to her round curves in all the wrong places and ended in a ruffle that hovered awkwardly around her swollen ankles.
It also looked way too hot to wear for an early summer wedding.
And for some strange reason, the dressmaker had added a ruffle to the bodice—right across Eve’s swollen breasts.
“Well?” Eve moved her arms like she was swatting bees. “Do I look like a beached whale wrapped in my grandmother’s bedspread, or just a very angry sofa?”
There was a beat of stunned silence.
Nana Ruthie was the first to recover. “You look luminous.”
“You’re glowing.” Clara put four sugars in a teacup. Then added two more.
“I mean, you are pregnant with twins,” Lily offered gently. “It’s hard to dress that level of miracle.”
“It’s not a miracle,” Eve muttered. “It’s a biology prank.”
Holly didn’t know what to say. She was new. She barely knew Eve, or any of these women, and she couldn’t help but wonder if stress and too many carbs was making this situation worse.
“I think it’s just... not your color?” Holly tried to sound hopeful but Eve was having none of that.
“Bless your heart,” Eve said dryly. “In case you don’t know, that’s Southern for ‘Wow, you look like crap.’”
Izzy reached for her. “Eve—”
“I can’t do this. Hawk has lost his mind if he thinks this is acceptable.” Eve turned, wobbling slightly. “I’m going to punch him in the face with a diaper bag.”
“I’m sure we can tailor it a little.” Clara looked at Nana Ruthie. “You know how to sew, right?”
“Not anymore, I don’t.” Nana Ruthie wrinkled her nose. “I don’t think any amount of alteration will help that dress.”
“It’s not the dress.” Eve blinked hard. “It’s just everything. I’m tired. And I look like a Victorian fainting couch.”
Then she disappeared into the dressing room and emerged a few moments later in maternity leggings and a sweatshirt that read #TWINNING. With a stiff nod and a mumble about resting, she headed downstairs.
The door shut behind her, and the women all stood around in silence.
“Well,” Nana Ruthie finally said, reaching for a tea sandwich, “at least no one threw a shoe.”
“I feel responsible,” Izzy said as she snagged a few tea sandwiches. “Is there a dress shop in Milltown?”
“There’s a bridal salon.” Clara pulled out her cell phone. “I went to high school with the owner. I bet she can find something for Eve to wear.”
“Except,” Nana Ruthie said around a mouthful of cucumber sandwiches, “Eve is huge. I doubt very much that salon will have anything that fits her.”
Holly wanted to mention that expecting twins was not a normal state of affairs, that twin pregnancies came with complications and dangers.
But she didn’t want to bring the vibe in the room down even more.
And she wanted to help Eve who’d been so kind to her.
“I have an idea. I just need to borrow a phone.”
* * *
Thirty minutes later, after Holly had used Clara’s phone to make a few phone calls, Holly found herself alone with Izzy. Izzy needed help steaming her wedding veil and gown, and since earlier Holly had proven herself to be a danger in the café’s kitchen, there wasn’t much else for her to do.
The rehearsal party was, apparently, going to be a swimming party along the banks of the river that ran through town. After the rehearsal in the church, they were all going to swim and eat the dinners she’d boxed up.
It sounded like fun, but for the moment she found herself alone with Izzy.
Holly hovered near the standing mirror in the living room, near where Izzy was steaming her dress.
She was so unsure what to do about everything.
She didn’t have a bathing suit, but Clara had brought her one to borrow.
Now Holly had the added stress of wondering what Luke would think of her without regular clothes on.
“Thanks for not running,” Izzy said suddenly, catching Holly’s reflection in the glass.
“Running?”
“Yeah. Sometimes people do. And I can’t blame them. This family is a lot.”
Holly gave a half-smile. “I think I passed a lot about twelve hours ago.”
Izzy turned to meet Holly’s gaze. “Can I ask you something weird?”
“Sure.”
“Do I seem familiar to you?”
Holly froze. Her fingers curled into the fabric of her dress, and she took a breath. “Yes. I actually know your real name. You’re Isolde O’Cleary, stepdaughter of Ian O’Cleary, president of OCL Enterprises, the country’s largest biochemical company. You lived in Boston until… you left.”
Izzy tilted her head, her eyes narrow with suspicion. “Have we met?”
“Not exactly.” Holly lowered herself onto the couch and chose her words carefully. “I was one of the doctors who treated you in Boston Hospital. After you were poisoned and landed in a coma for a few days.”
Izzy’s mouth opened, then closed.
“I was called in because the team wasn’t sure if you were pregnant.
Or if you’d been sexually assaulted. I ran those exams.” Holly stared down at her hands clasped in her lap.
“You were unconscious, Izzy. You didn’t even know I was there.
But I’ve thought about you. A lot. Even after you recovered and were released. And then you disappeared.”
Izzy released a deep breath and sat next to Holly. “Wow. I didn’t realize that they had to do those kinds of tests. My memory of that time is fuzzy.”
“Memory loss is not uncommon in patients who’ve been drugged or poisoned.”
Izzy nodded, as if considering that fact. “Agent Miller, my FBI contact who helped me take down my step-father, filled me in on some of what happened to me after I was poisoned. She never mentioned the kinds of tests you did.”
“Those tests are standard procedures. I don’t mean to be weird or invasive,” Holly said quickly. “But when I met you earlier—when I realized who you were—I felt this strange sense of déjà vu. Like I knew too much. And you didn’t know anything.”
Izzy was quiet for a long moment, then she reached out and touched Holly’s hand. “Then maybe we’re even.”
Holly blinked. “What?”
“You knew me when I was at my worst,” Izzy said softly. “And now I get to know you while you’re figuring out where you belong.”
Holly shook her head. “I don’t belong anywhere. I’m just a doctor looking for a new home.”
“After leaving an old one?”
Holly paused before admitting, “Leaving an old home and a lying, cheating ex-husband.”
She released a deep breath, realizing that that was the first time she’d told anyone about why her marriage had ended.
“Well,” Izzy said with a grin, “consider this your official initiation.”
“Into what?”
“The Mosby family chaos. And speaking of chaos... I have a favor to ask. If my Maid of Honor doesn’t make it here in time—she’s stuck in New York with a grounded plane—I need a backup. Someone neutral. Someone none of the other women will be mad at if I choose her.”
Holly’s eyes widened. “You want me?”
“I do.” Izzy tried not to smile. “And not just because you once saw my uterus.”
They both laughed, and Holly’s tension eased a bit. “I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure if I was even invited to the wedding. Or to this swimming supper later.”
“Of course you’re invited to everything. Luke has already told everyone you’re his date.”
“Are you serious?” He’d not mentioned anything like that to her. Although they’d hardly seen each other today, so that could be why.
“Yep. That means you’ll be in the photos.
Eve will probably nap through the reception.
Clara will be yelling at the caterer, since she’s the wedding planner.
Lily will be baking a new croquembouche because Hawk will forget to refrigerate the first one.
Sophie and Ivy—who are married to Ben and Trent—”
“I’ve not meant Trent yet.” She’d met Sophie and Ivy earlier in the kitchen while attempting to stir some kind of soup Lily had made. They were both from Massachusetts as well, and had made her laugh with how they made fun of Virginia accents.
“Trent is a typical middle child.” Izzy stood and went back to steaming her wedding gown.
“He’s quieter than Luke’s other brothers and is a vet.
He’s also super nice and more approachable.
Anyway, Sophie and Ivy are handling the flowers and photography.
And Nana Ruthie refuses to wear heels. So that just leaves you.
Or Amy, the mayor, who is kind of a bitch. ”
Holly opened her mouth to argue, then caught Izzy’s gaze. There was something there in her green eyes, a softness, a reassurance. And for the first time in a very long time, Holly didn’t want to say no.
“Okay. I’ll do it. But what am I going to wear? The bridesmaid dress in the other room is a size two. I’m at least an eight. Maybe even a ten.”
“Let’s talk to Clara.” Izzy turned off the steamer and held out her hand. “She’s the wedding planner. Fixing problems is her life’s work.”
Holly took Izzy’s hand and stood, surprised at how much she enjoyed being included even if she was only an understudy. “So what’s next?”
Izzy held Holly’s arm and they left the apartment. “If your idea for a dress for Eve works out, maybe your friend can get you one as well. Let’s just hope it doesn’t have sleeves like a doily.”