Chapter 1
Chapter One
Sophie Sinclair was sure of one thing. She wasn’t a nervous bride.
She’d no reason to be anxious because she’d planned her wedding perfectly and had everything under control.
When she handed her menu to the waitress, she even smiled confidently.
Then she sipped her soda and studied the crowded courtyard of the café in Middleburg, Virginia.
She couldn’t be more at peace because tomorrow, once she became Mrs. Ben Mosby, all would—finally—be well.
After years of running and hiding from violence and loneliness, her life would be physically and emotionally safe. Her and Ben’s dangerous past would no longer matter.
She sipped her water, pulled her journal from her purse, and made some final wedding notes until a black cat wandered by.
It sent her a dismissive glance before leaping over the stone wall separating the courtyard from the sidewalk.
Normally, as a native of Salem, Massachusetts, she’d be concerned by the fact a black cat just crossed her path.
But instead of worrying about it, she kept on writing.
Nothing was going to steal her peace of mind today.
Her cell phone rang and, she glanced at the full tables near her before answering, “Ivy? Are you at my apartment?”
She hated being that person who spoke on the phone in public, but she’d been waiting for this call from her best friend and maid of honor.
Ivy was supposed to have arrived at Sophie’s apartment yesterday, but an accident closed the interstate between Boston and Washington, DC.
She was now eighteen hours and thirty-six minutes later than she should’ve been.
“I’m here,” Ivy said. “Finally.”
“I’m so glad.” Sophie paused when a group of six people, seated on the other side of the fountain that marked the center of the courtyard, paid their bill and ran out of the courtyard. “I hope you’re not too tired.”
“I’m just happy not to be in the car anymore. And now I can study the maid-of-honor stuff.”
“You haven’t read my wedding document? Or the cross-referenced indexes?” She tried to hide her frustration. “I even color-coded it.”
Ivy snorted. “I thought you were a new and improved low-key bride?”
“I am.” She brushed stray hairs off her damp face.
She hated the August humidity. “But there’s nothing wrong with being prepared.
Tomorrow, I promise I’ll be the most easy-going bride that ever got married.
Chill as a frozen cucumber. Oh, and I picked up all the white ribbon for the church pew decorations.
It’s in the truck, and we can make the bows tonight. ”
“If you say so.” Ivy’s voice sounded wistful. “You were right about this tiny town of Kingsmill. Everyone I’ve met is straight out of central casting. Although I’m not sure if they’re in a sweet holiday movie or in a horror flick where the nice locals turn tourists into zombies. Or maybe food.”
Sophie laughed, and when a warm breeze swept across the courtyard, she closed her eyes. Since leaving Salem—and her best friend almost a year earlier—she’d missed Ivy’s take on the world. “I promise Kingsmill is more of a holiday movie. Although I’m not always sure which holiday.”
“That’s not a resounding no on the zombies. Or food.”
She smelled something off, opened her eyes, and looked up at the sky. It seemed grayer than before. “Don’t worry. Kingsmill and all her quirky inhabitants are charming.”
“Last week you called them annoying.”
“Because Nana Ruthie, the town’s matriarch, wanted to take control of my wedding.”
Ivy laughed. “What did you do?”
“After talking to my future sisters-in-law, I handed Nana Ruthie my wedding planning book.” The truth was, it’d been one of the best decisions she’d made lately. Other than agreeing to marry Ben. “Since then, I’ve updated it fourteen times.”
“Only fourteen?”
She frowned at the disbelief in Ivy’s voice. “I didn’t want Nana Ruthie to think I was a control freak.”
A loud buzzing sounded in the distance, and she looked up. Three helicopters appeared in the sky, flying low enough to show-off their state police logos. They flew west, toward the Shenandoah Mountains.
People at the two tables closest to her grabbed their things, including their plates, and headed inside the café.
“Whatever you say. So…” Ivy made a thumping noise, like she’d dropped onto the bed. “Where are you?”
“Ben and I drove to Middleburg to pick up my wedding gown and his tuxedo. We’re a few hours away.
” Ben, who stood across the street near his blue Ford truck, watched two more helicopters fly overhead.
Then he noticed her and waved. She waved back.
She’d gone to the busy café to get a table while he’d carried the clothes to the vehicle.
Except now he leaned against the truck’s hood, his phone pressed against his ear.
“I love my dress. It fits perfectly,” Ivy said. “Thank you for… you know.”
For paying for the dress.
Since Ivy worked in a florist shop in Salem, evening gowns were an expense Sophie wouldn’t have spent the money on either.
“You’re welcome. Ben’s five brothers bought our gowns as a gift.”
“Wow.” Ivy cleared her throat. “That was nice of them.”
“They’re great guys. I went over the measurements with the designer multiple times to make sure it’ll fit.” She paused as the town’s church bells rang three times. “I may have annoyed her.”
“I’m sure that’s not true.”
Sophie ignored Ivy’s laughter. “I just ordered lunch. If we leave by four o’clock, we’ll arrive by six-fifteen at the latest.”
“Okay.” Ivy yawned. “I’m going to read my bridesmaid’s book and take a nap.”
“The rehearsal isn’t until seven. We can catch up while we dress.
” Sophie paused when the couple near her gathered their plates and went inside.
“After the rehearsal, we’re having dinner at my future sister-in-law’s house.
You’ll meet one of Ben’s still-eligible brothers. And we can make the pew bows.”
“That sounds great—wait, someone is knocking on your door.”
Sophie heard muffled words. A moment later, Ivy came back to the phone and said, “I was summoned to the café beneath your apartment by a woman wearing a WWE T-shirt printed with the question ‘does your sport have blood time?’”
She’d been worried about this. “That was Nana Ruthie.”
“What should I do?” Ivy lowered her voice. “I’m afraid if I don’t go, she’ll hurt me. Although she did bribe me with lemon cupcakes.”
“You need to go, and Lily’s lemon cupcakes are great. Make sure, when dealing with Nana Ruthie and Lily—the woman who owns the café and my apartment—you don’t show fear. Otherwise you’ll end up running the town’s sunflower festival. Trust me on this.”
“I can hold my own. Mwah!” Ivy blew a kiss and hung up.
Sophie searched for Ben again. He was in the same position, except now he was watching a prop plane fly by, toward the mountains.
The sky was darker, as if a veil had been draped over the town. Yet it wasn’t gloomy like an incoming summer storm with ominous clouds clashing overhead. In fact, there were no clouds at all.
“Here you are.” The waitress placed the food on the table.
“Thank you.” While she’d ordered a club sandwich, Ben had wanted two cheeseburgers, a chocolate shake, French fries, and onion rings.
The waitress handed her a ketchup bottle when Ben rushed over, still studying the world above.
Four more low-flying police helicopters zoomed overhead.
Then two fire trucks, with lights and sirens blaring, sped down the street.
All heading west. The last of the guests eating on the courtyard, except for her and Ben, hurried into the café.
“I’ll grab to-go boxes.” The waitress disappeared.
Suddenly, Sophie’s nose itched and she sneezed twice. Then she smelled something acrid and bitter in the air. Smoke.