Page 54 of No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding

“He’s pretty pissed off.”

“That’s not the same as trying to murder an innocent person.”

“Is Fred innocent?”

“I don’t know yet.”

I feel Oliver stir and lean away from Connor. I reach for Oliver’s hand under the table and squeeze it, then turn my body away from Connor for emphasis.

“Only two days,” I say to Oliver, my eyes trying to convey that this is as much a torture for me as it is for him.

“Yes.”

“Itcouldhave been a coincidence.”

“There are no coincidences,” David says, and I realize I wasspeaking louder than I should’ve been. “That’s the first rule of screenwriting.”42

“But this isn’t a script,” Allison says gently, touching his arm. “Life doesn’t follow a beat sheet.”43

“Of course, darling.”

They kiss, and it’s one of thoseawwmoments you usually see at weddings between the bride and groom.

Everyone is smiling at them, though it feels like Connor flinches next to me.

But that can’t be right. He doesn’t still have feelings for Allison. They’ve been divorced for almost ten years. And he’s moved on—numerous times, including, much to my chagrin, with Harper. It must be man-jealousy—he doesn’t want her, but he doesn’t want anyone else to have her either.

“If I was writing this,” David says when they pull apart, “then something else would happen to tip the scales toward it being deliberate.”

“Like what?”

“Something deadly. One of those moments that ends an act.”

“Some kind of twist that takes the story in a new direction,” I say.

“Yes, exactly. Like a body dropping or a more serious attempt on someone’s life.” David checks his watch. “It should happen right about now...”

Everyone freezes.

A clock ticks down in my brain like it’s hanging over the scene.

Three, two, one...

Then the moment passes, and we all start to laugh.

“I guess we’re not caught in one of your screenplays,” Harper says.

Thank goodness.

And amen to that.

I reach for my wine, but before it gets to my lips—

“Mother, please calm down.” Fred’s voice breaches the din of the party.

“Do not tell me to calm down. Thereissomething in my food.”

“Don’t be so theatrical.”

---