Page 83 of No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding

“The minister couldn’t make it because of the—”

“Storm, okay, I get it, but him?”

Inspector Tucci glares at me. “I’m an ordained minister.”

“Come on.”

“He has one of those certificates to marry people in California you can get on the internet,” Shawna says.

“Why?”

“Something to do in between gigs, I assume.”

“I’ll have you know—”

“Stai zitto, Tucci!” Shawna says with more aggression than I thought she had in her.

“No need to take that tone with me.”

Shawna turns to me. “Just go with it, okay? Five more minutes.”

I nod and step to Ken. He’s a nice guy who wanted more out of his acting life than being the stand-in. But he’s good-natured about it. He makes a nice living.

And sure, maybe sometimes people mistake him for Fred and he gets seats at restaurants he wouldn’t normally be able to get into.

You’d say yes to that, too.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are, as we say, gathered here today for the union of Emma Wood and Fred Winter.”

Someone in the audience laughs, and it’s contagious, spreading through the room like a yawn. EvenIlaugh as I turn to look at the audience and make eye contact with Oliver. His smile is strained, but he gives me a return smile nonetheless.

I gaze into his eyes, trying to let him know everything that’s in my heart in this moment.

That I love him.

That I don’t want to be walking down this aisle with anyone but him.

That I’mnotwishing this was my real wedding to Connor, despite the appearances.

I think he gets it.

But it’s hard for me to know because as the laughter ripples through the room and then starts to die like a wave on the shore, the photographer fromPeoplestands in front of me and snaps a series of pictures with a flash that almost blinds me.

I blink the flashes away.

And when I can see properly again, Oliver’s gone.

57Catalina Island has a small contingent of police, but no real detectives. Which seems like a mistake given all of the tourists and wealthy visitors. I mean, it’s just setting itself up as a murder location, isn’t it?

WHEN IN ROME

ACT 1, SCENE 12

INT. HOTEL ROOM - DAY

Cecilia and Connor are curled up in bed in the early morning, luxuriating in a night spent together.

Connor gathers Cecilia close and kisses her.

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