Page 53 of A Dead End Wedding

It was time for wisdom.

I hurried to bring out lemonade and honey tea (the Fae love honey) with an assortment of every pastry I had in the house.

Viviette daintily selected a honey cake, which made me realize I hadn’t seen little Frazzle lately.

“Pardon me, Your Majesty, but is Frazzle all right? We haven’t seen her around.”

The queen smiled. “Yes, she is well, but much occupied with her eighteen children.”

I gulped. “Eighteen?”

“Yes, it was a small birthing, but it was her first. I’m sure she’ll have more the next time.”

I sank into a deck chair on suddenly weak knees, fervently glad I wasn’t a pixie.

“When will you birth your children?” the queen asked, and I choked.

“Water,” I gasped, and Molly handed me a glass.

I still hadn’t figured out how to answer by the time Uncle Mike and Aunt Ruby arrived.

“As Mayor of this town and leader of Black Cypress County, you will represent Wisdom,” the queen proclaimed.

Aunt Ruby raised her chin. “I accept. What do I need to do?”

“Come, sit, and tell me your plan for Dead End.”

Relief washed over my aunt’s face. “Oh! Certainly. I’ll be happy to do that.”

“For the next five hundred years.”

Uncle Mike’s hand shot out to grab Aunt Ruby’s elbow at the exact moment she almost fell over, but she was made of sterner stuff than that.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” she said, and then she started laying out her plan.

Three hours later, the queen nodded her approval and vanished.

Along with all of my honey cakes.

“You did it!” I grabbed Aunt Ruby in a big hug. “You’re amazing!”

She laughed until she had to wipe tears from her eyes. “Honestly, I took a page from her book. With the chess.”

Uncle Mike put an arm around her shoulder. “What do you mean?”

“I figured I’d just talk so long about municipal gas, electric, and water rates she’d finally give up before I bored her to death!”

21

Jack

Friday: Wedding minus 1 day

Nobody told me I’d be scared to death.

It was just past dusk, and I was hiding around the side of the church like a coward.

I’ve faced entire vampire nests with less trepidation than I felt right now, waiting for my wedding rehearsal to start.

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