Page 55 of Love's Bloom
The man shrugged. “Sure. I visited one of the bars in the next town a short time ago. Why?”
“Like I said, you look like someone I used to know but don’t want to meet again. Sorry to bother you.”
He grinned at her. “Hey, no bother. I own this tent company with my cousin. We cover a lot of areas. Good luck on not meeting the guy.”
“Thanks.” Misty forced herself to look at him. Remembering her shock at seeing him, she’d felt as if a chilly wind had arisen. But now, she wondered if she could finally put to rest her fears of Vince showing up.
Carrying her dress, Misty went into the house and stopped in the kitchen. A young woman and a man were at work setting up trays of food for the reception. She studied the platters. Cooked shrimp on top of squares of avocado toast and stuffed mushrooms were just a few of the items they were working on.
She knew cold poached salmon and beef filet with bearnaise sauce would also be served, along with a number of things she hadn’t yet heard about. In addition to gourmet dinners, preparing this food was a smart way for Melissa to advertise her catering services.
Crystal was in her bathroom, waiting for Misty to help with her hair. Crystal had worn purple in her hair for years until she decided she didn’t need that distraction anymore. Now, her natural blonde was lovely. Misty knew how to braid a few strands of her hair to keep her face clear of wisps and add a bit of elegance to her usual shoulder-length style.
“Are you excited?” asked Misty, hanging up her dress.
“Yes. Excited, worried, nervous,” said Crystal. “The security guard should be arriving soon. I hope there won’t be any trauma with Emmett’s father. Weddings aren’t always the best time for families, especially with someone who makes it a drama about himself.”
“Having GG and all your friends surrounding you will help keep things in order. No one is going to let Emmett’s father ruin this time for you,” Misty said with determination she felt to her toes.
“I know, I know,” said Crystal. “I want this to be perfect for Emmett and me. A day to remember.”
“It’ll all work out,” said Misty, though she couldn’t help worrying, too.
Whitney Gilford Woodruff, GG’s oldest granddaughter, now married to the Chief of Police, knocked on the door and stuck her head inside. “Hi, Nick and I are here. Nick will change his clothes in one of the other bedrooms with Emmett. But when it’s time, I’m going to help you two get dressed.”
“Great,” said Crystal. “Come downstairs with me. You can help get the tables set in the tent. The food will come out after the ceremony.”
“Nick already spoke to the security guard to let him know who he was in case help was needed.”
“That’s great,” said Misty. She couldn’t shake the worrisome feeling that normal weddings didn’t require a security guard.
As Misty carried tableware to the tent, the sun broke through the gray clouds, and she breathed a sigh of relief. It was a good sign.
A heavy-set, middle-aged man approached them. “Hello. I’m Ike Benson from AAA Security.” He wore tan slacks, a short-sleeved button-collared shirt, and a cotton khaki vest, under which Misty noticed a gun in a holster. “I’m here to help with the wedding.”
“Trust me, it’s not like a shotgun wedding,” said Crystal. “The groom’s father is well-known, and we want to keep news people and photographers away. The groom’s father doesn’t know about these arrangements, and that’s how we want to keep it.”
Ike bobbed his head. “Understood. How many people are you expecting?”
“I’m guessing around fifty,” said Crystal. “It’s a surprise wedding, so people will arrive expecting a picnic. That’s how we wanted it.”
“Okay. The three of you women indicate who should be escorted out, and I’ll take care of it,” said Ike.
“Thanks,” said Crystal. “By the way, the groom’s stepfather is Everett Chamberlain.”
Ike’s eyes widened. “He’s running for president, right?”
“Yes. That’s the problem. He wants publicity, and my fiancé and I don’t.”
Ike shook his head. “Well, we can try our best to outwit the press, but it won’t be easy if he’s notified them. It helps that there’s limited access to the backyard.”
Crystal and Misty exchanged worried looks.
“My husband, Nick, whom you just met, will try to help,” said Whitney. “He’s the local police chief.”
“Say, aren’t you that actress?” said Ike.
Surprised, Whitney was gracious. “Yes, but I’m not working at the moment.”
