Janet Evanovich - Full Bloom

"Not me," Jamie said, noting that Fleas was giving Christie his most pitiful look, having perfected it when he'd discovered it was usually followed by Jamie-the-sucker pulling his favorite butter pecan ice cream from the freezer. "And he always looks like a candidate for Prozac."

"What happened to his fur?" Joel asked, reaching down to pet Fleas as well.

"Hey, you guys are looking at a champion and silvercup raccoon hunter," Max said, although the looks he received were dubious. "He's since gone into retirement, living off his 401-K now."

"Well, if you ask me, it looks like the last coon kicked some hound dog butt," Joel said.

Frankie opened the back door of the limo and climbed in next to Dee Dee as the others began opening doors, waving off the chauffeur's offer to assist. A subdued Beenie sat beside Dee Dee and nodded as Frankie made introductions, trying to talk above the compact TV set where a woman was kneeling before a toilet bowl singing the praises of a new product. Frankie hit the remote control button, and the woman disappeared as quickly as she had assured the toilet bowl stains would.

"You look wonderful," Billie said, reaching across the seat to hug Dee Dee. "Except I thought you'd have put on weight by now."

"She's already gained fifty pounds," Frankie said. He winced the moment the words left his mouth. "Although you'd never know it to look at her," he added sheepishly.

It wasn't until they were all seated that Jamie noticed Dee Dee and Beenie were behaving oddly. They had said very little, and there was tension on their faces. "Dee Dee, are you okay?" she asked.

When Dee Dee hesitated, Beenie spoke for her. "We just saw your friend on CNN."

Annie was wearing a bright smile when she answered the doorbell shortly before 6:00 p.m. and found Max, Jamie, and Max's family standing on the other side. "Welcome to my home!" she called out gaily to the crowd, wondering how many of them had seen her on CNN. The only thing she had going for her was the fact that she looked 100 percent better than she had on TV in her shabby bathrobe.

She had purposefully chosen to dress like an old-maid librarian: conservative dark gray skirt that fell below her knees, rose-colored cardigan and shell, sensible pumps, and her grandmother's antique cross pendant. Lovelle had offered her rosary, but Annie figured that would be overkill.

"Please come in," Annie said, stepping aside so the group could enter.

Jamie and Max gave Annie a hug. Jamie had called earlier in an obvious attempt to cheer Annie and make light of her CNN debut, and in the end they were laughing hysterically, just like old times.

Max began making introductions.

"I've already met our mayor and his beautiful wife," Annie said, offering Frankie and Dee Dee a warm handshake. Frankie and Dee Dee were infamously fun-loving and colorful, though Dee Dee was known to be a bit of a drama queen and prone to hysterics. And with her late-in-life pregnancy, these personality traits were becoming increasingly pronounced.

Dee Dee's bottom lip trembled when she smiled, and she didn't quite meet Annie's gaze. "I've heard so much about you," she said. "From Jamie," she added quickly.

They all knew, Annie told herself. Probably everyone in Beaumont knew by now, which explained the traffic jam out front. Theenie had caught several people snapping pictures.

"Pregnancy becomes you," Annie said. "You must be very excited."

"Yes." Dee Dee's voice squeaked and she edged closer to Frankie.

Finally, Max turned to an older couple. "This good-looking twosome is my cousin and best man, Nick Kaharchek, and his lovely wife, Billie. They took me in when I was dangerous," he added with a grin.

"He's still dangerous," Nick said.

Annie greeted them. She could see the resemblance between Max and Nick, even though the older man's face bore a few lines that gave him an air of distinction. His wife was lovely and exuded a feeling of warmth as she smiled and shook Annie's hand.

"And these are my children, Christie and Joel," Billie said.

Annie offered her hand, and the young woman shook it and gave her a quick wink that suggested Annie was all right in her book. Joel held Annie's hand longer than necessary and flirted shamelessly.

"Enough already," Billie said as she pulled him away and told him to behave. "I'm still your elder," she said, trying to sound stern and failing miserably because she couldn't quite hide her smile.

Annie noted an anxious-looking dark-haired man standing at a distance. He stepped forward and shook hands, but Annie could see that his smile was forced. "I'm Beenie," he said. "I sort of take care of Dee Dee."

"He spoils her rotten," Max said.

"I could use someone like you," Annie replied jokingly. "How would you like to come to work for me?"

"I can't!" he blurted, drawing stares from those around them. He blushed. "I mean, Dee Dee needs me. Especially right now with the baby due soon," he added. "I'm her personal assistant, so I can't leave her side. Not for five minutes, even if it means sleeping at the foot of her bed like a Chihuahua."

"Jamie was right about the house," Billie said, taking in the living room. "It's unlike anything I've ever seen. In a good way," she added.

Jamie nodded enthusiastically. "I told you you'd love it. How many people get to tie the knot in a pre-Civil War bordello?"

"Red is Dee Dee's favorite color," Frankie said. She wants the name of your decorator before we leave, right, honey?"

"Um …" Dee Dee looked at Beenie.

"I don't think red is a good color for babies," Beenie said. "The person who decorated the nursery thought red was an angry color."

Annie laughed. "I suppose that explains my bad temper," she said. "Because I'm surrounded by red."

Annie had already served cocktails and hors d'oeuvres by the time Vera Bankhead arrived. "Saw you on CNN," she whispered. "I'd rethink that chenille bathrobe."

"I'll keep that in mind," Annie said. She was about to close the door when she spotted the minister hurrying up the front walk. She was glad Theenie had removed some of the more risque objets d'art, although she suspected her grandmother was frowning down at her.

Reverend Lester Tuttle had presided over a number of weddings in Annie's house. She introduced him. He sat close to Max and Jamie, obviously wanting to get to know the couple before the wedding. Destiny entered by way of the dining room, wearing a purple ankle-length dress that hugged her curves and breasts and brought a bright blush to the minister's cheeks as they shook hands.

"I'll hang out here and see to the refreshments," Destiny whispered to Annie. "I know you have things to do in the kitchen."

Annie thanked her and hurried through the dining room and the swinging door that led to the kitchen, where Theenie and Lovelle were checking the two prime rib roasts with meat thermometers. "How do they look?" Annie asked.

"Everything is right on schedule," Theenie proudly announced. "We should be ready to serve the first course as soon as the rehearsal is over."

"Has Wes come in?" Annie asked.

Theenie shook her head. "Haven't seen him."

Annie tried to hide her disappointment as she worked to get things ready. When she was certain all was in order, she returned to the living room and led the group into the chapel. For the next half hour Reverend Turtle instructed the wedding party as to when they would come in, where they would stand, and Annie coached Jamie and Dee Dee as they practiced walking down the aisle.

"Would you just look at me," Dee Dee said to Jamie. "I'm waddling like a duck."

Jamie and Annie lied, insisting that was not the case.

"Are you still planning to use Fleas as your, um, flower dog?" Annie asked Jamie.