Janet Evanovich - Full Bloom

She nodded. "I know it sounds totally crazy, so go ahead and say it."

"It is crazy," Vera said. "The craziest thing I've ever heard."

"Yuck!" Dee Dee said. "You're going to have that—"

"Don't you dare call him ugly," Jamie said.

Dee Dee clamped her lips together but shook her head sadly.

"I tried to talk her out of it," Vera said to Annie, "but she treats him like her firstborn."

Annie chuckled, noting the wide-eyed look on Reverend Turtle's face. "Trust me: having a dog in the wedding is tame compared to some of the things couples have asked for."

"Thank you for defending me," Jamie said. "I've never had a pet before, and I know I've spoiled him, but …" She paused and sighed. "I think his previous owner mistreated him, so I guess I'm trying to do all I can to make up for it."

"That's so sweet," Christie said. "Mom and I are big-time animal advocates, so we admire people who take such good care of their pets."

"I still think it's dumb," Vera said.

* * * * *

Afterward, while Annie ushered the group into the dining room, Dee Dee asked Jamie to show her where the restroom was located. They started down the hall.

"Psst. Psst!"

Jamie glanced over her shoulder to see who was making the sound and found Beenie hurrying toward them.

"Here comes Beenie," Dee Dee said. "The man just won't leave my side."

He closed the distance between them. "What? Why are you staring at me?"

"Because you've been sticking to me like glue since we arrived."

Beenie planted one hand on his hip. "I'm your personal assistant. It's what I do."

"I have to pee. I don't think following me into the bathroom is part of your job description."

"I think Dee Dee is asking for breathing room," Jamie said.

He looked hurt. "Okay, if you insist on knowing, this place creeps me out."

Jamie made a sound of disgust. "Oh, for Pete's sake! I don't believe you said that."

"Honey, I don't want to hurt your feelings," Dee Dee said to her, "but this place gives me the heebie-jeebies, too. Why, there's a grave in the backyard, and everybody suspects Annie killed her husband. If I weren't a strong woman I would probably faint just thinking about it." She pulled a linen handkerchief from her pocket and mopped her brow. "I might faint anyway."

"You do look pale," Beenie said.

"She's pale because she refuses to let the sun touch any part of her body." Jamie crossed her arms. "Annie is perfectly innocent of the crime with which she's been charged. She is no more capable of murder than we are. She's also a very good friend of mine, and I don't want her feelings hurt," Jamie added. "She has been through enough."

Dee Dee looked contrite. "I'm sorry. I don't know what's gotten into me. I am so emotional these days. I seem to cry over everything."

Beenie nodded. "Me, too."

"We wouldn't think of doing anything that might embarrass you at your wedding," Dee Dee said, and Beenie nodded in agreement.

Jamie looked relieved. "Thank you." She motioned to the bathroom door. "We need to hurry. I'm sure Annie has begun serving."

Dee Dee turned for the bathroom door, then paused and turned. "Just one question," she said. "Her husband didn't die from food poisoning, did he?"

* * * * *

Annie noticed Jamie ate very little dinner and refused dessert, although Max convinced her to take a tiny bite of the almond torte.

Annie smiled as she refilled coffee cups. She had specifically chosen not to serve anything chocolate, knowing Jamie would find it hard to turn down. Annie and Jamie had once shared an entire bag of Snickers candy bars. It had been well worth the stomachache they'd had afterward.

Vera looked at Jamie's plate. "You barely touched your food."

"How many more pounds do you have to lose?" Dee Dee asked.

Jamie looked proud. "I'm down ten pounds. But I don't want to eat anything fattening and risk blowing it."

"Don't be surprised if you gain back a few pounds on your honeymoon," Billie said. "I kept something in my mouth the whole time."

All eyes turned her way, and Billie blushed profusely, but nobody said anything in deference to Reverend Tuttle.

"It's this house," Destiny whispered to Billie. "I haven't stopped thinking about sex since I walked through the door."

"Jamie, you should take up horseback riding," Billie said as though hoping to change the subject. "Once Max moves his horses down," she added. "That's how Nick and I keep in shape."

Dee Dee gave a shudder. "I could never understand how you could tolerate those smelly horses."

"I must be used to it by now." Billie looked at Jamie. "Before I met Nick I didn't even know how to climb on a horse."

"She didn't know how to get off, either," Nick said. "First time I tried to help her dismount she slipped and fell on me, and we both ended up on the ground." They shared a private smile.

Annie noticed the loving exchange between the two as she began to clear away the dessert dishes. She had caught Max and Jamie looking at each other the same way, and she'd felt sad that she and Charles had never experienced that degree of intensity. She wondered what it would feel like to be madly in love with someone, to fall asleep and wake up in that person's arms year after year and still share that depth of feeling.

"Max told me it was love at first sight for the two of you," Jamie said, addressing Billie and Nick.

"I guess you could say that, considering the fact we got married after knowing each other only two weeks," Billie replied.

Vera gaped. "Two weeks! Goodness, it takes me longer than that to break in a new pair of shoes. I'll bet everybody thought you were crazy."

Billie and Nick nodded in unison. "I think sometimes you just know from the beginning that it's right," he said. "At least that's the way it was for us."

"That is so sweet," Beenie said, dabbing moist eyes with his napkin.

"We had a double wedding," Frankie said. He winked at Nick. "Remember the bachelor's party and Billie jumping out of that cake half-naked?"

Annie, holding a tray of empty dessert dishes, paused at the swinging door and turned around. She didn't want to miss this one.

Billie hitched her chin high. "Excuse me, but I was wearing a T-shirt over my tassels and G-string."

"A very sheer T-shirt," Nick corrected.

"Mother!" Christie looked shocked. "You never told me about that."

"You should have seen the men tossing money at her," Dee Dee said.

"That is so cool," Joel said. "My mom the stripper."

"I made a gigantic fool of myself," Billie confessed. "I slipped and fell across a table of cold seafood. My hair smelled like fish for days."

"I'd like to have seen that," Max said.

"You were busy at the time," Nick reminded, "taking my Mercedes apart piece by piece."

Annie grinned, pushed through the door, and entered the kitchen. Jamie joined her a few minutes later, smiling broadly. "Everything was perfect," she said. "I can't thank you enough."

"I couldn't have done it without Theenie and Lovelle," Annie said, and was pleased when Jamie praised their efforts as well. Annie's face softened. "You're going to make a beautiful bride."

"I think I'm going to cry," Theenie said, sniffing loudly.

Jamie's smile faltered when Wes walked through the back door, but she quickly regained her composure. "We're getting ready to leave," she said. Annie had noticed the change in Jamie the minute Wes had come in and had wondered at it, but didn't have time to think about it, since her guests were leaving. She hurried out front, where they thanked her for a wonderful dinner, said their good-byes, and filed out the door. Once they were gone, Annie smiled, knowing it had gone exceptionally well.

Theenie and Lovelle helped Annie clean up. As though reading her mind, Theenie looked at her. "I offered Wes something to eat, but he said he'd grabbed something earlier. I think the man lives on junk food."