A Criminal Celebration in Hillbilly Hollow by Blythe Baker

Author:Blythe Baker [Baker, Blythe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-15T05:00:00+00:00

7

It was the night of the rehearsal dinner. The rehearsal itself had gone perfectly well, and it had been easy for me to imagine how perfect Hope Community would look with the floral arrangements in place, how perfect we would all look in our wedding clothes.

The black cocktail dress I had chosen for tonight was nice enough, but it didn’t compare to my wedding dress. Billy looked resplendent in his black suit, but I knew he would look even better tomorrow at the wedding.

I couldn’t believe it was finally nearly time. After so long resisting Billy’s charms, and then what felt like the world’s longest engagement, we were finally here, ready to take our vows.

Just one more night. That was all that kept going through my head. One more night as a single woman. Suzy had been quick to remind me that I should embrace every moment of my single life, although it was hard to believe she meant it. She was positively glowing since marrying Brian and having Emma Rose.

I’d opted against having a night out with the girls. Instead, Suzy, Beth and I had spent a pleasant few hours having brunch together this morning before the rehearsal got underway. It was nice, just chatting with my friends and enjoying the most delicious pancakes I had ever tasted.

I didn’t regret my decision for a moment. My evening was busy enough after the rehearsal and soon I meant to get an early start on a full night’s sleep.

I looked around the dinner table. My grandparents were there, of course. Suzy and Brian were there with little Emma Rose. Brian was Billy’s best man and naturally Suzy was my matron of honor. The other three groomsmen were at the rehearsal dinner too; Billy’s two brothers and an old friend from medical school. And Beth, my only other bridesmaid. They were the people who mattered most to me. There would be more people at the wedding. We’d invited what felt like the whole town, but these were our nearest and dearest.

“Are you alright?” Billy asked me quietly as we ate our meal.

The meal was beautiful. Chicken in a creamy mushroom sauce with sautéed potatoes and a cauliflower puree.

“I’m fine.” I smiled at him.

“You seem quiet,” he said. He laughed nervously. “You’re not having second thoughts, are you?”

“Never,” I reassured him. “I was actually just thinking that the people in this room are the most important people in the world to us. It seems so magical to have them all here in one place to share this with, doesn’t it?”

“It does.” Billy smiled. “But just remember, there’s another person in the room too.”

I frowned, not understanding what he meant. He laughed softly at my expression and nodded to Derrick. Derrick was here in an official capacity, taking pictures of the rehearsal for our wedding album.

“Just try not to look like you’d rather be somewhere else.” Billy laughed. “I’m not sure that’s a look we want to try to explain to our grandkids one day.

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