Peach Pies and Alibis (15 page)

“I am,” he said solemnly. “And I don’t intend to start off by assaulting you at the
local swimming hole.” His hands moved over the rise of her shoulders and slid down
her arms, making her shiver all over. “Though I don’t know how I’ll ever force myself
to stop touching you.”

She reached for him, but he grabbed her hand and kissed her chastely on the palm.
“I want to do this the right way. You deserve to be courted, Ella Mae. You should
have flowers and candlelit dinners. I want to hold your hand at the movie theater
and go on hikes to places where there are no other people. Just you, me, and the dogs,”
he added with a smile.

“I like the sound of that,” Ella Mae said.

“So we’ll take it slow until after the divorce. After that, look out. You’ll be mine.
Every inch of you.”

At that moment, Hugh’s Harlequin Dane, Dante, burst through the trees and ran to the
lake’s edge, Chewy following close behind. The dogs were all toothy smiles, lolling
tongues, and wagging tails.

Hugh and Ella Mae laughed and then exchanged a brief look
of agreement. It was time for them to get out, to break the water’s magic spell.

“I’d like to see you on Saturday,” Hugh said as they moved apart. “I know you’re doing
the desserts at Rudy and Candis’s wedding, but I’m going to be there too because Freda
Shaw’s my cousin. Twice removed or something, but we’re related somehow. Anyway, you
and I could spend time together after it’s over.”

If Hugh’s related to Freda, he might be an Other. He might be like me,
Ella Mae thought excitedly.

They reached the bank, and she wrapped herself in a towel and sat on the rock where
she’d had her picnic. “We’ll already be dressed to the nines, won’t we?”

“I’ll take you dancing,” Hugh said. “There’s a live band playing at the resort.”

“Sounds like heaven,” Ella said, already imagining Hugh in a tux, his hand around
her waist as they spun slowly across the dance floor. She could see the two of them
pausing between songs to drink sparkling wine or a cold beer, chatting and laughing
as starlight filtered into the waterside pergola, making the surface of the lake sparkle
like glitter.

Ella Mae and Hugh sat on the rock by the swimming hole and talked for the next two
hours. They ate sweet strawberries and reminisced about old classmates while the night
air dried their hair and wrapped them in a state of drowsy contentment.

Eventually, Ella Mae sighed and said, “I’d better go.”

“Let me give you a ride.” Hugh collected her picnic things.

She gestured at the bright moon. “I’ll be fine. Besides, Partridge Hill is totally
out of your way.”

“It gives me five more minutes with you.” He turned to his snoozing Dane. “To the
truck, boy.”

Dante rose and yawned. He then nudged Chewy with his
big black nose and loped up the path. Chewy looked at Ella Mae expectantly.

“Go on!” She told her dog and then grinned at Hugh. “Your Canine to Five staff is
teaching him such excellent manners. I feel guilty leaving him there all day, but
I don’t even think he misses me.”

“Sure he does,” Hugh said. “There’s a bond between the two of you. You got him from
a shelter, right?”

Ella Mae nodded.

“Animals know when they’ve been rescued. Dante knows it. Chewy knows it.” He cast
her a shy glance. “People can be rescued too.”

Hugh’s words stayed with her long after he’d unloaded her bike and given her a parting
kiss on the cheek. She drifted upstairs and got ready for bed in a dreamlike state,
replaying every second of the evening over and over again, wrapping the fresh memories
around her like a blanket.

Opening her bedroom windows, she inhaled the perfume of her mother’s roses. Tonight,
they smelled of dew-covered strawberries and promises.

“Those wedding tarts are going to be amazing,” she whispered to the silent garden.
“Just one bite and folks will know exactly what love tastes like.”

The next afternoon, Ella Mae went with Maurelle to pick up her bridesmaid dress. Candis
had told her that she’d gladly pay for whatever her friend wanted to wear, but Maurelle
had refused the offer. Ella Mae had been there when she first tried on a merlot-colored
dress with a form-fitting jacket of the same hue. With her pale skin and dark hair,
the color had suited Maurelle perfectly.

“I’ll probably never wear this again,” she’d said with a sigh when the boutique owner
offered to take the waist in at no extra charge.

“Pretty thing like you?” The woman had been incredulous. “Come on, the boys must be
lining up to take you out!”

Maurelle had smirked. “Not exactly.”

“It’s only because she’s new in town,” Ella Mae had said quickly.

“Well, that explains it! Maybe you’ll meet a nice boy at the wedding.” The woman studied
Maurelle kindly. “Where are you from, honey?”

Shrugging, Maurelle had said, “My folks live in Arizona, but it’s too hot and sunny
for me there. I moved to Atlanta a few years ago and that’s where I met Candis. She
was in her nursing school.”

“A nurse? How wonderful!” The woman had acted unduly impressed. “Were you two in school
together?”

Fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve, Maurelle murmured, “No. I was a patient.”

That had shut the boutique owner up. After giving Maurelle a sympathetic pat on the
arm, she’d rung up the dress and a pair of silver heels. Maurelle paid with what had
to have been all of her tip money, since the pile of cash was mostly made up of wrinkled
five- and one-dollar bills.

Afterward, Maurelle had been quiet during dinner and Ella Mae hadn’t had the heart
to ply her with questions. Her new employee had withdrawn since their visit to the
boutique, and Ella Mae was relieved when the waiter arrived with the check and the
two women had called it a night.

By Saturday, Maurelle was her pleasant self again. She worked her regular shift at
the pie shop and then helped Reba and Ella Mae pack up all the tarts for the dessert
buffet.

“I’m glad you got this gig,” Reba said as she and Ella Mae sat in the shade garden
at Partridge Hill later that afternoon. The two women were drinking iced coffee and
relaxing before they had to shower, change, and head back to the pie shop to fill
Ella Mae’s Jeep with the wedding treats. “It’ll
be a sweet sight when those darlin’ young folks walk down the aisle. Lord knows we
could use a life-affirmin’ moment like that.”

Ella Mae nodded. “No news on Melissa’s lab results yet?”

Reba shook her head. “I thought for sure we’d hear somethin’ this week. Judge Freda
was gonna put pressure on the coroner’s office. The authorities are still statin’
that the cause of death is unknown, and Freda wants answers even more than we do.”

“In case the killer comes after her.”

“Exactly.” Reba patted Ella Mae’s arm. “But you have enough on your mind, so don’t
fret about Melissa or Freda tonight. Wait ’til you see Freda’s place. It’s set high
up on the hills above the lake and backs up to a big stretch of woods. It’s a whole
lot better than some stuffy wedding hall.”

Reba couldn’t have been more right. Freda Shaw’s house was a low country jewel with
an enormous wraparound porch. Magnolia branches with gold satin bows were tied around
every porch column, and a path made up of pink, yellow, and coral rose petals invited
guests to the back of the house. There, on a gentle slope of lawn overlooking the
lake, Candis and Rudy would exchange vows. The scene was breathtakingly beautiful.

Neat rows of rental chairs were positioned on the grass, and vines of clematis with
blush-colored blooms covered its wooden arch. The center aisle between the chairs
was made entirely of a thick carpet of flower petals. Rose blossoms mingled with merry
daises, star-shaped asters, bright coreopsis, and wild chrysanthemums.

“This is the most romantic setting I’ve ever seen,” Ella Mae said.

She and Reba had already set up the tarts on the buffet table on the back porch and
were now watching the guests mingle on the lawn. Everyone was waiting for the bride
and groom to arrive.

“Your mama and aunts are here,” Reba said, though none of the LeFaye women were in
sight. “I can hear Verena clear as a bell. I’d better go make sure she doesn’t steal
a hunk of cheese on the sly. Vaughn and Lynn don’t realize they’re gonna have to stand
guard over the food.”

“That’s because they don’t know Verena.” Ella Mae laughed. She then focused on the
gorgeous vista and indulged in a fantasy in which the wedding guests were all gone
and she was alone with Hugh. She longed to kiss him under the flower-covered arch.

“Aren’t you supposed to be working?” said a woman.

Ella Mae swung around to find Loralyn standing in the middle of the aisle, scattering
the perfect arrangement of petals with the toe of her shoe.

“That’s for Candis to walk on, not you!” Ella Mae snapped. “You’ve had three weddings
already. Get off.”

Loralyn looked down at her feet in mock innocence. She slowly made her way back onto
the grass, leaving a trail of trampled flowers in her wake. “I might have my fourth
ceremony outdoors. It’s rather rustic. Perhaps more appropriate for a farmhand or
a baker, but not without its charms.”

Ella Mae wanted to slap the sneer right off Loralyn’s face. “Who invited you?”

“The Gaynors are always included in these provincial events. After all, we give the
best gifts.” She put her hand over her mouth as if regretting her words. “Oh, but
you didn’t have to bring anything because you’re the
help
.” She examined Ella Mae. “Pretty fancy dress for a baker.”

It was true. Dee had invited her to pick and choose from any of the items in her closet,
and Ella Mae had discovered a treasure trove of vintage coats, dresses, and gowns.
Before she’d adopted a uniform of overalls and T-shirts, Dee had worn clothes that
would have made Audrey Hepburn jealous.

Tonight, Ella Mae was clad in a chocolate brown cocktail dress with a form-fitting
bodice. Made of silk, taffeta, and
tulle, the hourglass shape flattered Ella Mae’s curves, and the full skirt was perfect
for dancing. She’d pinned her whiskey-colored hair into a messy bun, leaving strands
to frame her face and curl at the nape of her neck. Her skin glowed, her hazel eyes
glimmered with flecks of gold, and she had never felt so beautiful.

“I have a date after the wedding,” Ella Mae said.

“Really?” Loralyn seemed absurdly pleased. “I doubt he can measure up to the man I’ll
have on my arm.” She turned back toward the house. “Ah, here he is now, bringing me
champagne. He’s a keeper, I tell you. Total husband material.”

Ella Mae couldn’t speak. She couldn’t move. All she could do was gape, dumbfounded,
as Loralyn’s date crossed the lawn, his familiar mouth curving into a smile. He drew
up next to Loralyn, and Ella Mae caught a whiff of his aftershave. She stared at him,
wondering how she’d been able to forget how handsome he was.

“Seeing as I don’t need to introduce the two of you, I think I’ll go inside and powder
my nose.” Loralyn accepted her glass of champagne and took a dainty sip. “Feel free
to catch up. You must have lots to talk about.” With a wicked grin, she sashayed back
toward the house.

Waiting until Loralyn was out of earshot, Ella Mae grabbed the second glass of champagne
from the man’s hand and downed it in one swallow. “Jesus,” she muttered, wishing she
could chase the champagne with a fifth of whiskey. She then locked eyes with her husband
and said, “What the hell are you doing here, Sloan?”

Sloan Kitteridge looked her over with appreciative eyes. “Gorgeous. You’re like one
of the flowers in the bride’s bouquet. This place”—he waved his hand to encompass
all of Havenwood—“suits you.”

Ella Mae didn’t answer. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him.

“Sorry,” Sloan said. “It’s just that I haven’t seen you in months and now here you
are. As breathtaking as the day we were married.” He exhaled and took a step closer.
“Honey, I know I screwed up. What we had was really special and I don’t want to let
it go. I knew I had to do something big to prove that I’m a changed man and that’s
why I’m here. Didn’t you say that if I came to you that you’d be willing to give us
a chance?”