The Bride's Curse (26 page)

Troy Matthews stood straight and tall, his face alight with love as he waited for his bride to join him for wedding vows that had been delayed for over four decades.

There probably wasn’t a dry eye in the church as Troy and Mary finally stood before the minister and promised to love, honor, and cherish each other for the rest of their lives.

• • •

“You and Noelia must be the best wedding planners in the world, to put something as exquisite as this together in three short weeks,” Mary told them dreamily as she surveyed Noelia’s garden.

If only she knew the hassle and the sleepless nights it took to get here, Kelly thought. There had been moments when they had doubted they could pull this very special wedding day together in the time they had. It seemed like Marina Grove had become a go-to spot for every wedding, every convention, and every family get-together in Maine. There was simply no suitable place available for a last-minute wedding reception.

In the end Noelia had said, “Well, enough of this. Honestly, we could have a marquee on my lawn and … ”

And that’s what they did—complete with a wooden dance platform, a marquee for a splendid meal, balloons, flowers, and a band playing songs from the 1960s and ’70s so that Mary and her groom could dance to the music of their memories. There was a bar that flowed with champagne and every other beverage known to man or woman. Noelia’s garden was bright with late summer flowers and colorful shrubs just beginning to show their autumnal colors. The profusion of late summer roses added a romantic perfume to the reception. Even the weather cooperated and the whole event was bathed in sunshine on a day that was warm for so late in the year.

“For a lady who’s been pretty darn nearly a recluse for all these years, your aunt Mary sure knows how to party,” Kelly said to Brett as they watched the happy couple doing the twist to a Beatles number.

“Well, I guess she’s got a lot of catching up to do.”

Kelly nodded. “Yes, and there’s something rather bittersweet about that, isn’t there? That they should have been kept apart by a silly prank and by their parents … ”

Brett pulled her in close and she leaned against him happily. “I think Troy and Mary are going to be very happy, making up for lost time. They’ll value the time they have even more.”

“You’re right. And I need some time to decompress. It’s been hectic. Beautiful, but hectic.”

“I know just what you mean and I wasn’t the one chasing around making the wedding arrangements. How about a walk along the pier to breathe in that lovely salty air? It’ll be quiet down there at this time of the day … ”

Kelly wondered again at Brett’s ability to know just what she needed. Once more she heard the ghost’s advice about the balance that existed between herself and Brett. As if sensing her conflict about leaving the reception, he said, “I can drive—I haven’t had anything to drink because I promised Aunt Mary I’d drive her and Troy back to Mary’s place so they can get a good night’s sleep before they leave tomorrow.”

Kelly smiled. “Yes, the honeymoon. Have they let out the secret of where they’re going, yet?”

Brett leaned down and whispered conspiratorially in her ear: “If I told you that, I’d have to kill you. That’s how big a secret it is.”

“Darn!” Kelly punched him playfully in the arm. “I thought you trusted me.”

“I do, really. With all my heart. Just not with the secret destination of Aunt Mary’s honeymoon.”

Brett was right. Most of the tourists had gone home as summer had ended and the Marina Grove seafront wharf and pier were almost deserted. They walked along hand in hand, nodding to the occasional local resident they met meandering along and enjoying the autumn evening. As they walked, Kelly filled Brett in about her last meeting with the Old Man on the Bench.

“So he’s really gone?”

“Yes. I saw them, Brett. It was so beautiful—Elizabeth held out her hand and he took it, then they were both gone. Their little daughter, the one who drowned, was with her.” She sniffed back the tears that formed again in her eyes.

“Don’t cry, Red—it doesn’t suit you,” Brett said as he tenderly wiped the droplets away with his thumbs. “There’s too much fire in you for tears.”

They found a bench and sat to watch the sky change over the bay as the sun set and dusk began to darken the sky. They talked and kissed and talked some more, and the minutes flew by.

Kelly sighed, snuggling into Brett’s warm body. “I don’t think I have ever been this happy,” she murmured. Brett squeezed her tightly to him. Soon the sky was full of stars, a perfect setting for lovers. The breeze from the sea was cool and Kelly began to shiver in her thin peach silk dress and short jacket. Brett slipped off his tuxedo jacket, placed it around her shoulders, and then wrapped his arm around her again as if he’d never let her go.

She had never felt so cherished in her life.

If only this moment could last forever.

But she knew it couldn’t, had known it by the slight abstraction in Brett’s manner for the past few days. “You’re going away again, aren’t you? Overseas for the charity you work for?”

Brett turned and pulled her around to face him, dropping tiny kisses on her cheeks, and her head fit snugly against his shoulder. “How did you guess? Yes, I have to go. I wouldn’t if I hadn’t committed to this before I met you, before we ... I … you see, it’s a negotiation that’s finally coming online that will mean so much to some very poor people in … ”

“Shhh.” Kelly placed a finger over his lips. “I know you have a job to do. Let’s take a leaf out of Troy and Mary’s book and just enjoy the time we have.” She planted a kiss filled with longing on his lips, a kiss that he returned eagerly, holding her so close against him they could feel the thud of each other’s hearts.

“Let’s go back to your place,” he whispered huskily in her ear.

“Won’t they be missing us at the reception?”

“Right now, I don’t care, and I doubt if Mary and Troy are aware of anyone but each other … ” He pulled out his phone and hit a button. “I have to make a quick call. Noelia?”

Kelly’s eyebrows shot up. Why was Brett calling her assistant?

“Yes, just as we’d talked about. Could you see to it that the limo is waiting for when Mary and Troy are ready to leave? Give my apologies to Mary and tell her I’ll see them before they leave.

“And is everything else… ? The lights came on as planned? And heaters in the marquee? Yes? Thank you. Perfect. I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“I thought you were driving them back to Derry? Is there some kind of conspiracy I’m missing here?”

“You’ll see,” came the very cryptic reply.

“So where is this secret honeymoon destination?”

“You know there’s an old superstition about keeping the honeymoon destination secret?”

Kelly gave a mock shiver and placed her hand on her throat. “I’ve had it up to here with superstitions and curses and all sorts of mysteries.”

“You’re the one who made all this happen, so maybe I can tell you.” He leaned over to whisper in her ear, his breath a soft caress on her skin. “They’ve rented a cottage on a private beach in Jamaica. To hear Mary’s glowing description of the place, I think it’s possible they might never come home.”

She laughed out loud. “Really? It sounds absolutely lovely!”

Ten minutes later Brett stopped his vehicle outside Kelly’s little shore side house. She stopped on the path, amazed to see the windows of the house lit up with softly glowing white fairy lights.

“Oh, my goodness, Brett … don’t tell me there’s … ”

He laughed, that deep rolling sound she’d grown so fond of. “No, no restless spirits tonight. Just you and me and … ” He threw open the door to reveal the interior of her home filled with the seductive light of candles. A log fire burned warmly in the small glass fronted wood stove. She gasped as she saw roses everywhere, huge bouquets of deep red roses, their scent filling the space with subtly sexy perfume.

And on the coffee table, a silver bucket with a cooling bottle of champagne.

“What’s going on, Brett? I mean, it’s beautiful… ”

“Don’t be so suspicious. Is there something wrong with my trying to have time with the woman I love?”

The woman he loves
. She felt the words flow deeply inside of her to the spot it seemed only Brett could reach.

Brett shut the door firmly behind them, slipped his tuxedo jacket from around her, and led her toward the sofa. She eyed the two champagne glasses with white and pink ribbons tied around them, the chocolate covered strawberries, the scented candles … and light dawned in her own desire fogged brain.

“So, that Noelia Russo helped you set all this up, didn’t she? And she never said a word. Just wait until I see her ... ”

“Noelia’s great at keeping secrets, isn’t she?”

Kelly thought of her suspicions about her assistant being Mimi L’Amour and smiled. “She certainly is.”

“Don’t be mad at her. I asked for her help and … well, you’re going to need her.”

“I do need Noelia, at the store and as my friend, but … ”

“More than that, you’ll need her help in arranging our wedding.”

“Our wedding?” Kelly sank onto the sofa, her heart beating dizzily as she tried to take everything in. She fought a smile as Brett dropped to one knee.

“If you laugh at me, I’ll take away the chocolate covered strawberries,” he threatened.

Kelly sat up straight. “No, whatever you’re doing, don’t stop. And leave the strawberries alone.”

He pulled a blue velvet covered box from his trouser pocket, flipping it open to reveal the ruby and diamond ring nestled there. A ruby-red stone for his Red. “Kelly Andrews, I love you more than I can put into words. Will you be my wife?” He paused, looking stricken. “Why are you crying?”

Kelly sniffed and blew her nose on the blue monogrammed handkerchief he hastily pulled from his pocket. “I’m just so happy,” she sobbed and went into a fresh bout of tears. “Will you ask me again?”

“You just like having me here on my knees, don’t you?” Brett grinned. “Kelly Andrews, you are the love of my life. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”

She smiled through the tears and threw her arms around him. He moved up onto the sofa and held her tightly as she whispered, “Yes! Yes, Brett Atwell—I’ll marry you!”

She raised her face to his as their lips met and melded in a kiss that promised forever.

• • •

It was still dark when Kelly awoke. She was far too languid and warm to check the time but guessed it was still the wee small hours. All was quiet in the little house except for the eternal rhythm of ocean waves against the shoreline and the gentle snoring of Sullivan the cat who slept in the chair by the window.

Earlier, they had extinguished all the candles before Brett clasped her hand and led her up the shallow stairs to Kelly’s bedroom with its sand-colored walls and queen-sized bed covered in a soft, fluffy white comforter. Now, the only light in the little cottage came from the waning moon which hung over the bay. It arced through her bedroom window and spilled over the bed in which she and Brett lay.

Kelly rolled onto her side to watch as he slept deeply, admiring the contours of the lean, muscular body that she had so recently explored with such delight. The moon spilling through the white lace curtains turned the pale hairs on his chest to filaments of gold.

She placed her left hand on the hard warmth of his ribcage and smiled as the rise and fall of his breathing caused the beautiful ring on her finger to twinkle and glow in the moonlight. Its weight felt strange and new. So unfamiliar and yet so beautiful.

A promise of a lifetime of love.

The gentle touch of her hand woke him and he smiled up into her face. Sleepily, she luxuriously stretched and sighed and turned toward him again to plant a gentle kiss on his lips, a kiss he captured and returned with mounting heat. Pushing her gently back against the pillows, he raised himself on one elbow.

“I want to wake up every morning, with you, like this, for the rest of our lives,” he told her.

Slowly, he moved down her body, kissing the white scars and moving on to stroke her curves and then returning hungrily to her lips.

“I love you, Red,” he murmured against her mouth.

“Call me Red again, and you know what will happen … ” she warned as his arms went around her.

“Oh, I know what will happen. Let me show you.” His deep voice was filled with laughter and promises.

(From
Saving Maggie
by Glenys O’Connell)

The woman in the sexy little red convertible looked perky from behind. Her glossy long hair was pulled up in a careless ponytail and swayed from side to side like a cobra charmed by an Indian flute as she bopped to the music from the car radio.

Even at a car’s length away, the driver behind her thought this was the sort of hair a man could run his fingers through and grasp playfully. He wished now he were piloting his own expensive roadster rather than the sedate brown sedan he’d rented especially for this trip. His own car was the sort that would impress the kind of girl who drove a bright red convertible with the top down on a windy spring day.

He imagined himself overtaking her, seeing her look over at him, her eyes widening in admiration as she took in his expensive ride and wealthy, groomed good looks.

Then she’d remember him and smile …

He gunned the accelerator and with a disdainful purr the rental spurted forward, pulling alongside her. He glanced over, hoping to catch her eye. But she stared straight ahead, singing along to some mindless pop music and oblivious to his look of longing.

He didn’t matter to her. She didn’t remember. She didn’t smile.

Irritated now, he jabbed the accelerator and zoomed past her. He knew soon they’d meet again.

Then he’d refresh her memory.

• • •

Maggie Kendall was just leaving Fried Heaven with two cups of the diner’s delicious coffee balanced in her hands, when a tall, dark-haired stranger pushed open the door so suddenly that it caught her, and hot coffee sloshed wetly down the front of her white silk shirt.