A Groom wirh a View Read Online Free PDF Page B

stupid, yellow dog, had brought a live (if only barely so) chipmunk into the house. The creature was still at large. Thelma speculated that it might be rabid. That it might bite her. That it might have babies somewhere in the house. Thelma tended toward dramatic speculations.
    “Don’t worry. The cats will find and dispatch it,“ Jane assured her. She didn’t mention what sort of nasty messes this might involve. Thelma would find out soon enough.
    Jane worked her way through the rest of her list, feeling very efficient and smug, then went to check on Mrs. Crossthwait’s progress—which turned out to be nearly imperceptible. “I’m getting a little concerned,“ Jane said to the seamstress. “We’re running out of time, you know.”
    Mrs. Crossthwait said, “Don’t you worry, dear. The wedding is still two full days ahead. Plenty of time.“
    “But I don’t want you to be sewing until the last second,“ Jane said. “I’d really like to have all the dresses done, pressed, and hung up for the girls by this evening.“
    “I’ll have them done by noon tomorrow,“ Mrs. Crossthwait said, glaring. “I’ve been doing weddings since I was a slip of a girl and I know about deadlines. More than you do, I’d venture to say.”
    Jane suddenly felt an irrational wave of dislike for this woman. She was doing a meticulous job on the dresses, but couldn’t she be a little less meticulous and get the damned dresses finished? Jane didn’t want to be nagging the old woman, but everything else was so thoroughly under control and Mrs. Crossthwait was making Jane crazy with her dawdling and her outspoken rudeness to everyone.
    “I plan to hold you to that promise,“ Jane said firmly.
    But this turned out to be an empty threat. A very empty threat.

Four

    By mid-afternoon Jane was fretting about the third bridesmaid. She hadn’t arrived and her dress was the most elaborate and farthest from completion. Jane was rummaging through her notebooks for Eden’s telephone number when the young woman arrived.
    “I hope you’re Eden Matthews,“ Jane said to her. “I was about to set up a search party.“
    “And you must be Jane Jeffry. I’m sorry I’m late. Car problems,“ Eden said breezily. She dumped a large suitcase in the front hall, evidently certain that it would be handled from here on by someone else. “The old lodge never changes,“ she said, strolling into the main room. “I’m going to hate seeing this old place torn down. I’ve spent a good deal of time here over the years.“
    “You’re an old friend of Livvy’s, aren’t you?“ Jane said.
    Eden made a “so-so“ motion with her hand. “We’ve known each other all our lives,“ she said. “Our fathers are best friends and business associates. Ah, this is the best chair in the place,“ she said, flopping down on a deep leather armchair.
    Jane was surprised at Eden’s appearance. They’d never met before, only talked on the phone, but Eden had a very soft voice and Jane had formed a totally unfounded impression that Eden was small and meek. But she was a tall, well-rounded glamour girl—reminiscent of a young Farrah Fawcett, but with a voluptuous figure. Lots of artfully tousled hair, stunning teeth, perfect skin, and a runway model’s walk.
    The bridesmaid dress she’d chosen—a mass of draped ruffles cascading down from a deep neckline—now made sense. Tall, gorgeous, long-striding Eden was going to make poor Livvy look like Cinderella before the Fairy Godmother took her in hand. It was hard to outshine a bride, but Jane suspected Eden was going to do just that.
    Jane was about to launch into a nag about dress fittings when Eden said, “So poor little Livvy really is going to marry Dwayne, the gas station attendant? She hasn’t backed out yet?“
    “Backed out! Not after all my work, she won’t. The groom works at a gas station?“ Jane asked.
    Eden laughed softly. “No, he just looks like it. Sexy as hell, I have to admit, but