Terror in Taffeta Read Online Free PDF Page A

answer.
    Gritting my teeth, I pulled up a chair and sat down. It was time to end this. “Nicole, Vince, I have some bad news.”
    Nicole sat up straight. “Bad news?”
    â€œWhat is it?” Vince asked. “What happened?”
    â€œSomething terrible. There’s no easy way to say this, but Dana didn’t just faint. She passed away.”
    â€œShe passed what?” Nicole asked, not comprehending what I’d said.
    â€œAway. She passed on.”
    â€œI don’t understand.”
    â€œShe died, dear,” Mrs. Abernathy said.
    â€œBut that’s not possible!” Nicole looked at me and then at her mother, trying to make sense of what we were telling her. “Are you sure she didn’t just sleep in this morning?”
    â€œNo,” I said. “It happened last night.”
    â€œWhat?! When? After you took her a plate?”
    â€œThere was no plate. I’m sorry, Nicole.”
    Nicole shook her head forcefully, her eyes welling with tears. “No!”
    â€œAre you sure?” Vince asked, knitting his eyebrows in concern. “I mean, what happened?”
    â€œI don’t know. After she passed out at the church, she didn’t wake up again. I’m so sorry. I’ll see what I can find out from the coroner’s office.”
    Nicole’s tears began to flow in earnest as the truth sank in. “Why didn’t anyone tell us?”
    Well, now, there was a good question. I looked at Mrs. Abernathy for support. A little help here?
    â€œYes, Kelsey, why didn’t you tell us?” Mrs. Abernathy demanded, but not as sternly as if she’d meant it.
    Count to ten before you speak, I warned myself. Was she kidding me? I couldn’t call her on her little deception, but what was I supposed to say? “I—I mean, well, we didn’t think…”
    â€œI suppose you didn’t want to ruin the evening for Nicole,” Mrs. Abernathy continued. “I guess I can understand that. But still. How dreadful.”
    But still? But still? Not only had she not told her daughter, she’d blamed the whole thing on me.
    Nicole leapt up from the table and ran from the room. After an awkward pause, Vince drained his coffee cup, then stood. “I’m going to go make sure she’s okay,” he said, gesturing across the courtyard.
    As his footsteps receded in the distance, Mrs. Abernathy sighed. “Well, that went well, don’t you think?”
    I turned and gave her a tight smile. “So … I guess you decided to let me do the honors?”
    â€œWell, you are the wedding planner. Isn’t that part of your job?”
    My job? She had to be kidding me. Coordinating bridal parties. Sourcing tent rentals. Picking the perfect venue. Those were parts of my job. Making sure that everything goes off without a hitch and that everyone lives happily freaking after, that was my job. Breaking it to the bride that a member of the wedding party was dead? No, that had never come up before.
    I stared at her, dumbfounded.
    â€œYou’re responsible for problem solving, Kelsey. Don’t forget that your contract clearly stipulates that you will handle the regular list of duties plus any dreadful, unforeseen situations that might arise in connection to the wedding.”
    Damn, it did say something like that, although I was pretty sure she was paraphrasing; I would never use the word “dreadful” in a contract.
    â€œSo what should I tell Fernando about brunch?” I asked. The villa came with a house staff, and the chef was already hard at work on the preparations. “Should I try to cancel it?”
    â€œOh, why create extra work for yourself, dear? Besides, I hear he’s planning on making us his famous huevos rancheros. They’re supposed to be just divine !”
    â€œOkay, then, I’m going to go start packing. Don’t forget that the driver is picking us up at four.”
    â€œYes,