Page 2 of Bride By Committee

Madison Adams swiped the connect button on her cell phone. “Talk to me.”

“Madison?”

“Hi, Aunt Dell. Lost again?”

“I hate to bother you, dear.”

“It’s never a bother,” Madison reassured with absolute sincerity. “That’s why I get paid the big money.”

“It has nothing to do with the money and we both know it. You love looking after all of us, don’t you, dear?”

Madison grinned. “I have to admit, it’s more than a job. It’s a calling. Now describe your location to me. Idon’t suppose you see any street signs nearby?”

“You’ll be so proud of me. I’m standing at a street corner. Union and… and Fifth.”

“This will be an easy one, Aunt Dell. Lift up your hand and flag a cab.”

“Dearest?”

Madison sighed. “No money?”

“I was so careful to save enough to get home. But the most delectable latte called my name.”

“I understand. Hang on, Aunt Dell. Ihave another call coming in.” She switched calls. “Talk to me. Yes, Rosy, what is it?”

“Harley has an emergency.”

“Harley always has an emergency. What is it today?”

“Something to do with a Mercedes and a limited time offer.”

“Tell him that’s not an emergency. Blood and maiming are emergencies. Cars come under the heading of our weekly meetings and they come in very low on the agenda. Make that clear, won’t you?” she instructed her assistant. “Low priority.”

“He won’t show at the meeting if I tell him that.”

“Then I guess we won’t have to worry about any emergencies involving Mercedes, will we? Listen, I’ve just left Sunny’s apartment and I’m on my way to the office, but I have a quick job for you to take care of before I get there. Call the local cab dispatcher for Aunt Dell.”

“Do they need to be on the lookout for her or just pick her up?”

“Pick up at Union and Fifth. Tell them to put the fare on my tab along with a generous tip.”

“Got it.”

Madison switched back to her aunt. “Aunt Dell? Go ahead and flag down a cab.”

“Thank you, dear.”

“You’re—”

To Madison’s annoyance the phone went dead. It was the third occasion this month it had stopped working for no apparent reason. The family had been in an uproar on the last occasion when they hadn’t been able to reachher.

Fortunately, this time she was only minutes from her office and another phone. Stabbing at the call button for the elevator, she turned her attention to the book her grandmother, Sunny, had given her over lunch. She had five minutes to spare between Sunny’s apartment and the office. That should provide ample opportunity to form an opinion. Not that she needed more than two of those five minutes.

“This is the worst piece of tripe I’ve ever read,” Madison muttered beneath her breath. “How anyone can buy into this nonsense is beyond me.”

A small ping announced the arrival of the elevator and without missing a beat, she turned another page and stepped into the car. “I can’t begin to imagine what Sunny could be thinking. Love can strike at the most inconvenient times. When it does, there’s nothing you can do but surrender to its overpowering force,” she read aloud. “Total twaddle. Bilge, drivel, malarkey, not to mention poppycock.”

The car rose and Madison glanced up with a frown. The numbers above the door blinked rapidly as they ascended. This was not the direction she’d intended to go. Someone had made a mistake and she wasn’t the least bit happy about it. Just as she opened her mouth to voice a complaint, the elevator shuddered to a halt and the lights winkedoff.

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