Page 78 of The Secret to a Southern Wedding

“It’s a long story.” His voice, normally booming and cheerful sounded tired and shaky, but he didn’t look away from her or her mom. “I was originally considered a suspect, but my name was cleared. They found the guy. Her family just won’t let it go.”

Linda pressed her lips together and watched him closely. “Why didn’t you tell me that?”

“I was going to tell you. I just didn’t want this to be the only thing you thought of when you saw me.” He reached for her, but her mom took a step back.

“You know everything about my ex. If you trust me then why would you keep something like this from me?”

“I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“But hearing about this from my daughter makes it better?” Linda accused. “Why would you keep this from me? How can I trust that you really had nothing to do with this?”

“Because I didn’t. I loved my wife. I still love and miss her every day. I would never do anything to her.” He looked at Imani. “Just like I would never hurt your mother.”

“We’ve heard that before,” Imani shot back. “I knew this wedding was a bad idea. I knew it was a rush job. I was right to suspect you.”

“How did you find out? If it wasn’t Cyril, then who told you?” Preston asked.

“Your sister-in-law is in town and she’s here to tell everyone that you killed your first wife. She’s here to keep you from hurting another woman.”

“I would never hurt your mom,” Preston yelled and slammed his hand on the counter.

Her mom jumped and took several steps away. Preston immediately looked contrite. He reached for her. “Linda, please, I’m sorry.”

She pushed his hand away and pointed toward the door. “No. Get out. Just go away right now.”

“But can we talk?”

“There’s nothing to talk about!” Her mom’s raised voice reverberated off the walls in the store. Preston dropped his hand and took a staggering step back. “Go, Preston, before I call the cops.”

Preston pressed his lips together. He gave Linda one last look before walking out of the store. Imani made sure he was gone before hurrying to her mom’s side.

“Mom, are you okay?” She put her hand on her mom’s shoulder.

Linda brushed aside her attempt to comfort her. “Why did you do that?”

“Do what?”

Linda turned toward Imani with a scowl. “Why did you burst in here with that news?”

Imani was momentarily speechless. Wasn’t the reason obvious? “Because she’s going to spread the rumor all over town. You needed to know.”

“What if there had been customers in here? Then not only would the rumor spread, but you would have been the one to start it.”

“You care about how the rumors are spread instead of the fact that Preston could have potentially killed his wife?”

She shook her head. “What I don’t need is you being the reason our names are being whispered in corners. Preston told me his wife was murdered.”

“You knew?”

“I did. He always said it was difficult to talk about, but I never thought...” Her voice wavered. “I never considered he would have had anything to do with it.” Her mom’s voice broke, and tears filled her eyes.

“Mom, I’m so sorry. We’ll get through this. Whatever you need, I’m here.” Imani tried to hug her.

Her mom pushed her aside. “You’ve done enough today, Imani. You’ve got what you wanted. The wedding is off.”

The bell over the door chimed as a customer came in. Her mom swiped her tears. “Please handle that. I—I need a minute.” She rushed toward the back of the store before Imani could say anything else.

Cyril waited at the kitchen table. He wasn’t sure how long he sat there in the quiet. The silence comforted him. In the house that had provided him and his dad so much peace in the years after his mother’s murder. Peachtree Cove was supposed to be their sanctuary. The place they could start over without the constant memory of the bad things that happened in the past. Had they been foolish to think that was possible?

---