Page 79 of Trouble Walked In

“I knocked one of ’em upside the head pretty good,” an older man on the right shouted out. “Serve ’em right too.”

A middle-aged man in a tux, father of the bride or groom, Renic assumed, pushed through the crowd. “What the hell is going on out there?”

Sobs broke out from somewhere in the crowd.

“Why did they do this?” someone—the bride, he thought—cried.

“I called the police.” A man on the right waved his phone in the air.

One of the boys in uniform pulled aside the curtain on the front window. “There’s a man pointing a camera at the door. And more people coming up the drive with signs.”

Lizzie held up her hands. “Please, everyone. If you’re not hurt, could you go into the ballroom? Sit down and make yourselves comfortable. Stay away from the windows. Please. The police will be here soon.”

Renic added his voice to hers. “Complimentary champagne to toast the happy couple will be served in just a few minutes. Everyone, take your seats.”

Most of the group reluctantly turned and moved into the ballroom, except for a cluster of attendants who had circled around the bride and groom by the buffet and bar. As thecrowd thinned out, the bride’s sobs became more pronounced.

Renic stayed in the hall with Lizzie to make sure everyone went where they were supposed to go. He caught sight of Mark and gestured to him to stand guard at the back door.

“How did they find out?” Lizzie flexed her hands into fists. Her lips were pressed together in a thin line of anger. “Do you think that damn DJ told them?”

Renic pulled out his phone. He’d had it on silent for the wedding, but now it was lit up with messages he hadn’t noticed coming in. “Or his kids. Wouldn’t be surprised.”

He had two texts from Morgan.Della’s splashing. They know.

He groaned. If he’d paid attention to his phone he would have been able to stop the wedding before the mob had shown up.

Jacob had sent three messages.Can’t park. What’s with the crowd? Della Bellamy’s here?

Renic glanced up the stairs as they passed and saw Della standing at the top. He shook his head at her and mouthed, “Stay there.”

Della frowned, but didn’t move.

Another text pinged from Jacob.Can’t get through.

“Dammit,” Renic swore.

Without Jacob, there wouldn’t be a reception. There wouldn’t be anything to distract the wedding guests from rehashing the invasion over and over and over.

“What?” Lizzie glanced up from her own phone.

“Jacob’s trapped outside. He can’t get in.”

Her eyes widened as she absorbed that information.

“I’m sorry. I should have seen this coming.” He searched her face for any trace of the hurt and anger that should be there.

She closed her eyes and shook her head. “It’s not your fault.”

They were the words he never thought he’d hear from Lizzie. He put a hand on her shoulder, grateful that she didn't think he’d somehow been responsible for this fiasco. “We’ll fix this.”

“How?” There was an edge of despair in her voice that he didn't like at all.

“I don't know yet, but you’re not alone here, Lizzie. I’m here. Plus Mark, Carrie, Carter, and the rest of the crew.”

She opened her eyes, and he saw the trust he'd waited to see for three long years shining in them. “We’ll fix it. Together.”

Chapter Nineteen

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