Page 45 of A Dead End Wedding

Molly came skipping into the kitchen, a purple mask on her face, and rummaged around in the fridge. “Hi, troll! How’s it going? Want a glass of wine? A face mask?”

Braumsh’s huge orange eyes widened ever further as he looked back and forth from me to Molly. Then he ponderously shook his head. “No, I do not. You are strange mortals. I am only here to tell you I found a place to live, so I’m moving on. I will have no more need for your tent.”

“Great! I’m happy for you. Wait!” I remembered Susan’s warning. “Braumsh, please be careful. A couple of people who hate the Fae accosted me at my shop, and they were asking about Queen Viviette. I know you’re not with her, but I think they hate all Fae. Please watch out for anybody who looks suspicious.”

The troll’s face turned grim. “Do you have a name?”

“Twyly Thursday. No, that’s wrong. Um, Twyla Tharsin. She used to be a reporter, but is big in an anti-Fae society now. Horrible bigots. Anyway, be careful.”

“I will, Tess. I know of this Tharsin woman,” he said in a voice like thunder.

“Okay!” A tiny burp escaped, and I clapped my hand to my mouth. “Excuse me! Hey Braumsh, just between you and me, it’s okay to say thank you to me. I won’t hold you to any debt. It’s just the neighborly thing to do.”

“AmI your neighbor, Tess of the Callahans?” the troll asked, so softly I almost didn’t hear him.

“Yes! And more than that, you’re my friend. I’d invite you in, but we’re having a girls’ night. You’re coming to the wedding, though, right?”

He looked at me for a long time. So long I almost forgot the question. Then he held out a hand.

“May I shake your hand in thanks?”

“Oh, no. I’m sorry.” I hastily put my hands behind my back. “I really don’t want to see how you’ll die. Maybe just say the words?”

Another long pause.

Then he bowed.

“Thank you, Tess. Farewell for now. I will leave gold on the table by the pool for my lodging and bring a spectacular gift for your wedding.”

“No!” I felt awful. He clearly didn’t have much money, and now he thought I was hinting for gifts. “No, please. You don’t have to bring a gift! And definitely no money for staying here. You’re not my lodger; you’re a friend who needed a place to stay. I’m sure you’d do the same for me.”

“That’s the oddest thing about all of this,” he said slowly. “I believe I would.”

Molly yelled something about the TV from the front room, and I glanced over my shoulder to answer her. When I turned back around, Braumsh was gone.

I sighed. All this disappearing was getting old.

“Tess! Grab the pie!” Molly yelled.

I grabbed the pie.

And another bottle of wine, just in case.

Girls’ night wasawesome.

And Tuesday was even better.

Wednesday, however?

Wednesdaysucked.

18

Tess

Wednesday: Wedding minus 3 days

Isat down in a wooden pew and carefully banged my forehead against the hymnal in the rack in front of me.

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