Page 39 of A Dead End Wedding

“Or at least catch her off guard,” the pastor suggested, a hint of a gleam in his eye.

When I raised an eyebrow, he chuckled. “I don’t want to lose the church, which will happen if we’re forced to evacuate the town. So, maybe I’m not entirely feeling the cheek-turning philosophy at the moment.”

“Oh!” Tess groaned. “I can’t believe I forgot to give Braumsh an invitation.”

Pastor Nash looked puzzled. “Who’s Braumsh?”

I sighed. “The swamp troll who lives in our swimming pool.”

Aunt Ruby was not one to take Sunday lunch casually, thank goodness. By the time we arrived at the farm, the table was covered with fried chicken and all the trimmings. Potato salad, fresh corn on the cob, strawberries and blueberries, and fresh rolls. Also, a chocolate cake stood ready on the counter, and I felt the smile spread across my entire face.

Shelley said she had important things to do after lunch, so she and I cleaned up the kitchen and washed the dishes quickly. Then she and Pickles ran out to the barn, and the rest of us wentoutside to sit on the porch and enjoy the relatively mild day. It was only 85, which for June was a delight … or a miracle.

“If only we have a day like this next Saturday for the wedding,” Tess said wistfully.

“It will be, I’m sure of it,” Ruby said, patting her niece’s knee.

“Weather forecast says yes,” Mike put in, closing his eyes and leaning back on the porch swing. He’d changed out of his church clothes before we arrived and wore his usual old blue jeans with beat up shoes and a T-shirt advertising the Southern Railway.

“Uncle Mike, you are entirely too relaxed, considering what’s going to happen tonight,” Tess said in a small, worried voice.

His eyes opened, and he grinned at her. “Would it help if I ran around like a chicken with its head cut off?”

“No, but?—”

“Then let me prepare in my way, honey. I’ll spend the day relaxing and mentally preparing. I’ll do my best tonight. That’s all any of us can do.”

Ruby leaned her head on his shoulder. “I have to admit, I don’t like this any better than Tess does. Why have three members ofourfamily been the chosen champions so far? Three of us out of four challenges! Does that queen have something against us?”

“You outmaneuvered her a bit with the key to the city. Maybe she held a grudge,” I said. “Mike, how good are you at chess?”

Mike grinned at me. “Are you still here? Tess, whatever happened to that boring dentist you used to date?”

“Uncle Mike!” Tess’s face turned pink. “Enough! Answer the question. How goodareyou at chess?”

Mike stood and stretched, then stared out into the distance for a minute or two before answering. Then he shrugged. “I guess we’ll find out.”

16

Tess

Sunday: Wedding minus 6 days

Ispent most of the day stress cleaning and stress baking, so my house was immaculately clean and my counters were covered with banana bread, wheat bread, apple pie, pecan pie, pineapple upside-down cake, three different varieties of cookies, and—just for variety—a Battenberg cake I’d seen onThe Great British Baking Show.

When Braumsh showed up around eight from wherever he’d spent the day, I gave him a tray filled with roast beef, potatoes, and carrots and a second tray with some of each and every thing I’d baked.

“She stress bakes,” Jack said in response to the troll’s bewildered expression.

“I … commend your skill,” Braumsh told me, and then he bowed.

“Thank you. If you want anything else, let me know,” I told him.

When Jack and I went inside, I gestured to him to follow me to the front room. Then I stood on tiptoes to whisper. “Did you notice he doesn’t like to say thank you? Are trolls Fae?”

Jack took advantage of my nearness and kissed me, which I admit I appreciated, so it was a little while before he answered. “I’m not sure. Trolls are secretive. There’s some speculation that they’re Unseelie Fae, which just means the less pretty version of Seelie Fae like Viviette and Rhys. Does it really matter?”

I wasn’t sure if it mattered or not. Braumsh had shown up so close to when the Fae started playing their charter-renewal games with us. But he hadn’t shown much interest in the trials.

---