Page 26 of All Dressed Up

A line formed between her brother’s eyebrows. “You’re going to have to rewind that statement.”

She touched the large satin bow on its back, her heart splitting. Why couldn’t she have been the one to find the dress? “Bethany had this brainy idea that I should open Mary’s antique chest to see if a wedding dress would finally be in there for me, so we went to the Lakeside Inn.”

“How did Amber get the dress?”

“I’m getting to that.” She draped the dress over her arm so the bottom didn’t hit the floor, continuing on, “Bethany suggested that another woman also open the trunk to see if one appeared for her. If she found a dress like Emma and Bethany had, and I didn’t, we’d know that I wouldn’t be getting married anytime soon.”

Donovan scrunched his face. “I’m not sure I follow that logic, but okay.”

“Amber was sitting at the tiki bar outside, so we asked her.”

“You asked Will’s date if she wanted to see her wedding dress?”

“I didn’tknowshe was there to meet Will, obviously. She was sitting all alone.” Rachel held the dress high. “Amber got this dress, and I got a stupid notecard.” She smoothed its bow and hung the gown back on the rack.

“And one more thing you might recognize.” Returning to the counter, she bent down and reached for the lavender purse she’d stowed this morning. “I got this.” She set the bag on the counter next to her brother. “Mary told me that night to go get her stupid purse.”

Donovan jumped off the counter and grabbed the purse, a huge smile took over his face. “Well, hello, old friend.”

“Foe’s more like it,” she corrected emphatically, crossing her arms. Mary was definitely not in her corner.

“Wait.” Donovan held the purse in the air. “I gave this to Will. How did you get it if he was on a date?”

“I’d rather not say.” She wasn’t going to relive the humiliating encounter again and had no desire to share with her brother what went down in Will’s bedroom.

“So, what has Mary given you?” Donovan asked, shaking the bag. “Pack of playing cards? Reading glasses? Rubber chicken maybe?”

Rachel smirked. Those were items Mary had given her brother via the purse to win back Zoe’s heart, and as bizarre as it sounded, they worked. “Nothing,” she said, placing her thumb and fingers together making a big zero.

“Nothing at all?”

From his expression, she could tell her brother wasn’t buying it. “She’s been leaving me stupid notecards, which in my opinion, amounts to squat.”

Donovan set the purse on the counter. “I would say a note from this ghost is something. What do they say?”

“See for yourself.” She turned around to face her cash register, opening it up. She’d placed the three cards underneath her bill tray this morning. “So, I’ve gotten three if you include the first one I found in the trunk last January with the asinine suggestion that I open a wedding dress shop.” She set the cards on the counter and scoffed, “Although, with all these dresses, I probably could open one.”

Donovan picked up the first card. “Hmmm... And the others?”

Rachel laid them faceup on the counter. “This one told me to go get the purse, which I did.” She pointed at the last card. “This morning, I found this one inside.”

“Upstairs.” Donovan read, picking up the card and taking a closer look. “What does that mean?”

“No clue.”

“Hmm... And what does the card inside the purse say?”

“There’s no card in there.”

“You sure about that?” Donovan picked up the bag again, giving it a good shake. “Something’s in there. I felt it earlier.”

Her heart began to race, and she snatched the bag from her brother, narrowing her eyes. Way for him to bury the lead. “Why on earth didn’t you tell me?”

“It’s not my job to keep tabs on Mary’s contents anymore.”

She shoved her hand inside. It’d been empty when she’d checked it this afternoon, but sure enough, a fourth cream card was inside. She pulled it out and tore through the envelope, opening it up.

Now! XX, Mary

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