Veiled in Death. Stephanie Blackmoore

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СКАЧАТЬ the sweet smell of baby lotion. The baby made a swipe for one of the crystal earrings I held in my hand.

      “That’s the only occupational hazard to contend with when I bring Miri to work with me.” June chuckled as she extricated the crystal prism from the baby’s grasping hand. “Everything in this store looks like a shiny toy to a six-month-old.” The infant’s visage dimmed for a moment, before June expertly replaced the earring with a buzzing rattle. Miri laughed and turned her attention to the toy.

      “I couldn’t help but see how taken you were with this item, Mallory.” June gestured toward the ethereal sundress, and gently turned me around when I refused to follow her gaze. I did, however, take in the momentary scowl on Bev’s face.

      “I’m not certain this dress will work for the fall wedding I’ve tentatively planned,” I murmured to June. I shouldn’t have turned back around. I found myself falling in love all over again with the sundress, practicality be damned. It would be ridiculous to plan a whole wedding around this budget find. But I realized with a start I encouraged the couples I worked with to do just that.

      “And I think the crystal earrings would actually work quite well with the sundress.” June nimbly plucked an earring from the birdcage and held it up in the air above the sundress, where the earring would hang when worn by the woman lucky enough to purchase the pretty garment.

      “Hm. It’s eclectic, but it would work!” I felt my excitement growing and kindled all over again. Bev wasn’t so subtle this time. Her groan caused Elvis to wake again, his doggie head swiveling back and forth between gazing at his owner and at June and me.

      “Yes, Mallory.” June shared in my excitement. “The sundress is casual, and the crystal earrings are formal. The two would be an unlikely pairing, but the juxtaposition would be interesting and unexpected.” June’s eyes quickly took me in before she turned her keen gaze to the dress. “You wouldn’t even need to alter it, I bet. It’s vintage, from the early 1960s. It would complement your figure perfectly.” June deftly unzipped the dress from the dress form. She swiveled around quickly to hand me the garment just out of baby Miri’s sticky grasp.

      “Thank you.” I heard a certain note of reverence in my voice. I held the dress against my even more informal coral skirt and striped tank top and peered into a gilt mirror affixed to the wall.

      It was truly a magical dress. I performed an impetuous, joyful spin and my doppelganger in the mirror broke out in an infectious grin. I recalled the not-quite-right ball gown my would-be mother-in-law Helene had once strong-armed me into choosing.

      This dress was made for you.

      I finally took in Bev’s terse smile hovering just behind me in the mirror.

      “Or this could be a perfect rehearsal look for Mallory,” Bev put in flatly. “Or the starting inspiration for Mallory’s eventual gown choice. But not for the main event.”

      June shrugged, seeming to wish to avoid a fight over a sundress. “Maybe you’re right. This pretty little thing might not have enough stature for a big autumn wedding. And you are Port Quincy’s dress expert, my dear.” June gave Bev’s arm a knowing pat without a hint of condescension.

      I felt a bubble of annoyance drift up just as Bev relaxed. My friend’s wedding-gown expertise was duly noted, and territory over my dress choice was ceded. Before I could protest, June sent me a subtle wink. I felt my bubble of annoyance burst and gave a relieved laugh. June had an impressive and well-honed emotional IQ and had defused the situation expertly. As much as I adored Bev and usually sought out her wedding-gown expertise, I wasn’t giving up my dream dress without a fight. A diplomatic, well-meaning fight.

      I smiled at both women. “I’ll think about the dress, June. It would certainly work well as a rehearsal dinner look, or even a second reception dress. I’ll talk it over with Garrett, and probably be back.” A wave of relief washed over me as we all pondered the dress. I instantly felt better after announcing my intentions to purchase the dress soon. As a wedding planner, I was used to making quick and decisive recommendations for my brides. But I needed a smidge more time for myself. I’d purchase the dress after chatting with my fiancé and decide later how I’d incorporate it into my wedding celebrations, whether as the starring centerpiece of my look, or merely a bit player. A shiver stole down my spine as I recalled the wedding I’d called off several summers ago. Unbeknownst to me at the time, the experience had kicked off my wedding-planner career. I wasn’t going to be strong-armed into making decisions about this wedding, the only one I planned on ever having.

      “Anything else for you?” June glanced at Bev’s overflowing basket of flower-themed wares with keen approval.

      “These earrings, too.” I reached beyond June to pluck a pair of heavy crystal earrings that had remained on the birdcage. These ones were faceted briolettes in the shape of fat teardrops, clear yet carved enough to throw off some subtle sparkle.

      June’s eyes went wide as she took in the set. “I didn’t think I’d put these out. Pia must have found them.” She looked as if she wanted to make a grab for the jewelry, and I wondered if I’d be able to purchase them after all.

      June confirmed my suspicions. She leaned in closer for a better look and rewarded me with another baby-powder whiff from Miri. “There’s supposed to be a necklace that matches this very pair.” She tut-tutted and shook her head. “I promise to find the missing crystal necklace that goes with these beauties. For now, I’ll hold on to them for safekeeping and eventually sell it to you as a set!” Before I could stop her, June grabbed the pretty baubles as if she were a magpie alighting on a particularly glittery find.

      I followed June to the front of the store, exchanging a shrug with Bev. Elvis finally woke up for good, and trotted dutifully behind his mistress, his droopy basset ears nearly skimming the rose-patterned carpet of the antiques store. His short little legs needed to churn to keep up. Maybe June really was holding back on the sale of the earrings until she found the matching necklace. The pieces would look stunning on my big day, whether I ended up pairing them with the sundress or not.

      And before I could give the incident of snatching back the earrings another thought, a pint-sized version of June arrived on the scene.

      “There. This is the last heap of stuff from the northwest corner of the basement.” The girl before me set a stack of ancient luggage down on a wide oak table in the center of the store. A pillar of dust rose from her column of suitcases. June wheeled around to cover baby Miri until the dust had literally settled.

      June leaned over to plant a kiss on the dirt-smudged cheek of the pretty girl wearing an incongruous crown of dust bunnies. “Pia, my little ragamuffin.” She spoke the term with much love.

      “You need to get a little dirty working in an antique store, Mom.” The pretty redhead smiled up at her mom. Both women sported auburn locks, but June’s were cropped short and threaded with silver. The young woman’s tresses were bound in a low ponytail.

      “I’ll have you know I run a tight ship around here,” June protested, gesturing to the almost-cluttered but also orderly store. “My mother, Claudia, is in charge of inventory in the basement, and let’s just say I didn’t inherit my organizing genes from her.”

      I realized with a start that Pia must be my good friend Tabitha’s younger sister. Tabitha, the town historian, chose to dye her hair a striking Ariel-the-mermaid red, while Pia’s looked like her natural color, a subtler shade of auburn. Tabitha was a whole head taller than Pia, just like my sister, Rachel, who towered over me.

      “Let’s see СКАЧАТЬ