“Jacob McIntyre.” I extended my hand to the officer. “Did she tell you about the other incidents that have been happening?”
“She did. I suspect it’s all the same person, but Jackie here says that she has no enemies. What about yourself?”
“No sir. We’re a pretty respectable, normal couple. Just trying to have a nice wedding. Tomorrow.” I squeezed Jackie’s hand for reassurance. “So, how bad is the damage?”
Officer Anderson looked to Jackie, who replied, “All of the centerpieces have been doused in bleach. It killed the flowers. And my bouquet… well, my bouquet was smashed up.” She didn’t relay any feelings, she was blank, emotionless.
“All of it is destroyed?” I asked.
She nodded.
“But, we still h
ave a lot of extra flowers in the back cooler that the villain didn’t know about,” Ella, who was normally pretty quiet, said from across the room. “So, she’ll have a new bouquet, I’ll make sure of it.”
“Oh, thank you, Ella, that’s very sweet of you. But you’ve done plenty,” Jackie replied.
“I’ll decide when is enough,” Ella said with a wink. She was a good person. Ella had started out as Jackie’s nighttime cleaning person, and was hired on to help in the flower shop between her classes at the university nearby. She’d become a friend to us all, and her offer to replace Jackie’s bouquet was kind.
Jackie laughed. “Thank you, Ella.”
“Officer, is there any idea who this person might be?” I asked.
“Unfortunately, there isn’t at this time, but we’ve collected evidence and we’re going to keep on it. I wish I had better news for you right now, but hopefully we will have something for you soon.” He stood up and slid his small notebook into the front pocket of his shirt.
“Well, thank you for everything, Officer.” Jackie rose to shake his hand and I followed suit.
The officer left, and all of us stood around, not quite sure what to do next. I glanced over to Eric and Noelle. “Can you guys just bring my things, including my suit for tomorrow, to the venue? I’m going to stay here tonight.” There was absolutely no way I was leaving her after all of this.
“Of course,” Eric replied, then added tentatively, “So, the game plan is still the same?”
“It most certainly is. I’ll see you there at noon. Wedding is at two o’clock, come hell or high water,” I replied.
“Jacob—” Jackie tried to say something, but I wasn’t going there.
“Two o’clock, Jackie. We’re getting married. Flowers or not, dress or not, rings… well, we have rings.” I chuckled lightly and she returned with a small smile.
“Okay then, we’ll see you all tomorrow.” Jackie started to go upstairs, then paused, waiting for me to follow.
“I’ll be right there, I just want to say goodbye.”
“Goodnight, everyone, thank you for all you’ve done.” Jackie bid our friends good evening and headed up to our apartment. It was then I laid out the plan for the next day, so long as our friends were on board.
7
Jaqueline
Wedding day. It was finally here. And while I was excited, the anxiety from the events of the week had me on edge. Jacob bucked tradition and stayed with me and Lydia, and even though that made me happy, I was a little bummed out that pretty much every tradition we’d wanted to take part in was ruined. And the flowers. Oh, the flowers. I swallowed my hurt over those poor, precious blooms.
But Jacob was right. That was all just “stuff.” The rings were a big loss, but we couldn’t cancel a wedding over missing stuff. Regardless of what was going on with this crazy person, Jacob and I overcame a life-and-death situation together and we couldn’t let anything keep us from tying the knot.
I was at the venue, which was a ballroom at a local country club, getting ready with my aunt when I realized we were short a person. “Lydia, have you seen Ella? I haven’t heard from her since last night.”
I’d assumed she’d be hanging out with us that morning, but she’d been through the wringer right alongside the rest of us, so if she needed some time away I couldn’t really blame her either.
“She had a few things to take care before the ceremony. She’ll be here in time though, not to worry, dear,” Lydia replied, but something in her tone left me to believe there was more to the story. I decided not to give it another thought and just focus on enjoying the outcome of the day, which was becoming Jacob’s wife.
We were about forty-five minutes from the start of the ceremony. I had just put on my dress and Lydia was touching up my makeup, when Ella came rushing in through the doors to the bridal suite.