Doughnuts & Deadly Schemes - Culinary Competition Mystery #3

Chapter 27

(Carla)

Carla leaned back onto Bruce. He hugged her a bit more tightly as they gently swayed to the slow rhythm of the music. She watched Amy and Alex on the dance floor. Amy laid her head on her husband's shoulder and closed her eyes as they rocked back and forth. A sweet moment for the woman who had single-handedly saved Carla's life and the wedding. Nobody deserved a romantic slow dance with her true love more than Amy.

"What are you thinking about?" Bruce asked as he laced his fingers together over the row of buttons lined up on her stomach. A loving embrace for her and their baby.

"Everything turned out better than my wildest dreams. It got a little sketchy there for a while, but the trade-off was that gorgeous sunset."

After Harry hauled the little blonde hairbrush samurai off Thane, half of the Kellerton police force invaded the room to help. They already knew Matt's nephew was the extortionist. The officers just didn't know he was waving a knife around at her and Amy when they arrived for the wedding. The computer virus the guy from the comic book shop set loose on Thane's computer had been brilliant. First, it turned everything Thane typed into a nonsensical mantra of I Am A Moron, effectively nullifying his threats. Then the genius second phase kicked in. It mined the data on his computer until it unearthed his identity and relayed the information to the good hacker, who promptly called the police department. Carla didn't know Chuck, but she loved his cyber Robin Hood-style. And she really loved his wife's artistic style. The drawing Amy had commissioned was a breathtaking keepsake.

After the mess with Thane was sorted out, a fashion emergency took center stage. In the process of beating the would-be hostage-taker, Amy also ravaged her delicate bridesmaid outfit. One particularly energetic hairbrush whack ripped out the seam down the side of her white cotton shirt. Who would've guessed that Mrs. Mahoney, the woman who could afford one-of-a-kind couture dresses from world-famous clothing designers, liked to sew as a hobby? With the help of her sewing machine, Amy's shirt was good as new within a few minutes.

The wedding started an hour and a half late. A Mrs. Mahoney-provided open bar and fancy snacks kept the guests who weren't police officers happy during the wait. When Carla and Bruce finally made it to the altar, under the arch covered in white roses and tiny twinkling lights, a vibrant orange and pink sunset cast a rosy glow over everything and everybody in the atrium. The light show only lasted for a few minutes, but the magical sunset appeared at the perfect time, as they were saying their vows.

Amy whispered something into Alex's ear then skipped across the dance floor toward Carla. "You two look cozy," she said as she snagged a flute of champagne from a passing waitress's tray. "How's it going, Mr. and Mrs. Shepler?"

"Fabulously, thanks to you," Carla replied. "I had no idea you could fight dirty like that. The heel in the calf move is going to leave a mark."

Bruce chuckled. "Between the run-ins with the guy from the comic book store and you, Thane will be lucky if he can move a muscle tomorrow."

"Hopefully, the cots at the police station will make him feel even worse." Amy sniffed. "He deserves to be miserable. I guess spending time at the comic book store did some good. I must've subconsciously picked up some fighting moves by paging through the books there."

Carla wiggled out of Bruce's arms and wrapped Amy in a hug. "Thank you for everything you've done. Having the wedding here is a dream. The doughnut tower is exactly what I wanted. You solved the murder and saved both of us. You're my hero."

Amy grinned. "I am the Hairbrush Avenger." The tempo of the music picked up. "Oh, I love this song. I need to dance with Alex! Excuse me."

Her pink-flowered skirt flared out into a circle as she spun around. Amy zeroed in on her husband on the other side of the dance floor. Within seconds she was gone again. Carla looked up at Bruce. "I'd say she's having a good night."

When she looked back at the dance floor, Carla saw Bridget weaving through the round tables along the periphery of the parquet floor. The best wedding hostess in the world handed Bruce two sets of keys. "Your car has been moved to the guesthouse. When you're ready to leave here I'll have someone drive you over. Feel free to stay at the guesthouse as long as you like, even the whole week if you want."

When they had arrived at the mansion earlier that day, the first thing Mrs. Mahoney had done was offer to let them spend the night in the guest cottage tucked away in the woods along the river. They had planned to spend the night at Carla's loft then start a leisurely drive south in the morning.

Bruce draped his arm over Carla's shoulders. "Thank you for the offer to stay longer, but we need to leave tomorrow. We booked a cabin near Asheville, North Carolina for the week. Staying in your guesthouse tonight is an unexpected treat that we greatly appreciate along with everything else you've done. We can't thank you enough."

"You helped stop a murderer's frightening attacks on many business owners who are my friends. I wish I could thank you with more than hosting your wedding." Mrs. Mahoney plucked a brownie off a tray sitting on a nearby table. She broke it in half. "In the morning, call the kitchen when you get up. The number is on speed dial on the phone. You'll need a hearty breakfast to start out your honeymoon trip."

"Thank you." Carla looked at the sparkling diamond rings stacked on her finger. "You have made this the best day of our lives."

Bridget smiled and took a step closer. "I'm glad you've enjoyed the day, but from what I hear, you'll be having an even more exciting one this fall. Congratulations."