The Brewing Bride (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book 8) Read online

  The Brewing Bride

  by

  Constance Barker

  Copyright 2016 Constance Barker

  All rights reserved.

  Similarities to real people, places or events are purely coincidental.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Morning rush hour at the Coffee Cabana threatened to exhaust me but I dug into that last caffeine reserve of my 8 am espresso and topped it with a still warm chocolate chip muffin. I swiped it from the tray my Aunt Essie was currently putting in the display case. Running the coffee shop with her and my Aunt Hildie gave me a little breathing room when I needed to run errands. And it provided me and my customers with a steady stream of baked goods. This close to the wedding I should have been watching what I ate but my stomach grumbled the second I caught a whiff of the chocolate chips.

  "Don't you have a final dress fitting coming up?" Essie asked with a nod to the muffin.

  I ripped off the top and popped the fluffy treat into my mouth. "Maybe," I said around the chocolate chips.

  "Save one of those for Toe," Essie said.

  I pulled one of the muffins out of the display and put it on the counter to the side of the espresso machine. Toe and Harvey hadn't come in for their daily coffee and muffin yet but I knew they'd be in soon.

  A steady stream of customers lined up at the counter almost out the door. Monday mornings were particularly busy and though I loved the business I needed to run a ton of errands this week. Today began a long list of things I needed to do before the wedding. The thought of the day sent a flutter of anticipation through me. When Eli had first proposed the wedding day seemed so far away. But it would arrive in just over a week and I still had so much to do.

  #

  #I searched for the list I started last night, panic gripping me when I couldn't find it. Another customer walked up to the counter.

  "It's in your purse," Essie yelled from the front of the shop.

  She'd taken a seat at a table with Hildie away from the crush of the crowd and close to the window. Their heads were bent conspiratorially no doubt planning my wedding without me.

  At least I'd managed to figure out most things and booked the caterer, hall, picked out the dress. I waited for the man to order, my mind going over the stops I needed to make this week.

  Today I was having a test drive of the hair up do for the ceremony. It had to be an up do of course, my Aunts insisted. I couldn't really argue with them. My hair hung like a limp rag over my shoulders on a good hair day so having it up and styled looking even remotely half way decent was my only option.

  I put the muffin I was eating down when the man smiled at me again.

  "I'll have a large coffee with a shot of caramel, two creams and a sugar."

  I hurried to prepare his drink. Maybe instead of eating Aunt Essie's muffins I should spend some time at the gym. She was right about the final dress fitting. How horrible would it be if the seamstress had to let it out this close to the wedding? I would be mortified. My stomach grumbled again not caring how tight the bodice of the dress might be. Dang you hunger pangs. I knew I should probably eat a bran muffin or some oatmeal, but bride nerves were over taking me and I needed a shot of sugar. Well, actually I probably didn’t, but don’t tell my hormones.

  I handed the man his drink in a to-go cup. He shuffled off and Karen Baumgardner took his place. I peeked around the crowd to my aunts. Aunt Hildie shook her head at something Essie said. Then Essie shook her head at Hildie's counter argument. I hoped they weren't planning something extravagant that I couldn't afford.

  "Hey Karen, the usual?"

  Karen Baumgardner was Moira's mother. Moira was 15 going on 30 and helped me out when Jules didn’t have her helping with her newspaper. Karen and her husband Albert ran the rental place across the street. She nodded. "The big day is coming up, how are you feeling?"

  "Feeling excited but a little overwhelmed."

  "Is there anything I can do to help? The shower is already taken care of so that worry is off the table."

  "Shower?"

  Karen’s face fell. "Was I not supposed to say anything?"

  "Don't worry about it. I'd have to know eventually since I assume I'm the guest of honor." I grinned at her.

  When was this shower and when was Jules, who is supposed to be my best friend, going to tell me about it? I glanced over at my Aunts again. Had it been their doing?

  I made Karen’s drink and handed it to her. "See you at the shower. And remember if you need anything just let me know."

  "Thanks, I will."

  As much as I wanted to march over to the table to find out what else they were cooking up another customer walked up to the counter. I loved the business and it kept me from thinking about all the other things I had to do. I would have a panic fest later once I had time to settle down after the morning rush.

  The door to the shop jingled. Expecting more customers I was relieved to see Jules hustle through the door. Her arms were loaded down with samples, pamphlets, magazines. She dropped the lot on the table Essie and Hildie sat at.

  My Aunts actually squealed. They don't squeal, at least not in my presence…until today. Essie dove into a magazine frantically flipping through pages. Hildie grabbed a pamphlet, read it, chucked it and grabbed another one.

  Now what were they planning?

  With the last of the morning rush finally gone I walked over to the table and took in the mess of papers littered across the top.

  "What are you up to ladies?"

  "Nothing you need to worry about," Hildie said.

  Jules grinned. "We just want to help. We know how busy you are and we have time."

  "Almost everything is done," I said.

  "About that," Essie said.

  Oh crap. "What did you do?"

  "Nothing bad," Essie said.

  "Of course not," Hildie agreed.

  "We just moved your wedding reception to the Senior Center."

  Jules's grin faded and she shook her head indicating she had nothing to do with my Aunts moving my reception.

  "You did what?"

  I took a few deep breaths trying to control the sudden pounding in my head from the blood rushing through it. Was there something that naturally controlled high blood pressure because by the time the wedding day rolled around I was going to need it.

  "Now, dear, don't get your panties in a bunch," Essie said. "The Country Club wasn't big enough or right for you."

  "It's not a huge wedding. The Country Club was plenty big enough."

  "There have been a few more people added to the guest list," Hildie said.

  This late in the game I had already provided the caterer with a preliminary list of guests with their choices of meal. I sucked in another deep breath and held onto the back of a chair to keep from falling over.

  "How many more people? I didn't get anymore RSVPs in the mail."

  "Not many," Hildie said. "They didn't actually get invitations sent out to them until the last minute and they just hand delivered the RSVPs on Friday."

  Okay, I could handle a few more people for the reception dinner. I would have to rework the table seating arrangements once I had those new names. As long as nothing else major happened I could handle these little hiccups. The only thing that really mattered was getting married to Eli. How I got there was immaterial.

  Before they could regale me with how else they were meddling with my special day. The bell to the door jingled. I looked up to see a slew of new customers rushing in.

  "Hold those thoughts while I take care of these customers."

  Despite my admonishment they continued flipping thr
ough magazines and taking notes. I hurried behind the counter and made the fastest to go coffees of my career thus far. When the last person left the bell jingled again. I almost groaned but when I looked up Eli's smiling face beamed at me. His sparkling eyes drew me in and made all the other stuff fade away.

  He glanced at the table and the frenzy with which my Aunts and Jules whizzed through the magazines.

  "Do I want to know?" he asked when he got to the counter.

  "You really don't. I don't even want to know."

  "Taking over again?"

  "They moved our reception! They thought the Senior Center would be better."

  "Ouch! You had your heart set on the Country Club?"

  I frowned. "Well, no but I don't want it at the Senior Center either. I wanted a nice intimate, quiet wedding with the people we cared about. They've invited other people."

  "I'm sure you'll get them in line. They want what's best for you."

  I handed him a coffee in a to-go cup. Crime in Sweet Home had been down lately. Which was good for getting his help with the wedding planning but not so good when you're a cop. It was letting him catch up on paperwork and pull out other cases that still needed to be solved.

  I knew he was right. If there was something I absolutely didn't want they would listen to me except they weren't listening to me. I agreed to let them help but I hadn't intended for them to take over. With the way they were going about planning everything you'd think they'd started a new business.

  Now that there was a lull in customers I had time to think about everything. Not a good thing when the thought of Sweet Home being invaded like it was home coming made me want to hyperventilate. We weren't a huge town to begin with but we did okay with the tourist crowd. In two weeks scores of people would descend on the town and I suddenly wondered where everyone was going to stay. Some could stay with me, some with Jules. My cousins, the few high school friends that would be standing with me. My dad was going to stay at the one bed and breakfast in town.

  Eli had a bunch of people coming too. The population of the town was about to explode. And I still didn't have all the details nailed down for the big day because my aunts kept changing them.

  "Maybe we should elope."

  CHAPTER TWO

  Eli leaned in and gave me a kiss then glanced over at the table. They'd finished with the magazines and were now handing the pamphlets back and forth.

  "They'd be so disappointed if we eloped."

  A gasp beside Eli from Jules pulled my attention away from my Aunts. I hadn't even noticed that she'd gotten up.

  "You can't elope!" she said. "We've been waiting for this for ages."

  "Ages, really?" I arched an eyebrow.

  "Maybe not ages but a long time. We're happy for you and want to help."

  "Are you at least trying to reign them in?" I asked.

  Jules raised her eyebrow at me. "Like anyone can rein them in."

  I sighed. She was right. Once they got a hold of something they wouldn't let it go and right now that something was my special day. Since neither of them planned on getting married, Essie again or Hildie ever, mine was the only wedding they could help plan. Unless Jules found someone soon and settled down again.

  "Have a plus one yet?" I asked.

  She crinkled her nose at me. "One of my favorite lattes please."

  I went about making her a drink while Eli sat at the table with my aunts. Would he say anything to them about taking over? It was his big day too. His smiling face and slight nod at something they were saying made me doubt he would put his foot down. I guess he knew better than to argue with them. Once my aunts decided on something it was almost impossible to get them to change their minds.

  "You're avoiding my question," I said to Jules.

  "No, I don't have a date. Patrick was fun but not what I'm looking for. Besides, I'm the maid of honor. I'll have too many duties and be sitting at the head table to worry about a date. You will be my only focus that day."

  I topped off her drink with whipped topping and handed her the mug. Eli didn't last long at the table. He got up, his head shaking slightly, a small smile, or was it a grimace, on his face. He made his way back up to the counter. It was too bad he couldn't hang around a little longer so we could provide a united front to my aunts.

  "If they keep trying to be in charge I'll need all your focus that day to keep me from going mad."

  "No worries for you that day. Your Aunts mean well and they are looking for all the stuff you'll need for the day. They mentioned having something for old and blue. Something about jewelry they found. Essie has it in her purse I think."

  I pictured dull, old gaudy jewelry and hoped it wasn't any of Essie's costume stuff. A nice simple necklace would go well with my wedding dress. Or maybe some earrings that weren't too big.

  "I'll see you tonight," Eli said. He leaned over the counter to give me a peck on the cheek.

  "Bring wine."

  He grinned and hurried out of the shop. The bell remained blissfully quiet after he left. I took a deep breath. Any reprieve from the slew of caffeine seekers was a welcome one today. I thought, briefly, about turning the sign to closed for half an hour so I could mount a defense against my aunts but I didn't want to miss out on customers that might drop in.

  "I'm glad you'll be there to help me," I said to Jules.

  I grabbed a coffee for myself and we walked over to sit with my aunts. They were looking at the magazines again. One was open to an article about choosing the perfect destination for your honeymoon.

  "You're not picking where we go on our honeymoon," I said.

  "We won't actually make the reservations or anything," Essie said. "But you should consider this place."

  She shoved the magazine across the table. I sank into a chair and skimmed the article with no intention of even considering a spelunking adventure. Dark, dank caves with the possibility of falling to my doom did not get me excited. I wanted a typical honeymoon somewhere tropical where we spent most of the time on a beach with fruity drinks with tiny umbrellas.

  "I think we'll stay away from caves."

  "What about this one?" Hildie asked. She pushed a magazine over but pulled it back before I could look at it. "Maybe not this one either."

  I caught a glimpse of the headline before she closed it. It suggested a leisurely cruise. My first and probably last cruise spoiled them for me now. With a sea sick fiancé and a murder on board it hadn't been the most restful vacation.

  "Worry about the honeymoon later," Essie said. "Let's talk about the gift registry. Why don't you have more things on it?"

  "I have stuff on there."

  Essie pulled out folded sheets of paper from her purse and flicked them open. "A slow cooker, towels, a garlic press. Really, a garlic press?"

  "I don't have one and it might come in handy at some point," I said.

  "Lily, you're going to be starting your life together surely there are more things you need."

  I threw up the list due to pressure from all sides to register somewhere. The truth was I didn't know what we would need because I hadn't thought about it. I had my apartment, Eli had his house. Between the two of us I figured the merged households would have everything we needed to start out. It's not like we were twenty somethings just moving out of our parents' place and starting from scratch.

  The thought of finally living with Eli, waking up to him every morning, sent a surge of anticipation through me. My stomach fluttered and a momentary sense of panic washed over me. Things would change so much how did I know I was ready? What if he wasn't ready? The clichéd groom getting cold feet was a cliché for a reason.

  "I'm sure we'll be fine. But if it will make you feel better I'll add more stuff to the list."

  Hildie nodded and Essie gave a satisfied smile. She folded up the paper again and put it back in her purse. "Hurry up and add so your guests can buy presents before the wedding."

  That was another thing. Did people still actually buy presents for
weddings now? Every wedding I went to I gave money to the newly married couple. That's usually what they need the most after paying for a wedding and starting a new life together. Some people, I eyed my Aunts, were old school and liked to arrive with a neatly wrapped present for the gift table.

  "Let's talk about the wedding cake," Hildie said.

  "I was thinking cupcakes," I said.

  Essie scowled. "Nonsense." She pulled a paper out of her purse and placed it on the table.

  The paper had a sketch drawing of a three tiered cake with detailed piping and a couple on the top. The bottom tier was huge compared to what I wanted. The top tier was more my speed. The cake illustrated on the paper could feed a small army.

  "We would decorate it using your wedding colors of course," Hildie said.

  "This is too big. I was thinking something simple. Cupcakes would be nice."

  "Lily, you can't have cupcakes. People will expect a proper wedding cake." Essie shoved the paper closer to me.

  "There aren't even enough people in Sweet Home to justify three tiers. And not all of them are even invited to the wedding."

  "So you'll have some left over," Essie said.

  "For months." I pushed the paper back but there was no changing their minds once they were set on something.

  "What do you think," Essie asked Jules.

  Jules took a sip of her coffee, picked up the paper and scrutinized the drawing of the cake. "It's beautiful."

  "See!" Essie said.

  "But it is a bit much for a small intimate wedding," Jules said.

  Essie's triumphant grin faded. She snatched the paper out of Jules's hand. "Well, you can decide later."

  I stopped myself from raising my arm in a fist pump. I had no doubt Jules would be on my side but it was nice to hear her try to use logic on my aunts. Not that logic would work of course. They wanted to plan the perfect wedding and weren't bothered about me having a say.

  The bell over the door jingled putting a temporary stop to the wedding discussions as everyone turned to see who had arrived. Toe walked through the door, a look of panic on his face when he saw the table full of magazines.