Debra Burroughs - Paradise Valley 02.5 - The Edge of Lies Read Free

her into her wedding gown and her dad walking her down the aisle—but it wasn’t to be. Her mother had died several years before, and her father had been recently checked into an Alzheimer facility. He no longer remembered her or her sister. The only family Emily had left was Susan, and she lived in Maine with Brian and their kids.
    “But I’ll stay with you if you’d like me to,” Susan offered.
    Emily shook her head sadly. “I’ll be fine. I’d just like to be alone for a while.”
    “What about the caterer?”
    “Oh no, the reception! I completely forgot.” Visions of the beautiful cake she had picked out danced before her eyes, not to mention the lights she’d had strung at the outdoor venue, the DJ, and the champagne, and the—oh, it was all so much to think about.
    Emily dabbed another tear that trickled down onto her cheek. “I’m too upset to deal with it right now.”
    “I can—”
    “No, no, I’ll do it. Just give me some a few minutes.”
    ~*~
    By the time Emily had pulled herself together and ventured out into the hallway leading to the vestibule, all the guests had gone. Susan and her family were gathered there, as well as the minister, discussing what to do next.
    As Emily approached, still wearing her wedding gown, a loud ruckus outside sent her racing to the window, with Susan and the rest following on her heels. A helicopter landed at the far end of the grassy area, the blades whirring, sending the cherry blossoms blowing across the lawn like a blizzard. A trim man in a black tuxedo climbed out.
    “Is that Evan?” Susan asked in a breathless voice.
    He was so far away they couldn’t see his face, but who else could it be?
    The man sprinted across the lawn to the front of the chapel. The church door flew open, and Evan stumbled in, disheveled and out of breath.
    “I made it! I promised I would,” he said, smoothing his hair with his hand and trying to button the collar of his shirt. His bowtie was undone, hanging unevenly at his neck. “Could someone help me with this bloody tie?”
    At the sight of him, Emily’s heart leapt and she ran to him. He caught her with one arm as she threw her hands behind his neck. He was here. He made it. She knew he would come if he could.
    From the look of him, though, something serious had delayed him.
    “But, Evan,” Emily said, “it’s too late. Everyone’s gone home.”
    “It may not be too late,” Susan countered. “If you give us their phone numbers, Brian can see about getting the guests back here,” she offered, happily volunteering her husband. “And I can help you fix your makeup.”
    “Okay.” Emily said, taking a step back and looking at Evan. “But where have you been?”
    He had offered no apology, showed up extremely late, and looked like he’d been in some type of altercation.
    “I’ll explain later. Right now, we have a wedding to pull back together.”
    “Oh no!” Emily’s hands flew to cover herself, as if she were standing there naked.
    “What is it, love?” Evan asked.
    “You’ve seen me in my wedding dress.”
    He chuckled. “That’s okay. I don’t believe in superstitions.”
    Emily’s expression softened and her hands relaxed. “Good thing.”
    “Sorry, love, but I need to step outside and make a quick phone call.” Evan raised his phone to her and backed toward the door. “You go with your sis and get ready to be married.”
    Before she could answer, he ducked out into the portico, the phone to his ear.
    Emily tiptoed to the door. Susan reached out, her hand grazing Emily’s shoulder as she slipped past.
    “Em, we need to go.”
    Emily turned back and lifted a finger to her lips, shushing her. “I’ll only be a minute.” She pushed the door open a little and peeked out. Evan’s back was to her as he leaned a hand against one of the stone columns of the portico.
    “I need to get out,” she heard him say. “I love this girl. I just can’t go through that again.”
    Get out of what? Go