Terror in Taffeta Read Free Page A

there’s nothing we can do.”
    I stood there frozen as Father Villarreal knelt over Dana’s lifeless body. He made the sign of the cross, then whispered a prayer in Spanish.
    The room was silent as the paramedics packed away their equipment.
    â€œWhat happened?” I whispered.
    Father Villarreal spoke to the paramedics, then turned back to me. “They don’t know. Is there a family member we should contact?”
    I wrapped my arms around myself and shuddered. “I’m not sure. I’ll have to ask Nicole.”
    Nicole . She didn’t know yet, and I was going to have to tell her. I dreaded having to ruin the party with this awful news, but there was no way around it. I watched numbly as the paramedics strapped Dana onto the stretcher and wheeled her down the aisle.
    After they left, I retreated to the back of the church and collected my belongings as well as a few things the bridesmaids had left behind. I was loaded up like a packhorse and already way too exhausted to think, but the guests would be arriving at the reception, and I needed to break the bad news.
    By the time I got to the Instituto Allende, the party was in full swing. Nicole and Vince were posing for family photos with the Morenos, including Vince’s parents, his sister, and two rambunctious toddlers who couldn’t stop squirming long enough for Brody to get a shot. Not wanting to interrupt, I waited patiently for them to finish so I could talk to the bride and groom.
    â€œ There you are,” said Mrs. Abernathy, swooping in out of nowhere and steering me away from the crowd. “Now, I’ve made a few last-minute changes to the seating arrangements and—”
    â€œMrs. Abernathy,” I interrupted. “That’s not important. I—”
    â€œWell,” she huffed. “I would think you’d want to make sure your guest of honor is happy.” I had a feeling she meant herself rather than Nicole.
    â€œJeanette, listen to me.” That did the trick. Mrs. Abernathy looked as shocked as if I’d tossed a glass of sangria onto her meticulously tailored mother-of-the-bride dress—a champagne-colored designer gown that, by the way, would have looked perfectly at home at a society gala.
    â€œMrs. Abernathy, I’ve got some bad news.”
    â€œIs it about the caterers? I knew they weren’t up for the job.”
    â€œNo.” I jumped in before she could build up another head of steam. “It’s about Dana.”
    â€œOh, her . Listen, darling, there’s simply not room at the head table, and she was a last-minute addition. Surely she’ll understand.”
    â€œMrs. Abernathy, she’s not going to be sitting at the head table.”
    â€œThat’s right. I’ve got a nice little spot for her right over—”
    â€œShe’s not going to be sitting at any table. Dana’s dead.”
    â€œDead? Why, whatever for?”
    I stared at her while the message sunk in.
    â€œYou mean dead dead?”
    I nodded.
    â€œOh, dear. That’s unfortunate,” she said, rubbing the bridge of her nose while she processed the information. “Well, okay, that means there’s an extra space at table twelve.”
    Was she serious? A bridesmaid was dead and all she cared about was the seating chart?
    â€œI’m sorry, Kelsey, not to be callous, but I haven’t seen the girl in ten years. And standing here yapping about it isn’t going to make her any more alive, is it? We’ve got hungry guests!”
    There it was, then. She’d spent quite a chunk of money on this event, and she wasn’t going to let the small matter of a death put a damper on things.
    â€œOkay, well, do you want to tell Nicole, or should I?” Please say you’ll do it, please say you’ll do it.
    She stared at me, puzzled. “I don’t see any reason either of us should tell her, at least not right this minute.”
    â€œWe have