The Best Man to Trust Read Free Page B

now...?”
    “Nope. I’ve got it all under control.”
    Meredith couldn’t argue with her there. Everything looked as amazing as it smelled.
    Not for the first time, she thought how lucky they’d been to find the woman. When they’d had to replace the original staff following the terrible events of a few months ago, she’d had her doubts about whether they’d be able to find anyone good. They couldn’t promise long-term employment at the moment. They didn’t know if they’d be able to keep the business—or Sutton Hall—going much longer. A lot depended on how the wedding went this weekend, if they could get some good publicity. Until they had a better idea of what the future held, they couldn’t hire a full-time staff.
    That left them trying to find locals willing to work on a part-time or temporary basis for the time being. It hadn’t been easy. After the murder, many locals hadn’t wanted anything to do with the place. Luckily she’d found Ellen and Rick, both of whom lived in the area and had surpassed her wildest expectations.
    Good thing, too. It looked like it was going to be just the three of them this weekend. While the rest of the temporary staff she’d hired had planned to drive in during the day, Rick and Ellen had both agreed to stay at Sutton Hall through the weekend even before they’d known about the storm.
    “Thanks again for being willing to stay this weekend,” Meredith said.
    Ellen waved off the comment with a flutter of her hand. “Doesn’t look like I’d be able to go anywhere if I wanted to.”
    Meredith turned toward the windows, unable to see anything through the glass but a cloud of white. “You’re probably right about that.” The snow wasn’t supposed to stop until tomorrow evening at the earliest, with the worst yet to come tonight. No one would be getting out of here for a few days at least. They were well and truly stuck, she thought with a flicker of trepidation.
    Once again, the wish that Adam and Jillian were here floated through her mind. This time she did her best to shake off the feeling. She was the one who’d wanted to open Sutton Hall for weddings. Part of that had been wanting to prove to everyone—and herself—that she was capable of running this business, that she was strong enough. With Adam and Jillian gone, this was truly it, a chance to stand on her own two feet.
    The idea strengthened her resolve and she pushed away the last of her doubts.
    Whatever challenges lay ahead this weekend, she’d have to handle them herself.
    * * *
    T HE SOUND OF SILVERWARE clinking against glass cut through the light buzz of conversation in the dining room, silencing the group.
    Tom looked up in time to see Greg rising to his feet, glass firmly in hand. “I’d like to make a toast,” he announced. “After all, this is a party, even if no one’s acting like it.”
    A few muted chuckles greeted his comment, which was entirely too accurate. The mood in the room had been subdued ever since they’d sat down to dinner.
    The rooms Meredith had led them to were all beautifully furnished and more than comfortable. The problem wasn’t with the rooms. None of them were getting cell phone reception. Whether it was due to the weather or the location—or both—wasn’t clear, but it only emphasized the fact that they were cut off out here. Isolated. Trapped.
    Everyone was trying to put on a brave face, no one wanting to put a damper on Scott and Rachel’s weekend, but the tension in the room was unmistakable.
    Greg turned toward Scott and Rachel, who sat together on one side of the table, and raised his glass. From the way he weaved slightly on his feet, he’d already had a few drinks.
    “To Scott and Rachel,” he declared with a broad smile. “Finally together again, soon to officially be together forever. Happy wedding to you.”
    “Hear! Hear!” Alex chimed in.
    Everyone raised their glasses and, with a collective “cheers,” took a drink.
    Over the rim of his