2 A Christmas Wedding To Die For Read online

  "It is," she whispered back. "And I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure it lives up to your expectations."

  The little girl looked puzzled. "What are expectations?"

  "Well," Maxine, thinking quickly. "You're expecting this party to be the best ever, right?"

  She nodded.

  "So it's my job to make sure it is."

  "I like that!" the little girl crowed.

  "I thought you would," Maxine said. "So I need to know what makes a party special to you."

  "This," the little girl exclaimed. "Everything all pretty and everyone here to have fun with. And there's going to be a feast my mom said. And lots of cake. And maybe even a Present!" She clapped her hands together and Maxine felt a huge lump in her throat.

  "What's your name?" she asked.

  "It's Angelina," she said proudly. "But everyone just calls me Angel."

  "Well, Angel," I want you to promise me that if you're not having a good time you let me know immediately and I'll make sure you do. Deal?"

  "Deal," the little girl said. She turned to the woman next to her. "See Mom I told you tonight I get to be a princess."

  The woman smiled gratefully at Maxine. "Thank you. You don't know how much this means for us."

  "I'm just glad we could help," Maxine said, fighting tears.

  And as the crowd surged forward she found herself meeting people that made her wonder at life's unfairness and resolve to do more to help. When the last person present had been greeted she turned her attention to where Amoury had been at the start of this and found the guests crowded around. She pushed to the front to see Amoury teaching a child how to play dance revolution.

  "See, just like this," he said demonstrating some of the moves with a clumsy charm that put the small girl he was teaching at ease and made the other children laugh. "Come on, give it a try." And he had the small child dancing with him.

  With his curly brown hair, chocolate brown eyes with gold flecks and a ready smile he had a charm about him that relaxed all those around him. So why had Rohan gone against his wishes? Worse, he'd gone over to his rival's side.

  Kevin wasn't the only one who had hinted he was marrying Julianna to spite his father as much as anything else. Maxine found herself hoping someone would find the answers before Julianna was released from hospital.

  She turned to see Heath leading her Grandma Ellie, Bernice Kelly and some of the other seniors from the Bernice Kelly townhomes through the crowd and over to her. They were laden down with gaily wrapped boxes.

  "How, where did all this come from..." she said in shock.

  He grinned from ear to ear. "I told you I had connections. I called my old high school. They've got a leadership program and I knew they used to have a project where they collected all kinds of soap and everything from the local hotels. They had a whole bunch of stuff already collected that they'd been planning on giving out to the homeless.

  "I thought it would be nicer if we made everything look pretty," Bernice said. "Some of my neighbors are pretty good with a sewing machine if I do say so myself," she said proudly.

  "We've been putting together care packages since early morning," Grandma Ellie said proudly. "There's soap, shampoo, hand lotions and shower gels to start with. Then we've got at least one pair of socks in every package along with scarves and gloves. From what the minister said when I talked to him there's presents for all the kids but not much for the grown-ups."

  "That made me sad," Bernice Kelly said. "No one's so old they don't want presents."

  Heath beamed with happiness and Maxine felt herself tearing up.

  Amoury had come up to join the group. "More presents?" he said.

  Maxine turned towards him. "When Kevin phoned us I talked to Heath and he told me he had a few things to arrange, I had no idea it was anything on this scale..."

  Amoury shook his hand. "Good going!" He shook his head. "I had no idea Victoria had so many people in need." He helped arrange the presents beneath the tree and then found seating for Bernice Kelly and all her friends.

  Maxine found herself standing next to him as the evening progressed, while they watched the younger ones play all manner of games and the grown-ups talked, with periodic gusts of laughter breaking out.

  "I only wish tragedy hadn't been the only reason for this night."

  He sighed. "I still can't believe it."

  "I know you didn't want them to marry."

  "I don't have anything against Juliana," he said brusquely. "It's her father I have a problem with."

  "I'm surprised Rohan went to work for him in the first place."

  "He wanted to prove he could make it on his own without any help from me," Amoury said harshly. "He assumed if Zeke hired him it would be purely on his merits." He gave a grim smile. "I'm not so sure about that but there wasn't anything I could do to stop it." He shrugged. "And once he met Julianna he was smitten."

  "So it was true love?"

  "My son, like most young men, finds it easy to love beautiful women. And Julianna is beautiful."

  "Did you know anyone who'd want to harm her?"

  He shrugged, giving her an appraising look. "None. Why do you ask? Have you decided to play detective?"

  She flushed slightly at his words. "I'm only curious."

  "As are many people. Yet none have asked me the questions you have."

  Chapter Three

  The night had been declared a huge success with everyone vowing to do it again next year.

  "Only this time there won't be such a sad event to start with."

  "Has Julianna recovered?"

  "Physically," Zeke said. "She still can't remember what happened."

  "At least she's OK," Amoury said.

  "I'd still like to know the bastard behind this," Zeke ground out.

  Maxine moved between them. "We all want that. Surely by the time she leaves the hospital-"

  "The doctors aren't sure she'll ever recover her memory," Zeke said glaring at Amoury, anger emanating from him in waves as he stood in front of Amoury, his body tense, his fists clenched.

  "Someone will have seen something. It happened in a public place," Amoury said, stepping back.

  "During a snow storm," Zeke said grimly.

  "I suggest we leave it for the police to figure out," Kevin said coming forward. "It's their field of expertise."

  Maxine couldn't help noticing how hostile Zeke was to Amoury. As if he held him personally responsible. Yet earlier he'd talked about wanting the two families to be closer.

  Grandma Ellie didn't believe it. As they drove home through a winter wonderland she happily shared her own theories.

  "I'll believe that when I see it. He's never quite forgiven him for striking out on his own in the first place."

  "You don't think he's behind the attack on Julianna do you?"

  Grandma Ellie shook her head and considered. "The wedding has just brought all the ugliness to the surface."

  "How do we stop it," Maxine said, worried. "Before something else happens."

  "We," her grandmother said sharply. "I don't recall anyone asking us to get involved."

  Maxine had to admit that was true. And there was more than enough to keep her busy the next day when her shop opened. The storm had passed leaving Victoria with a cover of white snow and brilliant blue skies. Sunlight glistened off the snow causing it to sparkle as if there were diamonds in it.

  Bringing, it seemed, half of Victoria through her doors for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate and a treat. Even the ones that didn't stop for coffee were ordering chocolates in record numbers.

  Although she'd prepared for increased chocolate sales the kitchen was still kept busy making as many chocolates as they could. Everything from English toffee and Christmas bark to an eggnog cream that was selling well over Christmas and chocolate Santa's.

  They had one pound assorted truffle boxes for sale along with assortments of truffles and chocolate covered caramels, cashew clusters and lazy turtles. Mo
re than one small child had been caught with her face plastered against the side of the display case looking in with wonderment.

  Which was usually when Maxine would ask the parent if there were any allergies to worry about and then, offer a free sample.

  "Would you like to try out my new peanut butter truffles," she'd ask, "or maybe an after dinner mint for your mother?"

  She loved seeing their eyes go wide as they picked a special sample. And so far she hadn't had one rejection.

  Her eyes widened as she looked up to see who had entered only to spot Julianna with two friends of hers. She rushed over.

  "I'm so glad to see you..."

  "Alive," she said with a laugh. "I understand you're to thank for that." Twenty-two, Juliana had fair skin and chocolate brown hair with golden high-lights that cascaded down her back and framed her face. Amber eyes with flecks of black and gold danced with excitement.

  "Along with emergency doctors and nurses," Maxine said quickly.

  "If you hadn't found me no one could have saved me. So I came to thank you personally."

  Maxine was aware everyone was watching them as she gave Julianna and her friends a heart-felt smile. "I'm just glad you're all right. Anyone would've done the same."

  "Maybe," Julianna said with a touch of skepticism in her voice. "But you were the one who did." She gave her a huge smile. "That's why I want you to cater my New Year's party!"

  "But –" Maxine blurted out before she could stop herself. "Are you sure that's what you want? What about your wedding? And do the police know who was behind-".

  "The police would like me to stay in hospital."

  "I'm surprised you're out. When I talked to your father last night-".

  "He told you I was still in ICU. But look at me! Do I look sick to you?"

  She twirled around in the shop and truthfully Maxine had to admit she looked the picture of health. "But if you can't remember-".

  "The doctors say I may never remember. I'm certainly not going to spend any longer in hospital on the off chance I might."

  "And Rohan?"

  "We've decided to wait a few months for our wedding." Julianna shuddered slightly. "I don't want to remember what nearly happened every time I think about our wedding." She looked again at Maxine. "Please! Say you'll do our New Year's Party. Kevin is already booked and it would mean so much."

  "But, I doubt you'll be able to get a venue at this late notice," Maxine said, stalling for time.

  "We'll have it at our house," Julia said with authority. "There's more than enough room and Mother's already agreed."

  "I've already promised to deliver cakes to two parties."

  "But you can hire more people can't you? Please! It would mean so much to me."

  Against her better judgment, Maxine said yes. "I can't do something on the same scale as your wedding though. I don't have the staff, or the time."

  "This will be a more casual affair. Just friends getting together to celebrate a New Year." She smiled at Maxine. "After all if you hadn't found me I might not be here at all."

  "So?"

  "I'm thinking about seventy-five people."

  "That's a lot of people at the last minute."

  "You can do it." Julianna gave a small shrug. "After all it's not quite Christmas yet and New Year's is almost a week later."

  Maxine hated to turn away business. "I can do it," she said but I'm not going to be able to provide a cake on the same scale as your wedding cake. And a sit down dinner is out of the question."

  Julianna shrugged. "So. That's not what I want anyway." She leaned forward. "Maybe a chocolate fountain? I've seen them before!"

  "With strawberries and other fruit to dip it in," her girlfriend said.

  "Ooh, I love it," her other girl friend said.

  "And appetizers," Julianna said. "I'll leave it to you to come up with a menu."

  "You'll still have to approve it," Maxine said sharply. She knew only too well what could happen if the client hadn't had a chance to see what she was going to do ahead of time.

  Julianna shrugged. "OK. Let me know what you come up with. I'm sure whatever you come up with will be good. After all, I already know the work you do."

  "Give me a day and I'll come up with a plan. That way we can see if it's what you want and if we need to make changes there'll still be time. And I warn you, I'll have to pay extra staff I get in a premium to get them for New Year's 'Eve."

  "Daddy will pay," Julianna said. She swept out of the shop her two girlfriends in tow.

  Leaving Maxine to figure out what she needed to cater a 'small' New Year's Party for seventy-five.

  Heath gave her a teasing grin. "You mean I have to give up my New Years' plans this year?"

  "You were already planning on helping with the cakes we have to deliver," she said sharply.

  "Sure, but I was figuring I'd be finished in time to have a games night with friends."

  "Oh." Maxine said, unable to hide her disappointment. She'd been counting on having Heath to help her. "I'll have to find other people to help then. Jane didn't sound as if she had plans and..."

  Heath rolled his eyes. "You know I'm in." He grinned. "I can't wait to see what the inside of their house looks like. Bet you their gaming room is bitching."

  "I don't know. Julianna seems more interested in shoes and shopping."

  "Ah, her dad's not. And Rohan is a definite gamer."

  "You can come with me when I meet up with Julianna to see the venue and finalize party plans.

  As she had dinner with Grandma Ellie that night she did some brain storming.

  "She wants a chocolate fountain and fruit to dip it in. And she wants it to be fun."

  "That sounds like the type of event you excel in," Grandma Ellie said.

  "I know. Seventy-five people is not small to ordinary people though and I've got so much on my plate already. And try finding extra help on New Year's Eve at this late date."

  "You've got Heath, Marcus and Ally, haven't you?"

  Grandma Ellie was her biggest supporter and often came up with some great ideas. In her seventies she was as sharp as ever and always busy with friends and family or at work on her art. She'd been instrumental in getting Maxine business when she started catering having lived in Victoria for most of her adult life.

  "Ally has plans with her boyfriend that night. I can't ask her to change them at this late date."

  "Have you decided what direction you're going to go in?"

  "I told her I couldn't do a cake on the same scale as her wedding and she's OK with that.

  "So do hors d'oeuvres then have a dessert bar."

  Maxine's mind began to whir. "Something simple and I'd have to figure on nine or ten for each person so seven, eight hundred hor d ouevres. Then for dessert the chocolate fountain and fruit. I could get Heath to come up with a dessert bar and we've got some cupcake stands we could put around. Of course I'll have to see the room she'll be having it in first."

  "Young people love pizza and hamburgers," Grandma Ellie said as served up pork tenderloin with oven roasted potatoes and gravy along with some honey glazed carrots.

  "That wouldn't be too hard. I could do up pizzas the day before and have them ready to fire into the oven when we get there. Maybe some meat lovers for the guys and something different like smoked salmon and cream cheese for anyone who wants a change along with some vegetarian."

  She paused for a minute to have a bite of her Grandma Ellie's pork tenderloin. "Mm, this is the best ever," she said groaning. "Seriously if you opened up a restaurant tomorrow you'd have people lined up around the block."

  Grandma Ellie laughed. "I'm glad you like it. At this stage of my life, though, I want to spend my time with family and friends or working on my art." She paused for a minute, "of course if I meet that special someone..." she smiled.

  But Grandma Ellie had been a widow since her grandfather died six years ago. While she was a serial dater, dating everyone from her karate instructor to someone she'd met
taking dance lessons she'd never met anyone who could compare with Maxine's grandfather and she wasn't willing to settle.

  "Did you have a chance to read your mother's latest email? She'll be expecting us to pick her up at noon on Christmas Eve."

  "Noon," Maxine said, a touch of horror in her voice. "But I've got deliveries to make. I thought she was coming in at six." Not that she didn't love her mother. She did. They didn't have a lot of time to visit though and Maxine wanted to show her mother just how much she'd changed; that she really could run her own business, her own life.

  "So, we can pick her up and then make the deliveries."

  "We'll have too," Maxine said mentally re-arranging her day. Her clients counted on her being there personally to set up the special cakes she made.

  She could make the Christmas Eve brunch cake earlier and Heath could stay behind to make any last minute fixes or changes. The other one could be delivered a little later than she'd originally planned. It wasn't ideal but it would work.

  And she was looking forward to seeing her mother again!

  "You don't think she'll want to spend the afternoon relaxing after her trip do you?"

  Grandma Ellie snorted. "Not likely. I've never known your mother to spend a minute more relaxing than she absolutely had to. She hasn't had a chance to see you in action! Something tells me she'll want to see everything."

  Which meant she might want some time to relax before the day was out. Maxine did love her mother. Just – it was complicated. Sometimes they seemed to get along better when they weren't together.

  Her mother had already been upset when her local news station had reported on Julianna's brush with death. She'd been on the phone before Maxine knew she'd made the news.

  "Darling, at least this time they're not considering you a suspect. You simply have to stop having incidents like this at your events."

  "It wasn't something I planned Mother," she'd said more sharply than she intended.

  "I realize that, but you've had enough," her mother's voice took on a note of distaste, "deaths at events catered by you earlier this year. You have to make sure you're not involved in any more."