The Dying Room (18 page)

3309 Dell Road

Mountain Brook, Alabama

Saturday, December 19, 1:30 a.m.

Empty boxes were scattered all over the floor. The distinct evergreen scent of the Fraser Fir mingled with the lingering smell of sugar cookies. Jess stood back and surveyed the enormous tree. Dan had borrowed his father’s truck and driven out to the Christmas tree farm first thing Thursday morning. He’d brought the tree into the house and set it up so they could hang the first ornament together before leaving for the office. The beautiful angel sitting on the very top of the tree made Jess smile. They’d hoped to get home early enough after the rehearsal dinner to finish decorating but that hadn’t happened.

This morning—yesterday morning, technically—she and Dan had left for work and, according to his mother and Jess’s sister, it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride again until the wedding. It was a ridiculous superstition in Jess’s opinion, but she wasn’t about to test fate. Particularly after the summer she and Dan had survived.

Though she’d missed Dan, Jess and Lily and the bridesmaids had spent the evening doing fun, girlie things. The mani-pedis had been first, and then dinner and going over the preparation list for the big day. Everything was set. Except Jess didn’t feel fully prepared.

She wrapped her arms around herself and ran down her mental checklist. Bear, their sweet but huge yellow Lab, was staying with Detective Cook for the next week. Cook had picked him up after work yesterday. Hayes would be keeping tabs on the house for Jess and Dan while they were in Barbados. Harper was in charge of the team in Jess’s absence.

Everything had been arranged. She and Dan were packed. Although Katherine and Lily had taken care of all the wedding planning, Jess had selected her gown, the veil and shoes as well as all the flowers and most of the music. The rest she had gladly left in their capable hands. She had never been more grateful for that decision than she was this week. Despite the careful planning and meticulous execution of every little thing, Jess felt oddly out of sorts as the final hours before the wedding ticked away.

Somehow there seemed to be too many things undone. She stared at the tree, inhaling the rich scent. It was almost Christmas and she hadn’t hung the rest of the ornaments. She supposed it didn’t really matter since they wouldn’t even be here for Christmas. Yet, not having a decorated tree in their new home for their very first Christmas as a married couple felt wrong. She wanted to return from their honeymoon and smell the scents of the season all through the house. She wanted them to take down the decorations together the way they had in that tiny apartment near Boston College all those years ago.

Maybe this unsettled feeling was just nerves. Jess pressed her hand to her belly. Her sister had been right about most everything so far. She had hit the twenty-week mark in her pregnancy and only gained a few pounds. The worries about her gown fitting had been unnecessary. It fit like a glove. Finding one she loved hadn’t been nearly as problematic as she’d feared. She’d known the moment she saw it that it was the one.

Jess smiled. Tomorrow—today, she reminded herself—she would become Mrs. Daniel Thomas Burnett. She blinked at the emotion that immediately filled her eyes. She had been in love with him since she was seventeen years old. As their college days had come to a close, so had their relationship. They’d spent almost two decades apart and both of them had been married before. Somehow none of that had been able to keep them apart.

“Jess?”

Lily Colburn, Jess’s older sister by two years, shuffled into the room, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. The huge hair rollers and well-worn chenille robe reminded Jess of their mom. She vividly recalled watching their mother, dressed in a similar robe and slippers, at the stove making breakfast. On Sunday mornings her hair had always been up in rollers.

“I hope I didn’t wake you.” Jess had tried to be quiet.

Lily draped an arm around Jess’s shoulders and surveyed the tree. “Sweetie, you do realize it’s almost two o’clock in the morning and that you’re getting married in just over twelve hours? You should be sleeping.”

Jess reached up and touched the matching rollers in her own hair. “How can you sleep with these things boring into your skull? Wouldn’t it have been easier to go to a salon?”

Lil rolled her eyes. “No salon. I want to do this. Now, all you have to do is climb into that big comfy bed, close your eyes, and focus on something else.” She stared at Jess’s hands and frowned. “You didn’t mess up your manicure, did you?”

“No,” Jess grumbled. “I was stringing lights not scrubbing floors.” She sighed. “I wanted to decorate the tree before we left.” If she’d taken Friday off from work, as everyone had wanted her to, she might have had time. Maybe this child would give her the ability to walk away from work at a decent hour even if all the i’s weren’t dotted and all the t’s crossed.

“All right.” Lil walked over to the waist high stack of ornament boxes Jess had accumulated since the middle of October when they started showing up in stores. “We’ll decorate your tree, and then you are going to bed.”

Jess smiled. “You’re sure you don’t mind?”

Lil made a sound that was more a grunt than anything else. “As long as we can see to walk down the aisle tomorrow, I don’t mind at all.”

Jess picked up the box of red crystal bells. “I spent a lot of time selecting these ornaments.”

“Money, too,” Lil teased.

After hanging an ornament on the tree, Jess shrugged. “It means a lot to Dan and to me that we start traditions that we’ll keep year after year. The ornaments are part of it.”

Lil hung a shiny silver star. “I know what you mean. Blake and I have ornaments from our first Christmas, too. Those and the ones the kids made when they were little are my favorites.”

“You’re a good sister, Lil.”

“I know.” Lil smiled. “You, too.”

Jess’s cell chimed with an incoming text. She picked up her phone and smiled. “Dan can’t sleep either. He and his father are playing cards.”

Lil laughed. “We’re all going to need naps before the wedding.”

I love you, Jess
.

Jess smiled as she replied with
love you, too
.

As she reached for another ornament, she decided that maybe she didn’t want to sleep at all.

This day was too important to miss a single minute.

7:30 a.m.

A second cup of coffee cleared the haze sufficiently to have Jess tugging the rollers from her hair. Long spirals of blond hair fell around her shoulders. She groaned. Between her puffy eyes and the not so happy feeling in her stomach, she wasn’t sure how she would get through the day.

A tap on the door and Lil appeared in the bathroom mirror behind Jess. “Dan’s at the door and he insists on speaking to you.”

Jess’s heart leapt. “He’s here?”

“He can’t see you, Jess,” Lil cautioned. “It’s bad luck. Don’t you dare poke your head outside that door.”

Jess considered her reflection. “Don’t worry. If he saw me looking like this he might get cold feet.”

“Not a chance, but keep in mind that I’m the one who would have to answer to Katherine if she found out I let Dan see you.”

“I won’t let him see me,” Jess promised. She didn’t want anyone seeing her like this!

“All right. Go.”

Lil stepped aside, and Jess hurried through the bedroom and down the hall. Sitting on the floor near the Christmas tree, four-year-old Maddie looked up and smiled.

“We gots the same hair, Aunt Jess.” She tugged at a long lock of her blond tresses.

Jess smiled down at her little niece. “We sure do. Your mommy swears she can make it beautiful.”

Maddie looked about as convinced as Jess felt.

In the entry hall, Jess hesitated to catch her breath. She couldn’t actually see Dan through the front door’s stained glass, but she could make out his form. Tall, broad shoulders. Her mind easily filled in the rest. With every fiber of her being she wanted to go to him. She wanted to feel his arms around her and to rest her cheek against his chest.

Just a few more hours
.

She went to the door and opened it just a crack so they could hear each other without shouting. She pressed her hand to the glass, wishing she could somehow touch him through it. “Good morning.”

“Hey. I know I’m not supposed to be here.”

Jess heard the smile in his voice and her heart melted a little more. “The rules don’t say we can’t talk.”

His soft laugh had her trembling with the renewed urge to throw open the door and fall into his arms.

“I have something for you.” His hand appeared inside the door, a small black velvet box clutched in his fingers.

“Dan.” She reached for the box, her fingers lingering on his. The delicious tingles that shivered through her body were almost her undoing. “You didn’t have to bring me a gift.”

“I know you don’t wear a lot of jewelry, but I wanted you to have these.”

Her heart pounding, Jess opened the box. Diamond earrings sparkled up at her. “They’re beautiful.” They must have cost a small fortune.

“I’ve waited for this day my whole life, Jess. It means the world to me that you want to spend the rest of yours with me.”

God, she was going to cry. She pressed her hand to the glass again. “Love you.”

On the other side, his hand closed over hers. “Love you.”

Jess dabbed at her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’ll see you at the altar.”

“I’ll be there.”

7:50 a.m.

Before Jess could turn away she heard her maid of honor and the bridesmaids coming up the sidewalk. Greetings were exchanged with Dan as he walked away, and then the doorbell rang.

Hoping no one would run when they got a good look at her, Jess opened the door wide and beamed a smile. “Good morning.”

“Good morning!” her friends shouted in unison.

“I brought donuts,” Gina Coleman, Birmingham’s award winning television journalist announced as she waltzed in carrying a Dunkin Donuts box.

“Coffee!” Lori said, strolling in right behind her with a tray of cups from the same donut shop. “And a milk for Maddie.”

Dr. Sylvia Baron cruised in next. She lowered her sunglasses enough for a closer inspection of Jess’s face. “You look like hell, Harris. We have to do something about that ASAP.”

Jess wanted to hug the snarky medical examiner. This was exactly what she needed this morning.
Normalcy
. “To the kitchen, ladies.”

Halfway down the entry hall, the group stopped at the door to the living room to admire the Christmas tree.

“It’s very elegant, Jess,” Gina raved.

Jess was quite proud of how the tree had turned out. She and Dan had selected genuinely beautiful ornaments that evoked the Christmas spirit. Nothing too frilly or showy, just—as Gina said—elegant.

“Wow. You have to show me how to do this.” Lori turned to Jess. “It’s really gorgeous. So’s the mantel.”

“Lily is the one with the real talent,” Jess admitted. “Save your compliments for her. All I did was follow her directions.”

“You have to stop this,” Sylvia scolded. “You and your sister are making the rest of us look bad.”

Laughing, they moved onward to the kitchen. Lil and Maddie were already munching on bacon and eggs.

After greetings and hugs were exchanged, the ladies gathered around the kitchen island to indulge in the scrumptious breakfast Lil had prepared. She’d even baked homemade biscuits. Her sister was really going the extra mile to make this day special.

Jess sipped her coffee. “Did you sleep at all after we finished the decorating?”

Lil grinned. “I’ll never tell.”

“Okay. We’re supposed to be at St. Paul’s by two, right?” Sylvia surveyed the faces around the island.

Lil nodded. “Katherine has a limo picking us up at one-thirty.”

“The groom and his party have a suite at the Tutwiler. They’re getting a limo, too,” Jess said. “They won’t be arriving at the cathedral until after three.”

The Tutwiler, Birmingham’s historic hotel, was only a few blocks from St. Paul’s, but Katherine had insisted on taking care of all transportation needs for the entire wedding party. The reception would be held in the Tutwiler’s grand ballroom. From there, Jess and Dan would be whisked away to the airport for the flight to their weeklong honeymoon.

“You’re all packed for the honeymoon?” Gina asked as she selected another slice of crunchy bacon.

“We are.” Jess reached for another slice as well. “Everything’s at the Tutwiler. We’ll be able to change there before we leave.” She looked around the kitchen. “We won’t be back home for a whole week.” She had never stayed away from work for seven days. Her vacations had always been working ones or short visits with Lil and her family.

Strangely enough the idea that she wouldn’t be
home
for all that time and wouldn’t see Bear bothered her the most. For the first time since she was ten years old, she felt a connection to a place.

This was home
.

“Did you get the nursery decorated?” Lori asked.

Jess sighed. “We decided to wait until we get back. There’s just been too much to do with settling into the new house and pulling together a wedding in barely three months.”

“Don’t worry,” Sylvia said with a mischievous glance at Jess, “Katherine will probably have it done by the time you get back.”

Jess waved a finger. “No sarcastic remarks or thoughts about my soon-to-be mother-in-law. I live by that rule now.”

The laughter that followed her announcement warmed Jess. She genuinely cherished these women.

Maddie licked the milk from her upper lip. “I want make-up now.”

“Princesses always go first,” Gina said, tapping the little girl’s nose.

“Before the make-up,” Sylvia announced, “we have massages, facials, and the removal of any unsightly hair.”

This was the first Jess had heard about a mini-spa—not that she was opposed, mind you. “I hope I wasn’t supposed to schedule those.”

The doorbell chimed. Sylvia smiled. “That will be Antonio.”

Uncertain what to expect, Jess and the other ladies, including Maddie, followed Sylvia to the front door.

“Antonio.” Sylvia opened the door wider. “You’re timing is perfect as always.”

“It’s a pleasure to be at your service, Dr. Baron.” Antonio gifted Sylvia with an air kiss.

“Come in, gentlemen.” Sylvia waved her arm and Jess along with the rest of the bridal party backed out of the way.

Antonio, followed by four other muscular, good-looking men of Latino descent, swaggered into the entry hall.

Sylvia hung an arm around Jess’s shoulders. “This is the bride, gentlemen. She needs a nice, deep massage before her facial.”

“I want Sylvia to be my wedding planner,” Lori murmured.

Jess smiled. Leave it to Sylvia to keep things interesting.

Noon

The sound of the doorbell echoed through the house.

“That’s probably the delivery guy!” Lori shouted from the kitchen. “I’ll get it.”

Jess was absolutely certain she could not eat—unless it was chocolate. Thankfully breakfast had stayed down, but if she dared consume a bite now she was doomed. Her nerves were frayed. She stared at her reflection and heaved a big sigh.

“This is the happiest day of your life so far.” And it was. It really was. She wanted it to be perfect. She wanted it to be all that Katherine Burnett had dreamed it would be, and more importantly, she wanted it be filled with memories she and Dan would cherish forever. The facial and massage had been wonderfully relaxing. All would be exactly as it should be if her hair would only cooperate.

“We’ll get it,” Gina assured Jess as she gazed over her shoulder and into the mirror. “I know what you’re going for.”

“That’s what Lily said an hour ago.” Jess was going to be the first bride to stroll down the aisle at St. Paul’s who looked a mess.

For some reason Lily and Maddie’s hair had fallen into soft, lush waves. Maddie wore the sweetest sparkly tiara. Lily’s hair was up in a French twist. Lily swore that sleeping in those massive rollers had given her hair just the right amount of fullness and body.

Jess was reasonably confident her sister had made up that part.

“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll have to go with an up-do like Lil’s.” Jess had really wanted her hair down since her gown was an off-the-shoulder one.

She still remembered the one and only photo she’d ever seen of her parents’ wedding day. The small, framed photograph had sat on the bedside table in their bedroom. Her mother had worn an off-the-shoulder gown, and her long blond hair had draped her shoulders like a curtain of wavy silk. Jess supposed she’d been thinking of her mother when she chose her own gown.

“Try not to worry.” Gina dug her cell phone from her purse. “I’ll call my stylist and see if I can get her over here ASAP.”

Jess felt ill. Her nerves were twisted into a thousand knots.

“Jess.”

She turned as Lori entered the master bathroom. “Tell me you have a hair genie who can transform this...” Jess stared at her reflection again. “Oh, for heaven’s sake.”

“Your aunt is in the living room,” Lori said gently. “She said she has something for you.”

Jess frowned. Wanda Newsom had been invited to the wedding. She’d received her invitation. No question. Jess had gotten the RSVP. Had something come up? Was she here to give her regrets in person?

Whatever mistakes Wanda had made in the past, Jess’s new motto was never to take family and friends for granted—or to hold their past transgressions against them.

“I’ll be back,” she promised Gina.

How was it that women like Gina and Sylvia could look so beautiful so effortlessly?

Jess sighed as she tightened the sash of her robe and headed for the living room. Her hair didn’t have to be perfect. The gown, the flowers, and the cathedral would be perfect. No one was going to care what her hair looked like.

“Besides you,” she muttered.

Wanda stood in the living room admiring the Christmas tree. Jess paused at the door a moment and considered how nice her aunt looked. She wore a well-fitting skirt and jacket, both in a soft powder pink. Her gray hair was styled in an attractive fashion.

Sensing Jess’s presence, Wanda turned around and smiled. The apprehension on her face warned that she worried she’d intruded or overstepped somehow by coming to the house.

“Your home is just beautiful, Jessie Lee.”

“Thank you.” Jess moved into the room, noting that Wanda carried a small white gift bag. “You didn’t need to bring a gift.”

Wanda held the bag out. “I came across this as I was digging through a couple of old boxes I found in the attic. I thought you might want it for today.”

Jess accepted the bag. “That’s very thoughtful of you.” She gestured to the sofa. “Won’t you sit down?” Jess wanted to shake Lil for not joining them. Lori had no doubt told her Wanda was here.

“I know you’re busy. I don’t want to be in the way.”

As much as Jess resented that Wanda had not been there for her and Lil when they had needed her so very badly, she simply didn’t have the heart to hold it against her any longer. “You’re not in the way.” Jess sat down with a plop. “Right now I’m so frustrated with my hair, I need a break anyway.”

Wanda settled on the sofa, her back stiff as if she feared she’d chosen the wrong place to sit. “I’m certain you’ll be beautiful no matter how you wear it. You look so much like your mother.”

The compliment caused a decided bump in the rhythm of Jess’s heart. “Thank you.” She opened the bag and reached inside. The delicate silver chain bracelet was adorned with small blue gemstones. “It’s lovely.”

“It was my mother’s,” she explained. “Your grandmother’s. I wore it at my wedding and your mother wore it when she married your father. I don’t know how I managed not to lose it or... anyway, I thought you might want to wear it. It’s so delicate it’s hardly visible so it won’t clash with your colors, and it gives you something blue.”

Her hands trembling, there was no way Jess would even attempt to fasten the bracelet around her wrist. “I’m so glad you found it. Thank you.”

“You know,” Wanda knotted her hands together in her lap, “I fixed your mother’s hair for her wedding. Would you like me to try doing something similar with yours?”

Jess thought of her mother’s wedding photo. “You know, that’s a wonderful idea. The half up, half down do my mother wore is what I wanted.”

“I’ll give it a try, if you’d like.”

Jess stood, the delicate bracelet clutched in her right hand. “I would really appreciate your help.”

While she showed Wanda through her home, the doorbell rang again. This time it was the pizza. Surprisingly, Jess’s appetite had awakened. She might have a slice after all.