Mango Madness Murder: A Frosted Love Cozy Mystery - Book 15 (Frosted Love Cozy Mysteries) by Carol Durand Page A

all together,” he
protested.
    “Desperate
situations called for desperate measures, darlin,” his boss chuckled.
    “You
ready for this?” he asked, the love and concern for her evident in his eyes.
    The
bride-to-be nodded with serene confidence. Her girls had gotten her through the
panic stage, and now she couldn’t wait to walk down the petal strewn aisle
through her decked out back yard and into the gazebo to marry the most
wonderful man on the planet.
    “Yes,
I really am,” she confessed with a starry-eyed smile. “Ben, come here for a
second,” she beckoned, holding out a hand to him that he took and knelt beside
her where his darling wife had been moments before.
    “You’re
like the son I never had,” she told him, lightly touching his cheek. “I could
not have made it this far without you, and I just want you to know how much I
love you, and Cheryl and baby Cammie. Wherever you go, whatever you do, you can
always count on the fact that you’ll always be in my heart, and I’m only a
phone call away if you ever need me,” she stopped for a moment, fanning her
face again, trying not to cry.
    “I’m
not gonna lie, darlin,’ it makes my heart hurt to think that I won’t be seeing
y’all every day,” she admitted, her southern accent profound, in the emotion of
the moment. “But I’m so happy that you’re going to be spreading your wings and
doing what you were meant to do,” she nodded, her face radiating the love that
she had for this very special young man.
    Ben
squeezed her hand, clearing his throat and looking down for a few seconds
before returning his gaze to hers.
    “I
can’t even begin to tell you how much you’ve meant to me, ever since we first
met,” he began, clearing his throat again. “My mother has been out of the
picture for so long that I barely remember her, but you’ve been a mom to me the
entire time I’ve known you, and…” he paused, swiping a hand briefly across his
eyes and taking a deep breath before continuing. “…there are no words that
could possibly express how thankful I am to have you in my life. You’re always
there for me. No matter what I do, I know that ultimately, everything will be
okay because you’ve got my back. I have the courage to do whatever I need to do
in life, because I know that you believe in me. I love you Ms. G., you’re the
best mom that a guy could ask for,” he finished, his voice trembling with
emotion as Missy pulled him into a hug, no longer caring that her mascara might
smear.
    After
their moment, both of them pulled back and smiled, relieved that what they’d
both felt for so long had finally been articulated. Ben pulled a tissue from
the box on the vanity, muttering something about Echo hunting him down if Missy
came downstairs with mascara on her face, and handed it to his boss, his
mentor, his mom.
    He
stood, brushing any possibly wrinkles from his tux, and offered his arm to the
lovely woman in front of him. “Ready?” he asked. Standing slowly, she nodded
and took his arm.
    **
    Missy’s
backyard and gazebo had been transformed into fairyland for the event, with
white and silver streamers and bunting bedecking every surface, and so many
floral arrangements that the yard smelled positively heavenly. The guests were
seated in skirted white chairs on both sides of a white runner that had been
strewn with white rose petals, and the entire effect was breathtaking and
magical, but what made Missy inhale sharply as she entered the yard on Ben’s arm,
moving in time with the music, was the sight of her beloved Chas, looking
positively stunning in his tuxedo. Every doubt she’d ever had washed away, and
she couldn’t wait to be Mrs. Gladstone-Beckett.
    The
wedding had been specifically tailored to the couple, so when Ben walked Missy
down the aisle, he took his place beside Chas, as the best man. The other
groomsman, Grayson, led Toffee and Bitsy on leashes down the aisle, with a ring
box attached to each of the canine’s