Murder Is a Piece of Cake by Elaine Viets Page A

fat must have had amazing powers of revival. After three fries, Ted perked up
     and said, “The rehearsal dinner is the groom’s responsibility. Maybe we could have
     that at the Ritz.”
    Josie gave her fiancé a relieved smile.
    “What a splendid idea,” Lenore said. “I’ll make the reservations right after lunch.”
    Ted had rescued the difficult meal. They chatted happily about safe subjects after
     that: Josie’s colors—red, white, and pink—to go with the Jewel Box flower display.
     The dinner table decorations would be big pots of poinsettias. “My best friend, Alyce,
     will be my matron of honor and Amelia is my junior bridesmaid.”
    “Very sensible,” Lenore said. She glanced at her watch. “Well, if you two don’t mind,
     I’ll get the check and then make the arrangements for the rehearsal dinner. Josie,
     I’ll meet with you and your mother tomorrow.”
    “I’ll take Ted back to his car at the clinic,” Josie said.
    “I’m glad that Molly Deaver won’t be lurking in the parking lot,” Ted said.
    “Oh, she won’t bother you again,” Lenore said. “That’s all taken care of.”
    Josie hoped her future mother-in-law was right.

Chapter 6
    Tuesday, October 23
    “I need to stop by my place right away, Ted,” Josie said. “Before I take you back
     to your car.”
    Josie was pacing outside the Ritz, waiting for the valet to return with her car. The
     droopy-brimmed hat made it hard to see Ted. She took it off and held it by the brim.
    “Any time,” Ted said. “I like your mom. You seem worried. What’s wrong?”
    “I don’t want Jane hearing some twisted version of the scene at the clinic today,”
     Josie said.
    “Dr. Chris and Kathy won’t talk,” Ted said.
    “Maybe not, but the waiting room was crowded. You can’t believe what the local gossips
     will do to that juicy story.”
    “Call her now,” Ted said.
    “No way I can explain that on the phone,” Josie said. “Besides, Mom won’t believe
     you’re safe until she personally inspects you for damage.”
    The tinny notes of “Here Comes the Bride” sounded from Josie’s purse.
    “You come with your own entrance music now?” Ted asked.
    Josie looked embarrassed. “Amelia reprogrammed my cell phone to play the ‘Wedding
     March.’” She fished her phone out of her purse and said, “Hi, Mom. What’s wrong? Is
     Amelia hurt? Why are you crying?”
    Ted hovered close by, looking concerned. Josie tried to give him both sides of their
     conversation.
    “Good. She’s safe,” Josie said. “Thanks for picking her up at school. No, Mom, Ted
     didn’t have his throat slashed by a crazy lady.”
    Ted’s eyes widened.
    “He’s fine. Well, she did cut him, but it was tiny. Really. He wasn’t hurt at all.
     We’ve just finished lunch. He couldn’t eat if his throat was cut. We’re on our way
     to see you now. You can check him out yourself.
    “Is our wedding off? Of course not,” Josie said. She tried to laugh, but it sounded
     high-pitched and fake.
    “Who told you that? It was Mrs. Mueller, wasn’t it?” Josie sighed. “That interfering
     old bat never gets anything right. No, Mom, Ted is
not
engaged to another woman. He’s never been engaged to anyone, not since he graduated
     from vet school.”
    Ted nodded his agreement.
    “Yes, that part is true. A bride in a Bentley pushed her way into his clinic this
     morning. She was wearing a wedding dress, carrying a bouquet and a dog. She interrupted
     Ted’s TV taping. Her name is Molly and she announced that she was marrying Ted, but
     she isn’t. Ted didn’t know anything about that wedding. Their romance existed only
     in her head.”
    Josie took another deep breath.
    “Yes, Mom, that’s right. The poor woman is unbalanced. She does need your prayers.
     The police took her away. No, they didn’t take her to a psychiatric hospital. She
     was arrested for second-degree assault. Who’d she assault? Ted. But it’s just a scratch.
     He’s okay, Mom.