Always the Vampire

“Ah-ah. Business, then pleasure.”


We divided my list. I called the caterer, the florist, and Daphne again. Saber took the tasks of calling Neil to check on the music and parking arrangements, and then calling the rental company. With each of us on our phones, it sounded like a telemarketing call center, but we got the job done.

Saber dusted because he could reach the high spots easier. I started a wash load of delicates and drove Snowball crazy with the vacuum. Then Saber scrubbed the kitchen and half bath while I cleaned the master bath. Both of us tag teamed the mound of laundry until every item was hung, folded, and put away. If we went down in flames on Friday, at least the cottage would be in pristine shape.

Maggie met me at the back door at four on the dot and led me to the dining room where cutouts representing chairs at round tables sat on a piece of foam board covered with green outdoor carpet. Her covered cobblestone patio was indicated with one-inch tiles, a cutout bar and bandstand stood nearby, and balsa wood showed where the portable dance floor would be. Another area of mini tiles and another cutout at the back of the property stood for my patio and tiki bar that would serve as the secondary drink station.

I arched a brow at her. “Geez, Maggie, is this a seating chart or a design-school project?”

She grinned. “All right, so I went a little overboard. I might be a wee bit freaked about the number of RSVPs we got for the reception.”

“Did you find the Lister’s response?”

“Selma brought it over Sunday.”

“Okay, let’s see what you’ve done.”

We pored over the seating arrangements she and Neil had worked up, but I had little to contribute. They’d done an excellent job seating the wedding party in proximity to the bandstand for quick access when it was time to make our speeches. Maggie’s dad, Neil’s parents, and Neil’s few other relatives were positioned just right, too. Seating Hugh Lister near anyone he wouldn’t offend was a challenge, but Neil had suggested they put Hugh near the dance floor. The rationale was that the band would drown out Hugh’s cursing. I sure didn’t have a better suggestion, so except for a very few tweaks, we left the chart as it was.

Next we moved on to my list of things to gather so they’d be at hand.

“I think I have everything, including those purse-sized packages of tissue, but do you have a regular box handy?”

She did, and we ticked our way through the rest of the list until she balked at one item.

“I am not wearing panty hose, Cesca. No woman with two brain cells to rub together wears panty hose in St. Augustine.”

“Unless it’s for work or a formal event.”

“Well, this is my version of a formal event, and I won’t wear them, so just cross that item off your list.”

“But what about Sherry? What if she or Jessica or one of the other girls gets a run?”

“Sherry can bring her own back-up pair, and I know Jessica’s not going to wear hose. She’s due to deliver those babies in a week.”

“Maggie, the wedding list specifies having several pair on hand in various sizes. Why not have them, just in case.”

“You’re obsessive-compulsive about this list, aren’t you?”

“Just being a good maid of honor.”

“All right, but I will kill you if you mention panty hose again.”

“My lips are sealed.”

She flashed a grin then leaned back in her chair, looking toward the closed door I knew lead to Neil’s office. “Cesca, has Neil told you what he has planned for the music?”

“No, and he won’t even tell Saber. They talked this morning.”

“He wouldn’t do anything crazy, right?”

“And risk upsetting you? Hell, no.”

“He’s upsetting me by not telling me what he has planned.”

“Then hit him with that. And meantime, make sure you have a place cleared for a harpist. I told him that’s what you’d want, and I’ll bet that’s what you’ll get.”

“If that’s true, why is he being so stubborn about sharing?”

“It’s his way of surprising you,” I soothed, and realized with a flash of psychic insight that I wasn’t entirely lying. “You know about your ring and the honeymoon destination. And since you’re not having the traditional rehearsal dinner, taking care of the music is his special contribution to the wedding.”

“I suppose.”

“Maggie, everyone is on board, everyone will be on schedule, and the wedding will be perfect—including Neil’s music arrangements. Trust me.”

“Hmm. Does that mean you’ve caught the bad-guy wizard?”

“Not yet, but we’re closing in. Oh, and I had an idea for the rehearsal. A sort of party favor.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Each guest gets a drachma to take to the Greek festival,” I said quickly, making up the rules fast. “At the end of the night, those who still have the coin on them get a chance to win a gift certificate to a restaurant. A chain, so the winner can use the gift card anywhere.”