Deadly Deception. Brenda Gunn
As the sun rises and I wake up each morning,
Always know that my love is dawning.
If by human standards, we turn out to be poor,
We’ll still have each other, I won’t ask for more.
When there comes a day we don’t get along,
I’ll remember this promise, this lovely song.
I promise to love you, till death do us part,
And this I mean with all of my heart.”
The Justice of the Peace opened his Bible and recited the rite that made them husband and wife. As he rambled on, Brenda didn’t hear half of what he was saying. She was entranced by the man at her side. It was as if she was Sleeping Beauty and when Glen kissed her, she would awake to a whole new world and a bright new life.
“You may kiss the bride,” the Justice of the Peace said.
Glen bent down and kissed her softly. Brenda wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close. She wanted this to be a kiss she would remember the rest of her life.
First they walked over to her father and mother and Brenda saw tears in both their eyes as they kissed Brenda and hugged Glen. Then guests swarmed around them offering “Congratulations” and “Best wishes.” Brenda was the happiest she had ever been. If her heart held another drop of happiness, she thought it would burst.
Brenda’s boss, Cal Langley, brought over a magnum of champagne which, in the delay, some of the guests had already opened. He refilled the glasses of her parents and the nearby guests. Everyone raised their glasses and toasted the nuptial couple.
The atmosphere was joyful and growing louder by the moment. Sniffer yipped and pawed at Brenda’s legs in an attempt to get her attention.
“No, no, Sniffer. You’ll tear my dress,” she admonished as she picked up the little dog and tried to calm him. She didn’t want Glen to be annoyed by his behavior.
A smiling young man with curly hair stepped up to Glen and stuck out his hand. “I’m Brenda’s brother, Dave.”
Glen shook his hand.
“You gave us quite a scare when you went back in the house,” Dave continued. “We figured Brenda was gonna stay an old-maid for sure.”
Brenda’s face reddened. “My brother likes to tease.”
Glen narrowed his eyes and said, “Watch out who you call an old-maid. That’s my beautiful wife you’re talking about.”
“Just brotherly-sisterly ribbing. She knows I love her.”
Glen laughed, though his eyes had an angry look and he changed the subject. “This is quite a shindig. I wasn’t expecting anybody to be here except Brenda, the Justice of the Peace and two witnesses. Suddenly, I saw about a hundred people jump out at me yelling ‘Surprise!’”
“There’s only thirty-five or so,” Brenda corrected.
“Well, it seems like a hundred.”
“We have some more champagne over there. Do you want a glass?” Dave asked.
Brenda glared at Dave. She had told him about Glen’s drinking problem, but guessed that he had forgotten about it due to the excitement.
“That’s nice of you to offer,” Glen said. “I don’t drink, but I’ll take a club soda if you have one.”
“Well, that’s a weak toast for your wedding,” Dave said looking at his new brother-in-law appraisingly, “but you got it.” He set off for the bar.
Suzy and Emily, Brenda’s two sisters, walked up to them. Emily, blond and petite in a powder blue suit, was the youngest. She looked at Brenda adoringly and kissed her cheek. Brenda was fond of Emily, who was the quiet, conservative one in the family. It had broken her heart when her baby sister took a job in California the year before, but she was thrilled that Emily could come back to town for the wedding.
Suzy was Emily’s opposite. She always spoke her mind and never shied away from even the most sensitive or racy of topics. The hem of Suzy’s expensive-looking pink silk dress had a beaded fringe and she wore a pink straw hat set at a sassy angle. Suzy stuck out her hand to shake Glen’s. “I’m Brenda’s older sister. I’m the one she complains about all the time and Emily’s the one who used to tag after her like a puppy—that is, until she moved far away and abandoned us all! Welcome to our screwy family,” she teased.
“Now Suzy, tell the truth. You’re the only one in the family that’s nutty,” Brenda joked. She wrapped her arm around her sister’s shoulder and squeezed.
“Brenda, you look beautiful. Doesn’t she, Emily?” Emily nodded and Suzy went on. “See, I told you great-grandma’s dress would look great on you. Who was right?”
“You were right, as always, Suzy,” Brenda chanted with Emily. This was banter they had indulged in since sixth-grade when Suzy had told Brenda how to get the cutest boy in the class to kiss her.
Suzy was standing with one of her stiletto heels stuck in the ground, rocking casually back and forth as she talked. Sniffer, who had been enjoying the rapture of Brenda’s arms, noticed the swaying fringe and watched it intently. His head went back and forth as if he were watching a tennis match. Suddenly, it got the best of him and he lurched out of Brenda’s arms to the ground and playfully swiped at the fringe. A claw snagged a string of the fringe and he yelped. Sheepishly, he scampered under the food table and hid. Emily went to fetch him and carried the little dog back.
Brenda’s friend, Jane, sauntered over to them, a bottle of champagne tucked under her arm, tulip glasses dangling from her fingers. “That’s some watchdog you’ve got there,” Jane said, pouring a glass of bluish-tinged champagne and offering it to Brenda.
“Blue champagne?” Brenda asked, looking at the sparkling liquid.
“It’s blueberry. I wanted the finest for my best friend on her wedding day,” Jane said, giving Suzy a side glance. Suzy and Jane sometimes tangled. Brenda thought Suzy didn’t want Jane usurping her role as big sister and adviser.
“It’s delicious,” Brenda said as she took a sip. The tiny bubbles tickled her nose as she took another one.
Turning to her new husband, Brenda noticed Glen looking at Jane. He saw Brenda watching him, looked away from Jane and smiled reassuringly at his new wife.
He’s just trying to be friendly after that talk I gave him, Brenda told herself. I have to stop being paranoid he’ll find someone else more attractive than me.
Brenda took Glen’s elbow. She had been looking forward to introducing these two people to each other. “Glen, this is Jane Leach. She’s been my best friend since we met. In fact, she sold me this house almost six years ago.”
“Listen, buddy, you better take good care of her or you’ll have to answer to me,” Jane said to Glen, in a mock-threatening tone.
Brenda thought it odd that Jane hadn’t offered Glen any champagne. How does she know he doesn’t drink? She shook off the thought. I’m so suspicious of my own good fortune, I’m imagining things. Jane has just forgotten her manners.
“Drink a little too much champagne already?” Glen asked Jane sharply.
“Perhaps you need a little. Too bad you’d better not,” Jane shot back at him.
She must have overheard Glen tell my brother he doesn’t drink. Puzzled by her angry behavior, Brenda touched Jane on the shoulder. “Jane, what’s going on? What’s the matter?”
“I’m sorry, Brenda. My divorce from Marshall is final today and the fact that he’s gotten into trouble and been sent away only makes it worse. I just visited him in prison for the last time. I keep telling myself to get on with my life, but…”
“Out