Chapter One
Clear Creek, Oregon August, Present Day
Holly’s eyes popped open to the theme song from the Monkees. Her cell phone played the same tune when it went off a few seconds later. “Ohhhh, what a night.”
She sat up, peered at the alarm clock with one eye, smacked snooze, but the music kept playing. “What the…?” She looked at her cell phone on the opposite nightstand. The boys were still singing. But she needed an upbeat song this morning. She always did after a wedding. And she’d been to enough of them to know.
She left the cell phone alone, reached for the water glass on her nightstand and drained it. She didn’t drink enough H2O yesterday and was paying the price today with a pounding headache. She hoped the bride and groom fared better this morning than she did.
She left the bed and danced part way to the bathroom despite her aching head. Who could resist happy music?
Holly looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. “Yuck.” She pulled at her short reddish-brown hair. Her pixie cut was getting too long. She’d have to have her business partner give her a trim.
Speaking of Katie, how was she feeling this morning? She seemed melancholy toward the end of the reception. John and Crystal’s wedding was fun, small, and intimate. How could anyone feel down?
Yet even Holly had to admit a pang of jealousy hit while watching the happy couple tie the knot. She was twenty-six, single, and with no prospects. The upside was she had so much fun playing matchmaker for others, what did she need a guy for?
Getting Crystal and John together had been easy. They were a thing before John left to take a job in Los Angeles. Crystal left town not long after to take care of her aunt in Oklahoma. There were, however, a few complications.
Holly rolled her eyes as she brushed her teeth. What a fiasco that was. John, a cop, went undercover and couldn’t contact anyone. Crystal thought he’d dumped her, which was why she left town. His family thought he was dead …
“It all turned out in the end,” she said, then started to wash her face. “Now who can I match up? Katie? Hmm …”
She got dressed, ran a brush through her hair and went into the kitchen. It was almost ten and she didn’t have time for coffee. She had to get to church.
She’d just left her apartment when she heard a familiar voice. “Good morning, Holly.”
She turned in time to see Beatrice, one of the waitresses at Daisy’s Café, heading her way. “Hi!” she said with a jaunty wave. “You heading to church?”
“No, I’ve got too many things to do this morning so I’m playing hooky. But don’t tell Pastor Brody.”
Holly smiled. “I doubt he’ll notice you’re gone.”
Beatrice made a face. “Wanna make a bet?”
“Are you working this afternoon?” Holly asked with a laugh.
“Yes, which is why I need to get going. Enjoy church!” Beatrice started off at a quick pace. For a woman in her sixties, she was in great shape. At work she was like a machine and never seemed to tire. She was also one of Clear Creek’s most notorious gossips. Waitressing at Daisy’s was a great place to find out everybody’s business and Beatrice took full advantage.
When Holly reached the church, she searched the parking lot for Katie’s car, didn’t see it, and went inside. “I wonder if she’s going to show,” she muttered. She was probably exhausted after yesterday. Dancing, celebrating, and keeping tabs on three children wasn’t easy. It made Holly glad she was single and carefree.
She sat in her usual pew and felt her heart sink. “Hmm, that’s strange. What have I got to be sad about?”
“Talking to yourself again, Holly?”
Holly turned and smiled at Angie Turner, the mother of yesterday’s groom. “Always. Sometimes I think I’m my own best company.”
Angie laughed as her husband joined her in the pew. “Good morning, Holly,” John greeted. “What a great wedding that was!”
Holly nodded. “John and Crystal are going to be very happy. I just know it.”
John grinned at his wife and patted her on the leg. “Well, honey, that’s one down. Only eight to go!”
Angie rolled her eyes. “Don’t be in such a hurry to marry off our children.”
He laughed and winked at Holly. “Maybe you’ll be next!”
She held up a hand and shook her head. “Oh, no, not me.”
“Come now, Holly,” Angie said. “Surely there’s someone out there you’re interested in?”
She was about to answer when