Ride the Lightning - Aimee Nicole Walker Page 0,66

spotted a red Cadillac coming down the road. “Why does Amos dislike me so much?” It had always bothered Jonah, although he couldn’t say why. He wasn’t the kind of person who needed to make everyone his friend.

Marla cackled as she rose to her feet. “The old fool was jealous of you. Amos was convinced there was something more between us than friendship. He thought you were my boy toy.”

Jonah reached out and snagged her gloved hand. “I do love you.”

Marla beamed at him as tears filled her eyes. She patted his hand. “I know, baby. I love you too. Amos just didn’t understand the kind of love friends have for one another. I think that’s sad, don’t you?”

Jonah practically choked on the lump in his throat. “I do,” he agreed.

“Well, he understands things better now,” Marla said, pulling her hand free and patting her leg for Betty to follow her. “Come now, Betty. Mama needs a witness.”

Amos, who’d gotten out of the car and walked around to the passenger side, nodded at Jonah. It was a considerable improvement over the silent scowl Jonah typically received. He noticed Amos was dressed up in a pale gray suit, which accentuated the silver hair threading through the cobalt black strands. He’d paired the outfit with a yellow shirt and a floral tie similar to Marla’s dress, and Jonah knew it wasn’t a coincidence. Just what were they up to?

“Woman, a dog won’t count as a legal witness,” Amos said as Marla sashayed near.

“She will if I say so,” she countered sassily.

Jonah had a sneaky feeling he knew what was going on. “Give me five minutes to get dressed, and I’ll be your witness.”

Amos smiled at Jonah for the first time since they’d met, and Marla rocked on her high heels a bit. “Much obliged,” Amos told Jonah.

“Honey, you have a murder to solve,” Marla protested weakly.

“It can wait until after I give you away,” Jonah said. “Give me five minutes.”

“Take ten,” Amos said generously. “Our appointment isn’t for another half hour.”

Jonah darted inside the house and up the stairs. Before going to his closet to pick out an appropriate suit, he sent a group text to Marla’s wonderful friends he’d met on Tuesday. He didn’t expect them all to drop everything and rush to the courthouse, which was the only place they’d be getting married on a Thursday morning. Her friends could at least throw her a party to help her celebrate life and love. Wouldn’t it be better to do that with Marla while she was still alive rather than after she passed?

He didn’t wait to see what kind of replies they sent. Jonah had accomplished his goal and shifted his focus to getting ready. He chose a gray suit that was slightly darker than Amos’s and a yellow dress shirt he’d forgotten he owned. He completed his outfit with a simple gray tie and black dress shoes. He wished he had a hat to wear, but he wasn’t cool enough to pull it off.

Marla was sitting primly in the front seat of the Cadillac with Betty on her lap. Amos had lowered the ragtop down, so Jonah placed his hand on the side of the car and vaulted himself into the back seat.

“I’ve always wanted to do that,” Jonah said, smiling at Marla’s reflection in the side mirror.

Marla and Amos were shocked when every one of the people Jonah texted showed up to witness their wedding.

“What are y’all doing here?” Marla asked, turning a suspicious gaze on Jonah. “How’d you have enough time to make this happen?”

“Group text,” Jonah said. “I usually hate them, but you can’t deny how convenient they are sometimes.”

“I cannot believe you dropped everything to share this day with Amos and me,” Marla said, placing a hand over her heart. “I love y’all so very much.”

There was a group hug, and then it was Amos and Marla’s turn to get married. Jonah and Betty walked her down the aisle to stand before the judge with Amos and exchange their wedding vows. There wasn’t a dry eye in the courtroom, including Judge Jackson, who turned out to be Marla’s drag mother.

Afterward, the friends decided to do brunch at Daisy’s Place, but Jonah begged off so he could work the investigation. Amos and Marla dropped him off at his house before heading to the diner. He debated on calling Jerry Locke first or just showing up at his front door. One option was more polite, but it also