can’t get through to you.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
There were more cracks and more tumbling bricks until the wall was pretty much gone and she was left with wanting to tell him everything would be fine. Only she didn’t because while she believed him, she wasn’t totally sure she could trust him.
As if reading her mind, he asked, “Am I forgiven?”
She wanted to say he was, only she wasn’t all the way there yet. “That’s going to take some time and work on your part.”
“Fair enough. Are you sure about keeping me on the Scottish wedding?”
“Yes. Just don’t try to influence them. Let them do what they want to do.” Her voice was sharper than she meant it to be and she sighed. “Let them have their wedding.”
“I will. You have my word.”
“Are you sure you want to offer that?” she asked. “If you break your word, you’re leaving me with nothing.”
She tried to keep her tone light so he wouldn’t guess how close her statement was to the very heart of the problem. She liked Jasper, she wanted to keep liking him, but if he broke his word again, she couldn’t. And there wouldn’t be a third chance. She just didn’t have that in her.
“I give you my word I will not knowingly influence Hanna and Graham. What I ask in return is if I accidentally start down that path that you kick me in the shins to help me remember.”
One corner of her mouth turned up. “You’ve seen my shoes. You sure you want to risk that?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Kicking it is.” She pulled a file out of a stack on her desk. “The apple wedding is this weekend. By now I assume Silver’s been in touch about that.”
He frowned. “You’re going to let me help at the apple wedding?”
“I was always going to do that, Jasper. I was pissed but I’d said you could.”
He grimaced. “You’re saying you don’t go back on your word.”
“Something like that.” She opened the folder. “You know what to wear. You’ll be walking around with a tray of premade drinks and that’s all. Respect the wedding and the participants. Don’t initiate conversation with anyone. You’ve been to fancy parties and events before. The servers are invisible. Observe all you want but don’t engage. Agreed?”
“I’ll be a ghost,” he told her. “I really am sorry.”
“I believe you.”
She did believe him. But trusting him—that was something else entirely.
* * *
JASPER ARRIVED AT the apple wedding a full two hours before the ceremony started. He was still feeling guilty about his behavior, which he didn’t like, and figured the only way to make things better was to let his actions show Renee he wasn’t a total loser.
He parked at the far end of the parking lot, as instructed, and made his way toward the Airstream trailer set up by the gate on the property.
He could see into the open, outdoor area of Weddings Out of the Box. Dozens of round tables had been set up on the grass. The chairs were a stained light brown, the linens a bright apple green and white. Flowers and some kind of small apple made up low centerpieces at some tables while others had tall clear vases filled with Granny Smith apples. Place cards were attached to apples, continuing the theme.
He’d been reading up on weddings and receptions and had even bought a few bride magazines. He’d ordered those online so he wouldn’t have to explain himself to a grocery clerk he would have to face again when he bought groceries.
He knew about place settings and charger plates and the issues with votives (they burn out quickly) versus tapers (tall candles were an inherent danger, what with people brushing up against them). Stacey Treadway and her fiancé, Felix, had chosen votives but instead of using a traditional holder, they’d place them in hollowed-out apples.
He spotted the table where the cake would be set up and wondered what kind the bride and groom had chosen. Something apple-y, he would guess.
He still wasn’t sure who his serial killer would be. Not the bride and groom—that he knew for sure. It seemed too complicated. From what he’d read, both would be extremely busy on their wedding day. Plus, they couldn’t be a bride and groom over and over, which made being a serial killer more complicated. The same could be said for the family members, which left the catering staff, the officiant and anyone else who worked around weddings, such as the cake baker or