Caught in the Frame (Ponderosa Pines Cozy Mystery Series Book 3) by ReGina Welling (novel24 .TXT) 📕

“And his brothers? Will they be standing up for him?”

“Whoa!” Lila held up a hand. “What’s with the third degree?”

“She’s just curious about who she’s going to be stuck marching with.” Chloe stepped in to pull the focus off EV. “But if we’re going to be family, I’d at least like to meet some of them. You’ve spent time with them, right?”

“Of course I’ve met his family. His father died when Javi was young, but his mother remarried a lovely man. She’s a firecracker. You’re going to love her, Chloe. In fact, she reminds me a little bit of you, EV.”

“I’m not sure whether to be flattered or creeped out.” Wry humor sucked the words dry.

“You should be flattered.” Lila turned to unzip the first bag while behind her back, EV and Chloe had one of those conversations that don’t require words—only a series of eyebrow raises and subdued gestures. Lila pulled the hanger out of the bag, and that’s when EV lost the will to pry.

If there was an ugly Christmas sweater contest for bridesmaid dresses, this one would win the title hands down. Bright red, with a faux fur band across the strapless top, the black belt and big buckle really did look like something straight from a North Pole closet, but that’s where the resemblance ended. Below the belted waistline, the skirt fell in a series of Flamenco dress-type flounces. Mrs. Claus meets Carmen Miranda.

Shock and horror were the words of the day until Lila burst out laughing. “Gotcha.”

“That’s so not funny,” Chloe slapped a hand over her eyes then peered between her fingers. “I think I’ve been struck blind. Take it away.”

But Lila couldn’t oblige. She was bent double with laughter, tears welling in the corners of her eyes. Every time she started to regain some semblance of control, another wave hit, until she was gasping for breath. Since she was the one still wearing a robe, EV snatched the dress of the hanger and pulled it over her head. She cha-cha-ed across the floor. By then, Chloe had joined her mother in a bout of tear-filled hooting, and when she reached over the slam the bathroom door shut, EV got a look at herself in the full-length mirror attached to the back.

“I take it this one’s a no, then?” EV asked with feigned seriousness before stripping the dress off and hanging it back in its bag.

She unzipped the next bag far enough to see bubble-gum pink and zipped it right back up again. Lila, finally in control of herself again, shoved EV aside. “Out of the way. I’ve only seen that one because I had it made as a joke. I’m the bride, I get to look first.” She unzipped the same bag EV had just closed, got a look at the color and, just as EV had, zipped it closed with a shudder. “I emailed photos of you both to several boutiques and asked them to send a selection in colors that would complement your skin tones. And yes, EV, that color would look good on either one of you, but I know it’s not your thing.”

“I’m not the one getting married. If you have your heart set on a hot pink wedding, I’ll bite the bullet. Anything for you.”

“It’s only the second choice, we’ll find something we all love.” Chloe, of course, liked the color, but wasn’t a fan of the sweetheart neckline, so she added her veto to EV’s.

* * *

Half an hour later, Chloe, hair standing on end from the static coming off that much plastic, ordered, “Take a break, Mom. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. Call and have some breakfast sent up.”

“Two pots of coffee, as per usual?” Lila asked, already knowing the answer. It had probably been a bad idea to perpetuate Chloe’s caffeine addiction early on in life. Lila recalled a trip to Brazil around her daughter’s 12th birthday where a pre-teen Chloe spent several weeks sipping coffee-laced milk like a native child.

While they waited for room service, Lila seemed unable to help herself, and sorted through several more dress bags. By the time the discreet knock sounded, there was a full rack of rejects, four possibles draped over the back of one chair, and most of two racks left to sort. The waiter pushed a white-draped cart into the room, whisked covers from a series of warming trays, and exited the room.

Chloe wasted no time pouring a cup of coffee and filling a plate. “We got distracted earlier—you were going to tell us about Javier’s brother. What does he do?”

Only because she was looking for it, did Chloe see how Lila tensed slightly. “He’s in security as well.”

“Does he work with Javier?” Lila was holding back, Chloe knew it. EV knew it.

“Not for the last few months.”

“I hope they didn’t have a falling out.”

“There’s time to talk about all that later. Let’s look at the rest of the options, shall we?” It will be easier to choose flowers when we have dress colors.” Lila left her plate of half-eaten food on the table. “We have final choices with the florist right after we finish here.”

The sound of a sliding zipper meant the subject was closed. There would be no more prying today.

“Shouldn’t the groom be helping choose the flowers?” Okay, there would be a little more prying.

“Javier is doing those system updates today, so he’s left that decision in my capable hands.”

“Okay then.” A new thought struck Chloe. At dinner, Javier had mentioned a theft. Was there some connection between holes in security and his brother?

Lila blew through the second rack like a woman possessed. Only two more dresses made the cut before she started in on the last rack. Watching her mother cast a calculating eye over the contents of each bag, Chloe appreciated her shrewd dress sense. EV could relax, because Lila hadn’t been born with