“You aren’t. I’ve spoken with Ryder who is actually coordinating and planning the event. He’s recently decided on an outdoor setting, so more people can attend.”
He had? He hadn’t told me any of that, though with him being constantly called away by Mithra, and me being…how had he put it…psychotically weird about wedding planning…I wasn’t surprised I was out of the loop.
Still, there was a pang of regret, of sorrow, I guess, that I hadn’t even known how my own wedding planning was going.
“Nice,” I said with what I hoped was a convincing smile. “Outdoor setting.”
Bertie could read a person, well, me certainly, like a large print menu. “He’s still working out the details, Delaney. There are two weeks left until the wedding. I am sure there will be changes up until the last minute. That is just how it goes. You should know that.”
I should know that? Because of how many weddings I’d actually put together, which was exactly zero.
“Sure,” I said. “I know all events have last-minute changes.”
“Good,” she said. “Which only gives us two weeks with Mr. Baum since I expect he will be out of our town before the nuptials. I assume that is your preference?”
“That is very much my preference.”
“Consider it done. Tish will take on the form and appearance they need to follow Mr. Baum and report back to me if they see anything of concern.”
“Please keep a very low profile,” I said to Tish. “Can you do that?”
They gave me a smile I never would have thought they had in them just a couple months ago when they’d first come to town.
Bertie had not only employed Tish, she had also given them a sense of confidence and self-worth they’d been sorely lacking when they’d been used by Goap.
“Yes?” Tish said, and then to my surprise, they corrected themselves and didn’t couch it in a question. “Yes, I can.”
“Listen to you,” I said. “Good. I think you’ll be excellent at it. If anything feels dangerous, or if you are uncomfortable, contact me or Bertie immediately. You are not to put yourself in harm’s way, okay?”
They nodded.
“We’ve already gone over this,” Bertie said. “They know I am instantly available for any situation that may arise.”
“Sounds like we have a plan. Baum gets to look around town, Tish keeps an eye on him, and you check in to make sure nothing goes sideways. If something goes wrong in any way, I expect one of you to tell me.”
“I remember when you didn’t even know how to tie your shoes,” Bertie said. It was either an uncharacteristically nostalgic moment, or she was reminding me that she had been alive for several dozens of my lifetimes and didn’t need my permission to do her job.
Probably that second thing.
“Look at how far I’ve come!” I said. “Keeping the peace. Telling demons if they get to live here. Dragging gods out of fistfights. Go, me.”
She studied me for a moment. “In any case, I am behind schedule now, since you left me waiting for over half an hour.”
“I didn’t even know you were here.”
“Details. I assume I’ll see you tonight?”
Uh-oh. “Tonight?”
She exhaled, every second of that breath informing me of just how irritating I was.
“After your dress shopping,” she said, “you are coming by my office to look over my expectations for the murder mystery this weekend.”
“Right.” I’d forgotten all about that since I’d signed off on it at the beginning of the year.
“Don’t disappoint me,” she said. “And don’t keep me waiting. Tish, let’s get back to work.” She strode past me in a swish of silk and perfume, her low heels clacking on the hard floor.
Tish gave me a wave and smile before falling in step with their boss and exiting out the door.
