She didn’t complete the sentence, as if something in her own subconscious was doing its best to send out warnings, and she wasn’t sure whether she wanted to acknowledge those signals.
“But you’re not sure,” Delia said, even as hope stirred within her.If both her cousin and her aunt were having misgivings, maybe this might not be as difficult as she’d feared.
“Exactly.Olivia is usually so sure about what she wants.It’s just not like her to be this anxious.”A sigh came through the iPhone’s speaker, and Vicky went on, “Actually, since you’re local, would you mind checking on some of the venue details for her?I think it would help put her mind at ease to know someone she trusts has eyeballed everything before she and Alec arrive.”
Talk about getting permission in advance.Not that Delia and Caleb hadn’t already inspected the chapel, but if they needed to go back, then no one should bat an eyelid at any return trips.“Of course,” she replied at once.“I’m happy to help.In fact, why don’t I give Olivia a call this afternoon and see if there’s anything specific she wants me to check on?”
“Oh, she’d love that,” Vicky said, relief clear in her voice.“Thanks, sweetie.You’re a lifesaver.”
If only you knew,passed through Delia’s mind as they ended the call.If you had all the facts in hand, you’d move heaven and earth to make sure this destination wedding was relocated to someplace much safer.
Like maybe an erupting Kilauea, or possibly an ice floe somewhere near the South Pole.
But since her aunt currently occupied a place of blissful ignorance, Delia knew she and Caleb would have to work behind the scenes to make sure she remained that way.
Almost as soon as she set down the phone, it buzzed again.
Caleb.
Did you see the news?
I did.I’m stuck here at the office, though.
That’s all right.I think I’ll head out and poke around, see if I can sense anything off.
Any problems with your own power?
No, everything was fine over here.
Delia wondered if she should mention the odd flickering of the porch light at her house, then decided she could leave that aside for now.Nothing had acted up since then, and she supposed it could have been the bulb.LED lights were supposed to be extremely stable, but maybe she’d gotten a dud or something.
Well, be careful.I’ll go straight over to your place when I’m off work.
I’m always careful.
Delia wasn’t so sure about that, but she couldn’t help smiling a little as she ended the convo.If nothing else, Caleb Lockwood had been in some pretty tight spaces and had managed to wriggle out of them anyway, so she wouldn’t let herself be too worried.
All the same, she couldn’t wait for this day to be over so she could see him in person and reassure herself that any “poking” he’d done had been relatively harmless.
No sign yet of her mother, so Delia decided she might as well go ahead and call Olivia.Her cousin had her own graphic design business and worked from home, so she didn’t think such a call would be too much of an interruption.
Besides, she’d gotten past the first hurdle of the conversation with Vicky, so she figured she’d better strike while the iron was hot.
“Hi, Delia.”Olivia didn’t sound especially surprised to hear from her, a reaction explained by her next words.“My mother texted me and said you might call.How are you?”
“I’m fine,” Delia replied.“But how are you?Your mother said you’ve been a little stressed about the wedding planning.”
A long pause on the other end of the line, and when Olivia spoke again, her voice sounded somehow smaller, not nearly as sure of herself.“God, is it that obvious?I’ve been trying not to worry everyone, but….”Another pause, followed by an audible sigh.“I don’t know.Ever since Alec and I booked the chapel last month, I’ve just had this weird feeling about it.”
“What kind of weird feeling?”Delia asked carefully.The last thing she wanted was to allow any of her own misgivings to seep into the conversation.No, she needed to hear what her cousin had been experiencing without any outside responses possibly coloring her account.
“This is going to sound kind of crazy,” Olivia said, then gave a shaky laugh.Delia didn’t know her cousin all that well, hadn’t seen her in several years, but she could tell right away that laugh had been a complete fake.“But every time I think about walking down the aisle at that chapel, I get this overwhelming sense of…dread, I guess.Like something terrible is waiting for me.”
“That doesn’t sound crazy at all,” Delia said, doing her best to sound soothing.“Have you told Alec how you’re feeling?”
“A little,” her cousin replied.“He just thinks it’s cold feet, and maybe he’s right.But the dreams are so vivid — way more vivid than any other dreams I’ve ever had.Most of the time, I can’t even remember what I’ve dreamed, but with these dreams, I can see every awful detail as soon as I open my eyes in the morning.People screaming and running and trampling each other, the chapel filling with smoke and flames….”
That did sound pretty awful.No wonder her cousin was so hag-ridden.
