1
Elizabeth
Lifting the jet-black wedding garter covered in skulls, I wave it toward Phoebe.
“How about this one?” I say, keeping a straight face.
Phoebe snorts.
“I am not too sure my future husband would want to see a bunch of human skulls wrapped around my thigh after saying ‘I do’, but thanks.”
Olive snatches it out of my hand and gives it a once over.
“My cousin in Wisconsin would totally wear this. Too bad she’s already married with 5 kids.”
“Guys, what are you even looking at?” Ava whines, facing away from us while the seamstress pins her pale yellow bridesmaid dress.
Olive walks the garter over to Ava to show her as I pull Phoebe into a bear hug.
“I’m so fricken excited for you, Pheebs. And I’m so fricken excited for me.”
Phoebe laughs and says, “Why? Because you’re going to be on the arm of a hulking minotaur during my wedding?”
“Have I already said that?” I quip.
“Like ten times, woman,” she says with a giggle, “You will like Angus. He’s such a quiet, sweet guy.”
“And gorgeous,” I say, then adding after Phoebe arches her eyebrow my way, “I may have done some digging on the Labyrinth Truffle Farm website after you and Thoreau got engaged. Minotaurs, I dunno. I just find them so damn sexy.”
“Well, you’ve got me there,” she says, laughing.
Lara, the seamstress, stands up and walks around Ava, checking her work.
“OK, ladies, I should have these altered in two weeks. How does that sound, Phoebe?”
“Perfect. Thanks, Lara.”
Saying goodbye to everyone, I walk a couple of blocks down Main Street to my Aunt Jeanine’s store, Branwen Beach’s Little Shop of Delicacies. I find her ringing up Hugh Caldwell, one of the owners of Branwen Beach Burgers.
“Hi, Hugh. What are you trying out now?”
“Hey Liz. Marmalade, actually. Not for the restaurant this time, just for me and my Sunday mornings.”
“That stuff is beyond delicious. Good choice.”
After saying bye to Hugh, I turn to my aunt, who is holding a book out to me.
“What’s this?”
“Well, I saw this over at Paige’s shop and since you’ve been going on and on about Phoebe’s fiance and how hot you find minotaurs, I thought you’d like to check it out.”
Choking down a laugh when I read the title, I say, “Minotaurs for Dummies? Thanks, Aunt Jeanine.”
“You are very welcome. You've been so interested in minotaurs ever since Phoebe's engagement. And those fellows who sell to me from Labyrinth Truffle Farm are just dolls. I hope you like it.”
I begin to thumb through the book when she continues.
“Now I have a favor to ask.”
