The Accidental Florist

* *

While Shelley and Jane were talking this over, Mel was on the phone with the Australian reporter.

'Say, mate, how am I to cope with all the loonies who call to report having seen these people, or claim to be one of them?'

'Easy,' Mel said. 'Here are the relevant dates they were in Chicago. So dismiss anybody who saw them earlier. As for those people stupid enough to try to claim that they are one of the people who are being looked for, make them spell out the name of their mother exactly. I'll spell it out for you. It's an unusual spelling. And you are welcome to hint carefully about a large estate. Even though it's not being left to them. But if you hear from someone who has seen or heard where they are since the date they left Chicago, question them, and if you think they are telling the truth, let me know.'

'You're a canny bloke, I gotta admit. This is going to be a bit of fun after all. Give me your number so I can report back to you if the right one turns up.'

Mel did so, and hung up smiling, then called the reporter from the New York Times and repeated all the same information. That reporter responded as positively as the Australian reporter. Mel gave him his phone number.

'I already have it. I saw it on the caller ID. I'll get back to you as soon as I can if I get a result.'

Chapter

EIGHTEEN

T

ime seemed to Jane to be racing along. She heard from her mother via e-mail, that the Danes and Americans had worked things out earlier than expected and they could be in Chicago in three weeks. Instead of six weeks.

There was suddenly a rush to make firm plans. She called three or four hotels to make reservations to walk through the set up for wedding, food, and a dance floor for four hundred guests at most.

Two of them were already too booked up. So she called another two and they agreed to meet her this week.

She called Shelley to ask her to come along to look at hotels.

'Why not just go with the one Paul owns along with

several other investors? The one where the mystery conference was held.'

'Duh! Why didn't I think of that fIrst? Of course.'

'They can be trusted to keep tabs on Addie. Keep the guest list down to four hundred and if she tries to add additional bridesmaids and groomsmen, they'll seat them in the audience, instead of with the wedding party.'

'Let's go over now and set this up.'

Shelley unearthed the correct planner for this meeting and they were both glad to know she immediately recognized how important the name Nowack was.

Jane explained that her future mother-in-law was a bulldozer, and wanted to do the wedding. 'She wants to invite four hundred of her best friends and stuff in a lot of extra people as bridesmaids and groomsmen. You'll have to work with her and keep it to four hundred and no extra people at the front of the ceremony. Can you do that?'

Miss Tarlington's eyes went wide with pleasure. 'I can and will. I've dealt with women like this before and know how to keep them in their proper places. In fact, your timing is excellent. We were fully booked up for other weddings until yesterday when the bride changed her mind. Her plan was for three hundred guests. I'll have to check this to make sure we can use the same space, however, for four hundred.'

Shelley interrupted.

'Jane, think about this: These people Addie wants to invite are clients, not personal friends or family. Theymight be grateful to her for getting them a good price for a house they wanted. But that's all. First, not one of them has probably ever met Mel in person. And forgive me for saying this, but they've probably never heard of you, either. Second, maybe some of them don't even like her because the plumbing on the second floor flooded the living room the day they moved in, or the hot water tank blew up the next week because she hired a bad inspector.'

Shelley went on, 'Why would any of them want to come to a wedding for Mel, whom most of them have never even met? Why would clients of hers endure the horror of the Atlanta airport, paying for tickets, an expensive hotel for the sake of one free meal when they're here? Wouldn't it be easier for them to just contribute to one of the charities you've listed instead of wedding gifts?'

Miss Tarlington was grinning. 'Given what you've just said, Mrs. Nowack, I'd bet at least seventy-five or even a hundred won't show up? We don't like wasting good food on no-shows. I'll make a point of contacting her every couple days to learn her numbers of responses. How many guests have you invited, Ms. Jeffry?'

'Forty-five at the very most, including my family, my new husband's best friends in the police department and their spouses, if they have one.'

'That's great. I'll be in touch with you about regrets as well.'

Jane said, 'Mrs. Nowack is right. We really might be lucky.' And then went on to say, 'The groom's mother is

allowed to determine the catering, since she's paying for it. She can't determine the flowers. I'm dealing with that myself.'

'I'll make a note about this.'

'Do I need to make a down payment on the rental of the space?'

'No. You're a friend of Mrs. Nowack. Let the future mother-in-law do that. Give me the date so I can reserve the right room. Will you be booking rooms for your own guests?'

'Just my mother, dad, and the best man. Plus me and my new husband.'

'What about me?' Shelley asked.

'You and Paul have a suite that you need to reserve today.'

'I'll do that right now,' Miss Tarlington said.

When they got home, Jane called Addie. She had her office number and her cell phone number, but Addie had never given Jane her home number. Mel knew it, of course, and there was no way she would ask for it.

Addie wasn't at her office, so Jane called the cell phone number. Addie picked up. 'Addie VanDyne. Who is this?'

'Jane.'

'Jane who?'

Jane gritted her teeth and said, 'Jane Jeffry.'

'What do you need?'