Chapter 9 - The Locked Bridal Suite
“That doesn’t even make sense,” Ryan said.
Diane rounded on him. “You don’t know this family.”
“I know my wife just sent her sister to eat beside a kitchen door.”
Vanessa flinched.
Ryan continued. “I know there’s a forged transfer under her login and a property document she helped submit.”
“I was following Mom’s instructions,” Vanessa said.
Diane’s voice sharpened. “Stop talking.”
That did it.
Ryan looked at her like he had finally found the center of the problem.
“Why are you so desperate to control what she says?”
Diane’s expression froze.
A phone rang.
Maya, the coordinator, checked hers.
“Sorry.” She stepped aside, listened, then looked toward Vanessa. “The hotel security manager is asking whether they can unlock the bridal suite.”
Vanessa stiffened.
“Why?”
“Your room key was left inside, and one of the bridesmaids says her purse is in there.”
“I’ll handle it.”
She moved fast.
Too fast.
Jonah watched her go.
“What’s in the suite?” he asked.
Vanessa stopped.
“Nothing.”
Ryan handed the microphone to a stunned groomsman.
“Then you won’t mind if I come with you.”
“I do mind.”
He stared at her.
“Why?”
She had no answer.
We ended up moving as a strange procession through the hotel corridor: bride, groom, lawyer, grandmother, father, mother, half-sister, and one terrified wedding coordinator.
Security opened the door.
The suite smelled like perfume and hairspray. Champagne glasses sat beside curling irons and makeup palettes.
Vanessa went straight toward a white overnight bag near the dresser.
Ryan blocked her.
“Don’t.”
Her eyes widened. “That’s my bag.”
“I know.”
Jonah spoke carefully. “No one is searching personal property without consent.”
Diane exhaled.
Then Maya pointed toward the desk.
“We don’t need to.”
A black leather folder sat open beneath a stack of wedding programs.
On top was a photocopy of Grandma’s driver’s license.
Below it was a printed real estate contract for the lake house.
And clipped to the front was a yellow sticky note in Diane’s handwriting.
V - GET M TO SIGN AFTER TOAST. IF SHE REFUSES, USE OLD SAMPLE.
Grandma read it once.
Then again.
Ryan whispered, “Use old sample for what?”
May you like
Jonah lifted the contract without touching the sticky note.
“For her signature.”
