Jackie goes quiet, and a thought hits me.

Oh, Lord in heaven, please tell me that Jackie didn’t have a secret wedding like Renee Rango.

Chills ripple over my skin, and I feel like someone walked over my grave.

No. It’s not possible. Jackie would never have been so stupid as to do something like that and not tell anyone . . . right?

I remember overhearing her when I was younger, telling my mom not to ask questions about Cricket and Karma’s dad. I always assumed it was a one-night stand and she didn’t want to talk about it.

But what if . . .

No. I’m not going to think about it. Not tonight.

“Why don’t you have a glass of champagne, Whit,” Jackie says with a smile once again pasted on her face. “You look like you could use a drink.” There’s something in my aunt’s tone that I can’t place.

Cricket whirls around. “What’s going on? Did I miss something?”

Jackie walks toward her. “Of course not.” She reaches out and adjusts a tendril of Cricket’s hair. “You look beautiful, and tonight and tomorrow are all about you. It’s time to live your fairy tale, my darling girl. I’m so happy for you.”

I sip my champagne, putting on a happy face of my own—something I have lots of practice with—as my imagination runs away with me while Cricket puts on her short white dress for the rehearsal.

Is there something you’re not saying, Jackie? And could Maren have somehow tried to frame me for Sylvia’s death? Maybe she knew about Ricky’s overdose and . . .

Someone knocks on the door, pulling my thoughts away from my wild theories, and I walk over to open it.

“Asa!”

My brother’s broad-shouldered form fills the doorway, almost completely blocking my view of McKinley Riscoff, who must have escorted him up. Asa steps inside and lifts me in one of his fabulous hugs.

“I thought I’d have to break into the tower or scale the balconies to get to you with the security they’ve got here. Luckily, someone saved me from going to the trouble.”

When he sets me on my feet, I peek around him to McKinley. “Thank you so much for everything you’ve done. We know how much it has to have inconvenienced you, and it means the world to me and my family.”

She smiles, and her cheeks appear pink. Oh Lord, what did Asa say to her?

“It’s not a problem at all. When you’re ready, we’ve set up the rehearsal on the covered patio, since the outdoor area we planned to use is currently being pelted with rain. All you have to do is call your majordomo, and he’ll escort you down.”

“Thank you, McKinley. We owe you.”

“Only you could say that with a straight face,” Karma says with a harsh laugh.

My smile freezes as McKinley leaves the room. When she’s gone, I spin around and look over to where my cousin has finished doing her daughters’ hair. With the kids present, I can’t say what I want to say.