Beautiful Creatures Series

Chapter 40: 18

Darrell walked into the Dazzling Desserts. He had just finished up a job and was heading over to the hardware store to pick up some supplies so he could build an arbour for the wedding. First, he thought he would check in with his bride-to-be and see how her day had been going. He rang the bell on the counter, and Aster poked her head out with a smile. “You have amazing timing. We are just putting the finishing touches on your cake. Come into the back and tell us what you think,” she invited him into the back. The wedding was in a few days, and they were just finishing up all the little odds and ends.

He followed Aster into the kitchen and over to the stainless steel table Katelyn was working at. She looked like a beautiful mess. Her dark hair pulled up in a sloppy ponytail, and there were traces of different coloured icings on her cheek, hands, and apron. “Darrell,” Katelyn said excitedly. “What do you think?”

Darrell looked over the four-tear cake she and Aster had baked. It was covered in fondant that had been airbrushed to look like birch wood. Around the base of each tear was a thick purple fondant ribbon. Spilling from the top tear down to the bottom, a trail of yellow sunflowers. On the top was what looked like a handcrafted wreath of wooden twigs with small flowers and two light purple love birds.

“Do you like it?” Katelyn asked, biting her bottom lip awaiting his critique.

“It is perfect. You two did an excellent job.”

“Thank you; I like it,” Katelyn grinned.

“Why don’t you clean up, and we go for lunch.”

“I have too much to do. How about I bring home dinner. Chinese good with you?”

“Sure,” he said, kissing her forehead. “I’ll see you tonight, Babe,” he said, heading to the door. “Later, Aster.”

***

Katelyn had worked late helping Aster finish up another wedding cake and deliver it to the venue. Once she was done, she swung by the local Chinese restaurant and ordered take-out. She then drove home. Katelyn parked next to Darrell’s truck. Grabbing the food from the passenger seat, she went inside. She called out for Darrell, but she didn’t see him. Placing the large brown paper bag on the table, she tossed her keys on the table and went out the kitchen door into the open backyard.

Her jaw dropped as she stepped down off the wraparound porch. Darrell had been working all day on the wooden arbour they would say their vows at. He was putting a final coat of stain on it, and Katelyn was breathless. It was so beautiful. What this man could do with a little wood and a nail was remarkable.

Katelyn walked over to Darrell as she took a closer look. “You did all this in one day?”

“God created the world in six days. Why shouldn’t I be able to build an armour in a day.”

“Seven.”

“What?”

“God created the world in seven days.”

“No, God created the world in six days. He rested on the seventh.”

“Still, it is breathtakingly beautiful.”

He put down the stain and wiped his hands on the dirty shop rag he had stuffed in his back pocket. “It just needs a few more little touches. I was thinking of some white silk, some flowers, maybe some fabric butterflies. What do you think?”

you have an extraordinary eye for

I?” She blushed, and he chuckled.

dinner is getting

the excitement coming in the next few days. Katelyn could not believe that

Darrell better in the few weeks they

middle of dinner when the doorbell rang. Darrell looked at Katelyn questioningly. “Are you expecting someone?”

Darrell rose from the table and went to answer the door. There was some man in a grey suit at their door. In his hands, a black leather briefcase. “Hello?” Katelyn greeted

“Katelyn Ashwood?”

“Yes.”

from his briefcase and offered it to her. Katelyn looked down at the card and handed it to Darrell, who did the same. “You are a lawyer?” Darrell asked, confused.

they took a seat in the living room, and the man opened his case and handed Katelyn a thick document. “I’m Leo Carpenter. I was Nigel Airhart’s

“Attorney? For what?”

“His will.”

had a

his unfortunate accident, It has fallen to me to

You mean

things. He had two life insurance policies. A large

this has to do with me,” Katelyn said.

“You are the beneficiary.”

speechless.

Mr. Nigel Airhart’s

“To what?”

He left you

find the words.

which combined, come out to five hundred thousand. I just need your signature on a few documents, and I can have the money wired

you leave the paperwork, and she will get them back to you ASAP,” Darrell said, showing Leo out. Once they were alone, Darrell rejoined Katelyn on

that I had to end his life, but how can I ever be alright with what I did if I got rich doing it? I don’t want any of this,

money to good use. Give to those less fortunate,”

up. Katelyn made her way up to bed. Darrell did not follow her. She

***

Katelyn stood over Nigel’s freshly filled-in grave. She had not gone to the funeral. Why would she? They had been long over, and everyone knew it. Besides, since she killed him, it would have been in bad taste. She had driven herself to the graveyard. She felt the need

with a dead man Katelyn wiped away her tears of frustration and turned to walk back to her car in the small lot at the bottom of the hill. She could not

made her way to the vehicles and looked Darrell in the eyes. “Did you follow

When I woke up, and you were gone, I figured you had come

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