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?”
a man, you have an extraordinary
She blushed, and he chuckled.
is
excitement coming
better in the few weeks they had been
when the doorbell rang. Darrell looked at Katelyn
in. Katelyn and 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
“Katelyn Ashwood?”
“Yes.”
business card from his briefcase and offered it to her. Katelyn looked down at the card and
in the living room, and the man opened his case and handed Katelyn a thick document. “I’m Leo
“Attorney? For what?”
“His will.”
a will?”
actually updated it not long ago. Since his unfortunate accident, It has fallen to me to make sure
mean
had two life insurance policies. A
of this has to do with me,”
“You are the beneficiary.”
was speechless.
are Mr. Nigel
“To what?”
left you
the words. “Everything?” She breathed.
policies, which combined, come out to
can see, my fiancé is a bit surprised. Why don’t you leave the paperwork, and she will get them back to you ASAP,” Darrell said, showing Leo out. Once they
be alright with this?” She said, looking into his eyes. “I killed a man, and I just inherited everything he owned. It was enough that I had to end his life, but how can I ever be
away to charities. Put the money to
Katelyn made her way up to bed. Darrell did not
***
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 to be here. As she stood over Nigel’s grave, Katelyn felt a whirlwind of emotions, the most predominant one, anger. “God
hill. She could not help but notice that Darrell was parked beside her. He was lounging
vehicles and looked Darrell in the eyes. “Did you
woke up, and you were gone, I figured
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