Powdered Murder

Both my parents have dark hair and dark eyes like me, but they are tall and statuesque like Joy. Sometimes I literally feel like they are towering over me. My mom has the same facial features as my little sister, but her demeanor is calmer like mine. Dad's the one who is quick to get angry. He has a very short temper. I guess that's why he seems more understanding of some of Joy's fits. He knows what it feels like to become so frustrated that you feel like you're on the brink of exploding.

We live in the same town, but I usually only see them about once every other week. Their work takes them both out of town a lot. They own several properties in neighboring counties, including a campground in the next town over.

My mom stared at my dress, but she didn't say anything. I knew what she was thinking. She probably thought that showing off my figure was my own last attempt at getting Patrick's attention, but that wasn't the case. Unfortunately, my childhood crush wasn't something I was able to hide from them.

"Hi, honey." My mom was dressed in her best church clothes. "You never mentioned that you were in the wedding party."

"Didn't have time, I guess."

"Where's your sister," my dad asked. "If her events usually look like this one, they'd better give her that promotion." Dad didn't kid much. Whenever he made a comment, sarcastic or not, there was truth to it.

"Haven't seen her," I admitted.

"Can you believe that Mr. Kentworth?" Dad muttered. "Making Joy work all those extra hours and he is still considering other applicants. Incompetent little—"

"Nathan," my mom snapped. "Keep your comments to yourself for the next couple of hours. You never know who is listening."

"Fine," he grunted.

"We are going to go find our seat, honey." My mom smiled at Bebe and led my dad towards the alcohol.

"It is interesting meeting other people's parents," Bebe said. "You always think that yours are the only strange ones."

"Until you meet someone else's," I finished.

"Exactly."

"I'm going to find our seats." Bebe walked to the table with poise and elegance. She read each name card and stopped when she found hers. I surveyed the room again, but there was no sign of Joy. I grabbed Eli's coat as he rushed past me with more drinks. For once, he was doing the actual job he was hired to do.

"Eli," I muttered. "Where's Joy?"

"Haven't seen her," he responded. He looked towards the door leading to the kitchen. "But I overheard one of the other assistants telling Mr. Kentworth she'd called Joy a few times, but she still hasn't responded."

"What?" I thought back to when I last saw her. She was yelling at Wade and I made the decision to leave rather than get involved. That might have been a poor decision on my part. "She must be having car trouble." I glanced at Eli and he shrugged.

"Don't look at me. I'm not her sister."

He pulled himself away from my grasp and resumed his serving duties. My stomach started churning as my mind ran through a few scenarios. One ended with Joy waltzing through the doors in front of me with a smile on her face. One ended with her being sister-napped by Do

"Oh my!" a familiar voice rang through the room. I cringed, looking at the entrance to see none other than the only couple who could have made this night even more awkward. Mayor Millbreck and his wife Martha. "What a spectacular set up," Martha said.

Martha and the Mayor are two peas in a pod. One word that describes them both is showy. Martha isn't the only one in their relationship who thrives on rumors. Mayor Millbreck has been mayor for so long not because he is good at it. It's because most of the town is too nervous to vote him out until he decides to officially retire. The mayor is older than Martha, and he moves much slower.

"Mayor," Patrick greeted them. Patrick looked a little shocked to see them there. "You're here."

"Yes well, we couldn't miss this," Mayor Millbreck a

"I'll have them make some extra places for you," he remarked. Patrick left Martha to gloat about her latest trip to Europe and sped towards me.

"Did you know they were coming?" he whispered.

"No." It was the first time we had spoken privately since he showed up at my apartment with wedding doubts. "Didn't you?"

"Absolutely not." He acted like he was offended that the thought had even crossed my mind. He shook his head and took a step closer to me so our elbows slightly touched.

"Well, you can't kick them out now," I joked, glancing at the two of them striding to their seats. "Martha just started telling Bebe the story of how she was almost the wife of an Indian prince. She's on a roll."

"Where's Joy? If anyone has the guts to talk straight to Mayor Millbreck, it's her."

"She's M.I.A." I hesitated to share more with him. "Which brings me to my next point. If she doesn't show up soon, Mr. Kentworth might have a meltdown and fire her. I think I should go."

"Please stay, Essie." He grabbed my hand when he said it like it was a normal reflex. I looked down at our intertwined fingers and instantly broke the bond. "Sorry … but I don't think I can do this without you."

"Then why do it at all?" It was a valid question, and I should have asked it sooner. "It's your wedding too, you know."

"Lila and I…" He exhaled and watched our parents switch cards around so that the four of them could sit next to each other. "Please, help me through this di

"What if she doesn't?"

"I'll make sure that Mr. Kentworth doesn't fire her," he answered. "I have my ways."

"The perks of stardom."

"Something like that." He gri

Lila stood in the doorway and she had changed into something much more scandalous than her original outfit. She began greeting her guests like she was on the red carpet. Her long, white, sparkly gown showed off her bony back. Her dress was a giant punch in the face, reminding everyone that she was the bride. Franco followed right behind her making sure she didn't trip over the train.

"Is that her wedding dress?" I whispered.

"Possibly," Patrick answered. "I know she has a few of them in room she's trying to decide between, but I haven’t seen them."

"Welcome, everyone," she confidently a

"So nice to meet you, Lila." Mayor Millbreck outstretched his hand and began with his usual opening line. "I'm Mayor Millbreck, the only mayor in all the state who has been voted into office unanimously."