Death by Obsession by Jaden Skye Page A

plenty of time to bathe and get ready for the rehearsal dinner that
night. Cindy gave herself the luxury of a long, warm bath and then dressed
slowly in a beautiful, amber, cocktail dress with a matching silk jacket and
long earrings. After doing her makeup, and putting on a dab of her favorite
perfume, she went into the main room.
    When Mattheus saw her, he stood there transfixed. “You’ve
never looked this beautiful before,” he murmured.
    His comment made Cindy feel sad. Most likely the
threat of losing her made her seem so much more precious.  And, if truth be
told, Mattheus looked incredible as well.  Suntanned and dressed in a dark blue
silk, evening suit, his thick hair brushed back off his handsome face, he, too,
took Cindy’s breath away.
    Mattheus walked over to her slowly. “I am proud to be
at your side,” he said.
    “Thank you,” Cindy murmured softly, letting him take
her arm.
    “And I want to stay at your side forever,” he went
on, unflinchingly.
    Cindy looked up at him as her eyes filled with tears.
At the moment, she had no idea what forever would look like for them, but she
wanted it as well.
    *
    As their cab drove up to the Aupres Hotel for the
rehearsal dinner, the place was surrounded by limousines, reporters and valets,
welcoming guests. One of the valets rushed up to Cindy and Mattheus’s cab and
opened the door for them. The moment they got out, photographers began flashing
pictures. Cindy felt as though they were stepping on a red carpet with the
whole world watching.
    “Raina had to have arranged all this,” Cindy said to
Mattheus as they walked through a line of reporters and admirers into the main
doors of the hotel. “This is definitely not Aldon’s style.”
    “It’s Raina’s son’s wedding. She has a right to,”
Mattheus remarked. “
    The irony of it struck Cindy powerfully as she
thought of how alone Tara was feeling.  Cindy wondered how Tara was doing now.
She wondered if the excitement of preparing for the celebration, dressing for
it, greeting family and friends distracted Tara from the fact that she was
getting married to Lynch the very next day.
    Cindy and Mattheus walked into the incredible,
elegant lobby, with high ceilings, mirrors and grand furnishings, and were led
to a long, private, formal dining room through an alcove. The dining room was
full of guests, decked out to the hilt, meeting one another, circulating
easily, excited to see who arrived next. Whatever difficulties had taken place behind
the scene, obviously no one here had any inkling of them. The atmosphere was
filled with laughter and joyous anticipation.
    A group of young women and men, presumably part of
the wedding party, dressed in cocktail
    dresses, tuxedos and suits, were laughing and chatting
comfortably with one another. Cindy and Mattheus circulated among them,
introducing themselves as friends of the bride and groom. A particularly
striking brunette, in a dashing lime green dress, unusually poised and
gracious, seemed to be the center of the group. When Cindy and Mattheus came
over to say hello, she introduced herself as Lea, Tara’s maid of honor.
    “How’s Tara doing?” Cindy asked offhandedly, trying
to hide her concern.  If Tara was having difficulty, her maid of honor would
certainly know about it.
    “She’s perfectly fine,” Lea answered brightly.
    “Really?” asked Cindy, registering surprise.
    “Why wouldn’t she be?” Lea seemed taken aback by
Cindy’s response. “Tara’s marrying the number one bachelor around, an
absolutely fantastic guy. The hotel is glorious, the weather will be perfect.”
    “No last minute jitters?” Mattheus joined in with a
charming smile.
    Mattheus’s light tone seemed to relieve Lea. “Of
course, jitters are natural, aren’t they?” she  conceded.  “I told Tara that,
myself. But, she’s definitely had a beautiful day. She and Lynch took time
together and went down to Ryder’s Cove for a late afternoon swim. I’m sure