Fruit of All Evil by Paige Shelton

shape in my mind. I didn’t allow myself to think it through, but let it roll off my tongue as I shared it with Stella and Mamma.
    â€œSo, what do you think about this? I know that a wedding is probably very inappropriate right now, but Drew is leaving no matter what—he’s definitely reporting for duty.” I didn’t burden them with the fact that if he was arrested he wouldn’t be going anywhere but to jail. “I think he has to report for duty or something like that. Anyway, I know Sam . . . I mean I know the police will be all over this case, and it could be solved quickly. What if it is solved? In the next few days?”
    Stella and Mamma nodded, but they still didn’t understand where I was going.
    â€œWell, if it is solved, and the killer isn’t either Drew or Linda”—I laughed, but they didn’t laugh with me—“well, I was thinking I might kidnap them and take them to the justice of the peace. But why not bring them here instead? That is, if you ladies could handle some lastminute preparations? What do you think—how much time do you need to prepare? One day, two?”
    â€œDo you think Drew will want to get married, have a wedding so soon . . . even if the murder is solved? And Linda, too?” Mamma asked.
    I shrugged. “I know, I know, I’m sounding insensitive, but I’m really attempting to be the opposite. Yes, it’s horrible what happened to his mother, but originally he and Linda wanted to get married before he left anyway. It was a rush wedding as it was. If the murder gets solved, and if they’re willing—then why not? Why not have some happiness? As they say, life goes on, right?”
    The more I talked about my idea, the more I liked it. The way I saw it, if Drew and Linda got married before he left they’d both have something good to hold on to while he was gone. I didn’t have either Stella or Mamma convinced, but I thought that might be because they were still recovering from learning about the murder.
    â€œYou’re much more romantic than I’ve ever given you credit for, Becca,” Stella said.
    â€œI’m not romantic. I’m realistic.”
    Mamma and Stella looked at each other with raised eyebrows.
    â€œI guess I’m game,” Mamma said hesitantly. “The peach delight was for the rehearsal Tuesday morning, so if you have any sort of rehearsal, just let me know. Linda was going to consider the banana cream pies for a wedding-day luncheon dessert, but I don’t think we should count on that.”
    â€œProbably not”—I looked at the mini pies longingly—“but at this point, let’s plan on having the rehearsal.” I moved my eyes to the peach delight. “The murder could be solved by Tuesday, and if we rehearse in the morning, we’ll be prepared. It’s kind of crazy, but it might work just fine.”
    â€œThis will be a surprise to Linda and Drew?” Mamma asked.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWill you invite them to the rehearsal?”
    â€œDunno. We’ll play it by ear.”
    Mamma and Stella looked at each other again. They were warming to the idea, I could tell. Or at least they were becoming less horrified by it.
    â€œI guess I just need a day’s notice. I’ll bake the cake and have it ready to go, but I won’t frost it until I hear from you,” Stella said. “You can tell me which kind of cake, and take a look at a sketch I did and let me know if you think it will work okay.”
    â€œGreat. Thanks, ladies.”
    â€œI guess if all the pieces fall into their proper places, it could be very sweet,” Stella said.
    â€œAbsolutely,” I agreed.
    â€œI suppose we should do something with all these samples. Any ideas, Becca?” She smiled.
    â€œYes, but give me one more second.” The early crowd was still light, so I knew I might be able to round up some willing help. I called both