The Bridal Dress Disaster Read online

  Bridal Dress Disaster - Christian Cozy Mystery

  A Molly Grey Mystery

  Donna Doyle

  PURE READ

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  © 2018 PureRead Ltd

  PureRead.com

  Contents

  Introduction

  1. Preparations

  2. A Perfect Fit?

  3. Leaky Friendships

  4. Ruined!

  5. A Dress Disaster

  6. Some Grand Mystery

  7. Missing Pieces

  8. Waste Not Want Not

  9. A Wedding Daze

  10. The Truth Comes Out

  11. A New Picture

  More From Molly

  About PureRead

  PureRead Reader Club

  Introduction

  A Personal Word From PureRead

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  1

  Preparations

  Molly Gertrude Grey went over her list once again. Michelle Harris and Brian Jones had hired the Cozy Bridal Agency to plan every aspect of their wedding, and Molly considered it her duty to make sure all the tiniest details were taken care of. She adjusted her glasses and looked through her handwritten checklist once again. Most of the items had been taken care of a long time ago, including the invitations, selecting the dishes for the reception, and ordering all the tables and chairs. Still, she liked to see those big bold checkmarks in their places.

  “No, Misty,” she said quietly as her snowy white cat jumped up onto the desk and rubbed her cheek on the end of Molly’s pen. “You’ll get ink in your fur, and you know how much you dislike baths.”

  Obediently, Misty hopped down into Molly’s ample lap, curled into a furry ball, and fell asleep.

  “Dora, did you call the caterer and tell them about the extra guests?” Molly Gertrude asked without looking up. The groom had called a few days ago and told them he was expecting out-of-town relatives who’d been able to come at the last minute. It wasn’t convenient, but Molly liked to think she could handle any wedding needs after all these years of being in the business.

  “Hmm?”

  Dora’s absentminded reply made Molly look up from her work. Dora Brightside, her faithful assistant for the last three years, was sitting at her desk with her chin on her hands, staring out the window. “Dora? Are you with me today?”

  “What’s that? Oh, sorry!” Dora quickly sat up and straightened her jacket, trying to look as though she was ready to work. “I was just admiring the rain.”

  “Admiring it?” Molly Gertrude glanced out the window, pressing her lips together. “I’m not sure it’s something to be admired, Dora. It’s been raining for three days straight. The gutters are full, the ball field down at the park is completely flooded, and I don’t think I know what dry feet are anymore.” She had a pair of rubber boots sitting by her back door at home, but she didn’t like to wear them. They were too difficult to get on and off now that her old body refused to bend the same way it did twenty years ago. Still, the rain had been enough lately that she was starting to consider it. At this point, she wouldn’t be surprised if she saw Noah’s Ark sailing past the window.

  “But it’s so romantic!” Dora insisted, putting her hands on her cheeks as she turned to the window again. “It would be the perfect weather to just snuggle up on the couch with a blanket and a good movie. Or maybe to sit at an old oak desk and write a novel. The sound of the rain on the roof is so comforting, too. I’ve gotten the best sleep over the last few nights than I have in the last six months. I admit it’s not convenient, but it’s still so lovely.” Her innocent eyes were practically glowing.

  Molly sighed and allowed her lips to curve into a small smile. She didn’t feel the same way about the weather that Dora did, but her assistant’s enthusiasm and hopelessly romantic nature made her a perfect fit for the Cozy Bridal Agency. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it, dear, but it leaves me rather concerned about the Harris-Jones wedding. Don’t forget that it’s supposed to be an outdoor affair.”

  This brought a small frown to Dora’s face, but she quickly wiped it away. “Then we’ll find another place to have it,” she insisted with a wave of her hand, as though it wasn’t a problem at all. “It shouldn’t take much work to get a tent put up, or we can find a church or a hall that’s available.”

  Molly Gertrude wasn’t so sure. Wedding season was in full swing, and most of the popular places for nuptials were booked solid. “Then I’ll put you in charge of finding a backup. I’ll feel better if we’re prepared, just in case the weather doesn’t break.” She sighed and let her fingers sink into Misty’s thick fur. “Even so, I hate for the bride not to get exactly what she wants. If I ever find a way to control the weather, we’ll be planning weddings for everyone across the country.”

  Dora got on the phone making arrangements, and Molly did her best to go back to her work. She attempted to convince herself that everything would be all right. After all, she had been in the wedding business for her entire adult life. It didn’t take long for her to realize that this was the business she wanted to be in. The Cozy Bridal Agency had been in the family for longer than Molly cared to remember, and although Molly’s mother had not been too keen, Miss Molly had been bitten by the bug from her first encounter with a glowing bride and a nervous groom. Helping two people in love to commit their lives to the good Lord above in the bonds of marriage was a privilege Molly thanked her Savior for every single day.

  The gentle classical music that had been filtering into the office was suddenly interrupted, jolting Molly out of her work with the sound of a booming voice.

  “This is Dan Blake with your hourly weather report. It looks like the rain is going to be sticking around for a while. Expect steady showers through the rest of the week and on through the weekend as the remains of Tropical Storm Larry are breaking up and sending lots of heavy rainclouds our way. Please, folks, remember not to drive through any water on the road. You can’t tell how deep it truly is. We want to keep everyone safe here in Calmhaven.”

  Molly sighed. That was exactly what she hadn’t been hoping to hear. So much for an outdoor wedding. “Did you make any progress on a tent, Dora?”

  Her assistant hung up the phone and smoothed a hand over her recently washed hair, which she had pulled back into a low bun. “I’m afraid not. The rental company said the ground is just too soft after all this rain. If they put up a tent, they’re convinced it will just fall right down again. Obviously, they don’t want to take the risk, and a collapsed tent isn’t exactly going to be good for our business, either.”

  Molly agreed, immediately envisioning what the headlines would be like if the entire wedding party was trapped under a bunch of wet tarp. It probably wouldn’t be a life threatening disaster, but it wouldn’t exactly be a dream wedding. “That’s just as well.
I’ve never been a big fan of tents, anyway. It makes the event feel like a circus, and they usually smell funny. See what you can do about finding a church or a hall.”

  Just as she was doing her best to stay hopeful, Molly Gertrude noticed an unusual sound. She put down her pen to listen, and her eyes slowly drifted to the ceiling. A dark spot had formed on the ceiling, and water was slowly condensing in the center of it. When it got heavy enough, it fell to the hardwood floor with a plop. Another drop immediately began forming in its place.

  “Oh, the ceiling is leaking!” Molly shot to her feet and instantly regretted the quick movement. Her lower back didn’t agree with sitting still for so long and then moving so swiftly, and neither did Misty. In her frightened state, the cat left a few claw marks in Molly’s leg. It seemed that leaky roofs were a thorn that Molly had to bear. It wasn’t long ago she dealt with a similar problem at her home. Now the office was leaking as well!

  But there was no time to worry about it. Immediately heading toward the back room, Molly found a mop bucket and put it under the leak just as another drop of water was released from the drywall. Putting her hands on her hips, Molly frowned up at the leak. “Just what we needed! I’ll call the repairman.”

  Just as she reached for the phone, it rang. While Molly usually left it up to Dora to answer the phone, she lifted the receiver. “Good afternoon, and thank you for calling the Cozy Bridal Agency. This is Miss Molly Grey. How can I help you?”

  “Oh, Miss Molly! I’m so glad I reached you. I was afraid you might have gone home for the day. This is Michelle Harris.” Michelle was a local graphic designer. Even though she got lots of work online from clients around the country, she had designed logos, flyers, and websites for most of the local businesses as well.

  “Yes, dear. What can I do for you?” Molly noted that the bride-to-be sounded particularly stressed.

  “I heard the weather report a little while ago. I wasn’t thinking about it at the time, but I just realized it’ll be raining on our wedding day! How are we going to have an outdoor ceremony in this weather? Maybe we should cancel?” Michelle’s voice went shrill on the last word.

  Molly had been hoping to wait to talk to Michelle until they had a plan laid out, but it would just have to be good enough. “Oh no, dear. I know you really had your heart set on having the wedding outdoors, but all will be well. We’re currently working on finding you a new venue.”

  “But it’s too late! The caterer and the florist and everybody have it down as being at the venue we already agreed on. Don’t they charge extra if the plans change? Or what if they refuse to show up at all?” She was getting more and more desperate, insistent that all was not well, even if Miss Molly said so.

  “There’s no need to panic,” Molly assured her. “I’ll be in touch with everyone, and I’ll get it all worked out. You just sit back and trust me. All you have to do is get your hair and nails done and show up. The rest is my job.” While it was true that many vendors would charge for a change of venue, Molly knew she could convince them not to. It was part of her job, and she was good at it.

  “Well, okay, Molly, if you say so,” Michelle reluctantly conceded. She didn’t sound convinced. “I just know there’s been so much planning already.”

  “It’s not the first time we’ve had a rain delay, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. Don’t worry at all, honey. We’ll see you tomorrow for the dress fitting, right?”

  “Yes. I’ll be there.”

  When she hung up, Molly looked hopefully at Dora. “Any joy? I think we may need to pray about this one!”

  Dora quirked her mouth up on one side. “Nowhere yet, Miss Molly. I still have a few ideas up my sleeve, though.”

  Molly nodded. “Get right on it. I’m going to see if I can keep this place from falling down around our ears in the meantime.” She gave the leak in the ceiling another glare and turned to call the local handyman.

  2

  A Perfect Fit?

  “I just love to see the final fitting of a wedding gown,” Molly mused as they headed down toward Gloria’s Gowns. “There’s just something magical about it.”

  Dora nodded her agreement from the driver’s seat. “I agree! It’s just like in Cinderella when the Fairy Godmother waves her wand and the fair maiden is completely transformed. I always felt as though that was the moment when Cinderella became a princess instead of when she married the prince.”

  “And what about you? Are you going to find your own prince someday?” It wasn’t any of Molly’s business, really, but she loved to play matchmaker. In fact, most folks in Calmhaven knew that spending a little bit of time around Molly Gertrude would inevitably result in an engagement ring. She had a knack for matching up personalities and lifestyles. Someone had told her once that it was like she had matchmaking superpowers, but Molly knew it was just that she liked to pay attention to what was going on around her.

  Dora blushed prettily. “Oh, I don’t know. I think it’s a lot more fun to help other people. I’m not sure I’m ready to settle down yet.”

  Molly thought Dora was the perfect type to be settling down. She didn’t go out and party on the weekends. Though she was dedicated to her job, it wasn’t as though she spent sixty hours a week at the office. And she was a nice girl who thoroughly deserved to find her Prince Charming. “Are you sure? There’s nobody special that you’ve been thinking of?”

  If Dora hadn’t been driving, she probably would have looked down at her lap. Instead, she focused intently on the road. “No, not really.”

  Molly knew that wasn’t true, but she decided not to push the issue. She didn’t want to embarrass her assistant, and they were just pulling into the parking lot of the dress shop.

  Gloria’s Gowns was an old brick home that had been converted into a store many years before. The covered porch and the wide stairs that led up to it were lined with brilliant flowers of purple and gold. Similar flowers hung in baskets from the upstairs windows. The rain only brought out the glorious colors. As they walked in the front double doors, Molly appreciated the hardwood floors and custom displays. Everything had been carefully handcrafted, and Gloria had spared no expense in having the shop recently remodeled. The original rooms of what was once a family house were now showrooms for different types of dresses. Prom and homecoming dresses—always a big attraction for the younger crowd—occupied the space at the front of the home. Toward the back, where there was a little more privacy, hung the wedding gowns. The upstairs was split into cocktail wear and clearance.

  The two ladies made their way to the back, where Gloria was just pulling the plastic off a beautiful gown. Molly clasped her hands in front of her as she admired it. “Oh my, just beautiful!”

  Dora took off her glasses to wipe the raindrops from her lenses. “It’s even prettier than I remembered!”

  Gloria, a slim woman in her forties with her light brown hair swept up into loose bun that resembled a Victorian hairstyle, smiled back as she fluffed out the skirt. “I agree. It’s a designer piece, and certainly not a cheap one, but I think Michelle is really getting her money’s worth.”

  “I’m sure you’re right. Where is Michelle, anyway? Is she not here yet?” Molly Gertrude checked her watch. They were on time, but brides were usually early for exciting things like this.

  The dressmaker gave a little shrug of her narrow shoulders. “I’m sure she’ll be along soon. This weather doesn’t help anybody. As it is, I think I’ll be wrapping this dress two or three times before I let it out of the shop just to make sure it doesn’t get damp.”

  Molly heard the sound of the front door opening and turned around, looking expectantly through the doorway of the wedding gown area. Sure enough, it was Michelle. She was shaking off her jacket and putting a wet umbrella into the nearby stand. A woman with brilliant red hair was at her heels.

  “Sorry we’re late,” Michelle said as she came through the store, running her fingers through her gold-blonde hair. “The storm drains are actually ov
erflowing, and some roads have even been closed because of flooding.”

  “I think we’re all going to be trading our cars in for boats after this.” The red-headed woman shook out her curls. Molly had come to know her as Renee, Michelle’s best friend who had come along for the wedding adventure every step of the way. Unfortunately, she was also usually full of snide comments, and Molly for the life of her could not understand why. “Or maybe you could just trade your wedding dress in for a rain slicker,” quipped Renee.

  “Not as flattering, I’m sure.” Gloria’s thin lips turned down slightly.

  “Speaking of, were you able to figure anything out as far as the venue?” Michelle looked at Molly hopefully.

  Molly was pleased to say she had. Or rather, Dora had. She gestured with her head for Dora to fill the bride in.

  “Most of the usual places were full, and I still wanted to find something that felt romantic. I mean, the VFW hall in Greenacres was free, but that didn’t really seem appropriate. Anyway, I contacted Stephanie Graham who owns the Old Rose Bed and Breakfast. It turns out they have a space big enough for your ceremony as long as they just move a little bit of furniture around.” Dora beamed, proud of her work.

  Molly had to admit that she was proud, as well. It was an innovative idea, and one she might not have thought of herself.

  “That place is beautiful inside,” Michelle marveled. Then she shook her head and blinked. “But how much are they going to charge?”