Buried (Twisted Cedars Mysteries Book 1) by C. J. Carmichael Page A

time as a seamstress. “So you’re making Jamie’s wedding dress?”
    “Made, not making. The wedding is in just one week, you know.”
    He knew, unfortunately. “I should go. Let you eat in peace.”
    He definitely didn’t want to be here when Jamie arrived.
    * * *
    After work, Jamie went home to grab a quick bite before the dress fitting. It only took five minutes in the cozy trailer to put together a grilled cheese sandwich. While she was excited about making a new life with Kyle and his children, she was sad about leaving this place. If her mom was still alive, it wouldn’t be so hard. But this trailer was so steeped in memories, it was going to be difficult to say goodbye.
    When she finished her sandwich, Jamie headed to Kyle’s to pick up Cory. The little girl was waiting for her on the porch—she’d lined up four plastic lawn chairs and was hopping from the porch swing to each of the chairs without touching the floor. Jamie had played games like that as a child, too. The porch is an ocean, teeming with sharks. You have to jump from one island to the other without falling or the sharks will eat you.
    Jamie imagined a pretty set of wicker furniture replacing the plastic chairs one day. And two big urns of flowers flanking the door. Geraniums. Her mom had always loved geraniums.
    “Hey, you,” she called out to the little girl. “Ready to pick up our dresses?” They’d already gone through several sets of measurements and fittings—hopefully everything would be perfect today.
    “I’m ready, Jamie!” Cory hopped from a chair to the top rung of the stairs, grasping the banister, then throwing one leg over and gliding to the lawn.
    “Whoa, careful girl. You don’t want to be walking down the aisle in crutches.”
    Cory looked appalled at that possibility. Jamie was pretty sure that the little girl was looking forward to the wedding just as much as she and Kyle were.
    “I’ll be careful,” she promised solemnly.
    “It’s okay.” Jamie smiled, and held out her hand. “Is your dad—"
    Before she could finish, Kyle appeared at the door, dish towel in hand. Jamie felt the usual rush of love at the sight of him. He took such good care of his children. She wished Dougal could see him now, as he smiled and waved them off. He’d realize how crazy his warning had been.
    Stella Ward’s house was just six blocks from Kyle’s. Jamie drove the familiar streets slowly. The weather was warm and lots of residents were sitting on their porches, or watering their gardens. She waved to everyone she recognized.
    Beside her, Cory was quiet, sitting on her hands, her blue eyes huge in her pale face. When Jamie glanced at her, she discovered the young girl staring at her anxiously.
    “Is something wrong, Cory?”
    “No. Everything’s perfect.”
    Jamie didn’t believe that. Kyle’s children were often on edge around her and she had no idea why.
    She turned onto Stella’s block, then frowned at the sight of Dougal leaving Stella’s house. He didn’t notice her car as she pulled to a stop by an eight-foot tall cedar hedge. He just glanced at his watch, got in his SUV and took off in the opposite direction, toward Driftwood Lane.
    She wondered what he’d been doing here until she realized, of course he would visit Stella—she was the closest he had to family in Twisted Cedars now.
    Except for her.
    And she hadn’t exactly made him feel welcome, had she?
    Suddenly the throbbing heat of her self-righteous anger dissipated, leaving her hollow inside. Dougal seemed so alone. So unhappy. She was reminded of how depressed she’d been in the first months after Mom died. She still missed her mother, sometimes with a physical force that could snatch away her breath. But having let go of the worst of her grieving meant she could recognize it when she saw it in others.
    “Who is that man?” Cory asked.
    “He’s my brother. I guess he didn’t see me.”
    “Is he coming to the wedding, after all?”
    Cory must have