The Accidental Florist

Tarlington came to fetch them, and line them up properly. She took Mel and Uncle Jim down a side hall, opened a door, and said, “You stand on the left side and face forward.“
    She went back and took Todd and Mike, and Michael and Cecily next.
    Jane and Shelley were standing in the back behind a door.
    They peered around and saw Mike take his grandmother’s arm and start down the aisle with Michael following. They were seated in the first pew on the right. Then Todd took Addie’s arm with her daughters and their husbands following them to the front pew on the left.
    Then Shelley walked down by herself.
    There was a brief wait while Mike took his mother’s arm and escorted her to the front next to Shelley. Jane was surprised that everyone stood and looked back at them with big smiles.
    The ceremony itself was relatively short. Rings were exchanged for the second time. Mel took Jane in his arms and gave her a serious but dignified kiss. A sound system burst into “Here Comes the Bride“ and the two of them walked back slowly, stopping to shake hands with a number of people close to the center aisle. Mel was well represented with what looked like half the police force, some in uniform, most in plain suits.
    Jane and Mel stood beside the door, while Todd and Mike escorted the Grants, Katie, and Addie’s family back down the aisle. Uncle Jim brought Shelley down the aisle. Then everybody else was left to file out neatly from front to back and be pointed to the dining room by Miss Tarlington. Some of Mel’s friends hung back to congratulate Mel and Jane. A few of Addie’s rich clients stopped to compliment her as well. She smiled and thanked them for coming, then joined the rest of the crowd, ignoring the whole of Jane’s family. Jane could hear Mel grinding his teeth and muttering.
    The rest of the family went to the dining room, leaving Jane and Mel alone for a minute or two. “I’m sorry, Mel. But you know the way she acts. It’s normal for her.“
    “You’re right. It’s sad though.“
    They made their way, arm in arm, to the dining room, and again everyone stood up and applauded. When they sat down, Miss Tarlington spoke into a microphone. “Someone at each table will find a penny concealed in their napkin. Mr. and Mrs. VanDyne have told me that those who get one are entitled to take the flowers on the table home.“
    There was a great rush to open napkins.
    The wedding party was already seated, and Addie got up and leaned over Jane’s shoulder, “What happened to my flowers?“
    “They’ve gone to a nursing home. I’d told you repeatedly that I was choosing my flowers.“ Then she turned to Mel and asked, “Did you get the penny?“
    Addie had apparently wanted to please her clients so much that she’d provided three courses: salad, choice of salmon or filet mignon, scalloped potatoes, asparagus, and an array of desserts on a buffet at the back of the room for later.
    Addie had provided a huge wedding cake and Mel and Jane did the obligatory cutting of the first slice and feeding each other a bite. When the waiters started clearing tables, Mel and Jane circulated. Jane had invited very few people. Ted’s wife and children, and the nice lady, Mrs. Jefferson, from Thelma’s funeral, and a very few neighbors and women she’d known from the room mother’s group.
    Mel made a point of introducing her to his assistant, Officer Needham, who was wearing a bright red suit and a big matching hat. Jane said Mel had told her what a great researcher he thought she was and Jane hauled her along to meet her parents and children.
    Eventually the room was cleared and guests were herded into the room where the dance was to be held. Some of the guests starting slipping away. And as Mel took her arm for the first dance, Officer Needham, ear to her cell phone, whispered something to him.
    His response was a huge grin. “I’m going to dance with my wife while you gather up the team.“
    “What’s this about?“ Jane asked as they started to dance.
    “The reporter from the New York Times has found Miss Welbourne’s children. Or we think they are.“
    “Where are they?“
    “Right here in Chicago. They’re living in a rental in Evanston. They never left the area. That trip to San Francisco was a sham. Janey, I’m so sorry but—“
    “It’s your job, Mel. I understand. Now go! I’ll dance with Uncle Jim, my dad, and Ted instead.“ When she’d finished dancing with them, she went to find Mrs.