I still can’t believe it really happened.
Getting married is probably the most normal thing I’ve done with my life, yet it also feels like the biggest adventure so far.
And that’s saying something, considering I racked up seven associate degrees as I struggled with academic indecision, started my own business as a private investigator, and can secretly talk to animals.
Oh, you’re wondering about that last part? Well, allow me to explain…
It all started with a will reading at the law firm where I used to work as a paralegal. The same law firm where I met my new husband—eep!—but I digress.
As a glorified secretary, it was my job to make the coffee. The partners hadn’t sprung for new appliances in quite some time, and the coffee maker was more than a little worse for wear. When I tried to plug it in, the darned thing zapped me unconscious.
I woke up a short bit later to the smell of tuna and the sound of someone addressing me in a very condescending manner. I didn’t know it then, but that someone was the deceased’s beloved cat Octavius. He told me his owner had been murdered and that he needed help to prove it and thus get justice for the old lady he’d loved so dearly.
If you know cats as well as I do, then you know that Mr. Octavius refused to take“no” for an answer. With no choice but to comply, a partnership was born.
We solved the murder together and became friends while doing it. I was asked to adopt him by the estate’s trustee, and I eagerly agreed—even before I knew a certain tabby had a generous trust fund attached to him.
I took to calling him Octo-Cat, and together we moved into his former owner’s enormous manor house at his behest. Now the two of us are partners in crime… make that partners insolving crimes. Yes, we run the P.I. business together. We don’t always agree, but one way or another, we always get the job done.
And it’s because of my strange ability to speak with animals that I really got to know my new husband, Charles. He overheard me trying to sneak in a FaceTime call with Octo-Cat at work—and proceeded to use this knowledge to blackmail me into helping with a difficult case he’d just landed.
That all worked out too, even though honestly he could have just politely asked for my help rather than resorting to blackmail. I already had a huge crush on him and would have jumped at any excuse to spend more time together. And time is all we have on our lengthy two-day drive from Maine to Virginia.
My mom and dad managed to book a gorgeous private mansion for our honeymoon, and we’ll have the entire place to ourselves for a whole week to usher in our era of newly wedded bliss. It’s the same place they honeymooned more than thirty years ago, which bodes well for us, seeing as the two of them are still crazy in love.
I’ll miss everyone while we’re away for the week, but I know Nan will keep everyone back home in check. Lucky for her, she won’t be able to understand all the complaints Octo-Cat and Charles’s two hairless cats, Jacques and Jillianne, are sure to send her way. She’ll also have her sweet rescue dog Paisley to keep her company and her brand-new surprise husband Grant, along with his Holland Lop bunny EB. It’s a full house for sure!
I’m sure I’ll still call at least once per day to play translator and mediator for whatever problems arise, but it’s nothing my scrappy grandmother can’t handle… Provided our resident raccoon Pringle behaves himself. Lately he’s been turning over a new leaf with the help of a certain twelve-step program, and we recently shared a very heartfelt bonding moment, but his natural tendencies still encourage him to gossip and thieve whenever possible.
But no, I’m sure it will all be fine—just fine.
I need to stop worrying about everyone we left in Maine and focus on the wonderful week in Virginia ahead. It’s my honeymoon, and my new husband deserves my full attention. It will probably be good for me to have this little break from all the drama and chaos of the busy household back home. I can put out any fires when I return next week.
This week is all about celebrating my new marriage, and that’s exactly what I plan to focus on.
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“Look at the trees,” I remarked, pointing out the side window as Charles and I entered the final hour of our big road trip. We were getting very close to the old stone mansion where we’d be spending the next week, and I was jittery with excitement. “They’re changing.”
“We’ve got a long way until autumn,” he answered while fiddling with the radio.
I shook my head and pointed again.“No, like they’re a completely different type. We don’t have trees like this back in Blueberry Bay.”
“Touch?.” He laughed. “Leave it to you to notice the forestand the trees.”
“You can take the detective out of the agency…” I laughed too. “But no sleuthing this week. Promise.”
I grabbed Charles’s hand from the radio while he used the other to guide the steering wheel. “The next seven days are about you and me, and only you and me.”
“I like the sound of that,” he said flirtatiously before raising our linked hands to kiss the back of mine. “And we’re almost there. Our turn-off is in less than thirty miles, and from there it’s a straight shot to our little Southern slice of paradise.”
“So what should we do first once we get there?”
“Oh, I think you know, Mrs. Longfellow.” He glanced toward me for a second, then winked before returning his gaze to the highway.
Heat rushed to my cheeks. I was still very new at being a wife and not yet comfortable with all the intricacies that came with the role. Especially with talking about them.
So I redirected the conversation a little bit.“I mean,after?I’ve been reading about the area on Trip Advisor. There are all kinds of historical tours, and some really nice restaurants, and…”
Charles squeezed my hand.“This is our honeymoon. It’s not about seeing the sights. Let’s just relax and enjoy each other’s company.”
I wriggled in my seat.“Relax, right. I can do that.”
He chuckled good-naturedly.“Yes, you can. If your workaholic husband can enjoy some time off the grid, then so can you. Besides, we’ll have each other, and that’s all we really need, right?”
“Right,” I said, nodding my head sharply, which only sent us both into another fit of giggles. “This week is only about us, but we can still try some of the local restaurants, right? I might die if I don’t get true authentic Southern-made biscuits and gravy for breakfast at least once this week.”
“Of course! We’ll have them every day if you’d like. We’ll need something to keep up our stamina between… well, you know.”
I blushed like mad at the implication and tried to hide my hot cheeks behind my palms.
“Oh, Angie Longfellow, I love you. Never change,” my husband said before releasing my hand to casually rub my shoulder.
Never change. Now that I could do. But could I avoid all my usual worries and busybodying for one whole week?
I guess time would tell on that one.
2
“There it is!” I exclaimed as the old stone mansion loomed into view. Even though we split the trip into two days, we’d still driven a long way to reach our destination, and now that we were here, I couldn’t wait to get out and stretch my legs a bit.
“Are you sure this is the place?” Charles slowed the car to a crawl as we both gawked at the property ahead. “There seem to be a lot of cars, and we’re supposed to have the place to ourselves.”
I waved off his concern with a quick sweep of my hand.“I’m sure it’s just the staff getting it ready for us. Make sure you give them a nice tip, so it’s not awkward.”
“Right, okay.” He pulled into the small gravel lot beside the mansion and parked next to an old truck, then took out his wallet and thumbed through it for some cash, which he tucked in his front pocket so it would be ready.
I squealed as I hopped out of the car.“Eee! I can’t believe we’re really here.”