Hey, Carrie?

Hmm? She was petting the strip of white fur at her wrist.

Have you told anyone else about the wedding?

Carrie's head snapped to attention and she flashed an over-the-top smile at Madeline. Carrie was gorgeous, with dark brown eyes and gleaming brunette hair, a flawless olive complexion, and that smilethat Miss Universe kind of smile that seemed to suck the energy from a room and shoot it back out like lightning. Madeline remembered how she'd actually felt nervous the first time Carrie checked into Cherry Hill, like she was meeting a daytime TV star or something. Then it hit hershe'd seen the woman on TV a thousand times, doing those public-health announcements for the State of West Virginia, and she'd actually been silly enough to ask for her autograph. Boy, did that seem stupid now.

Does it matter who I've told? Carrie continued to smile but raised a single eyebrow in challenge.

It's just that… well… most brides have some kind of guarantee that there'll be an actual groom before they get into the nuts and bolts of the wedding. You know, like buying a dress.

Carrie sniffed, tossing her hair. I'm not most brides.

True enough. Madeline squirmed in the kitchen chair, trying to find a delicate way to talk some sense into her. I'm only saying that What /are/ you saying, Maddie? Carrie scooped up the yards of satin and sat down in the kitchen chair across from Madeline. She folded her hands in her lap and lowered the wattage of her smile. Are you questioning whether I know what I'm doing? Do you think for one minute that I don't have every contingency covered?

Madeline blinked, feeling the sheen of perspiration beginning to form on her brow and under her arms. There was something unsettling about the lilt of Carrie's voice and the way her smile just hung there, unrelated to anything pleasant or funny. Madeline was nervous again, and it wasn't because Carrie was beautiful. It was because she was just plain weird.

But Riley said he didn't want to marry you.

Because of a personal emergency, not because his feelings had changed for me.

Madeline swallowed hard, knowing that she'd have to continue carefully.

You tried for months to get him to reschedule and he wouldn't do it, remember?

Carrie glared at her.

I remember you telling me that while Riley was out of town you called him every night, sobbing, and e-mailed him several times a day. He broke up with you, saying you were obsessive and irrational, remember?

Carrie scowled.

So, let's look at this realisticallynot only did Riley not want to marry you; he didn't even want to date you anymore. I think you need to accept that, and move on.

You are so very, very mistaken. Carrie crossed her arms under her breasts, showing more cleavage than Grace Kelly ever did. Riley simply put our relationship /on hold,/ Maddie. That's all. And I am only utilizing the laws of attractionI'm attracting good into my life by preparing for it, making room for it, opening my arms to receive it, and what is good for me is marrying Riley Bohland.

Madeline's left eye started to twitch.

Riley is most definitely responding. He's warming up, moving a little closer to me every day.

You really think so?

Carrie grinned sweetly. I know so. I spent time with him just today, as a matter of fact. We had a wonderful talk.

With a nod, Madeline got up and took her teacup to the sink, turning away from Carrie to gather her thoughts, and her only thought was, /This woman is fuckin' nuts./ Maybe she should tell someone. How about Matt?

Was Carrie weird enough that Madeline should alert the authorities? What could they charge Carrie with? Assault with a deadly wedding? Aggravated positive thinking?

Madeline rinsed the china cup under the faucet, letting her thoughts swirl around with the water. Maybe she was just overreacting. Everyone was a little crazy in their own way. After all, half the town had told her she was insane to buy this old place and turn it into a B and B. And look at it now! Maybe it was none of her business what delusions Carrie operated under.

Madeline turned off the water and shook her head. She knew she'd made it her business the moment she allowed Carrie to manipulate her with the promise of conference bookings. She'd made it her business the second she told Kat just enough garbage to make her run out of town.

Besides, was it even possible to overreact these days? Madeline wiped her hands on a kitchen towel, thinking of the average night of network newssuicide bombings and schoolroom shootings, a killing spree here and a paranoid rampage there. Private delusions didn't always stay private.

Sometimes they exploded all over the place, changing history.

Madeline turned around and gasped. Carrie was right up against her. How had she moved without making a sound, especially draped in all that fabric?

I didn't mean to scare you, Carrie whispered.

Oh. Sure. No problem. Madeline braced herself on the edge of the sink and leaned back to gain a few inches of distance from Carrie.

It's not wise to pass judgment without all the facts, Madeline. Carrie said this as sweetly and as patiently as if she were showing a child how to use a salad fork. As your friend, I'm just giving you that bit of advice.

Madeline tried to produce a smile; all the while her heart was thudding in her chest. Thanks.

You were not privy to the events that led up to the wedding's cancellation.

OK. She tried to move a little to the left without Carrie noticing. It didn't work.

Carrie's eyes flashed. Since you brought all this up, how about we just stay put and finish this conversation?

Madeline nodded, mentally calculating how many steps it would take before she could lunge for the kitchen wall phone.

You see, that girlthat Kat Cavanaughshe is responsible for all this. She must have heard that Riley was about to marry me, and she used her poor dying mother to pass on the rumor about a baby, just in time to ruin everything.

Madeline jolted to attention, her focus moving from 911 to the word baby. What baby?

Carrie laughed. Oh, she claims that Riley fathered a child back in high school, a child no one has ever seen or met. She timed the rumor for maximum devastation, just in time to stop the wedding. She was jealous, no doubt. Carrie shook her head in disgust. Thenthis is the most despicable partthat woman led Riley on a wild-goose chase all over the country to find this alleged child. She did it to distract him, take his attention off of me, and ruin my life.

A baby?

So she claims.

Did he find it?

Of course not. There /is/ no baby. That's my whole pointaren't you paying attention? Carrie sighed with impatience. Remember when Riley told everyone he was taking a leave to care for a relative out west?

That was a liehe was out searching for the non-existent child!

Madeline hadn't heard anything this juicy since 1999, when Ralph down at the Sunoco had sent away for that mail-order bride who broke out in hives when she met him and cried for two weeks straight until he agreed to ship her back to Romania.

So this is why Kat Cavanaugh came back herewithout a child, you'll have noticedjust in time to ruin my plans for the second time!

Madeline tried to shake off the confusion. Riley got Kat pregnant? But Kat said they hadn't seen each other since sophomore year, before she disappeared. But that would make perfect sense! Kat was pregnant when she left town! Oh, this was just too delicious! This made way too much sense!

You have no right to judge me. Carrie's gaze drifted past Madeline's face to the window over the sink, where it seemed to settle in unfocused peace. You don't know how much I love Riley and how I only have his best interests at heart. You don't know that I am only doing my job as his woman. I am taking care of him, don't you see?