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Rosie’s nostrils flaring, she nodded. “Mateo’s second wife hanged herself.”
“Valentina?” I exchanged a look with Luke. “Where?”
Rosie lifted wide eyes toward the ceiling. “That same rafter.” She swallowed. “According to rumors, she hanged herself with a dishtowel.”
A shudder slid down my spine.
“This is the first I’ve heard of it.” Luke tore off three paper towels for napkins, then pulled out Rosie’s chair. “What happened?”
“The story’s always been hush-hush, but from what I understand, Mateo never stopped loving his first wife. So much so, he often confused their names.”
“I can’t blame Valentina for being hurt, but to commit suicide over a slip of the tongue…?” I shook my head.
“Apparently, the last straw was a Freudian slip, when he called her Marianna in the”—she glanced at the bed—“boudoir…”
“Oh.” Luke sank into his chair. “That’s an indiscretion of a whole other magnitude.”
“The scuttlebutt was that she left a suicide note before hanging herself that night.” Rosie winced. “Mateo found her the next morning.”
I eyed the rafters from a different point of view. “No wonder Bea’s family resented Marianna. The bitterness must’ve run deep.”
“Deep enough to span four generations.” Luke spoke under his breath.
“But enough talk of star-crossed marriages.” Rosie began opening the to-go boxes. “Instead, let’s plan a happy one, beginning with the entrées for your wedding reception, which, may I remind you, is eleven days away.”
“Yikes. Knowing the timeframe is one thing but hearing it aloud is another.” I took a deep breath to fortify myself.
Rosie’s cheeks lifted in a smile as she described the contents of each to-go box. “This is gulf shrimp marinated in lime and cilantro. These are green chili and beef empanadas. This is grilled achiote chicken. These are three kinds of salsa with chips: black bean, green chili, and pico de gallo. And finally, nopales for any vegetarian guests.” Palm up, she waved her hand across the food, inviting them to eat. “Por favor come.”
I sampled the dishes, savoring each taste and texture. “The jumbo shrimp are so plump and juicy, they definitely have to be one of the entrées. And the empanadas are so light yet crunchy.” Groaning, I glanced at Luke. “We’ve got to include these, but I love the chicken’s color and peppery flavor.”
“A Mexican menu wouldn’t be the same without chips and salsa. They’re a necessity. And nopales are a traditional veggie.” He shook his head. “I can’t decide between these.”
“Then let’s not choose.” I grinned at the thought. “Let’s have a buffet.”
“When in doubt, have them all.” Rosie beamed. “A buffet it will be.”
“That was easy.” Pleased at how the wedding plans were shaping up, I returned her smile.
Then Rosie chewed her lip. “Did you have any luck in finding a dress?”
“I did, and I found the perfect veil.” Jumping up, I rinsed my hands at the sink. “Want to see?”
“The veil, anyway…” Rosie glanced at Luke. “I wouldn’t want the groom seeing the gown before the wedding.”
“I can take a hint.” He chuckled. “I’ll be in the warehouse. Call me when you’re finished.”
“In that case, let me show you the whole outfit.” I grabbed the dress and a slip from the closet and called from the bathroom. “It’ll just take me a minute to change.”
When I reappeared, Rosie’s face lit up. “You look lovely.”
“It’s really a tea dress, but I think it’ll do.”
“It’s perfect—just the right mix of conventional and unconventional.” Rosie’s eyes twinkled. “Now let me see the veil.”
“I put it in the hope chest for safekeeping.” I grinned.
“How appropriate.”
