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“How’s that?” he asked with building excitement.
“You have to get married.”
Chapter 11
Lou
I stared down the aisle looking at the people seated on either side. They were all looking back at me. I waited for the music cue before I moved. When I heard it, it was time to begin.
I looked ahead at Sey. He stood at an altar set up feet away from the pool. Behind him were the priest, enough flowers to choke a bee, and a video screen.
I stepped forward. There was a rhythm to the walk. I had practiced it. Falling into step with what Sey and my parents had wanted, I followed the white silk cloth laid on the grass and approached my fiancé.
This was it. I was getting married. Looking down at the tuxedo I had spent way too long in fittings for, I took a deep breath.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the joining of Seymour Charleston and Louis Armoury in holy marriage,” the priest began.
I listened to him not making eye contact with anyone. How could I? I was too busy waiting for exactly the right time. How would I know it was the right time?
“Lou!” I heard Titus shout from across the lawn. “I love you, babe. It’s all you.”
That was when I looked up. The audience murmured. I could hear people asking what was going on. Why would someone rudely interrupt a wedding ceremony? It was because I needed to know when I could begin. It was time.
I turned to Sey and smiled. I felt good. It had been a long time since I had.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have to stop the priest, who was giving a lovely sermon by the way, because there’s someone who isn’t here today who should be a part of this. My grandmother Agatha Armoury, who many of you might know as a world-famous mystery author, and I simply knew as Grandma Aggie. She would have loved what’s going on today and for that, I would like to make her a part of the ceremony.
“Recently I found… I say “I” but, in truth, it’s we,” I gestured to Titus who now stood at the end of the aisle staring at me with a smile. “We found some lost footage of my grandmother that I would like to share.”
I looked for the man who had duplicated the video. He wasn’t hard to find. He was the one recording the wedding. Finding him, I signaled. That was when he lowered his camera, took a remote control out of his pocket, and pressed a button.
There were awes when Grandma Aggie’s image appeared on the screen behind me. My mother couldn’t understand why I had insisted that a giant projection screen be placed behind us at the altar. I had told her that the videographer needed it. And instead of fighting, she let me have it. I looked over at her sitting in the front row. She was starting to understand.
“I, Agatha Armoury, being of completely sound mind and body, hereby leave the entirety of my estate including my properties, books, and all of my holdings to my grandson Louis Armoury,” the recording began.
As my mother watched, the vein on her forehead looked like it would explode. When it was done, my mother, father, and brother were staring at me with their mouths open. My parents were horrified. Chris looked impressed.
“As I said, I truly wish she could be here with us. But as her one and only heir, I have to be the one to thank you for being here today.”
Right on cue, my mother stood up. Her face bounced between horror and an uncomfortable smile. She was frantic and I was ready for her.
She laughed and turned to everyone gathered. “What Louis means to say is that as a part of the family that has inherited Agatha Armoury’s estate, we all welcome you.”
“No, I said it right the first time,” I said casually.
My mother whipped around to face me.
“I don’t know where you got this video from, but you heard the will,” she snapped. “This was clearly made before she changed her mind and altered it…”
“I’m going to stop you right there, Mother!” I said loud enough to shut her up. “Before you say anything else, I would like to thank a few people for being a part of this very special day. Everyone, I would like you to meet Butler Thompson from Thompson’s Funeral Home. Mr. Thompson was the person who prepared my grandmother’s body for the funeral.
“It’s so rare that we thank the people who do thankless jobs. So, can we give Mr. Thompson a round of applause for the job he did preparing my grandmother. Mr. Thompson, please stand up.”
I started the applause. Titus joined in and quickly everyone was clapping. When it died down, I looked back at my mother who had a look of terror on her face. It made me smile.
“I met Mr. Thompson about a week ago when I visited him asking about my grandmother’s funeral. I wasn’t able to attend. And, what was that thing you mentioned to me about the death certificate?” I asked gesturing to him.
“I said that,” he began under his breath.
