Chapter 29

PV Detective Agency

"Knock knock? Can I come in?"

"Oh hey Krystal. Yeah I'm almost finished here, just give me a sec."

Tad said as he walked off into the next room to get some papers.

"Aidan! Hey what's going on?"

"Oh…Hi Krystal. Not much. I've just been a bit stressed is all."

"Oh, how come?"

"You mean Tad hasn't told ya the fantastic news about Di and me? We're having a baby!"

"Oh Aidan that's fantastic! Oh I'm so happy for you. I can't believe Di didn't mention it to me."

"Well she just found out about a week or so ago. Plus with all the wedding plans and so forth, you've gotta be a bit stressed."

"Yeah well. I just got rid of a huge obstacle so hopefully we'll have smooth sailing from here on."

"Well congrats. I'll see ya around all right."

"Okay, later Aidan, and tell Di congratulations for me."

"Will do." Aidan said as he walked out the door letting out a sigh of relief. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't warm up to Krystal after all the stuff she had pulled. Sometimes he even wished Tad felt the same way.

"Hey sweetheart. Sorry about that. So why'd ya want to meet me at the office? I was all set to head back to the house."

"Actually Tad, I needed to kinda get something off my chest and here seemed like an okay place."

"What's wrong?"

"Well, it's about the wedding. I think we have to get something straight. When we started planning this we wanted something comfortable and simple. Remember?"

"Well yeah! I mean we're having it outside Wildwind with just the select few we considered worthy enough. You know. Just those who we were sure we can get the most loot from. I checked the list myself and have to say I approve entirely." Tad joked.

"C'mon Tad."

"Hey, I just checked to assure we wouldn't have an excess of tiny forks and just enough salad spinners."

"Tad can you be serious for just a second?"

"Okay. Easy. What's the matter?"

"I don't think that we should have the wedding in Pine Valley. I...I want to elope."

"But Krystal... come on! I mean we've been planning this for months now and that all goes out the window? Is it the location? Do you want someplace more exotic? 'Cause I honestly don't see what other issues you have. I mean you basically planned the whole shindig, from the guest list to flower arrangements to how many Jordan almonds everyone gets. Why the sudden change of plans?"

"I just. I can't deal with a big happy family wedding right now."

"How come? Oh God, its Babe isn't it. I'm such a dope, I'm sorry sweetheart."

"No Tad. It's not my guests I'm worried about here..."

"Well I…Wait what's wrong with mine? I know we're a bit dysfunctional but c'mon now. I mean Mom and Pop are crazy about you and Ma is being so nice to you its scary, not to mention borderline nauseating. And you're fine with Fish & Chips and Di, and I know you and Kate got off to a rocky start but you guys are doing better now. What do I not know here?"

"Oh gosh Tad, are you that blind? Do you notice what happens to this office every time I enter the room? How every time we go out to dinner with your family I get weird vibes?"

"What in God's name are you talking about? I never thought you'd be this paranoid. You of all people."

"I'm not being paranoid Tad! I'm being realistic! Nobody in this messed up town is happy about this wedding! It's finally sunk through their heads that I'm not a perfect saint for atop their pedestals."

"What pedestal! Krystal, my family is not trying to make you someone you're not!"

"No but they sure as hell wish that you were gonna be walking down that aisle with someone else."

"Oh my God. Look Krystal. I would not be walking down that aisle with you unless I was fully committed to you and this marriage. When I proposed to you it wasn't because I was crazy with grief or trying to rebound. I'm going to miss her everyday of my life Krystal, but Dix's dying wish was that I get to take care of our baby, and you're a pretty big part of that plan."

"Well I. Look that's all well and good Tad. I want to get married too. But I want this ceremony to go without a hitch. And I think that a quickie elopement is the only way I'll feel totally okay with everything."

"But sweetheart I...I want to be married with my family, with the people I care about. The ceremony will be fine!"

"No Tad! Now I mean what I'm saying here! This has taken a lot of thought, but unless we elope. I don't see how this wedding will go on at all."

"But..."

"Tad. I didn't want to have to do this. But if we don't elope, I can't go through with this wedding at all. I'm dead serious here Tad. Agree with this or I walk out."

Tad just stared at Krystal with disbelief. Something must have happened to make her this skittish, but he wasn't willing to make this a broken engagement by demanding she be uncomfortable at their wedding. He cared about Jenny too much to let that happen.

"Alright…alright. We'll do it your way. But I have one request. We have a major party with the entire guest list after the ceremony. Is that okay with you?"

"Yes! Yes, Tad that's perfect, but I..I kinda went ahead and picked a party date and place. But it's a bit after the original date. The only day I could get the hall was on the 30th."

"The…, the 30th? God, Please tell me you haven't forgotten what happened that day Krystal!

"Tad I know that but..."

"No! No buts!" Tad said as he angrily cut her off.

"I...I can't plan a wedding on the anniversary of Dix's and her brother's death!! You're delusional to think that I'd even consider dishonoring her memory like that! It's bad enough that I'm not getting married with my family, but now you want me to basically dance on my ex wife's grave! Christ Krystal!"

"Tad I...I know this is hard for you. Believe me I checked every other date in the book but unless we want to get married and then have our party when Jenny's in college, I can't pass this up!"

"Krystal I can't..."

"Look, look I know it's terrible it worked out this way. But if ya think about it, that day the whole family will be together. We can honor Del and Dixie as a family. Besides, you told me that Dixie wanted for you continue to live life. She died wanting you to find out Jenny was our baby, Tad. She wanted us to raise Jenny and take care of her. But if you, if you can't deal we can just elope and not have a party, its up to you."

"C'mon now. Why won't this damn key work. Now I gotta cut through the back." Di said to herself as she walked in the back entrance of the office. She was about to announce herself but realized Tad was talking with Krystal. As she tried to get out without being heard she heard snippets of their conversation.

"Tad, c'mon what do you say. We'll all remember Dixie and Del as a family, all together. We'll be honoring them while celebrating us. Also I talked it over with your dad and Ruth and I think I convinced them."

"What in the world?" Di thought to herself as she heard her siblings being mentioned.

"You're sure it's the only date available?"

"Yes, believe me I was raising hell at the Valley Inn but I couldn't negotiate a thing with 'em."

"Well I..."

"Tad, ya mean it?" Krystal said enthusiastically.

"Can I think about it for a bit?"

"Well I..."

"No, no never mind I can't. I can't otherwise I'll back out. Go ahead and schedule it, a gathering with the folks on the 30th."

"Oh Tad thank you."

"How could he." Di said angrily and on the verge of tears.

"How could he think this would be okay?"

She thought to herself as she walked back to her car.

"How could he possibly agree with her? Why didn't he fight her! He wants to celebrate marrying her on the anniversary of Dixie's death, one week after Del's! How could he? Del didn't even want the wedding in the first place! Oh my God! That scheming pathetic bitchy little..." Di swore under her breath. as she whipped out her cell phone.

"Aidan, I have to talk to you. Well pull over for a second, its important! I want to schedule a memorial service for Del and Dixie. All we did for Del's was buy a bench for the park! And don't even get me started with Dixie's double funeral. Yeah babe, I know I gotta calm down, for the baby's sake, I know. But I can't believe him. Yes, Krystal and Tad are planning their wedding for the 30th! I couldn't believe my ears when I… Yes I was eavesdropping! I'm a P.I it's what I do for a living! Sweetie I can't relax. Not until I get this taken care of. Okay you'll make the arrangements. Okay, Yes I'll go home now and put my feet up, but you promise me you'll take care of this. Alright? Okay, Yes. I'm hanging up now. Okay, Love ya. Bye."

"Take that Krystal. You wanna play that way fine. I just have a feeling people won't be quite as worked up about catching a bouquet on the anniversary of two deaths. I'll make sure of that. You're not gonna get away with this." Di said to herself as she started to drive home.