Page 57 of Very Special Forces

"Is shestill mad at me?" asked Daniel.

"Ofcourse she is," said his wife, Alice, with a roll of her eyes. "Shedoesn't even acknowledge me on her Christmas cards simply becauseyou remarried and she thinks it's sacrilegious."

“The woman’s a hypocrite,” said Dad.

“That’s my mother!” said Mom.

Dad sighed. “Thedearwoman is a hypocrite.”

"Shestopped adding my ex-wife to the card," pointed out Daniel. "Ithink the old dinosaur is mellowing."

"Orshe's forgotten," said Dad. "No one remind her."

"This ismy mother you're all gossiping about," said Mom. "Lexi, you shouldbe pleased she's making the effort to see you get married. It's along way for an old lady."

"Whichis why I will be very understanding if she can't make it," I said."And if she does come, she will be sitting with you."

"Oh,God," said Dad. He swallowed the rest of his beer and reached foranother bottle.

"Whereis she staying?" asked Garrett.

"Um..."said Mom, her eyes suddenly going shifty.

"Oh,no," sighed Dad.

"Thankfully, I have my new skills from my family conflictresolution class to help pave the way to a serene and happy homelife," said Mom.

"Youwere kicked out of the class for being too enthusiastic," saidDad.

"I don'twant to talk about it," said Mom. "The instructor wasn't very nicebut the reading material was excellent."

"Ibooked the bridal party into the hotel after the rehearsal dinner,"said Solomon, thankfully changing the topic although the idea of mymother being kicked out of a class was gripping stuff. "Should Iamend the booking to include your grandmother?"

"No!" Iyelled. Then quieter, I added, "No, don't go to any trouble.Grandma doesn't like hotels."

"Wait,are you leaving me alone with her?" asked Dad.

"It'sonly one night," said Mom. "John, darling, that's very kind of youto book us rooms. What a luxurious way to spend the night beforeyour wedding, Lexi."

"Thebooking covers Lexi, you, my sister and Lily as the bridesmaids,"added Solomon. "I thought the little girls would prefer to be withtheir parents for the night before and then you ladies can getready together in the morning. There's a spa with a pool too.They're awaiting your call." He produced pamphlets from his jacketpocket and handed them over. "I already arranged for the carservice to collect you the next day to bring you to theceremony."

"Youthought of everything," cooed my mother.

"Youreally have," I agreed. "Where are you staying the nightbefore?"

"Athome. Delgado will collect me in the morning."

"This isnothing to do with you keeping me somewhere safe for the night?Somewhere I can't get into any kind of trouble?" Iwondered.

Solomonsmiled. "Why would you think that?"

Chapter Fourteen

Solomonand I drove to the wedding planner's salon together. It made sensesince we both intended to go to the office afterwards. Solomon hada day with the risk assessment team to look forward to. I had someexciting background probing into Bryce. I'd already checked in withHarris but he'd yet to track down Simmons' partner and until hedid, I had no plans to leave the office. It seemed to me that thebest way to track down the tank was to track down the man who mighthave stolen it.

Wewalked hand-in-hand to the wedding planner's office and just asSolomon reached for the door, it flew open and a man hurried out,pulling his partner behind him. While looking over his shoulder ather and saying something, he collided with Solomon.

"Hey,watch it!" he snapped, his head whipping around toscowl.

---