Page 3 of No Vow Broken

“And she routinely has four agents assigned to her?” I asked. “Isn’t that a lot?”

“I’m afraid I can’t discuss our operating procedures, and it does vary a good bit based upon circumstances, but for this type of event and location, it’s pretty standard,” Agent Glass said. “Now, if the pope and the president were here, things would be significantly different, with each of their respective security details checking things out. You’ll see that at the church wedding and reception. The whole area will be swarming with security people. This is nothing compared to that. And I guarantee you, your actual wedding will attract numerous news crews and paparazzi.”

My stomach did a flip. I was a low-key kind of girl and all that activity, during which I would be front and center, was not appealing. But unfortunately, given the guests, low-profile wasn’t an option for me.

“Anyway, I need to head back to the White House to pick up the first lady,” Agent Glass said. “This is going to be a long shift for me. Once they finish checking over the inn, our screening protocols will be in place for everyone. Oh, and just a heads-up—another agent will be coming later to ask you some questions about the wedding party. Is that okay?”

“Sure.” I pointed at Mom, Amanda and Basia. “Between the four of us, we ought to be able to answer most anything.”

“Great. By the way, we really appreciate you and your family working with us to hold your rehearsal and dinner earlier in the week. The first lady really wanted to attend.”

“No problem. She’s been helpful, so we were more than happy to adjust things so she could come.”

After Amanda walked away, Mom sidled up to me and draped an arm around my shoulders. Her pretty blonde hair was held back by a loose ribbon at her neck. She had a little smudge on her nose and a ridiculously happy expression on her face. My wedding, and all the activities that came with it, were something she’d been dreaming about since the first time she dressed me in a frilly baby dress.

“Thanks for letting me be so involved in the wedding planning, and for inviting Shannon to the rehearsal dinner,” Mom said. “It means a lot to me. I know having the first lady as a guest at your rehearsal dinner adds a layer of extra stress for you.”

A layer of stress was an understatement, but I just shrugged. “It’s okay. Shannon is nice, and I like her. And since you two are friends, it makes sense.”

“We’re lucky she agreed to help. She’s been invaluable with wedding planning advice, especially since her daughter just had a wedding. It blows my mind that your wedding will be even bigger than hers since the pope will be attending.”

I winced. Slash and I had wanted to elope—and sort of had in Brazil—but somehow, we were now having a wedding bigger than the president’s daughter’s. I just hoped it didn’t lead to a worldwide unraveling of the global social construct because I didn’t think I could handle that.

“You know, Lexi, it’s a bit shocking you’re now in social circles that significantly eclipse mine. I can honestly say I didn’t see that coming.”

“Believe me, Mom, that makes two of us.”

Amanda had been the planner for the first family wedding, which was how we ended up hiring her. I’d been on board with a planner mostly because planning a wedding was something I really didn’t want to do.

“By the way, do we have to decorate for the reception?” I asked.

“No, thank goodness. Unlike here at the Bluff House, the hotel handles everything for the reception except the centerpieces and a few special decorative touches, and Amanda has that well in hand.”

“No chair bows?”

“No chair bows. There’s an open bar, music, dancing and—as agreed upon—you and Slash are going to do the first dance. I’m secretly hoping you’ll also do a father/daughter dance.”

“Dad knows dancing isn’t my thing.”

She laughed, her eyes sparkling. “It isn’t his, either, but he’s still going to ask you to dance. Will you say no?”

“If he asks, I’ll dance. But no laughing and no videos.”

“Oh, darling, I promise nothing. Besides, I believe your exceedingly handsome husband will be twirling around the room with his mother in his arms at the same time, so no worries that all eyes will only be on you and your father.”

“Slash is better at dancing than me,” I admitted grudgingly. “But knowing he’ll be out on the dance floor, too, does make me feel better.”

Before Mom could respond, a petite, red-haired young woman dressed in blue jeans and a white blouse bounced into the room, a black tote bag slung over her arm. “Finally, I’m here!” she called out.

“Hey, Gwen,” I said with genuine relief. Another set of hands to decorate meant less for me to do. “You made it.”

She approached Mom and me, beaming with excitement. “Elvis and I just got here. It’stotallyexciting that we had to get cleared by the police and the Secret Service just to get in. They checked our luggage and made us walk through a magnetometer to make sure we didn’t have anything dangerous. I was worried about my nail scissors, but apparently those were okay. I’msogoing to add this whole experience to one of the most exciting things to happen in my life, right next to stopping a protest in a parking lot and getting shot at in the rain forest. Anyway, the Secret Service directed Elvis to drop off our bags and then park the car off in the outer parking lot away from the house. I just checked us into our room. Elvis should be hauling the suitcases upstairs soon.”

Elvis Zimmerman, Gwen’s significant other, was another of my best friends. He was one half of the legendary Zimmerman twins, the original architects of the president’s current electronic network security, and one of the most brilliant people I knew. Elvis’s twin, Xavier, was married to Basia. Xavier hadn’t come yet because he had to work, but he intended to meet us at the church for the rehearsal before we headed back here to Bluff House for the formal dinner.

“To say I’m excited about all of this would be a total understatement.” Gwen gave me an enthusiastic hug. “But I’m ready to work, so tell me what to do. How can I help?”

Like I knew.

---