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“No alcohol, sir,” I insisted. “Just bad crab cakes.”

“Where exactly did you go?”

“The Crab Shack,” I mumbled as the smell from the back started attacking me again.

“Really? Roy is going to be real upset to hear his best crab cakes got a car full of folks sick. Are you sure no alcohol was involved?”

“Positive, Officer.”

“Well, I’m going to need you, as the driver, to get out of the car. Are all of you on the list for the event tonight?”

As I climbed out, Basia answered him from the back seat. “Yes, sir, we are, and she’s the bride.” She pointed at me.

The officer pulled out a clipboard and asked, “Name?”

“Lexi Carmichael,” I responded, feeling a lot better being outside the car.

“Well, I don’t smell any alcohol. Of course, it’s hard to smell anything other thanthat.” He pointed to the bag in the back of the car. “Do you have any ID?”

“Yes, sir, it’s in my purse.”

At that moment, he noticed the yellowish wet spot in my lap.

“I can explain,” I offered.

“No, no need,” he said, shaking his head. “We saw you going out. Go on in.”

I climbed back into the car and drove the short distance to the parking lot. Basia didn’t stop laughing from the back seat until we were parked in the outer lot. Walking toward the inn, I noticed that Elvis was carrying the gag bag.

“What do you want me to do with this?” he asked holding it out.

I recoiled as my stomach churned. “Toss it. Bag and all.”

Mom met us as we stumbled in the front door after screening by the stoic Secret Service agents, who never cracked a smile even given our sorry situation. How did they find people like that?

Mom took one look at my pants and started to speak.

I held up a hand stopping her. “No, Mom. Just no. It’s a long story, and I’m going upstairs to change.”

As I walked past her, Basia erupted into laughter again. I shrugged. I didn’t care if she laughed. At least, for once, I had the satisfaction of being the only one of the group not to puke my guts out.

FIVE

Lexi

Itook a quick shower and changed into the clothes I intended to wear for to the church rehearsal before heading back down to the dining room. When I walked into the room, Amanda and my mom sat at one of the tables with a woman in a navy slacks and a white blouse and a dark-haired man in a suit. I didn’t recognize either one of them. Basia and Gwen were also refreshed and happily rearranging flowers while chatting happily, as if the barfing incident hadn’t even happened.

I was totally okay with that.

My mom had been updated on the lunch disaster while I was taking my shower. She waved me over when she spotted me. “Lexi, come here, please.”

Both agents rose and offered their hands. The woman spoke first. “I’m Annie Redoux from the advance team of the Secret Service. I hope it’s not confusing that there are so many of us. I understand you’ve already met Agent Glass. She’ll be the agent with the first lady tonight.”

I shook her hand. “I did, thanks.”

“Great. This is Carmine La Rosa, head of Vatican security. He’ll be at the church and the hotel for the reception venue this weekend. While the pope doesn’t come into until Friday, Carmine wanted to take this opportunity to meet you, so I told him he could tag along.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Carmine said.