First Lady Read Online Free PDF

“I’m sorry you have to do this alone. Mom’s probably peeved that we haven’t talked to her about any of the details yet.” There was no “probably” about it. Dev’s father had warned her a few days ago.
    “We don’t know any!”
    “I know that,” Dev replied reasonably. “And you know that. Now you just have to tell my mother that. What can I do to make it up to you?”
    Lauren sighed as she looked into guilt-ridden eyes. “I’m sorry. I guess your job makes it impossible to make this small and simple, huh?” It was a rhetorical question, but Dev nodded anyway.
    Lauren melted under Dev’s gaze. “You’re lucky I’m so in love with you.”
    Dev smiled, recognizing Lauren’s surrender. “I know.”
    “I’ll try to be more understanding. And I’ll call your mom this afternoon as planned, don’t worry.”
    “Thank you,” she said sincerely, knowing that Janet loved Lauren completely and that the younger woman would be subject to far less grief than she herself would.
    “But if you want to bring me back a present from Detroit , I won’t complain.”
    “Sure. I can probably get a Chevy in my suitcase.” Devlyn leaned forward and kissed Lauren.
    “Devlyn?” she muttered against soft lips.
    “Mmm?” Dev kissed her again.
    “Make it a red ‘Vette.”
     
    *   *   *
     
    Lauren looked at the phone on her desk, contemplating the device as she held her head between her hands. Finally she sighed, “Call Janet Marlowe.”
    The phone rang three times and then Janet’s hologram appeared. “Hello, sweetheart.” She smiled fondly, the motion creasing the skin around her mouth and eyes. “How is my favorite daughter-in-law-to-be today?”
    Lauren’s smile was wan. “Well, I’m here.” She paused, not wanting to deliver the news, but seeing no way around it. “ Which is more than I can say for that good for nothing Devlyn. ”
    Janet glanced around with narrowed eyes. “Lord help me. That girl will be the death of me yet! What has Devil done now? Do I need to come over there?”
    Lauren laughed. The image of the President’s mother storming into the White House with a wooden spoon in her hand, ready to strike, was an image she wouldn’t soon forget. If there were one person in the world that could do it, it would be Janet Marlowe. “No, you don’t need to come over. Devlyn had to go to Detroit today. That’s why she’s not here.”
    Janet frowned at the look on Lauren’s face. “We’ll manage without her, dear. How much help do you think she was really going to be anyway? And when she ends up wearing a light pink ‘poofy’ dress she won’t be able to say a single word about it. Not one.”
    Janet grinned and Lauren’s eyes widened a little. It was an evil little grin that reminded her very much of someone she loved. Oh, boy.
    “I’m assuming we have a date to work with.” It wasn’t really a question, but Janet’s tone was more gently prodding than angry.
    “That’s the good news.”
    Janet waited, but Lauren just looked at her, not saying another word. After a few oddly silent moments Janet said, “Um, dear, usually when someone says there’s good news, that means there’s bad news to go along with it.”
    “That is the way it usually goes, isn’t it?” Lauren chewed on her lower lip and girded her mental loins. “The bad news is that we only have six months to put the wedding together. But with Devlyn’s schedule it’s the only good time. I swear,” she blurted out. Six months sounded like plenty of time to her, but Michael Oaks had nearly had a stroke when she told him the date they’d selected. She chuckled inwardly, admitting that that part had been sort of fun.
    Janet snorted. “Don’t worry about that. I’ve already gotten calls from every wedding planner on the planet. All we need to do is decide which one to use. Then I’ll have a little more help,” her blue eyes twinkled, “and I won’t have to hurt you and Devlyn, who I just know are going to