First Lady Read Online Free PDF Page B

try and leave all the details to me.”
    She’s not angry. Thank God. Lauren felt relief course through her body. “I love you,” she heard herself say. It was as though the words were coming from someone else’s mouth, but as soon as she heard them, she knew they were true. Wow.
    Dev’s mother laughed softly and smiled. “I know, honey. I love you, too. Don’t you worry about a thing; these things have a way of working out.” Or not. “Are you going to be home next week so I can come visit and get the ball rolling?”
    Lauren’s eyes brightened. “Absolutely. Devlyn will be in and out, but we might be able to corner her for 10 or 15 minutes.”
    Janet nodded smartly, the motion bouncing her thick salt and pepper-colored hair. “I’ll make all the arrangements and see you next week.” She gazed intently at the younger woman. “Lauren, I mean it when I say you shouldn’t worry. I know people are making a terrible fuss, and I’m one of them. But things will be all right. You’ll see.”
    Lauren felt a lump develop in her throat. “Thanks, Janet. “I wonder if Devlyn knows how lucky she truly is.”
    “Of course not!” Janet scoffed. “But don’t worry, honey.” She winked at Lauren. “I’m not above reminding her.”
     
    *   *   *

 
     
Friday, January 21, 2022
     
    DEV SAT IN THE padded lounge chair, watching indulgently as David and Christopher did their best to fend off the splashing of Beth, Ashley, and Aaron. It was a losing battle, but they were having a great time so that’s all that mattered. She glanced over at Lauren, who was sitting near the back wall of the pool area, on the videophone with Wayne, her
New York
publishing agent. Dev could tell by Lauren’s jerky hand motions and her frequent frowns that something was going on with one of her books. She hoped it wasn’t the biography.
    She’s been under too much stress lately, Dev worried silently. Ever since they announced their engagement, the press had been unrelenting, hounding her for interviews, stalking her for photos. This is supposed to be her home, not a trussed-up prison. Tiny lines of tension around Dev’s eyes eased a little when Lauren laughed heartily at something Wayne said, the sweet sound carrying over the children’s squeals of delight.
    On Dev’s swimsuit-covered belly sat a stack of papers Liza had given her to review before tomorrow’s
7:30 a.m.
meetings with 11 Emancipation Party Governors, who were in
Washington
for several rounds of party meetings that would last the entire weekend. Today was also David’s birthday. They hadn’t had time to celebrate last year, when the haze of confusion that surrounded her taking office put every other part of their lives on hold for a while. This year, however, she was bound and determined to do something to mark the occasion. And a family swim was just what the doctor ordered.
    Gremlin was sitting in his own lounge chair, watching the pool festivities and wearing a pair of sunglasses that Ashley had slipped onto his face. The ugly, white dog with black face and ears was as happy as could be, occasionally turning to Devlyn and giving her a short growl, before turning back to people he apparently preferred.   The President found the sight as ridiculous as she did disconcerting. She half-expected the disobedient beast to demand a margarita to go with the bowl of doggy biscuits Christopher had placed within handy reach of the mutt.
    A BBQ in the dead of winter, consisting of burgers, hot dogs and grilled chicken breasts, and salads with all the fixings, had been served up buffet style and Lauren, the Marlowes and the McMillians all had slightly bloated bellies as a testament to their appreciation of the feast. The children were running and splashing and screaming. Dev herself felt like rolling over and taking a nap, and she wondered for the hundredth time what it was about food that revved her children up as if they were on speed.
    She used the pen in her hand to