at the president’s feet. His outstretched hand reminded me I needed to shake it.
“P-p-pleased to meet you.”
“Likewise. We’ve got a wonderful turnout tonight. Cancer research is a cause close to my heart.”
“Mine too. My momma died from breast cancer.”
“I lost my grandmother. Science has made a lot of advances over the last few years, but there’s always room for more. One of my challenges is to make sure we keep pushing forward.”
A man with a camera tapped me on the shoulder. “Ma’am? Would you like a picture?”
With the president? Wow. A second later, I found myself squashed between Nick and the leader of the free world with a big, stupid grin plastered on my face, willing myself not to blink when the flash went off. Apart from meeting Nick, this was the highlight of my year, and now I had plenty of friends to share it with.
“The photos will be on the event website next week,” the man informed me before aiming his camera at the next couple.
One final handshake, and the president moved on too. But I’d met him! That would be something to tell my children about. Children. Oh gosh. In my time with Billy, I’d never wanted any, but with Nick? That was another difficult conversation we’d need to have at some point in the future.
But not tonight. Tonight was all about us, fun, and dinner. We were at a table for eight, with Emmy and her husband, Luke and Mack, and Dan and Jed, he of the wandering hands. I spent half the time talking with Mack about her upcoming wedding. I’d offered to help Bradley with some of the planning as he had so much to do right now, what with renovating Emmy’s house on top of his usual duties.
Amazingly, I managed not to make a fool of myself through all three courses, despite sitting next to the Dark Lord. He still unsettled me, but I no longer quaked in my shoes when he came close. And at least I could copy what cutlery he used. Nevertheless, I breathed a sigh of relief when he went off to talk to people after dessert.
“You look mighty happy tonight,” Emmy said across the now-empty chair.
“How could I not be? I’m with Nick, I just ate chocolate mousse, and I met the freaking president.”
“I’m with you on the chocolate mousse.”
A body sliding into the seat between us interrupted our conversation, and I found myself looking at neat, light brown hair and the back of a man’s tuxedo. His whisper was just loud enough for me to hear.
“Where the fuck are my cigars?”
“In the ugly-arse vase on the sideboard.”
The man sighed. “And why are they in there, Emerson? Do you realise I offered the Japanese ambassador a pickled egg?”
Emmy grinned at him. “I did a good job with those. Did you like the little cupcake cases?”
“No, I did not.”
“Well, I didn’t like having to explain to airport security why I was carrying a jar of the little fuckers in my handbag. Any idea how they got in there?”
Another sigh. “Can we call a truce?”
“Nope. Because I’m better at this than you are. And you just interrupted a conversation.”
The man turned, and I almost fell off my chair when I looked into the face of President Harrison.
“So sorry—Lara, isn’t it?” He smiled, but not the practised pose he used for the press. This one reached those mossy eyes. “I’m afraid you’ve stumbled into the middle of the pickled egg wars.”
What did a person say to that? “Uh, it’s fine. You carry on.”
He leaned towards Emmy. “We’ll finish this later.”
I watched his departing back as Emmy picked up her wine. “Think I need this. He’s plotting something, I know it.”
I pushed my own glass far away. With the conversation I’d just imagined, I’d clearly drunk far too much of it.
Half an hour later, the results of my drinking made themselves known in a different way.
“Where’s the ladies’ room?” I whispered to Nick. He’d come back with a second helping of chocolate mousse for me, and I loved him all the more for it.
“Out that door to the side, and it’s the second or third door on the left.”
“Back in a minute.”
I thought I’d be wobblier on my feet, but I made it to a stall with only one minor stumble and locked myself inside. Good going, Lara. I did my business, and then I heard it. Or rather, heard her. I’d only listened to Katya’s voice that one night, but her