“C'mon.” Cassidy tugged on her sister's sleeve and motioned for their new friends to follow her. “Let's go check out the tent and make sure the pianos are still in tune.”
Caroline rolled her eyes tolerantly at her sister. “Of course they are. They were last night weren't they?”
“Yeah, but the workers might have shifted them to get the decorations in... I wanna make sure.” Cassidy pulled her sister a few more steps, “C'mon... if there's something wrong with them I need time to fix it.”
“Geez, Cass...” Alyssa's eyes reflected the amusement in her voice. “You act like you're the one getting married.”
That statement stopped Cassidy in her tracks and allowed Caroline to escape her grasp, but then Cassidy just shrugged. “I kinda am. When Andy marries Mom... she'll be part of my family, too.”
“Yeah,” Caroline smiled at the thought. “She really will be our Ma.”
Alan smiled at the expression on Caroline's face and spoke softly, “I think she already is, Ro.”
Alyssa nodded. “Me too.”
Cassidy widened her smile. “Me three!”
Unable to speak, Caroline just nodded her head then she grabbed Cassidy's sleeve while gaining control of her voice. “C'mon, we have to check the pianos.”
They all laughed and practically raced each other out of the hotel.
###
“Oh! Can I have an eight by ten of this one?”
Lara smacked her husband on the shoulder. “Michael Alan Hartstone! This is serious!”
Miranda watched the interplay, somewhat amused at the man's reaction, “So you don't believe the photos clearly showing your wife in bed with my fiancee?”
“Of course not,” Michael laughed, “Whoever did these was good, but Lara wouldn't cheat.” He handed the photo's back to Miranda. “Whoever's body is under those sheets is clearly naked, but it's not Lara.”
Licking her lips, Lara locked her eyes with her husband and handed over another set of pictures, ones that didn't involve sheets. “And what about these?”
Glancing at the naked pictures, Michael's forehead wrinkled. “Why didn't you show me these first?” He flipped through the pictures quickly and shook his head. “Not you.”
Lara leaned against her husband, laying her head on his shoulder. “Thank you, for believing that.”
Kissing the top of his wife's head, Michael assured her. “Of course.”
Miranda nodded. “I too believe that someone has manipulated the photos. Using body doubles would be one way of doing that.”
Michael glanced at the photos again, “She's pretty I guess.” He grinned down at his wife. “But she only wishes she's you.”
Blair watched the interplay and her eyes narrowed. “How do you know it's not her?”
Shrugging at that, Michael spoke matter-of-factly. “No scar.”
“What?” Lara looked at the photos again and groaned. “He's right...” She sighed at her own stupidity. “I was too shocked, and too busy looking at the neck and shoulder areas to see how they'd connected my head, face, to this picture...”
Tracing the area under the woman in the photo's navel, Michael told the other women in the room, “Lara had the twins via Caesarean... she has a scar, just here...”
Miranda sighed. “So now we have eliminated the one person the picture is not...”
“They slipped up.” Andy shook her head, “They were very careful with me though. The double they got was very...”
“Close.” Miranda nodded. “But also not exact.” Reaching for her glasses, Miranda retrieved one of the photos and began to study it without the emotional bias she had viewed them with before. “Andrea, I know you often experiment with accessories, but when do you actually wear toe rings?”
“Ugh,” Andy shivered. “Those things...” Her thought trailed off as she quickly shuffled through the pictures and found the one she was looking for, the one she'd seen last night that looked familiar. Grimacing when she realized why it was familiar, Andy pressed her lips together and squeezed her eyes tightly shut. Miranda was gonna go ballistic.
“Andrea...” Miranda watched her fiancee's shoulders tense and narrowed her eyes. “What is it?”
“I, um... haven't worn toe rings for a few years.” She looked up at the expectant faces and sighed. “Not since Paris...that, Paris.” She swallowed hard at the expression on Miranda's face and pointed to the picture, admitting, “I recognize this room, background...” She focused on Miranda as she informed them. “It's Christian Thompson's room.” The teasing comment she'd made last night came back to Andy full force as Miranda did indeed look, murderous. “But they may have just gotten the same room for the photos...”
“And the toe ring?” Miranda handed over the picture in question.
Andy looked at it closely and shook her head, relieved. “It's not mine... I've never owned one like that, nor would I... it's tacky. Mine were always simple.” She spoke a bit more. “I'm just glad it's not really me. I, seriously, hate the idea of people taking my picture without me knowing it. Paparazzi included.”
“So,” Blair spoke up, “We know there were at least three other women involved. Because that is definitely my face, but...not, my body. Whether the women knew what they were doing or not is still in question. There is at least one photographer, and possibly another person able to manipulate the photos, if the photographer can't...” She shook her tawny brown hair. “This is starting to sound like a conspiracy.”
Miranda's nostrils flared as she put the pieces together, “Blair, contact the private investigators and tell them to concentrate their efforts on, Irving Ravitz, Jacqueline Follet...and Christian Thompson.”
“Miranda?” Andy didn't doubt that those two would do a lot to undermine Miranda professionally, but personally? And yeah, it was the room Christian had, but it the photos could have been taken after he'd left, long after really. Who knows how often that hotel updated their rooms?
“Think about it, Andrea. Access to models, access to photographers... access to digital manipulation equipment... and most importantly...” Miranda paused for them all to think about that before adding, “and access to a hotel room in Paris.”
Blair nodded. “French Runway.” She pulled out her phone and hit the contact number for the P.I.'s. Standing from her seat she, held the phone to her ear and headed for the next room, “I'll just let them know what's going on.”
Miranda smiled at the man in the room. “I must congratulate you, Michael. Your wife and son saved the day yesterday, and today you seem to have been the voice of reason that gave us the breakthrough we needed to solve this mystery.”
He grinned. “Well, I'm a pretty simple man. I know what I know and I know my wife wouldn't do anything like that.” He pointed to the pictures. Grinning at the charismatic woman, Michael winked. “Just let me know when you need the bodies to disappear.” He suffered another smack from Lara and asked, “What? I'm always pouring a foundation somewhere...”
Miranda laughed at the suggestion, some of the tension in her shoulders easing. “I must say the image of Christian Thompson being covered in quick drying cement like a statue in a cartoon makes me smile.” She grinned at the man. “I'll let you know.”
“Miranda!” Andy wasn't all that sure Miranda was kidding.
Michael and Lara chuckled, and Lara spoke. “Okay... well things seem to be moving right along here so... I think we need to go see what our children have gotten into.”
Nodding at that, Miranda agreed, “I should probably do the same.” There was no telling what kind of mischief the children had found this morning.
Andy nodded. “I'm gonna wait until Blair gets off the phone and then, I.. um... have some stuff to do. I still need to shower, for one.”
Miranda sighed and nodded. “Don't forget and wash your hair... use the dry shampoo Terry gave you.”
“Yes, Miranda.” Andy grinned. She kissed Miranda and hugged her tightly. “I'll see you at lunch, okay?”
“Of course.”
###
“Wow,” Dorothy looked around the interior of the tent. “This is great.”
“It is quite lovely,” Tante sat in the first available seat as she examined the decorations.
“You alright, luv?” Natalie worried about her older relative.
“I'm fine.” The older woman looked at the greenery and smiled. “Miranda's going to be very pleased.”
Pava nodded, “Andy's gonna love it too...” Of course, Pava knew as well as any of them that neither Andy nor Miranda would care a bit about what the place looked like. They would only have eyes for each other anyway. Pava knew that, because if she had ever gotten the chance to marry Mary, she wouldn't have cared one whit about the place where she got to do it.
“I think it's beautiful,” Mary took a deep breath, “and very peaceful, with the water sculptures and music.”
Until Mary had mentioned it they hadn't noticed the music playing softly, it fit so well with the surroundings. Walking further into the tent, they saw the pianos at the front, tucked tastefully into the greenery. Cassidy was sitting at one of the instruments playing softly, and the other children were standing next to the wall of the tent, watching her.
Cassidy saw the adults approaching and smiled at them as she continued to play for a few moments. She let the music become softer and fade out almost on its own before she took her hands away from the piano keys.
“That was nice, Darlin'” Pava grinned at the young girl.
The protest that it was just some twiddles died on her lips and Cassidy nodded, “Thanks.” She turned to Caroline and asked, “Did you get it?”
Holding up a small recording device, Caroline nodded, “Yeah.”
Pava narrowed her eyes at the girls. “What are you two up to?” Her Trouble-Meter went deep into the red when both girls looked at her with oh-so-innocent eyes and spoke in unison.
“Nothing, Gram.”
Tante chuckled, and Natalie grinned. “Looks familiar doesn't it?”
“Oh yes.” The oldest among them informed the youngest, “Your mother and Natalie used to look and say that exact same thing. It would usually turn out that 'nothing' was in fact, most definitely, something.”
Caroline laughed. “We're just finishing up on a gift for Mom and Andy. It's nothing anyone else will ever see.” She looked at Gram Sachs. “The project you were helping us with... it's private, for Mom and Andy only.”
“Yep...” Pava nodded, “They're going to love it. Even if I don't know exactly what all it entails.”
“Whoops,” Alyssa spoke up as she looked down at her phone screen. “Mom and Dad are looking for us.” She looked around at the company she was in and grinned as she sent a quick text back to her parents, well her Mom at least. “They're coming here.”
Caroline and Cassidy pulled their simultaneously buzzing phones from their pockets and nodded to their friends. Cassidy spoke for them. “Mom is too.”
Beginning to get nervous about the impending ceremony, Caroline looked at her sister, “Let's practice again.”
Cassidy shrugged. “Sure,” Placing her hands on the keyboard in front of her, Cassidy assured her sister, “But you're gonna do fine.” She began the song and Caroline jumped in after, as she always had in their practices.
After a few moments, they got to one of the trickier parts of the piece and Caroline, again, flubbed that section. She stopped playing and hid her face in her hands. “I'm never going to get this right!”
Mary cleared her throat and tentatively stepped forward. “Um...” She moved toward Caroline and gestured to the bench the girl was sitting on. “May I sit?”
“Oh.. uh.. sure...” Caroline slid over a bit and smiled as Mary sat down next to her. “But, um... you play?”
Mary blushed as Pava chuckled, “Yes, Darlin'... Mary plays.”
“Actually,” Mary stood quickly, “I don't need to sit...”
“No...” Caroline gestured her back, “... if you can help.”
“I can, but I don't need to sit.” Mary motioned the girl to resume her place in the middle of the bench. She stood behind Caroline and put her hands on the girl's shoulders. “Can you guys start again? From the top?”
Cassidy nodded and glancing at Caroline, began the song. Caroline jumped in on the second note and tried to keep up.
Mary nodded as she felt the tension in Caroline's controlled motions. “Okay.. stop.”
She walked over to Cassidy and put her hands on Cassidy's shoulders. “Start again, from the beginning...” She saw Cassidy nod and after a glance at her sister began, again followed by Caroline. Mary nodded to herself at the marked lack of tension in Cassidy's shoulders. At the same point that she did before, Mary called a halt to the exercise and walked back to Caroline. Once her hands were in place on the girl's shoulders, Mary spoke again. “One more time, from the beginning, but this time” she added, “Caroline... you start.”
“Me?”
Looking down into the girl's wide eyes, Mary nodded. “Yes... you.”
“Okay...” Glancing at her sister, she counted off and began. This time Cassidy came in on the second note.
Mary grinned as the tension she felt under her fingertips was much less than she previously detected. When they approached the first place that Caroline had flubbed earlier, Mary slowly bit her bottom lip and withdrew her hands. They made it through that section with no mistakes, and Mary smiled at the astonished look on Caroline's face as the girls continued to play the entire piece, flawlessly.
“Wow!” Caroline turned to Mary. “How'd you do that?!”
Mary grinned at the girl. “I noticed it before, when we were at your house in New York. When you come in on the second note, you get a little frantic... right?” She nodded when Caroline did.
“Yeah, I feel like I have to hurry and catch up.”
“Mmmhmmm, I thought so.” Mary shrugged a little bit, “When you start first, you aren't so frantic. It helps you relax and think more about the music, instead of trying to catch up.”
“But...” Cassidy clarified her sister's earlier question. “How did you know to do that?”
Mary chuckled, “I haven't always owned a B&B.” She took a deep breath. She had wanted to say something back then, but at the time she hadn't been sure she had the right to say anything. Now, with them calling her 'grandma' and treating her so much like family, she decided that her help was welcome. “Once upon a time I actually gave piano lessons.”
“Once upon a time, Darlin', you were a fantastic piano player.” Pava gazed at Mary with undisguised affection. “You were the best and I'll bet you still are.”
“Play for us.” Caroline stood and gestured to the bench, “Please?”
“Oh... I don't think...”
“Please,” Cassidy joined her sister and they turned on every ounce of Priestly charm they could muster. “Play for us, Grandma Mary.”
Considering it for a moment longer, Mary sighed and sat down on the bench, “I haven't played for quite a while...” at least not for an audience. “I'm very rusty.”
“That's okay...” Cassidy smiled and encouraged the woman. “We don't mind rusty...”
Laying her hands on the keyboard, Mary thought for a moment then began to play. She concentrated on her hands, on the keys, but didn't miss Pava's slight gasp when the other woman recognized the tune. It wasn't very long. Most songs from their day either seemed much shorter than the normal song today, or they tended to last a great deal longer. When she stopped playing, Mary smiled at the applause and turned to Pava just in time to see the woman casually wipe a tear away.
Cassidy slid onto the bench next to Mary. “That was great! What song was it?” The girl began to play, recreating the melody easily. “I don't think I've ever heard it before.”
Mary was stunned, “You're playing it... after only hearing it once??”
“Yeah.” Caroline rolled her eyes as she typed on her iPhone. “She's disgusting that way.”
“I thought it was lovely.” Natalie smiled at the older American woman.
Tante nodded. “Yes, I always did enjoy Patti Page's voice.”
Pava nodded, finally finding her voice. “Yep.” She looked at Cassidy. “The song is called “Changing Partners”.” Turning to Mary, Pava smiled.
Caroline was still typing into her iPhone quickly and she grinned. “Got it. Patti Page, Changing Partners on YouTube.” Holding her phone out so her sister could hear. They all saw the grainy black and white video begin to play.
We were waltzing together... to a dreamy melody when they called out change partners and you waltzed away from me.
Now my arms feel so empty as I gaze around the floor and I'll keep on changing partners til I hold you once more.
Though we danced for one moment and too soon we had to part, in that wonderful moment something happened to my heart. So I'll keep changing partners til you're in my arms and then oh my darling I will never change partners again.
They were all totally silent as their eyes went from the small screen to Mary and Pava who only had eyes for each other.
Mary swallowed hard and broke the silence. “It was the only song I could think of. It's kind of been stuck in my head lately...”
“Well it's a good one.” Pava nodded. “And it was perfect.”
“It certainly fits the romantic theme for the day.” Miranda approached along with Lara and her husband. “I for one am not changing partners again.”
Everyone turned to see three new arrivals in the tent. Miranda smiled, “Thank you for introducing my daughters to some of the more, classic, music available.”
Rolling her eyes at that, Cassidy grinned wickedly and began to play a different song. Caroline laughed and began dancing with Alan and Alyssa.
Lara winced as her children began to dance and sing along with the music, “Um... kids.. I'm not sure you want to be doing that right now.” She glanced at Miranda's narrowed eyes and edged away from the older woman, tugging her husband with her. “That's not...”
“C'mon, Mom!” Alyssa laughed, “Vogue with us! You love Madonna!”
“Caiside!”
Cassidy stopped playing immediately. The sudden silence in the tent made them all freeze. Cassidy turned to her mother, wide-eyed with fright. Miranda never called her by her true given name unless she was extremely upset. In fact, Cassidy had only heard her mother utter that name twice before, and both of those times had been exceedingly stressful. “Sorry, Mom...”
Miranda took a deep breath. “No apologies from you. I, overreacted.”
Natalie moved next to her sister, wrapping her arm around Miranda's waist. “You alright?”
Returning the embrace. Miranda nodded, “I am agitated, because Andrea is stressed. She is still struggling with her vows and I fear her tension will only increase as the time before the ceremony shortens.”
“We need to help her relax then...” Pava looked at Miranda, “What does she do to relax?”
Miranda's eyes closed then slowly reopened as she focused on Pava. She kept her voice low and even, but a bit of smoke entered the tone. “Nothing we currently have time for.”
Chuckling at that, Pava shook her head. “No... I suppose not.”
Glancing around at the shocked looks those who had heard the comment were displaying, Miranda explained, derailing their minds from the innuendo. “Often her runs take several hours, when she is tense, and she has already taken a run today.” Continuing her comments, Miranda sighed, “Time is growing short, and she will still have to prepare for the ceremony, which shortens her useable time considerably.”
“Hmmm.” Pava glanced at Mary, “Maybe she could listen to soothing music in the background... while she's writing?”
Miranda shook her head, “She has tried that, many times. She can't listen to music and write at the same time.”
A small exasperated sound drew everyone's attention to Emily.
“What is it, Emily?”
“Apologies, Miranda, but some of your guests are arriving and there is some sort of mix up with the reservations.” Emily shook her head as she looked at her phone screen. “God, these people...” Glancing around she quickly scanned the gathered faces. “Excuse me while I go try to sort it all out.”
Nodding at that, Miranda squeezed Natalie's arm, that was still around her, and patted it for release. “I will accompany you, Emily.” Also looking around at the assembled people, Miranda smiled. “There are no plans for an organized lunch, so if I do not see you before, I will see you at the ceremony.” Accepting the nods and smiles as acknowledgment, Miranda walked down the aisle and out of the tent, followed closely by Emily.
###
The general manager, who had taken over for the desk clerk five minutes into Emily's rant, nodded. “Yes...” He turned to Miranda, “We're very sorry for the mix up and apologize for any inconvenience your guests may have encountered.”
Miranda waved off the standard apology. “So long as it doesn't happen again.”
“No,” The GM shook his head. “It will not happen again.”
“Mmmm...” Her mind wasn't really on the situation. Emily had it well in hand. In fact, Miranda had been a bit impressed by the woman's tirade. As soon as her former assistant had begun, Miranda had known the situation would be handled fairly quickly. Her mind turned to the problem with Andrea and she sighed to herself. There was something that she knew of that might help Andrea calm down. It was to be a surprise during their honeymoon, but now, Miranda supposed, would be as good a time as any to give one of Andrea's smaller presents to her.
“Ms. Priestly...” The general manager spoke up, “If you would, come with me to the safe.” He checked his watch. “You requested your rings be retrieved at this time.”
“Oh, yes...” Miranda nodded and also glanced at her watch, “I appreciate the reminder.” Before she followed the man, Miranda stopped Emily. “Emily, contact Nigel and tell him to meet me in the manager's office then go to my room and take the wrapped present on the nightstand next to the bed to Andrea in her room.” She loved the efficiency of Emily's immediate nod even as she texted Nigel with the appropriate message. “Tell her not to wait to open it. She needs it now, to relax.”
Emily's curiosity overrode the normal censorship between her brain and mouth and she broke her own cardinal rule, asking, “What is it?”
Pausing for a moment, Miranda took a deep breath, licked her lips and smirked. “Her porn.”
###
Andy looked at the words she'd typed on the screen for a half second and growled in frustration. Highlighting it all she hit delete and began again. She couldn't believe she had waited this long to do this, but the words just wouldn't come, weren't right. A soft knock on the door interrupted her train of thought. “What now?” she muttered and crossed the room to answer the summons. She had come here, to the room she was supposed to have stayed in last night, to get away from people. She wasn't even sure who knew she was here, besides Miranda. Throwing the safety lock on the door, Andy opened it slightly, “Yes?”
“Andrea.. really...”
“Em?”
“Me too, Andy.” Lily shoved the redhead aside to be seen through the crack in the door.
Closing the door, Andy unlatched the lock and opened it wide. “What are you two doing here?”
Emily answered primly. “I'm here at Miranda's request.” Handing over a small package, Emily continued her haughty explanation. “Miranda said you were tense and that this DVD would help you... relax.”
“What?” Andy took the wrapped package, confused. “What is it?”
Lily giggled and jumped up and down, “She said it was... porn!” The dark girl laughed at the expression on Andy's face. “I heard her say it...” She mock-imitated her friend's common protest. “I don't like strippers...” Laughing, Lily shook her finger at Andy. “You are SO busted...”
Laughing at Lily's antics and at the very idea of Miranda sending her a pornographic DVD, Andy shook her head. “What?”
“C'mon, girlfriend...” Lily practically pushed Andy back into the room. “Open it... and let's get to watchin'!”
Emily made a small sound of disgust and turned to leave when Serena, followed quickly by Doug, and then Andy's brother, of all people, arrived.
Andy looked up to see her once quiet sanctuary become Grand Central in a matter of ten seconds. “What are you all doing here?”
Most of them held up their cell phones or nodded, as Chad spoke for them. “Lily texted us.”
At that moment Dorothy walked through the still open door along with Josie and Daniel. Andy widened her eyes and felt her cheeks burning. She fumed at Lily. “You texted my mother!?”
Lily looked sheepish and shrugged. “I guess I just sent out a sort of blanket thing...I was so excited.”
“You were eavesdropping!” Emily crossed her arms and glared at Lily's antics.
Waving off that accusation, Lily shrugged. “I saw you yelling at the desk clerk and wanted to know what was up.”
“What is this about porn?” Dorothy shook her head.
“Well I'm certain Miranda didn't think I'd have an audience when I opened it!” Andy glared at Lily. Her million watt smile appeared as a distinctive chuckle sounded from the door.
“I most certainly did not.”
Andy laughed as the crowd parted like the Red Sea to allow Miranda through the room, Nigel following closely behind. She held up the package. “What is this?”
Amused blue eyes held Andrea's gaze for a moment before Miranda, turned a cold gaze toward Lily then licked her lips and smiled. “Exactly what I told Emily it was... it's your porn.”
Narrowing her eyes at the “your” distinction, Andy slowly opened the package. When she saw the title, her eyes closed and she pressed her lips together, tightly, trying not to laugh. She managed to speak two words, “My favorite!” before she burst into a fit of laughter. Tossing the DVD on the bed, Andy stood and hugged Miranda tightly. “I love you!” She was severely conscious of her mother's presence though and refrained from kissing Miranda.
Lily pounced on the movie. Her frustrated sound drew all their attention away from the hugging couple. “What's this??”
Andy never took her eyes off Miranda's face, but laughed softly and answered Lily's question. “My porn.”
Chad rolled his eyes and moved to take the disc case from Lily. He laughed and grinned at his sister and his almost sister-in-law as he read the case. “Steel Magnolias?”
Closing her eyes, Andy hummed deep in the back of her throat, “Mmmm... Olympia Dukakis.”
Miranda grinned and teased, “Careful now...” She rested her forehead against Andrea's and spoke quietly, “I had thought we could watch it together, at some point during the next two weeks.”
“A movie night...” Andy hugged Miranda tighter. “That sounds fantastic!”
Lily sighed, “Geez... movie night? On your honeymoon?!” She shook her head sadly, but grinned as she spoke. “You two really are just an old married couple aren't you?”
Andy's eyes crinkled at the corners, and never left Miranda's gaze. “You bet we are.”
“Okay, fine...I guess what you choose to do on your honeymoon is up to you...” Lily stood up from the bed and grabbed Chad by the collar and Doug by the arm, dragging out of the room. “C'mon Blondie...Dougie. Let's go see what kind of trouble we can get into.”
Andy grinned as Dorothy followed them quickly. They heard her admonishing Lily.
“Don't you dare corrupt my son!”
Andy laughed and informed the remaining people in the room, “Chad is far from innocent!”
“Much like his sister?” Miranda smirked.
“Yeah...” Andy grinned. Now that her mother was gone, she had no qualms about kissing Miranda. Shifting closer, slowly, she spoke quietly finishing exactly when their lips touched. “Just like me.”
Moaning softly into the contact, Miranda returned the kiss wholeheartedly, letting their audience fade out of her consciousness. For a long moment, no one else in the world existed, except for Andrea.
When they finally had to break the kiss, Andy looked around at her empty hotel room. “Check it out... we scared them away.”
Miranda glanced around the room then mumbled, “Good,” before wrapping her arms around Andrea's neck and moving in to resume their previous action.
Grinning at that, Andy walked Miranda toward the bed and managed to murmur in the space between kisses, “Very good.”
###
Serena ran her hands from Emily's shoulders to her elbows. “You need a break.”
“No time.” Emily sighed and then steeled herself for the tasks ahead, “I still have several things to do before I can begin to get ready for the ceremony.” Giving in to the comfort, Emily leaned into Serena, savoring the long arms around her for a moment before the sound of the hotel's main door opening pulled her attention away. Shifting away from her girlfriend, Emily straightened her clothing slightly then walked forward to meet the new arrivals. Her voice was stern, impressing on the people their extreme luck at being here today, “The press has a space specifically for interviews. You are not to deviate from that area, at all. If you are found harassing any of the guests outside the interview area you will be summarily ejected from the ceremony, reception, hotel, and possibly the island. Is that clear?”
All the reporters present nodded.
“Very well,” Emily glanced at the small crowd and nodded, “There will be a few more press representatives arriving soon, so check in then return here in one hour. Bring your invitations and I will show you to the press area. Do not try to interview anyone between now and then.”
Nodding at the rest of the instructions, the reporters grabbed their cameramen and rushed the front desk. The first to get their rooms meant the first to get out and scour the hotel, Emily's instructions or not, they were all going to be snooping and taking behind the scenes pictures and video footage every chance they got.
“Is it wise to allow them here?” Serena watched the gaggle of reporters vying for the desk clerk's attention.
Emily shrugged. “It's news. One of the biggest social events this year. Miranda thought it was best to at least minimally control who was here, so she had me send invitations. No one can get in, to the ceremony or reception, even to the press area, without an invitation.” She checked her watch, “Speaking of which, I need to review some details with the security people.”
Serena smiled and nodded. Leaning forward she kissed Emily's cheek lightly, “Please remember to eat a bite of something around lunchtime.” She knew Emily would be busy for the time remaining between now and the ceremony, but the woman would have to return to their room in order to dress for the ceremony. “I will see you back in the room, later.”
“Thank you, for being so...” Emily had no idea how to express her gratitude for Serena's support. The kindness and understanding that seemed to flow from Serena to her had always made Emily feel better, but now, knowing that Serena cared for her as more than a friend, the emotions were often breathtaking. Shaking her head, Emily smiled and shrugged again. “Just, thank you.”
Serena smiled and nodded once, then watched as Emily walked away to do her job. A phrase floated through her head, one she'd never allowed herself to think before, given Emily's attitude about relationships. But she had heard Andy whisper a version of it to Caroline earlier and now she couldn't help thinking it as she watched Emily go. I'm going to marry her.