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  The Splendora sisters? What were they doing here?

  “Bella!” Twila extended her arms. “Come and give me a hug, honey-bun.”

  I gave Agent O’Conner a “What in the world?” look and he grinned. “We ran background checks on these three weeks ago. An informant tipped us off that they might make an appearance.”

  “An informant?”

  “Your husband, Mrs. Neeley. Your husband. He said they like to come and go from Club Wed.”

  “Oh, we do.” Jolene giggled. “We come to Club Wed. . .a lot.”

  “And we hate to go,” Bonnie Sue added. “It’s always so hard to leave.”

  “And to think, we met this wonderful young man.” Twila gave O’Conner an admiring smile then pinched his cheek. “He was just telling us about his wife and kids. Did you know he’s got twins, too, Bella?”

  I looked at O’Conner, stunned. “You do?”

  “Yeah.” He pulled out photos and I had to laugh when I saw they were both girls.

  “We have more in common than we knew.” Strange, how the Splendora sisters had managed to get this much out of him, though. Then again, they had a gift for drawing information out of people.

  O’Conner started telling a story about his kids. Just a couple minutes into the tale, Victoria arrived, dressed in a gorgeous designer dress, beautiful heels and perfect hair and makeup. What a shame, that Beau would never get to see her all dolled up on her wedding rehearsal night. O’Conner startled to attention and put the pictures of his kids away and excused himself to join the other agents outside. I thought Twila, Bonnie Sue and Jolene would take the hint and follow him, but they stayed put.

  Victoria gave me a little wave and walked toward us. “Hey, Bella.”

  “Victoria!” I walked over and gave her a hug. “It’s rehearsal day.”

  “Yes.” She offered a strained smile. “Rehearsal day.”

  Jolene took a couple of steps toward Victoria, her finger outstretched. “Why, I’d know you anywhere. You’re that pretty young thing who’s gonna marry our senator, Beauregard DeVine. I’ve seen you on TV. And I saw him on the news just this morning. Is this the big day?”

  “Tomorrow,” Victoria said. “It’s such a shame that he’s got the debate tonight and will have to miss the wedding rehearsal. But we’ll do the best we can without him.”

  “Oh, Bella!” Bonnie Sue clamped a hand over her mouth. “Is this the big surprise wedding you couldn’t tell us about? The one that was so hush-hush?” She giggled. “Guess the cat’s out of the bag now, eh?”

  “Where have you been, Bonnie Sue?” Twila rolled her eyes. “It’s been all over the news for two days, ever since that reporter fella got arrested.” She looked at Victoria. “He didn’t do you any harm, did he, sweet girl?”

  “No. I never even saw him. He was outside of the window.”

  “Trying to sneak in, I dare say.” Twila fanned herself. “Terrible antics. Those reporters will do anything for a story. Ask me how I know.”

  “How do you know?” Victoria asked.

  “I’m the mayor of Splendora. And the paparazzi drove me crazy during my run for office.”

  “Paparazzi.” Bonnie Sue rolled her eyes. “Puh-leeze. One lame reporter from the Splendora Gazette is hardly paparazzi.”

  “Well, anyway, the whole thing put such a strain on my nerves. And don’t even get me started on the toll it took on my marriage. Running for office ain’t for sissies. A hundred percent of it was my doing. I got a little, um, shall we say. . .”

  “Puffed up,” Bonnie Sue chimed in. “Her head blew up bigger than her backside and I think we can all agree that’s a tremendous amount of inflation.”

  Victoria clamped a hand over her mouth, likely to keep from laughing.

  “You’re a fine one to talk, Bonnie Sue.” Twila put her hands on her ample hips and glared at her friend. “Did you or did you not tell me just this very morning that you put on ten pounds over the holiday season?”

  “Nine pounds, but that’s beside the point.” Bonnie Sue rolled her eyes. “At any rate, Twila thought she was all that and a bag of chips,”

  “Ooo, chips.” Jolene licked her lips. “But Twila can’t deny it’s true. For a while there she started to believe her own press.”

  Twila released a sigh. “I guess what they’re trying to say here is, I went through a season where I let my ego run away with me. But I have since repented. And God has not only given me the job of mayor, He’s managed to strengthen my relationship with my hubby. And I dare say he’ll give you a strong marriage too.”

  “Can I ask a question?” Victoria’s forehead wrinkled as she spoke. “Woman to woman?”

  “Well sure, honey.”

  “When you were running for office, did your emotions go up and down like a roller-coaster?”

  “Every day! My emotions ran hot and cold,” Twila explained. “When I thought I might win, I was happy and carefree. When I suspected I might lose, I became sullen and cross. I let the process dictate my emotions.”

  “That’s exactly what’s happening now. Poor Beau. The polls are out and his numbers are down, so he’s plummeted into despair. Our wedding is tomorrow. We should be the happiest two people on the planet. I’m starting to think. . .” She paused. “I’m starting to think we should post-pone the wedding until after he wins. . .or loses.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, he’s got my vote.” Jolene said. “I’m as conservative as they come.”

  “Unless you count her Lady Clairol hair coloring and that crazy low-cut blouse she wore to the Christmas banquet at church. It was anything but conservative.” Bonnie Sue gave her a knowing look. “And some would argue that your hot pink lip-liner borders on liberal, too.”

  “I do not have liberal lip-liner.” Jolene put her hands on her hips.

  “Do too,” Bonnie Sue countered.

  “Do not,” Jolene argued. She reached in her purse and came out with her compact, which she flipped open. Seconds later, she was examining her lips.

  At this point, Twila stepped between them. “Ladies, this is Victoria’s wedding rehearsal day and nothing is going to spoil it.”

  “Not even a missing groom?” the bride asked, her countenance sad.

  “Not even a missing groom.” Twila looped her arm through Victoria’s. “Now come with me, you pretty thing. Let’s get you to the chapel on time. And don’t you fret. I have it on good authority—she pointed up to the ceiling—that the Lord is about to perform a miracle.”

  That certainly got my attention. If Twila believed God was going to perform a miracle. . .well, I wanted to be a first-hand witness.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Because You Loved Me

  My brother Bob doesn't want to be in government - he promised Dad he'd go straight.

  John F. Kennedy

  On the night of the wedding rehearsal everyone showed up. . .except the groom. Okay, so we knew in advance he wouldn’t be there, what with the big debate on CBS that same night. He was right where any Presidential candidate would be on such a night—with his opponents bickering over the finer points of how to save the country from ruin. Only, I had a feeling his absence wouldn’t exactly save his bride-to-be’s heart from pain.

  At seven o’clock we started by getting the wedding party in place—the groomsmen would enter from the front and the bridesmaids from the back. But first I had to give instructions to the grandparents, parents, flower girl and ring bearer. It took a few minutes to situation everyone, but by seven fifteen we were ready to do our first run-through. Twila took it upon herself to help with the children while Bonnie Sue busied herself gabbing with the parents of the bride. Jolene worked with D.J. and Armando in the sound booth. Or maybe she just wanted to hang out with O’Conner, who seemed to be enjoying her antics.

  At the very last minute, though, something occurred to me. “I usually have someone stand in for the bride,” I explained. “But in this case, maybe it’d make more sense to have someone stand i
n for the groom.”

  Victoria’s father offered to do so, but she nixed that idea. “Feels too weird—marrying my own dad. Any other takers?”

  “I’ll do it.” The best man raised his hand. “Beau’s my best friend. I don’t think he’d mind.”

  I somehow managed to get the entire wedding party through the process of moving into place in front of the pastor, though my focus kept shifting back and forth from the bride-to-be to the Secret Service guys at the back. One of them—the guy with the mole—was leaning over the soundboard, querying D.J. about something.

  Focus, Bella. Focus!

  I shifted my attention back to Victoria and the bridal party. “Okay, pastor. . .now it’s your turn. Do your thing.”

  He led them through the ceremony, all smiles. Just about the time he got to the “you may now kiss the bride” part, a voice rang out from the back of the chapel.

  “I’ll take over now if you don’t mind. Don’t think I want my best friend kissing my girl.”

  We all turned to discover the groom had arrived, looking a bit disheveled.

  Victoria let out a squeal. “Beau-Beau! You made it!”

  “I made it.”

  At this point the whole room came alive. Victoria’s parents looked stunned. For that matter, so did Beau’s mother, who had been relatively silent. Bonnie Sue and Jolene did a happy dance and Twila stood at the front of the room, arms lifted in praise. “I knew it!” she hollered. “Praise the Lord! I knew a miracle was on its way. Thank You, Jesus. You’ve answered our prayers!”

  He’d answered them, all right, but I still didn’t understand.

  The happy bride rushed down the aisle toward her groom and gave him half a dozen kisses, then stopped suddenly. “Wait. . .what about the debate?”

  “Debate? What debate?” He winked. “Who needs a little old debate, anyway? They’re highly overrated.”

  “Are you saying you skipped it?”

  He nodded. “Yep. I skipped it. Caught a flight back to Texas instead.” He glanced my way and shrugged. “Bella, do you mind if I say a little something before we carry on with the rehearsal?”

  “Please,” I said. “Be my guest.”

  He gestured for the others to take a seat and then stood at the front of the room. Even the pastor took a seat, now looking more like a congregant ready to hear a sermon.

  And what a sermon it turned out to be. Beau started by apologizing to his bride for nearly ruining their wedding rehearsal. Then he apologized to everyone in attendance for letting his political ambitions get in the way of his personal life.

  Out of the corner of my eye I watched as Twila listened to his every word, tears streaming from her eyes.

  After making apologies, Beau gestured for Victoria to join him at the front of the room. “I think I’ve been trying to prove something to myself.” His words were directed at her, but he spoke loud enough for all to hear.

  “What’s that, baby?” she asked.

  “That I’m a winner.” He paused and his expression grew sad. “My whole life I felt like I was never good enough.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean some people. . .always saw me as a loser.”

  His mother stood and faced him head-on. “You’re talking about your father, aren’t you?”

  Beau nodded. “Yes. And even though he’s been gone over ten years, I’ve been trying to prove something to him. His admiration and respect was all I really craved. But it occurred to me today, no matter how hard I try, even if I win the ultimate prize and sit in the Oval Office, he won’t be there to witness it. And you know what? It’s not really his love I need, anyway.” He turned to face Victoria. “It’s yours.” Beau swept his happy bride into his arms. “Yours. . .and God’s. And I already know I have His.”

  “I hope you know you have mine, too,” she whispered.

  “I don’t deserve it. I’ve neglected you. I’ve put my own needs above yours.”

  “You’ve put the needs of a country ahead of mine,” she countered. “And somehow I found that forgivable every step of the way. So, please stop worrying, okay?”

  “My worries are behind me.” He kissed her on the forehead. “But I’ve learned a lot about what it’s going to take to keep them behind me. This morning the Lord reminded me of a scripture: What does it profit a man if he wins the White House but forfeits his soul?” He paused and gave a little shrug. “Okay, so that’s not exactly how it goes, but it’s close. How would it benefit me to win the highest prize in the land—the office of President—if I lost my soul along the way?”

  “You won’t lose your soul, baby.” Victoria threw her arms around him. “I know you better than that.”

  “Maybe not completely, but if you knew the countless hours I’ve spent fretting, strategizing, calculating. . .worrying. . .you would know that I’ve already given too much of myself to this process.”

  “Your motives are noble, though.”

  My motives might’ve been noble in the beginning but lately they’ve been slipping. I’ve cared more about numbers, more about the money coming in from my supporters, than what a win would actually mean for the country. And for you.”

  “What are you saying, Beau?” Her forehead wrinkled in concern.

  “What I should’ve said weeks ago. I hope you don’t mind that I plan to do so now in front of our friends and family.” He turned to face the crowd and the room grew silent. “I plan to withdraw from the race, effective today. That’s what I’ve been trying to say all along.”

  “W-what?” Victoria paled. “Are you sure?”

  “I am. From tomorrow on, I’m all yours. Well, yours and the state of Texas. But my term will be over soon and I’ll probably pull back from politics altogether. Maybe go back into law.”

  “Whoa, there.” She shook her head. “I love the fact that you’re a public servant, so don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. If you’re convinced you should withdraw from the run for the White House, I will agree wholeheartedly. But let’s don’t think about leaving Texas without the best senator they’ve ever had. That’s an unnecessary move.”

  “I’ll pray about it, I promise.”

  “Oh, praise the Lord!” Jolene raised her arms to the sky. “I couldn’t bear it if I lost my favorite senator.”

  He gave Jolene a “Who in the world are you?” look, then continued. “Well, like I said, I’ll pray about it. And that’s really the driving force in my life right now. A combination of things led me to drop out of the presidential race: the polls showed me slipping off of the radar, but even that wasn’t what got to me. I really felt like I needed to bow out because, well. . .” He raked his fingers through his hair.

  “Why?” we all asked in unison.

  “Because I had a Damascus Road experience last night.”

  Laz paled. “Oh. My. Goodness. Did it involve a bus? Headlights?”

  “No.” Beau shook his head. “No bus. No headlights. Nothing weird. I was in bed last night, nearly asleep, when I—”

  “Saw a bright light?” Laz asked.

  “Well, that too. The power had been off—some sort of electrical problem in the hotel—and it came back on just as I was dozing off. The whole room lit up. But the strangest part. . .the TV came on. I was blinded by the light but I heard the voice on the television, loud and clear.”

  “What did the voice say?” Mama asked.

  “Yes, tell us, baby,” Victoria said.

  He nodded and his eyes narrowed. “The voice said, ‘Turn and go the other way.’”

  “Turn and go the other way?” we all repeated in unison.

  “Was it. . .God?” Twila asked. “Speaking through the TV?”

  Beau shook his head. “No. It turned out the television was on a rerun of Gilligan’s Island. It was the Skipper, telling Gilligan to turn and go the other way so he wouldn’t fall into quicksand. But, just as plain as day, it was the Lord speaking to me. ‘Turn and go the other way.’”

  “The Lord cert
ainly speaks in mysterious ways.” Bonnie Sue shook her head and tears started to flow. “Thank You, Jesus!”

  “Yes, He certainly does.” Beau looked at Bonnie Sue, and though it was obvious he didn’t have a clue who she was, he gave her a polite nod. “And now, friends and family, I think it’s time for a wedding rehearsal, don’t you?”

  “Oh I do! I do!” Victoria threw her arms around his neck and planted kisses on his cheek.

  “Don’t say your I Do’s too quickly, girlie,” Twila said. “Or you’ll end up hitched a day too early.”

  “I wouldn’t mind one little bit.” Victoria giggled. “Not one little bit.”

  She might not mind, but I sure would, and so would tomorrow’s guests. They were looking forward to a tea party wedding, and I planned to give it to them. In fact, this might just be the best wedding anyone in the great state of Texas had ever seen!

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  I Will Always Love You

  Every politician should have been born an orphan and remain a bachelor.

  Lady Bird Johnson

  Valentine’s morning dawned clear and bright, though very, very cold. And though we’d worked our tails off last night to get Club Wed set up for today’s big event, I found myself fretting.

  D.J. and I got the kiddos ready for church and hit the read for the early service. I didn’t stay for Sunday school, not with my thoughts in such a whirl. I headed off to the wedding facility to give things a final once-over. I couldn’t help but think back to last night’s announcement from the groom. I could feel the tension leave Victoria’s face the moment Beau told her he was dropping out of the race. Surely today’s ceremony and reception would be a breeze, now that their life-stresses were behind them.

  Of course, mine were just beginning. I still had to coordinate a wedding with three hundred guests. And deal with the Secret Service. Even though Beau was no longer a candidate, they still planned to make their presence known. And make it known, they did.

  As I entered the wedding facility, O’Conner gave me a wave, which I returned. A couple of the other guys nodded at me, then shifted their gaze to the road, as if expecting a calamity of some sort. Me? My expectations were completely different. I had a feeling in my gut that this would be a wonderful day, all the way around.