I put both my roses on top of the others. “Michael, be sure you keep all the girls in heaven feeling attractive. I know you’re up to it. And Fuzzball, you keep on taking care of him like the good Poof you are.”
We moved off so the rest of the family could do the same. As Mom had expected, Nathalie Brewer and Vance Beaumont both came over to express condolences and hug me. Guy Gadoire was with Vance, of course, and did the same. Lillian Culver and Abner Schnekedy were also along but they had the grace to not try to hug me.
Sooner than I’d have expected we were done, and the drivers went to get the limos. Per Raj the troubadours had gone back to the Embassy once the bomb squad had come to investigate and they knew the bombs had been found.
Pierre had an after-funeral buffet set up in the Embassy complex, and all our people and our closer political friends were there. The children were with us now, too, and it was nice to get to carry Jamie around and cuddle her without worrying about what we were going to do next.
Miraculously, for a party we were throwing, no one died. Figured we’d had enough death already and the cosmos had chosen to cut us a break.
The nice thing about parties that take place after a funeral is that the majority don’t linger. Even so, by the time we’d gotten everyone out of the Embassy, and then swept for bombs, bugs, and other unsavory things at least three times, it was fairly late.
After we made sure all those sleeping over were tucked away, Mom, Dad, Jeff, Jamie, and I headed upstairs. Once Jamie was in bed and snoozing with all the pets, Mom and Dad hugged and kissed us good night and went to their guest room.
Jeff and I got undressed. “You did great today, baby,” Jeff said as I gathered up our clothes. “I didn’t want to say too much out in public, in case someone would try to use it against us, but you were amazing.”
“Thanks. I just didn’t want to see Paul have to suffer through something he wasn’t emotionally ready to deal with.”
“You were exactly what our Head Diplomat is supposed to be.” Jeff kissed me. “And I’m incredibly proud of you.”
“I’m always proud of you, so I’m glad I made you proud of me, too.” Feeling quite good all things considered, I trotted into the closet, went to the hamper, and tossed our clothes in. “Thank you,” I said quietly.
Algar appeared sitting cross-legged on the hamper. “For what?”
“For whatever.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t do anything. You came up with that speech all by yourself.”
“Yeah, well more went on than that.”
He shrugged. “Everyone who arrived to help you truly went of their own free will.”
“The Poofs did a good job.”
“Again, it was their choice.”
“You’re worried I’m going to worship the Great God Algar and bring the people hunting for you. You can relax—I don’t think you’re a god.”
“You insinuated you did during your run-in with the people exercising the worst kind of free will.”
My turn to shrug. “You’re pretty amazing, but I know you’re not a god. And you know me, I’ll say whatever I need to.”
He smiled. “I know. Would you like to know the weather forecast?”
This was a new one. “Sure?”
“Quiet, with a strong side of regrouping. I know you don’t feel like you were successful, but you’ve hurt your enemy far more than you know. You’ll have some breathing room. Not a lot, but more than you’re used to. So use it wisely.”
“I was thinking I’d use it to celebrate life and have lots of sex with my husband. Like my King of the Elves likes to recommend. You know, in between all the dedicated work stuff I’m sure you’re actually talking about us doing.”
Algar laughed and disappeared. In his place was Jeff’s fedora.
“What did you say?” Jeff asked as he came into the closet.
I picked up the fedora. “You know, it’s been a while since you’ve worn this.”
Jeff grinned, took the hat from me, flipped it onto his head, and picked me up. “Then let’s rectify that right away, Ambassador.”
“Oh, Congressman Martini, I love how you think.”