“What did you say?”
“I said, ‘Yes, Sir, I do.’ You should’ve seen the expression on Tim Sweeney’s face when I called him ‘Mr. President.’”
“I guess so. What did he say to you?”
“Actually, not much. He thanked me for my support on the energy bill. Then before I could say anything he asked me to come to Miami for the opening ceremonies. I was stunned. I just said, ‘Yes, I’d be glad to be there.’”
“Well, that’s very flattering, but does he realize how difficult it is for you to travel?”
“I think so.”
“I don’t know. It doesn’t sound like it. Oh, well. I’ll be coming with you, so it’ll be okay. Did you make reservations for the flight?”
“It’s already taken care of.”
“For both of us?” Rebecca asks.
“Yes, both of us,”
“Which airline?”
Seeing only a smile on her husband’s face, she asks again, “Which airline?”
“Uh, you might have heard of it. It’s called Air Force One.”
“What?”
“Air Force One.”
“Are you serious?”
“I am.”
“The President said that?” she asks.
“That’s right.”
“That’s incredible. Wait a minute. I’m not in the government. He probably meant that for you only.”
“No, both of us,”
“Are you sure?”
“He said, ‘I hope Rebecca can come with you.’ That’s a direct quote.”
“He said my name?”
“That’s right.”
“How does he know my name?”
“In Washington, people make it their business to know those things. It gives them an edge.”
“Wow, you didn’t tell me this over the phone yesterday.”
“I wanted to tell you in person. Are you excited?”
“Are you kidding? Who wouldn’t be?” How long will we stay in Miami?”
“Just for the opening ceremonies. We’ll be back home by Sunday night, unless you want to stay longer.”
“I have to tell my mother,” Rebecca says as she quickly rises.
“Say hi for me,” Steve says, as he receives a kiss from his wife.
“I will,” she says.
Steve smiles contentedly as his wife prances out of the room with giddy excitement. He can imagine how difficult it must be for a woman to be married to a man with disabilities as severe as his. The love, respect, and gratitude he feels for her is unceasing.
Steve and Rebecca were planning to have children when he got out of the Army. That all changed in a split second, when the bomb blast that nearly killed him left him maimed for life. That was over five years ago. In that time Rebecca has been unexceptionably steadfast in her love and support, being completely dedicated to his recovery, and general wellbeing. As Steve looks around the room he sees the trophy on the mantle they both won for taking second place in the State Ballroom Dancing Competition seven years ago. Dancing was for both of them a great source of enjoyment. Remembering those happier days, his thoughts turn somber. He thinks how paltry and meager a ride on a plane must be compared to the continual sacrifice and devoted support of his loving wife. How could he ever hope to repay that gift? A gnawing sense of inadequacy seeps into his thoughts. He knows the danger of such thinking. He is determined not to allow his disability to rule his life. That is now the greatest challenge he faces, a challenge that he appears to be meeting successfully, at least for now.
Chapter Seven
Several days later, Director Slaughter walks into his office at FBI headquarters in Washington. He arrives this morning with a strong sense of expectation. Receiving a phone call last night from his trusted lead investigator Tim Colby, he has been told that the medical records of the President’s hospital stay when he was briefly hospitalized several years ago have been obtained, and what has been described as “a certain irregularity” has been found. Convinced he will learn something new from the brain scan images of Ken Myers taken after an auto accident when he was Governor of Florida, the Director is eager to hear Tim Colby’s report. Knowing the potentially explosive scandal that could result from unauthorized access to these records, Director Slaughter has ordered strict secrecy be observed by those few with any knowledge of the case. He knows he is dealing with something that could redound with consequences that would be extremely serious. If known, the covert possession of any part of the President’s medical records would at least mean his resignation as director of the FBI, and possible criminal charges. Leaning back in his chair he considers the unusual situation that confronts him. He picks up the DVD that he watched with Tim Colby. Recalling the inexplicable images of Ken Myers reading the plays of Shakespeare at an impossible speed, he resolves to himself to discover what it means, even if it requires tactics that are less than legally defensible.