The Invitation(31)
The men continue talking as Senator Fields starts his car, and pulls away.
Back in western North Carolina, Todd Keniston sees the hours of another bleak, uninviting day unfolding. Utterly stymied in his efforts to resolve the crises of his personal life, he seems powerless to shake the emotional trauma of his wife and children leaving him. The home where he expected to live out his years with his family is now a haunting reminder of all that he’s lost. As he sits once again on the front porch waiting for the mail man, the slender hope remains that word will come that she has changed her mind, and will soon be returning home. The ex-marine feels at once connected, and yet unconnected to those two worlds that were the sustaining force of his life, his family, and his career as a military contractor. Sitting alone he feels impelled to do something. He knows that brooding inactivity will only make his situation worse. Then he sees the mail truck approaching, and walks out before it arrives to wait for whatever might come. After a perfunctory greeting to the mail man he sees the unmistakable hand writing on the letter handed to him. His wife has finally chosen to respond to his numerous attempts to communicate.
As he walks back to the porch his thoughts are tinged with hopeful expectation. He thinks, why shouldn’t she want to come back? Surely living with her parents is causing her to have second thoughts. He thinks, perhaps she now realizes what she had. He opens the letter more optimistic than not that it will contain the words, and tone of reconciliation, but after a cursory greeting his heart sinks when he reads the words, “I filed for divorce”. The impact of these words is immediate as he falls back in the chair, and emotions quickly rise within him. Disappointment, grief, anger, mixed with the genuine love he feels for his wife seem to well up simultaneously inside him. How could she do this? Doesn’t she have any gratitude for the sacrifices he’s made to provide for her and the children? The more he thinks about it, the more it seems selfish on her part. Sorrow slowly gives way to bitterness, and anger. Putting the letter down he feels the impulse to do something. He does what he’s always done when dealing with a threatening or stressful situation. He turns to his guns.
With part of his back yard converted into a target range, ready access is at hand to something that has always helped assuage his personal frustrations. And so for the next two hours gunshots are heard from Todd Keniston’s back yard. Whether it might help him in his anguish or not is hard to know, but even the slightest relief is better than none at all from his distracted state of mind.
Chapter Twelve
Today is a very special day for the people and city of Miami, Florida. Hosting the Summer Olympics has been the topic of most conversation in and around the city for the past several months. Despite the adamant assertions of critics who from the start resisted the idea of Miami hosting the summer games, an upbeat mood and genuine sense of anticipatory excitement is widespread throughout the city. The intelligent management and committed preparation of both the Olympic Committee, and local officials to ensure safety and minimal inconvenience for residents and visitors, has so far been effective. For the past three days Miami has opened its doors to the world. By day, high school bands from all over the country perform the colorful, precise routines they have carefully practiced for months. At night, the festive atmosphere continues as restaurants, theaters, and places of entertainment cater to the influx of foreign tourists. After several days of munificent celebration, the city is alive with the sounds, color, and flavor, of a Latin fiesta. Bougainvilleas in vibrant bloom beside palm trees languidly swaying in a warm calming breeze paint a natural picture of tropical beauty. The weather for southern Florida in mid-July is typically warm and humid, but for the past week, milder temperatures and low humidity have made conditions very pleasant for all.
Thousands have gathered at Amelia Earhart Park, and the newly built stadium where the Olympic torch will soon finish its journey with the symbolic lighting of the Olympic flame signaling the games to begin. For miles people have flanked the route that the Olympic torch will travel to its destination. From there, after the Olympic flame is lit, the President will announce the start of the games. The Olympic stadium where the President will shortly speak is now the focus of attention, and activity. The unyielding demeanor of two Secret Service agents flanking the podium where he will speak leave no one guessing as to who is about to arrive. Already present are the Vice President, members of Florida’s Congressional delegation, the Mayor of Miami, and other officials. Among them are Congressman Steve Kearns and his wife Rebecca, their inconvenient journey finally reaching its end with a front row seat to watch the passing of the Olympic torch. The sound of spontaneous applause, and heads turning in the same direction is the only indication that the President has arrived. He and Mrs. Myers, with a small entourage entering the stadium from a secured entrance make their way slowly to the front, shaking hands with well-wishers. Attending the President is General Croft, freshly returned from MacDill Air Force base after meeting with his subordinate commanders. Moving forward to take their seats, Mr. and Mrs. Myers see Congressman Kearns, and his wife, and walk over to greet them.