The Invitation(6)
For her part, Carol is a woman of exceptional qualities. Beyond her beauty and intelligence, she possesses an almost uncanny aptitude for the politically sensitive role of First Lady. Giving her time and effort to numerous charitable causes, she has garnered the respect of millions of Americans. Active and committed as she is, her chief concern is to support by all reasonable means the success of her husband’s political agenda. If there is one aspect of her life she could change however, it would be the addition of children. Yet, she fully accepts that other priorities must take precedence, at least for now. Knowing her husband is preoccupied with the responsibilities, and consuming details of his office, she takes care to conceal her feelings on the subject.
When schedules permit, Carol will sometimes visit briefly, to see how he’s doing. She greets her husband with a familial kiss.
“Hi, honey.”
“Hi, Carol, How’s your day going?”
“I’m okay. I should be asking you that question. Your day’s more important than mine.”
“Both are important. How did your appointment go this morning?”
“The doctor says I’m fine…I don’t know.”
“Carol, I know you want children. So do I. We’ll keep trying.”
“We can wait. You have so much else to consider,” she says.
“Let’s do this. After the Olympics we’ll take a three day weekend, and get away for a while.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
“The press says I don’t take enough time off.”
“I don’t know where you get your energy.”
“Well, it comes from being a happily married man.”
“Are you ever lost for words?” Carol asks.
“Only happened once.”
“When was that?”
“Why, when I first looked at you, dear.”
“You’re incredible. Well, I don’t want to keep you. Oh, I’m going to see your mother on Thursday.”
“I know, I called her last night. She’ll be glad to see you.”
“I wish she would come live with us,” Carol says.
“So do I, but she loves her independence, and her privacy, too.”
“I can understand that. Well, I’ll leave you to your work. I just wanted to see how you’re doing.”
“What do you have for this afternoon?”
“I have that public service announcement for the Healthy Kids Initiative.”
“How long will that take?”
“Not long, maybe an hour.”
“That’s good. We’ll have a nice dinner tonight.”
“What time?” Carol asks.
“About six thirty, I think.”
“Sounds good, I’ll see ya then. Bye-bye.”
“Goodbye.”
With a parting kiss, Carol leaves her husband to his responsibilities, while she tends to her own scheduled obligations. After more than three years of living at the White House, and being at the center of political power, Carol has become familiar with the established routine of activity that now surrounds her daily life. Despite the seemingly unending demands on her time, and attention that she must regularly cope with, Carol has never felt so fully alive, or more convinced that her life, and work were meaningful, and worthwhile. Confident that her husband will win another term in office, she is optimistic for herself, her husband, and the country at large.
Chapter Three
In a quiet suburb of Providence, Rhode Island, Phillip Garrett is having breakfast with his wife and twelve-year-old daughter. His occupation as a freelance photographer enables him to maintain a flexible work schedule, but work is not what he’s thinking about today.
He’s expecting a visitor this morning, a visitor from the FBI. We find him, his wife, and daughter readying themselves for another day. Not surprisingly, the subject of their conversation is what they might look to expect from the agent sent to interview him.
“Want some more coffee?” Phillip’s wife asks.
“No thanks.”
“Aren’t you nervous? I would be,” she says.
“Nothing to be nervous about. Actually, I’m glad to do this.”
“It’s kind of what you wanted,” she says.
“That’s right. Finally somebody’s taking me seriously. Once my statement’s on the record, I’ll be satisfied that I did all I could.”
“I hope so,” she says.
“I’m ready, Mom.”
“Did you get enough to eat Ashley?” Phillip asks his daughter.
“Yes Dad.”
“Two things you should never skimp on. Breakfast is one of them, and?” cues Phillip.
“I know, a good night’s sleep,” answers Ashley.