“Yes.” She was being purposefully detached, and yet Ben couldn’t help but be touched. Maybe she still cared for her ex-husband, at least a little. “He was being the hero, as always. Saved the president’s bacon. Mine, too. But didn’t get himself out in time.”
“Ohmigod. That’s so horrible. Poor Mike. Poor Mike.” He heard a little gasping sound escape from her voice. “I called the hospital, but they wouldn’t tell me anything. Apparently ex-wife doesn’t count as a relative in their books.”
“No,” Ben said quietly. “I suppose not.”
“So how is he?”
“Well, he’s still in ICU, but they told me tonight that he’s…stabilizing.”
“Don’t bullshit me, Ben. I grew up with a doctor daddy, too, remember? What’s the prognosis?”
“They just don’t know.”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
“No,” Ben said simply. “He was severely wounded when that bomb exploded. Internal organs were messed up. Respiratory system went into shock. Broke several bones. He’s been in a coma ever since.”
“Do they think he’ll come out of it?”
“Julia…” Ben didn’t have the words. “There’s no way of telling.”
All at once, Ben realized that Julia was crying, and a moment later he realized that he was, too. Crying for the first time since April 19.
“My God, Ben…how did this happen?”
“I don’t know.”
“I remember when we were all in college. We were the best of friends, the three of us. Mike and I were so in love. Dad was still alive. We were happy and together and…” Her voice choked. “What went wrong, Ben?”
“I…don’t know.”
“What’s happened to the world? What the hell is wrong when…when things like this go on?”
“I don’t have any answers for you, Julia, but-”
“You have to do something about this, Ben. You’re a big shot now. You have to…you have to…see that something like this can never happen again. For Mike’s sake. And mine.”
His voice was so tremulous, he could barely speak. “I will, Julia. I’ll do what I can.”
A long stretch passed, silent except for the crying on both sides of the line.
“You know, Ben…we should get together sometime.”
“I’d-I’d like that.”
“Maybe if”-she drew in her breath and corrected herself-“maybe when Mike gets better.”
“I know he’d like that, too.”
“Okay. Um…you’ll call me if there’s any change?”
“Of course.” He took down her number. “It’s been…very good talking to you, Julia. Very good. You know, I… I-”
“I know, Ben. Let’s talk again soon. Best to Mother.”
She rang off.
Ben wiped the tears from his eyes. He tried to think clearly, but it wasn’t possible. His chest was heaving. He had released a great deal that had been waiting a long time to get out.
Tears trickled into the wound on his cheek and it stung.
His eye caught the clock on the wall. Five minutes till midnight.
Without even thinking about it, his hand moved toward the telephone.
“Ms. Sobel? Yes, it’s Ben Kincaid. Yes, sorry. I know it’s late. But not too late, right?”
He waited for her assurances.
“As a matter of fact, I have. You may tell the president on my behalf that the answer is yes. I’ll do it. Whatever he needs me to do.”
They talked a moment longer, then hung up. Ben slowly lowered his head to the desk.
It was a good thing this chair was so comfortable, because he suspected he would be sleeping in it for a long time. He knew he was not going back to the apartment tonight. He needed rest, and he needed it now.
Tomorrow, everything was going to change. Permanently.
16
Christina tried not to let it show, but she was worried. If she had learned anything in her short time in Washington, it was the truth of that old maxim about never letting them see you sweat. It was political suicide. No matter what the circumstances. But she was still worried.
“Hey, Christina,” Loving said, as he ambled into the office. “How’s it hangin’?”
“Oh, fine. Just fine.”
“How’s Ben?”
“Oh, he’s…he’s…” Damn it, she wasn’t going to let it show. But she already had.
Loving laid his hand gently on her shoulder. “What’s wrong, Chrissy?”
She shrugged, trying to fight back the tears. “He didn’t come home last night.”
“Like that’s never happened before. He probably fell asleep in his office again. I’ll go-”
“I already looked. He’s not there.”
A thin line traced a course across Loving’s forehead. “Well, that’s different. You called his cell?”
She nodded.
“Still, I’m sure he’s around somewhere. He’s always got a hundred balls in the air at once. You shouldn’t worry.”
She was embarrassed at herself for letting down her defenses-so quickly and so thoroughly. It was unprofessional. But she couldn’t help herself. “I was pretty hard on him last night. Really laid into him about this proposed amendment.”
A small light of comprehension glowed behind Loving’s eyes. “Oh. Spat.”
“I’m just afraid…”
“That he didn’t come home because he’s mad at you or somethin’? Chrissy, listen to me.” He took her by the shoulders and turned her so she faced him. “That kid loves you to pieces. I know he doesn’t say much about it. He ain’t good with words like me. But I know he loves you. All you have to do is see the way he looks at you to know that.”
“But…sometimes love isn’t enough.”
“Says who? Look, I know this absolutely: No matter what he’s up to this time, he would never deliberately do anythin’ to hurt you. He would never leave you. He needs you. And he knows it.”
Christina sniffed, wiped the dampness from her eyes. “I hope you’re right. I just worry that-”
“Hey, guys! Look at this!”
It was Jones, shouting at them from his station near the outer door.
“What is it?” Christina asked.
“Fox News.”
“Oh, joy.”
“The president’s giving a press conference. From the Rose Garden. Looks lovely this time of year.”
“Only on television,” Christina remarked. “In person, you notice the snipers on the roof and the Secret Service swarming everywhere and the bomb-sniffing dogs eyeing your purse and the manhole covers that have been sealed shut with acetylene torches. And the security line is incredibly slow. By the time you’re actually inside, you’ve
