Look to the Rainbow (2 page)

     “It’s okay Case. I mean, who wouldn’t have a crush on Evan?” Evan was indeed one of the few men on the planet who could command attention in a room filled with O’Brien men. He rivaled them all in charm, looks, intelligence and athletic ability, no easy feat given their own prowess in all of those areas.

     Janet said, “Hey, can we focus on my relationship here please? What am I going to do?”

     They fell silent, since given Kel’s reaction, no one knew.

Chapter Two

     Tara Kristin McCaffrey sat outside Bobby O’Brien’s office at
Newsworthy
magazine in downtown Newport and waited nervously for an interview. She’d fallen into journalism easily as her father was an editor at
The Atlanta Journal and Constitution
, but she’d gotten this opportunity because her mother and Lily Lansing had been childhood friends. Tara wasn’t completely sure of the details, but somehow Lily and George had known her father, Michael McCaffrey, and had introduced him to Julia Harrison. Her mother had left behind the society lifestyle of Newport to be a housewife in Atlanta, but of course had never lost all her ties to the town in which she grew up. Her parents had long since been gone, but Julia still corresponded regularly with Lily and the family had, on a few occasions, visited Newport, but not since Julia had sold the family home several years ago.

     Bobby had started
Newsworthy
because he wanted to use his journalism degree but no magazine, newspaper or television station felt they could offer an O’Brien a salary or position that wouldn’t be insulting. Ten years into publication it was the most widely read magazine in the country, having just the right mix of news and features. It presented like a combination of the best of other popular magazines, without being gossipy or dry, with plenty of pictures and human interest and excellent writing. Bobby hired only the best writers and photographers and had made the magazine a huge success. According to Lily, Bobby was looking for a short term position for a special project and Lily had recommended her for the job.

     The door to the office opened and Bobby stepped out. He smiled and offered his hand. “Tara Kristin McCaffrey?”

     “Just Tara is fine.” She stood and shook his hand.

     “It’s a fine Irish name, though,” Bobby said. “Come on in. Let’s talk.”

     She followed him into the office and took the chair opposite the one he sat in. She liked that he didn’t sit behind the desk. Julia had told her that the O’Briens were a family that put others at ease. Bobby had certainly already proven that.

     “So, Lily thinks you are the perfect person for this job.”  What Bobby didn’t say was that he had already figured out why Lily had put Tara forward as a candidate. He doubted Lily had ever read a word she’d written.

     “I’m glad she does,” Tara said. “I might, as well, if I knew what the job actually involved.”

     Bobby settled back in his chair and looked again at the beautiful woman in the other chair. She had an unusual shade of strawberry blonde hair, a flawless complexion and violet eyes, an arresting combination.  “I assume you know that my brother is running for President.”

     “Of course. Senator Kelly O’Brien.”

     “What I need is someone to cover Kel’s campaign, present him to the public as he really is, in other words, sell him as a candidate. There are a lot of people out there who don’t know much about him. And of course, he’s the only candidate without a potential first lady. I want someone who can follow the campaign and give me regular articles that will show America why Kelly O’Brien should be President.”

     He went on to describe what he envisioned and named a salary that Tara could certainly work with. When he offered her the job after some more conversation, she accepted. A job at
Newsworthy
, even if only for the duration of the campaign was not one anyone would turn down and this one promised to be interesting.

     “Since you are staying at George and Lily’s house, I assume you’ll be joining us tonight for Kel’s birthday celebration?” Bobby walked her to the door.

      “Is this a work function for me or a social event?” Tara asked.

     “Both at this point. You can meet Kel and see what he’s like in this type of setting. And by the way, Mary Catherine Christenson will be doing all your photos. She’ll be there tonight too.”

     “That’s quite impressive,” Tara said.

     Bobby laughed. “Not really, she’s a family friend. She’s married to Ross’s best friend Evan Jones. But I have to say I don’t mind having an artist of her caliber associated with the magazine.” He paused. “You do have an evening gown with you?”

     Tara said, “My mother hasn’t forgotten that Lily makes even birthdays a black tie event. So yes, I have a dress for this evening. I’m looking forward to it.”

     They said their goodbyes and Tara drove back to the Lansing’s palatial mansion on Newport’s famous “Millionaire’s Row.” She admired the houses and enjoyed the ocean breeze as she drove through town in her Z4 with the top down. She wondered what it would be like to live like this all the time, and realized she’d get a taste of it while she stayed with George and Lily. Her mother had told her stories of her life in Newport for as long as Tara could remember, and of course she remembered her grandparents’ house.  Her father had been successful and her mother was wealthy in her own right and while the family home in Lennox Square was large and tastefully appointed, it was nothing like living among the elite in Newport. She wondered if Kelly O’Brien would be aloof or as openly friendly as Bobby had been. She took a few minutes to call her parents and tell them she had the job and then she pulled into the driveway of the Lansing’s house. It was such a beautiful day, she wandered out into the rose garden, which gave way to a beautiful lawn and a view of the ocean and The Cliff Walk.

     “He hired you?” Tara turned to see Lily coming out to join her.

     “Yes. It was hardly an interview at all. You must have really given him the hard sell before I got there.”

     Lily laughed. “I simply told him you would be perfect.”

     “I appreciate that, but you hardly know me.”

     “I know your parents. Your mother would have brought you up perfectly and your father would have taught you to write. You were always adorable as a child and have turned into a beautiful young woman. One whose company I plan to enjoy. I’m certain you and Kel will work well together. Now, let’s eat and get to know each other better.”

     Tara noticed the table was set for lunch. “How lovely. And it’s too pretty a day to eat inside.”

     “You see? We already think alike.”

     “So tell me what you think of the famous Kelly O’Brien.” Tara said, as they put chicken salad and fruit on their plates.

     “My opinion will be completely biased. I adore Kelly O’Brien. All of James and Fiona’s children are like our own for George and I. John and Kel are the same age and grew up together. He is, without question, the most intelligent, articulate and compassionate man you will ever meet. And of course, he is devastatingly handsome.”

     Tara laughed. “I will try not to let that distract me.”

     Lily said, “But it will dear. Wait and see.”

     Hours later Tara descended the marble staircase dressed in a beaded black evening gown and one of her mother’s diamond necklaces. She had debated sweeping her hair up, but at the last minute left it cascading across her shoulders. She crossed the elegant foyer and entered the ballroom that was filled with men in black tie and women in glittering gowns. Her mother had often said that Newport, and particularly a party thrown by Lily in Newport, was a world unto its’ own. She did feel a little like Cinderella as she walked around the perimeter of the marble and gilt room looking for a glimpse of the prince. She saw Lily and George and made her way to where they were standing, talking to a beautiful girl with long red hair.

     “Oh, Tara,” Lily exclaimed. “I was just talking about you. Janet, this is Tara McCaffrey and Tara, this is Janet O’Brien.”

     “The senator’s daughter,” Tara said.

      “Yes. And you are the reporter Bobby’s hired to cover Daddy’s campaign.”

     “I was hoping to meet him tonight. And I’d love to write a story about your perspective of him as a father.”

      Janet said, “I’ll be happy to give you that interview, just not tonight.” A handsome man joined them and kissed Janet on the cheek. Tara noticed that he had the same turquoise eyes as Lily.

     “Tara, my son Alan. Alan, this is Julia’s daughter Tara. She’s going to be staying for us while she writes about Kel’s campaign.” She took George by the arm. “Darling, we really need to greet some of our guests.”

     “Duty calls,” George said and went across the room with Lily.

     “So have you met Kel yet?” Alan asked.

     “No, I just told Janet I was hoping to meet him tonight.”

     Alan looked down at Janet. “I was hoping t  have a chat with him myself this evening.”

     Janet blushed and said, “Not tonight Alan. It’s his birthday.”

     “So? As soon as possible I want to win him over to the idea of you and I as a couple.”

      Tara raised an eyebrow and Janet turned back to her. “Okay, awkward, since we just met you. But since you’ll be staying here in close proximity, Alan recently asked me to marry him, but Daddy’s not on board with the idea yet.”

      “This sounds like an interesting story,” Tara said.

      “It is,” Janet said, “but it’s not for publication. I’ll fill you in some time. Oh, there’s Daddy now.”

     Tara looked across the ballroom as Kelly O’Brien entered the room and realized that all the photographs she’d seen of him did not do him justice. His presence filled up the entire room. She watched as he stopped to greet George and Lily and kissed Lily on the cheek and wondered how it was possible for a man to be so beautiful and seem so unconcerned with his own looks. He looked up and saw Janet and started in her direction, stopping halfway across the room to talk with a man that Tara presumed to be Lily’s other son, John, because he looked enough like George to make that a possibility. The two of them came to where she still stood with Janet and Alan.

     Kel gave his daughter a quick hug and spoke to Alan and then turned to Tara and said, “And you must be the famous Miss McCaffrey I have heard so much about today.”

     “I don’t know if I’m famous yet, but yes, I am Tara McCaffrey.”

      “Well,” he said, “I wasn’t sure about the idea of having a reporter following me around, but I have to say that I am finding it less of a burden at this particular moment.”

     He had the bluest eyes she had ever seen. “I think I am flattered by that comment, Senator, but I’m not quite certain if I should be.”

     “I meant it as a compliment,” he said.

     “Well, then, thank you.” Their eyes locked for just a moment. “I would like to schedule a time to talk with you. I know your itinerary must be quite full right now.”

     “I can talk with you officially tomorrow morning around ten,” he said.