Look to the Rainbow (37 page)

     “Well, there is one more thing,” Skip said, handing him a typed list. “These are the people on your private list who accepted invitations to tonight’s festivities.” Kel scanned the list, Evan and Mary Katherine, everyone named O’Brien and Lansing, a dozen friends from Newport, members of his polo team, and then, Mr. and Mrs. Michael McCaffrey, Jack McCaffrey and Tara Kristin McCaffrey.

    “Thank you, Skip.” He put the list on the bedside table and walked downstairs. She might not be present as he took office, but he would see her tonight. It would have to be enough.

    Evan was the first person to greet him as he stepped into the front living room and the thought that Kel couldn’t let go was how thankful he was that Evan was there at all to witness this event. There were still remains of his cuts and bruises and he still had some pain, but he was alive and he was here with the rest of his family for one of the most important days of Kel’s life.

    “You still believe in miracles, don’t you?” Evan asked.

     “I’d say you’re proof of that,” Kel responded.

     “I’m not talking about me,” Evan said and Kel followed his gaze.

     There she was, standing across the room looking more stunning than ever in a purple wool suit trimmed at the collar and wrists with fur and a matching hat. For a few seconds he didn’t move. He wasn’t sure she wasn’t a figment of his imagination. And then he forgot everyone else and crossed the room and stopped in front of her.

     “Am I dreaming?” he asked and everyone around him laughed.

     “No,” she said. “But I decided to follow the fellow who follows his dream.”

    Only then did he kiss her and he didn’t care who was watching, which was everybody. Janet came forward and said, “Daddy, if it’s okay with you, I’d like for Tara to hold the Bible while you take your oath of office.”

     Kel looked down at her. “Do you want to? It means you’ll have to be up there in front of the world with me. They’ll be photographs and media coverage.”

     She smiled. “There always will be Kel. And yes, if it’s okay with you I would love to be beside you when you are sworn in.”

     “Come with me to the White House to meet with the outgoing president and his wife.”

      She knew that would cause a media sensation, but he had asked her to go and she had decided to follow his dream wherever it took her. “Okay.”

     She took his hand and they went together to the waiting car that would take them to The White House.

     She was waiting for him in the residence when he came out in white tie, looking very handsome and very Presidential. She still couldn’t believe that she had stood beside him in the nation’s capital and seen him sworn into the office of President and had then walked back to the White House beside him to the cheering crowds lined up along the streets. And now, here she was, wearing the most beautiful dress she could ever imagine waiting to attend his inaugural balls with him.

    “How do I look?” she asked, turning around.

     “Gorgeous,” he said, taking her in his arms and kissing her once again. She had lost count how many times he had done that today. “There’s just one thing missing, I’m thinking.”

      “What?” She couldn’t imagine.

     He knelt down on one knee in front of her and reached in his pocket and brought out Fiona’s engagement ring. He took her hand and said, “I’m not willing to ever be without you again. Would you please do me the honor of becoming my wife so that I never have to?”

      “Yes,
yes
.” He put the beautiful ring on her finger and stood and kissed her again.

     “You know what’s interesting about rainbows?” he asked.

      “No, what?”

     “They always come out after storms. You just have to remember to look for them.”

            They had somehow managed to weather the storms . She knew there would be more to come, but she had learned to look for the rainbow. She kissed him again and then said, “You know they are going to write some horrible story about how we spent the night together in the Lincoln bedroom to celebrate your inauguration.”

     Kel laughed. “And anyone that matters will know it’s a complete lie, even though I would very much like to forget the whole round of parties and do just that. But we’ll keep that on the list of things to do to celebrate
after
we married and not before. Besides, John and Kim have dibs on the Lincoln bedroom tonight.”

     It was her turn to laugh. But she appreciated that he had strong beliefs and was willing to stick to them and said so.

     “I made a lot of mistakes the first time around that I won’t make this time. The only thing Alise and I shared was the physical part of our relationship. Maybe if we hadn’t let that get in the way of everything else things would have been better for us. I know that we go way beyond just the physical attraction but it is easy to get caught up in passion when you’re madly in love with someone, so we will have to be careful when we’re alone together.”

     “You’re madly in love with me?”

     “Completely.”

     “Let’s not wait a long time to get married,” she said as he pulled her closer still.

     “No,” he said, between kisses, “let’s not.”

      “Kel,” she said, pulling away just a little.

      “I know. Let’s go. The Lincoln bedroom is entirely too accessible here.”

      She took his hand and they stepped into the hallway where the secret service was waiting just outside the door. Something else she would have to get used to. At moment she realized none of it mattered, not the press, not the secret service, the office or the address. He might be the President of the United States, and certainly the handsomest, kindest one there had ever been, but what mattered wasn’t that. What mattered was that he was
Kel
.

     He paused and kissed her once more and they started down the stairs and to whatever their life together might promise.