Pilgrimage (The New World) (23 page)

SLIGHTLY OVER ELEVEN
years later, in November of 2016, Ross’ family and staff were celebrating many things including another election victory. Ross was happy that the citizens of Texas had already seen their way clear to provide him with two six-year terms in federal office, but he knew there were many more things he wanted to accomplish.

During the two terms Ross had become involved with several pieces of legislation that had become law, served on a few committees, and had made many friends, but there would always be something more that could be done. It had been a long and grueling campaign, perhaps the roughest of all that he and the family had been through, but it was worth it. In spite of the challenges that lay ahead, now was the time to exhale, even if only for one night.

Another cause for celebration was the birth of their second grandchild Janet, who had come into the world just three days before the election. Ross had turned sixty-six the previous summer, Patty would soon be sixty-five, and their youngest daughter Rachel, who was now thirty-four, had provided them with two beautiful grandchildren. She had married her college boyfriend ten years earlier, and had worked for roughly five years in the private sector before giving birth to a son named Luke in the summer of 2012. Luke’s and Ross’ respective birthdays were one week apart, and the two of them had enjoyed blowing out the birthday candles on their cake together during the most recent celebration.

The newest addition to the family was named after the grandmother that Rachel never knew, and that made Ross and her Aunt Jessica very happy. They were both confident that little baby Janet would carry on their mothers’ name proudly, while Patty just loved the fact that there was now another healthy grandchild to spoil.

The final reason for the festive mood within the Martin family was the one that took place every year at this time, as Aurora would celebrate turning thirty-nine in a few days. She had decided many years before that her career was more important to her than raising a family of her own, but loved the fact that she was now an aunt for the second time. Things could not have been better for Ross and all those around him, but there was little doubt that the coming year would hold tremendous challenges for him and the family.

Slightly over two months later, Ross tilted his head back as far as it would go and gazed at the magnificent mural painted on the ceiling of the United States Capitol rotunda. The mural depicted some history of the United States, which he was pleased to point out to his grandson Luke as they looked at the pictures. A moment later Rachel came over and smiled at them both before she retrieved Luke away from her father. Then they, along with the rest of the family, moved towards their seats. Patty stepped up and gave Ross a hug and a peck on the cheek, then used her thumb to remove the trace of her lipstick she had left behind before faking an adjustment of his already perfect tie. She said, “You deserve this”, as she moved towards the door and took the arm of her military escort for the short walk to her seat next to their daughters. She then sat patiently along with everyone else.

Ross wondered how many of the men who had come before him had actually aspired to this moment, as he certainly had not. When he was a boy in Rumley he wanted to be a professional baseball player, but that had not panned out. A few years later he set his sights on becoming an astronaut, and that dream had come to fruition. He had worked hard his entire life and felt he had done a good job serving his country in many different roles, but he had never dreamed until recently that this day would come.

On this clear and crisp January day of 2017, he was about to be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States, and he still didn’t quite understand how he got there. Ross had been married to Patty for almost forty-four years, but they had never spoken once about someday residing in the White House as the Chief Executive and First Lady until less than two years prior to this moment. They, like all married couples, had seen the good times and the bad, but found a way to make it work. Throughout the early military deployments, the dangerous yet exhilarating space shuttle flights during his NASA years, the extended time away from home while serving in state or federal office, Patty had faithfully stood by him. She had given him two beautiful, intelligent, and successful daughters, so she deserved to be called the “First Lady” in his eyes.

His sister Jessica had also been an instrumental part of his overall success. She had been his partner since the earliest days of their childhood, been a close friend to Patty during the lonely times, and a wonderful aunt to the girls throughout their entire lives, but it went beyond all that. Jessica alone held the ultimate secret that Ross had kept from the public and his wife and children throughout the years, so he knew deep down that she was the one he trusted most. On top of that, her legal skills had proved to be most valuable to Ross during his two terms as United States Senator, so he was the one who felt privileged when she had agreed to become part of his White House staff for as long as he occupied the office.

Ross smiled broadly as he realized he could finally give his kid sister, who still wore the leg brace, a birthday present worthy of how much she meant to him. Jessica would be able to celebrate her sixty-second birthday in grand style, as she would join the first family at several inauguration balls later that evening.

His moment of peaceful contemplation was then interrupted by the secret service agent on his personal detail who informed him that it was now time to go. With a nod of acknowledgement, and a handshake of thanks for what the man was sworn to provide, Ross moved towards the door for the short descent of stairs to the podium.

For as far as the eye could see along the length of the National Mall spectators stood and waited for their newly elected President to emerge from the Capitol, and then showed their support via thunderous applause when he came into view. Ross knew some of them had not actually voted for him, but they had come to see a moment in history and for that he was thankful.

He shook the hands of several people as he made his way to the podium where he would take the oath of office, and gave a broad smile to the four most important women in his life, his lone son in law, and his two grandchildren before taking his position. Luke, now four and a half, was old enough that he would remember the events of this day, but Janet would have to be informed later that she had witnessed a presidential inauguration from no more than twenty feet away when she was less than three months old.

Ross put his left hand on the bible, raised his right hand, and took the oath of office. In the blink of an eye it was over, and the nearby Marine Corps Marching Band played “Hail to the Chief” as he was now officially the President of the United States. After congratulatory handshakes from the Supreme Court Chief Justice, outgoing President Barrack Obama, and a kiss from Patty, Ross delivered his acceptance speech. A throng of people, perhaps more than one-hundred thousand strong, had braved the long wait in the cold to witness the event, and a television audience of millions throughout America and other parts of the world had joined them.

A short time later Ross clasped the hand of Patty, and climbed the stairs back into the warm confines of the Capitol Building with their daughters and the rest of the family following close behind. Once back in the rotunda there was a group hug, which was then followed by seemingly endless handshakes with members of Congress and other well-wishers. President Ross Martin and Patty were then escorted by the secret service to the waiting Presidential motorcade for the long slow drive towards the White House, as a multitude of jubilant observers cheered them on.

ALTHOUGH ROSS KNEW
there would always be something to attend to while he held the office of President of the United States, he decided that he owed it to himself, and the rest of his family, to exhale for the remainder of his first day in office. The upcoming multitude of formal inauguration balls that evening would surely lead to the first of what would be many nights of less than adequate sleep during the next four years, so he wanted to relax beforehand. He would become fully immersed in his new responsibilities the following day, but he wanted to explore every inch of the White House with Patty. That would give them both an opportunity to meet with each member of the staff, so they could personally thank them in advance for their hard work and dedication. Ross also planned to make a few phone calls from his new desk in the oval office when their exploration was completed, because there were several people from around the country who he intended to invite to the White House in thanks for helping him win a very close election.

His old friend and Annapolis roommate Shaun Jamison had become a prominent businessman in the Boston area, and had throughout the years become a strong advocate of rights for people with physical disabilities. Shaun had been working closely with Jessica to help gather financial support and votes for Ross from disabled veterans and others who faced daily challenges due to physical limitations. When they spoke of Ross’ historical voting record at both the state and national level in support of rights for the disabled, the word spread quickly around the nation. Their combined efforts helped Ross to overwhelmingly carry a previously uncalculated demographic of American society, and in some cases was the difference in winning a county or state.

Another Annapolis roommate, James Franklin, had done his part by helping with some much needed support in the Pacific Northwest. After retiring from a lengthy stint in the Marine Corps, James returned to his hometown of Seattle and started up a private security business. He and his personally trained staff had been responsible for providing protection for a few local politicians or wealthy businessmen over the years, and James used those connections to their fullest by requesting that some of those people endorse Ross for President.

Ross also received help from members of Dennis Strickland’s family in Colorado. Although Dennis’ parents had both passed away many years before, the family had always been aware of how close Dennis and Ross had been. It was their pleasure to use the family name and local political influence to help Ross with the election, so he had won the Electoral College votes of Colorado with ease.

Another demographic that sided with Ross was that of the military. He was rightfully thought of as “one of their own” because he had served in active duty for nearly a quarter of a century, and earned additional respect by seeing front line action in a foreign war. In that regard it was much easier for an active member of the military to address him as Commander and Chief as opposed to someone who had never worn a uniform.

The only contact from his days at the Naval Academy that Ross didn’t seek help from during the campaign was the last of his original roommates. Davis Lee Wakefield III had been an almost constant source of anguish during their time together at Annapolis, and had by last reports fallen on bad times. He had somehow found a way to squander the fortune that had been left to him by his parents, and in turn their family name carried little, if any, weight in South Carolina anymore.