"Baby, please just wear what they asked you to," Kane started, but Autumn threw in the tears, drawing Avery's attention off Kane and directly to her.
"I'm tired of this. What's wrong with you people? If we would have listened to public opinion, we would never be moving into the vice presidency to begin with! Autumn, wear the coat you want to wear. Kane, you're beside me all day. I'll hold the whole ceremony up if you continue to buck me on this," Avery asserted, and just as dramatically as Autumn had entered, Avery fled the room, slamming doors and pounding across the hardwood floors as he headed away to meet security for his ride to the White House.
"What's wrong with Dad?" Robert asked from the bedroom doorway.
"Daddy got him mad," Autumn said, checking her reflection in the dresser mirror. She was beautiful, long flowing blonde hair to match her long, lean frame, and seemingly completely unfazed by Avery's dramatic display of anger.
"I think you contributed your fair share, young lady. Now, come here, both of you. Let me take a good look at you," Kane said, pulling his suit coat on. Both Robert and Autumn came to stand in front of Kane. His heart swelled with pride. His children. Both so similar, there was no question they were twins. Robert was already five-ten, and Autumn was an inch or so shorter than him. Avery had the clothes they wore today made for them, and they fit perfectly. Robert's suit made him look a few years older, where Autumn went with the styles of the season. Her shoulder pads were thick and pronounced. He was so in love with their children.
"You two pass. Now, remember your manners all day. Do everything you learned. We need to represent today, and today more than ever—ignore the hate. It's their problem, not ours," Kane said, turning off the bedroom lamps. This was their last day in this house for the next few years. All their furniture was being stored as they moved in to the vice president's residence. "Get your things. We need to be on time this morning."
"Yes, sir," Robert said, turning immediately to do what was asked of him.
"Daddy, are you going to stand with us today?" Autumn asked, lingering at the bedroom door.
"I guess so, if that's what Avery wants," Kane said, moving to stand in front of her. "Go get your things, honey."
"I think you should. Dad likes to hold your hand when he gets nervous and he's really nervous today. I'm not supposed to say anything," Autumn confided.
"Is he nervous?" Kane asked, smiling now. Of course Autumn would tune in to that.
"Yes, he told me last night when he told me the school's going to approve this absence today even though we aren't sick." Kane's smile grew. Autumn would be worried about missing school today to stand beside her father.
"Don't worry anymore about it. I'll be there with him whenever he wants. Now, go get your things. The cars are waiting out front for us." Kane smiled again, watching Autumn's retreating back as she dashed away with the same flair with which she'd arrived.
Chapter 28
June, 1999 Washington D.C.
Avery left the closed-door meeting in the president's office with a deep scowl on his face. The president's top advisors flanked Avery, none of them speaking to him. He didn't bother speaking to them either. They were at odds, yet again. He shouldn't be surprised, their primary differences as people played a big part in their inability to come to any kind of workable agreement. Avery also suspected their disagreements really had more to do with personal agendas. If any of them had the heart of a true statesman, there wouldn't be such discord every time they met for these private advising sessions.
Why didn't the president speak directly to him? They were so in sync. They shared fundamental beliefs and both kept the American people's true interests at heart. As Avery let the thought linger, he also conceded the president needed outside opinions. Besides, Avery's strengths were sadly also his weaknesses. The people he tried to protect against government bureaucracy were the very people that set up daily pickets outside the vice presidential residence, damning him to hell for all eternity. The president needed a broad cabinet to help direct him, and Avery understood that, so he would just have to let what happened at these sessions roll off his back.
Janice stood off to the side. Her ever-present clipboard rested in her arms, along with a cordless phone ready in her hand. Avery concentrated on her, instead of the men surrounding him, and made a beeline to where she stood. He rarely liked whatever made her stand waiting for him, but in this case, he was certain he'd prefer whoever might be waiting on the phone to those senior cabinet members he was growing to hate.
"I have Kane waiting to speak with you," she said, handing Avery the phone. That confused him. Kane never interrupted his day, even when Avery begged him to do just that. Then Avery's eyes connected to Janice's as panic gripped his heart, and he brought the phone to his ear.
"They're fine, everyone's fine," Janice said, then mumbled something he didn't quite catch.
"Kane?" Avery asked, turning away from Janice. The phone's reception surprisingly held as he headed back to his office on the White House grounds. First, the irritation of the last hour, then the panic of the last thirty seconds, caused the beat of his heart to accelerate, and the constant indigestion that had plagued him since the day he took office made its presence known once again. Avery absently rubbed his belly, before sliding a hand across his heart. He'd left his packet of Rolaids at his desk. Dumb move since he lived on those things.
"Avery, why are you ignoring your physician?" Kane asked. Janice's hand appeared out of nowhere, producing his antacids. He snatched them from her and shot her a disapproving look. Why had she shared that with his overprotective husband?