Charlotte Kramer: Madam President Part 22

"Isn't it a relief that all of the kids are together? Griffin and Finley are at the house with the twins and about two dozen Secret Service agents. They're watching everything on TV."

She couldn't remember if Peter had told her that the twins were going to Brooke and Mark's house in Atherton. If he had, she didn't remember. The last update she'd heard was that Harry was still in Berkeley and Penny was in her apartment near Stanford.

"I'm so glad they're all at the house," Charlotte said.

She allowed Mark to put a protective arm around her shoulder. It was the first time anyone had offered her any physical comfort all day, and she was afraid she might start to cry.

"Please tell the twins that I'll call them as soon as I get out of the next NSC meeting."

Brooke and Mark turned their gaze to Peter.

"Are you sick?" Brooke asked him.

"No."

Brooke looked from Peter to Charlotte and then to Peter again. Mark sensed the tension and pulled Brooke gently toward the residence.

"Char, we'll be upstairs if you need anything," Mark said. He snapped his fingers to summon the dogs. The two younger ones followed him, but Cammie remained at Charlotte's feet.

"I'll take her to the Oval with me," Charlotte said.

When she heard the elevator door close, she looked back at Peter. He looked agonized.

"How is she?" Charlotte asked.

"In shock."

Charlotte couldn't remember a time when Peter had been as distressed about her as he appeared to be about Dale.

"Do whatever you have to do to get her through the rest of the day. If she needs to go home, I understand, but it would be helpful to have a press secretary tonight," she said coolly.

Peter nodded.

Charlotte contemplated telling him that her heart was breaking into so many pieces she wasn't sure she could get through the next ten minutes, not to mention the next two hours. She considered pulling him further into the hallway and clinging to him tearfully simply to experience his embrace. Part of her wanted to know what it would feel like to let go of the ball of pain she'd been holding on to so tightly all day. She couldn't remember a time when she'd allowed him to see her in pain. She wasn't even sure that she still knew how to show him that side of her or to lean on him if he had thought to offer. She stood there for a moment longer, waiting for him to ask her how she was or touch her or say something to her about how brave she was and how proud he was of her. He didn't do any of those things. Eventually, she murmured something about keeping her posted about Dale and then turned around and walked slowly back toward the Oval Office with Cammie underfoot.

CHAPTER FORTY.

Melanie Brian, can you hear me?"

"Barely. I've got another live shot on Charlotte's press conference in five minutes. Can I call you back?"

"I need to talk to you."

"Can it wait five minutes?"

"I don't think it can wait. Brian, walk outside for me."

"Mel, what's going on?"

"Just tell me when you're in a place where no one can hear you."

"Hang on."

Melanie heard him explain to his producer that he had to take a call outside. It sounded like she asked him if he'd be back for his live shot.

"I'll be back," Melanie heard him say. "I'm walking out the door. I'm pa.s.sing the smokers. A sniper might mistake me for an intruder, but I am alone and out of earshot now. What's going on?"

Melanie was scared to tell Brian. She didn't know how he'd take the news, and she was afraid that he wouldn't be able to do his job afterward.

"Do you have a break after this live shot? A longer break?"

"No. I don't have any breaks, Mel. I am on the air every five minutes with whatever sc.r.a.p of information I can get." He sounded stressed.

"Brian, listen to me. I have to tell you something terrible."

"What?"

"It's Warren. He went down to the Mall after the first explosion. He was helping the first responders, and he was right there when the second bomb exploded."

"Where? He was right where? Mel, why are you crying? What happened to Warren? I can't understand you."

"He died. He died in the second explosion. Warren died." Melanie was choking on her own sobs now.

"Oh, my G.o.d, my poor wife. I'm so sorry that I'm not there, honey."

"Did you hear me?"

"I heard you, honey. Dammit. I wish I was with you. Try to calm down."

"What was he even doing down there?" Melanie couldn't stop crying.

"I don't know, sweets, I don't know. Knowing him, he probably found it unbearable to sit and watch all of the carnage on television, so he went down to help."

"I'm so mad at him. I wish he'd just stayed in his office. Why couldn't he just have stayed in his office like everyone else?"

"Mel, listen to me. Warren would be so p.i.s.sed if he knew that you were this upset."

Melanie cried harder.

"Mel, is there a doctor on the trip? Did you tell the doctor? Let me talk to the doctor. I want you to lie down. Do you promise me that you'll lie down for a few minutes?"

"I'm OK. I was scared about telling you."

"I'm fine, Mel. I want you to take care of yourself."

"I will. I promise. Are you sure you're all right?"

"I'm going to try not to think about it until we're together, Mel. This is going to sink in for both of us over the next few days, and we'll deal with it then. I don't want you to worry about me. Will you promise me that you will not worry about me? Just get home and take care of yourself, and don't get too upset. We'll deal with this together."

Melanie sniffled.

"Do his parents know yet?" Brian asked.

"Charlotte is calling them now."

"They're here. They came to see Warren. They were going to meet Dale tonight. Does Dale know?"

"Peter just told her."

"When?"

"While the president was briefing you guys."

"Was that your idea?"

"Yeah."

They were quiet for a couple of minutes. Melanie blew her nose.

"Don't you have another live shot?" she asked.

"I have a few minutes," Brian a.s.sured her.

"I worked on Charlotte's speech for tonight."

"Charlotte's lucky to have you."

"How's the mood there?"

"Safe to say that it's about to get worse."

"Because of Warren?"

"And the CNN crew."

"Right."

"Listen, there's something else that Warren would want."

"What?"

"Warren would want you to focus on Charlotte today."

"I know."

"Wait a minute. Is she waiting for you to get back?"

"What do you mean?"

"She announced that she was addressing the nation at eleven. Is that so you'll be there?"

"I don't think so."

"I'm sure it is."

"I can't imagine that's why she delayed the address."

"I'm willing to bet you it is."

"Are you sure you're all right?"

"You promised not to worry about me. I'll see you in a couple of hours."

Melanie hung up and felt relieved. She'd get through the rest of the day. But did Charlotte really schedule the speech so that she would be there?

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE.

Dale Dale could hear people around her speaking in low voices, but she couldn't make out what they were saying. It was as if she was underwater and they were standing at the edge of a pool or bathtub waiting for her to lift her head above its surface. Every time she tried to focus on the conversations around her, Peter's words replayed in her mind, and she was plunged deeper underwater.

He didn't make it, Peter had said.

That was the part of the story that still felt like a lie.

She understood that shortly after she last spoke to him, Warren had gone down to the site of the bombing. It didn't surprise her that he'd wanted to help with the recovery effort; Dale could even picture him rus.h.i.+ng to help the victims. And she couldn't help but wonder if the universe was exacting its revenge on her for her attempted infidelity.

But the rest of it was incomprehensible. Warren had survived the wars. He'd come home from Iraq and Afghanistan and had thrived in D.C. He wasn't one of those people who rose to professional and social heights for the purpose of reveling in access or status. Warren was oblivious to those sorts of things. Warren was bright and warm, and everyone flourished in his presence. And he'd loved Dale in a way that made her feel normal. Every other relations.h.i.+p she'd ever been in had left her feeling broken. Being loved by Warren had made her feel like she could have a happily ever after just like everyone else.

He didn't make it.

She knew that Warren had wanted their relations.h.i.+p to grow more serious. He'd never pushed, but he made it no secret that he imagined a future with her in it. When they encountered couples with young children, Warren could barely contain his longing to have a family of his own. His face would grow serious, and he'd pull her in for a kiss and whisper something about how beautiful her children would be. She always kissed him back, but she usually made a joke about what a horrible mother she'd make. No one else had ever made her feel like she could bring another life into the world and take care of it and love it.

He didn't make it.