Politics As Usual
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Chapter 14
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My cell phone rang at 8:00 AM Monday morning. 8 AM? I don't generally get calls at that hour. I had gotten back from the FOX studio by 11:45 PM the night before after taping Geraldo at Large and was ready for bed by 12:15 or so. It was so difficult but at the same time oddly comforting to be alone in the bed that Richard and I shared for the two nights before. I will admit that I slept on his pillow to surround myself with his scent and to feel closer to him.
"Hello?" I said, sounding sleepier than I should have. I didn't fall asleep right away but I'm sure I had slept at least six-and-a-half hours or so.
"Morning Gorgeous," I heard an equally tired sounding voice on the other end of the line.
"Richard," I breathed. I was expecting his call at some point, but not within twelve hours of the time we parted company. "What are you doing awake?"
"I stayed up to watch my beautiful, brilliant and bewitching girlfriend's appearance on Geraldo."
"I didn't realize you were seeing Susan Estrich," I replied. Then I realized, he called me his girlfriend. We haven't been boyfriend and girlfriend since... well, since I graduated college and joined then-Candidate Hudson's campaign almost twelve years ago.
"You know who I was referring to," he said, his voice suddenly husky.
"Me?" I replied, trying to sound innocent.
"Yes, you." He paused. "You did great on the show. And I miss you already."
"I miss you too. The bed felt so empty without you. I slept on your pillow."
"At least you've gotten a chance to sleep."
"Yes, why aren't you asleep?"
"I got in about 3 AM local time and as I just said I decided to stay up and see my girlfriend on the 4 AM rebroadcast of Geraldo out here."
"I love to hear you call me your girlfriend." What was I, 15?
"I love that you are my girlfriend, and I love you, Kory," he replied and I warmed to my toes.
"I love you, Richard, but you better get some rest."
"You're probably right. I'll call later today if I get a chance, otherwise we'll talk tomorrow," he said, and I could hear him yawn.
"Sounds great," I said, smiling like a goofball.
"Good-bye."
"Bye."
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I got home about 4 PM. It was about a six drive that time of day going from Manhattan to Arlington, and I hadn't rushed in the morning to leave the Four Seasons or that bed that smelled like Richard. I did what I might have done for at least part of the day anyway on the ride home: listening to talk radio. I listened to Laura Ingraham until Noon (us Ivy League pundettes have to stay together), Rush Limbaugh until 3 PM and then I listen to Michael Medved (that hour in the evenings on Fox is all I need of Sean Hannity, unless I'm being booked by him that week).
I walked into my home and found Lilith and Mango in our office. Lil was on the phone and flashed me a smile and the universal "I'll be a minute" index finger in the air, and Mango came to greet me. Another of the many advantages of the breed, because he doesn't bark, he can be in the office and when there are calls, no one knows. He barely vocalizes at all so even though he was greeting me after I had been gone for a few days, he didn't make a sound.
Lil ended her call. "So," she gave me a knowing smile, "how was the weekend?" I had left a message before I left New York but otherwise I hadn't spoken with her over the weekend or on the way home.
"Wonderful," I said wistfully as I fell into my leather rolling desk chair.
"Details..." Lil prompted, as she leaned forward, her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands.
"I don't kiss and tell..." I said, again smiling like a goofball.
"Well, I'm very happy for you that you two at least kissed." she said with a wink.
"So... am... I... " I replied, a smile stuck on my face. It was going to be a long month, but I had so much to look forward to... unless something happens.
"What?" Lilith said, looking concerned.
"Huh?"
"You frowned for a second," she pointed out.
"Oh, it's just that things were great, but I can't shake the feeling something is going to happen, that it was too easy somehow," I explained.
"For you and Richard to be together again should be easy. You should have been already been back together in the first place. There should have never been that misunderstanding."
"I guess," I still felt uneasy.
"Well turn your frown upside-down Missy, cause we have dinner plans tonight."
"Oh, I'm kind of tired," I replied. I really was.
"Sorry, you can't get out of this one."
"I can't?"
"We're invited to President Hudson's house."
The Queen of England. The Pope. Sitting and former Presidents of the United States. There are a handful of people in the world whose invitation you can not turn down, no matter what. Not that I would have. As I've said I had become fairly close to President and Mrs. Hudson and I always enjoyed spending time with them. It was very short notice in fact. It had been Mrs. Hudson who Lil was speaking with when I arrived home and we were due there at 5:30 PM. Luckily it wasn't far.
I showered quickly and changed into a simple navy skirt and pumps with a cream silk fitted blouse. I decided on pearls. You never go wrong with pearls.
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Victor Stone, President Hudson's personal assistant answered the door. He was a good friend to both Richard and me through the years, although he was another one of the people that when Richard started to go out with Babs that he sided with me. (I got custody of most of our friends as it were.) He was a friend of Lilith's as well. I couldn't help but sense something was off when he greeted us. His hug was softer yet longer, and the look on his face, well, his smile and the look in his eyes didn't match up. I wanted to say something to him, or even to Lilith, but I was whisked away by myself to meet with the President in his study.
In retrospect President Hudson did look different than he had a month before when I had last seen him, but I hadn't zeroed in on it. Before I could start to put it together, he got right to his first of the two big pieces of news that he had for Lil and I that night.
"Kory, thank you for coming. I do want to hear about your weekend but only when Mary is here to hear it as well. I trust you had a nice time with Dick," he said with a kind, fatherly smile. Wow, news travels fast.
"I did have a nice weekend. Richard and I had a great time," I replied, blushing.
"Well, I'm glad. We'll pull Mary in here in a minute for all the juicy details," he said with a twinkle in his eye.
"Mr. President-" I said in slight protest. Yes, because it was a bit fatherly, it was a bit embarrassing.
"You've been in many ways like another daughter to us. We just really want you to be happy."
"Thank you, sir."
"But let me get right to the point why I called you here tonight before we get off-track. The first reason you're here is because I want you to write my biography."
I nearly fell on the floor. Well, I was looking for the perfect book to write...
"You want me to write it, sir?" I asked, not hiding my surprise nor my glee.
"Of course, Kory. you're the perfect candidate." He paused briefly, "Will you do it?"
There really wouldn't have been a choice, not that I would have wanted to say no, "Of course, I would be honored, Mr. President."
"Very good, very good," he replied.
"May I speak freely, sir?" I asked.
"You know that you never have to ask that, Kory. And I am no longer in the White House and you are like family. You can call me Howard."
"Thank you sir, but I am not sure if I could call you that at the moment. But I would like to ask, why aren't you writing an autobiography?" He was a fantastic writer and had written a number of books. Why wouldn't he be writing a memoir?
"I need to get back to you on that one, after dinner. Let's have some wine and cheese brought in here and call in the others you can tell an old couple and some close friends about young love."
"Sounds great," I replied, still feeling confused. Things were not adding up, but I was still a bit too swept away in rekindled love and the fact that I had been finally presented with the ultimate book to write to really see what was in front of me.
I loved that Victor was part of the family, not that I expected anything different. One thing did strike me that there wasn't more real and 'honorary' family members around. There always seemed to be one or more of the Hudson's grown children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, former and current staffers, former advisers, former cabinet members, and you name it there at the Hudson Homestead for dinner. The fact that it was just Lilith and me plus Victor who lived in the residence about four or five days a week seemed more than unusual.
After a bit of coaxing, I started my story by recounting my first meeting Jason Todd and then our subsequent appearance of TV when afterward at dinner Jason surprised me by having Richard join us. I also told everyone about the big misunderstanding there had been, that Richard thought I was with Lucas and started to see Barbara. I did convey also a bit about their relationship including the engagement and subsequent break off of it.
President Hudson's reaction was priceless, "Are you honestly telling me that Dick had no idea that Lucas Trent was gay? Everyone knew Lucas was gay!"
Victor cracked up, "Dick Grayson – the man without gaydar."
"That's what Jason said," I told them with a laugh. Not that it was really all that funny in the big scheme of things...
"I know it's funny now, but look what it cost you," Mrs. Hudson, or Mary said. "I think Barbara Gordon must have done something to convince him."
"That's my theory," Lilith added.
"Barbara did tell Richard that Lucas and I were a couple, but whether or not she told him knowing it was a lie, I can't be certain."
Again after some coaxing, I recounted the highlights of the weekend Richard and I had just shared. I scaled back on some of the details like sharing a bed (we did have two suites) and the 'dirty' dancing. I told them about walking around Manhattan, the restaurants and seeing South Pacific. It was nice to see that bygones were bygones, that everyone seemed both happy for us and to not be angry with at Richard for things with Babs.
Soon we were sitting down to an exquisite meal. President Hudson seemed to have less of the robust appetite I was used to him having, but I really didn't think about it. He was perhaps a bit more reflective also, but we had a lot of memories from the eight years in the White House and it was fun reminiscing.
The plates were cleared after desert and coffee and Lilith and I were asked to come back to the President's personal study. I figured that it had something to do with the book. Lilith as my assistant would be working with me on much of it, helping me streamline my schedule, helping me with research and doing my proofreading.
President Hudson sat at his desk in his large leather overstuffed desk chair on casters and turned it around to face the loveseat where Lilith and I were seated. He looked very serious and sad.
He drew a deep breath, "Lilith, I asked Kory earlier to write my biography and I need her to start it right away," he started, slowly and deliberately. I couldn't fathom why I'd have to start it immediately.
"She has agreed. I will need her to dedicate as much time as possible and I will need you to assist her with research, proofreading, and maintaining her calendar."
Lilith nodded mutely.
"Now what I am going to tell you next is why we must start the biography immediately. You may not tell anyone what I am about to tell you until I tell you that you may."
I swallowed hard, I had an inkling this was very bad and a feeling of dread...
"Lilith, when I say no one, I mean no one, not even Don. Kory, the same goes for Richard. I need both of you to give me your word right now that what I am about to tell you will not leave this house."
"Yes sir," Lil and I said in unison softly.
"This is information that only Mary, Victor and I have with the exception of my doctors and we need to keep it quiet for a bit longer, alright?"
"Yes sir," we repeated.
"I'm dying."
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