25. What's In a Name?

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Mac felt anxious as she walked into St. John's Episcopal Church a couple of minutes before ten on Easter morning. The "in-laws" and Rebecca were waiting inside. What could she possibly say to Lauren's parents? Moreover, Rod had always been Rebecca's "boy," and she must hate her for breaking his heart all those years ago. Nevertheless, she smiled at Reverend Aiken's approaching face as she felt her mother touch her sleeve.

"I'll be inside," Kate told her.

Mac nodded and turned her attention to her friend. "Good morning," she said with more enthusiasm than she felt.

"Happy Easter, Madam President," the Reverend replied with a twinkle in her blue eyes. "You seem to have acquired quite the posse—including a very tall, dark and handsome Judge."

"He's a friend, Hannah," Mac insisted.

"Sure, he is," she said with a teasing grin. "But I'm available to perform a wedding night or day."

Involuntarily Mac flushed. "Don't hold your breath. You've got a far better chance at presiding over that Inauguration Day prayer service."

"Oh, I'm counting on that, too."

"God willing," she agreed with a chuckle.

Hannah leaned towards her and said quietly so that the surrounding agents of her detail could not hear, "I'm praying for you—and I am not just talking about the election."

She shook her head with a wry grin. "Happy Easter."

"Happy Easter, indeed," Hannah replied with a smile. "See you at dinner."

"Dinner?" Mac asked.

"Didn't you know? Rod invited Peter and me to join you this afternoon."

Mac chuckled. "I'm sure he meant it as a very pleasant surprise. He has a tendency to do that," she added thinking back over the course of their relationship.

Hannah smiled reassuringly. "Well, we won't say a word. But I'm telling you, Madam President. He's a keeper," she whispered with a wink before turning to walk back to the front of the church with Mac following behind, smiling and shaking her head.

XXXXXXXXXX

Mac greeted familiar faces and shook hands as she walked towards her pew. It continued to amaze her that the American people felt such a need to connect with her. They would wait in the cold, wet, heat or dark for hours to shake her hand, secure an autograph, or simply to wish her well.

As she shook the hand of young boy about ten, her heart began to pound. She glanced up to meet the beautiful grey-green eyes she had felt upon her above the standing congregation. They were laughing. Of course, he would be amused at this scene. She saw something else there, an emotion she couldn't quite pinpoint. But it made her heart race.

"Good morning," she silently mouthed to him.

He winked and mouthed back, "You, too."

She smiled and turned her attention back to the young boy in front of her. "Happy Easter," she told him as she tousled his thick, dark hair before moving forward. She greeted a few more parishioners and in no time at all she had reached her destination. They, too, were standing.

She stepped in front of her mother and greeted Cooper. "Morning, Junior. You look a little sleepy. Late night?"

"Morning just came too early," he muttered with a sheepish grin.

She laughed and addressed the Calloway family matriarch standing to his right. "Hello, Rebecca," she said warmly while extending a hand towards her. More than ever, Rod's grandmother reminded her of a taller, darker version of Nancy Reagan. She was elegant. She also possessed a dynamic, strong personality and a keen mind.

Rebecca took both of her hands. "My girl—Madam President—it's about time we meet again."

"I agree," Mac said as some of her anxiety disappeared. "I hope you are feeling better."

"It was nothing. Just old age rearing its ugly head."

"Not possible—at least not from what I've been told," Mac said affectionately. "Thank you for coming."

Rebecca leaned forward and said quietly, "Thank you."

Mac smiled before greeting young Rebecca. "Good morning. Did you talk to Jamison?"

Becca nodded and with a shy smile said, "Yes, ma'am."

"I bet he was still pumped about the game."

"Yes, ma'am."

She bent down. "Hi, Gracie. What a pretty dress!" She was wearing a white smocked dress with pink ribbon sewn into the hem and sleeves. "Did the Easter Bunny find you?"

Grace nodded with a smile.

"What do you say?" Matt Craig asked his daughter with a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you, Madam President," Grace replied politely.

"You're welcome," Mac said with a little tap to the little girl's nose.

Straightening up, she extended her hand to Alex's husband. He wasn't a big man, only about 5'10." But he had the build of an athlete and his coloring reminded her of photos she'd seen of a young Jack Kennedy. There was no doubt that his daughter had inherited both his hair and his eyes. "Matt, I'm so happy you were able to break away. How was the redeye?"

"It's a pleasure, Madam President," Matt said shaking her hand. "And the flight was good."

"He can sleep anywhere," Alex told her, leaning across her husband.

"Don't let her fool you," Matt said while wrapping an arm tenderly around his wife. "She's even more adept at it."

Mac laughed. "That I can believe. Must be a genetic thing."

"Oh yeah!" he agreed. "They're famous for it."

Alex leaned forwards. "You look stunning and your necklace is exquisite."

Instinctively Mac brought her hand up to the base of her throat and fingered her diamond and pearl necklace. She was glad she'd been talked into this new pale pink suit with Peter Pan collar. She didn't feel like looking presidential today. "Thank you. I was about to say the same for you," she said before taking a quick, deep breath. It was time for the "in-laws." She put a deliberate smile on her face and took a step to her right. Luckily, Rod seemed to have anticipated her next move. He had an arm around Lauren's mother and was waiting to make the introductions.

"Mackenzie," he said enthusiastically, "I'd like you to meet William and Anne Murphy."

"Welcome to Washington," Mac told both of them as she shook their hands.

"It's an honor, Madam President," Anne told her sincerely.

"Thank you for letting us crash the party," William added.

"Oh… I think I'm the real party crasher here," Mac replied teasingly while sharing a quick smile with Rod. "But please, you must call me Mac or Mackenzie."

"Only for today," William agreed.

"Fair enough," she warmly conceded before stepping in front of Rod. "Hey," she whispered as she passed him and took her seat at the end of the row. As she sat, so did the rest of the congregation and Hannah stepped forwards to the podium.

After she was settled next to him, Rod leaned over and said, "See, that wasn't so bad." He chuckled when she gave him the knowing look that said, You're right, of course, but I'm too stubborn and proud to admit it. "You look beautiful, by the way," he whispered.

"Thank you," she replied, the light in her eyes unmistakable. "You look pretty handsome yourself." He was wearing an elegant three-button light grey suit with a white shirt and a textured sky blue silk tie. "Your grandmother looks amazing. Is she really feeling better?" she asked.

"She'll likely outlive us all. She'd have to be on her deathbed to miss this weekend with you."

They lapsed into silence as Reverend Aiken made her introductory comments. However, as the choir began singing, she touched his leg. When their eyes met, quietly she said, "She doesn't know anything about why we broke up, does she?"

He shook his head. "No."

It touched her to realize that after everything she'd put him through he was still protecting her. "Thank you."

"Mac, it wasn't your fault."

"You're wrong," she told him. "We both know it."

He sighed and said, "Don't do this. It just wasn't meant to be. Nobody blames you. Okay?"

She sighed, too. "Okay," she replied softly with a smile. "At least I won't have to spend the next couple of days groveling."

He grinned. "I'm shocked you know what the word means."

"Congress and the press remind me on a daily basis."

"Whatever happened to speaking softly while carrying a big stick?"

"More like catching flies with honey," she whispered back. "Guess we better pay attention, huh? Or at least pretend."

"I guess we better," he agreed. "For Hannah's sake if nothing else."

"Right. For Hannah's sake," she repeated with a knowing smile before making a concentrated effort to focus on her friend at the front of the church rather than on the man at her side. She mostly succeeded until halfway through the sermon when Grace came over to them.

"Want to sit on my lap?" Rod asked as he extended his arms towards his niece.

She shook her head and whispered, "Madam President."

Mac smiled and scooted over a little to make room for her. "How's that?" she asked after she'd settled Grace on her lap. She was touched that the little girl would come to her. However, the tender look she discovered in Rod's eyes made her head spin. How could he look at her like that and feel only friendship? After the passage of so many years, how could Lauren's hold on him still be so deep and so strong?

XXXXXXXXXX

"There's nothing we can do about it today obviously, but you were right to call. Let's meet at seven tomorrow so we can get a handle on it before I have to do the Easter thing." Mac hung up the phone in her study and looked at her watch, relieved that the call from her Chief of Staff hadn't taken as long as she feared.

As she approached the stairwell she heard a familiar little voice shout excitedly, "I win! I win!" Followed by a familiar deep refrain agreeing, "You sure did! You're just too fast for me." She peeked her head around the corner in time to see Rod throw a squealing Grace high in the air. "Nice catch," she told him as Grace landed back in his arms.

He turned and smiled. "Hey! Didn't see you. Everything okay?"

"India and Pakistan. But there's nothing I can do about it today." She looked around him down the staircase. "Where's the gang?"

"Still touring. Cooper took them over to the West Wing. But Gracie was so excited about seeing the rooms in her coloring book that she wants to color right now."

"You do?" Mac asked her with a warm smile walking over to them. She didn't have a whole lot of experience buying gifts for young children and was relieved that she'd scored a hit with the crayons and White House coloring books she'd had Cooper pick up from the Historical Association shop. She'd also given her a little backpack with some White House M&Ms and a White House Christmas tree ornament.

"Uh huh," Grace answered. "And use my stickers, too."

"Stickers, too?" Rod exclaimed in mock surprise.

"Not just any stickers," Mac informed him. "But stickers of White House artifacts and paintings that go with one of the coloring books, huh Gracie?"

"Uh huh."

"Wow! Somebody must like you a lot," he told Gracie with a smile.

"Madam President," she replied.

"Madam President, indeed," he said making eye contact with the woman in question.

"Should we go into the Yellow Room again?" Mac asked them while trying to keep her respiration normal. Even an innocent, playful look from him seemed to wreak havoc with her physiology. "You can color on the little table, Grace."

"Great idea," Rod agreed. He put Grace down and told her, "Go get your backpack."

The little girl ran and retrieved it from a chair in the hall and the three of them settled themselves in the Yellow Room with Gracie happily sitting on the floor coloring on the table while Rod and Mackenzie relaxed on the adjacent sofa.

"I am so stuffed from dinner," Mac told him. "It was delicious. You did a wonderful job." The thirteen of them had eaten around the large table in his suite. It was the perfect setting for an intimate and informal gathering. The Secret Service had sealed off the entire floor allowing them at least a modicum of privacy. She'd been amazed at how comfortable it felt and how easily the conversation flowed, even with Lauren's parents. Before coming over here for dessert, they'd sat and talked around the flat screen television watching to find out who Duke's opponent would be next Saturday night.

He laughed. "Like I had anything to do with it. But thank you. I hope we weren't too overpowering for you," he teased.

"Worse than the North Koreans," she deadpanned. "You were right about William, by the way. He did ask me to throw out the first pitch in Atlanta next year. I told him he would probably want to reconsider after next weekend."

"Not a chance," he said shaking his head. "Every team in the league will be fighting to get you after you bring the heat in Boston. I'm predicting a landslide victory for you in New England. But speaking of heat, I hope Nana didn't overstep her bounds with you, particularly on Africa."

She laughed. "I don't think that's possible. At ninety-one she's earned the right to give whatever advice she chooses; and she was mostly right, particularly about Africa. We have failed there, and we must do better."

"It's a daunting task," he agreed.

"I can't believe how sharp—how hip—she is. She's hardly changed at all. I want to be just like her at that age."

"Me, too," he said with a chuckle. He leaned forward to see which White House room Grace was currently obsessively coloring.

"Rod?" Mac asked.

He sat back and again made eye contact with her. "Yeah?"

"Thank you for inviting Hannah and Peter," she told him sincerely. "That was a very thoughtful thing to do. They had a wonderful time."

"I thought you might feel like a pilgrim in an unholy land."

She raised an eyebrow. "Was my anxiety that obvious?"

"No," he assured her. "It was more for me than for you. From what you've told me about them, I've wanted to know them better. I thought today would be a good opportunity for it."

"You were right."

"Their story is amazing," he said thinking back on what he'd learned at dinner. "I look at all the good they've done here and in Central America and I feel ashamed of my own life and good fortune."

"You're not the only one," she threw back lightly before turning serious. "I guess all we can do is to try the best we can with the gifts and talents we've been given. Hopefully, we leave the world a little better place."

"Is it enough though?" he asked thoughtfully.

"I don't know," she answered with equal soberness. "What else is there but to try? Isn't that what you were trying to tell me the other day?"

He looked at her inquisitively.

"Margaret Mead," she prompted. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world…."

He chuckled.

"That thought's been stuck in my head the past week—thanks to you. I don't think I realized before how perceptive she was. Without such small groups, Christianity wouldn't exist and neither would the United States of America." She smiled at him and added, "But then you know that already."

He shifted closer to her and rested a hand on her knee. "What's most important is that you know it. Because you better than anyone are in a position to change the world."

She nodded in understanding. "I made a decision," she informed him. "I'm going to appoint Maria Durham to the Court. And if by some miracle I win the election and the Chief Justice retires like it is rumored he will do if someone other than Templeton wins, I'm going to name big Cooper as Chief Justice. You're right. We need another lion as Chief. I know that I'll take heat about cronyism, but he's supremely qualified. Other than you, there's no one better."

"There's nobody better than Cooper, period," he assured her.

"But," she continued, "that won't happen unless I win in November. To have even a chance at winning, you know there can't be any hiccups in this nomination. Judge Durham is brilliant, confirmable, and…."

"Madam President," he said with great amusement, "are you campaigning?"

She felt her face flush. With an embarrassed grin, she said, "Guess I got carried away, huh?"

"Are you honestly afraid I might criticize your choice?"

She shrugged. "It's just that I care what you think—more than anyone else. I heard what you had to say the other night, it's just that…."

"Mackenzie," he gently cut her off. "You got it right."

She sighed. "Thank you."

"Uncle Rod?" Grace interrupted from down on the floor in front of them.

"Yes, sweetie?" he answered.

She put down her crayon and asked, "Can we go up in Washington's tower now? You promised we could go today."

He looked at Mac, who smiled and nodded.

"Yes, we can go," he said. "But we better go find Mommy and Daddy first and see if anybody wants to go with us."

"Hooray!" she answered excitedly, eliciting laughter from her uncle and "Madam President."

XXXXXXXXXX

The three of them went downstairs and met the others walking along the West Colonnade. Becca and Cooper joined by Kate volunteered to take Grace over to the Monument. After they left, Mac asked Rod, "Are you going to break out the clubs?" Matt had brought some new golf clubs back with him from California and Rod and William were dying to check them out.

Rod turned to his brother-in-law. "Matt?"

"Sounds great to me," he replied.

"Fantastic. I'll just go get the clubs." He began to walk inside.

"Rod?" Mac called out. When he turned around, she gestured towards the putting green located across the driveway adjacent to the Rose Garden. "One of the Usher's beat you to it."

He, too, looked over and saw the bag leaning against the little white bench next to the green. He shook his head in wry amusement. "I should have known. You going to hit with us?" he asked her.

"No way," she told him. "My golf game needs serious help and I'm not willingly going to subject myself to ridicule—particularly not in front of a professional like Matt."

"Suit yourself," Rod said with a smile, already beginning to walk towards the green with William and Matt.

She turned to Rebecca. "Is it too chilly for you out here?" In reality it was a beautiful spring afternoon, but she didn't want to exacerbate the older woman's cold.

"It's lovely," Rebecca insisted. "A perfect day."

"Would y'all like to sit and visit on the patio by my office?" Mac asked the three women.

"Y'all?" Alex teased, which elicited laughter from Rebecca and Anne. "Since when does a New England girl say 'y'all' and 'sit and visit?'"

Mac laughed, too. "Since spending an inordinate amount of time with a Georgia boy and…."

"His Yankee father, who also occasionally lapses into a drawl?" Rebecca suggested with a smile.

"Something like that…. You're not going to let me live this one down, are you?" she asked them with a rueful shake of the head. At the same time, however, it felt nice to be treated like a person rather than as a president.

"No way," Alex told her.

The four of them walked around the colonnade to the patio next to her office. She and Anne sat at the little table while Rebecca and Alex relaxed in the oversized cushioned chairs. In short order, one of the ushers brought them drinks.

"The grounds are lovely," Anne told her looking over the Rose Garden and South Lawn.

"I love watching the gardens change with the seasons. The staff does an amazing job. But spring is my favorite time, I think. In a few weeks the Rose Garden will be filled with tulips. It's gorgeous."

"What about roses?" Rebecca asked.

Mac chuckled. "At some point, I'm sure they'll be some of those, too. Probably not as many as Elizabeth would like."

"You remembered," the Calloway matriarch noted.

"Yeah," she replied meeting her knowing gaze. After a long second she asked the others, "How did you like the tour? Cooper really knows his stuff."

"The real question is what facts are true and what was the product of his very active imagination," Rebecca said, her eyes full of humor.

The three of them laughed. "I'm sure there was some embelishment," Mac told them. "But he's read all the histories of the house, and has asked the curator and chief usher about a million questions."

"He's always been curious," Anne told her, "even when he was a small boy."

Mac smiled. "It was one of many reasons I hired him. Rod's told me how much you've done for them. Did they always live across the street?"

"No," Anne said. "A year or so after Lauren died, the property next to ours became available and Rod bought it. It would have been much easier on him to return to Connecticut. We are so grateful he chose to stay, and that the Calloway family has been supportive of him staying."

"Much as I hate having them farther away," Rebecca told her, "it was the best thing for him and the twins."

"Do you have other children?" Mac asked Anne.

"A daughter, son-in-law and three granddaughters in California, and a son who was killed in Afghanistan in 2002."

"Military?"

Anne nodded. "Marines."

"I'm sorry," Mac told her sincerely. Although she had nothing to do with the military or foreign policy at that time, she was the current Commander in Chief and felt accountable for his death.

"Thank you," Anne replied. "Having Rod and the twins stay close helped fill a huge void in our lives. He is like a son to us. Thank you for being so gracious with us. I know this can't be easy. Having the dead wife's family descend on you."

"Nonsense," Rebecca piped in. "You are family, period. You should be here."

"I completely agree," Mac added affectionately. "Today has been wonderful. I'm as excited as anyone to see Cooper as the bunny tomorrow."

"My grandson loves his job and is crazy about you."

"He's wonderful at his job," Mac told them proudly. "You should have seen him with the Emperor of Japan about a month ago. The Emperor absolutely loves baseball and Cooper stepped in at the State Dinner when my escort came down with food poisoning. He completely won the man over, so much so that he was personally invited to attend the reciprocal dinner at the Japanese Embassy. I was sorely tempted to name him Ambassador to Japan."

"That's Cooper!" Alex commented with a chuckle.

"I get the feeling you feel about him the way William and I feel about his father," Anne said insightfully.

Mac smiled in return. There was no point denying it.

"Mackenzie?" Rod called out from the other side of the hedge that formed the south border to the Rose Garden.

She stood and walked over to the edge of the patio. "Yeah?"

"Okay if we move the fences?" he asked. "We want to try out a couple new drivers. We'll fix them afterwards."

She looked around. Temporary fences had been set up around the perimeter of the lawn for security reasons and crowd control. "Don't worry about it. The grounds crew will do it."

He nodded. "Thanks."

"I'm not going to get sued because you've beaned some unsuspecting tourist standing along the fence line, am I?"

"Nah," he replied with a smirk, "we'll be aiming for the fountain. We have a little wager going."

"My money's on Matt," she told him with a smirk of her own.

"What?" he proclaimed with mock exasperation. "No faith in my athletic prowess? I'm hurt."

She laughed. "You'll get over it. By the way, are you playing righty?"

"Yeah," he shrugged. "I usually do. Sure you don't want to join us?"

"I'll pass. But hit a few for me."

"The one that sails over the fence will be yours," he said as he turned around.

Mac laughed and watched as he walked back over to the green where Matt and William continued to putt. When she turned around she found all three of her companions—including Anne—looking at her with smug smiles. "What?" she asked as she sat back down at the table.

"What's going on with you and my brother?" Alex said for the group.

"What do you mean?" she asked feigning ignorance.

"You're back together, aren't you?"

"What does he say?" she questioned evasively and then watched as Rebecca and Alex shared a conspiratorial look.

Alex sighed and sheepishly confessed, "We don't know. We're not allowed to ask him about you."

"His mother read us and Sydney the riot act about meddling," Rebecca clarified upon seeing Mac's puzzlement.

"But Elizabeth is in Africa," Mac pointed out.

Rebecca shook her head. "Maybe so. But her word is law and her will stretches over mountains and across oceans and continents, particularly when it comes to Roderic."

"So we're asking you instead," Alex admitted. "Although Matt better be grilling him, too."

Mac laughed. She couldn't help herself. Talk about divide and conquer, she thought as the others, too, began to laugh.

"It is pretty funny," Rebecca agreed.

"But come on, tell us. We're dying to know," Alex begged.

"There's really nothing to tell," Mac told them. "We're friends."

"Oh please!" Alex exclaimed rolling her eyes. "The two of you are soul mates, and the chemistry between you is unreal."

Mac turned to Anne apologetically, "She didn't mean…."

"It's okay," Anne said laying a hand on her arm. "Lauren's been gone a long time. More than anything we want him and the twins to be happy. He's been happier the past month than he's been since her death."

"Thank you," Mac told her sincerely, hoping desperately that her words were true. "Honestly though," she said to all of them, "we're not back together. We're just friends."

"But you care about him," Anne said. It was more of a comment than a question.

"Very much," she acknowledged softly, her voice filled with more emotion than she would have liked.

"And he cares about you."

"What's in a name?" Rebecca suggested to her. "That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

"Shakespeare," she said answering the unspoken challenge.

"A very wise man," Rebecca told her with a wink.

She chuckled. Standing she told them, "I think maybe I'll take Roderic up on his offer and hit a few golf balls."

"I think that's a good idea," Anne agreed. "Why don't you send William over here? I think he's hit enough."

"Matt, too," Alex told her.

Mac grinned at their blatant attempt at manipulation. Then she went and did as they suggested.

XXXXXXXXXX

Monday, March 28, 2016

"Thanks, Jessica," Mac said stepping out of the elevator.

"Goodnight, ma'am," the Agent replied.

Mac set her briefcase with the night's reading on the nearest chair and took off her jacket. Usually she took the stairs but tonight she wimped out. After everyone's departure late this morning the day had been increasingly hectic. Now, however, the night seemed eerily silent. Her mother must be in bed.

However, she walked into the kitchen and the smell of warm chocolate chip cookies hit her. Her mother was most definitely not in bed, but instead was sitting at the table, back turned and completely engrossed in the late night talk shows. Mac smiled and grabbed a couple of cookies. Then careful not to startle, she approached the table asked casually, "So what part of my day are the pundits keying in on tonight?"

Kate turned around as her daughter joined her at the table. "Not you—Cooper and his back flip."

Mac chuckled. As she'd blown the whistle to start the first egg roll on the South Lawn that morning, Cooper, standing next to her, had thrown a standing back flip while dressed in full bunny suit. "I had no idea that was coming, did you?"

"Not a clue," Kate said with a smile. "But it was a big hit. He is a delight."

"That he is," she agreed.

"Would you like some milk?"

"I'll get it," Mac told her. "Can I get you anything?" she asked as she took a glass from the cupboard.

"I'm fine. How was your day, honey?"

"Busy," Mac told her with a sigh. She grabbed the milk from the refrigerator and sat back down next to her mother. "But India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire and future talks over the border dispute."

"That's huge," Kate said. "So why aren't you more excited?"

"Oh, I am," she insisted as she broke a cookie in half and took a bite.

"Mackenzie," Kate said after studying her daughter for a minute, "something is weighing on you. What is it?"

Mac played with her cookie for a moment before finally admitting, "I don't know if I can keep doing the friend thing."

"With Rod?"

"Yeah," she said with a small nod. She moved the milk aside and leaned forwards towards her mother. "I didn't expect it to be this hard. I don't understand it, Mom. I thought maybe Lauren's parents were holding him back. But I don't think so. He's right. They're wonderful. Anne told me that all they want is for him and the twins to be happy. I think she was letting me know it was okay for us to have a relationship."

"I'm not surprised. They are lovely, gracious people. You know love hasn't exactly been easy on him," Kate pointed out.

"You think he's still in love with Lauren?" This is what she feared the most. But she hoped her mother somehow saw something different.

"I don't think so. Not like that anyway. But you remember how tough it was during Dad's illness. What do you know about her illness?"

"Not much," she conceded. "He won't really talk about her. And frankly, I haven't wanted to bring her up."

"She was sick for over two and a half years. The twins were four when she was diagnosed. I don't know how he coped with it all. It was brain cancer, Mackenzie. There were many days when she couldn't recognize him or their children. How do you comfort her and explain that to 5-6 year olds? It had to be utterly devastating for him."

"I can't imagine how hard that must have been," Mac said thoughtfully. "But it's been thirteen years, Mom. Thirteen years! How can she still have such a hold on him?" She sighed deeply. "If only I had been brave enough to trust what I felt—to trust him. If only David and Mike…." With sardonic derision she added, "I must sound like a broken record."

"It's not too late," Kate suggested hopefully.

"I don't think so," she said shaking her head. "It's only friendship."

"I think you're wrong," Kate told her gently. "I've seen how he is with you, and how he looks at you."

"I don't know," she said picking up another cookie. "It's all so confusing. I feel like a teenager again."

Kate grinned but then turned serious. "Are words really that important right now?"

"What are you saying, Mom? Do you know something?" From almost the moment they met there had been a deep affection and understanding between Rod and her mother. Twenty years had not altered the connection between them.

"He's here, honey. Don't get tripped up by labels. He interrupted a vacation with his daughter to be there for you at the funeral. Likely stayed up most of the night writing the most eloquent speech I've ever heard. He's entrusted you with his only son when we both know all it would have taken for Cooper to turn down the job was a single word from him. Mac, he gave up the Supreme Court for you. Doesn't that tell you what you mean to him?"

"That was his pride, and sense of honor," she pointed out.

"Are you sure about that?" Kate questioned her. "Why did you offer him the job?"

"You know why," she replied somewhat impatiently. "What else could I do?"

"And yet he turned it down—twice. And the second time you can't say it was about pride or honor because he knew about Bridges' list. Isn't that what you told me?"

"Yeah," she acknowledged.

"That's not the kind of choice a man as smart and ambitious as Rod makes for only a friend. It's only been three weeks. Give him a little time to catch up." Kate stood and kissed her daughter on the cheek. "Don't stay up too late. I love you."

"Good night, Mom," she said thoughtfully, her mind already pondering her words: Don't get tripped up by labels. Hadn't Rebecca suggested the same thing with yesterday's word play?