Chapter 37 – Stevie
Nine a.m. had rolled around way too soon. Elizabeth showered and grabbed a cup of coffee. Henry entered the kitchen and rubbed is hand over her backside, which looked so toned in her jeans. She had on a black V-neck t-shirt and her hair was pulled into a messy bun. He kissed her on the back of her neck while she poured them each coffee. They just started talking about the day when they heard the door open.
Elizabeth tapped his arm and said "I got this one."
She greeted Stevie as she walked into the residence. Dressed in a dark, cranberry colored maternity top and jeans, Stevie threw her purse in the chair and looked up at her mother.
Elizabeth knew right away she had been crying. She went to her and hugged her. Stevie rested her head on Elizabeth shoulder as she moved her hair out of her face. "Oh Stevie, I am so so sorry. Today, will not be easy but I will be right by your side all day."
Stevie sniffed and Elizabeth felt the tears through her shirt. "Let's sit while we wait for Dad."
They sat down in the same chairs they had years ago in Elizabeth's first year. Now, it was hard to believe their time in the White House would soon be over.
"I never wanted this for you or your children. I know all too well that losing your parent is so painful. Losing a spouse is unimaginable to me."
Stevie didn't look up at her, "It's okay. Eliza won't remember him." She rubbed her belly, "This little mistake won't even know he existed."
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. "What?" Stevie didn't reply as the tears began to flow again.
"Stevie…" Elizabeth begged her to keep talking. Henry heard them from the kitchen but decided to let them be. He also desperately needed coffee to get over his hangover.
"You heard me, Mom. This wasn't planned. We had too much wine one night. Honestly, our marriage was over at least a year ago if not more." The defiance and bitterness in her voice shook Elizabeth.
"You still loved each other at one point. Someday you will be grateful to him for the children he gave you. Maybe right now is just too soon. Do you still want to go today?"
She nodded, "I need to say goodbye. But, I don't think we need to stay."
Whatever you want, Elizabeth thought as she handed her a tissue. Henry stepped in the room and handed Elizabeth her travel mug of coffee, "Blake just texted. The motorcade is ready."
They walked out the back way of the White House. The motorcade was small. Just four cars. Mostly Secret Service and one car for the pool camera and reporter. The press had been made aware this was a private family moment. The press always had one camera and one reporter that went with her wherever she went. But, this morning they had been instructed to wait in the car at the hospital.
The motorcade pulled up to a back door of the hospital. Elizabeth shielded Stevie as they walked in. The halls wee cleared by Secret Service so they saw no one. Not even a doctor. In the ICU, they were greeted by Dmitri's doctor. She was kind and simply led them to the room.
At the entrance, Stevie hesitated before she stepped in. Henry went before them and Elizabeth put her arm around her giving her a nudge.
He laid there, still as can be. The sound of the ventilator hit her first. The constant push forcing his lungs to breathe for him. He was gray and looked like he had lost 15 pounds in the two days. She reached down for his hand. It was cold. He was already gone. She stood their silent, saying nothing out loud. Every thought lived in her head. From beginning to end. The night they met as she walked up the stairs, their private meetings, their texts, their dinners, their wedding. Eliza's birth when he was a nervous wreck. Those were the good times. She chose to remember those and not the last year and a half. She pushed the bitterness that rose within her back down. Elizabeth offered to step out with Henry to give her a moment alone.
Stevie only responded quietly "Not necessary."
Henry stared down at his student. His co-worker. His friend. His son-in-law. He second-guessed every move he made with this kid. He lead him to courage and now they were back to the biggest fear. Russia had finally won. They hunted him down in ways they could not have expected. They knew something was up and Isabelle was so close. But, once again, not in time. But, none of that mattered now. What mattered more to Henry was that he hurt his daughter. Because of him. He brought him into the family again and again. In an effort to protect him. And for what? For this, a widowed daughter with one toddler and another baby on the way. Children, who will never know their father. His tears began to flow. For all of it, for everything that happened.
Elizabeth stood back and watched over Stevie and Henry. She saw it. She saw the tear flow from Henry. But, as much as she admired Dmitri's courage in the beginning, there was always something about him Elizabeth didn't like. She thought it was because of the wedge he became between her and Henry. So she pushed it down. She always had a good read on people. The regret of not speaking up to Stevie sooner hit her harder today than it ever had before. It took a lot for Elizabeth McCord to cry, especially in public. But, now the tears flowed. For her daughter, for the tough times she had ahead of her. Raising a young daughter and soon to be having a newborn on her own. If Elizabeth had known it would come to this, she would have stopped it years ago. Even if it risked her own marriage.
It had only been about five minutes when Stevie said she was ready. The three of them headed out. Talia would be brought in to say goodbye. Then, headed to her new life. Elizabeth handed her the envelope just before the wedding. In a private meeting, she told Ephraim, she did not want to know where she was going. He began to argue with her. "Elizabeth, but the children." "They won't remember her, Ephraim. All I need to know is that she is safe." She never looked at the envelope before handing it to her. There would be no funeral. No burial. His ashes would be spread somewhere.
In the car on the way back, Stevie wiped the tears from her eyes. Her phone got a text. Elizabeth turned from looking out the window. She watched her daughter answer the text. She glanced at the phone using tradecraft from her CIA days, she was expecting it to be Blake since she had just texted him they were on her way back.
Both she and Henry saw the name at the same time and then stared at each other. Stevie was too busy texting to notice her parents.
The name read "Andrew."
