Chapter 49 - Jason
He looked down at his watch for maybe the hundredth time since this lecture began. He shifted in the seat. An auditorium style seat but it was still uncomfortable. Ten more minutes and then he could head to the hotel. It had been a few months since he saw his parents and he was looking forward to a weekend just with them and Claudia.
He put his head in his hand and glanced at his agent, Rob. Rob threw his head back as if to say this is exhausting. Jason said nothing because they had gotten in trouble for talking in class before. But, the female professor's voice droaned on about anti-trust law. She was tall and thin and always pulled her hair back in a bun and never wore makeup. Jason always thought she looked familiar but he couldn't pinpoint it.
Rob leaned into him. "Hey, who's the brunette at 3 o'clock given you the looks?"
"What? Who?" Jason whispered back. Rob pointed to his right.
Jason turned to look to his right and she turned realizing he caught her staring at him. His eyes almost bugged right out of his head.
"Piper," he whispered.
"Who?" Rob asked.
He whispered back, "Piper, that's my high school girlfriend. We broke up just before my Mom took office. Like just before. Most uncomfortable Inaugural Ball moment ever because my Mom refused to disinvite them. But, what is she doing here?"
"I don't know. Why are you asking me?" Rob asked while Jason gave him the "you're so stupid" look. Jason began to laugh because Rob was so goofy about it.
"Here's the deal. We need to split as soon as she finishes class. Which is in like two minutes, okay?"
"Dude, she saw you. You can't do that." Rob said back as Jason already began packing his bag up.
Class ended they got up attempting to get out of the aisle but the girl who had been sitting two seats over from them was blocking their way while getting her things together.
"Jason!" he felt her hand on his arm.
He turned, "Hey Piper, how are you?"
"I'm good. How are you?" she asked as he didn't make eye contact with her.
"I'm okay but I have to get going the car is waiting for me. My parents are in town for a few days." he answered her as Rob gave him the "that was rude" look.
Rob reached around him to shake Piper's hand. In his deep voice he said, "I'm Rob. My friend here is rude and never introduces me. So, what brings you to town?"
Jason rolled his eyes at him.
"That's my aunt who teaches the class. I just got back from the Peace Corps last week. She got us tickets to see your Mom speak tonight." She said with too much enthusiasm as if she forgot they broke up.
Jason turned to look at her, "Good to know your obsession with my mother hasn't faded. We really need to go." Jason gave Rob a shove.
Rob said, "Maybe we will see you tonight." As they took off out of the lecture hall.
All the way to the car the two of them bickered. "I swear to God sometimes you are so clueless,' Jason laughed at him.
"What? She's pretty," he argued back getting in the front seat while Jason hopped in the back.
Claudia was waiting for him there. "What's wrong?"
"Remember I told you my anti-trust prof looked familiar? She is Piper's Aunt. Her mother's sister apparently. Piper was in class today, sat right near me, then approached me after class. And Captain Dumbass here starts introducing himself and telling her he hopes to see her tonight," he complained.
Mike who was driving and Claudia both burst out laughing. Jason said to Mike, "Please make sure my mother's detail knows she is in attendance."
Claudia interrupted, "Jason, c'mon she is not a threat to your mother. She just fangirls over her. Like a lot of women do. Relax!"
The door to the suite opened and Elizabeth, Henry and the rest of her staff looked up from their meeting.
Henry got up, "Hey Jayce. We've missed you." He hugged him.
Jay, knew Jason all too well from the years he spent working for his mother, he looked at Elizabeth, who already had one eyebrow up.
She got up and said "What's up?" walking over to hug him and Claudia.
"So, guess who is attending your speech tonight?" he asked.
Elizabeth turned her head and looked back at her staff. Jay looked back at her.
"Piper. Her aunt teaches my anti-trust class and she was there today. Sitting a row in front of me and just a few seats to my right. Rob spotted her staring at me during class. Then, we tried to bolt before she could get to me but my classmate with the big butt…."
"Jaaason!" came from both his parents' mouths. At this point, Daisy, Jay and Blake couldn't look at each other for fear of bursting out laughing.
Elizabeth turned to Blake and said, "Make arrangements for me to meet with Piper and her Aunt after the speech." She was not laughing. She turned back to her son, "There's some food out on the table if you want to grab a bite while we finish this meeting."
Claudia said, "We can grab some and go to the room if you need us to."
Elizabeth hugged her. "Not necessary, sweetie. We are almost done and then we can chat."
Jay and Elizabeth always had this unspoken look between them. She shot him that look as if to say, "Stay behind when the others leave."
They finished up a few other agenda items and the rest of the staff left the room. Jason and Claudia were sitting at the table eating and staring at their phones.
She glanced over at them and turned back to Henry and Jay whispering, "You don't think it is odd that he ended up in her Aunt's class and she was there today? It's a little stalkerish."
Jay began, "I'm so sorry. We should have caught her name on the list for tonight."
She looked at him and said, "You honestly think I expect you to remember his girlfriend from high school. I also think he and his detail, Rob are a little to chummy." Looking to Henry, "But, you are going to bring that up to Matt and Frank, aren't you?"
Henry began, "Elizabeth, there is nothing wrong with them being friends. In Jason's case, it might be better. I am more concerned about what you are going to say to Piper."
"Yeah, me too." She rubbed her temples.
Jay chimed in, "With all due respect, I think you jumped the gun there on Jason's emotions."
Henry chimed in, 'Wouldn't be the first time, won't be the last."
Elizabeth shot him the look as Jay attempted to ignore it.
"We leave it as is. I just got a text that she is expected in the private reception. You can greet her nicely, ask her how things are and then move along. Don't engage in further conversation."
She pointed at Jay. "Send the message without speaking it. If we give her too much attention, it's just pouring gas on the fire. Good call. Get to Blake before he makes the plans. It's a fundraiser for Senator Clarke, just make sure Jason and Claudia are too busy working the room or spending time with her parents. Don't give him any time to have a conversation with her." She glanced over at her son, "Because knowing Mr. Impulsive, that will not go well."
Jay chuckled, "I'm on it, Ma'am."
After sitting down with the kids and calming down Jason, father and son headed to meet and speak with homeless Veterans at the shelter not too far from the hotel.
With Henry up at the podium speaking, Jason sat with Rob to his side. "All I am saying is she is a pretty girl, that is all" Rob was grating on Jason.
"I'm trying to listen to my Dad and you need to drop it. If there is one thing I learned growing up with my Mom and sisters, you need to look beyond physical beauty to see the real beauty of a woman. Beyond her pretty face, there's a slightly crazy side to Piper. Besides, I am perfectly happy with Claudia." Jason said. Rob shook his head and turned back to watching Henry.
Following the speech, they met with several veterans. While in the room, Jason spotted a female soldier over in the corner, her prosthetic leg showing from under her black pants on her left leg. She seemed to just watch the room. Jason, used the family sign and gently tapped his father's arm to let him know he was stepping away.
She was looking down as he approached, Rob not far away watched from a distance. As a Marine, he was about to watch the college kid who he goofs around with act more like a man than anyone in that room. He possessed a grace and compassion that others had only seen in his mother. The ability to reach out to the lost soul.
He sat down next to her. They said nothing to each other for a bit. Then, he simply said to her "tell me how it happened."
She looked at him. Her brunette hair dirty and pulled back into a ponytail.
"IED," she said quietly.
"No,' he answered. "How did you become homeless?"
It was only then that she looked at him and cocked her head to the side. Nobody ever cared about her like that. She was about to say "what's it to you" but she saw the look. She had seen it in his mother before.
"I was a foster kid. Spent my life bouncing from one house to another in Ohio. Went to boot camp and discovered I did not like being landlocked. There's a family day the day before you graduate from Parris Island. But, since I have no family I just hung out in my bunk. My drill instructor came in and said 'Let's take a walk.' So, we did and we went down to the edge of the base where land meets the water. It was gorgeous to just look out and see forever. When I came back and survived, I decided to come here to Boston so I could be near the water. You ever walk down to the waterfront at sunset?" she was looking down again.
"My girlfriend and I sometimes do," he answered her short and sweet in his Jason McCord way. This was about her not him.
"I love it here. It's just expensive to live here. I used my GI bill to get a psychology degree and graduated in December. But, after searching for six months, I just got my first job literally yesterday," she smiled at him.
He thought that smile could light up the whole world.
"Congratulations. Where?" he asked.
"You're sitting in it. Right here, doing social work and helping others get on their feet like I did. That's all I want to do. Those men and women meeting your Dad right now, have been through some of the worst horrors in life." They both looked at Henry. "When your Mom got elected, many felt it was about time someone entered the White House who knew how we felt. But, then again, your parents won't talk about it because nobody wants to." She looked squarely at Jason.
He looked at her.
"C'mon," she began, "there's no way your Mom doesn't have some form of PTSD after all she has been through. She was blown up her first year as Secretary of State!"
"How do you know so much about my Mom?" He asked looking at her wondering why she cared so much.
"Are you kidding me? She is amazing. I kind of fan girl on her." She looked away from him and out the window.
"You and everyone else?" he huffed.
She looked back at him. "Care to talk about it?" She reached out her hand, "I'm Michelle."
He shook hers and said "Jason."
"I know," she said. She leaned over and tapped her shoulder to his. "You can talk to me." He went on to explain about Piper. Michelle's only response was that girls can be tough. They sat and talked about how she lived at the shelter, went to school everyday and did her homework on the cot like bed here every night.
Henry had finally spoken to the last veteran. It always took a while because he would never walk away from anyone that wanted to talk to him.
Henry slowly approached them and Michelle stood to salute him. He gently told her at ease. She shook his hand and said, "Captain McCord. It is nice to meet you. Corporal Michelle DuMont."
"I see you have enjoyed talking to my son." Henry turned to Jason.
"Just talking about life," Jason shrugged it off. He exchanged phone numbers with her and made a promise to keep in touch.
They got back to the hotel with less than an hour to get ready. Showered and dressed in his tux, Jason headed over to his parents' bedroom in the suite.
He was about to knock on the door. When he heard his mother say, "God, I love you in that tux. Can't wait to get back here tonight."
Jason through his head back in embarrassment and shook it before he knocked.
Henry and Elizabeth broke away from their kiss and she called out "Yeah."
He entered. 'Sorry, hope I am not interrupting anything." A phrase the McCord children had come to master saying since they all knew if their parents were in their bedroom they were most likely interrupting "something."
Both of them shook their heads at him and said "No." Elizabeth continued, "I was just fixing Dad's tie."
Jason put up his hand, "No, as I have said before don't talk about it. Anyways, I wanted to talk to both of you about an idea."
Elizabeth reached over to grab her shawl. "Sure, what's up?"
"I was thinking about our time at the shelter today." He turned to Elizabeth. "Upon your exit from the Presidency, I would like to start a legacy foundation in the family name," he said nervously.
She turned and looked at him, her eyes wide. Henry didn't move from his spot.
Jason continued, his hands in his tuxedo pockets. "The McCord Military Foundation. A foundation to work with veterans who are suffering from PTSD, mental illness or even just poverty to help them get back on their feet. We don't have to discuss it now, given the shortness of time."
Henry and Elizabeth looked at each other and said "Yes!" back to him at the same time.
"Jayce, that is an amazing idea. I love it!" she went over to hug him.
Henry was still dumbfounded. "I love this idea. Jayce, you want to run the foundation? What about your career in law?"
Jason shrugged his shoulders. "A person needs to know the law to run a foundation."
Elizabeth deliberately turned her head and stared at Henry. 'Well, your father hasn't read me in to what transpired today but I am sure he will do that on our way downstairs."
Jason smiled at both of them. "Great. I am really looking forward to this. Thank you." He hugged them both and said "See you down there."
The elevator doors opened into the private room area where Elizabeth would be receiving private visits with guests, they were still talking on the way out. "I am telling you, babe, he has your sense of compassion. You should have seen him with this woman today. I was pretty proud."
Elizabeth replied, "I am super proud. Not sure where our anarchist son went but I am loving law school Jason."
Henry laughed as Senator Clarke approached them. She was medium height, with a short brown hair.
"Senator Clarke, so good to see you again." Elizabeth shook her hand.
"Madam President, thank you so much for coming and taking the time tonight. Are you all ready for your first pitch tomorrow?" she asked.
"This is my seventh one and I am very excited to finish at Fenway Park. Also, thrilled we get to stay and watch the game with my son and his girlfriend. I love the Sox, such an iconic American team." She scanned the room looking for Jason but couldn't find him.
"Well, my grandson Peter is a big fan as well. He's also a fan of yours," she reached behind her to guide the 11-year old to meet the President.
"Madam President, it is so nice to meet you," he shook her hand with a strong handshake. "Can I take a selfie?"
"Of course, it's my favorite part of the job." While taking the selfie, Elizabeth asked him about school and his plans for the summer.
Blake stepped in and guided them to the reception line. The line moved fairly quickly to their surprise. In between guests, one could spot she and Henry whispering to each other.
Claudia turned to Jason as they stood at the bar, "What do they say to each other up there?"
Jason laughed, "Knowing them, I try not to think about it."
Claudia took a sip of her drink and laughed. "I wish my parents loved like that. Your parents are definitely goals."
Jason winced, "Gross! Look at that right on cue, your parents are here!"
They greeted them with so much ease, not formal or nervous at all. Elizabeth noticed from the line and her heart ached. She secretly could not wait for the Presidency to end. It had been a long eight years of formality and she wanted her family life back. She was still thinking about it when a familiar voice pulled her out of it.
"Elizabeth, it's so nice to see you again."
She stared back at Piper still smaller than her. Her black hair pulled into a bun.
"Piper! How good to see you. I'd like to say I am surprised to see you here but since you sprung one on Jason today, I'm not. How have you been? How's your parents?" she spoke quickly not giving her a chance to react.
"They are good. I am good. I just got back from Peace Corps." She said but Henry jumped in.
"Wow, that's fantastic." He said as Elizabeth turned to her son's professor.
"Professor Blakely. I trust that Jason is doing well in your class?" she asked her.
"President McCord, so nice to meet you. Yes, he is." she replied distinctly but Elizabeth wasn't having it.
Elizabeth laughed a little and leaned into her, "It's Madam President. As a former professor I know full well, that you owed it to my son to disclose to him who you were at the beginning of the semester. Springing it on him today and in the manner in which you did so, was not fair. I trust you will apologize to him at the appropriate time."
"Yes, I was hoping he would be here," the professor looked around the room hoping got not make eye contact with Elizabeth.
Elizabeth looked at her smiling making the conversation seem friendly to outsiders. She backed herself up and looked to Piper to bring she and Henry back into the conversation.
"He is but as members of the first family, he and his girlfriend, Claudia, who we adore, have duties at these events. I am sorry that he just won't have the time. But, it was nice to meet you and good to see you Piper. We wish you continues success."
The next morning, they all sat at the long breakfast table in the hotel suite. Jason chomping away on a slice of bacon. His hair a bit of a mess, his light plaid short-sleeve shirt loose on him. "Seriously, how did you make it that Piper had no way to speak to me last night?"
Elizabeth didn't look away from the newspaper just stated, "With my highly-skilled staff, Jayce."
Henry turned to her with a look, "Really?" He turned to Jason, "Mom, may have handed it to her and your professor. Expect an apology this week."
Elizabeth added, "And accept it graciously." She folded the corner down and stared at him.
"Can we talk about my idea?" Jason asked and watched both parents drop what they were reading and answer him together with another enthusiastic "Yes."
This whole time Claudia sat reading the Wall Street Journal and drinking coffee without focusing on anything they were saying. It amazed Elizabeth how she knew to stay out of things.
Jason moved his plate aside, rested his elbows on the table and began to lay out the plan. In his mind, he had almost the whole thing laid out except for the fundraising part.
Elizabeth interjected, "Jason, I am really proud of you on this. Why don't we get with Mike B. when…?"
He felt the warmth rise up his neck, just the mention of that guy's name, "No, Mom absolutely not. Mike B. is your work friend not mine."
Henry gave him the look. Elizabeth frowned and Claudia looked out from the paper.
"What?! Why is it a problem that I don't want to work with him? For once, can the McCord's do something that doesn't involve Mike B.?" Jason looked around the table.
Henry looked to Elizabeth, "He's got a point."
"No, I get it." She responded holding up her hand, "Just not sure how Mike B. is going to take it."
Jason cocked his head to the side, "How about "It's been nice working with you Mike but I am now hitting the road and so are you!'"
"Jaaason!" came from all three sitting at the table, with Claudia shaking her head at him.
Elizabeth lowered her voice down and turned to Henry, "Can you call Russell this week and ask about how the funding would work for this?"
"Yeah, sure. I will call him on our way to the airport after the game today. Jace, let us get a few things figured out and we will go from there, okay?"
"Great. Thanks. I'm really excited for this," he beamed at his parents almost in a way they had never seen before.
Elizabeth smiled at him and said, "I am too!"