Chapter 4
Only a skeleton staff accompanied the President on this family vacation. A military attaché accompanied the President at all times. Ron, in his usual role, accompanied the President no matter where he went. A number of Secret Service Agents had been assigned to the group. But because the family was all together, some of the agents usually assigned to family duty had been given some time off.
CJ had wanted to go with them, but Jed had said no. She could send one assistant, but she was needed at the White House to manage the press that had not left for Mexico. This was a family vacation, not an official Presidential function. Reluctantly, she had agreed. Her staff had fallen all over themselves to be picked. Heck, even if it was supposed to be a working trip, at least the work was in Mexico at a prime ocean resort. CJ gave the assistant explicit instructions to keep the press as far away as possible. She had carefully negotiated the deal, and she wanted to know who had the nerve to break it. CJ secretly hoped a couple of specific reporters would, because she wanted them in her doghouse.
Charlie had told the President that he was going, but Jed again said no. He could certainly pick out his own shorts. Besides, what was a wife for if it wasn't for telling her husband his clothes didn't match? Jed told Charlie to take some time off. He also reluctantly agreed. The President, now that he had finally gotten some private time, certainly meant it to be that way.
It didn't take long for everybody to wake up, and get excited about the trip. Annie and Gus enjoyed the time on the trip with their grandfather, who gave them his undivided attention. Games came out of cabinets in his office and Jed was down on the floor playing with them. It was the little things like this that he had missed, and was determined to recapture once he left the White House for good. Abbey smiled because she knew how much he had missed over the years. First, missing special times with the girls and then being so busy, he rarely had time to see the grandchildren, nonetheless have uninterrupted play time.
After a six-hour flight, Air Force One landed at a Mexican military base near their destination. The President of Mexico had graciously offered this convenience when the President himself had called. The Mexican President knew that, although this was a private trip, the amount of free publicity would do the national tourism program a great deal of good. The Presidential limousine, already flown to Mexico, was waiting for the family to disembark.
After the limousine started moving, everybody was excitedly talking about the first thing they would do. Zoey wanted to go snorkeling. Ellie wanted to check out the pool. Doug and Liz wanted to take the children to the beach and find seashells. Abbey and Jed both smiled at the happy chatter in the car. It had been too long a time since they heard this kind of talk from their family.
Jed reached over and squeezed Abbey's hand. "Thank you," he said. "Thank you for making this happen."
She leaned over and kissed him.
Before she sat back, she whispered something in his ear. His smile got wider. He now knew what their plans were. And it didn't involve children of any kind.
The La Paz resort was beautiful. Although older and smaller than many they could have chosen, the location and peacefulness was perfect. White stucco walls with red tile roofs made it look like a beachside resort. Away from the main part of town with private tropical rain forests all around, La Paz had everything a vacationing family could want. Every room was a suite with a huge sitting area overlooking the pristine blue ocean and white sand. Private balconies were just outside each bedroom area, just right for sleeping under the stars.
Activities such as horseback riding, snorkeling, sailing and swimming were immediately available. If the visitor just wanted to walk along the beach or soak up some sun by the pool, people wouldn't swamp them. As important, the Secret Service had signed off on the location because it was more secure than some of the more fancy resorts. Being more secluded, gave the President and his family more time to just be themselves than if they had been elsewhere. La Paz had always catered to the rich and famous and was thrilled when the President of the United States and his family had decided to stay with them. It would be a publicity coup, but only after the Presidential party had had a positive experience.
Every day was a gift from heaven. The laughter was contagious. Jed had never had so much play time. He played with Annie and Gus in the ocean waves. He had them bury him in sand. Gus just giggled with glee with each bucket of sand he poured over his grandfather.
Jed took time with the grandchildren to do whatever they wanted to do. He took Annie snorkeling and saw the beautiful underwater flora and fish. Gus wanted to walk along the beach and look for seashells. His little fingers would pick something up and then he would turn and ask his grandfather what it was. His grandfather, as usual, had a ready answer. Gus didn't really care if it was the right one. He just knew that he was walking along a beach holding his grandfather's hand.
It was perfect.