Home Free - Fern Michaels [17]
“As will Nellie,” Charles added. Not for the world would he ever admit that he was jealous to the bone that he had not been awarded one of the prestigious shields. He hoped the girls couldn’t see how his eyes were burning.
Lizzie got up and walked around the table. She bent down to kiss Charles on the cheek. “I bet right this moment you are thinking that you don’t count, Sir Charles,” she said, drawing one last shield from her pocket. She held it out to him like it was the Holy Grail.
Charles blinked.
“The president said to tell you that she is very aware of your . . . ah . . . involvement and wants you to have this as a special show of her appreciation. She is also very aware of your special relationships across the pond, as well as your knighthood. So, will you accept this shield, Sir Charles?”
“I will.” Charles’s smile rivaled the sun, the moon, and the stars.
“We should have a toast!” Annie said. “Charles, do we have any champagne?”
“Of course. I’ll get it.”
“Ginger ale for me. I’m driving.” The others agreed with Kathryn.
“Ginger ale it is, ladies.”
“I think this calls for my grandmother’s special crystal,” Myra said, getting up to head for the china closet where she kept her heirloom crystal.
Isabelle said, “I have a question, Lizzie. What happened to the previous owners of these shields?”
The girls stopped chattering, their faces startled at Isabelle’s question.
“Previous administration. President Connor’s predecessor retired them when he left office. I was told by the president that her predecessor handed them over to Director Yantzy at the FBI for safekeeping. At her request, he turned them back over to her right after she returned from her visit to Las Vegas.”
The Sisters nodded, satisfied with Lizzie’s explanation. The chatter resumed as Myra and Annie set out the glasses and waited for Charles to bring in the champagne and some ice and ginger ale.
Lizzie watched Maggie out of the corner of her eye as she let her fingers caress the shield she was holding. She thought her dear friend looked . . . defeated.
Maggie looked up at Lizzie and correctly interpreted what she was seeing in Lizzie’s eyes. “No harm, no foul. Good thing I didn’t take it to the next level. Relax, Lizzie. My guy is just a . . . memory.”
“I’m sorry, Maggie.”
“Don’t be. I’m okay with it.”
“You sure?”
Maggie looked her in the eye and said, “I’m sure, Lizzie. I would never in any way compromise all of you. We’re family.” She turned away so Lizzie and the others couldn’t see the tears in her eyes.
Ice tinkled in the exquisite crystal. Charles poured the ginger ale. “It bubbles, almost like the real thing,” he said happily.
The Sisters raised their glasses and, as usual, waited for Myra to make the toast.
Myra looked around the table from one to the other, a smile on her face. “Let’s toast the unknown until such time as we want to make the unknown known.”
“Very well put, old girl,” Charles said.
“Now what?” Alexis asked.
“Now we wait until our names are called. It’s rather reminiscent of being back in grade school. I think I like the feeling.” Annie chortled. “It will give us all time to let our imaginations go to work.”
The good-byes were long and full of hugs and kisses.
Still holding their special gold shields, Charles, Myra, and Annie sat down at the kitchen table. They were silent because no one could think of anything to say.
“I think we all just made one hell of a commitment,” Annie finally said.
“We’re up to it,” Myra said cheerfully. “I think it is beyond amazing that the White House thinks so very highly of us. How cool is that?” She twinkled.
“Myra, you absolutely rock sometimes. Now, Charles, since we aren’t driving anywhere, get out the hard stuff, and don’t stint when you pour.”
“Your every wish is my command, ladies.” He gave his shield an imaginary swipe and laughed out loud.
Chapter 5
It was a blustery, colder-than-normal November day, bone-chillingly cold, with a thick dampness in the air that made you wish you were wearing two sweaters