The sum of all fears - Tom Clancy [321]
"I've been a lousy husband, and a lousy father."
Her cheek came down on the top of his head. "Neither one of us has set any records lately, Jack, but that's over, isn't it?"
"Yeah." He kissed her breast. "How did I ever find you?"
"You won me, Jack. In the great lottery of life, you got me. I got you. Do you think that married people always deserve each other? All the ones I see at work who just can't make it. Maybe they just don't try, maybe they just forget."
"Forget?"
What I almost forgot. "For richer, for poorer, for better, for worse; in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live." Remember? I made the promise, too. Jack, I know how good you can be, and that's plenty good enough. I was so bitchy to you last week I'm sorry for all the terrible things I did. But that's all over."
Presently the weeping stopped. "Thanks, babe."
"Thank you, Jack." She ran a finger down his back.
"You mean?" His head moved back to see her face. He got another smile, the gentle kind that a woman saves for her husband.
"I think so. Maybe this one will be another girl."
"That might be nice."
"Go to sleep."
"In a minute." Jack rose to head for the bathroom, then into the sitting room before coming back. Ten minutes later, he was still. Cathy rose to put her nightie back on, and on her way back from the bathroom she cancelled the wake-up call that Jack had just ordered. It was her turn to stare out the windows at the home of the President. The world had never seemed prettier. Now, if she could just get Jack to quit working for those people
The truck made a fuel stop outside of Lexington, Kentucky. The driver paused ten minutes to load up on coffee and pancakes - he found breakfasts best for staying awake on the road - then pressed on. The thousand-dollar bonus sounded pretty good, and to be sure of it he had to cross the Mississippi before the rush hour in St Louis.
CHAPTER 31
Dancers
Ryan knew it was too late when the traffic woke him up and he saw that the windows were flooded with light. A look at his watch showed eight-fifteen. That almost set off a panic attack, but it was too late to panic, wasn't it? Jack rose from the bed and walked into the sitting room to see his wife already working on her morning coffee.
"Don't you have to work today?"
"I was supposed to assist with a procedure that started a few minutes ago, but Bernie is covering for me. I think you ought to put some clothes on, though."
"How do I get to work?"
"John'll be here at nine."
"Right." Ryan walked off to shower and shave. On the way, he looked in the closet and noted that a suit, shirt, and tie were waiting for him. His wife had certainly planned this one carefully. He had to smile. Jack had never thought of his wife as a master - mistress? - of conspiracy. By eight-forty, he was washed and shaved.
"You know I have an appointment right across the street at eleven."
"No, I didn't. Say hi to that Elliot bitch for me." Cathy smiled.
"You don't like her, either?" he asked.
"Not much there to like. She was a crummy college teacher. She's not as smart as she thinks. Major ego problems."
"I've noticed. She doesn't like me very much."
"I did get that impression. We had a little fight yesterday. I think I won," Cathy observed.
"What was it all about anyway?"
"Oh, just a girl-to-girl thing." Cathy paused. "Jack ?"
"Yeah, babe?"
"I think it's time for you to leave."
Ryan examined his breakfast plate. "I think you may be right. I have a couple more things to do but when they're done "
"How long?" she asked.
"Two months at the outside. I can't just leave, babe. I'm a presidential appointee. I had to be confirmed by the Senate, remember? You can't just walk away from that - it's like desertion if you do. There are rules you have to follow."
Cathy nodded. She'd won her point already. "I understand, Jack. Two months