Balance of Power

    Callister was silent. "It's a lot of things," he responded at length, "that I'm not free to talk about. Suffice it to say that we're putting out a statement, denying any intention to reach an agreement with your administration." Pausing, Callister sounded tired. "Before this, I had my hopes. But the board feels there's no way to deal with you, and assure peace for Lexington Arms."

    For a moment, Kerry was silent. "There will be no peace, George. For any of us."

    "Maybe so. But I don't expect they'll shoot me now, or drive us out of business. That seems the most we can hope for."

    "It's not enough," Kerry said. "Not for me. Not even for you."

    On the other end of the line, Callister drew a breath. "I'm sorry, Mr. President. And I enjoyed working with you. I think you're an honest man, and I credit your convictions."

    More quietly, Kerry answered, "And I yours."

    "Thank you. For whatever it's worth, best wishes for your wedding day, and for married life thereafter."

    Kerry thanked him, and got off.

TWENTY-ONE

On the morning she was to be married, Lara's family came to her hotel suite.

    As they arrived, the bearded White House photographer was photographing Lara with three of her bridesmaids—Anna Chen, a colleague from NBC, and her roommates from Stanford, Linda Mendez and Nakesha Hunt—who, collectively, had dubbed themselves "Lara's Rainbow Coalition." "Who'd have thought," Nakesha was saying to Lara, "that you'd be the first to get married?"

    Lara smiled. "Not me. But then who'd have thought that I'd be unemployed?"

    "Are you complaining?" Inez demanded.

    Lara gazed up at her mother and saw, beneath the humor, a woman who still worried about her daughter's capacity for happiness. "No, Mom," she said gently, and then looked at the others—Joan, Mary, and Marie, her hair braided, as beautiful in her frilly pink dress as a six-yearold could possibly be. Lara felt her heart fill with love. "All of you look lovely," she told her family. "Before I go and change my life, can I have a few moments with you?"

    "Of course," Inez told her. Together, the five Costello women retreated to Lara's bedroom.

    Lara kissed Inez on the forehead, and then looked into her face. "I am happy," she assured her mother. "I know being married to a President won't be easy. But Kerry's the only man I've ever wanted."

    Tears came to her mother's eyes. "I know your father and I didn't show you much in the way of happiness. I've worried that you . . ."

    Gently, Lara placed a finger to her mother's lips. "That was all so long ago, Mom. I have a man who's smart and sensitive and gentle— someone I can relax with, and love, and even lean on if I need to." Hearing herself, Lara, too, felt close to tears. "I'm fine, now. More than fine."

    Turning, Lara looked first at Joan. As their eyes met, Lara felt their thoughts converge: on this day of Lara's happiness, Joan's own marriage was a shambles, made public because of the unrelenting light which focused on the man Lara had chosen to love. "I'm so sorry," Lara told her, "for everything we've brought down on you. But, for me, it's wonderful you're here."

    For a brief moment, Joan hesitated, then came to Lara and hugged her. "I know you'll be happy," she said. "We'll all be happier, soon."

    Lara clung to her for an extra moment, and then kissed Marie and, last, Mary. Silent, Mary gazed into her eyes, and then gave her a brief hug. "I love you," Lara told them, and then paused for the last moment before her very public day began, to take in the faces of those closest to her. "I'm so lucky to have all of you."

    The other Costello women smiled at the First Lady–to-be. And then, protected by the Secret Service, they and Lara's friends went to the waiting limousine and drove slowly through the streets, bright with sunshine and thick with well-wishers, some with small children on their shoulders, others waving or calling out to her, on her journey to meet Kerry at St. Mathew's Church.

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