Royal Connections
'Your seat is here for you, ma'am', Sam declared, pulling the chair out from the kitchen table as she entered, much to Joe's delight.
'Appreciate that, man', he said to the agent who turned a little pink, realizing a moment too late that he should have let the president pull the chair out for his wife.
'I apologize, sir. I didn't mean to overstep', he began but Joe just clapped a hand on his shoulder.
'Don't ever apologize for treating a woman properly, son', he replied, waiting for Jill to take her seat before he sat beside her.
Joe moved his chair even closer to Jill's and slipped his arm around her shoulder.
Glen couldn't help but smile. They never ceased to amaze him at how close they could physically sit. But as he took his place around the kitchen table this morning he felt a force emanating from the couple. Or maybe a nervous energy would be more accurate he figured.
As the others settled into their seats his eyes fell on the first lady. She looked a little tired. Even though it was the president who had stayed up all night caring for the little dog she looked like the one who had a less than restful night. He hoped she was ok. Looking at her from across the table he sensed that she was unsettled and noticed that she kept reaching out and setting her hand on her husband's arm, as if to reassure herself that he was there for her.
He clenched his fist tightly in his lap. If anyone had hurt her, or said or done something to her, he'd happily take them on, he thought but then his lips twitched in a wry smile as he watched the president lean in and say something quietly to her. She nodded and smiled and looked at him like he was her savior, then leaned in and pressed a quick but pretty pleasant looking kiss on her husband's lips.
If Glen was going to take on anyone in her defense he'd have to take his place behind the president.
Glen sat up and paid attention as the president cleared his throat and began to speak.
'First off I know that the items ingested by Ghost are under analysis and it will take another while to receive the report back. There's not much else we can do on that score until we hear from the Pentagon. In the meantime, Jill and I watched the CCTV of the event that Bernard attended', he began. 'We made a discovery but I'm going to turn it over to Jilly to tell you all about how that came about', he said, gently placing his hand on the first lady's shoulder, indicating that she should begin.
'Well, yes, as Joe said we watched the CCTV recording of the event at the British Museum', she stated. Her voice was tight, pitched a little higher than normal as she spoke, giving credence to Glen's earlier thoughts.
'It was difficult, watching Bernard's final hours. He looked relaxed, happy, and seemed to be enjoying the party. The Museum was beautiful', she said, her face taking on a dreamy look as she recalled the array of soft lights, the sculptures introduced to the area for the occasion, guests in black and white mingled effortlessly between the priceless artifacts.
'The event took place in the auditorium, underneath the glass dome. At the beginning, when the guests were first arriving the sky was just darkening, soon after the stars began to peek out. I don't know how they did it, it's in the middle of the city, there must be severe light pollution so perhaps they were projections', she mused, her voice softer now as she was caught up in the retelling of the story. Joe glanced around the table, the guys were captivated by her description, leaning in close, forearms and elbows set on the tabletop.
She turned towards Joe. 'Um, I probably don't need to set the scene so much', she said.
It was posed as a question and he smiled softly and rested his forehead against hers. 'You tell the story whatever way you want. The guys are happy to listen, right?' he asked, and they nodded in unison.
