Irene Fitzgerald Kennedy

Tom O'Hara

     Irene slipped into a black dress with a pearl necklace and pulled her hair up into a loose French twist. "How do I look?" she asked slipping on a pair of black heels.
"You look wonderful," Jack said looking at her from the bed. He had been laying down since they'd arrived.
"Listen, if you need anything, call downstairs for me. You're more important that any date."
"I'll have you know I was perfectly fine with no ones help in the Navy."
"And why is your back bad?"
"Point taken."
"Seriously, call for me."
Jack nodded as Irene walked outside the room and closed the door behind her. She walked downstairs and into the restaurant. "You must be meeting Senator O'Hara. He said he was meeting a beautiful, young woman with a cut on her cheek," smiled the hostess.
The hostess showed Irene to her table as Irene mulled over what she had just said, "Senator?" she thought to herself, "Well, if Dad would like me to date anyone, it would be a Senator."   
    Tom stood and pulled the chair out for Irene. "Thank you," Irene smiled as Tom went to sit down.
    "I think both of us have some 'splaining to do," Tom said talking like Ricky Ricardo on the ever famous I Love Lucy show.
    "I suppose we do."
    "I asked you out and you miraculously agreed, but I didn't tell you something about me that I should've. I'm a Senator."
    "Oh, wow," Irene said quietly while debating whether she should tell him her true identity. "Have you ever met Jack Kennedy?"
    "I've seen him a few times, but I wouldn't say I know him all that well. He seems like a nice guy. Why?"
    Irene sucked in her breath, "Tom, I don't even know how to say this."
    "Just say it."
    "Tom, I'm Jack Kennedy's daughter."
    "You're who?"
    "Irene Fitzgerald Kennedy at your service," she grinned.
    "Oh my God. How old are you?"
    "I'm nineteen. How old are you?"
    "I'm thirty-three."
    "Dear God," Irene said quietly.
    "I'm sorry if I had known..."
    "No, as long as my age isn't a problem for you, let's finish this date. I don't agree to many dates."
    "I must've charmed you."
    "I might've been a little loopy, I had lost a lot of blood remember?"
    Tom laughed, "Let's start over. I"m Tom O'Hara and I'm a Senator from Virginia."
    "It's a pleasure, Tom. I'm Irene Kennedy."
    "How's campaigning treating you?"
    "It's hell."
    Tom laughed as the waitress approached, "Hi, can I start you off with something to drink?"
    "I'll have a scotch. Irene, would you like anything to drink?"
    "I'll have a Diet Coke, please."
    The waitress left, "You just don't seem like you're only nineteen."
    "I know," Irene sighed, "Anyway, tell me something."
    "What's that?"
    "What should I get to eat?"
    Tom began to laugh as he picked up a menu, "Well, I'm going to get a steak, but I hear their spaghetti is fantastic."
    "Then spaghetti it is."
    They ordered and then spent hours talking. After Tom paid, he insisted on walking Irene to her room. He stood outside her room as she dug in her clutch for her room key. "Tom, I'd really like to see you again."
    "I'd like to see you again too," Tom smiled.
    Irene took a step closer to him and Tom leaned over until she could feel his breath on her forehead. Irene rolled up to her tiptoes and gently their lips met. The moment was broken by a soft thud in the hotel room. Irene turned around and quickly unlocked the door and ran inside leaving Tom standing outside, "Dad!" Irene said finding him on the floor.
    "Irene..."
    "Freaking Addison's," she muttered going after his cortisol injection. She administered the injection as Tom stood uncomfortably outside. "Tom, come in and close the door," Irene said as she kneeled next to her father.
    "Is he alright?"
    "Tom, you have to swear what happened in this hotel room doesn't leave this room."
    "You have my word."
    "He has Addison's disease and a horrible back."
    "Let's get him up on the bed."
    Tom lifted Jack up onto he bed with a little help from Irene. After a few minutes, Jack was fully alert again,
    "Tom O'Hara, what the hell are you doing here?"
    "Dad, this was my date."