Irene Fitzgerald Kennedy

Halloween

      The summer came and passed and soon enough, it was Halloween. Jackie had been put on bed rest so Tom and Irene took Caroline trick-or-treating while Jack took care of her. The campaigning had ended as Election Day was only a week away. Tom and Irene had planned their wedding for that December so that if Jack had gotten elected it wouldn't interfere with the inauguration. "Tom, we're going to be married in a month."
      "I know. It's exciting."
      "Alright, Cinderella. Do you think we have enough candy?"
      "Yes, my feets hurt," she replied.               
      "That's what glass slippers do. Beauty hurts, Buttons."
      Tom picked her up and they walked to the main house where all of the Kennedy kids would meet and trade candy. Then Rose and Joe would give them each a small gift. "Hi!" Irene called walking in the door.
"Irene!" Joe smiled kissing her cheek. Over the years, they had become closer than Joe was with his daughters.
        "Hi, Pops!"
   "How are you, Irene?"
"I'm fantastic. How are you?"
"I'm great. How are you..." he began not able to finish because he had no idea which princess Caroline was.
"Cinderella," Tom coughed.
"Cinderella?" Joe finished.
"My feets hurt, Pop-Pop."
Joe laughed as Rose came into the room and picked Caroline up. "Come sit by me, Irene," Joe said, "Now, what would you and Tom like for your wedding gift?"
"Oh, Pops, you don't have to get us anything. You've already taken care of the venue for us."
He lowered his voice to a whisper, "I have to do something for my favorite granddaughter."
Irene blushed, 'Pops, just you being there will be enough for me."
Joe sighed, "Well, I suppose I'll have to think of something by myself then."
Irene grinned and laid her head on his shoulder.
After the other kids came and the annual trading of the candy took place, Tom, Irene, and Caroline headed home. Tom had been visiting up until the election and was staying with Jack and Jackie. Then he would go back to D.C. and return three weeks later for their wedding. "Tom, I'm really glad you're here."
       "Me too. Irene, I know how stressed you've been lately. I know you and your dad were both stressed when you thought Jackie was having the baby six weeks early. I know you're stressed about the election and the wedding, but Irene they're happening no matter what so quit worrying. Are you even going to fit into your wedding dress? You've lost so much weight! I'm worried about you."
       "Tom, please don't worry. I'm alright and I'll be fine."
       "Irene, you aren't fine."
       "Tom, my life is one hell after another. My dad had an Addison's crisis right before the televised debate with Nixon and he insisted he go on. I stood there praying that he wouldn't pass out or even die on live television. Then Mom has had several scares with this pregnancy and I don't know what the hell is wrong with Pop! He looks so old lately. And then you!"
       "What did I do?"
       "Tom, you're so far away and I worry about you constantly. I just want everything to be normal again."
       "Irene, you're about to marry a senator and if your dad wins this election, you'll be the daughter of the president. You're life isn't going to be normal."
        Irene began to cry, "I'm so sick of the damn press judging my every move. If I gain a pound, I'm pregnant out of wedlock. If I lose a pound, I have a disease and a month to live."
      "Irene, you have to ignore it. Don't read the papers ever. The only people that matter are the ones in these houses," he said motioning to the Kennedy homes.
       "I love you, Tom."
       "I love you too. It'll all be okay," he said wiping his thumb under her eye as Caroline ran into the house, "Never let 'em see you cry," he whispered