A Kennedy Light

Chapter 6

GW Hospital

Jack woke up. He checked the clock. It was just after 11pm. Had Jackie been in labour all that time? He remembered arriving at the hospital at 10am! He got up and looked around for Lorna. But when he got just to the door, she knocked. She had a massive grin on her face. "Mr President, you're wife gave birth just a few moments ago" Lorna smiled.

Jack sighed. The wait was over. "And?" he asked. "Your wife has just given birth to a healthy, beautiful baby girl" Lorna smiled. Jack sighed and fell back into his chair. "Is she healthy?" Jack held back his tears. "Yes, she's got good lungs and a healthy heart as well" Lorna let Jack go see baby Kennedy.

Jackie was sitting holding her crying with happiness. "Oh Jackie" Jack sat on the bed and held baby Kennedy with her. "Kathleen?" Jackie asked with a radiant smile. Her cheeks were drowned in tears of joy. Jack nodded. He looked at baby Kathleen. "Baby Kick" he held his daughter with great pride. He kissed her head over and over again.

"Oh God, I love you" Jack held baby Kick close to him.

Baby Kick was put to rest in her little crib while Jack held Jackie deep in his arms. "I love you so much Jackie" Jack cried. They kissed passionately and they were so happy.

6am

February 21st 1965

Jack phoned Pierre. "Hello? Jack?" Pierre asked. "Hey Pierre! Listen I need you to make a statement at 1pm today" Jack said. "Why? What for?". Jack heard Pierre taking rummaging in a drawer for something, probably a pen.

"I need you to make a statement saying that Jackie gave birth last night" Jack smiled when he said the words 'gave birth'. He heard silence. "Congratulations Jack!" Pierre screamed down the phone. "Woah!" Jack took a step back from the receiver. "Calm down! Now here's what I want you to say" Jack got serious.

He heard the lid of the pen falling onto Pierre's desk. "Fire away" Pierre was ready with the nib of his pen touching the paper.

"This is an official statement from the First Couple of the United States. At 11:03pm on February 20th, Mrs Kennedy gave birth to a baby girl. She will be named Kathleen Rose Kennedy after the President's late sister. The First Family request privacy during this special time and wish for most events to be kept private".

Pierre put down a full stop. "Ok then. Done!" Pierre sat down his pen. "Ok then" Jack sounded awkward. "Wait one question, why do you want me to announce it 14 hours after the birth?" Pierre asked. "Well the child will be in the spotlight it's whole life and we to have time with it without worrying that a photographer could be climbing up to get a glimpse of us. We'll never get time like this again" Jack explained it all. Pierre agreed. He issued the statement and made sure it wasn't seen until it was time to be read out.

7am

Jackie's private room

Jackie had just finished feeding Kathleen and Jack came in the door. "Just phoned Pierre about the statement and it's not being announced until 1pm" Jack told her. Jackie asked the same question as Pierre did and Jack once again explained it. Jackie thought it was sensible to do that so they sat and admired baby Kick.

"Jack did you choose the name Kathleen after your sister or because you liked it?" Jackie asked.

"Well I chose it after my sister and it is very appropriate" Jack gave a cheesy smile. Jackie laughed. "And it is even more appriopriate now" Jack beamed. Jackie was curious. "How?".

Jack's face looked saddened slightly as he said this. "Well February 20th was also my sister's birthday". Jackie gasped. She hugged Jack and he began to cry. She tried his eyes with her wrist. "Kick has come home".