1966

Chapter 7

American Embassy, Rome

7pm

Jack was staying in private rooms at the American Embassy on Palazzo Margherita in Rome. The Embassy was only 15 minutes away in the Presidential limosuine. He was sitting with Kenny discussing his appointments for the rest of his time in Italy. "God, I wish Jackie was here. She can speak Italian. She could help me" Jack sighed, throwing his glasses on the mahogany coffee table. 

Kenny laughed. "Yes the First Lady really is a linguist" Kenny said with glee. Jack laughed before Kenny decided it was time for him to leave for his room downstairs. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Mrs Lincoln who was accompanying Jack, stuck her head in. "Mr President. You have a call on Line 3". 

Jack picked up the phone and listened. "Hello?" he asked. He heard an unfamiliar voice. 

"Mr President, I am Dr Howard. Your wife Jacqueline was admitted to George Washington Hospital at 1pm this afternoon. Of course it is a different time zone in Rome, I am telling you with American time" Dr Howard explained. Jack went numb. No! Not Jackie! He felt hot tears building up but he decided to hold them back until the end of the phone call. 

"What happened to her?" He whimpered. "She was involved in a car accident". Jack couldn't find any words. "My wife..." he started. "She was pregnant. Is the baby going to be ok?" Jack waited to hear. He heard silence. "We did tests and the baby is fine. It wasn't harmed in any way. Luckily your wife was wearing a seatbelt or she would of went through the windscreen". 

Jack begged him to stop going into too much detail. "How is my wife?" he asked, feeling a tear rolling down his cheek and onto his now, parched lips. "She is currently unconscious but she will recover". Jack nodded. He felt slightly greater in spirits. He said, he would fly over straight away before hanging up.

Ciampino Airport

Jack boarded Air Force One. "Mr President, are you sure you want to do this?" Kenny kept asking him. Jack had enough. "FOR GOD'S SAKE KENNY, YES!" He composed himself before walking onto the plane. "Jackie's in hospital, I need to see her!". They boarded Air Force One and prepared for the flight back to Washington.