Page 62 of Pursuit of Happiness

Stevie took a deep breath. Meredith’s words tore at her heart.She wanted to tell her they should give it another shot, but while Meredithmight have had an epiphany about how her choices affected Stevie’s life,nothing had really changed. If Meredith won tonight, the tumult had only justbegun. Stevie tried to imagine how a future would look, dating the president ofthe United States, but the details were a blur. She couldn’t make it out ofSenator Mitchell’s New York apartment without a clandestine mission; what hoopswould she have to jump through to go on a simple date with President Mitchell?

And it wasn’t just her. When Meredith won the election, her lifewould become exponentially more complicated. Her Secret Service detail wouldtriple in size and be with her for the rest of her life, seriously curtailingher privacy. She’d be on call 24/7, having to be ready to handle a world crisiswith a moment’s notice. She’d have no time for the distractions of dating evenif they could find their way past all the complications. “The chaos isn’t yourfault. It just comes with the job, and—don’t take this the wrong way—but youkind of thrive on it, and that’s not a bad thing for someone about to be president.”Stevie paused, searching for words. She’d argued her cases for her clientsdozens of times, zealously advocating for whatever they needed, but in thismoment, with her own future in the balance, she didn’t have the heart to askfor more from Meredith, knowing it might ultimately tear them apart. “If we’dmet another time, under different circumstances—”

Meredith didn’t wait for her to finish, pulling her into a kiss.A deep, soul-searching kiss, and Stevie surrendered to it, unable to deny thatwhile circumstances might be against them, their connection was undeniable.

The knocking noise was light at first, the kind you could ignore,but it grew more insistent, and Stevie, realizing someone was at the carwindow, murmured against Meredith’s lips. “Should you get that?”

Meredith groaned and kissed her again, softer, lighter this time,before pressing the button to lower the window. Gordon was standing on theother side, pointing at his watch. “Way past five minutes,” he said. Meredithanswered him by pushing the button to raise the window.

Stevie watched the exchange, certain it was a microcosm ofMeredith’s personal life for the next four to eight years, and she knew in herheart it was time for her to go. She placed her hand on the door handle, butMeredith stopped her.

“Wait.”

“You need to get to New York.”

“I know.”

Stevie wanted to kiss her again, one last time, but she wasn’tsure she could walk away if she did. She had to stay strong because this couldnever work, and while she wished she’d known that all along, she didn’t regretone moment of her time with Meredith. The kiss they’d just shared would be thememory she’d hold on to. She opened the door. “You’re going to be great atthis,” she said. Not waiting for an answer, she stepped out of the car andwalked away, wishing she had as much confidence in her own ability to adjust toa life without Meredith.

Chapter Twenty-two

Inauguration Day

“If you keep pacing, you’re going to wear out the floor.”

Meredith paused and smiled at Addison who’d been standing off tothe side, shaking her head. “I seriously doubt it. We’re standing on marble.”She resumed her pacing. “Are you telling me my nerves aren’t justified?”

They were standing in the rotunda at the Capitol, and theinauguration ceremony was about to begin. Her family and friends were seated onthe balcony, and people had been lining up in the plaza to get in since thenight before to get a good seat or place to stand. Every last moment of thisday had been choreographed in fine detail, and the Park Service was reporting arecord crowd. All she had to do was place her hand on her leather-bound copy ofthe Constitution, repeat after Addison, and then she’d officially be the firstwoman president of the United States. Nothing to it. “Oh, wait, you’ve donethis before. This must be old hat to you.”

“Once, and I was the swearer, not the swearee,” Addison said. “Orwas it the other way around?” She shrugged. “All I know is I have no idea howyou’re feeling right now, but I can promise you two things.”

“Spill.”

“First, everyone who has stepped out onto that dais to take theoath is as nervous as you. Trust me, Garrett was jittery as hell, and it washis second time.”

“And the second thing?”

“You’re going to be the best damn president in our lifetime. Ihave absolutely no doubt.”

Meredith grinned. “Remember that when you think about rulingagainst my administration on a future case.”

Addison returned the grin. “Good presidents know about thebalance of power.”

“Touché. Not to worry. I wouldn’t take advantage of ourfriendship.”

“I know. It’s kind of an unusual situation. President and chiefjustice of the United States as best friends. I anticipate some people will tryto manufacture conflict about it.”

“True, but we’ll work it out,” Meredith said, confident in herassessment.

“Speaking of working it out, have you talked to Stevie lately?”

“You’re going to need to work on being a little more subtle. Iguess Julia told you I put her on the list for today.”

“She may have mentioned something about how you asked her to sendStevie an engraved invitation to the inauguration ceremony and the balls.”

“Do you guys share everything?”

“Most things. When that balance of power thing isn’t in the way.”

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