Page 63 of Pursuit of Happiness

“And it works?”

“Anything can work if you want it to badly enough. Is it idealfor me to be married to the president’s chief of staff? No, but I’m in lovewith Julia, and when you feel that way about someone, you don’t let anythingget in the way.”

“Erica checked the crowd on the balcony. Stevie didn’t show.”

“Maybe an engraved invitation to a party attended by a couplemillion of your closet friends wasn’t the best way to let her know you’re inlove with her.”

Addison’s words hit her like a strong wind, and Meredith took astep back to assess the change in atmosphere. Was she in love with Stevie? Shewasn’t sure, but if she was it would explain her unrelenting and inexplicabledespondency since election night, and her inability to get Stevie out of hermind. “I’ve botched this from the get-go. What am I going to do?”

Addison linked arms with her and led her toward the balcony. Sheswept her hand out across the open space and said, “Today, you’re going to walkout there in front of all these people who love and support you, take the oathof office, and become president of the most powerful country in the world.You’re going to celebrate with your friends and family. You’re going to be thebelle of ten, count ’em, ten inaugural balls. And tomorrow, your first order ofbusiness is to reach out to Stevie. No subtle gestures, no crowds of people.You’ll have the resources of the entire government at your disposal. Surely,you can figure out a way to get a girl alone and tell her how you feel.”

Meredith felt the weight of her worry fall away as she took inAddison’s advice, and for the first time in her life she thought she actuallycould have it all. All she had to do was convince Stevie they could have it alltogether. First thing tomorrow, she would make it her mission to win Stevieback, but right now, she had an oath to take.

“I dosolemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of theUnited States…”

* * *

“…and willto the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of theUnited States.”

Stevie applauded with the rest of her coworkers as they watchedMeredith take her oath on the balcony of the Capitol. It seemed surreal tothink Meredith was less than a mile away. She might as well be in outer space.As Meredith walked to the podium to deliver her inauguration address, Stevieturned away to head back to her office. She’d felt compelled to watch Meredithtake the oath—it was a historic moment—but she couldn’t handle watching her foran extended length of time without feeling a vast emptiness inside.

Hannah walked alongside her. “You could be there, right now.”

“It’s too late. Besides, I threw the invitation away.”

“No, you didn’t.” Hannah looked slightly sheepish when Steviestared her down. “I may have spotted it when I was picking the Brewer file upoff your desk earlier.” She raised her hands. “Don’t be mad. I’m just sayingthat you could still go if you wanted.”

Stevie walked into her office and fished the invitation fromunderneath the files on her desk. The beautifully engraved card promised herfull VIP access to all the Inauguration Day festivities and admission to theballs scheduled for that evening. At the bottom of the card, in flowingfountain pen script were the words,I’dlove to see you. M. She held up the card. “Did you read it?”

“Maybe.” Hannah hung her head. “Okay, I devoured it. She invitedyou to everything. That pass gets you into all ten inaugural balls. Hasn’t itoccurred to you that she really wants to see you?”

“It has.”

“Do you want to see her?”

Stevie considered the question. “Seeing” Meredith was easy thesedays. Images of her were everywhere from the television to newspapers to thevendors on the streets hawking T-shirts emblazoned with her picture. “I’m notgoing to see her if I go. I mean not really. I’d be better off watching her ontelevision.”

“Way to avoid the question, counselor. Do you want to see her? Inperson?” Hannah waved the invite in the air. “Because I’m thinking there aren’ta lot of these golden tickets handed out, especially not ones with personalinscriptions, which tells me she’d like toseeyou.”

Hannah was crazy, but maybe she was also right. “I can’t goalone.”

“Yes, you can.”

“I don’t have anything to wear.”

“Are you seriously saying that to me?” Hannah rolled her indexfinger. “Spin for me.”

Stevie narrowed her eyes but obeyed.

“Okay, you can turn back around. I have the perfect outfit foryou.”

* * *

Hours later, Stevie stepped out of the cab and glanced around.She’d chosen the Commander-in-Chief Ball for her grand gesture. It was beingheld at the National Building Museum where Addison and Julia had gottenmarried, and Stevie thought a familiar setting would bolster her courage. Butnow that she was here, she was having second thoughts about coming at all.Everywhere she looked she saw tuxes, ball gowns, and limousines. She looked upthe steps that led to the building, and then down at her dress, a borrowed DeLa Renta, and she felt like Cinderella, faking it for a few hours until herball gown turned to tatters and she ran off with only one shoe. At least thelast time she’d been here, she’d been with Princess Charming. This timeMeredith would be surrounded by all her supporters. She’d be celebrating hervictory, as she should, and she would have no time to talk, let aloneintimately. Stevie cursed Hannah for talking her into this.

I’d love tosee you.

Stevie replayed the words in her head, over and over, hoping themessage was more than a simple courtesy.

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