Page 62 of Edge of Eternity (The Century 3)

"Upstairs?" That usually meant the president's private residence.

"I'll pick you up." Dave hung up.

Maria immediately wished she had put on a more fancy outfit today. She was wearing a plaid pleated skirt and a plain white blouse with little gold-colored buttons. Her hairpiece was a simple bob, short in the back with long scimitars of hair either side of her chin, in the current fashion. She feared she looked like every other office girl in Washington.

She spoke to Nelly. "Have you been invited to a staff get-together this evening?"

"Not me," said Nelly. "Where is it?"

"Upstairs."

"Lucky you."

At five fifteen, Maria went to the ladies' room to adjust her hair and makeup. She noticed that none of the other women were making any special effort, and she deduced that they had not been invited. Perhaps the get-together was for the newest recruits.

At five thirty, Nelly picked up her handbag to leave. "You take care of yourself, now," she said to Maria.

"You, too."

"No, I mean it," said Nelly, and she walked out before Maria could ask what she meant by that.

Dave Powers appeared a minute later. He led her out of doors, along the West Colonnade, past the entrance to the pool, then back inside and up in an elevator.

The doors opened on a grand hallway with two chandeliers. The walls were painted a color between blue and green that Maria thought might be called eau de nil. She hardly had time to take it in. "We're in the West Sitting Hall," Dave said, and led her through an open doorway into an informal room with a scatter of comfortable couches and a large arched window facing the sunset.

The same two secretaries were here, Jenny and Jerry, but no one else. Maria sat down, wondering whether others were going to join them. On the coffee table was a tray with cocktail glasses and a jug. "Have a daiquiri," Dave said, and poured it without waiting for her answer. Maria did not drink alcohol often, but she sipped it and liked it. She took a cheese puff from the tray of snacks. What was this all about?

"Will the First Lady be joining us?" she asked. "I'm longing to meet her."

There was a moment of silence, making her feel as if she had said something tactless; then Dave said: "Jackie's gone to Glen Ora."

Glen Ora was a farm in Middleburg, Virginia, where Jackie Kennedy kept horses and rode with the Orange County Hunt. It was about an hour from Washington.

Jenny said: "She's taken Caroline and John John."

Caroline Kennedy was four and John John was one.

If I were married to him, Maria thought, I wouldn't leave him to ride my horse.

Suddenly he walked in, and they all stood up.

He looked tired and strained, but his smile was as warm as ever. He took off his jacket, threw it over the back of a chair, sat on the couch, leaned back, and put his feet on the coffee table.

Maria felt she had been admitted to the most exclusive social group in the world. She was in the president's home, having drinks and snacks while he put his feet up. Whatever else happened, she would always have the memory of this.

She drained her glass, and Dave topped it up.

Why was she thinking, Whatever else happened? There was something off here. She was just a researcher, hoping for an early promotion to assistant press officer. The atmosphere was relaxed, but she was not really among friends. None of these people knew anything about her. What was she doing here?

The president stood up and said: "Maria, would you like a tour of the residence?"

A tour of the residence? From the president himself? Who would say no?

"Of course." She stood up. The daiquiri went to her head, and for a moment she felt dizzy, but it passed.

The president went through a side door, and she followed.

"This used to be a guest bedroom, but Mrs. Kennedy has converted it into a dining room," he said. The room was papered with battle scenes from the American Revolution. The square table in the middle looked too small for the room, Maria thought, and the chandelier too big for the table. But mostly she thought: I'm alone with the president in the White House residence--me! Maria Summers!

---