Suddenly, a small ball of dust rose up. Nick and Elle’s twin boys, fighting as usual. Nick broke them up, picking them both up by the seat of their pants and holding them apart. They were both scruffy and dirty and still trying to beat each other up though they were a foot apart. Elle sighed and bent to them.
Mac made a noise in the back of his throat. His face was perilously red. Kristen obviously realized that causing a gasket to blow in the head of the current President (Pro Tem) of the Republic of California was not a good idea.
So she said, simply, “Votes cast for Thomas McEnroe—263,404. Votes cast for Sarah Kellerman—323,516. Ladies and gentlemen, Sarah Kellerman is the new President of the Republic of California. She just called with her acceptance and will be travelling tomorrow to Haven to take up her duties. Sorry you lost, Mac.”
Mac whooped with joy, picked Catherine up and whirled her around. When he put her down, he saw their daughter, Delia, was weeping.
Mac picked her up, frowning. “What’s the matter, sweetheart?”
Delia cried as if her heart had broken. “You lost, Daddy! You lost. I’m sosowwy.”
Mac looked around with a big grin, then schooled his face to seriousness. “No, darling, you didn’t hear Kristen properly. Daddywon. Now Daddy doesn’t have to waste his time with political assholes like?—”
“Mac!” Catherine’s voice was like a whip. Mac bit his lips, looking around for help. Someone shuffled and someone coughed.
Mac took in a deep breath and addressed his daughter. “So, since Daddy just won, how about we go celebrate with some ice cream. How does that sound?” He addressed the crowd. “Ice cream for everyone! Treat’s on me!”
He turned and led the crowd over to the community center.
Jon looked down at her. “Think Emma might like some of that ice cream? Should I wake her up?”
Sophie looked up at him, at Mac’s departing broad back, radiating happiness, at the community of people they’d gathered around them, grateful for every bit of it. Grateful for something else, too.
She put a hand on his arm, feeling that familiar warmth. She’d healed Jon but he’d healed her, too. He’d opened up her heart and filled it to the brim.
“Before we go in, there’s something I have to tell you. Maybe it’s appropriate on the day the citizens of California voted.” She placed his big hand over her belly.
“We’re making a new citizen. I think it might be a boy.”
Everyone trooping to the community center stopped and turned when they heard Jon’s whoop of joy.
