father's, welcomed him. He rolled over on his side and was asleep almost instantly, his sleep tortured by a parade of tiny Japanese girls following him up the hill to the cherry blossom grove. He was playing a haunting melody, a favorite of his mother's, on a flute that was a gift from his grandfather. Cries and pleas for help from the edge of the clearing were drowned out by his music and the voices of the little girls. The children pointed, their voices raised in excitement, to the edge of the grove, where the family, one by one, slipped off the embankment. "You're the only one left," the little girls shouted. "The only one!" Then they laughed, high, shrieking sounds. He stopped playing the flute long enough to hear the first little girl say he was their savior. Japanese people didn't say such things. A savior. A word from his own Catholic faith. He woke drenched in sweat and with a pounding headache.
Standing under a pelting shower, he decided that if he did nothing, then nothing would happen. Don't commit, don't make a decision. Look to the future, not the past. For now, it was the best advice he could give himself.
UUiiiii CHAPTER TWO )}»)»»
It was one of Texas's finest hours.
Miranda was getting a salute that only Texans could give. The city might have been built by Cary Assante, but it was the Coleman family whom the crowds came to see and pay tribute to.
Amelia's dedication of the Jessica Coleman Library was private. The family had voted unanimously to keep it small and personal, and the crowds and press respected their wishes.
It was snowing lightly when the family made its way from
{37}
the library to the grand ballroom in Assante Towers.
"This is the part I always hate," Billie muttered. "Being on display."
"Smile, darling, this is for Cary and Amelia," Thad said, looking around at the crowd. "Lord, all of Texas must be here."
"And all the other forty-nine states," Billie giggled. "Half the Senate is here—who do you think is minding the store? I've seen at least twenty Congressmen. I expected the governor and the lieutenant governor, but this ... this turnout is like a Capitol Hill funeral without the body. If you tell me the president is here, I'll die."
"Not the president, but the second in command," Thad said. "And I had nothing to do with it," he added.
"Mam, I'm stunned!" Maggie gasped. "Who did all this? I just saw Henry Kissinger, and if I'm not mistaken, he was talking to Ted Koppel."
Billie's eyes widened. "Ted Koppel! Thad, is that true? Where is he?"
"Down, girl." Thad laughed. "Maggie, to answer your question, Cary hired publicity people, and Amelia sent out invitations to the governor asking him to invite anyone he wanted. They're old friends, as you know. That accounts for the governors on parade. I guess the Senate and House can be laid on my doorstep. I invited them all, but I didn't think they'd show up. I'm happy they did, but I didn't expect—"
"Thad, this is the first time I've ever seen you at a loss for words," Maggie said. Thad grinned sheepishly.
"Sawyer told me the Beach Boys are playing, and Cole said Elton John and John Denver are singing. They must have been putting me on. They love to see me get excited and then prick my balloon," Maggie cried happily.
"We'll know soon enough, once everyone gets inside."
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm going to stand here and gawk," Sawyer stage-whispered behind her hand.
"Me, too," Maggie whispered back. "You-all go inside, and Sawyer and I will report back later. In detail."
Billie's eyes warmed. How happy she was that Maggie and Sawyer were at last not only mother and daughter but friends as well.
"There are more Rolls-Royces, Ferraris, and Jags in the parking lot than in Saudi Arabia," Cole whispered in his
{38}
mother's ear. "And I saw two sheiks talking to Mr. Hasegawa. Old friends, I believe."
"You look handsome, Cole. Run along now and join the penguin brigade. I appreciate the effort you put into
Standing under a pelting shower, he decided that if he did nothing, then nothing would happen. Don't commit, don't make a decision. Look to the future, not the past. For now, it was the best advice he could give himself.
UUiiiii CHAPTER TWO )}»)»»
It was one of Texas's finest hours.
Miranda was getting a salute that only Texans could give. The city might have been built by Cary Assante, but it was the Coleman family whom the crowds came to see and pay tribute to.
Amelia's dedication of the Jessica Coleman Library was private. The family had voted unanimously to keep it small and personal, and the crowds and press respected their wishes.
It was snowing lightly when the family made its way from
{37}
the library to the grand ballroom in Assante Towers.
"This is the part I always hate," Billie muttered. "Being on display."
"Smile, darling, this is for Cary and Amelia," Thad said, looking around at the crowd. "Lord, all of Texas must be here."
"And all the other forty-nine states," Billie giggled. "Half the Senate is here—who do you think is minding the store? I've seen at least twenty Congressmen. I expected the governor and the lieutenant governor, but this ... this turnout is like a Capitol Hill funeral without the body. If you tell me the president is here, I'll die."
"Not the president, but the second in command," Thad said. "And I had nothing to do with it," he added.
"Mam, I'm stunned!" Maggie gasped. "Who did all this? I just saw Henry Kissinger, and if I'm not mistaken, he was talking to Ted Koppel."
Billie's eyes widened. "Ted Koppel! Thad, is that true? Where is he?"
"Down, girl." Thad laughed. "Maggie, to answer your question, Cary hired publicity people, and Amelia sent out invitations to the governor asking him to invite anyone he wanted. They're old friends, as you know. That accounts for the governors on parade. I guess the Senate and House can be laid on my doorstep. I invited them all, but I didn't think they'd show up. I'm happy they did, but I didn't expect—"
"Thad, this is the first time I've ever seen you at a loss for words," Maggie said. Thad grinned sheepishly.
"Sawyer told me the Beach Boys are playing, and Cole said Elton John and John Denver are singing. They must have been putting me on. They love to see me get excited and then prick my balloon," Maggie cried happily.
"We'll know soon enough, once everyone gets inside."
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm going to stand here and gawk," Sawyer stage-whispered behind her hand.
"Me, too," Maggie whispered back. "You-all go inside, and Sawyer and I will report back later. In detail."
Billie's eyes warmed. How happy she was that Maggie and Sawyer were at last not only mother and daughter but friends as well.
"There are more Rolls-Royces, Ferraris, and Jags in the parking lot than in Saudi Arabia," Cole whispered in his
{38}
mother's ear. "And I saw two sheiks talking to Mr. Hasegawa. Old friends, I believe."
"You look handsome, Cole. Run along now and join the penguin brigade. I appreciate the effort you put into
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