night, your breath in my ear, the way you sigh when I hold you. I want to spend hours laughing and talking with you, building a home, raising your children together.”
He got down on one knee on the floor. “I know you’re not much for tradition or for any of that old fashioned junk, but I want to take care of you. I want to walk by your side wherever the path takes us. I want to protect you, to keep you safe from anything or anyone that might harm you. I adore you and your independence, your unwavering spirit and sense of self.”
Jack glanced at the sling and swallowed hard. “And yes, your unquestionable character. I want to be your partner, your friend, your lover. You and your children fill me with a joy I never thought I’d have. And I hope that those are good enough reasons for you to commit yourself to me forever.” He opened up the jewelry box. “Will you marry me, Caroline?”
She ran a hand through his hair. “That was perfect.”
“Is that a yes?”
“I love you, Jack,” she said. “And I do want to marry you. Very much. But-”
“But what?”
“I have one small condition.”
“What would that be?”
He wouldn’t like this. He’d purposely avoided the topic for weeks. “I want to be First Lady of Pennsylvania,” she said.
He got up and sat down on the couch next to her. “That’s going to be hard to do by yourself.”
“I want you to run for Governor.”
“No,” he said resolutely. “That’s not on the table.”
“I talked to Greg Keller.”
The very uptight, sharp as a tack neoconservative who served as Jack’s campaign manager. She clandestinely invited him over to the house one day while her daughters dragged Jack to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. It took him a few minutes to loosen up but they had a nice talk nonetheless.
Jack gave her a wary look. “When?”
“Last week, when you and the girls were gone. I made him lunch.”
“You said you were too tired to do anything.”
Caroline blushed. “I might have told a little white lie. And it was mostly sandwiches and some homemade cookies Mo and Feef helped me make. He’s not very demanding.”
“I am shocked and appalled.” Jack shifted on the couch so that there was a little bit of space between them, though he kept his arm stretched out on the headrest behind her. “At the lie, not the lunch. He doesn’t cook so you probably captivated the hell out of him.”
Jack wasn’t sold on the concept, she could tell. Strange how he’d backtracked so much over the course of a few weeks. He’d need much more than a nudge if he was scooting away from her.
“Greg thinks it’s a great idea,” she said. “The party is still waiting on you. They want you to run. Your numbers are strong, even for a relatively green politician.”
“No,” he said. “It’s too much. We can both stay in Congress, enjoy our lives, build upon our relationships in D.C. It’ll be fine.”
May as well damn the torpedoes. “You’re going to run, or I won’t marry you.”
Jack glared at her. “You cannot be serious.”
“I am.”
“Now who’s not being romantic?”
Caroline stroked the stubble on his jawline that always seemed to show up in the late evening. “Jack, I can help you. I want you to do this. You’ve wanted this for so long, much longer than you’re probably willing to admit. I can see it in your eyes. I would never forgive myself if you gave this up for me. We can do this. Side by side. We would make an amazing team. I think it could work, despite our party differences. You can use my newfound…popularity to your advantage. Greg agrees.”
“I won’t let you be exploited in order to win votes.”
“Exploit is a harsh word. Maybe utilize, or make the most of it. I’ve been practicing the loving political wife look.”
“What are you going to do if I run, and win? Live in Rockville with the girls while I’m in central Pennsylvania? I don’t want that. I want us all to be a family. Together.”
His earnest response bordered on adorable. “We would all be together. In Harrisburg.”
“And you would do what? Commute to Washington every day? See us on the weekends? No way.”
“No. I’ve talked to the girls. They’re on board with us moving there for as long as you’re in office.”
“What about your seat?”
Caroline took a deep breath. It wasn’t fair to hit him with more than one torpedo