Reappearance of Summmer Page 6

  Summer watched as her mother walked away from the podium and out of the room. After waiting a minute or two she pressed the button on the earpiece nestled in her ear and ordered the holo-phone to call her mother. The line rang twice before her mother answered.

  “Your little escapade to D.C. is detracting from what the foundation does.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry. It’s not like I planned it.” Summer sighed. “You didn’t have to do that, you know.”

  Her mother snorted as demurely as possible. “Yes, I did. For the last fifty years, when a natural disaster has occurred in our country the foundation has been there. I refuse to let our reputation be tarnished because your ex-wife, for whatever reason, has made you unavailable.”

  Summer scowled and got up from the desk to pace. Her mother scolding her for something she had no control over was more than annoying. “Mother, it’s not like I called Val up, and said, ‘Hey, I know it’s been two years, but can you come and kidnap me?’” She let out an irritated huff. “Being in D.C., and especially the White House, is the last place I want to be.”

  “She kidnapped you?” Cassandra asked. Her tone held a modicum of disbelief, which meant she also thought it could be true.

  Summer ignored the question. “I have Scott, Angie, and Kari getting aid to California as we speak. I will let you know by the end of the day if I’m able to make it over there.”

  “You’re working?”

  Summer let out a deep sigh and continued, pretending her mom hadn’t said anything. “I had planned to hold a meeting with a few of the board members to talk about the new veterans program, but since this thing with Val has happened, I don’t know if I will make it. Can you ask dad if he—”

  “Summer Renee Hawkins, if you do not answer my questions I will rain all sorts of hell on Val’s head when your father and I arrive at the White House tonight,” Cassandra scolded.

  Summer frowned. “I still don’t get why you and dad attend these events.” Annoyed, she blew out a frustrated breath. “And you’re not going to do anything, mom.”

  “To hell I am.” The line went quiet then with some hesitation Cassandra asked, “Is Val trying to work things out with you?”

  “No,” Summer replied, exasperated by the question. “If she was, she’s going about it the wrong fucking way. All that’s going to come from this is a tell-all book about how the president of the United States kidnapped me.” She chuckled. “Maybe then I could get some money.”

  “You would blow through it in a matter of weeks,” her mom commented dryly.

  Summer grinned. “Like you and dad would allow me to do something like that. It would put the foundation in a bad light.”

  Cassandra didn’t argue the point. “Why did Val bring you to the White House?”

  “I don’t know, mom, but if she doesn’t tell me soon I’m going to leave or publicly go off on her, possibly both.” Summer grunted. “That may happen tonight, since Valarie is forcing me to go to this stupid state dinner. I think she fell and bumped her damn head or something.” Summer didn’t have to be in the same room as her mother to know there was a stunned expression on her face. She hadn’t done a public appearance since before her crash, and she refused to do them now because of her problems, but a state dinner was more than a public appearance. It was a national event that everyone watched. Rather than continue with this vein of conversation, and have it stir up thoughts and emotions she couldn’t handle at the moment, Summer asked, “What are your thoughts on California?”

  “I think those poor people will need all the help they can get, Summer,” her mother answered, and Summer could almost hear the relief in her voice. Her mom knew there were subjects that would result in Summer losing her temper and lashing out at the closest person, and she avoided them like the plague. Instead of thinking about the state dinner and whatever the hell Val’s deal was, Summer focused on the conversation with her mother. It kept her from dwelling on the anxiety that constantly lurked in the shadows of her mind.

  ~~~

  “President Hawkins, as much as you would like to see your people returned to you, we are dealing with a delicate matter,” Basara stated calmly. Val tried not to get irritated by his tone. They were at an impasse, and it didn’t help that Val’s hands were tied. The prime minister had his people to think of as well as the Alliance’s interests, and what currently mattered to the leaders of the Alliance was denuclearization and not rescuing American soldiers.

  Val gave a curt nod. “I know we are. This is why I offered to host the treaty negotiations, and it is the reason why I am willing to wait until the negotiations are over, but if more of our soldiers are taken, or worse, I will force the Alliance’s hand on this.”

  The prime minister sighed. “I understand and will pass the message along.”

  “I appreciate it,” Val said before giving him a small smile. “I look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning.”

  Basara returned the smile. “I look forward to seeing you as well.” He bid the others sitting around the table goodbye then disconnected the call.

  “Well?” Val asked as she glanced at Jabir, wanting to know his thoughts on the meeting with Basara.

  He sighed. “We have to see what the outcome of the treaty is and what the Alliance says. Denuclearization is a priority for them, but with the insurgents becoming more active, and now this, they will have to do something, Madam President. Inaction wouldn’t be wise for them at the moment.”

  “Why are we waiting for the Alliance? Our people were taken. Valiant men and women who we sent over there to help, and now look what’s happened,” Admiral Prescott interjected once Jabir had finished. “We have to get them back before harm comes to them.”

  Val eyed the admiral. He was the embodiment of the commanding officers you would see in old war movies; in control of everything and didn’t like those who refused to follow his orders. She had appointed Prescott because of his record and his skill as a strategist, and though she agreed with him global treaties prevented her from saying her true thoughts out loud. “Admiral, your tenacity in wanting to get our people out of danger is something we need at this point, but we cannot simply go into Iraq and start shooting off missiles and guns. The Alliance must handle the situation first.”

  Jabir and the other officials around the table nodded in agreement.

  Admiral Prescott grunted and remarked, “This treaty has caused more problems than it has solved, and the Middle East is just as chaotic as it was back in the twenty-first century.”

  Val couldn’t say whether she agreed or not, but it didn’t matter. “Be that as it may, the Alliance must handle things first.” She looked at Jabir. “Are we prepared to deploy troops if necessary?”

  He nodded as he answered, “We are, ma’am.” Jabir opened the folder sitting in front of him. “We are readying several Marine units, a cruiser, three destroyers, and two aircraft carriers.”

  Val nodded as she processed the information. “Okay. I’m certain I will hear from Basara as soon as he has spoken with the Alliance. I will update Secretary Kanaan with what our next steps should be. Until then, everyone should be prepared to go at a moment’s notice. Questions?” There were none, and Val stood before giving her advisors a curt nod. “I appreciate everyone coming, and I hope to see you at tonight’s state dinner.”

  Val moved away from the conference table and walked out of the meeting room located on the underground level of the West Wing. As she headed for the elevator, Val thought more about the situation in the Middle East. The International Treaty of 2072 tied her hands, and there wasn’t anything she could do about it, but she wanted to get their soldiers home and out of the hands of the insurgents. The elevator came, and Val got onto it with Agent Banner following her. When the doors closed, she let her head drop back and balled her hands up at her sides. The vague similarities between the current events in Iraq and those leading up to Summer’s crash were becoming quite apparent, and Val could feel the weight of her guilt
bearing down on her.

  “Madam President?” Agent Banner asked off to her right.

  Val drew in a deep breath and lowered her head. “I’m all right, Kat. I just have a lot of spinning plates at the moment.”

  The agent chuckled. “When do you not have multiple spinning plates, ma’am?”

  Val turned her head slightly and shot the agent a playful scowl. “Do you like being in charge of my detail, Banner?”

  A rare smirk came across the agent’s features. “At the moment, ma’am, it is certainly a responsibility I could personally use a break from. I forgot how bullheaded the colonel could be at times.”

  Val laughed as the doors of the elevator glided open and her laughter continued as she stepped off it. As Banner fell into step next to her, she murmured, “I’ll tell the colonel to go easy on you.”

  Banner quietly grunted. “And have her call me a tattle-tale? I rather you didn’t, ma’am.”

  Val chuckled. She stopped at Manny’s desk when they entered the reception area for the executive office. “Have Addison come see me and hold my calls for an hour.”

  He nodded. “Absolutely, Madam President.”

  Val gave him a gracious smile before heading into the Oval Office. Once the door had closed behind her, she took off the heels she had on and expelled a tired breath. She would work for a few more hours, then she would have to get ready for the state dinner. Val ran her hand through her hair and frowned. It would need to be straightened for the dinner. A fleeting thought of how she should let it go back to its natural state went through her mind as she walked over to the liquor cabinet. Before her mind could jump to a new train of thought Val heard the office door open and Addison said, “The meeting went that bad?”

  Val softly grunted to herself and dropped her shoes on the floor in front of the cabinet. “It all depends on your definition of bad. I was thinking scotch, but if you want something smoother, I can switch to bourbon.”

  “Well, if you’re already in a scotch mood I don’t want to stop you,” Addison remarked. “Scotch also means you’re stressed.”

  Val poured two inches of bourbon into two glasses then headed over to the sitting area, where Addison was already seated on the couch. “When am I not stressed? We’re drinking bourbon, because you’re a wimp.”

  Addison expelled a short, indignant breath as she took the glass. “I am not a wimp. What happened?”

  Val sat down next to her and took a long drink from her glass before releasing a tired, lengthy sigh. “The Treaty of 2072 happened. I can’t go barging into Iraq, but we also need to get them back, Addy. We have to.” She took a smaller sip from her glass. “This whole situation also has undertones of Summer’s mission and it’s throwing me off. Oh, and I need to get my hair straightened.”

  Addison chuckled. “I can’t do anything about the Treaty of 2072. The global leaders thought it would be for the best.”

  “I know, but I think it was shortsighted. We have an Iraqi president who seems to be enabling the insurgents, and their prime minister sees the West as an enemy.” Val held up her hand when Addison opened her mouth to counter her point. “I understand where he is coming from, but they had reports about the rebels’ growth over the last three years and now look what’s happened.” She sighed again. “I think Hasem and Nasir are affiliated with the insurgents somehow.”

  “That is a bold claim, Madam President.”

  Val arched her eyebrow and met Addison’s gaze. “Trust me, I do not make it lightly. But think about it,” she turned on the couch to face Addison better, “within ten years of the treaty being signed, most of the countries that make up the Alliance had lowered their nuclear weaponry, yet Iraq took their sweet time doing it, and it wasn’t until they received pressure from the other countries did they bring it down to the acceptable amount. Now that the Alliance is moving towards a nuclear-free region, Iraq isn’t on board and is fighting it at every turn.”

  “Right, but considering their country’s history their unwillingness is understandable. It doesn’t mean the government is involved with the rebels,” Addison countered, and Val appreciated how her mind worked. It got her thinking, and Addison wasn’t afraid to challenge her.

  Val finished off her drink and set the empty glass on the coffee table. “I get it, and I’m not unsympathetic to Iraq’s history, but this treaty is Alliance created. The West has nothing to do with it. You would think Iraq would be willing to trust their neighbors more since they’ve all been through the same hell.”

  Addison sighed. “This is stirring the pot, Val, and you don’t need that. For your sake, I hope you’re wrong.”

  “I hope I am too. War is the last thing I need. I have two more years to go.” She sighed and raked her fingers though her hair, leaving them there as she rested her elbow on the back of the couch. “But Jabir does have units ready, and all he is waiting for is me and Congress. Do we have a read on that?”

  Addison let out a sharp, quick laugh. “No. There has been no reason for me to gauge how Congress feels about war.” Val grimaced, and Addison groaned. “You want me to find out, don’t you?”

  Val nodded. “Yes, just in case.”

  Addison pointed at her. “Just for that, Summer didn’t go to her appointment with the tailor.”

  Val narrowed her eyes. She didn’t understand why Summer was behaving the way she was, and she had honestly reached her limit with it. Val got up and walked over to the liquor cabinet to retrieve her shoes. “Where is she?” she asked as she put them on.

  “The East Wing from what I was told last,” Addison said with some hesitation. “Are you sure you want to—”

  “Yes, I’m done with her,” Val countered, her voice rising a little. “I’m sick of her attitude, and I’m sick of her not showing me the proper respect. I did nothing wrong. She left me.” Her lips formed a severe line as she straightened out the jacket of her suit and took a second to try to reel in some of her anger. “You would think asking her to escort me to the fucking dinner was asking her to perform open heart surgery with a gun to her head.”

  Val headed for the office door and Addison said, “Val…”

  “What?” Val snapped before opening it.

  Addison let out a deep sigh. “I honestly don’t think this is the best way to go about things.”

  “It’s too late for that. I’m done.” Val jerked open the door and stormed out of the office with Addison trailing behind her. “Banner, is the colonel in the East Wing?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Val, Addison, and three Secret Service agents rushed through the West Wing and entered the West Colonnade, which would take them to the Residence and the eastern part of the White House. The walk didn’t lessen Val’s anger any. If anything, it made it worse, and as she walked through the complex she mentally prepared for the argument about to take place between her and Summer. What she had told Addison remained true. She was done dealing with Summer’s shit, and until she explained why she treated Val like she did, she wasn’t going to allow Summer to keep using her as a verbal punching bag. Yes, kidnapping her ex-wife hadn’t made the situation any better, but considering Val’s past attempts at contacting Summer, there had been no other choice.

  As they entered the East Wing and approached the offices of the first spouse, a familiar face exited one of the side offices and walked over to the doors for the main office, standing in front of them. Val’s eyebrows furrowed. “Nina, what are you doing here?”

  “Ms. Connors called me and told me the colonel was working from the White House. She thought the colonel could use my help while she is here,” Nina said politely unaffected by Val’s sharp tone.

  Val turned and glared at Addison, who held up her hands in exasperation. “She has work to do, and you’ve set limits on her. I gave Nina the same limits, more or less, but told her to be discreet.”

  Val scowled at Addison a second longer before turning her gaze back to Nina. She actually didn’t have a problem with her bringing Nin
a in, but due to her current mood the move annoyed her. Ignoring her irritation, Val tried to walk around Nina, but the young woman took a step back and one over, effectively blocking her path. Surprised, Val stared at her in disbelief. “Nina, have you lost your mind?”

  Nina’s demeanor remained respectful and cordial as she explained, “The colonel is on an important conference call regarding funding for the foundation’s veterans program and does not want to be disturbed.”

  Still stunned by Nina’s behavior, Val stared at her for several long seconds. Her eyes narrowed. “Nina, do not forget your pay is tied to my budget.”

  A slight frown formed on Nina’s face, but then it quickly disappeared. “The colonel made it explicitly clear that she is not to be disturbed, and this includes you, Madam President.” Her lips turned up for a small smile. Failing to see the humor in being stopped from seeing Summer, Val scowled. “I have to admit, I did clean up the verbiage a bit.”

  Of course she did. Summer wouldn’t have been that polite about not being disturbed. There were several swears missing. She pinned Nina down with a hard gaze. “Move.” The young woman didn’t budge, and Val said, “Nina, the president of the United States is asking you to move. Do not make me repeat myself.”

  Nina sighed in resignation and moved out of Val’s way. With her path clear, she barged into the office. Summer’s head lifted upon her intrusion, and right away the pleasant expression on her face turned into a tense one. “Senator, if you could hold for a moment?”

  “Certainly, Colonel Hawkins,” Val heard a woman say before Summer ordered the holo-phone to mute the call.

  Val watched as she got up and walked around the desk. “You need to leave. I am on an important call, and do not have time for whatever shit you are about to put me through.”