Choppy Water

father and stepmother, her campaign manager and others. Twenty names later she said, "And my friend, Stone Barrington," indicating him at the edge of the platform. A spotlight caught him.



Stone had not expected this-indeed, did not welcome it-and felt a flush of heat and a flop sweat coming on. He nodded a couple of times. Photographers' strobes flashed and iPhones were held up by people in the audience. Then, mercifully, the spotlight went elsewhere, and he was able to pat his face with a handkerchief and cool down a bit. He wondered how he could gracefully get out of the room without being noticed, then realized he was stuck there as long as Holly was.



Holly made a short, graceful speech about what it meant to her to be elected president-just short enough to make the lede for all the news shows. Then she left the stage and walked around the room alone, shaking hands and exchanging air-kisses. At a signal from her, the orchestra struck up a tune and people rose and started dancing. Holly made her way back to Stone, and they were directed out a door at the rear of the platform and into a greenroom, where staff and close friends awaited. She repeated her stroll around the ballroom. A half hour later they were led out of the room, followed by Holly's father, Ham Barker, and his wife, Ginny. The next thing they knew, they were back in suite 27A, and everybody was drinking champagne.



The TV was turned off, and a pianist and a bass player offered some light jazz background.



It was two in the morning before the last friend left, and Stone was alone with Holly.



"You look a little peaky," she said to him. "God, I forgot you're just out of the hospital. Let's get you to bed."



Stone allowed her to help him undress and rehang his arm in the sling, then they settled into bed.



"What does tomorrow hold for you?" Stone asked.



"I've told the staff I want a week off, and I don't care if they like it or not," she said. "Where can we go to be alone?"



"