My Journal

By Harriman Nelson

34

There was a White House limo waiting for us along with a police escort at the dock as there was great interest in what I might say. The press shouted out their questions as the public did, but ‘no comment’ was all either Emmie or I could say as we were escorted to the car.

The Flying Sub had already taken off and was on her way back to the Seaview. As expected, the president had recalled all military back to alert status. Just in case.

This time, it was the U.S. Army taking up space inside and outside of  the White House perimeter. To protect the aliens and to protect the White House from them.  

We were hurried through the gate and driven to our usual back entrance, and subjected to the usual security check.

“You’d think by now, that wouldn’t be necessary,” Emmie whispered. “We’re hardly going to harm Lee.”

“It’s not you, Ma’am,” the marine said. “Anything might have been planted on you and….”

“Never mind,” I said. “Do we have clearance to go see our son now?”

“Cmdr. Jackson is waiting for you just inside the doors.”

“Thank you.”

He was and thanked us profusely for arriving so quickly.

“How is he?” I demanded, “I want an honest answer.”

“Not good. He’s distraught, stressed, and still has matters to attend to that he can’t get out of. If he had a V.P. he might, but we don’t.”

We didn’t say anything as we trod toward the Oval Office.

We arrived to an open door, and were greeted by Winston, wagging his tail furiously.

“What a good boy,” Emmie said, bending down to pet him.

Missy was lounging on the desk, while Lee was engaged in a discussion with a man I recognized as one of the members of the Supreme Court. Emmie and I remained near the door not wishing to intrude.

“I’m sorry, Mr. President,” he was saying. “As the ambassador to our world, Numbers has diplomatic immunity from prosecution. No court would sanction it."

“Even though he’s as much to blame for my wife and unborn child’s deaths as Ronald?"

“I’m sorry, sir, but that’s the law.”

“Very well. But can we keep him in jail until my father-in-law gets here tonight? Perhaps we can just turn him over to face their kind of justice, whatever it is.”

“Certainly, sir. But I don’t understand how the ship can get here that fast. The SEA doesn’t even have it on their sensors.”

“The SEA sensors aren’t that long range. When Numbers contacted the captain with the news of Melody’s death, he said they  weren’t all that far outside the galaxy. As for Ronald, he'll  face the judicial system of Washington D.C. as prescribed by law. He’s plead not guilty even though he admitted what he did on TV! Even got a lawyer. Paid for by our tax dollars, God help us, the injustice of it all…”

I coughed gently to make our arrival known.

“If you’ll excuse me, Mr. President, I’ll inform the chief of police that Ambassador. Numbers will be handed over to the captain when he arrives.”

“Thank you Mr. Justice,” Lee said picking up that framed photo of the family group in the Oval Office. Then he looked up at us, sat it back down on the desk,  before coming over to hug us.

“Mom, Dad. I’m glad you got here so quickly. It…it’s been hard…I keep expecting to see her just waltz in here, singing, like she always did and…”he gulped, “it’s just so hard to believe…so hard…” he said, trying to hold back the tears.

“It’s all right to cry,” Emmie said.

“Mom says to just let it, she got here a few hours ago…I thought I was cried out…but then…it starts all over again… but I still have so much to do…I feel unfaithful to Mel…working…”

“I don’t think she’d feel that way at all,” I said.

“Maybe not, but I sure do….”

 Just then Ms. Simpson entered.

“Excuse me, Mr. President. The morgue sent their autopsy report and these...”

Lee paled at the sight of Melody’s wedding band and engagement ring in Simpson’s hand and allowed her to place them in his palm.

“Can you give us a little privacy, Ms. Simpson?” I asked. “No visitors for awhile?”

“As you wish,” she said, without any emotion and closed the door behind her.

“What a cold fish,” Emmie said.

“She never liked Mel,” Lee said, clutching the rings between his thumb and forefinger. “Eternity, that’s what you said about these, wasn’t it, Harry.” It was not a question. “Eternity…and now…it’s lost…”he gulped and the tears came as he sank to the floor. Poor Winston was distressed as his master wouldn’t respond to him and was acting so weird. Emmie picked the dog up and carried him to the sofa, while I knelt down beside Lee, enfolding him in my arms and began to rock him gently as he sobbed against my chest.

“Let it out, son. Let it all out.”

After a while he began to talk about her. Her little quirks, and the things that made her so wonderful…how he’d never love anyone like her again. I could have told him time would heal all wounds and that there would be other girls to love, but I kept silent and just let him ramble. Besides, I know the pain of a loved one’s death. Time does not heal the wound. It leaves a great big gaping hole in your heart. No way I would tell Lee a lie.

It’s getting dark now, and I’ve changed clothes and had a bite in our suite as we await the spaceship. It’s on the SEA scans now. Jut the one ship, so maybe the alert wasn’t necessary. Still, they have technology we don’t, and there is the threat.

Winston is playing with a sock, and Missy decided to join him.( They have the freedom of the house.)

Something comforting about the sight. But inwardly, well, my nerves are shot. For Lee and for what might come.