Chapter 15

The brief hostilities with Russia caused quite an international uproar, and several trading partners canceled their connections with Russian suppliers. The usual suspects howled their anger and hatred at America for meddling in international affairs, and more than one member of congress groused about the "terrible waste" of resources, spent protecting allies when that money could be spent at home far better.

All in all it was what it always is - a mixed bag - a little of everything and a lot of nothing.

Charles was growing increasingly popular. Most economists were crowing about how the Russian intervention would help America's anemic recovery. The lingering hatred of the very far out, weirdo contingent was worse than ever, and the Secret Service reported foiling several crazy plots to take out the President.

The country settled down as our economy took off, and things looked like they might be peaceful for a little while.

That was the national mood on the day I finally was reunited with my family.

It was a Sunday. We all agreed to meet at the Residence instead of in Branson. I suspected that they wanted to gawk and drool a little, just like I would have and did in the beginning of this trip through my life.

When the Lincolns delivered my family to the Vice Presidential Residence, I was standing just inside the front doors, waiting to greet them. On my orders, my detail was standing well off.

Colleen was the first one out of the car, and she strode purposefully up the front steps into the Residence. She stopped in front of me and announced, "Mr. Vice President, I am Colleen Bell, and you remind me of Carl!" She then threw her arms around me and kissed me like she meant it.

I kissed her back, because I did mean it, and she burst into tears, saying over and over again, "I knew you would come back to me. I knew you would come back to me..."

Jim and Millie hurried to deal with their nearly hysterical daughter, but I put my hand out to stop them and said, "I am SO GLAD to see you all again. I was so afraid you wouldn't know me when I came back and imagined all sorts of scenarios where you completely rejected me.

"Millie, Jim, it's me. It is really me, and I am so sorry you didn't bring Benjamin with you..." I never got the chance to continue, because Rebecca opened the rear door a little wider and Benjamin jumped down and came to us. I dropped to my knees and loved all over him. He had no idea who I was, but that didn't slow me down.

It took a few minutes but suddenly Benjamin sensed that I was me, and then he got happy all over his body. We hugged and loved on each other like we hadn't seen each other in forever, which is exactly how I felt. Colleen was still crying and hugging me, while Beth Ann and Regina stared at me like I was a ghost - which I suppose, I was.

Our reunion had to be somewhat on the down-low because of my guards and staff, so we moved it inside, into the private sitting room off my bedroom suite. Benjamin led the way as we climbed the white staircase just inside the front door, and turned left to my private quarters - the one place I could expect some privacy.

Colleen stayed glued to my side, as did Rebecca and Beth Ann, once they bought in. Regina took longer, which made sense, since she had the least history with me.

Jim was first after Colleen to fully accept that I was Carl, back in the body of John Gray. "Boy, I have to say that I thought of you so many times when I read the news of things the Vice President was doing. The reports sounded like things you would think up and have the nerve to try. Now I understand why I felt that way."

Colleen looked at him like HE was the ghost, now. "Daddy? You, the one who wants proof that the sun rose in the east, are willing to just accept that our Carl is back, without kicking and screaming all the way home to Branson?"

"Honey," Jim said, patiently. "Think about it. How could John Gray KNOW about our involvement with the Judge – the REAL things Carl did for the Judge – without really being Carl? He got the Judge to send us here without any problem, but the Judge specially said he had NO IDEA what-so-ever, how the Vice President knew, just that he knew. BUT we needed to go see what he had in mind, then let him know what we think."