Chapter 18

Jerry, Jennifer, and Sherry were coming in as we came out. It was everything I could do not to make a scene, run up and hug her, and start babbling like an idiot.

Jennifer looked grown up. She had to be about eighteen to twenty, and that made her older than me. Her hair, along with her figure, had grown long and lustrous, which was truly lovely. Her faces till bore the signs of her previous illness, but the severity of the disfigurement had faded with time, until what was left put a permanent but gentle scowl on her face.

Sherry was older, a little heavier, and showed signs of being closer to fifty than forty. Jerry showed every one of his years.

Oh how I wanted to take Jennifer in my arms and cuddle her...

That little girl was gone now, and the one in her place was poised, focused, and lovely in a slightly damaged kind of way. We made eye contact, and she gave me a look that said she shared the pain and embarrassment of being pushed around in a wheel chair.

It about broke my heart, and it thrilled me at the same time. Obviously Doctor Abrams found and fixed Jennifer's tragic illness, which was just what I'd prayed. Seeing her grown and healthy was proof that the universe did use me in positive and wonderful ways. Knowing we could never speak about it cut me to the core.

Renata and Rodney pushed me to the car, and Jennifer went on her way with her mother and grandfather. I was silent for the short trip to Drottningholm Palace. The King and his royal family live in the south wing. We were escorted to the north wing where I found my parents waiting for me.

There was nothing to report, other than the good doctor sent me away to get some rest until tomorrow. Once we covered that, Hawk left for meetings at the US Embassy, and Polly stayed with me while I got ready to lie down.

She was very chatty.

"Do you like the Palace? Did you see any of the Royal Family downstairs? Would you like to go sightseeing after you rest a little while? If you don't sleep too long, you won't suffer with jet lag for days and days. Try to force yourself to get back up after an hour, or two..."

She was happy to be traveling and out of the White House. I couldn't tell if she hated DC, or just hated being cooped up, so I asked. "Did sticking around while I was sick drive you crazy? I'm sorry if I ruined your schedule."

Polly shook her head and laughed. The sound of her laughter was suddenly like the sound of angel's wings. It made me feel better.

"Angela, you brought us so much excitement, joy, and new, exciting experiences. I have always wanted to be a mother to a young girl, and you came along to make my dream come true. Of course you just HAD to get shot twice and poisoned nearly to death to do it, but hey, everybody needs a reason to live, and you had plenty."

She was sincere, but even so, I felt ashamed to have caused so many problems for her. "Please forgive all the interruptions, difficulties, and changes in plans I've caused you since you decided to take me in."

She hugged me without answering. Her message meant so much more that way. The King, or someone in the palace, set aside a wonderful suite of rooms for Hawk and Polly, with another, smaller one for me right across the hall. Renata and Rodney took up residence in my receiving parlor, where they slept in beds provided by the Secret Service for just such a situation. Constance stayed in my room, on a queen sized bed that sat off to one side of the massive sleeping area.

My detail consisted of twelve agents, who rotated in and out on twelve hour shifts. At all times, at least six agents were right with me. They were supported by Hawk's massive detail, the cost of which threatened to exceed the gross national product of Guam or Nauru. His team flexed around mine in such a way that between Polly's people, mine, and the overwhelming presence of Hawk's, we were always inside a bubble of protection that was surrounded by another bubble.

Constance had apparently stepped out, and I was asleep when Polly came to wake me for dinner with the Royal Family. Jet lag got to me this time, probably because my system was weakened by the plague germs still doing what germs do inside of me. I came around slowly, but because I knew my role, I hopped up to get dressed for a formal royal dinner party. Polly and Hawk were far too good to me for me to deny them anything they asked.

Just as Constance finished helping me get ready for dinner, Polly walked in, surveyed our work, and declared, "Angela I have never seen you prettier. Constance, thank you very much for helping my Angela get herself together for our dinner with King Gustav."

She beamed, which made me think that tonight was very important to her. Constance excused herself, and for just a minute I had Polly to myself. "Mother, what makes tonight's dinner more important than other ones that you and Dad attend?"

Polly looked surprised at my attention to her mood and said, "King Gustav loves your father. Queen Sylvia doesn't love anyone, King Gustav included. I made a strategic error when I danced better than she did at the concert that night, and I am afraid she is still a little – well, maybe a little more than a little – let us say, disturbed by it. We both need to be the perfect ladies tonight, or the Queen might just run her tongue a bit too much behind our backs."

"Now let's get next door and let your father escort his devastatingly attractive wife and daughter to dinner." She was smiling, so I wondered just how concerned she was, but I Was determined to do everything in my power to avoid embarrassing them and give Sylvia any reason to abuse Polly with her tongue.

The Dining Hall was immense. You could play an NBA game in there and have room for a host of spectators. The place settings were exquisite, and the aroma of the various dishes filled the air and my stomach like a wonderful promise of spring during a dark February snow storm. Liveried servers flitted about, making sure every single piece of tableware was perfectly placed, and that the flowers, tapestries, and music were also perfect.