Lady in Red Pt. 03 Ch. 04

After a restful evening, Gwen's entourage spent the following day touring many of the historical sites so abundant in Rome. Paparazzi followed Gwen and Steve doggedly, snapping thousands of photos of the American First Family.

It was early afternoon when Vince Rosen and Cindy Quick caught up with the group while touring the Coliseum. The members of the press were given the opportunity to see for themselves just how Gwen was going to treat the couple. Gwen hugged Vince Rosen while Steve smiled as he swept Cindy off her feet and easily lifted her into the air before kissing her soundly on the cheek. Then Gwen hugged Cindy while Steve and Vince exchanged handshakes and clapped each other on the back. Vince and Cindy never strayed very far from Gwen's side the rest of the day.

Gwen was pleased that Charlotte, Billy, Coach and Laura, along with both couples' children had also arrived to join the tour for ten days. Nadiya, Hans, Michelle, and Claude were scheduled to arrive the next afternoon and attend the State Dinner. Steve noticed that Gwen's harried attitude lessened as she surrounded herself with more of her friends and family and ceased concerning herself over the possible actions of Congress.

That evening, Vince, Cindy, Gwen, and Steve sat down for an interview with the news anchors of the three major networks. Cindy had distributed copies of the outline she had created about her past. It had been decided that if the three major networks would carry the interview, it would provide the best opportunity for maximum television exposure.

While not cruel, the questions from the experienced news veterans were thoughtful and quite probing. Cindy answered everything as honestly as she could, with no effort to gloss over or lessen the gravity of her mistakes. Gwen would be asked to comment on an occasional point and Vince was often asked how he felt about Cindy's past and if he felt that she could be trusted. After addressing specific questions, Gwen and Vince always returned to stating their unequivocal support of the Cindy they now knew. Steve was content to sit off to the side and be pretty much ignored, until Amber turned her face toward him.

"Mr. Hammer, Cindy Quick mentioned you quite prominently in her description of how and when her life was turned around. She seems to believe that it was you that brought her to her senses and made her begin serious work on becoming a better person. Would you care to comment?"

"Well, I'm not sure that I had that much influence on Cindy's so-called resurrection, but I'm extremely proud of the lady she is today. I'd love to be able take credit for her selfless acts, her poise, her talent, her great beauty, and her many successes," responded Steve as he tried to deflect any direct questions regarding his experiences with Cindy. "Once she made her decision, she took the ball and ran with it. It's pretty obvious what a fine person she is now."

"Steve, may I follow up on that?" asked Tom Bender, an anchorman with another network. "Ms. Quick states in her release that she paraded around in front of you with her bikini top removed in an attempt to make you not only notice her, but tell her that she was more voluptuous and desirable than her daughter, Jordan. You had just graduated from high school at the time, so you were eighteen years old. Cindy Quick states that your response to her admittedly inappropriate behavior was the 'kick in the butt' she needed. Can you share with us exactly what you did, or said, that had such an effect on her?"

"Our conversation was personal and I never intended to share it with anyone, other than Gwen. "The gist of it was pretty simple. Beauty is an intangible thing. A woman can have a great figure and a lovely face but if that's all she has, she will not be as attractive as a woman that's intelligent, selfless, kind, confident, and self-assured.

"Jordan had become all of that and much more. She had become the complete woman, and one of my very best friends. Her mother suffered from envy, low self-esteem, and other issues that prevented her beauty from being what it could have been. I did my best to explain that to Cindy. I also pointed out that mothers do not compete with their daughters; they nurture and encourage them. I used Gwen's mom as an example of how a beautiful mother, wife, and woman should conduct herself. I guess my explanation helped Cindy understand why she wasn't as beautiful as her daughter, at least not at that time. She's pretty hot now," added Steve with a grin.

"You appear to have an unusually high regard for your mother-in-law. Your feelings for Cindy Quick also appear to be pretty strong. How would you describe your relationship with those two women?"

"Tom, are you trying to get me to say something inappropriate?" wondered Steve as he mulled over the question. "Paula's one of the most incredible people I've ever known. She's the total package... beautiful, intelligent, and loyal. She's pretty much everything a woman should be; everything a person should be. I've loved her almost from the moment we met and it's only grown stronger over the years.

"Cindy was a different matter. Physically, she was as beautiful a woman as you'll ever see, but she lacked the humanity to be a beautiful person. I didn't like her too much when I first met her. She gradually changed my opinion as she remade herself into the person she is today. When I see or think of her now, my heart is filled with love and tender feelings for her. I admire her. I have to admit that I've come to love her."

"Madam President, you've just heard your husband declare his love for two beautiful women, one of whom is your own mother. What's your reaction to his admission?" asked Ryan Phillips, the third anchor involved in the interview.

"First, Ryan, you need to understand that this come as no surprise to me. Steve and I have no secrets from each other, and everyone that knows my family knows how deeply Steve feels about the women in our group. One of the big reasons we're so successful is that every one of us tries very hard to conduct our lives in a way that makes him proud of us. Mom and Cindy are exceptional in every way, but they're always aware that Steve is watching and that makes them, makes all of us really, work hard to be all that he expects us to be."

"Are you telling us that you still worry about how your husband perceives you?" asked Amber.

"Most definitely, but not because he's judgmental; he isn't," replied Gwen as she smiled at Steve and patted his hand. "Living with the best man in the world comes with certain expectations and responsibilities. His approval is extremely important to me, as well as to many others. I'm the one with the title of President, but Steve made it possible. I've never made it a secret that I depend on him in all kinds of ways, and he's never let me down. He absolutely loves Mom and Cindy, and more than a few other friends and relatives of ours. I feel quite confident that all of the men in our circle love me. You need to understand that love is a very strong emotion, not a physical action. Steve and I are totally monogamous and it's my belief that the same can be said for all of the people close to me. Loyalty is one of our greatest strengths.

"I've heard it said that you should aspire to become the kind of person your dog thinks you are. I aspire to become the person Steve thinks I am."

"President Rosen, have you formed any doubts about your relationship with Cindy Quick since learning so much about her past?" asked Tom Bender.

"I'll be totally candid here," responded Vince Rosen. "I met Cindy years ago. She became a close friend of my late wife's. She spent a great deal of time helping care for Cynthia when she was very ill. I learned all I needed to know just by watching how kind she was to Cynthia.

"Yes, I knew she had past indiscretions, but they had simply served to forge her strength of character as she moved forward. I've also seen how Gwen and Steve care for and respect her. They're excellent judges of character. The fact that they hold her in such high esteem means far more to me than any dirt from her past. I'm extremely comfortable with our relationship."

"Ms. Quick, would you care to add anything before we end this interview?" asked Amber Stahl.

"I'd like to say that I never intended to harm Vincent's career. I'd buried my past and concentrated on the present and future. I've made mistakes, big mistakes, but I have faith in the American people. They have a tremendous capacity for forgiveness if a person is truly remorseful and doing their best to improve. I ask that the American public consider my life and accomplishments since that day I embarrassed myself so badly in front of one of my only daughter's best friends. Jordan's forgiven me, as has Gwen.

"Steve almost brought me to tears a moment ago when he said that he loves me. I've never met another man like him. The people of this country should realize just how lucky they are to have a couple like Gwen and Steve working so hard to keep America safe and to improve the quality of life at home and around the world. I sincerely hope that Vince is allowed to become part of their team. He's a wonderful man."

As soon as the interview ended, Paula rushed into the studio and hugged Steve tightly. "We watched on the monitors and I heard what you said about me. I can't tell how good those words made me feel! You told the world that you love me!"

Jordan had held her mother in an embrace while Paula had Steve wrapped up before complaining, "Paula, let the guy go. I need to hug him, too! Thanks for saying so many nice things about me, and about Mom. You really are something!"

Cindy Quick had moved to Vince Rosen's side once Jordan released her. She beamed as she watched her daughter chat with Steve as she held him in her embrace. When Jordan finally stepped away from Steve, Cindy moved in and wrapped him in her arms.

"Sometimes I wish that I'd managed to seduce you that day by the pool," whispered Cynthia into Steve's ear. "I suppose everything would have turned out much differently and not nearly as well, but I'd have that memory! Thanks for everything, especially for telling the world that you love me. Now I feel like I can face whatever they throw at Vince and me."

The next evening the state dinner was a gala affair as Gwen and the other women dazzled in their gowns. Steve and Gwen had made certain that Vince and Cindy were seated near them. They took great pains to show the world how comfortable they were with the couple at every possible opportunity.

As a child Cindy Quick had been raised in a trashy environment, but over the years, she had learned proper deportment for a lady in social settings. She smiled and chatted with other guests while keeping very close to Vince the entire evening. Steve and Gwen were both pleased with her obvious social skills.

Italian politicians and government officials were extremely pleased to have President Hammer and her husband visiting their country and went all out to make a favorable impression. This in turn allowed Gwen and Steve to shine even more than usual as they chatted with members of President Manetta's cabinet and various elected officials.

Ted and Paula were sitting with Kate and Chip at their table as they watched the First Couple move around the room when Chip spoke. "I never would've believed that I would be here experiencing all of this ten years ago. I knew Steve and Gwen had a great future, but this is way beyond anything I'd ever imagined."

"Have you noticed how much more relaxed Gwen and Steve are today?" asked Kate. "Their decision to prioritize their goals really helped them. How many people can actually say that they have more important things to worry about than remaining President of the United States? I don't know how long she'll be president, but she's no longer worried about it. Look how she and Steve command the room with their presence."

The evening was a huge success as President and Mr. Hammer, laughed, joked, and entertained the Italian dignitaries. It was perhaps the most enjoyable state dinner they had attended to date. The next evening, Lady in Red played in a crowded Piazza del Popolo. With Gwen and Steve feeling more relaxed, their performance again improved.

"We've been putting on a hell of a show in every city, but tonight was the best we've ever done!" exclaimed Charlie once the show had ended. "This world tour is going to go down in history as the best ever. I'm proud as hell of this group."

The next morning, Kate, Naomi, Jason, Lisa, and Jeff Wilson were notified that they were required to be in Washington the following week for confirmation hearings. Steve received a request that surprised him.

"Congress feels that I'm acting in the capacity of national security advisor and wants me to appear before them to state my qualifications," explained Steve to his wife and friends. "They want me to be there next week, knowing full well that I'm committed to this world tour as well as serving as Gwen's escort at the state dinners."

"What are you going to do?" asked Gwen. "I like the idea of you being recognized as my advisor, but I don't see how you can abandon the tour we're doing. Don't I have to nominate you, or submit your name, or something?"

"I'll provide them with a list of dates I'll be available to attend their hearings," chuckled Steve. "They're trying to flex some muscle and put a little squeeze on, forcing us to separate. That won't happen. They can interview me in October, and not before."

"You realize that attitude will piss them off, don't you?" chuckled Ted. "They want to grill you for a position for which the president has not submitted your name. That's quite unusual, to say the least."

"They have several objectives that are pretty obvious to me. They want to question me under oath, hoping that I'll reveal something damaging to Gwen. They want the opportunity to deny me the official position, and will likely claim it's the worst case of nepotism in history."

"What should we do?" asked Gwen. "Do I submit your name for the position, or will you refuse to testify?"

"Neither," replied Steve. "I'll go before Congress and tell the truth. We have nothing to hide. They can refuse to confirm me, but I'm sure I'll find an opportune time to explain that I was never even nominated and that I'm not dependent on them for anything. They're trying to force your hand to submit my name for consideration, which they will then refuse, or make you remove me from my advisory position to keep me from going before Congress. Either way, I'd be out of the loop."

"So you're going to answer their questions and play their game, but Gwen isn't going to submit your name. She can simply ignore the outcome, unless you're approved, of course," reasoned Kate. "They're going have to do a lot better than that if they want to play hardball with Steve and Gwen Hammer."

Budapest, Hungary was the next destination and Gwen looked forward to the visit. "Grandmother was born in Hungary and came to the United States when she was eight. We're going to visit the area her family called home as soon as we get to Hungary. That's why we've scheduled two extra days there. I want to see where my family came from and connect with any relatives we may have there. Grandmother is almost eighty. I feel it's important to discover our roots together."

"There's nothing more important than spending quality time with Grandmother Caroline," agreed Steve. "Don't forget that it'll mean a great deal to Paula and your sisters. I think Saint is old enough to understand his heritage and there's no better way to learn than to see it in its original setting."

Gwen was warmly welcomed to Hungary at the Ferenc Liszt International Airport. President Áder was effusive in his raise of President Hammer and her successful efforts to reduce the risk of war that had seemed so imminent when she assumed office. Gwen beamed as President Áder extolled her many virtues.

When asked to speak, Gwen stressed her ties to Hungary. She presented her Grandmother Caroline to the gathering and explained how she had been born in Hungary almost eighty years prior. Caroline waved and smiled as those in attendance clapped and cheered enthusiastically.

Gwen's group had arranged to visit the town where her grandmother's parents had been married. It promised to be a joyous celebration of family, but as often happens, fate changed the nature of the visit.

Seven large helicopters had been lined up to transport everyone over two hundred miles to a mountainous area to the northeast of Budapest. Reservations had been made at the only local hotel large enough to accommodate the entire family, as well as the security and media representatives. Reporters had made their own arrangements to travel to this remote area of Hungary.

The helicopters were preparing to land in a large field near the hometown of Gwen's great-grandparents, when Jason contacted Steve.

"I'm getting reports of a serious earthquake just about thirty miles west of our destination. It's a mountainous area and the damage is pretty severe. A town of about four thousand has been pretty well leveled and there are a lot of injuries and fatalities.

"Lady in Red has responded. We have supplies, heavy equipment, food, water, and medical assistance in transit already. I think I should go there immediately to direct our relief efforts."

"Of course, Jason," agreed Steve. "We'll all fly there and help any way we can. Have your pilot lead the way and land away from any structures or mountains. We'll leave a few people near the birds to keep an eye on the kids. We may decide to load them all on one chopper and send them back to our hotel with some chaperones."

"I'll call Laura and Charlotte," declared Gwen as soon as Steve explained the situation. "We have three doctors in our group and we'll help care for the injured. I'll finally get to see firsthand just how good a job Jason has done with his emergency preparations. I just hope there aren't too many people hurt."

Gwen was stunned as she viewed the destruction of the town that had been nestled at the foot of a small mountain range. Most of the structures were in shambles and many people appeared to be wandering about in confusion and shock. A large open field a half mile beyond the village had been selected as the landing area for the helicopters. Gwen was astounded to see a large tractor trailer sporting large Lady in Red logos on each side already pulling in as the group climbed from the helicopters.

"The first trucks will have water, freeze dried food, batteries, tools, blankets, and other easily stored materials which will be needed immediately," stated Jason as he helped Lisa from a helicopter. "I'm told that medical supplies will be here within the hour.

"Gwen, please get together with Laura and Charlotte to determine where you want the big tents set up to treat the injured. We'll have a couple of RV's on site within a few hours. They'll be set up for simple surgeries, as needed."

"Thanks, we'll take care of it. As soon as injured people start arriving here, we'll be triaging and sending the most seriously injured to hospitals on these helicopters," decided Gwen calmly as she surveyed the scene.

"Steve, I'll need you and the other guys to help run the equipment that should be arriving before long," continued Jason. "We'll have five trailers loaded with skid steers, backhoes, dozers and loaders showing up soon with damn few operators to run them."

Jason didn't have to ask twice as the men in the group quickly hugged their wives and kids and started across the field to the once idyllic town.

Before they had gone more than a few yards, several more helicopters set down in the field not far from Gwen's group. Reporters teemed out of them. Some headed toward Gwen while others rushed to catch up with the men as they strode rapidly toward the destruction.