Page 54 of Power
“Do you have any idea how much I like watching you cook for me?” She wraps her arms around my neck, kissing me with passion.
It takes every ounce of strength to push Reece off of me. “Then let me feed you.”
Reece looks over her shoulder at the nearly finished pasta, releases her arms from my neck and steps back. “Yes, sir. Feed me.”
I hate that I had to let her go, because Reece feels right in my arms. “You’re a tease,” I say.
“I’m not the one teasing you!”
“Come here.” I reach for her, but she hops backward.
“Nope, feed me, and then maybe I’ll let you kiss me.”
“I could make you,” I warn as I point at her.
“Feed me,” she counters as she smirks with a cheeky leer.
I shake my head as I reach for two big bowls, separating the pasta into two equal parts. “Follow me,” I instruct as I walk into the adjacent dining room.
“How do you do it?” Reece enters the room, slowing only to take in her surroundings. “This dining room is bigger than most people’s bedrooms. You have so much space.”
There’s a niggling feeling of regret churning through me. “Honestly, the residence is designed for a family,” I say as I place the two bowls on the table next to each other.
Reece draws her lower lip into her mouth and nods. She walks over and sits in the chair I’ve pulled out for her. “What happened with your wife?” There’s a part of me that doesn’t want to talk about Kathryn. My hesitation must be concerning to her. “It’s none of my business, I shouldn’t have asked.” Reece picks her fork up and pushes her food around. “I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be.” I have to talk about it, it’s only fair Reece be made aware of what isn’t public knowledge. “Um, Kathryn...” I suck in a deep breath, trying to figure out where to start. “I guess, she was the love of my life.” I look at Reece, her smile is broad and genuine. “We met when we were in high school, and she was one of two people who wasn’t afraid to be herself around me.” I twirl a small amount of pasta on my fork and bring it to my mouth. When I finish chewing, I continue. “We got married young, and she wanted to wait for us to have kids because she really wanted to push for me to become president.”
“Isn’t it more favorable to have a president with a family than not?” Reece asks a poignant question.
“Basically, yes. But she wanted us in the White House.”
“You didn’t want it?”
“Oh, I did. I mean, I do, absolutely,” I pause for a few seconds. “So, we waited to start a family. We decided we’d start trying about midterm, but...” I shake my head. “It was exactly eight days after inauguration when Kathryn woke and said she wasn’t feeling well. She was a bit pale and tired, but our life had been so hectic that neither of us really thought much about it. I told her to see the doctor, she said she was exhausted and just needed to sleep.”
Reece reaches out and places her hand over mine, gently and reassuringly squeezing. “I honestly shouldn’t have asked, I’m sorry,” she tries offering another apology.
“She went to sleep and said she didn’t want to be disturbed. I had the day from hell, so time just slipped away from me. Before I knew it, I had Esther telling me it was nearly four in the afternoon, I hadn’t eaten and I was irritated. I made a mental note to call up to the residence to see how Kathryn was feeling, but again, business interfered, preventing me from calling her.” My chest constricts as I’m talking about that horrible day. “It was at four-thirty-two that Esther burst into the office and demanded I go to the residence.” I shake my head as my throat closes. “I’ve never moved so fast in my life. The doctor was there working on Kathryn, but I knew when I saw the gray tinge of her skin, she was gone.”
“Bennett.” Reece stands, pushes her way in front of me, and straddles my lap. “I’m so sorry.”
“Thirty-three and she died from a heart attack. She had a congenital heart condition that none of us knew about. She didn’t even know about it.” Reece tightens her arms around me, and I close my eyes as I snuggle into her. “The coroner said she died in her sleep.”
“She was only thirty-three.” Reece gently places her hands on either side of my face and gives me a sweet kiss. “It wasn’t your fault, Bennett.”
“Of course, it was. If I wasn’t distracted, I would’ve called up here. I would’ve had time to come and see her. But I put my job before Kathryn.”
“It wasn’t your fault, Bennett,” she repeats slower. “She had a heart condition. This could’ve happened to anyone.”
“I’m the most powerful man in the world, and I was completely helpless to bring her back.”
“You’re not God,” Reece whispers. “You’re an intelligent man, and you know you couldn’t have done anything.” Reece leans her forehead on mine as she wraps her arms around my neck. I’m tightly holding on to all my emotions, refusing to allow them to penetrate through my armor. “You don’t always have to be so strong,” Reece whispers as if she’s sensing my worries.
“Of course, I do. I’m the damn president of the United States.”
“You’re also a man,” she quips without missing a beat. “You can let go, Bennett.”
I pull back and gaze into her eyes. Slowly my focus follows the lines of her face and settles on her clavicles. “Is it wrong that you’re here?” I whisper as I try to wrestle with the guilt coursing through me.
