Carolyn squared her shoulders. As the interviewer shifted his focus from Warner and the Haitian sweatshop topic to her, she couldn’t help wonder if he sensed her anxiety.

Barry Sears smiled at her.

Carolyn didn’t feel at all reassured. Studio lights glared intensifying her discomfort. She released a shallow breath, and maintained a thoughtful expression.

“ Mrs. Lane,” the interviewer began.

She said graciously, “Carolyn, please.”

“Carolyn, of course.” he nodded. “Your passion for children is apparent in everything you do professionally. Our audience is well acquainted with your single-handed campaign to rectify the foster care system and fight drug abuse among our youth. And yet, you and your husband don’t have children of your own. I’m confident that I’m not the first person to ask why?”

Carolyn swallowed convulsively. She’d expected this moment to be difficult but she hadn’t expected such excruciating pain to tighten around her chest.

When she didn’t speak, Warner reached over and grasped her hand.

She felt the sting of tears at his unexpected kindness. Oh my God, she thought I’m about to cry on national television. Inhaling deeply, she composed herself. “Warner and I have discovered that I’m not able to have children.” Her voice shook. “Despite how desperately we both want a family, it isn’t possible for us.”

“How very painful for both of you.” Barry remarked, his tone inviting more explanation.

Carolyn took his cue. “Coming to terms with my inability to have a child has been the greatest challenge of my life,” she admitted. “I’m comforted by two things. My husband’s compassion, and the fact that there are hundreds of thousands of women around the world who are just like me. I’ve tried very hard, with Warner’s support, to turn the negative into a positive. We’ve spent our lives focusing on the needs of the many children who fall through the cracks in our social services system. And we remain committed to all of the children of America.”

“Hasn’t this situation tested your marriage? How in the world have you survived this as a couple?”

Carolyn looked at Warner. “We’re a team,” she said. Then she gazed into the camera with unshed tears shining in her eyes. “We’re a team.”

The in-studio audience burst into applause.

Warner slipped his arm around Carolyn’s shoulders.

Barry Sears pressed on. “What about adoption?”

Carolyn smiled at her husband. “It’s a very definite possibility.”

The New Hampshire primary turned into a great victory, Carolyn reflected. Their television interview ignited the campaign. Warner received forty-seven percent of the vote, leaving a stunned Martin Gaston to wonder how he’d been defeated so soundly in his home state.

Her openness regarding her inability to have children fueled the flames of Carolyn’s popularity, making her more human and approachable. The public related to her anguish. Everyday she received thousands of letters from fans and supporters, and she personally answered as many as she could. Carolyn had touched the hearts of millions.

Nick’s strategy was flawless, the “Barry Sears Show” the perfect vehicle. In effect the sweatshop story had raised Warner’s national recognition, and people all over the country had tuned in to the interview.

Stan Braunson, their pollster, was wearing an immense grin when he came running to Carolyn. Across the country, Warner’s numbers had risen substantially, showing him as the clear front-runner. The newspapers featured Warner Lane, calling him ‘the man to watch.’ Gaston, Landon, Davis, and Taylor would be forgotten, Carolyn told herself as she drew lines though their names on a program in front of her.

Warner hammered Super Tuesday and rolled right into the Midwest. That’s when they were assigned Secret Service. Every time Carolyn saw an agent, a shiver of pleasure ran down her spine. Their very presence a tangible sign that victory danced on the horizon. With the race for the nomination going their way, it was time to make her move.

Nervous about what she was about to propose, Carolyn composed herself in the hallway. She entered the Situation Room and glanced around. “Is everyone here? I have a proposition.”

Matt and Ernie leaned forward in their chairs. Nick lounged comfortably in his, as was his habit. Warner sat silently, his chair rocked onto the rear two legs and his feet up on the table.

“This is a highly sensitive discussion,” Carolyn began. “Not one word is to leave this room.” Her accomplishments to date empowered her. She knew she could institute great change in the country, and the approval and acceptance she was finally receiving fed her soul. “I’d like to run with Warner as his vice presidential running mate.”

Warner’s eyes widened. He swung his feet off the table, bringing them to the floor as his chair shifted forward onto the front legs with a thud. “Are you out of your fucking mind?”

“That’s right Warner; your running mate. My popularity numbers are higher than yours.”

Warner looked desperately around the table. No one else said a word.

Matt and Ernie looked poleaxed.

Nick remained expressionless.

Carolyn held her breath, her confidence wavering in the silence. Had she miscalculated? Fear tightened around her chest. Rejection reared its head.

She pushed on. “With that in mind, we need to send up some test balloons to measure the public’s reception of this concept. Nick and I have discussed this, and we believe it’s a good idea to have Warner introduce me at the next rally by saying that the country will get ‘two for the price of one.’ Stan will run some polls, and we’ll go from there. Are there any questions or suggestions?”

Matt recovered first, his drawl emphasized by his enthusiasm. “I think it’s worth checking out. I wish I’d thought of it myself. ‘Two for the price of one.’ I like it. Of course, we need to run some television spots that will promote the concept and test the waters, and we’ll have to educate the voters as to Carolyn’s qualifications. But so far, the polls have shown that Carolyn’s popularity has made an impressive impact on the campaign.”

Carolyn drew in a deep breath. She quickly lowered her gaze to hide her relief.

The room erupted into a buzz of activity. Matt and Ernie began brainstorming. Nick rapidly took notes.

Warner stood abruptly, knocking his chair over. Everyone fell silent. He glared at Carolyn, then stalked out of the room.

Warner felt as if the walls were closing in around him. He needed a breath of air to clear his head. He and the other members of the Council had not anticipated this. What had started out as Carolyn’s backstage act was turning into the headliner. Granted, he’d known that her confidence would grow with her belief that she controlled the campaign. While that strategy made for a great cover for the Council, he’d be damned if his dream was going to turn into her triumph.

He made his way up the steps of the basement and out onto the back lawn, shivering when the cold air hit him The chill felt good. He needed to think. Richard had obtained Governor Hick’s endorsement, and for that favor he expected to be the vice presidential candidate. This was a mess.

It would be so much easier if Edmund could be in the campaign meetings, Warner thought, but Carolyn despised the old man.

Of course, Edmund didn’t like the situation anymore than Warner did, but they didn’t have a choice. He needed Edmund’s brilliance when it came to maneuvering Carolyn and her ideas. Ideas, Warner believed, that could cost him the presidency.

Carolyn had no knowledge of the Council, and she never would as long as Edmund remained behind the scenes.