Downstairs, the doorbell rang. Marah’s voice followed: “I’ll get it!”

Johnny and Kate frowned at each other. “It’s Sunday night,” Kate said. “She’s not allowed to have kids over on a school night.”

But when they got downstairs, they saw Mom and Dad in the living room, carrying suitcases.

“Mom?” Kate said. “What’s going on?”

“Tully sent us over to watch the kids for a week. The car outside is going to take you two to the airport. Tully said to pack bathing suits and sunscreen. That’s all you get to know.”

“I can’t leave work,” Johnny said. “We’ve got Senator McCain on.”

“Tully’s your boss, isn’t she?” Dad said. “I guess if she says you’re taking a vacation, you’re taking a vacation.”

Kate and Johnny looked at each other. They’d never taken a vacation away from the kids.

“It might be nice,” he said, smiling.

For the next hour, they ran through the house, packing, making lists, gathering telephone numbers. Then they kissed the kids—even Marah—thanked Mom and Dad, and went out to the waiting limousine.

“She doesn’t do anything halfway,” Johnny said, sliding into the plush, dark interior.

Kate snuggled beside him. “I feel more relaxed already and we’re still in our driveway.”

The car engine started, purred.

“Do you know where we’re going?” Johnny asked the driver.

“The tickets are in the pocket across from you, sir.”

Johnny reached for the envelope, opened it. “Kauai,” he said.

It was where they’d gone on their honeymoon. Kate closed her eyes, picturing the swaying palm trees and pinkish sand of Anini Beach.

“No fair going to sleep,” Johnny said.

“I’m not sleeping.” She twisted around, draped herself across his lap. “Thanks for helping Tully to kidnap me.”

“I’ve been worried about you.”

“I’ve been worried about me, too. But I feel better now.”

“How much better?”

She glanced at the open window that separated them from the driver. “Close the window and I’ll show you.”

“Are we talking sex?”

“We’re talking sex,” she said, unbuttoning his shirt. “But if you’d hit the damn button, we’d be doing more than talking.”

He smiled slowly. “Oh, I’ll hit it.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

CHAPTER
THIRTY-TWO

Kate and Johnny returned home, rested and refreshed, on the night before the big broadcast. The next morning, Kate woke up at five o’clock to go to the bathroom and found it impossible to go back to sleep.