Look to the Rainbow by Lynn Murphy Read Free Book Online Page B

with Skip.
     
         “One of the reasons I’ve always loved you, Evan, is your compassion,” Molly said. “And you always extend that to our children as if they were your own.”
     
         “Yeah, well, they’re as close as I’m ever going to get to having kids,” Evan said “But if Sara decided she needs a tattoo or her belly button pierced or to marry some rock star in Vegas she’s on her own.”
     
         They all laughed and Ross said, “Seriously Evan, thanks.”
     
         “Anytime.”
     
     
     
         Tara watched the debate and wondered how anyone couldn’t see Kel as the front runner. He answered the questions easily and didn’t contradict himself the way the others seemed to do. Of all the candidates he was also the only one who didn’t attack his opponents. It did seem, however, that both the moderators and his opponents wanted to attack Kel.
     
         One harped on his architecture degree, another on his family’s wealth. The question of his single status was brought up when one of the moderators asked the question to all the candidates, “What role do you expect your wife to play as First Lady?”
     
         Evan slipped into the debate at that point and asked Tara, “How’s it going?”
     
         She whispered back “He’s obviously the first choice, but they are all doing their best to find something they can criticize him about. Honestly, they all know his wife passed away. Why would they ask a question like that?”
     
         Kel’s answer was “I’m sorry, but I really can’t enlighten you on that question.”
     
         Some people in the audience laughed, but it was obvious John wasn’t amused. The next question focused on how the candidates saw themselves as commander and chief of the armed forces. One of the candidates, a well- known Southern governor, turned his answer into an attack on Kel.
     
         “Everyone knows I served my country in Vietnam and it is the proudest accomplishment of my life. I am glad that unlike. say, Senator O’Brien, I did not have daddy buy my way out of my military obligations.”
     
         When Kel was allowed to offer rebuttal, he spoke calmly but firmly. “I have no idea why Governor Armstrong would suggest that my father paid anyone to keep me out of the army. My father served as an officer in the army for the duration of World War II and at the time I would have been eligible for the draft he had passed away. It’s true I have never had any military service, but neither have most of us on the stage tonight.”
     
         Armstrong took another shot. “I think most people here would rather you just come out and say that you had connections in Washington that kept you from being sent to “Nam.”
     
         Kel’s expression indicated growing anger but he countered calmly, “Which connections, Governor?”
     
         “Did you get Senator Lansing to help you out? Take a little trip to Canada for  a while?”
     
         Kel responded. “I can’t tell you how offensive I find those allegations. Senator Lansing also served in World War II and lost a leg and would never have bought anyone’s way out of military service if they had been called up. Contrary to what you have said tonight, not everyone was asked to go to Vietnam and in any case I would have had a medical deferment.”
     
         “Uh, oh,” Evan said. John had leaned forward in his seat and Tara wondered what was coming next, on national television.
     
         “ Medical deferment, ” the governor said. “For what?  Flat feet? Some made up allergy?”
     
          Tara could sense that even the moderators were beginning to get uncomfortable with the way the question had turned into ugly accusations from the governor. The expressions on the faces of the audience showed their disapproval.
     
         “No,” Kel said.
     
         The governor pushed again. “Then what?”
     
         Kel closed