Liz straightened and ran her hands down the front of her cream-and-navy dress. Her hair was twisted back into a conservative bun. She took a deep breath and then urged the kids forward. Big day indeed.

“Jeff, will you hold my hand?” Jacqueline asked, widening her blue eyes.

“Girls are gross.”

“I’m a sister, though.”

Liz was about to intervene, but Jefferson sighed and stretched his hand out. “Fine.”

They walked hand in hand into the conference center. Staff were milling around with their heads buried in computers, signaling to one another, and otherwise looking frantic. A representative ushered them across the room. Liz’s eyes locked with Heather’s when she spotted her and she smiled.

Heather shuffled through the crowd with ease and dismissed the other representative with a flick of her wrist. “Liz, so glad you’re here.” She bent down, ruffled Jefferson’s hair, and gave little Jacqueline a quick hug.

“How is he?” Liz asked.

“Oh, you know. The same,” Heather said with a shrug. “Excited to see you and the kids.”

“We would have been here sooner, but I had that symposium,” Liz told her, which wasn’t really necessary since Heather knew Liz’s schedule as well as Brady’s by now. She had graduated with her doctorate from the University of Maryland and accepted a position in the Journalism School at UNC Chapel Hill. She had spent the last seven years working with her mentor, Professor Mires, at the university.

“Of course. Well, he’s waiting for you,” she said and then started leading Liz back to Brady’s room.

Heather knocked twice and then entered. “I brought you something.”

Brady’s head popped up from the cards he was reading and he broke out into a smile. “Nothing better in the world.”

“Daddy!” the kids screamed, launching themselves across the room.

Brady hoisted them into his arms and planted firm kisses on both of their cheeks. “I’ve missed you two like crazy.”

“We missed you too,” Jefferson said.

“Yeah, Daddy,” Jacqueline said. “Mom promised us ice cream, though.”

Brady glanced up at Liz and her body melted at the sight. He arched an eyebrow. “Bribes, baby?”

“Ice cream is tradition. You know that.”

“Of course. What flavor do you want?” Brady placed Jefferson on his feet and planted Jacqueline in his lap. “Huh, pretty girl?”

“Chocolate!” she cried.

“Chocolate it is!” Brady said. “Jefferson?”

“Cookie dough.”

“My favorite,” Liz said, walking up behind him and straightening out his hair back in place.

Liz’s and Brady’s eyes met, and she felt herself relax all over again. The past twelve years had been good to them. Though their two beautiful children, Brady Jefferson IV and Jacqueline Marilyn, would always be their greatest accomplishment in life, they had so much to be thankful for. Brady had spent two more terms in the House of Representatives before serving two four-year terms as governor of North Carolina. The commute between Chapel Hill and Raleigh had been much easier on them than to and from D.C.

“How long will we have after this?” she asked him while the kids debated ice cream flavor choices.

“I negotiated the rest of the week. I thought we could take the kids to the lake house.”

“They’d like that.”

“Should we bring a babysitter?” he asked with a wink.

She laughed softly. “Might not be a bad idea, knowing you.”

“And I’m the only one?”

She couldn’t keep a coy smile from her face. “Of course not.”

“I love you,” he said, leaning forward and kissing her lips.

“I love you too.” She reached out and straightened his blue tie. “You’re going to be wonderful.”

“With you at my side.”

Heather walked back into the room at that moment. “Brady, it’s time.”

“Come on, kids,” Liz said, ushering them behind their father.

They reached the entrance to the stage and Liz saw the massive crowd that had come out that day to hear Brady speak. Tears welled in her eyes and she tried to push them down. This was a happy day. They had been looking forward to this for a long time.

Liz already knew the drill after so many years of being a politician’s wife. Press conferences and rallies had become second nature. She felt the time approaching and gave Brady a big hug.

“Wish me luck,” he whispered.

“You don’t need it.”

“You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“I know. I’m so proud of you,” she said, laughing lightly. “I’ll always be your airplane.”

He kissed her cheek. “That’s right. Airplanes, baby.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat and then pulled back from her husband. She gave him an encouraging smile and then she heard it.

“Governor Brady Maxwell!”

The crowd roared all around them and Brady stepped out onto the stage. Liz followed close behind with the kids holding her hands. They stood on the stage to the left of Brady, who immediately launched into his prepared speech.

Liz let her eyes drift over the crowd. It was filled to the brim. She would never get tired of the cheers that ran through the crowd. Max-well. Max-well. Max-well. It was a chant that never failed to bring a smile to her face. A chant that she had once associated with her husband’s success now she associated with their success. She was a Maxwell too, after all.

Brady was coming to the close of his speech and he gestured to her. She smiled and walked forward with the kids. Brady took her hand in his and smiled down at their children.

A lifetime of politics leading up to this one moment.

Brady’s strong voice carried through the speakers. Liz sighed when she finally heard him utter the words she had been waiting for since she had met him all those years ago.

“I am Governor Brady Maxwell, and I’m running for President of the United States.”