The Divine Appointment (38 page)

East Room, the White House, Washington DC

President Wallace concluded his remarks and stepped away from the podium as Chief Justice Walters administered the oath of office to the newest associate justice to the Supreme Court—Justice Dunbar Shelton. An odd, surreal feeling came over him as he realized the magnitude of what had transpired.

The Senate had voted ninety-nine to zero to confirm Justice Shelton, and now he stood there in the East Room with his left hand on the Holy Bible that Victoria held and his right hand in the air. President Wallace knew that it might not be tomorrow or next month or even next year, but America would be better, immensely better, for having Dunbar Shelton sitting on the highest court in the land. Given everything that had happened, he could only describe Judge Shelton’s elevation to the high court as being a divine appointment. Only God could have been in control during all the events that had taken place.

President Wallace’s wife, Lauren, stood beside him in a blue dress and white pearls, and gently touched his hand as Justice Dunbar Shelton recited the constitutional oath read to him by Chief Justice Walters.

“‘I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.’”

The Faulkner residence, Jackson, Tennessee

“Eli, come here,” Eli heard Sara call out from the back of the house.

Eli was in their den in his brown leather recliner with his feet propped up, remote in one hand, and a glass of sweetened iced tea in the other. He could tell that Sara sounded excited but not panicked. So he was slow to move.

“Hang on a minute,” he called. “I’m watching the Braves. It’s almost over. They’re up five to four over the Mets in the ninth.”

“But this is important. You can rewind the Tivo later. Just come here. Quick.”

Again, Eli sensed excitement in her voice.

“Okay, okay,” Eli mumbled to himself. He lowered the recliner to its normal sitting position. “I’m coming,” he called.

Eli set his half-full glass on a coaster on the end table and tossed the remote into his chair. He backed out of the room, continuing to watch the television for as long as he could before leaving the den and walking fast down the hallway to their bedroom. He wanted to return to the den as soon as possible.

“Where are you?” Eli asked as he entered the bedroom.

“I’m in the bathroom.”

“The bathroom? What are you doing in there?”

“Stop asking questions and just come in here.”

Eli walked through the doorway from the bedroom into the bathroom.

Sara was standing there with a radiant smile. Tears were streaming down her face.

“What’s wrong?” Eli asked.

“Nothing’s wrong.” Sara pointed at the double vanity. “Look.” There was awe in her voice.

Eli looked in the direction Sara pointed. “Is that what I think it is?” he asked, running his fingers through his black, wavy hair.

“Yes. It’s a pregnancy test.”

A graduate of Union University, Jerome Teel received his JD, cum laude, from the Ole Miss School of Law. He is actively involved in his church, local charities, and youth sports. He has always loved legal-suspense novels and is a political junkie. He is also the author of
The Election
, another political thriller. Jerome and his wife, Jennifer, have three children—Brittney, Trey, and Matthew—and reside in Tennessee, where he practices law and is at work on a new novel. For more information, visit www.jerometeel.com.