‘We won’t need twenty-four hours,’ called out Joe. ‘We appeal.’
‘I shall need that in writing from the candidate,’ said the Dean.
Tom glanced across at Nat, who was looking down at Su Ling.
‘Do you remember what we agreed if I didn’t win?’
Book three
Chronicles
23
Nat turned and watched Su Ling walk slowly towards him and recalled the day they had first met. He had chased her down a hill, and when she turned on that occasion, she’d taken his breath away.
‘Do you have any idea how lucky you are?’ whispered Tom.
‘Could you please concentrate on your job. Now, where’s the ring?’
‘The ring, what ring?’ Nat turned and stared at his best man. ‘Hell, I knew there was something I was meant to bring with me,’ Tom whispered frantically. ‘Can you hold things up for a moment while I go back to the house and look for it?’
‘Do you want me to strangle you?’ said Nat, grinning.
‘Yes please,’ said Tom, gazing at Su Ling as she advanced towards them. ‘Let her be my last memory of this world.’
Nat turned his attention to his bride, and she gave him that smile that he remembered when she’d stood at the entrance to the café on their first date. She stepped up and took her place beside him, head slightly bowed as they waited for the priest to begin the service. Nat thought about the decision they had made the day after the election, and knew he would never regret it. Why should he hold up Su Ling’s career on the off-chance of winning the presidency? The idea of rerunning the ballot during the first week of the following term, and having to ask Su Ling to hang around for another year if he failed, left him in no doubt what he should do. The priest turned to the congregation. ‘Dearly beloved...’
When Su Ling had explained to Professor Mullden that she was getting married, and her future husband was at the University of Connecticut, they immediately offered him the chance to complete his undergraduate degree at Harvard. They already knew of Nat’s record in Vietnam and his success on the cross-country team, but it was his grades that tipped the balance. They remained puzzled as to why he hadn’t taken up his place at Yale because it was clear to the admissions office that they would not be carrying Su Ling’s husband.
‘Do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife?’
Nat wanted to shout ‘I do.’ ‘I do,’ he said quietly.
‘Do you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband?’
‘I do,’ said Su Ling, head bowed.
‘You may kiss the bride,’ said the priest.
‘I think that means me,’ said Tom, taking a pace forward. Nat took Su Ling in his arms and kissed her as he lifted his left leg sharply and kicked Tom in the shins.
‘So that’s what I get for all the sacrifices I’ve made over the years? Well, at least it’s my turn now.’ Nat swung round and took Tom in his arms and hugged him, while the congregation burst out laughing.
Tom was right, thought Nat. He hadn’t even remonstrated with him when he refused to appeal to the elections committee, although Nat knew Tom believed he would have been victorious in a re-run contest. And the following morning Mr Russell had phoned and offered Nat the use of their home for the reception. How could he ever begin to repay them?
‘Be warned,’ said Tom, ‘Dad will expect you to join him at the bank as a trainee once you’ve graduated from Harvard Business School.’
‘That may turn out to be the best offer I get,’ said Nat.
The bride and groom turned to face their family and friends. Susan made no attempt to hide her tears, while Michael beamed with pride. Su Ling’s mother stepped forward and took a photo of the two of them in their first moment as man and wife.
Nat didn’t recall much about the reception, other than feeling that Mr and Mrs Russell couldn’t have done any more had he been their own son. He moved from table to table, especially thanking those who had travelled a long distance. It was only when he heard the sound of silver against crystal that he checked to make sure his speech was still in his inside pocket.
Nat quickly slipped into his place at the top table just as Tom rose to speak. The best man opened by explaining why the reception was being held in his home. ‘Don’t forget that I proposed to Su Ling long before the bridegroom did, although inexplicably, on this occasion she was willing to settle for second best.’ Nat smiled across at Tom’s aunt Abigail from Boston, as the guests applauded.
Nat sometimes wondered if Tom’s jokes about his love for Su Ling didn’t betray an underlying truth about his real feelings. He looked up at his best man, recalling, because he was late — thank you, mother — how he had come to sit next to the tearful little boy at the end of the row on their first day at Taft. He thought how lucky he was to be blessed with such a friend, and hoped it would not be long before he was carrying out the same duty for him.
Tom received a warm reception when he sat down to make way for the bridegroom.
Nat began his speech by thanking Mr and Mrs Russell for their generosity in allowing them the use of their beautiful home for the reception. He thanked his mother for her wisdom and his father for his looks, which brought applause and laughter. ‘But most of all I thank Su Ling, for going down the wrong path, and my parents for an upbringing that made me follow her, to warn her that she was making a mistake.’
‘She made a far bigger mistake chasing you back up the hill,’ said Tom.
Nat waited for the laughter to die down, before he said, ‘I fell in love with Su Ling the moment I saw her, a feeling that was clearly not reciprocated, but then, as I’ve already explained, I’m blessed with my father’s looks. And so let me end by inviting you all to our golden wedding anniversary on July 11, 2024.’ He paused. ‘Only wimps and those who dare to die in between will be excused attendance.’ He raised his glass. ‘To my wife, Su Ling.’
When Su Ling disappeared upstairs to change, Tom finally asked Nat where they were going on honeymoon.
‘Korea,’ whispered Nat. ‘We’re planning to find the village where Su Ling was born, and see if we can trace any other members of her family. But don’t tell Su Ling’s mother — we want to surprise her when we return.’
Three hundred guests surged out to join them in the driveway, and applauded as the car carrying the bride and groom disappeared on its journey to the airport.
‘I wonder where they’re spending their honeymoon,’ said Su Ling’s mother.
‘I have no idea,’ Tom replied.
Fletcher held Annie in his arms. A month had passed since the funeral of Harry Robert, and she was still blaming herself.
‘But that’s just not fair,’ said Fletcher. ‘If anyone’s to blame, it must be me. Look at the pressure Joanna was under when she gave birth, and it made absolutely no difference to her.’ But Annie couldn’t be consoled. The doctor told him the quickest way to solve the problem, and Fletcher happily acquiesced.
As each day passed, Annie grew a little stronger, but her first interest remained supporting her husband in his determination to be top of his year. ‘You owe it to Karl Abrahams,’ she reminded him. ‘He’s invested a lot in you, and there is only one way you can repay him.’
Annie inspired her husband to work night and day during his summer vacation before he returned for his final year. She became his assistant and researcher while remaining his lover and friend. And she only ignored his advice when he pressed her to consider going on to graduate school herself.