ERICA SITS AT THE MODERATOR’S desk as the mayhem swirls around her and she feels strangely . . . calm, detached, almost as if she’s disassociating again. Across the stage, Lucy Winters is surrounded by aides trying to contain their stunned jubilation. She has just been handed the keys to the White House.
Erica is also surrounded by colleagues, journalists, bloggers, political operatives, all shouting questions at her. It all blurs together into a meaningless cacophony. She doesn’t even try and answer. She’s not sure if she’s in a state of shock or a state of grace, or some combination of the two. But it is over. She was right. There was a Chinese-led conspiracy to take control of the presidency. She brought the truth to light.
It was all worth it. Wasn’t it? Only Jenny can answer that question. Please forgive me, dear baby girl. Please try and understand your poor old mom.
Erica stands up, still ignoring the pleas and shouts and questions. She walks across the stage, glancing down at the audience to see Celeste and Mike Ortiz surrounded by police, FBI agents, and freaking-out aides. Lily’s dead body is being loaded onto a stretcher by two EMTs.
On some level Erica understands that this is a fateful moment. That she has written herself a place in the history books. But all she wants to do is see Greg.
And there he and Moira are. And they each take one of Erica’s arms and lead her through the pack of people and back to the holding room. Greg closes the door. Suddenly they’re enveloped in a silence that feels like pure luxury.
Moira hugs Erica so tightly that their hearts are beating as one. And Erica inhales Moy’s fresh, sweet smell and knows that it’s what love smells like.
They come apart and Moy takes Erica’s face in her hands. “You did it.” And now tears are streaming down Moy’s face, but Erica isn’t going to cry. She hears Jenny’s voice: We Sparks girls don’t cry.
Then there’s a moment of silence as Greg and Erica look at each other and thoughtful Moy says, “I’m going to go make a fool of myself in private. I’m also going to make a reservation at the best restaurant in town. We need to get some meat back on your bones, young lady.”
And now Erica and Greg are alone.
“You were there for me, Greg.”
“That’s where I always want to be. I quit my job. I’m coming home.”
Erica goes to him and lays her head on his chest and his arms enfold her, and Erica thinks, I’m already home.