The Motions

8 - deaths door

Jackie November 22, 1963 11am

"Mommy! There's daddy!" Caroline yelled pointing at the tv.
He was getting off the plane, the whole parade was to televised. I smiled and flipped through my magazine, John John was just outside with Mrs. Shaw and Caroline was coloring. This is the quiet life I so much desire.
Jack gets in the motorcade and starts waving to the masses of people
"Look at all his fans mommy!"
I laugh a little bit as Caroline waves back at him.
People are yelling which seemed normal until I heard fire crackers go off this noise grabbed my attention I looked up Just then Jack raised his arms to his neck, I sit forward on the couch slightly disturbed by the strange movement. Just then governor Conley head explodes in a bloody mess causing me to jump and Caroline to scream.
Jack dives down in to his seat. I stand up in an emotional panic
"Caroline go to your room now!"
She was shaking, this graphics display could be nothing less than traumatizing.
I freeze as the TV switches to the news
"Shots have been fired at president Kennedy's motorcade,"
Tears spill out of my eyes
"Caroline go to your room now."
She sat still, her lips quivered as she began to cry
"I want daddy!"
Tears were streaming down both of our faces, as I picked her up and took her to the nearest bedroom. I told Mrs. Shaw what was going on and she took John in to Caroline's room.
I paced the screened in room watching the tv waiting for the phone to ring. As soon as it rings I pick up
"Hello?" I ask frantically
"Jackie it's Bobby."
"Bobby what the hell  is happening?" I start crying again "Is Jack.....?"
"He's in critical condition."
"Conley?"
"He's gone."
I bit my lip and stared at the ceiling
"Caroline saw the whole thing."
"Jackie they want you in D.C. ASAP."
I continued pacing
"No don't I need to go to Dallas, If Jack--" I starting crying
"They want you and the children in D.C. best protection." His voice had a scratchy tone as if he was fighting tears
"What about Jack?"
"They will transport him to D.C."
"Oh god he's dead isn't he?"
I had to sit down as emotion took over the use of my legs
"I honestly don't know, it's in Gods hands."
We were both on the phone crying until I remembered
"Bobby I'm pregnant."
I regretted telling him I'm not nearly far enough along to tell anyone
"What?" He asked through sniffles
"Jack he was gonna call me after the parade..." My tears welled up again
"Just get to D.C. love you."
He hung up and I sat down biting my nails. I slowly opened Caroline's bedroom door. John was taking a nap and Caroline was crying in Mrs. Shaws lap.
"We need to go." I said trying to keep my composer
"Should we pack or--"
"No we just need to go."
I picked up my sleeping son, so young and happy, I hope I never have to tell him about what's happened to his father. Mrs. Shaw takes Caroline's hand and the secret service guide is to a plane. Caroline is holding a stuffed giraffe a recent gift from Jack. My stomach flips as I come to terms with the fact that he could die.
He could die.
He could die.
We would die.