MORE OF THE MAKING OF A PRESIDENT...by b. Malin
END OF CHAPTER TWO...
She met Mike Burnstein in her senior year of Law School. It was the week-end that George had caught the Flu and had to stay home. She had just finished speaking with him on the phone, when her roommate, Sandy Cane came bursting through the door. Along with her, were two very handsome guys. "Hey Marcia" she yelled out, "you gotta help us...this is Mike Burnstein from Yale Medical school. He's visiting our fair campus and doesn't know anyone, and since George, she had a way of singing out his name, which Marcia hated...isn't here, I just thought you and Mike could hang out." Before Marcia had time to answer, Sandy, and what's his name? were gone, leaving Marcia and Mike alone.
It could have been awkward, but actually it wasn't. The two spent the entire weekend together. They walked, they talked, they laughed. Had dinner out that night, and went to see a movie, and the next day, went out for breakfast. When she drove him to the train station, they felt like old friends. He kissed her lightly on the lips and said he would call as he boarded the train. She waved good by realizing that she was nowhere near ready to become George's wife.
If only her father saw it that way..."Marcia, you are graduating in June and taking the bar shortly thereafter, and George is doing well, at my firm. He's going to make partner quicker than I anticipated...so let's get you two married. I can give you the best wedding and honeymoon"...Somehow Marcia stopped him from talking. "Dad!" she almost yelled, then counting to four mentally, she went on. "Dad, I'm not ready to get married yet...I'm not sure that George is the one...I need sometime, some space".
"Nonsense!" he shouted, "you will marry when I say you will marry, don't be ungrateful young lady...I've got BIG plans for you. Now I don't want to hear another word on the subject, it's settled, do you hear?" He did not wait for her answer, and she was too shocked to reply. "I shouldn't be telling you this, but George has the ring, he's giving it to you at Graduation time. You'll be engaged for six months and married by the following June. Oh honey I'm so excited for you. It will be good, you'll see, has your old dad ever been wrong?" "No daddy," she replied weakly, knowing that she really had no choice, she would do what he wanted...and maybe it would be all right...and so she married George, as her father planned.
She also made partner quickly at her father's firm. Married life was ok...she bore twin sons, much to her fathers delight..."Ah that George, that son of a gun" he said smiling as he saw his grandsons for the first time. "Take a little time off Marcia, politics is just around the corner for you...and with my connections, you are going straight to the top...you just let me take care of everything." And take care he did...She became Governor of New York, and was reelected each time... did an excellent job, and people began talking about her running for the presidency. "Like that will ever happen" she thought. But she never underestimated the power of her father, not for one minute. She loved her country and the people, the good hardworking people. Yes, if it ever happened, she would be the best First Woman President of the United States of America. She had to wait eight more years for it to happen. But happen it did. But cracks in her marriage were also starting to form, and she knew that she'd have to deal with that alone, without the aid of her father. She had known for some time that George had been having an affair. She'd heard whispers in the Governor's office. But thank god they were able to keep it out of the papers.
She'd talk with him...she just had to pick the right time and place to do so.
To be continued.
