“Joe intends for him to become president, so--”
“There must be no chance of divorce,” Joe stated.
Silence blanketed the room.
Janet understood Joe Kennedy’s thinly-veiled reference to her own divorce from Black Jack. Of course, she knew it wouldn’t matter to Joe what humiliation she had suffered, especially when Black Jack had concentrated his efforts on chasing women--particularly in Cuba--and draining the family’s finances with his drinking. No, Joe wouldn’t care that Janet had stood up for herself, rescued her girls from a deplorable situation, attempted to salvage some dignity. He wouldn’t care that she’d been disgraced. Why, didn’t that describe Rose’s life?
“Well, Mr. Kennedy,” Janet spoke breathlessly, “I’m not sure what kind of assurances you’re looking for, but I can assure you. . .” Janet paused, looked to Hughdie for help. She felt her cheeks flush from a rise of anger. Why should she have to defend herself? Who was Joe Kennedy to question her moral integrity?
“What Janet means to say is, Jacqueline isn’t that kind of gal,” Hughdie said. “Why, she’s in love with Jack. Her head is filled with plans, thoughts toward their future. Children!”
“Yes.” Janet leaned in. “I believe her greatest desire is to become a mother.”
Joe nodded enthusiastically. “Precisely what I was hoping to hear! I only bring it up because Jackie was engaged before.” Joe let the subtext of his comment hang in the air.
Janet shifted in her chair. Indeed, Jacqueline had broken her engagement to John Husted, a fine, handsome man with a decent future ahead of him. Upon hearing the news that he had proposed, Janet had carefully pointed out to her daughter that John wasn’t a Rockefeller or a Whitney--or a Roosevelt. In the end, Jacqueline had made her own decision, but now, Janet wondered if she’d been a fool to discourage the union.
“I only wanted to make sure Jackie was…content, more certain this time around,” Joe said. “We don’t take marriage lightly.”
No, Janet thought, only the part about fidelity.
“There was also the matter of her turning down the internship with Vogue.” Joe had lowered his voice, added a notch of smarmy seriousness to his tone. “Hell of an opportunity to walk away from, if you’ll pardon my saying so.”
“Well, Mr. Kennedy”--Janet straightened, found her voice-- “if Jacqueline had fulfilled the terms of the contest she won, she would have spent six months in Paris as a junior editor for the magazine. She has a deep fondness for Europe, Paris especially. I knew that if she stayed, she would have no desire to return home.” Janet met his eyes. “So perhaps it’s a good thing I’ve had such influence over my daughter, Mr. Kennedy. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be sitting here this evening.” Janet grinned before taking a much-needed sip of her wine.
Joe smirked, nodded thoughtfully.
“I don’t think you need to worry or question Jacqueline’s commitment to the relationship,” Janet said.
“Of course, my good woman! And I do believe Jackie is committed. Ah, it’s just good to hear it from you. In grooming Jack for the White House, one can’t be too sure when it comes to a decision this important. He only gets one shot at this, and image is everything!”
Janet flashed her guest a prudish glance. “If you’re so concerned about Jack’s image, perhaps you should have discussed how it looks for him to pack up and spend the summer on the French Riviera, after proposing to my daughter. I’m not certain it gives the impression of a man anxious to wed.”
Joe guffawed and slapped Hughdie on the shoulder. “Hugh, is this gal of yours a keeper or what? You make a fine point, Mrs. Auchincloss, but who can blame a man for blowing off a little steam and having one last hurrah before getting tied down?”
Joe laughed alone at his remark.
“Speaking of getting tied down, as you put it,” Janet said, “as Jacqueline’s mother, I would like to be assured that Jack can properly provide for my daughter. She’s been raised with certain privileges, and she has quite the taste when it comes to horses and art.”
“Jack doesn’t care much for art,” Rose said, matter-of-factly. “He finds it boring, and he’s allergic to horses.”
Janet paused a moment and realized her opinion of the Kennedys, Jack in particular, was sinking further into an unsophisticated mire.
“My dear, fine woman,” Joe said, that slick grin of his in full bloom, “Jackie will have no worries when it comes to money. Oh, I have no doubt she’ll have the finest when it comes to homes and cars, but we’re presenting Jackie with a unique opportunity. If all goes well, as I intend, then your daughter will grace the pages of history, Mrs. Auchincloss.”
No one reacted, Janet noticed. She resisted glancing at Hughdie, though she suspected his views on Joe’s declaration matched her own: dubious cynicism.
“Of course,” Joe continued, “these things take time--and money--but thankfully,” he patted Rose on the hand, “we have a bountiful measure of both.”
Rose smiled, flatly but graciously, Janet thought.
“Perhaps we should discuss details about the ceremony,” Rose offered.
Janet wondered if it was Rose’s way of indicating her desire to end the evening.
“Well, we haven’t talked about it at length, but I know Jacqueline would prefer an intimate gathering--”
“If by that you mean a small wedding,” Joe said, “I’m afraid that’s out of the question.”
Joe helped himself to the cigars he’d brought. He offered one to Hughdie, but Hughdie passed, surprising Janet. However, that didn’t stop Joe from filling the room with the overpowering rank odor of cigar smoke.
“This family doesn’t do small,” Joe said, after a hit on his stogie. “Am I right, Rosie?”
That pensive smile again.
“Jack’s wedding will be the east coast social event of the year--and a prime time for him to gain publicity. Why, we’ll expect a dozen or more reporters. We’ll need a place that can accommodate at least a thousand. Maybe more.”
A sense of outrage boiled within Janet. Her daughter would never agree to such arrangements. She went so far as to consider calling off the wedding and throwing Joe Kennedy and Rose--with her docile façade, smug manners, and shameful dress--out of her house.
But as Joe rambled on about the politicians and magnates who deserved--expected--an invitation to Jack’s wedding, Janet nodded but suddenly felt disconnected. Who was she to influence or discourage Joe Kennedy from his plans? She knew what the evening was really about: Joe making sure he could subdue her, Hughdie, too. Jacqueline especially. She realized her fantasy of their families finding common ground, of finding a way to blend their strengths and differences meant nothing to Joe. Only Jack’s image, Jack’s career concerned him.
That awful smoke from Joe’s cigar threatened to make her eyes water, but she convinced herself that she could tolerate it, for one evening. In a similar manner, Janet told herself that Joe’s intrusions on her life would be minimal, raucous and overbearing at times, perhaps, but tolerable.
However, part of her ached for Jacqueline. If her daughter went through with this marriage--if she was fully accepting of the Kennedys and their expectations--then Janet feared her daughter was in for a lifetime of rude awakenings.
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If you want to read more about JFK and Jackie Kennedy, their life and struggles together, then check out the novel O! Jackie by Mercedes King. Visit Amazon.com to find out more, or purchase O! Jackie here.
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