Then everyone topped off the meal with wedding cake, stood three feet tall, resembled the Tower of Pisa. Cake had five levels, and white, snowy frosting covered the cake with pearl-like beads outlining the edges and sprinkled with white and red roses. Every piece of the cake was edible.
Jerrick and Thalia had the honors of cutting the cake and distributing pieces to their guests.
Then the party danced the night away in the wee hours of the night.
After the wedding, the President and First Lady spent their honeymoon in his small hometown in Michigan.
The President knew they would spend time in Mexico because Mexico needed their presence to ensure a smooth transition to the Empire.
The President and First Lady stayed three days on the upper floor of a hotel, overlooking Lake Michigan.
The President and First Lady rented the whole floor. They occupied one room while their security took the other rooms.
Thalia loved the sandy shores and view of Lake Michigan. Unfortunately, the waters were too cold for a swim in March.
However, Michigan’s shorelines offered a breath taking, panoramic view. Water was a beautiful blue while the beaches had light brown sand that looked clean and inviting.
On the first night, the President and First Lady attended a grand feast at the Hotel. They invited Holland’s mayor and party officials from the regional office of the National Workers’ Party.
They attended a pig roast, a Hawaiian tradition that caught on in Michigan. Cook built a large fire in a pit. After the fire had turned into hot coals, he placed a pig on top and buried it in the pit for several hours, ensuring the pig’s meat became tender, succulent, delicious.
On the second day, the limousine driver drove the President and Thalia around his old hometown.
Memories flooded Jerrick’s mind as he described everyone and everything in his hometown.
At the end of the tour, the President asked the driver to drive to the Bell Road Bridge that spanned the Black River.
Driver stopped half way on the bridge.
Jerrick quickly got out with Thalia trailing behind him.
He looked over the rail and at the water, recollecting about the good ole times.
“Jerrick, what is it. What is so special about this bridge?”
“I have many memories of this bridge. I used to drink and party with my two best friends from high school under this bridge. Their names were Larry and Tommy.”
“What happened to your friends?”
“They disappeared in 2016 without a trace. They could still be alive. With all the chaos, people could re-emerge in society with new identities. With all the government’s information stored in computer systems, those systems became useless after the programmers had fled and stopped working. Government couldn’t verify people’s identities and histories. After I had re-structured the government, we got those systems back up. Luckily, most people were honest, but some people slipped through.”
“Jerrick, I had no idea.”
“Thalia; don’t worry about it. We grew apart after high school. I grew up, and they didn’t. I had dreams while their dreams were to act like children and mooch off their parents.”
Then Jerrick walked to the end of the bridge and peered underneath it, scanning the area, where the gang once hung out and partied.
Then they returned to the limousine and climbed in.
Towards dusk, Thalia and Jerrick walked along the shores of Lake Michigan, holding hands.
Setting sun cast bands of yellow, orange, and red over the land while clouds on the far horizon were a pinkish hue.
The President’s armed security walked ahead and behind them.
Jerrick paused for a moment.
Then he pulled Thalia close to him, embracing her tightly, “How do you like the view, Thalia?”
“View is beautiful, almost magical. You grew up in a very beautiful and scenic area.”
“That is one thing you can say about Michigan. She is a beautiful state if people would stop and enjoy her beauty. When I was young, I didn’t care. Now that I am older and more mature, I can stand here in awe over her beauty. Of course, it helps when a beautiful woman accompanies me.”
Thalia began blushing.
Then they started kissing.
All the armed security guards turned their heads away, granting the couple some privacy.
On the last day of the honeymoon, Jerrick went to see his hometown alone. Opening the hotel door, Jerrick turned to Thalia and said, “Thalia, go and ahead and pack. I want to take a last cruise of my hometown. I probably will not see it again for a long time.
“Okay, I should be ready in a couple of hours.”
Jerrick headed out the door and bought a large bouquet of red roses in the flower shop in the hotel’s lobby.
He instructed the driver to drive to Morning Glory Cemetery.
Going around a hill, Jerrick instructed the driver to stop. Next, he jumped out with the bouquet of flowers in his hands.
Driver almost followed him, but he didn’t see anyone around. He wished the President were more cautious with his security.
The President walked to two flat head stones and looked down.
He read the first stone, ‘Here lies Dorothy G. Davis. Born on December 2, 1959 and died on May 20, 2016.'
Then he glanced down at the other head stone and saw ‘John B. Davis. Born on September 25, 1946 and died on May 20, 2016.'
He brushed the dirt and debris from the head stones, using his hand, and then placed the roses on his mother’s grave.
He visited their graves for the first time. Then he whispered, “I am sorry mom and dad; I did not mean to get you killed. My dream was to become a great leader. I wanted you to go underground and hide, but you would not listen to me. I knew those bastards were dirty, but I did not think they were that dirty.”
Jerrick made the sign of a cross over his heart and turned to leave.
He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to dry one of his eyes, where a half tear had formed there.
Then he returned to limousine to pick up Thalia and return to the Whitehouse. He had much work to do and so little time.
He glanced at his parent’s grave as a tinge of sadness invaded his heart.
After the honeymoon, the President spent little time with the First Lady. He sent her off to the corners of the Empire to speak at opening ceremonies for new schools and hospitals. She also spoke at numerous colleges and universities.
As President Davis predicted, the people loved the First Lady. She was a natural who projected confidence and strength and charisma. He could not have asked for a better, more perfect wife. She represented the feminine side of the Empire, and the people loved her as a queen.
***
On one occasion, the President invited the First Lady to inspect a maquilador on the border.
The President invested with Thalia’s father, and they re-opened his factories, re-tooling them to produce electric cars.
The President was not an environmental leader, but he portended the future. The Empire grew furiously, rapidly consuming its resources. The President allowed petroleum companies to drill offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, but the Empire’s petroleum production kept declining, even capturing Cuba’s and Mexico’s petroleum reserves.
The President would wean the Empire off petroleum. Petroleum would be available for large transport trucks and machinery, but he encouraged Americans to drive electric cars in their communities and gas-powered vehicles for long distances. He upgraded the electric transmission system by investing trillions in building brand new coal and nuclear power plants. He wanted nuclear energy to supply at least 70% of the Empire’s electrical energy needs.
President Davis had other motives. The Empire’s strong demand for energy fueled large petroleum imports from the Middle East. He did not want the Empire’s gold leaving the Empire and accumulating in the coffers and vaults in the Middle East. He also d
id not want the Empire at the mercy of foreign governments. A supply disruption can wreak havoc on a society, cracking the foundations of a strong Empire.
The President, the First Lady, and her father inspected the father’s factory in Matamoros, Mexico.
The First Lady became horrified because she never saw such large, noisy machines.
They paused in front of a large machine.
A worker placed a flat sheet of steel into the die of the machine. He pushed a button, and a two-ton press came slowly down, molding a car part.
Thalia saw the worker’s hands fastened to cords. As the press lowered, the chords pulled away the worker’s hands from the machine.
“That worker is chained to the machine,” Thalia stated with a surprised expression on her face and her eyes widened.
“He is chained in more ways than one. That worker works hard at this job to feed his family. Plus, those chords make sure the machine doesn’t crush the worker’s hands,” Jerrick explained.
After the press had risen, the worker removed a new panel for a car door.
Worker noticed the viewing guests and waved.
The President gave the worker a salute while the First Lady smiled.
Then they strolled to the manager’s office.
Factory manager stood and greeted the guests and offered everyone a seat in front of his desk. Then he sat down behind the desk and opened the bottom right drawer, pulling out three shot glasses and a bottle of exquisite tequila.
Thalia frowned angrily. She hated it, when the important men in her life drank the hard stuff.
Manager began, “These cars are hot commodities that people are buying faster than we can make them. Thus, Mexican custom dictates we celebrate our success. Gods are looking down upon us favorably.”
Manager poured everyone a drink and placed a shot glass in front of the President and Thalia’s father.
They raised their shot glasses, clinking them gently together, so the valuable contents would not spill. Then they gulped down the fiery brew.
The President winced and glanced at the First Lady.
Thalia had a large angry frown on her face.
Jerrick shrugged and thought, what could he do? He must respect the powerful forces of culture and traditions. Disastrous consequences like uprisings and rioting can erupt if government alters or opposes culture.
For instance, he allowed the Mexican states to retain Spanish as their language.
Two southern states, Chiapas and Oaxaca, rebelled against the Mexican federal government several times. Thus, President Davis allowed them to speak their native tongues as their state’s official language and granted concessions to the law.
The President respected culture and traditions and wanted everyone to be happy, and, of course, build his empire.
Expansion into South America
President Davis inspected a new saltwater treatment plant at Puerta Vallarta, Mexico. This new plant converted millions of gallons of salt water into fresh water for the residents of Guadalajara, Mexico.
Water desalination plant also pumped water further inland, converting barren deserts into thriving, green forests and agricultural lands.
Water plant had several large storage tanks that towered five stories tall. Several large box-shaped structures that were two-stories tall filtered the salt from the water.
Whole plant resonated and hummed from the sound of the powerful electric pumps.
The President strolled with the company president and an engineer along a network of large metal pipes.
Company’s president was tall and easily overshadowed the other two. He wore an impeccable, black Armani suit.
A short, stocky, engineer wore a yellow helmet and orange jumpsuit.
The First Lady ran to the group with several bodyguards trailing behind her. She approached the President and hopped into his arms.
Then she pulled Jerrick away from the group.
Engineer and company’s president stood, watching silently.
She cornered Jerrick near a large network of pipes and out of earshot and shrieked, “Jerrick, I just returned from the doctor's office. I’m pregnant.”
Thalia was smiling and very happy.
“That is great! Is it a boy or girl?”
“I don’t know. Does it matter?”
“Well, yes and no.”
“Let me guess. You need a boy, an heir, for the Empire?”
“Well, a boy would be nice.”
“What happens if she’s a girl?”
“I will still love her, but a boy carries the father’s name.”
Thalia began frowning.
Jerrick tried to be smart and added, “I am happy for you. Go ahead; return to Washington, D.C., and rest. You can invite your mother and sisters. Just put them as far away from my room as possible.”
Jerrick noticed Thalia was smiling again.
Jerrick became good at defusing the explosive mixture of a woman’s emotions. Then Jerrick pulled Thalia close, hugging her tightly. He caressed her abdomen. Then he bent down and kissed it.
Jerrick’s company noticed because no one could mistake that gesture in any culture.
The First Lady strolled to her limousine while the President rejoined his group again.
The President motioned with his hands for a staff member to come over. He whispered in his ear to bring a bottle of Dom Pérignon, several Champaign glasses, and Cuban cigars. He always kept a couple of bottles of Champaign and cigars in the limousine for special occasions, and this was definitely a special occasion.
The President just blurted out, “I have good news. The First Lady is pregnant.”
Engineer asked solemnly, “Is it a boy or girl?”
“Unfortunately, the First Lady would not tell me.”
“Hopefully, she has a boy, thus establishing a blood line for the Empire,” water company’s president said poignantly.
Company’s president did raise a good point.
Eventually, the President must choose a successor to his Empire. Whom could he trust to lead his Empire? Who would be strong and smart enough to do it? If the President had a daughter, could she become a good leader for the Empire?
Engineer added, “These Mexican women today are strong and independent. They want to be superior to men. Of course, they don’t hesitate to take money from a man’s pocket when it suits their interests.”
Men exchanged laughter at the engineer’s joke.
***
Seven months later, Thalia bore the President a son, who was born on February 21, 2025. First lady named him Aric Benito Davis.
Aric derives from Old Norse that means forever, alone, or ruler.
Aric looked like just like father, except he was a little darker, a little more Mexican. Aric would gaze at everyone from his crib with his hypnotic, fiery brown eyes. Baby was another Jerrick Ray Davis.
***
Several months later, Thalia caught an exhausted, tired Jerrick hiding in the map room.
As she entered the room, Jerrick sat in an armchair, reading a novel. He placed a hot mug of cocoa on a stand next to his armchair. Marshmallows had melted into a layer of white foam, and while wisps of steam vaporized into the surrounding air.
Jerrick tilted his book, getting a better view of the first lady.
“I see you’re hiding from everyone up here,” Thalia began.
“Thalia; I am just tired. I have been traveling and traveling, and I am really tired. I thought I could get away from everyone, and curl up to a good book. I am so tired of reading economic reports. If I see another report, I will just scream.”
Thalia sat on Jerrick’s lap, and he wrapped his hands around her, still holding onto the book.
After her first child, Thalia still possessed her attractive, slim figure. She remained a beautiful woman, even though the slavery of motherhood tugged at her daily.
“What are you reading?”
“I am reading
1984 by George Orwell. It’s an oldie but a goody.”
Thalia spotted a French article on the floor by the chair with the translation into English, lying next to it.
“What’s that?”
“An article from a French tabloid claimed an alien flew down to earth and impregnated my mother. Thus, I am half-alien. You are married to a human-alien hybrid.”
Thalia laughed so hard, she almost fell from the President's lap.
“Don’t laugh. Richard at Homeland Security is furious. I told him to let it go. Who cares about France? We have plenty of problems here to fix.”
“What is Richard going to do?”
“Who knows? He would feed the journalist into a meat grinder, feet first and slowly grind him into hamburger meat. Richard can be quite cruel if he is upset.”
“Why do you keep that creepy guy around?”
“He helped me before I took over the government. Without him, I would not be sitting here on this chair with you.”
Thalia glanced at the article and saw the common photo of an alien with an elongated head, bald, and large black, buggy eyes.
“Then I guess that’s supposed to be your father?”
“That is what the article said. Actually, the alien is more handsome than my real father.”
“What happened to your parents?”
“During the chaos of 2016, a burglar broke into their house and shot both my parents. It was very tragic. I could not go to their funeral.”
“Why?”
“I thought the government purposely killed my parents to draw me out, so they could assassinate me.”
“Jerrick, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
“You should not apologize. That is the price. I had to pay. Any government will murder its citizens if a government can maintain control. I knew the U.S. government would resort to dirty tricks, but murdering a person’s family is low. Creepy Richard told me their dirty plans and set up the meeting with General Edwards that led to the revolution. Richard was instrumental to my plans.”
Thalia rested her head on Jerrick’s shoulders and mumbled, “Jerrick, I had no idea.”
After several minutes, Thalia poked her head up and added, “Jerrick, you’ve really been through a lot. I know you are working way too hard. You have been a leader for nine years, 24 hours every day. You have a lot of responsibility. Let’s you and me sneak out for the night. We’ll pretend we are regular people and go out for hamburgers and then a dance club.”