Chapter 16
On January fifteenth, the Turner campaign went west. Actually, it was an abbreviated version of the Turners' now annual January trip to Hawaii with some campaigning thrown into the mix. JJ and Mikayla made the trip along with Erika, Debbie, and Grace Touque. The fifteenth was a Wednesday; they flew out of Palmdale on an Air Erika Leer Jet, flying directly to Los Angeles. That night, Jake was the guest of honor at a campaign fundraiser for the California Democratic Party. Jake and Melissa were sharing the head table with their hosts, Tom Crouse, and his wife, Cindy Sorenson. It was great seeing Tom and Cindy again, they had not been to the ranch for over a year.
Jake attended fundraisers with the same enthusiasm as he did dental appointments; he hated them, but they were unavoidable. At least by financing his own campaign he did not have to hold them for himself. Jake was adamant about not accepting donations over fifty dollars. His original intent was to not accept contributions, period, but Trish Wellington pointed out that his supporters would feel more committed to his candidacy if they invested a little money in it. Jake insisted that every donation be acknowledged and strictly accounted. Most of the contributions were for twenty dollars; he was amazed at the number of people who donated "a Jackson for Jake".
Jake attended party functions and fundraisers to show he was a team player. The Democratic National Committee controlled 782 at-large delegates to the convention; these Super Delegates were Democratic senators, congressional representatives, governors, and party dignitaries. The Super Delegates usually cast their ballots for the person who had won their state's primary, but they were not under any obligation to do so. The system theoretically kept a candidate who had no chance of winning from being nominated, ala George McGovern in 1972. Jake did not want the party hierarchy to think that he was a maverick and an unelectable nominee.
Jake started his prepared remarks with a five-minute comedy routine that Gracie had written for him. Jake was inordinately proud of his blossoming talent as a stand up comedian. Of course, he and the rest of his staff knew that Gracie's material was what really drew the laughs. When he had the crowd rolling in the aisles, Jake trotted out his position on the environment.
"My family and I live in the house that Melissa bought us twenty years ago. With the house came some land, stables, and training facilities for horses. We decided to make the place an actual working ranch, so we hired a ranch manager, went to Texas, and bought six quarter horses. Today, thanks to my wife's business ability and the skill of Ramon Diaz, our ranch manager, TnT ranch is a thriving cattle ranch and one of the premier breeders of quarter horses in the south.
"We graze over five-hundred head of cattle and sixty or so horses; we have a twenty acre orange grove and harvest twenty acres of pine trees yearly for pulp wood. Twenty-five percent of our property has been left in its natural state. I'm telling you this, not so you'll think how lucky I am, but rather so you'll know that I understand what it takes to be a good steward of our land.
"By stewardship, I mean the balance between preserving as much of our natural resources as possible, yet still make a decent profit off the land. To do that takes compromise. I am just as opposed to environmental extremists as I am against those who would plunder our resources for a quick profit. It makes as little sense to close a forest to logging because it might disaccommodate an owl as it does to clear-cut the same forest. My administration's environmental policy will always weigh the benefits of an action against its consequences. I promise you only one thing for certain: policy will never be dictated by big business or special interests."
Thursday morning the Turners jetted onward to Hilo International Airport. Once in Hilo, Debbie and Erika picked up rental cars. JJ and Mikayla rode with Erika; Debbie led their two-car caravan to Kepa Kekoa's, Hokulii Inn - the Lovers Paradise, resort. Their old friend Kepa was not there to greet them this trip as he was conducting business in Honolulu that day. In his stead, his uncle, Kane Kekoa, the Kahuna, met them at the registration desk. Jake took care of getting room keys and signing in while Kane made a fuss over JJ and the women.
Melissa had reserved two bungalows and two rooms in the main lodge. JJ and Gracie were getting the rooms in the lodge. Debbie and Erika were in one bungalow: Jake, Melissa, and Mikayla were in the other. After promising Kane that they would join him for dinner, Jake passed out room keys and herded everyone towards their rooms to rest and freshen up.
JJ Turner only unpacked a couple of items from his duffle bag before he lay down on his room's queen-sized bed. He laced his fingers behind his head and stared at a point on the ceiling. He concentrated on his breathing as he willed himself to relax using a technique taught to him by Trish Wellington. It worked well before a competition; it was working now. JJ needed to relax because he had a lot on his mind; in four days, his family was flying back home without him. JJ was staying on the island to train with Uncle Kane in preparation for the Olympic swimming trials in early April. If he made the swimming team, he planned on training at the Olympic Aquatics Center in Colorado Springs for a month before going home. After the Barcelona Olympic Games, he would spend another month in Palmdale before returning to Hawaii to start the fall semester at the Hilo Campus of the University of Hawaii.
Jacob Elliott Turner, Junior, seemed to have inherited the best traits of both his parents. JJ was tall - six-one, with a swimmer's lean muscular build. He had his mother's Mediterranean complexion and features with his father's blue eyes. JJ was intelligent but he also had common sense and his father's ability to get along with anyone. JJ knew what he wanted to do with his life; he had known it since his first trip to Hawaii as an infant. JJ was connected to the warm salt-water ocean in the same manner as the dolphin, just as Uncle Kane had prophesied. Jake was already pre-enrolled at the University of Hawaii with a stated double major of Oceanography and Marine Biology. Not for nothing was Kaneakua Kekoa the biggest Kahuna on the big island.
JJ was going over the mental list of what he needed to do in the next few days when he heard a key click open the automatic lock on his door. He glanced up and smiled as the door swung open. Silhouetted in the late afternoon sunlight, Erika Johansson looked as if she were some sort of Amazonian angel. Erika shut the door behind her and leaned back against it. She was wearing a short, brightly colored, Hawaiian print dress and chunky heeled sandals that made her legs look a mile long.
"What do you think, Jacob?" Erika asked, glancing down at her dress.
"I think you are too beautiful for words," JJ replied.
JJ meant what he said with all his heart. He thought she was the most beautiful woman that ever lived. He could not remember when he had not felt that way about her.
"Beautiful enough to keep you away from the wahines that will be throwing themselves at you?" She asked teasingly.
"You are the one who will be throwing me at the wahines. I would be perfectly content with just having you."
Erika suddenly became serious; she walked to the bed and sat down on it beside him.
"You will always have me, Jacob, you know that. However, you are going to keep dating other women. I'm your lover, but I'm too old to be the one you marry and have children with."
"I don't care how old you are - never have; never will. We were meant for each other, Erika; you know that, despite what you say. But listen, let's talk about this later, right now I want to go to the beach and watch the sun set."
Erika readily agreed, thankful that he had tabled any more talk about their future. Erika loved JJ as much or more than he loved her. JJ grabbed a light jacket and led Erika out of the room for the short quarter-mile trek down to the black sand beach. They strolled along the edge of the water holding hands as the setting sun turned the evening clouds into pink and purple cotton candy swirls. JJ stopped and draped his jacket across her smooth, lightly tanned shoulders. She acknowledged his chivalrous gesture with a kiss. JJ returned her kiss with a passion that left her breathless.
"We had better go back, Honey, supper with Kane is at seven," she murmured into his ear.
JJ nodded his agreement and they walked back up the path.
Dinner was a very pleasant meal with both Kane and Kepa to keep them company. After dinner they all stayed for the band and dancing. Jake danced with all the women a couple of times before Melissa said she was tired and ready to call it a night. Mikayla asked to stay for a while and Debbie agreed to have her back to the bungalow before midnight.
Melissa led Jake out onto the lanai. He sat down on one of the papasan chairs and she sat on his lap. Melissa was quiet and pensive as they sat there. Jake had an inkling of what was bothering her.
"He will be fine, Muffy; he's a good boy."
"I know that, Hubby. It is just hard for me to let him go. It seems as if it was only yesterday that I was rocking him to sleep. Now he's all grown up and leaving home."
"He's not leaving home for good. He'll be back in a few months for the summer."
"Yes, he will; but things will be different. He is so grown up and reminds me so much of you at that age. Erika is a lucky woman," Melissa said with a little sniffle.
Jake, obtuse as ever replied, "Erika is a good friend for doing this, I'm sure she has a million things she'd rather be doing than keeping an eye on our son."
Melissa raised her head off his shoulder and gave him an incredulous look.
"What?" Jake asked.
"You are so dense, Baby. Erika loves him, being here with him is exactly what she wants to do."
"Of course she loves him. I didn't mean to imply she didn't. It's still a big inconvenience for her though."
Melissa ruffled Jake's hair and kissed him on the cheek.
"No, Silly, it's passion and heartbeats. I mean she is in love with him, and, unless I miss my guess, the feeling is mutual. They hide it pretty well, but I've seen the looks they pass each other."
"In love?" Jake blurted. "But she's so much older than he is. That doesn't bother you?"
Melissa giggled and kissed him again. "No, it doesn't bother me and it shouldn't bother you either; you know she is a wonderful person. Besides, I seem to recall that you never thought Helga was too old."
Jake grinned ruefully. "I guess. So, what are we supposed to do?"
"Nothing, Baby, I'm going to miss them both but they will be fine; you said it yourself, he's a good young man. I wish growing up was as easy for Mikayla."
Jake leaned back to look at Melissa's face.
"Why do you say that? Now that she has started to mature physically, the major thing she always fretted about is behind her. I miss that she is quieter now and more aloof, but I guess that just means she's growing up as well."
Jake did miss the closeness he had shared with his daughter when she was younger, but he was relieved that she did not seem to have a full measure of the Buckley sexuality. He was willing to overlook her holding him at arms-length if it meant he could avoid having to deal with her sexually.
Melissa nodded. "She's becoming a woman. I don't know what it is Jacob, but something about her is different in a way that growing up doesn't account for." Melissa sighed. "Maybe I'm just overly sensitive because of JJ, but I sure wish I knew what was really going on in her head."
As they sat in the comfortable chair holding each other, neither could have imagined the capriciousness of their youngest child. They would have been devastated to know that, for no apparent reason, Mikayla resented them. Mikayla's resentment was a way for her subconscious to shift responsibility for her willful behavior off her shoulders onto theirs. The biggest thing Jake and Melissa did not know, however, was that in less than a year, she would practically rip the hearts from their chests.
Mikayla was back at the bungalow at a quarter of twelve. Debbie walked her to the door and made sure she was safely inside. Melissa was already in bed, jet-lagged from the trip, so Jake stayed up waiting for Mikayla to get home.
"You didn't have to wait up, Dad."
"It's my job to worry about you, Kiddo. Some things about being a father I'm not so hot at, but I have the worrying part down to a science. Did you have a good time?"
Mikayla rewarded her father's attempt at humor with a weak smile. She was highly dubious of the worried father rap. After all, she was certain JJ was in bed with Erika at the very moment and her dad was not checking up on him. She shrugged her shoulders in that particularly annoying teenaged way.
"It was okay I guess, even though there weren't any kids there my age."
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him quickly on the cheek.
"Well, anyway, thanks for waiting up for me."
Jake nodded and watched her retreating form as she walked to her room, his feelings hurt that she had not even given him a hug. "Who the hell was that woman," he wondered, "and what did she do with my daughter?"
The next morning Jake, Melissa, JJ, and Erika went house hunting with Kane. Debbie, Gracie, and Mikayla went to the beach while the others were house hunting.
JJ's only requirement was that the house had to be near the beach. Kane had scouted out some prospects in advance and took them to the best of the lot first. The house was a large wood-framed manor, built by a wealthy white farm owner. The estate sat on five acres on a bluff overlooking the beach. The location was private and Kane lived only minutes away. Best of all, the property was only fifteen minutes from the university campus.
The front of the house faced away from the ocean and toward the winding road that twisted toward Hilo. At the rear, a wrap-around porch overlooked the beach, a hundred fleet below and three hundred feet away. JJ pulled Jake aside while the women were inspecting the kitchen.
"What do you think, Dad?"
"It's a lot of house, Son, and the price is steep, but it will only appreciate in value. You should be able to turn a nice profit on it when you graduate and leave here."
"I don't see that happening - leaving here, I mean. I see me settling down, working, and raising a family right here."
His son's declaration caught Jake off guard; he turned to look out at the ocean to cover his surprise.
"You're young; isn't it a little early to be deciding all that?"
"How old were you, when you and Mom bought the ranch?" JJ countered.
Jake looked at his son sharply, then sighed and had to smile.
"You got me, but remember I had your mom; she was older and a whole lot smarter than me."
It was JJ's turn to smile; it was time to let the cat out of the bag.
"And I've got Erika. Seems to me we're about even."
The Turners and Erika trooped through three more houses that day. JJ told the realtor that he would give his decision the next morning.
That night, as they lay naked and sweaty on top of the covers, JJ asked Erika which house she preferred. Erika agreed with him that the first one they had looked at was the best. JJ took a deep breath to steady his nerves.
"I told my dad today that I could see myself living there for the rest of my life. I love it here; for some reason this ocean has a hold on me that the Atlantic doesn't have. I want to raise a family in that house, Erika, our family. It will be ten times nicer a place with you in it as my wife."
Erika sat up and looked down at him, conflicting emotions running across her face.
"Are you proposing to me, Jacob?"
"I guess I'm pre-proposing to you, but you can bet that when I turn seventeen on March sixth, I'll be asking for real."
Erika repeated all the arguments against them marrying: his parents, her age, and his youth. JJ calmly refuted each of her points. They would wait until he was eighteen, by then the election would be over and their marriage would not hurt his father's candidacy. He swore that the age thing did not make a difference now and it would not later. Erika's eyebrows shot up when he said he knew that she had had a relationship with both his parents in the past and it did not bother him. In the end, Erika partly capitulated.
"I'll talk to Melissa about it," she said. "If she and your dad say it's okay, you play the field until you turn eighteen. I'm not going to rob you of the opportunity to be a young man. If you still feel the same way, ask me again then."
Over at the Turners' bungalow Jake and Melissa were discussing the same subject. Melissa was snuggled tightly into Jake's arms, she felt as if she could not get close enough to him tonight. Like JJ and Erika, they were naked laying on top of the covers, delighting in the gentle trade wind blowing in through the open windows. Jake relayed his discussion with their son to Melissa.
"I know JJ hasn't asked her to marry him yet; if he had, Erika would have told me."
"What do you think she'll tell him when he does?" Jake asked.
"She'll tell him to sow his wild oats, the same as I told you. I don't know what she'll do past that until we sit down and talk."
Jake shook his head in wonderment.
"I don't know what got into Erika. What was she thinking starting an affair with him?"
Melissa gave a soft laugh and squeezed him tighter.
"I'm glad you instinctively know how to treat women, because you are clueless about us aren't you? Your son is what got into Erika and I'll bet that he seduced her, not the other way around. She loves him, Hubby, loves him enough to let him go if that's in his best interest."
"Maybe," Jake allowed, "but I still can't believe he grew up so fast. He has his life mapped out already."
"We matured early also Hubby; it's in his genes. I'm going to miss seeing him every day, but I feel good about the direction he's taking. Now stop worrying and pay some attention to me."
Jake traced his fingertips over the womanly swell of her hip then cupped one of her butt cheeks. Melissa moaned into his shoulder and squirmed her pelvis tighter against him.
"I still love it when you play with my butt, Hubby; it makes me feel exactly the same way now as it did the first time."
"And I think that for a gal about to become a grandmother you have a very cute hiney," he teased.
Melissa squealed in mock anger and rolled on top of him. Jake was laughing so hard he was unable to fight back as she pinned his arms down with her knees.
"I got your Granny right here, Big Boy," she said as she covered his mouth with her smooth slippery slit.
Jake shot out his tongue like an iguana, savoring her sweet nectar. He would have liked to use his hands but Melissa kept them pinned to the bed as she rode his face to a fast climax. When she stopped shuddering and shaking, she sagged off him. Jake rolled her onto her back and quickly mounted her. Melissa cooed and wrapped her legs around his waist. She reached her arms around him pulling him tight against her and then clamped down on his shaft with her internal muscles. The closeness they shared at that moment transcended mere sex; they were inseparable Siamese souls, permanently co-joined at the heart.
JJ Turner would follow his own path to fame and fortune, never worrying about living in his father's shadow. He and Erika did marry, although Erika insisted on an open relationship similar to his parents. They had a child together, a boy they named Erik. Their son Erik redefined the word athlete in the twenty-first century. Erik Sven Turner was the Bo Jackson of his generation, an All-American pitcher, quarterback, and point guard at the University of Hawaii. Eric was incredibly agile and fast - abilities that left sports commentators grasping for additional superlative adjectives because he was six feet ten inches tall and weighed two hundred-eighty pounds.
JJ received his master's degree in marine science in 1997. By 1998, he had the Turner Center for Oceanography operational. He built the Turner Center on his property and signed a contract with the University. He taught senior students research skills by using them as his research assistants. His research into the way a certain deep-water mollusk grew its shell resulted in the discovery that would eventually make deep space flight possible. The discovery was Mollitanium, a silica based composite material stronger than the highest-grade tungsten steel, yet lighter than aluminum.
Two of the students in his 1999 class were twin sisters, Dorothy and Dolores Callahan. As luck would have it, the Callahan sisters were distant cousins of the Buckleys. They fell in love with JJ and stayed at the Turner Center after graduation. JJ and Dolores had a son, Eamon, who grew up to be the most extraordinary Turner of them all, but Eamon's story is for another time and another writer.
With help and advice from his parents, JJ set up a manufacturing facility for Mollitanium just south of Palmdale, right of off the Old Dixie Highway. The first two years worth of production went to build an artificial floating island fifteen miles out in the Atlantic. The island was anchored into a suboceanic ridge eighty feet below the surface. Living accommodations and manufacturing facilities were below the surface while the area above the water line was a ten square mile, lushly tropical, landscaped park. JJ named his creation Atlantis, of course, and made it completely self contained. Atlantis proved to be a much better proving ground for the technology required for sustaining life off the Earth's surface than the Biosphere project.
On both Saturday and Sunday, Jake had speaking appearances scheduled in Hilo and Honolulu. Kane had organized the Hilo appearance. The event Jake was attending was a fundraising carnival for a school Kane had started that taught classes in the Hawaiian language as well as in English. Jake had provided a portion of the schools seed money ten years earlier. The school was wildly successful and became the model for similar charter schools throughout the islands. Since the schools received no money from the state, fund raising was a constant struggle despite the scholastic successes.
Jake wandered around with Kane; he enjoyed meeting the parents, students, and school staff. Melissa, Mikayla, and Gracie were checking out the craft booths while Jake worked the crowd. Jake started to be a little bored and volunteered to help at one of the booths. Kane said they could always use help and to knock himself out. Jake looked around, spotted the dunk tank, and made a beeline for it. In fewer than fifteen minutes, Jake was sitting on the platform replacing a grateful school principal. With Gracie shilling for him and Jake egging on the participants, there was soon a line waiting for a chance to drop the distinguished poolitician into the tank.
The Sunday event was a Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Honolulu. Kepa was active in both the Chamber of Commerce and the state Democratic Party; he was also Jake's campaign chairman for Hawaii. All three of Kepa's interests dovetailed nicely at the luncheon. The businessmen gave Jake a warm welcome; he was almost the hometown candidate because of his frequent visits to the islands and the local investments he had made with Kepa.
Two days later, minus JJ and Erika, the Turners flew back to the mainland. Jake was dropped of in Seattle to start a campaign swing through the Pacific Northwest while Melissa was flying home with Mikayla.
The final push towards the nomination would begin in Seattle. Polls released the day before had Jake as the front-runner for the first time. The press woke up to his candidacy then and he started drawing the national press at his campaign events. Sven Johansson had to hire him a full time press secretary just to coordinate the media coverage. Of course, being the front-runner for a chance to run against a popular incumbent President mostly marked him as the man likely to lose in the general election in November. For his part, Jake was certain that winning the nomination would get him into the White House, H. Ross Perot and the flagging economy would make it happen.
The journalists traveling with Jake got their moneys worth as he blanketed the northwest. He even made a couple of campaign appearances in Alaska, the first primary candidate ever to do so. Jake attended events in Boise, Idaho and Helena, Montana as well, drawing nice crowds. Polls conducted in those states after he departed for the Midwest clearly showed the effectiveness of his personal style and positive message.
In the Midwest, Jake spoke about unemployment and the migration of jobs overseas. He expressed the admiration he felt for the men and women whose work produced the goods proudly labeled 'Made in the USA' and vowed to work to keep good jobs at home. Jake knew that in a few years unemployment would be down under five percent but his optimism was not putting food on these folk's table today. He did, however, feel comfortable saying that if he were elected, things would change for the better in two years, guaranteed.
Melissa caught up with Jake in Chicago the morning of the first of February. The first was a Saturday and Melissa insisted that they forget campaigning and spend the weekend together. Jake and his staff were only too happy to take a couple of days off after their grueling ten days of perpetual motion.
Melissa and Jake lounged around all day in the Posh Hilton robes that came with their suite. Jake thought his wife was about the most gorgeous creature on two legs in the big fluffy white robe, her raven black hair loose and flowing down to the middle of her back. Melissa loved the way that her husband kept stripping off the robe and making love to her. She was taking the thing home with her for good luck. At six, Melissa dragged Jake into the shower.
"We have reservations at seven, Hubby, and a surprise after," she said.
Jake shrugged and adjusted the water temperature for them; he had in mind some slippery-sudsy fun and room service instead. Melissa laughed delightedly as Jake soaped her plush body, his erection poking and prodding her. As much as Jake wanted to play, Melissa became all business and hustled them out of the shower.
"Later, Hubby Horndog," she giggled, as she swatted his hand off her butt. "Put on some Levis and your red sweater, tonight is informal."
The thought that he did not have to dress up mollified Jake somewhat. He dressed and switched on the television to CNN while Melissa slipped back into the bathroom to get ready.
Thirty minutes later Melissa came out of the bathroom dressed and ready to go. Jake looked up at her when the door opened. She was wearing a denim skirt just a tad longer than mini, white Nikes, and a red sweater that matched his. Her hair was in a ponytail tied with a red bow.
"Wow, Muffy, you look incredible. It's hard to believe you are the mother of teenagers, hell, you look like one yourself."
Melissa smiled and did a slow turn.
"You like?" she asked.
"Oh yeah, I like it a lot. That skirt hugs your tight little ass perfectly."
Unwittingly, Jake had said just the right thing. Melissa squealed and threw herself into his arms.
"Baby you are going to get soooo lucky tonight," she said as she nipped his earlobe.
Jake, hoping to get lucky early, slid his hands down onto her denim-covered ass as his lips captured hers. Melissa was squirming hotly against him when someone rapped sharply on the door. With a frustrated groan Jake release Melissa and went to see who was at the door. Debbie was standing in the hall with her friend Cheri. Debbie glanced down at his rather prominent bulge then flashed him her devilish grin.
"Hope we're not interrupting anything. Are you two ready to go?"
Melissa laughed from behind Jake.
"I think you just saved me from being ravished. Let me get my coat, I'm a Starvin' Marvin." Melissa quipped.
From the hotel, they went to a very good pizza joint. Then to a blues bar that was featuring a relatively unknown country/folk singer named Iris Dement. Jake was enjoying Iris's beautifully plaintive voice. He was grateful that the joint did not have a dance floor so he could simply continue to sit and enjoy the show. Jake also appreciated that no one approached their table or disturbed their evening.
Sunday was another great day for Jake as he and Melissa lounged around the suite all day, playing grab-ass and making love. It was as if they had been transported back in time to their first year together at the ranch.
Monday morning Jake was the guest of honor at the opening of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Later in the afternoon, he would be the special guest of the Chicago Board of Trade. Jake, because of his association with Thornton and Turner Holdings, was well known to the commodity trading community. TnT had at times been a major player in precious metals and agricultural commodity futures. The foreknowledge of Jake and Trish Wellington about specific events in the time line allowed them to quietly invest in futures of wheat, currency, and precious metals in a process that made them a bundle of money.
The same morning, Melissa was a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Melissa wore a charcoal gray skirt and a soft cashmere sweater three shades lighter than her skirt. Her thick black hair was loose and flowing; lightly curled, it framed her exotic features perfectly. Oprah was at her friendly best as she chatted with Melissa. Melissa answered her questions candidly, even ones that were rather personal. As a result, Melissa came across as a smart, vivacious woman, deeply in love with her husband. Her descriptions of Jake's romantic nature and of their loving relationship had the audience ohhing and ahhing. Melissa distanced herself from Hillary Clinton by saying she was indeed a 'stand by your man' type woman. Then added, "Of course, I have a man worth standing by". Millions of women gained a new perspective of candidate Turner that day. A perspective that translated into votes on Election Day.
Jake's campaign gained momentum with a second place finish in the Iowa Caucus. After a swing through the Super Tuesday states Jake flew in to Manchester New Hampshire at the end of February, eight days before the primary. Using Manchester as a base, he crisscrossed the Granite State and made forays into Vermont, Massachusetts, and Maine. Jake followed all the New Hampshire primary traditions; he ate breakfast at the Capital Diner in Concorde, attended dozens of town meetings throughout the state, and was lampooned by Concord Monitor's Mike Marland. Jake and his organization expended a massive amount of time and effort in New Hampshire because, although only a few delegates were at stake, a poor showing in the nation's first primary would have the potential to derail a candidacy.
Jake's efforts in New Hampshire bore fruit on Primary Day when he finished a surprisingly strong second to native son, Paul Tsongas, the governor of nearby Massachusetts. Jake's message and his demonstrated work ethic resonated with the pragmatic Granite Staters; when the final tally was recorded, Jake trailed Tsongas by fewer than two thousand votes. Bill Clinton finished a distant third, a result that prohibited him from proclaiming himself the 'Comeback Kid'.
After the New Hampshire primary, Jake and his team headed south. Super Tuesday was two weeks away; over one third of the delegates needed for nomination were up for grabs and Jake planned to be the candidate who grabbed them. Although Bill Clinton was still a viable candidate, Jake was on what he considered his home turf. Judging by the frenzy that surrounded him, the media thought so, too. Jake visited every function his advance team could scare up. In addition, he launched a television and radio blitz of well-made, positive campaign ads.
Jake returned to the ranch the Sunday before the primaries. On Monday, he held a huge rally in Daytona at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Early Tuesday morning, he and Melissa went to the Celeryville fire station to cast their votes. From the polling station, they returned to the ranch to pass the day waiting for the voters to make their decision. Jake and his campaign team, working with the Democrat controlled legislatures had managed to get most of the southern states on board for the 1992 Super Tuesday primaries in this timeline. In addition to the block of southern states, Ohio, Michigan, Connecticut, Montana, and Idaho were holding their primaries.
To keep from going stir-crazy, Jake put on jeans and a work shirt, threw his tool belt into his pickup, and joined a group of ranch hands replacing a section of fence that kept the cattle out of the orange grooves. The hard physical labor of setting fence posts and stretching wire allowed Jake to work off his nervous energy. The casual, joking camaraderie of the cowboys served to remind Jake that, regardless of the outcome of the primaries, life was still good.
Melissa came out with Louisa Diaz to bring the ranch hands lunch. Jake and Melissa sat under a tree while they ate and chatted. It was a scene about as far removed from the turmoil of electioneering as you were likely to find. After finishing their lunch, Jake stretched out with his head on Melissa's lap.
"You know, Hubby, no matter how today turns out, you are still going to be my hero," she said.
"Then no matter how today turns out, I'll be happy," he replied.
Jake worked with the fellows until four in the afternoon, and then called it a day so the ranch hands would have a chance to vote before the polls closed at seven. Jake and Melissa drove to the St Lucas Hotel in Palmdale to await the election results. The St Lucas was the flagship property of Thornton Development; it was a three hundred room upscale property that sat on ten acres of prime beachfront. The Grand Ballroom was set up for a party; win or lose, the Turners were going to celebrate the efforts of Jake's campaign staff.
Enthusiastic applause greeted Jake and Melissa when they walked into
the ballroom. For thirty minutes the Turners moved around the room,
personally thanking Jake's staff. At seven, they migrated towards one
of the big screen televisions scattered around the periphery of the
room. Everyone knew that the major television networks, especially CNN,
would start projecting winners as soon as the polls closed at seven.
They waited anxiously as the sonorous basso voice of Bernard Shaw began
announcing the results.