By the time the train pulled in to South station four hours later, Alex was wondering if President Ford would pardon the former president. He grabbed a cab and asked the driver to take him to a sensibly priced hotel. Despite his new-found wealth, Alex still considered it a waste of money to pay for a suite when you could sleep just as well in a single room.
Once he’d checked into the Langham, he took a shower before trying on the two suits he’d brought with him. In one, he felt like Jack Kennedy; in the other, he looked like Elvis Presley. But on the cover of Vogue on his bedside table was a photo of Joan Kennedy wearing a sky-blue ballgown, which Vogue was predicting would be this year’s colour. Alex changed his mind yet again. One last check of the time on the invitation, 7.30 for 8.00 p.m. He left the hotel just after seven, hailed a cab and told the driver the address.
After driving around the Common, Alex noticed that as they climbed higher towards Beacon Hill, the houses became grander. They came to a halt at the entrance of a magnificent townhouse, where he was met by two security guards, who gave him a long hard look before demanding to see his invitation.
‘Maybe he’s part of the cabaret,’ one of them said, loud enough for Alex to hear as the cab turned in to the long driveway and continued on its journey up to the front of the house.
Alex knew he’d made a mistake the moment he stepped into the oak-panelled hall and joined a long queue of guests waiting to be greeted by their host. He wanted to turn round, go back to his hotel and change into the more conservative suit, but then he would have been late. He wasn’t sure which would cause more offence. He couldn’t help noticing that several of the guests were turning to take a second look at him.
‘It’s wonderful to see you again, Alex,’ said Lowell, when he finally reached the front of the queue. ‘I’m so glad you could make it.’
‘It was kind of you to invite me, sir.’
‘Lawrence, Lawrence,’ his host whispered, before turning to greet his next guest. ‘Good evening, senator.’
Alex made his way through to a large drawing room packed with guests, almost all of the men wearing dinner jackets. He grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter before disappearing behind a large marble pillar in one corner of the room, from where he stared at a painting by someone called Pollock. He didn’t move or attempt to speak to anyone, until a gong sounded, when he made sure he was among the last to enter the dining room. He was surprised to find he’d been placed on the top table, between an Evelyn on his left and a Todd on his right.
Alex quickly sat down, relieved that at least no one could now see his bell bottom trousers.
‘How do you know Lawrence?’ asked the young woman on his left, after grace had been delivered by the Cardinal Archbishop of Boston.
Alex found himself stuttering for the first time in his life. ‘I served... I served under Lieutenant Lowell in Vietnam.’
‘Ah yes, Lawrence mentioned that he’d invited you, but he wasn’t sure if you’d come.’
Alex was already wishing he hadn’t.
‘And what do you do now, Alex?’
‘I own a string of pizza parlours,’ he blurted out, immediately regretting his words.
‘I’ve never eaten a pizza,’ she said, which Alex didn’t find hard to believe. After a long silence, he asked, ‘And how do you know Lieutenant Lowell?’
‘He’s my brother.’ Another long silence followed before Evelyn turned to the person on her left and began telling him when she would be returning to her villa in the south of France.
When the first course was served, Alex was uncertain which knife and fork to pick up from the large array in front of him. He followed Evelyn’s lead, before turning to the man on his right, who said, ‘Hi, Todd Halliday,’ and shook him by the hand.
‘How do you know Lawrence?’ asked Alex, hoping he wasn’t his brother.
‘We were at Choate together,’ said Todd.
‘And are you also in banking?’ asked Alex, as he had no idea who or what Choate was.
‘No. I manage a small investment company that specializes in start-ups. And you?’
‘I own a couple of pizza parlours, and have my eye on a third site. We’re not Pizza Hut yet, but it can only be a matter of time.’
‘Are you looking for any capital?’
‘No,’ said Alex. ‘I’ve just sold my old company for over a million, so I won’t be needing any outside finance.’
‘But if you’re hoping to rival Pizza Hut, the right partner could speed the whole process up, and if you were interested...’
Todd wasn’t able to complete his sentence as he was interrupted by a familiar figure whom Alex immediately recognized, who rose from his place to propose Lawrence’s health. Alex admired the relaxed way the senior senator from Massachusetts addressed the gathering, without once referring to a note, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the woman seated next to the senator, who he’d just seen on the cover of a glossy magazine in his hotel. He only wished he looked half as good in sky blue.
When the senator sat down to warm applause, Lawrence rose to reply. ‘I’m delighted,’ he began, ‘that so many of my family and friends have been able to join me this evening to celebrate my thirtieth birthday. I’m particularly honoured that Teddy was able to break away from his busy schedule to propose my health. I hope that one day, and in the not too distant future, he’ll consider standing as the Democratic candidate for president.’
Several of the guests joined in the applause, which allowed Lawrence the chance to turn to the next page of his speech.
‘I am equally delighted to welcome to my home the man who made tonight possible, because if he hadn’t saved my life, one thing is for sure, this party would not be taking place. As you all know, when I was serving in Vietnam, I was wounded and could have been left for dead, but fortunately my second in command didn’t hesitate to take my place, and because of his leadership and courage, not only was an entire Vietcong unit wiped out, but he didn’t leave the battlefield until every American soldier had been rescued. As a result of his actions that day, Staff Sergeant Alex Karpenko was not only awarded the Silver Star, but made it possible for me to deliver this speech tonight.’
Lawrence turned to Alex as he raised his glass, and everyone in the room stood and joined in the applause, although Alex’s immediate thought was of the Tank, and the fact that he still hadn’t visited his grave in Virginia.
There was an even louder cheer when Lawrence announced that he would be standing for Congress as a Democratic candidate at the next election. When he finally sat down the assembled guests broke into a raucous, out-of-tune rendition of ‘Happy Birthday, dear Lawrence...’
Once the laughter and applause had finally died down, Todd turned to Alex and continued where he’d left off. ‘If you do decide to expand, keep in touch. Yours is just the sort of company I like backing.’ He took a business card out of his wallet and handed it to Alex, who was about to ask what sum he had in mind, when he was distracted by a hand resting on his thigh.
‘Do tell me more about your little empire, Alex,’ said Evelyn, leaving her hand in place.
For a second time he found himself struggling for words as he stared into her green eyes.
‘I’ve just sold it.’
‘I do hope you got a good price.’
‘Just over a million,’ he said, enjoying the attention.
‘Are you going to introduce me, Evelyn?’ said a voice from behind him.
Alex leapt to his feet when he saw the senator standing by his chair. Evelyn introduced them, and Teddy Kennedy immediately put him at ease as they chatted about Vietnam.