“Candace,” Jameson soothed. “I’m sorry.”
“Just hold me for a while,” Candace requested.
“For as long as you need,” Jameson promised. She gently lowered them both on the couch and pulled Candace even closer. In a short time, Candace would take a deep breath, kiss Jameson tenderly, and gather herself to face the rest of the day. Jameson would hold her wife until that happened. That was her role to play now. Candace was everyone’s rock. Jameson was Candace’s anchor. “I love you,” Jameson whispered.
“Thank God,” Candace replied. “I love you too.”
***
“How can you be so calm?” Michelle bit.
“It’s not easy,” Jameson said.
“It’s a fucking lie!” Michelle yelled.
“Shell,” Jameson directed Michelle to sit.
“It is a lie, JD.”
“Yes, it is.”
“So? Why the hell is she hold-up in that office and not screaming the truth on the news?”
“Because there are people to consider.”
“What people? Lawson Klein people? Screw that…”
Jameson chuckled. “Pretty much what I said when I saw the news.”
“Yeah? So? Why are we sitting here in a holding pattern? And, why is Jessica’s car out front?”
Jameson took a deep breath. “Your mom is in a meeting with Glenn and Jessica right now.”
“Oh? Who else? Doesn’t she think maybe I should know what is going on?”
“Do you mean as someone helping with her campaign?”
“What else would I mean?”
“Maybe the reason you are out here is that you are her daughter first.”
“I don’t get it. What aren’t you telling me?” Michelle asked.
“A lot,” Jameson conceded. “It’s not my story, Shell.”
“Aren’t you pissed?”
“Understatement.”
“So? Can’t you convince her to fight?”
Jameson smiled. “She is fighting.”
“Really?”
“Your mom has to fight this her way.”
“Oh, you mean with a smile on her face?”
“Trust me; she’s not smiling.”
“Is she even mad?”
“She’s concerned,” Jameson said.
“Concerned?!”
“She doesn’t have the luxury of anger.”
“Funny. It doesn’t feel luxurious to me. A nice new BMW would be luxurious. A Riviera cruise—that’s luxurious—a weekend at The Plaza, yes—Lawson Klein’s bullshit? That’s a lot of things. Luxurious is not one of them. That’s more like being forced to bathe in a sewage plant.”
Jameson laughed. “Interesting perspective.”
“JD, I’m serious.”
“I know. I get it. When the news broke this morning, I wanted to catch the next flight to wherever Klein is and kick his ass.”
“Whoa, JD,” Michelle chuckled. “Mom stopped you, huh?”
“More like she reminded me I had more important things to attend to.”
“I don’t want to know.”
Jameson rolled her eyes. “Only you, Shell.”
Shell’s eyes lifted to the hallway when she heard her mother’s voice approaching.
“I appreciate it, Glenn,” Candace said.
“Are you sure this is what you want to do?” Glenn asked.
“We’re sure,” Jessica replied.
Glenn nodded. “I’ll make the arrangements.”
“Thank you,” Candace said.
“It’s what I do,” he told her.
The threesome came into view, and Michelle’s eyes met her mother’s. Candace smiled at her and turned back to her campaign manager. “Call me when we are all set,” she said.
“Of course.”
“Jess, could you,” Candace began.
Jameson spoke up. “I’ll see Glenn out,” she offered.
Candace nodded her thanks.
“Mom?” Michelle addressed her mother cautiously.
“Shell. Why don’t you have a seat?” Candace suggested.
“What’s going on?” Michelle wanted to know.
Candace smiled. “Your brother and sister will be here in half an hour.”
“Family meeting? Mom? You’re not dropping out; are you?”
“No,” Candace put the thought to rest.
“Okay? No offense, but is Jessica representing you again?”
Jessica shook her head. “Nothing like that.”
“What is it like?” Michelle asked.
“Shell,” Candace warned. “We’ll explain everything when Jonah and Marianne are here.”
Michelle huffed and got up from her seat.
“Where are you going?” Candace asked.
“Well, if you aren’t going to tell me anything, I might as well go raid Grandma’s cookies with Coop.”
Candace snickered. “At least, some things never change.”
“Candy, I’m sorry this has all come down on you,” Jessica said.
“I’m not.”
“It’s my fault for not…”
“No, it isn’t,” Candace cut off Jessica’s train of thought. “This is where we are. We’ll all get through it—all of us. How is Grant?”
“I think he’s relieved,” Jessica said. “I can’t believe he was worried that I would be angry.”
“He loves you,” Candace said.
“He loves you too.”
“I know. You’re his mother, Jess. As much as he loves Mr. and Mrs. Hill, you’re the mother he’s needed.”
“I hope I don’t disappoint him.”
Candace smiled. “Don’t sell yourself short. You’ve been wonderful to him and with him. I know it hasn’t been easy to hide that relationship.”
“It’s what he needed.”
“Exactly,” Candace said.
“How do you think the kids will react?” Jessica asked.
Candace shrugged. She honestly wasn’t sure how her children would react. She suspected that Michelle would feel a modicum of betrayal when she learned about Grant. But she also guessed that Marianne and Jonah would understand and be supportive. That would inevitably help Michelle to come around. Candace’s biggest concern was for Grant.
“They’ll be fine,” she said. “It’s not about them.”
“I wish that it could have been different.”
“Me too,” Candace said.
“Hey,” Jameson stepped into the room. “Sorry if I’m intruding.”
Candace smiled and patted the cushion next to her. “Not at all.”
Jameson looked at Jessica. “How are you doing?” she asked.
“Nervous,” Jessica said.
Jameson nodded. “I can imagine. For whatever it’s worth, I’m sorry you have to go through this publicly.”
“Thanks,” Jessica said. “I appreciate you being so understanding. I’m not sure that I would be if I were in your position.”
Jameson took a deep breath. “I remember when Klein paraded Cooper’s grandmother on the morning shows. I was so angry. More than that, it hurt. Cooper’s my son. All I want it to keep him safe.”
“I understand,” Jessica replied.
“I’m sure that you do,” Jameson said.
“But Grant isn’t four-years-old,” Jessica pointed out the obvious.
“No,” Jameson agreed. “It doesn’t matter. If it had been Jonah or Shell or Marianne, I would have felt the same way.” She exchanged a smile with Candace.
“I’m going to go talk to Shell,” Candace said.
“I thought that you wanted to wait until Jonah and Marianne got here?” Jameson was confused.
“I do. But this is Shell. Honestly, I think it might be best if I didn’t blindside her with her sister and brother in the room.”
“Do you want me to go with you?” Jessica asked.
“No,” Candace replied. “I think it’s best if I talk to her first.” She offered Jessica a smile, winked at Jameson
and headed off to find Michelle.
“She doesn’t expect that to go well,” Jessica observed.
Jameson considered how she should respond. Jessica and Michelle had been close during Candace’s relationship with the lawyer. Their split had hurt Michelle deeply, and it had taken Michelle a long time to allow Jessica to be a part of her life again. Jameson had spent enough time with Candace’s former partner to know that Jessica Stearns still cared deeply for Candace and her children. She also felt sure that Jessica carried a great deal of regret.
“Shell will be okay,” Jameson said.
“I don’t know.”
“I do. She loves you. She’s Shell. You know her, she gets up in arms for a few minutes. Once she calms down, she’ll be able to see things clearly. That’s why Candace wants to talk to her first. Shell does love you, Jessica.”
“She loves you, Jameson. I’m her friend.”
Jameson shook her head. “I think she sees you as more than that. You were a second parent to her for seven years. I wouldn’t underestimate what that means to her.”
“I made a lot of mistakes.”
“That you wish you hadn’t?” Jameson asked.
Jessica sighed. Jameson had always treated her with kindness. This was an awkward discussion. It was unusual for Jessica to be alone with Jameson. There was no point in lying. She was sure Jameson would see right through her. “Yes. If I’m to be honest—yes. I wish I had made different choices.”
“You still love her.”
“Candy?”
Jameson nodded.
“In my own way.”
“Can’t say I blame you.”
“The truth is I just wish I hadn’t hurt them all so badly. I don’t think Candy and I were meant for the long haul.”
“Good thing for me.”
Jessica laughed. “There is that,” she agreed. “She didn’t deserve what I put her through. I know that. You don’t come across women like Candy every day.”
Jameson smiled. That’s an understatement. “Don’t worry about the kids. I think they might surprise you.”
“I let them down too,” Jessica admitted. “
“And you think that means you will let Grant down; am I right?”
“I don’t have a terrific parental track record.”
Jameson shrugged. “Who does?”
“You do.”
Jameson laughed. “Oh, no I don’t. For a year, I thought Marianne was plotting my death.”
Jessica chuckled. “She can be a tough nut to crack.”
“I don’t know what the hell I’m doing most of the time with any of them,” Jameson confessed. “I just do the best I can to be there when they need me.”
“Sounds simple.”
“Not even a little bit,” Jameson said with another laugh. “Sometimes, I can’t believe the things that come out of their mouths, or their butts,” she laughed harder. “Not the grown-up ones,” she clarified.
Jessica smiled. “Thanks for clarifying that.”
“You’re welcome. The point is, you will be fine. Just be honest,” Jameson suggested. “Listen. Be there. That’s really all you can do.”
“Thanks.”
“Hey, I’m a novice. I just got lucky and married an expert who was raised by the chief herself. Good thing I’m graded on a curve or I’d be screwed.”
Jessica laughed. No wonder she loves you, Jameson.
***
“I thought you were raiding the cookies with Cooper,” Candace said.
“Coop went upstairs to draw. Beer looked like a better option. Call it preparedness.”
Candace took a seat at the kitchen table. “The sky is not falling, Shell.”
“Really? Then why were you hiding in the office with Glenn and Jessica?”
“I wasn’t hiding.”
“Okay?”
Candace shook her head. “I’m going to tell you what we talked about.”
“Now?”
“Yes, now.”
“Really?”
“You know, Shell you are one of the most intelligent and thoughtful people I know. There is one thing that you need to work on a bit.”
“What?”
“There are times when things happen in my life that aren’t about you—any of you.”
“You mean us kids.”
“I do.”
“And, this is one of those things? Because, Mom? Hearing we have a brother we never knew about on the news kind of feels like it might be about us too.”
“You don’t have a brother that you don’t know about.”
“So? What’s the deal then?” Michelle asked. “What does Grant Hill have to do with you?”
“Grant is Jessica’s son.”
Michelle stared at her mother.
“She had him when she was seventeen,” Candace explained. “Grant found her the year we got together.”
“Jessica has a kid?”
Candace nodded.
“How come you never told us?”
“We wanted to,” Candace said. “Grant’s adopted family would not have been supportive of him having a relationship with Jessica. He’s spent most of his adult life trying to reconcile his two families.”
Michelle pondered the information. “That’s who’s been calling you all these months since Lawson Klein got canned from FVI.”
Candace nodded.
“Holy shit. He’s been helping you?”
Candace nodded again.
“Holy shit.” Michelle remained silent for a few minutes.
“Shell?”
“Is Jessica okay?” Michelle asked.
Candace smiled. Well, I’ll be damned. “She’s worried about Grant. She’s also worried about what you might say.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. Do I need to remind you that you and Jess have had a rather mucky path?”
“Yeah, but this isn’t about me. I mean, I can’t even imagine being pregnant at seventeen. Hell, I’m scared now! And, Grant Hill? Seriously? Of all people…”
“Grant isn’t who you think he is.”
“Obviously not. What about you, Mom?”
“Do you mean me or my campaign?”
“Both.”
Candace sighed. “As a candidate, I will be fine.”
“And you?”
“I’m worried about Grant. And, I’m concerned for Jess. She’s hurting too. She feels like who she is has made his life more painful.”
“Bullshit. She’s not the bigot in the room.”
“No,” Candace agreed. “She is his mother, Shell. And, believe it or not, that means the world to her.”
“I believe it.”
“Maybe you should tell her that,” Candace suggested.
“Me?”
“Yes—you. Jess loves you, Shell. I think it nearly killed her, knowing how much she hurt you kids—you most of all. I know she’s worried you’ll push her away again.”
“I wish you had told us,” Michelle said. “But I think I can understand why you didn’t. Do you really think she’s worried about me?”
“I don’t think it. She is.”
“I’ll talk to her.”
***
Candace appeared in the doorway and Jessica looked at her fearfully.
“Shell wants to talk to you. She’s waiting for you.”
“Is the kitchen really the best place for this talk?”
Candace smiled. “Worried about the knife block?” she teased.
“A little.”
“Go on,” Candace said.
Jessica nodded.
Candace chuckled as Jessica left the room.
“You’re not worried about knives, I take it?” Jameson said
“Not at all.”
***
“Hi.”
“You look like the last victim in a horror film,” Michelle said. “Want a beer?”
Jessica was genuinely confused.
“No offense, you look like you could use one,” Michelle said. She
moved to the refrigerator and retrieved a beer for Jessica. “I’ll join you.”
Jessica tipped her head slightly. “What did your mom tell you?”
Michelle passed Jessica a beer. “She told me that Grant Hill is not my long-lost brother. At least, not biologically. Are you okay?” she asked.
Jessica’s eyes flew open and instantly began to water.
Michelle smiled. “I’m sorry, Jessica.”
“Sorry?”
“That you were afraid to tell me. Sometimes, I can be an ass.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“No? I would—so would my wife,” Michelle joked. “I can’t imagine how hard this has been for you. I mean, having to hide your relationship with your son. I can’t even imagine what that must have felt like.”
Tears slipped over Jessica’s cheeks. “I wanted to tell you—your mom did too.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want you to think that we were trying to keep secrets from you.”
“You were. It wasn’t your secret you were keeping this time,” Michelle said.
“No, it wasn’t.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“How much of a toll did this take on you and mom?”
Jessica sighed. “It took a toll on me. That caused issues between us.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too. I have to admit I am surprised at your reaction.”
Michelle nodded. “Mel and I are trying to have a baby.”
“Wow.”
“I know, right?” Michelle laughed. “It’s kind of an uphill battle for us right now. We’ve talked about all kinds of options including adoption. I think Mom and JD adopting Cooper made me realize a lot of things. And then, Mel finding out how difficult it would be for her to conceive—I don’t know, it gives you a different perspective. I guess thinking about becoming someone’s mom makes you see things you can’t see as someone’s kid.”
Jessica smiled. “That’s true.”
“You still love Mom; don’t you?”
Jessica smirked.
“Is that a funny question?”
“No,” Jessica replied. “Jameson asked me the same thing earlier.”
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