“Oh.”
“I will always love your mother, Shell; just like I will always love you. I’m not in love with her if that’s what you mean. That took a long time for me to get past. I’m glad that I have her friendship. I feel like my baggage is hurting her again.”
Michelle shook her head. “She doesn’t feel that way.”
“Maybe not, but it feels that way to me.”
“This isn’t your fault,” Michelle said. “I think Mom is more worried about you and Grant than she is about her campaign.” Michelle chuckled.
“Why is that amusing?”
“It’s not. I was just thinking that we should all probably be more worried about Klein and Ritchie. Problem is, I look forward to watching her eat them for dinner.”
Jessica laughed. “I hear you. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. I know how much you care about Mom.”
“Not just your mom.”
“Yeah, I know,” Michelle said.
“What do you think Marianne will say?”
Michelle shrugged. “Marianne will understand.”
“You think so?”
“She’s the same but different.”
“Uh-huh.”
“She’ll understand,” Michelle repeated her opinion. Jessica sighed. “Look, I know that Marianne is still kind of distant where you are concerned.”
“More like she’s in another galaxy.”
“Yeah, well… She’s protective, and not just of Mom.”
“She and Jameson have gotten close,” Jessica surmised.
“I think JD is her best friend—weird, I know. I just know that JD tells Marianne things she wouldn’t tell me or Jonah. I think Marianne tells JD just about everything. After Rick died, they started to bond. At first, I thought that was because of Spencer. I think it’s a lot more than that. Jameson is super protective of all of us too. Their relationship is different.”
“I think I understand. I just wish she would forgive me.”
Michelle shrugged. “She saw more than we did. I didn’t know for a long time. She found Mom on the floor crying when you left. She remembers seeing Mom like that after an argument with Dad, and she is the only one who remembers anything about Mom after Lucas died—even if that is more like impressions for her. It’s harder for her.”
Jessica nodded. “Marianne is a lot like your mom.”
Michelle smiled. A few years earlier, Michelle would have disagreed with that statement. As time passed, as the family changed, Michelle had come to realize that while Marianne’s actions sometimes challenged everyone, Marianne’s reasons resided in the same place as their mother’s. Just like Candace, she was the protector. “She is.” Michelle pushed her chair back and offered her hand to Jessica. “What do you say we go see what Mom and JD are up to?”
“Why? Think they will try to escape this family meeting your mother has called?”
“Nah. Not unless there is a Bible handy.”
Jessica narrowed her gaze curiously. Michelle grinned.
“Never mind,” Jessica said. “I’m pretty sure I don’t want to know.”
***
Candace watched her children’s faces as recognition struck them. Jonah looked at Marianne.
“What do you need from us?” Marianne asked her mother.
“I would like to invite Grant up here next Sunday when I get back from New Hampshire,” Candace replied.
Marianne smiled. “Barbecue?”
“I think that’s a great idea,” Jameson chimed.
“Let’s keep it to the family,” Candace said. She looked at Michelle.
“Why are you looking at me?” Michelle asked.
“Family, Shell,” Candace said. “God knows, our family is big enough now to intimidate almost anyone. Grant is feeling insecure about all of this. No campaign ploys from anyone. This is about family.”
“His parents didn’t take it well?” Marianne guessed.
Jessica shook her head sadly. “Not at all. They told him to make a choice.”
“Jesus,” Jonah groaned. “What the hell is wrong with people?”
Jameson squeezed Jonah’s shoulder. His father-in-law had been a thorn in the side of the entire family. Lawson Klein’s crusade against Candace hadn’t hurt anyone as much as it had Laura. Jonah dealt with the fallout daily.
“Is he behind all of this?” Jonah asked pointedly.
Candace took a deep breath. “Lawson Klein isn’t the only player in the game, Jonah.”
“Maybe not but is he the one behind this?” Jonah challenged.
“He is close to Jed Ritchie and Bradley Wolfe,” Candace said.
“So, in other words—yes.”
“Jonah,” Jameson steadied her voice.
“What?” Jonah snapped. “I’m sorry, Jessica. I’m not upset with you at all. I’m sick of lying back while this son-of-a-bitch hurls accusation and lies at my family. When do we hit back?” He looked at his mother.
Candace’s eyes closed. She understood Jonah’s frustration. She felt it acutely. More than once, Candace had fantasized about taking to the airwaves and spewing all of Lawson Klein’s dirty laundry. She had plenty of ammunition she could unleash. Now was not the time. If Candace could help it, she would avoid mud wrestling with the likes of Lawson Klein. What Jonah couldn’t understand was that Candace’s reasons for sticking to her script had more to do with protecting Jonah’s family than with advancing her career. Regardless of Klein’s actions, he was Laura’s father. Candace didn’t want to drag her daughter-in-law’s father through the mud—even if he deserved it.
“Mom?” Jonah urged.
“We hit back when your mother wins this election,” Jameson replied.
“If she wins,” Jonah said. “I’m sorry, Mom. I want you to win. I do. But I’m sick of this asshole.”
Candace smiled. “You don’t have anything to apologize for, Jonah.” She turned to the rest of the room and changed the subject. “If you are all comfortable with a barbecue to introduce Grant to this circus, I will…”
“I’ll take care of it,” Marianne said. She looked at Jessica. “Maybe you could help?”
Jessica nodded. “I’d love to.”
“Good. Why don’t we open a bottle of wine and sit out back for a bit?” Candace suggested. She let the room begin to empty and grabbed hold of Jonah’s arm. “A minute?” she asked him.
Jonah shook his head. “Mom, I…”
Candace held up her hand. “I understand how you feel.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“You have to have something on him.”
Candace sighed.
“See? You do!”
“Jonah,” Candace began cautiously. “Be careful what you wish for.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means that Laura has already been hurt enough. That’s what it means.”
“Yeah, by him.”
“Perhaps. That doesn’t mean he can’t hurt her any more than he has.”
Jonah shook his head.
“I know you want to punch back—so, do I,” Candace said.
“Why don’t you? I know you. You won’t make up some lie. If you have something, it’s the truth.”
“Just because something is true doesn’t mean it can’t hurt innocent people.”
“I don’t care,” Jonah said.
“Really? Even if that person is your wife? Even if it’s her mother? Jonah,” Candace sighed again. “Sucker punching Lawson Klein might feel great for a few minutes. It won’t knock him out of the ring, and the collateral damage is… It’s not worth it. Jameson was right. It’s best to wait for the knock-out punch.”
“Mom… She was throwing up this morning and not because of morning sickness—because he came at you—again. She’s so afraid that something he does will push me away, will make you hate her…”
“There is nothing Lawson Klein or anyone else could ever say or do that would make me hate Laura.”
“I’ll talk to her.”
“What do you have on him?”
“Jonah…”
“Mom, come on.”
“Let’s just say that Lawson has both personal and business relationships that do not align with the values he espouses publicly.”
“What? Like he had an affair or something? He stole? What?”
“Let it go, Jonah.”
“Are you going to? Let it go?”
“I keep my cards close to the vest,” Candace said. “You need to trust me—if and when the time comes that Lawson’s deeds become public, it will hurt Laura and Mary.”
Jonah sighed. “I just hate being helpless.”
“You’re not.”
“I am! I can’t even protect my family.”
“You do protect them.”
“Really? How exactly do I do that?”
“You love them.”
“That’s not enough, Mom.”
Candace smiled. So much like Jameson. “It’s everything, Jonah.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Come on,” she said as she took his hand.
“Planning on getting me drunk to calm me down?”
Candace laughed. “Will that work?”
“Maybe.”
“I think Jameson has some beer in the fridge.”
Jonah shook his head. “You call JD a lunatic?”
Candace shrugged. “Takes one to know one,” she said with a wink.
Chapter Six
“Doesn’t it make you angry?” a young girl asked. “I’ve seen lots of things on the internet about you that are mean. Doesn’t that make you angry?”
Candace sat on her stool and listened. She lifted the microphone in her hand slowly. “What’s your name?” she asked the girl.
“Jen.”
“Well, Jen the truth is it does make me angry. It’s hurtful.”
The girl considered Candace’s candid reply. “Why do they do that? The truth always comes out anyway. That’s what my mother says.”
Candace imagined that Jen was about thirteen. “Your mother sounds like a smart lady,” she said. She took a deep breath. “What grade are you in?” she asked.
“Eighth.”
“Oh, I remember when my daughters were in eighth grade.” Candace chuckled along with most of the audience. She shrugged, got up from her stool and made her way to the girl in the audience. “Politics is a bit like middle school.” She laughed. “There are groups of people who like the same things that sit together at lunch,” she explained. “Every so often there’s a bully in the cafeteria. A wise woman always told me to consider the source. I’m not sure I can answer why people do what they do. I suppose they think it will make people like them. Some people think the best way to be popular is to make someone else look foolish.”
“Who do you tell?” the girl asked innocently. “I mean, my mom would tell me to tell my teacher or something.”
Candace smiled broadly. She loved engaging with people—young people most of all. The innocence of youth kept her hopeful. “That’s a good question. I guess I still believe that most people will see who I am no matter what someone else says. So, I just tell the truth and answer people’s questions—like yours, and I hope they will accept that I am who I say I am.”
The girl thought for a minute.
“Did you have another question?” Candace asked.
“Do you ever want to quit?”
Candace laughed. “Daily,” she said. “But then I meet someone like you, and I remember why I ran for office in the first place. Maybe one day you will think about doing the same thing.”
The moderator stepped in. “Thank you all so much for coming. Governor Reid is due at the State Capital shortly for a meeting with Governor Brandt. I wish we had more time.”
Candace offered the room a wave. She held her finger up to the moderator and Michelle who stood off to the side. She stepped up to the young girl who had asked the last question and extended her hand to a woman she presumed was her mother. “You must be Jen’s mother.”
“Sheila,” the woman said. “Thank you so much for answering her question. She’s been so excited to see you.”
“Thank you for bringing her,” Candace replied. She looked back at the girl. “And thank you for speaking up.” Candace held back a chuckle when the girl blushed. She waved Michelle over. “How about we have Shell take a picture for us?” she suggested. An excited nod served as her reply.
Michelle took Sheila’s phone and snapped a few photos. Candace looked at the star-struck teenager. “Tell you what; why don’t you give Shell your contact information? On one of my stops, you and your mom can be my guest. Sound good?”
“Really?”
Candace winked. “I have to run. Nice meeting you both,” she said. “Shell.”
Michelle nodded her understanding. “I’ll catch up to you.”
Candace nodded her thanks.
“Is she serious?” Jen asked.
“My mom never breaks a promise if she can help it,” Michelle said.
“Your mom’s her hero,” Sheila said.
Michelle beamed. “Mine too,” she told them. “Mine too.”
***
“Momma?”
Jameson put down her pencil and swiveled her chair to greet her son. “There you are.”
“Yep. Grandma took me for pizza.”
“I heard.”
“Whatya’ doing?” Cooper asked.
“Me? I was just working on a project,” Jameson told him.
“When’s Mommy coming home?” he asked.
Jameson pulled Cooper onto her lap. “She’ll be home in two days.”
Cooper frowned. “Can we call her?”
Jameson looked up at the clock above her desk. “Aw, buddy, not right now,” she told him. “Mommy is talking to a big group of people right now.”
Cooper huffed.
Jameson pulled Cooper up onto her lap. “You miss Mommy, huh?” Cooper nodded. “Me too.”
Jameson did miss Candace. Candace had been away for three days. Two more seemed like a lifetime to Jameson. Logic told her to roll with it and reassure Cooper. Inevitably, there would come a time when Candace would be away for longer than a few days. This trip was a chance to ease Cooper into that reality. Jameson felt Cooper nestle against her and she sighed. Aw, screw it.
“Tell you what,” Jameson said. “Why don’t you go see if Grandma is still in the kitchen? Tell her I said you could have a couple of cookies while I finish a couple of things here.”
“But I just ate pizza.”
Jameson chuckled. “That must have been hours ago now.” Cooper giggled. “Go find Grandma and I will meet you in the kitchen.”
“”Kay. Momma?”
“Yeah?”
“Then can we call Mommy?”
“Then we will call Mommy.”
Cooper smiled and scurried off happily.
“Shit,” Jameson groaned. “I have no willpower.” She picked up her cell phone and dialed Michelle.
“JD?”
“Yep, that would be me.”
“Everything okay?”
“Depends on how you define okay.”
“Well, do I need to pull Mom away from the people she’s talking to?”
“No. Nothing is wrong. Just… Shell, do you think you could get your mom’s room upgraded?”
“Upgraded?” Michelle was confused. “She’s got a suite, JD.”
“Oh.”
“What’s going on? Oh, wait—you’re coming here; aren’t you?”
“Coop is missing his Mommy.”
Michelle sniggered. Yeah, I’m sure it’s all about Cooper. She was sure that Cooper was missing Candace. She was also certain that Jameson was worried about how Candace was holding up. “She’s okay,” Michelle said.
“I’m sure she is,” Jameson replied.
“I’ll make sure the
y bring in a rollaway for Coop.”
“Thanks.”
“Anything else?” Michelle asked.
“How is she—really?”
Michelle looked off into the distance to where her mother was standing with several of Governor Brandt’s interns. “She’s good, JD—honest. She should be at the hotel by around nine.”
“That late?”
“Yeah. She has dinner with Governor Brandt and some of the DNC’s larger local donors at six-thirty.”
Jameson glanced back up at the clock. “Can you…”
“I’ll make sure they know you are coming. Do you want me to tell her or…”
“No. Not unless you think…”
“She’ll be happy to see you both,” Michelle said.
“Shell?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.” Jameson put her phone in her pocket and placed the plans she’d been drafting in her desk. Well, it’s a good way to practice packing.
***
Candace heard the chatter at the dinner table. Little of it penetrated her consciousness. Her mind was on other things and other people.
“Governor?” a voice pulled her from her private musing.
“Sorry,” Candace apologized.
“Dale was just asking about the story circulation that The Stratton Foundation is under federal investigation.”
Candace pressed down her disgust and smiled. More bullshit. “It’s an interesting story,” she said.
“But is it true?”
“Not to my knowledge.”
“You’re not concerned?”
Candace took a sip from her wine glass and set the glass back down slowly. “Why should I be?”
“If there is any…”
“In the last month, I have been accused of having a long-lost child that I hid for over thirty-five years. I’ve heard the rumor that my wife is a drug addict and there was an elaborate cover-up to disguise her addiction therapy with a story that she was volunteering her services at the clinic her cousin directs. And, I have listened to the ridiculous assessment that my son is really my grandchild—another conspiracy afoot.” Candace offered the table a sickly-sweet smile. “None of it is true.”
“I understand, but the foundation is a different matter.”
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