With a whispered “goodbye for now,” she closed the lid and sat on the foot of her bed. Ford wouldn’t replace Nathan. Nobody could ever do that, but finally, after years of holding on, she was ready to let go. The engagement that began as a favor was now as real as they’d been pretending, and she looked forward to opening up her life and heart to a new love. A perfect calm fell over her with the realization, and she knew Nathan would want a happy future and another love for her.
Chapter Eight
Still humming from the amazing turn of events, Ford couldn’t stop smiling. Never in a million years would he have guessed that his mother’s disapproval would provide the impetus for the change between him and Lily. It was amazing, perfect even, to simply open himself up to the possibility that he’d fall in love again. No more pretending he didn’t want it, no more guarding his heart and reactions, making sure he never cared more than Lily. This could really work. Maybe their engagement could turn into something real. He watched as Lily and Ted prepared for their interview on Good Morning, Dallas.
“Are you nervous?” Lily caught her father’s eye in the mirror as they sat in hair and makeup. They looked so much alike that Ford felt himself softening toward Ted. Who knew he was such a romantic?
“Not about the interview, but maybe a little about the makeup. What will your mother think?” He laughed as Lily’s favorite makeup artist tucked tissue paper under his collar and swirled a fluffy brush in makeup. He made faces in the mirror as she went to work, then balled up the tissue and tossed it in a nearby wastebasket when she finished. “I have time for a quick trip to the men’s room, right?”
“Sure. There’s a cooking segment before us, then the commercial break.” She watched her father disappear down the hallway and turned to Ford. “I can’t believe how quickly you were able to get us this interview.” She reached out and took the hand he stretched toward her from the next chair, pulling him closer for a quick kiss. “Thank you.”
“It was no problem, and absolutely my pleasure. I hope the donations start rolling in as soon as people hear your story.” After last night, he’d do anything to make her happy.
“And, speaking of pleasure, last night was really something, huh?” She dropped her eyes and tugged gently on his tie, urging him closer to her.
Bracing himself on the arms of her chair, he leaned in for a proper kiss. Careful not to muss her hair, he breathed her in. The clean, enchanting scent of her, soap, shampoo, and Lily herself, spun around him, drawing him closer. He nipped her earlobe and whispered, “Best. Night. Ever.”
Goosebumps erupted on her forearms, and she shivered at his words, delighting him and making him wish they were anywhere but on the set of a local morning talk show. Ted rounded the corner, and Ford straightened, clearing his throat and stepping back a bit.
“Looks like you’re just in time. They’re giving you the signal.” Ford checked his phone before silencing the ringer and standing. “You two have fun out there. I’ll be watching from here, cheering you on.”
Lily stood and joined her father, throwing Ford a dazzling smile as the production staff buzzed around them, attaching their wireless microphones and battery packs, checking levels, and directing them to their spots on the set. They greeted the show’s host, Kelly Kiernan, and took their seats on the guest couch. Ted shifted, tugged on his collar, and nearly unplugged his microphone. Lily whispered something to him, and he laughed, visibly relaxing. She was a natural, so comfortable in front of the camera that she may as well be in the host’s living room. That easy charisma would go far during the interview. Viewers would get a sense of how passionate Lily was about the issues and, with any luck, be persuaded to answer their call to action. The show came back from the commercial break, and the cameraman gave Kelly the signal.
“Good morning, Dallas! Thank you for joining us,” Kelly said with a television-ready smile before sipping from her coffee mug. “Today our guest is someone you’ve probably seen before, Lily Ashton. You might recognize Lily from the gorgeous Neiman Marcus billboard on Central Expressway. If you haven’t seen that, you may have seen her online or in the paper with her handsome fiancé, Congressman Ford Richardson. He’s running for re-election, so do check our website for information on how and where to vote in November.” She set her coffee mug on the table in front of them and continued. “Our segment isn’t about the upcoming election, though. Lily joins us today with her father, Ted Ashton, to talk about something a bit more serious than fashion and weddings. They’re creating a new nonprofit organization, and I can’t wait to hear all about it.” She nodded toward each of them. “Welcome.”
“Thank you for having us, Kelly,” Ted answered.
Ford took a sip of coffee and rocked back on his heels as he watched the interview. Lily was a natural, both competent and relatable, but Ted was the one who surprised him. From their limited interactions, it seemed like he was passionate about issues, but not incredibly knowledgeable about how to address them without becoming confrontational. When they’d met in her parents’ home, Ted seemed too emotional to separate himself from the issue enough to appear credible. Today he was on-point and relatable, appearing to be an expert on the subject. The duo came across as passionate but smart, and viewers were likely being rallied to the cause as they went on. Ford listened as Ted and Lily described the troubles facing military widows and widowers returning to civilian life as well as the concrete steps their organization would take to help them. As far as he could tell, the interview was a slam dunk.
“Lily, would you say that your experience with being a young military widow was the impetus for this project?” Kelly leaned forward as she asked, her eyes conveying the perfect blend of sympathy and interest.
Lily shifted on the couch, and her father patted her shoulder. “Of course that was a big part of it, Kelly. I doubt I’d know much about this issue without having had that experience. I was lucky, though, and I came home to a loving family, supportive friends, and the chance to start a new career, so I didn’t face most of the issues we’re concerned with. Not everyone has the same advantages. Unfortunately, it was easier for me to become successful because I was still so young when my husband died, and I hadn’t become entrenched in the army life yet.”
“There was still a chance for her,” Ted added. “She was young enough that opportunities were still available to her.”
The host’s brow furrowed. “So, are you saying that if Lily’s husband had not been killed so soon after they married, if he’d had a long military career before passing away, then her situation could’ve been worse?”
Ted cleared his throat, seeming to struggle with his answer before sitting up straighter. Ford could practically see the moment when Ted’s mood switched from calm and competent to angry about the situation. “Yes, Kelly, I think I would say that. The women we’ve been working with are often completely lost when they come to us, and I know there are many more men and women out there just like them. There is such a need for these services that we simply cannot continue to work piecemeal. Sure, we can address a need here and there with our resources, but we need a more complete approach. We’re starting Soldier On because these people need and deserve a place where they can start over.”
“They’re completely lost, Ted? Does the military not provide for their needs?” Kelly pushed further, and Ford wondered if she was more interested in a salacious segment than the simple informational spot they’d originally agreed upon.
“Sure, Kelly, it’s not as though these spouses are kicked off post as soon as word comes in that their husbands or wives have passed away,” Lily chimed in, smoothing out the situation with a calm explanation of the military wife’s perspective. “But you have to understand that the life of a military spouse, especially a wife, can be all-consuming. Imagine following your husband around the world, from post to post, moving whenever he gets his orders. Maybe you keep in touch with friends and family, maybe you don’t. You may not stay in the same place long enough to creat
e lasting relationships, and when you do, inevitably you or your friends move on.”
“I see. Having a strong support system in place is invaluable for anyone, though. What makes the situation unique for the people you want to serve?” Kelly continued, and Ford wasn’t sure he liked the direction things were headed. Ted was becoming louder and more agitated with each question he answered. If Kelly let him get going, they could have a disaster on their hands.
“Kelly, we’re meeting women all the time who need housing and health care. They need education or job training, something to help them get on their feet and learn how to support themselves and their children for the long term. Many widows are able to move on, but just as many spent their time in the military supporting their husbands’ careers, and they were proud to do it.” Lily paused and swallowed. “We as a society celebrate that devotion to service, and we expect nothing less. But what happens when there’s no husband left to support? It’s so easy to look the other way, or to assume that the army will care for these families.”
Ted jumped in. “And we have no reason to believe that it will. Just look around at the soldiers who did make it home but are unemployed, unable to get necessary medical care, or are suffering from PTSD. Where’s the army? Where’s the government?”
Kelly looked thoughtful. “Do you think the shortcomings in the treatment of discharged veterans correlates to what happens to widows and widowers?”
“Absolutely!” Ted was on a roll, his voice raised to a near-shout. “I recently read that twenty-two veterans commit suicide every day. Twenty-two! That’s more than we lose in combat! And it’s unacceptable.”
“I’m not sure about those numbers, but I do agree that there are some troubling issues facing our military and veterans.”
“Troubling issues? Try a national travesty. It’s disgraceful, and I’ve had it with the idiots in Washington who make decisions from the safety and comfort of their overpriced offices that affect real people’s lives.”
Ford’s phone buzzed in his pocket. The interview was live, and his team was likely watching. With the negative turn the conversation had taken, he knew better than to slip out of the studio and answer. There was nothing he could do about it now, and if they were going to spin it, the team was probably already on the case. Kelly Kiernan continued with the segment, and Ted’s answers became increasingly critical of the military, the current administration, and politicians in general, though Lily remained calm, continually trying to gently return the conversation to Soldier On. There was nothing he could do to stop the runaway train of blame and vitriol.
To Ford’s relief, Lily finally patted her father’s hand and interjected, putting an end to the diatribe. “Before we get any more off topic, I’d like to simply say that the sole purpose of Soldier On always has been and always will be to empower women. That’s our mission at its core, and that doesn’t change with politics or personal beliefs. Our services are available to women anywhere on the spectrum of need, from those who need no more than a couple of referrals to those who need to completely start over. We have no political agenda or affiliation, we’re interested in serving those who served our country, and we must have community support in order to do so.”
Kelly smiled at Lily’s attempt to rein her father in and followed her lead, wrapping up the interview on a positive note. Ford breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Ted had caused some serious damage, but at least it was over. “Sounds like Soldier On will be a tremendous asset to the community. What can people do to get involved?”
Lily thanked Kelly for not further agitating her father with a grateful expression before she answered. “More than anything, we need money and manpower. We’ve secured our basic funding, but realistically we need long-term corporate partnerships and the support of generous private donors to fully realize our mission. Our goal is to become a one-stop shop for services, so we have need for supplies, volunteers, and donations. We have opportunities to get involved at every level, and we welcome help however it comes, so please don’t shy away if you’re an individual.” Her winsome smile betrayed the dismay she must be feeling, and Ford worried about how let down she would be now that their big chance at publicity had taken the sour turn.
His phone buzzed again, and he turned it off. The damage was done, and there was nothing left to do but to wait and see how bad the fallout would be.
Chapter Nine
A few hours later, Ford took his seat at the conference table and gratefully accepted the coffee Joelle set in front of him, thinking they were probably settling in for a long meeting. The serious faces of his advisors made him wish he’d stayed in the parking lot, but it was time to assess the damage Lily’s appearance on Good Morning, Dallas, if any, had done to his campaign. He couldn’t expect to control or spin everything she said, but it would have been nice if the public had a bit longer to get to know them as a couple before anything controversial popped up. Between this and the Coldwell campaign’s assault on their engagement, damage control was becoming more daunting. Whatever the result, he had to get to work on repairing the public’s perception. With any luck, the interview was no more than a blip on the radar and he could move on without worry.
“So, it’s safe to assume that you all saw Lily’s interview and that’s why you called this emergency meeting?” Ford met the seven pairs of eyes watching him around the table and took a sip of coffee.
Charlie Tibbals cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. “Ford, I’ll level with you. It’s not good.”
Ford’s heart sank. Even when things with the campaign were bleak, Charlie generally tried to remain optimistic. This was not a good sign. “All right, how bad is it? Give it to me.”
Caroline spoke up. “Photos of your fiancée at her late husband’s funeral have been everywhere. I’m not sure how you missed it, in fact.” She turned her laptop so the screen faced him and clicked through several websites.
He’d missed it because he knew his team wouldn’t, so why go looking? Why search for trouble when it was waiting for him at the office? Bad press popped up whenever anything even remotely related to his campaign happened, so the feeding frenzy must be in full force after the interview. The shift in his relationship with Lily was still so new; it seemed too fragile to expose to an assault like this, so he’d ignored it as long as he could. Unfortunately, his campaign couldn’t hit pause while he enjoyed the bloom of new love, so his team powered through.
Each article or political forum Caroline clicked on her screen showed the same picture of Lily seated in the front row of a group of mourners, in between her parents. The closed coffin, covered in flowers, sat a mere yard away from her. A uniformed officer knelt before her, presenting a folded United States flag, his eyes full of sympathy and gratitude. Lily’s hands covered the lower half of her face, her expression one of fathomless grief. He remembered seeing the picture in the local paper. Though he and Lily rarely spoke of her husband beyond facts and the occasional memory, the powerful image of his fiancée mourning her husband told him all he needed to know about her first marriage.
“I know it’s a surprise to some people that Lily was married before, and the fact that she’s the widow of a soldier adds to that, but is it really that bad?” They wouldn’t be so worried if it wasn’t, but Ford couldn’t shake the idea that they could overcome a little hitch in the plan.
Caroline pushed printouts toward him. “Here. It’s not just that Lily was married, nor that she’s a widow. It’s the connection bloggers and dozens of people on social media are making, that Lily is anti-war and therefore anti-military, after losing her husband.”
“That’s preposterous.” Ford skimmed the articles they’d printed out for him, including several Tea Party blogs, some ultra-conservative organizations’ Facebook pages, and commenters on the news stories. It was ridiculous, but Caroline was right. People had taken the assumption and run with it, each comment or assumption more outrageous than the last. More than a few had questioned his patriotism a
nd support of the military because of his relationship with Lily. “How did this get so far out of hand?”
“It’s election season in Texas. The crazier, the better,” Robert answered. “You know Coldwell is eating this up. At this point, he doesn’t even have to fan the flames. He can just sit back and watch.”
“Exactly,” Caroline added. “Every crackpot blogger is taking the story and blowing it up. Some of them are actually persuasive, making the case for Lily’s anti-military leanings based on both the loss of her husband and the fact that we haven’t been talking about him.”
“What we can’t figure out is how you decided that keeping her past a secret from us was a good idea. We can’t advise you if we don’t have the whole story. You know that.” Charlie’s mouth set in a grim line, his eyes reflected the defeat the entire team apparently felt.
“I wasn’t keeping anything a secret.” Ford knew it wasn’t entirely true, but he’d never lied to them or avoided answering questions about Lily. They didn’t ask if she’d been married before, and he didn’t tell them. “As soon as I did what you wanted and got engaged, you all checked that off your list and moved on. I would’ve told you anything you wanted to know about Lily. All you asked was that I find a fiancée, and that’s what I did. I never imagined it would blow up like this.”
“If we would’ve known about her past, we could’ve worked with this, made it a real asset.” Caroline began. “We could have at least been prepared.”
“If you would’ve asked me anything about her, you would’ve known. None of you cared about anything having to do with Lily except the fact that she’d agreed to marry me. Don’t put this all on me. And Lily’s fairly private about her first marriage. I doubt she’d appreciate her tragic loss being used as a campaign asset.”
Beneath his indignation, Ford knew that he should have been forthright with them about Lily’s first husband. That information was much too big to keep to himself. She surely would’ve objected to bringing him into the campaign, though, and he didn’t want unnecessary tension between them. He also knew that the team was right: the widow of an American hero was a powerful asset. As long as Lily kept her first marriage private, though, it was easier for him not to think about how she’d once been married to someone she’d chosen. Someone she’d fought to be with. Someone he could never live up to.
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