Election Day

by J. A. Armstrong

  Dana sidled up to Jameson. “Hell of an introduction,” she whispered.

  “She means it,” Jameson said.

  “I know she does.”

  “What’s up?” Jameson asked.

  Dana cringed.

  “Do we need to step away right this minute?” Jameson asked.

  Dana nodded.

  “Excuse me for one minute,” Jameson apologized to Janine Ellison.

  Dana gently pulled Jameson aside.

  “What’s going on?” Jameson asked.

  “Marianne just called.”

  Jameson froze.

  “It’s nothing serious.”

  “Then why are you pulling me away?”

  “Pearl fell.”

  “What do you mean Pearl fell?”

  “She’s okay. Marianne just wanted you to call her as soon as you can.”

  “How long do I have?” Jameson asked.

  Dana looked down at her iPad and up to the stage. “Probably about fifteen minutes before they wrap and call you up there.”

  Jameson nodded. She pulled out her phone. “Where can I…”

  Dana beckoned one of the volunteers over. “Take Jameson around the corner to the booth.”

  “I’ll be right back,” Jameson promised. “Where’s Coop?”

  “He’s still with Glenn. I’ll have him here when you get back,” Dana promised.

  Jameson followed the volunteer to a small corner that housed a soundproof room. “Thanks.” She lifted her phone. Please, do not let this be anything that will upset her. “Marianne?”

  “JD? I’m so sorry to call you today.”

  “Don’t worry about it. What’s going on?”

  “Grandma Pearl took a tumble.”

  “How bad?”

  “She’s okay, JD. Her wrist is broken.”

  Shit. “Do you need me to fly home tonight instead of tomorrow?”

  “No. They want to keep Grandma tonight.”

  “Keep her? For a broken wrist? What aren’t you telling me?”

  “It’s just that her heart’s been pretty fast while she’s been here.”

  “Shit.”

  “She’s okay, JD. I swear. She didn’t want me to call.”

  “I’m sure.”

  “I’ve got it under control here. But after Grandma Stratton… You know Mom is…”

  “I’ll handle your mother. Seriously, do you need me to come home early?”

  “No. But I thought you should know. You know how everything is. God forbid Mom finds out somehow and thinks that no one called…”

  “I know. Listen, I have to go.”

  “I know, I’m watching in the waiting room.”

  “Who’s with the kids?”

  “Shell has them.”

  “Shell? With the twins?”

  “Yeah, I know! Crazy!”

  “Are you sure there’s nothing you haven’t told me?”

  “I promise.”

  “You know, your mother’s going to want to come home.”

  “Grandma will kill me and then kill her. Tell her that.”

  Jameson chuckled. “I will. Call you in a bit.”

  “JD,” Dana opened the door.

  “Ready.”

  “Everything okay?” Dana asked as they walked back toward the stage.

  “I don’t really know. I think so. It might not be when I tell Candace.”

  Dana sighed. It never ends.

  ***

  “What do you mean Pearl is in the hospital?”

  “Candace, take a breath.”

  Candace glared at Jameson.

  “She fell and broke her wrist.”

  “How?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t have time to get all the details. She’s okay. Marianne is with her. They’re going to keep her tonight.”

  “For a broken wrist?”

  “Candace…”

  “I’m flying home.”

  “No, you aren’t.”

  “What?”

  “No. Pearl will have all our heads if you do that.”

  “I don’t really care.”

  Jameson licked her lips and took a deep breath. “Just take a breath.”

  “Governor Reid!”

  “Go,” Jameson said.

  “I’m not going anywhere. They can wait.”

  Jameson took gentle hold of Candace’s arms. “Do you trust me?”

  “What? Of course!”

  “Then let me handle this right now. Go and make the rounds with Nate. I promise when you get back I will have all the details, okay? I promise. If you still feel you need to go home, we’ll go together.”

  Candace’s entire body was shaking with fear. The thought of losing Pearl was more than she could bear.

  “Candace, she’s okay. Marianne would have told me. Go on.”

  Candace nodded. “You come get me if…”

  “Go.” Jameson waited for Candace to disappear into the crowd gathered outside the small room. Deep breath, JD.

  ***

  “I’m not staying here.”

  “Grandma.”

  “Don’t you ‘Grandma’ me,” Pearl said. “For heaven’s sake, I have a broken wrist, not brain damage. I swear, you become more like your mother by the day.”

  Marianne chuckled. “They just want to make sure your heart slows down a little.”

  “Slows down a little? Marianne, no one my age wants her heart to ‘slow down a little.’ That’s like saying someone your age wants to wear Depends.”

  “You’re impossible. You know, Mom is going to insist you do what the doctors say.”

  “Don’t tell me you called her?!”

  Marianne grinned sheepishly.

  “Marianne!”

  “What did you expect me to do?”

  “Take me home for starters. I have two hands, you know. I can’t believe you called your mother.”

  “I didn’t.”

  “Well, good.”

  “I called JD.”

  Pearl rolled her eyes.

  “Grandma, come on, please just do what they ask.”

  “I have stayed in the hospital twice in my life. So, unless some miracle has occurred and I am about to give birth for a third time, I’m going home.”

  Marianne groaned. Mom, help.

  ***

  Candace said her goodbyes to Nate Ellison and his family, promising to see him the next morning for their appearance in Arizona. She turned to look for Jameson.

  “Hey,” Jameson caught up with her.

  “What did you find out?”

  “She’s okay, Candace. She was furious that Marianne called.”

  “I would have been livid if she hadn’t.”

  “She knows that too. She’s been pushing Marianne to take her home.”

  “I thought they wanted to keep her?”

  “They do,” Jameson said. Candace’s lingering nervousness was evident. “Listen, it’s not uncommon. They did a few tests. She doesn’t have any significant blockages that need to be addressed. She might need some blood pressure medication. I guess that was a little high, and maybe a blood thinner. She’s okay. To tell you the truth, I suspect part of the reason they are being so cautious is you.”

  “Me?”

  “Seriously? Candace, everyone knows that you consider Pearl your mom. Do you really think they want to let her go and take any kind of chance that something might happen? They are crossing every ‘T’ and dotting every ‘I’ with a fine point.”

  Candace huffed.

  “If you go rushing home all it will do is upset her. She’s already embarrassed.”

  “Embarrassed? Why?”

  “From what Marianne said, Pearl was talking on her phone to Shell, and she wasn’t paying attention to where she was walking. She tripped over one of Spencer’s trucks.”

  “That could happen to any of us.”

  “Exactly, but all of us would feel the same way. You know that’s true. Just do me a favor and call her? But calm down a littl
e first? Marianne sounds like she’s about to have a stroke. If anyone is going to get Pearl to see reason, it’s you.”

  Candace nodded. I wouldn’t count on that.

  ***

  “Candy…”

  Candace softened her tone. “Mom, please.”

  Pearl closed her eyes in defeat. “You’re not playing fair.”

  “I’ll play it any way I need to if it will get you to stay put and behave. Just humor me, please?”

  “Don’t you come flying back here.”

  “Don’t worry, Jameson hid my broomstick.”

  Pearl laughed then grumbled. “I feel fine.”

  “Just stay put or you’re apt to have Marianne in the bed beside you.”

  “What about you?” Pearl asked. “I missed part of that show today while I was getting this cast. How’d it go?”

  “I think it went well.”

  “How’s Jameson?” Pearl asked.

  Candace glanced across the room. “I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

  “You don’t say.”

  “Yeah, well, I don’t know what I would do without you either.”

  “I’ll try not to trip over any toys for a while.”

  “At least it wasn’t Jinx this time, and maybe it’s good that you did.”

  “What on earth are you breathing out there?” Pearl asked.

  “You said yourself that they are putting you on some new medicine. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise.”

  Pearl sighed. “Maybe it is.”

  “That was tough to admit, wasn’t it?”

  “You have no idea.”

  “Let Marianne help until we get home,” Candace requested.

  “I have another hand, Candy.”

  “Just let her help.”

  Pearl chuckled. “Anyone ever tell you that you’re kind of bossy?”

  “Learned from the best.”

  “I don’t want you worrying about me,” Pearl said.

  “Too late.”

  “Candy…”

  “Don’t tell me not to worry. Just do what the doctors say and let the kids help you for a change.”

  “The kids have enough with their kids.”

  “Mom…”

  “Okay, I get it. Don’t you dare tell any of them I admitted that.”

  Candace laughed. She felt a thousand times lighter after talking to Pearl. “I wish I wasn’t so far away.”

  “You can make it up to me when you get home.”

  “Oh? What is my penance?”

  “I don’t know yet. I’ll think of something.”

  “I’ve no doubt.” Candace closed her eyes. News of Pearl’s mishap had shaken her to her core. As grateful as Candace was to know that Pearl was in good health overall, her emotions remained raw. “I love you, you know?”

  “Of course, I know. I love you too, Hellion.”

  “I’ll call you tomorrow,” Candace promised.

  “If you have time.”

  “I’ll have time.”

  “Speaking of time, go spend some with your wife and son,” Pearl said.

  “I will. Call if anything...”

  “Goodnight, Candy.”

  “Night, Mom.”

  Jameson made her way over to the couch. “Feel better?”

  “I do. Know what would make me feel even better?”

  Jameson smirked.

  “You are impossible.” Candace swatted Jameson’s knee.

  “Let me guess; Chinese food.”

  “That would be a bonus. I was going to say a quiet night with you and Cooper and…”

  “Scooby Doo?”

  Candace laughed. “Why not? It beats another night of Aladdin.”

  Jameson got up from her seat.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To see about Chinese food.”

  Candace smiled. She made her way to the door and opened it.

  “Governor Reid,” the Secret Service Agent greeted her. “Did you need something?”

  “Actually, I was going to tell you that we’re ordering in. Anything you gentleman would like? Jameson’s ordering Chinese.”

  “Not necessary, Ma’am.”

  Candace shook her head. “Agent Macpherson, we are stuck with each other. Call me Candace.”

  “I can’t do that, “Ma’am.”

  Candace chuckled. “Call me anything but Ma’am. And, Dominick?”

  He looked at her.

  “Get used to Chinese food. It’s serious business in this family.”

  “I’ll make sure we check everything,” he deadpanned.

  “Good. Make sure they don’t forget my fortune cookies.”

  “I meant for safety,” he said.

  “So, did I,” Candace quipped. She was certain she saw him smile. Ha-ha, gotcha!

  Friday, June 13th

  “Nervous?” Congresswoman Mackey wondered.

  “Is it that obvious?” Jameson asked.

  “Not really. Just be yourself, JD.”

  “Easy for you to say.”

  “Not really.” Congresswoman Elena Mackey squeezed Jameson’s arm in reassurance.

  ***

  Candace sat in front of the TV with Dana, Marianne, and Pearl watching the live feed from Chicago, waiting for Jameson to take the stage. “Cooper,” she called to her son. “Momma’s going to be on in a minute.”

  Cooper ran over and sat between his mother and Marianne.

  “Is she on yet?” Michelle blew through the front door with Amanda in her arms.

  “Aunt Shell!” Spencer slid across the floor toward her.

  “Hey, Spence.”

  “Where’s the other half of your duo?” Marianne asked.

  “Mel’s coming with Brody now. Did we miss it?”

  “No. Any minute,” Marianne said.

  “Why’s Momma on TV?” Cooper asked.

  “Jay Jay is helping Nana,” Spencer told him. He positioned himself on his mother’s lap.

  Michelle made her way over and squeezed in beside Pearl. “Did this couch shrink?”

  Three sets of eyes simultaneously rolled at Michelle’s question.

  “What? It seems smaller.”

  “It’s all the kids you keep adding,” Candace commented.

  “Hey, you’re the chief contributor,” Michelle replied.

  “She’s got you there,” Pearl said.

  “There’s Momma!” Cooper pointed to the screen.

  “Did I miss it?” Melanie stepped through the door. A collective “shhhh” served as her reply.

  Candace concentrated on the screen as Jameson began to speak.

  “I have to admit, I was surprised when Candace asked me to make this trip. She’d be the first to tell you that I am more comfortable climbing on roofs or designing them than I am speaking in front of a crowd.”

  Soft laughter rolled through the room.

  “But this is a topic that I feel strongly about, just as she does. I was raised in a family full of police officers. My grandfather, my uncles, great-uncles, and two of my cousins served on the NYPD. I could tell a million stories from the dinner table and holiday gatherings. I can also tell you that I remember the expression on my grandmother’s face, and the tears that my mother cried the night my Uncle Patrick was shot. You don’t forget things like that. I know that each time an officer puts on his or her uniform, it is knowing that anything might happen that day—that at any moment they might be faced with a choice to fire their weapon or risk not seeing their family again.”

  “Did you write this, Shell?” Marianne asked.

  “I only helped.”

  “I’ve heard people say that Candace is soft on crime, too interested in reforming criminals and not interested in supporting law enforcement. I’ve seen her after she’s consoled the family of a fallen officer and I’ve watched her as she’s held the hand of the mother of a teenager who has died on the street. Neither is acceptable to her.”

  Jameson took a breath.

  “Some peopl
e criticize my wife for shedding any tears, others claim that she lacks heart. Candace has more heart than any person I have ever known. Her commitment to community policing is founded on her belief that every person has value, and that as partners we can change the communities we live in.”

  The crowd began to clap. A voice rang out and Jameson strained to hear it.

  “She supports cop killers!”

  “Uh-oh,” Shell mumbled. “Ignore it, JD—just like we talked about.”

  Candace remained focused on the screen.

  Jameson took a deep breath. She smiled and continued. “No,” Jameson said. “She doesn’t support any kind of violence.” She watched as security began to remove the man and held up her hand. “No, no,” she called out. “He’s welcome to stay.”

  Candace smiled.

  “This is exactly why Candace wants to see an investment in community policing. If we can’t talk and listen to each other, how will we ever stop this cycle?”

  “God, I love you,” Candace said without thought.

  Marianne exchanged a smiled with Michelle and Pearl.

  “Like I said when I stepped out here, I was surprised when Candace asked me to come here. I welcome the chance to tell you about what she wants to do and why. I’m bias, but I believe she’ll be the kind of president who values more than just Main Street or Wall Street. She wants to make a difference for every neighborhood in America. That’s what this is all about—not just the idea of community policing or her campaign—her entire life.”

  “That wasn’t in the speech,” Michelle said.

  Candace chuckled and hugged Cooper. “Your Momma is an amazing lady, Cooper.”

  “You should be glad she doesn’t have any political aspirations,” Marianne said. “She might give you a run for your money.”

  “I have no doubt.”

  LATER THAT EVENING

  Jane waited for the waiter to leave. She’d secured a small private room for her and Candace to enjoy a leisurely dinner and assure that they could speak freely. “Jameson certainly held her own today with that crowd.”

  Candace beamed with pride. “She sure did.”