Election Day

by J. A. Armstrong

  “I’m sure your mom would like that.”

  “Really?”

  Jameson laughed. “What’s up with you? You know your mother loves Laura.”

  “Yeah, but you guys have been so busy. I just figured you’d want to be alone after the barbecue.”

  “Don’t worry about us,” Jameson said. “Your mom and I are good. Besides, I miss our camping trips. Fishing works for me.”

  “How is Mom?”

  “Looking forward to the next few days, I think.”

  “You mean escaping,” Jonah guessed.

  “As much as she can. It’s not like she’ll have a full day off,” Jameson said. “She’ll just be doing it all from here. Unless the shit hits the fan again.”

  Jonah didn’t want to upset Jameson. He had been worried about her. He and Laura were two of the only people who had known her story about Jed Tyler until Tyler appeared on the television. Jameson had confided it to Laura after Laura disclosed her brother’s abuse. “JD, I don’t want to pry.”

  “I’m okay, Jonah.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Jameson smiled. “I wasn’t for a few days. I’m okay. Nothing anyone says changes the truth.”

  “Yeah, well, I’d still like to kick his ass.”

  “Stand in line.” Jameson raised her glass in a toast.

  ***

  Cooper sat at a picnic table delighting in his hot fudge sundae while Candace delighted in watching the mess of chocolate that covered his lips.

  “Mommy?”

  “Hum?”

  “I think that girl likes you.”

  “What girl? Candace asked.

  “Momma says it’s rude to point.”

  Candace forced herself not to chuckle. Lately, everything seemed to be about what Momma said. Jameson had been spending most days with Cooper. And, Cooper seemed to hang on every word she said.

  “Momma’s right again. What girl, sweetheart?”

  Cooper looked over Candace’s shoulder. Candace turned just as a young girl shyly looked away.

  “Oh,” Candace commented. She guessed the girl was about eight or nine.

  “She looks nice,” Cooper said.

  “She does,” Candace agreed.

  “Can we say hi?” Cooper asked.

  Candace sighed. Gil will have my head. She looked in Cooper’s pleading brown eyes and knew there was no way she was going to refuse him. She nodded and looked to grab Gil’s attention.

  “Governor? Everything all right?”

  “Fine. It seems we have an audience,” Candace said.

  “Did you want me to clear the area?”

  “No.”

  Gil immediately guessed what Candace was about to request. “Governor Reid, I…”

  Candace held up her hand. She gestured behind her. “The girl sitting with her mother behind us,” she said. “Why don’t you go see if it would be all right if Cooper said hello?”

  Gil looked over at the family seated behind Candace. He’d noticed that the girl and her mother seemed to be interested in Candace and Cooper. The little girl looked away quickly, clearly embarrassed. Another fan. He held Candace’s gaze firmly. “You’re not going to make my life easy, are you?”

  “Not likely.”

  He shook his head. “I’ll take a walk over. If all seems well, I’ll come back for you.”

  “They’re less than 10 feet away,” Candace said.

  “I know.”

  Candace sighed. “We’ll say hello, and we’ll go.”

  Sure, you will. Gil nodded. “Stay here until I get back.” He stepped away. “Harmony is looking to move,” he told his team.

  Jeff Lamkin shook his head. “Just keep your eyes open.”

  Gil walked up to the table. “Excuse me,” he began. “Sorry to disturb you.”

  “We didn’t mean to bother the governor…”

  “No, Ma’am. That’s not why I’m here. Governor Reid’s son noticed your daughter.”

  The girl blushed.

  “He’d like to say hello. If you’d be agreeable to that.”

  The girl’s mother nodded. “We’d be honored.”

  “Very well.” He stepped away. “How do we look?” he asked his team.

  “No issues,” the answer came.

  Gil stepped back to Candace. “Governor?”

  Candace dipped a napkin in her cup of water and wiped Cooper’s face. “I think there’s as much fudge on you as there is in you.”

  Cooper grinned.

  Candace turned to the Secret Service agent. “So?”

  “We’re all set if you’re ready.” He looked at Cooper.

  “I’m ready!” Cooper hopped down from his seat and grabbed his mother’s hand.

  Gil led them the few steps away to the next table.

  Candace stepped up and smiled. “We’re sorry to intrude on your ice cream,” she apologized. “Cooper wanted to say hello.”

  “You’re not intruding. Thank you for coming over, Governor Reid.” The woman went to stand.

  “No, no, please sit down,” Candace said. She sensed the nervousness from the table’s occupants. “I’m not the governor right now,” she said. “I’m just Cooper’s mom. Candace,” she said as she extended her hand.

  “Donna,” the woman said. “Donna Franklin, and this is my daughter Madison.”

  Candace smiled. “Madison? My granddaughter’s name is Madison.”

  The girl grinned and blushed.

  “This is Cooper,” Candace made the introduction.

  Cooper waved. “Hi.”

  “Hi,” Madison replied.

  “You have a sundae too,” Cooper said.

  “Yeah,” she said.

  “Me too. Mommy had a cone. ‘Stasho. It’s green.” Cooper wrinkled his nose. “Momma says ice cream shouldn’t be green.”

  Candace rolled her eyes. “Did she now?”

  “Yep.”

  Donna Franklin laughed. “Sounds like my husband. He doesn’t like anything green.”

  “Neither does Jameson,” Candace said. “Except asparagus. Strange.”

  “’Sparagus is good for you, Mommy. Momma says.”

  Momma has a lot to say these days. “We didn’t want to disturb you. Just wanted to say hello.”

  “Thank you for stopping. Madison has been wanting to meet you.”

  Candace smiled at the young girl. “Well, I’m glad we collided then. It was lovely to meet you both.”

  Madison blushed again.

  “You know, I will bet Cooper would love to have a picture with you. What do you say we all take one together?” Candace suggested.

  “Really?” Madison asked.

  “Sure. Do you have a phone?”

  Donna retrieved hers and Candace took hold of it. “Selfie?” she asked.

  “Shell takes funny selfies,” Cooper said. “She’s my sister.”

  “Shell does a lot of funny things,” Candace said. “Believe it or not, I’ve gotten pretty good at this.” She snapped a few pictures and handed the phone back to Donna.

  “Thank you so much,” Donna said. “I’m sure you have better things to do than bother with us.”

  Candace smiled. “Not at all,” she said. “Cooper and I have a party to get ready for, don’t we?”

  “Yep! Dylan’s coming,” he said. Cooper idolized Cassidy Toles’ son, Dylan. He’d been talking about seeing the teenager for days.

  “Yes, he is,” Candace agreed. “And, I will bet Momma and Spencer are wondering where you are.”

  Donna Franklin looked at Cooper. “It was nice to meet you, Cooper.” She turned to Candace. “If it matters, you have our family’s vote.”

  “Thank you for that. It matters a lot,” Candace said. “Nice meeting you both. Enjoy your sundaes.”

  Cooper waved goodbye. “Bye, Madison.”

  Madison waved.

  Candace took Cooper’s hand. “Momma doesn’t think my ice cream should be green?” she asked.

  “Nope. She don’t like
green.”

  “She doesn’t like green,” Candace gently corrected him. She chuckled softly. “You can tell me all about it on the way home.” I’ll just bet I can find something in green she likes.

  CHAPTER TEN

  JULY 4th

  Jameson rolled over and pulled Candace closer.

  “Morning,” Candace said.

  “Call it off,” Jameson groaned.

  “The barbecue?”

  “No, morning.”

  Candace laughed. “Tired?”

  “More like I just want to lie here with you and forget there’s a house full of people.”

  Candace closed her eyes. “I promise, we will do that soon.”

  “Mm-hum.”

  “I promise, Jameson.”

  Jameson kissed Candace’s head. “It’s okay.”

  “No, it isn’t.”

  “It is.” Jameson meant it. “So? You were up with Alex late last night. What was that about or is it better if I don’t ask?”

  “It was about Nate.”

  “What about him?”

  “Just about his background.”

  “Uh-huh. I don’t want to know.”

  “It’s nothing for you to worry about.”

  “That’s crap code for I should worry.”

  Candace giggled. “No, it isn’t.”

  “Okay.”

  Candace turned in Jameson’s arms. “It isn’t.” She kissed Jameson tenderly. “I will tell you this; I’m grateful to have Alex and Jane.”

  “I know you are. I’m glad you have them too.”

  “You are?”

  “Yeah. I know they are watching out for you.”

  “They are.”

  “Candace?”

  “Hum?”

  “You don’t have to tell me, but what did Alex say?”

  Candace took a deep breath. She’d told Jameson about Nate Ellison’s background—what she knew.

  “Like I said,” Jameson began.

  “No. It’s not that I don’t want to tell you.”

  “What is it?”

  “There’s just a lot of holes,” Candace said. “It’s like everything I learn, I end up with more questions than answers.”

  “About Nate?”

  “About everything.”

  Jameson tucked a strand of hair behind Candace’s ear. “I know I’m not an expert on any of it. I’m here—if you need me.”

  “I know. I love you for that.”

  “Just for that?” Jameson asked.

  “I can think of a few other things.”

  “Yeah? Want to share?”

  Candace pushed Jameson back and straddled her hips. “Only if you can keep quiet.”

  Jameson’s eyes danced. “Absolutely.”

  “Are you sure? Because this is Top Secret.”

  Jameson swallowed hard when Candace’s hand drifted up her shirt.

  “No talking. No whispering.”

  Jameson was fairly certain if Candace continued what she was doing, there would be no breathing. Candace was toying playfully with her nipples, and nipping at her neck.

  “Maybe you can keep the secret,” Candace whispered. Her lips moved to claim Jameson’s with a fiery kiss.

  “Mom!”

  Candace’s head fell into the crook of Jameson’s neck, and she groaned.

  “Mom!” Shell’s voice bellowed again. “You said you wanted to make breakfast together! Marianne and I are waiting.”

  Jameson stroked Candace’s back. “Well, at least we know one thing.”

  “What’s that? That we can never make love in the morning?”

  “No. Don’t make Shell your National Security Adviser.”

  Candace laughed. “Noted.”

  “Mom!” Shell called again from outside the door.

  Candace threw on her robe. “I’m coming!” She opened the door.

  Michelle arched her eyebrow. “Really, Mom? Can’t you leave the Bible Study for after the fireworks?”

  Jameson pulled the covers over her head and laughed.

  “I’ll be down in a minute,” Candace said through gritted teeth.

  “I’m sure JD is thrilled.”

  “Shell!” Candace and Jameson yelled simultaneously.

  “We’ll just start without you.” Michelle waved and walked away.

  Candace closed the bedroom door. “Honestly.”

  “Well?” Jameson asked.

  “What?”

  “She said they’d start without you,” Jameson grinned. “I’d rather not.”

  “Rather not what?”

  “Start without you,” Jameson deadpanned.

  Candace laughed. She dropped her robe and climbed back onto the bed. “You really are a lunatic.” She kissed Jameson sweetly.

  “What about breakfast?” Jameson asked.

  “They know how to toast bagels and scramble eggs.”

  Jameson pulled Candace closer. “Everyone will wonder where you are.”

  “No, they won’t.”

  “No?”

  “No. Shell will probably give a press conference before the coffee is brewed.”

  “You do realize that this house is full of curious ears.”

  “Consider this a classified briefing, Jameson. Silence is your ally.”

  Jameson closed her eyes. “My lips are sealed.”

  “I hope not,” Candace said as her lips trailed over Jameson’s neck. “Now, where was I?”

  ***

  Jameson was enjoying the buzz of activity in the backyard. An impromptu game of soccer had started behind the barn. Jameson found the display amusing. Cooper seemed to listen to everything Dylan said. Alex and Cassidy’s daughter, Mackenzie seemed to have charge of Spencer. Jameson wondered how the game would end.

  “Full yard,” Claire Brackett took a seat beside Jameson.

  “Yeah, it is. I was just thinking that I can’t believe how many kids are here.”

  Claire laughed. “What are you doing, trying to keep up with Alex?”

  “What?”

  “Well, in your case most of them are grandkids.” Claire shuddered. “God, imagine when Alex’s kids start having kids?”

  “I like it.”

  Claire looked at Jameson. “Kids?”

  “Yeah,” Jameson said. “The first year we did this, we only had Spencer. Now? Marianne has Maddie. Jonah’s got two, and so does Shell.”

  “Uh, so do you.”

  “Yeah, I guess I do.”

  “Can’t be easy with Candace on the road so much,” Claire guessed.

  “It isn’t. We make it work.” Jameson decided to change the subject. “How are things with you? You and Hawk going to make things official?”

  “I think so,” Claire said.

  “Yeah? Maybe you’ll be adding a couple to this chaos.”

  “Kids?” Claire asked.

  Jameson smiled.

  “Hell no, I won’t!”

  Jameson laughed. “I seem to remember you said that about marriage too.”

  “Yeah, well. No kids here. No thanks. I don’t need any of my own.”

  “No?”

  “Nope. I have Alex and Cass’s kids.”

  “Not the same.”

  “Close enough for me, thanks.”

  “Claire? Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  “What do you know about this stuff with Lawson Klein?”

  Claire sighed. “You really want to go there?”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  Claire hopped to her feet. “Let’s take a walk.”

  ***

  Candace led Nate Ellison through a small flurry of activity and into the house. She passed Alex along the way and acknowledged her with a smile.

  “I thought we’d escape the chaos for a few minutes,” Candace said.

  “Sounds good to me.”

  Candace guided Ellison into the study and closed the door. “Scotch?” she asked.

  “Scotch?”

  “If you ask my wife o
r Pearl, it’s my Achilles heel,” she quipped. “If you ask me, it’s sanity in a glass.”

  Ellison laughed. “I’ll go with your theory.”

  “Good idea.” Candace poured them each a glass and gestured for him to have a seat. “Whenever I bring someone in here, I feel I should offer them a cigar,” she said. “Sorry to say, that’s one poison I never developed a taste for.”

  “No?”

  “No, Although, I swear I smell the aroma in here late at night sometimes.”

  “It’s an impressive room.”

  “Not as impressive as the man who occupied it,” she said. “Or the woman who brought it back to life.”

  He nodded. “What’s on your mind, Candace?”

  Candace sipped her scotch. “Truth,” she said. “And lies.”

  “I’m not sure I follow.”

  Candace’s demeanor remained relaxed, but she held his gaze firmly. “Everyone has secrets, Nate.”

  “I suppose they do.”

  “There’s nothing to suppose; they do. Everyone has a right to certain secrets.”

  “I agree.”

  “But secrets are a funny thing. No matter how much effort anyone puts into keeping them, sooner or later they see the light of day—even when they’re kept for the best of reasons.”

  Nate Ellison listened, wondering where Candace was taking the conversation.

  Candace offered the younger man a smile. “You’re wondering what I am driving at.”

  He sipped his scotch silently.

  “One of my worst kept secrets,” Candace began, “is my priority.” She smiled at the confusion in his eyes. “My first priority will always be my family. It’s the greatest hindrance to what may become my presidency. I know that. There are times when my obligations as a leader must take precedence over everything else. That will become a frequent reality if we make it to the White House.”

  “I don’t think you’re unique in that regard.”

  “Perhaps not. That isn’t the point. Compromise is part of life, so is sacrifice if you hope to achieve anything meaningful.”

  Ellison nodded. “How do I fit into this picture?”

  “I learned early on in my career that recognizing the challenges ahead is the best way to ensure you are prepared to navigate them. There’s a difference between compromise on your terms and being compromised by someone else.”

  “You’re talking about loyalty.”

  “Not exactly.” Candace took a moment to sip her scotch. “There’s loyalty and there’s blind loyalty. The former is an asset. The latter is a weakness that can be exploited.”