by Amelia June
"We're rolling," said the man behind the camera. Leah nodded at him, then turned to Jones.
"Mr. Jones, the word is that you will be receiving a call very soon that confirms you will be the next President of the United States. You must be in shock."
"I can honestly say I never expected to be in this position. President Whitaker was a dear friend of mine. We met in college--too long ago." At this his eyes sparkled and Leah laughed at his self-deprecation, then turned serious.
"You must be devastated by his death."
"Indeed. I suppose when we are young we believe we are invincible. President Whitaker and I worked together for years, spreading the word of God first on our college campus and then in Georgia after Jeff--President Whitaker, that is--became governor. I knew him intimately, and I know he truly served the Lord as well as the people of this country. His loss is a great one for us all." Jones's eyes filled with tears, though they did not fall. Leah nodded her understanding.
"Very little is known about your own life and political career, Mr. Jones. Would you tell us some of your background?"
"Certainly. I was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. My adoptive father is an evangelical preacher who still holds tent revivals for any and all who care to attend. He has healed many faithful followers over the years. My adoptive mother stands by his side in all things, as a godly woman should."
"You were adopted, Mr. Jones?" Leah did not protest his comment about godly women--one reason he had chosen the CBN for his interview.
"I was. My real mother gave birth to me right on the altar in my parents' church one stormy and fateful night. God sent her to my parents so they could care for her, and they agreed to adopt me after she begged them to help her. That is how I came to be raised in the light of the Lord rather than in a back alley by a crack addicted woman. I thank God every day for that blessing."
"Sounds like your parents are wonderful people."
"Oh yes, they are well known in Georgia for taking folks in who need help or prayer. They are truly charitable folks."
"How did you come to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services here in Washington? You're a long way from Atlanta." Leah smiled at her little joke, showing off large white teeth to the viewing public.
"I was blessed in being able to meet many wonderful Christian folks in college, including President Whitaker. Our careers took us in different directions--I went to medical school while he went on to get his law degree and pursue a career in politics. I used my degree to spread the good news about Jesus to the impoverished. My free clinic was one of the cleanest and most popular in Atlanta. When the State Attorney General's job became available, then Governor Whitaker saw fit to appoint me to the position."
"Yes, I've been reviewing your record there. I see you implemented a very popular adoption program that included tax cuts, and other benefits, for couples who adopted cryogenically frozen embryos."
"I'm particularly happy that measure succeeded. Life is life, whether in a woman's uterus or stored in a lab. Every day another baby is rescued from a freezer in Atlanta. I can't think of a better way to use government resources." Jones puffed up a bit. Careful, though. Pride goeth before a fall. God's providence allowed that measure to go through, not mine.
"So, when President Whitaker entered the White House, you came along? Some would say you did not earn this role, but merely rode coattails to get here."
"Leah, I want to make something very clear to the people of this country. The last thing I wanted is to be in this position. I never hungered for power or influence. I have spent my life in service to my God and my country through medicine. Yes, I enjoyed being the Secretary of HHS. I had the opportunity to set more policy in motion that I believe helped bring the country back to its moral center. However, the loss of my dear friend and President, along with many others I know and admire, was never something I prayed for. Now I can only do my duty to the best of my ability, with God's help."
As he spoke he leaned forward, making sure he faced the camera directly. The people need to make eye contact with me, to trust me as their new leader.
Leah took a breath and nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Jones. I, for one, think you will have a wonderful impact on this country."
"Thank you, Leah."
* * * *
Jordan turned off the television in the break room at Reprotech and looked at Abby, his eyes wild.
"See? See what I mean?"
Abby, working her way through a wilted cafeteria salad said, "So the guy is religious. So what? I mean, he still has to follow the rules and everything."
"First off, let me tell you what he didn't say. I was talking to my poly group last night and they have gathered some scary information on this guy. Apparently his father is a hugely successful preacher--think Jerry Falwell, without the national televised program. The family is quite wealthy, thanks to donations from the faithful. That whole bit about the coattails was true--Jones has many friends in high places who support his cause."
"All politicians are corrupt, Jordan, you're always saying so."
"Yes, but this guy is not corrupt in our favor. In Georgia he worked very hard, though covertly, to push through funding for his own projects. That adoption thing he was bragging about also had a rider basically banning abortion in the state of Georgia. It also put severe restriction on birth control for minors and allowed pharmacists to refuse to fill any prescription that goes against their moral code."
"Okay, that is pretty brutal."
"Also, that free clinic he ran? According to our sources, he used it to evangelize to the poor who visited there. He refused to treat non-Christians of any kind."
"He got funding from the government for that?"
"Yes, part of a faith-based funding package put forth by Whitaker's predecessor. And that's not all--once he got into power here in Washington he started putting a bug in Whitaker's ear about all kinds of programs through HHS. Since he's been in office, funding for AIDS research has been decimated, and free condom and needle programs through the federal government are basically non-existent. The man is a danger to the rights of anyone who is outside his 'Christian' value system--and I use the term 'Christian' loosely here. What true Christian hates this much? As president, who knows what he could do? I may never see the day when I can marry whom I choose, Abby." Jordan sat next to her in a heap, looking dejected. Abby put a hand on his shoulder.
"I know I was raised Christian and I never learned that AIDS research was against God. Okay, I admit it. He's scary. But he still has to follow procedure--we have two entire branches of government that he is not a part of. I don't think we should panic yet."
"Maybe you're right. I hope so, anyway. Bah, enough of this drama. Let's eat our tasty cafeteria food and get back to work, huh?" His smile was unconvincing. He really seemed to be afraid of what lay ahead.
Chapter 3
February 15th, 2007
Abby peered at the computer screen one more time, then groaned in sheer frustration. She pulled her hair, now grown out to shoulder length, into a ponytail. She had not had time for much of anything but work and sleep, let alone a haircut. Jordan leaned down and put his face close to hers.
"What's the problem, babe?"
"Jordan, you have to fix this machine. I can't get it to run my samples. It keeps bugging up, telling me there's nothing in the centrifuge. All that government funding and the damn thing still won't work."
"Oh, she's just temperamental. You have to know how to touch her, how to talk to her." Jordan shooed her out of the chair and sat down to work on the state of the art system.
Abby smiled inwardly, but tried not to let it show. The sexual tension between them had become a living creature in the last six months. She kept asking questions about polyamory, and Jordan answered everything honestly and openly. While he wasn't dating anyone now, she knew that being 'poly' was a part of Jordan, and if she was going to fall for him, she would have to accept that.
She rolled her eyes at h
erself. Get real. I've already fallen for him. I fell for him a long time ago. I've just been so committed to being married, I couldn't see what was right in front of me.
Jordan was the perfect man. He wasn't hunky in the traditional sense but neither was she. Abby sat back and watched him as he worked. Tall and lanky, he had an abundance of limbs that appeared awkward, even gawky. Still, there was a grace about him that she often saw in unexpected ways, like when he swept her up in his arms and danced her around the office on a whim. Jordan loved life, and lived it with gusto. He was rarely cranky and she could not recall seeing him truly angry at anyone. He was always up front with how he felt and what he thought; she never had to play guessing games to "figure him out". Consequently, he almost always managed to rattle someone's cage.
Being bisexual, polyamorous, left wing and outspoken, Jordan had learned early on to protect himself. He was a skinny geek by all appearances, but under his clothes he wore the lithe muscles of a martial artist. Abby knew this because Jordan had no trouble showing off his physique, especially to her. He always seemed to be shirtless when she showed up at his house.
Heaving a sigh of frustration, Abby tried to focus on her work. Reflecting on Jordan's naked chest did nothing to dissuade her from being madly in love with him. But it wasn't just his looks and outward charm that attracted her. Jordan was a sweet, intelligent man. He had supported her through the hardest months of her life, and had been there while she grieved her mother's death and faced her own loneliness. He had forced her out of the house and helped her see that life goes on after tragedy. More often then not he had just 'known' when she needed him and showed up at her door with take-out or bullied her out of the lab late at night.
Both of them were working long hours on The Reaper; new projects kept rolling in. The need for producing vaccines quickly gave way to the need to develop a new vaccine to combat the slightly mutated strain that swept DC. The new virus was fairly easy to quarantine as it turned out, but before they could stop it the President and Vice President were dead.
"All fixed. The samples are spinning happily. Let's get out of here, Abby, I'm sick of looking at these four walls."
"Just let me finish this one experiment. I think I might be on to something." Abby was working on a more efficient vaccine, one that only required a single inoculation.
"These samples are going to take hours to run," Jordan whined. "Let's go and come back later. Come on, live a little. Can't spend your entire life saving people from The Reaper. Besides, we have to go have fun now before that idiot Jones removes all legal ability to do so." Jordan was none to happy with the inauguration of Michael Jones.
Abby relented and let Jordan take her out. They agreed to 'a real platonic date', whatever that was, and went their separate ways to get ready. Abby spent a good half hour searching her closet for something he hadn't seen and might enjoy.
I'm through fooling myself, she decided. She wanted to be with Jordan. Maybe he isn't a lifetime partner, but what's wrong with enjoying the company of an amazing man while I can? I'm tired of living in fear. Maybe I'll just live in this moment and take the future as it comes. She was so much a planner; all the companionship that had gotten her was a dying plant on her windowsill.
After fretting over her selection, Abby finally picked out a knee length black skirt she rarely wore and a sheer wrap front top that showed off her cleavage and hinted at the full breasts below. She even picked out a matching purple lace bra and panties for underneath. The bra showed a bit through her blouse, and she found she liked the way her skin glowed beneath the translucent fabric.
Moving in front of her full length mirror, she applied the slightest bit of makeup and curled her hair. She had not had time or reason to dress up like this in months, and she was really enjoying herself. She found herself swaying to the music and singing along with John Hiatt as she flitted around her apartment. She sprayed on a light scent, and clasped her mother's gold locket around her neck. Last but not least came a pair of strappy black high heeled sandals that showed off her curvy legs and lengthened her line. She gazed at herself in the mirror with a sense of wonder. She hadn't felt this free, this beautiful, in a long time.
When she opened the door, Jordan's jaw dropped. He had seen Abby in all manner of clothes and pajamas but had evidently never seen her looking quite as put together as she did now. He looked shocked, and she smiled at his reaction.
"Are you going to stand there gawking or are you going to come in?" He blinked, then looked her in the eye and tried to recover his wits.
"Oh sorry, I was distracted for a moment by how damn sexy you look right now." Jordan smiled broadly and handed her the bouquet of flowers he was hiding behind his back. As Abby went to put them in water she realized he was checking out her ass.
"Jordan, I don't think I've ever known you to check out my ass before."
"Well, maybe you just weren't paying attention to me before."
"Maybe you're right. Maybe I'm ready to correct that mistake." Abby cocked her hip, then moved to the kitchen to find a vase for the flowers. She couldn't remember the last time a man brought her flowers. Their perfume wafted to her as she arranged the orchids and roses carefully, placing them on her countertop by the sink. "This way I can look at them while I do dishes."
"Since when do you do dishes?"
"Ha ha."
"Are you ready to go," Jordan asked. "I can't wait to get you out on the town and show you off."
"Now you're being gratuitous," replied Abby, but she blushed a bit at the compliment.
Jordan took her to the most expensive restaurant in town, the Quilted Giraffe. "How on earth did you get reservations so quickly?" Abby was impressed. She knew the Quilted Giraffe was booked for weeks in advance, even after The Reaper.
"I have a friend who works here."
"Friend, or former lover?" Abby knew the answer--Jordan had few friends who weren't former lovers.
"Can't he be both?" Hm, I hadn't considered that option. She reminded herself once more that Jordan was great to be with and fun, and his openness was not something for her to judge. She found as time went on his ways became easier for her to accept.
They sat and dined together, and for once in the last nine months simply enjoyed each other's company. They talked about everything but work for a while, Jordan waxing philosophical on the state of the political union. "Did you see who he's finally chosen to be his Vice President? This guy no one's heard of who was some rookie state senator in Georgia, another one of Jones's father's converts. The whole White House is overrun with religious nuts all of a sudden."
"How much damage can they really do, though? Most of Congress is back now, and he reinstated the surviving cabinet members so the government is basically the same, isn't it?"
"The cabinet members are one thing, but the American public thinks Jones is the second coming. I hear people talking on the streets about how wholesome he is and how committed he is to rebuilding after The Reaper. He's poured tons of money into our research and into helping family members pay medical bills."
"Um, Jordan, these are not bad things. You know the problems I'm having getting Mom's town home sold, and paying her mortgage is not fun. Financial support for victims of The Reaper can only benefit the country."
"Yes, but don't you see how sneaky he is? People see him as a saint because he has provided all these great funds to children and families but what he's really done is begun defining what 'family' means in America. It's people like him that would put people like me in jail."
"That's a little extreme, don't you think? Sodomy isn't even illegal most places anymore and that law was on the books forever. I know it is taking longer for the public to embrace gay marriage, and acceptance of polyamory is further off, but last I heard, America was moving in the right direction."
"That's because you live in the mainstream, Abby. You've never been 'abnormal', so you don't know what it is like to be ridiculed for holding your lover's hand on the street, or pre
vented from marrying the person or people you love."
"True," admitted Abby. "I can't imagine what it would be like to be told I can't be married to my soul mate if I wanted to be, or had one." Her eyes flashed in the candlelight and she gazed at Jordan across the table. Maybe I'll have the chance to find out soon.
A bottle of wine and a ton of rich food later, they were sharing a goblet of decadent chocolate mousse. Both ate with relish. Jordan watched as Abby spooned a small bit then ran the mousse along her tongue. Her eyes fluttered back in her head and she sighed happily. "Is there anything more sexy than chocolate?"
"I can think of something," Jordan teased. He caught her eye and winked lasciviously. Abby threw back her head and laughed.
"Oh Jordan, I haven't had this much fun in ages. I feel like a princess."
"Nothing but the best for my girl, you know that."
"Jordan, I..." Abby trailed off, not sure what to say next. Part of her wanted to profess her love for him, to shout it from the rooftops. The other part wanted to pretend that everything was still the same between them, that she and Jordan would forever remain very intimate friends. She wondered what would happen if the sexual tension between them ever released. She couldn't finish her thought, though, because he interrupted her.
"Wait, Abby, don't say anything. Just let me look at you for a moment." He gazed at her, and it seemed to her that he was drinking her in. His eyes moved across her face, seemingly memorizing every detail. Time seemed to stop for a moment as he looked and she felt a flush of heat crawl up her chest and into her cheeks. She squirmed in her seat.
"Jordan, you're making me nervous." Jordan smiled his big smile, then spoke.
"Abby, it's time to have this out. We've danced around the truth of our feelings for each other long enough. I want to tell you flat out that I think you are fantastic. You are smart, pretty and kind. You have a way of seeing things I admire and a dedication to our work I find inspiring. I found myself drawn to you from the moment we met, and now after these hard months together I've realized just how deep the attraction is. I am in love with you, Abigail Conner. Now what do you have to say to that?"