Election Day (By Design Book 10)

by J. A. Armstrong

  Bingo. Jameson pulled Candace into her arms. “Let it go, Candace. Just let it go.”

  “I don’t know how.”

  “You’re allowed to be afraid.”

  “Am I?”

  “Yes.”

  “What if…”

  “Aren’t you the one who always says there are no ‘what ifs’ in life?”

  Candace giggled through a few tears. “Easier to give that advice than to take it.”

  “You don’t say.”

  “I love you so much, Jameson. I haven’t done a very good job of showing you that lately.”

  “I wouldn’t say that.” Jameson pushed Candace away so that she could look in her eyes.

  Candace pursed her lips doubtfully.

  “You are so busy trying to be everything to everyone, trying to show everyone that you do love them, that you aren’t letting us love you. I just see it because I’m not caught in that same spin.”

  “Something tells me you’re not the only one who’s noticed.”

  “Marianne may have mentioned she was concerned about you.”

  “What if I can’t handle this?”

  “Another what if?” Jameson winked at Candace. “Candace, you can handle anything anyone throws at you.”

  “I wish that were true.”

  “It is. You just have to remember why that is. You’re not your mother. You might never know why she was the way she was. Don’t let her sadness become yours. You didn’t cause that. If anything, you were probably the thing that kept her going all those years.”

  “I’m not so sure about that. I do hear you.”

  “Good.”

  “I am sorry. I don’t want to shut you out. I don’t want to see you hurt. I seem to be the one doing that lately.”

  “We have a lot in common. I don’t like seeing you hurt either. Nothing is harder for me than that—nothing.”

  Candace took Jameson’s face in her hands. “I love you, Jameson. I wish I could show you how much.”

  Jameson laid back on the bed and pulled Candace to her. “You do. You can show me right now by closing your eyes and going to sleep.”

  “Can I get out of these clothes first?”

  “Will that lead to sleep?”

  Candace kissed Jameson soundly. “Tonight—yes; tomorrow…”

  Jameson smiled at Candace as Candace stood and shed her clothes. “I thought we were having pizza tomorrow?”

  Candace climbed back onto the bed and kissed Jameson again. “Don’t they have pizza with Bible Study?”

  Jameson sensed that Candace had turned the corner she had been resisting. She imagined it was far from the last turn they would need to navigate. She was confident they would always find their way around the curves. “And, you call me a lunatic.”

  “Maybe I just needed familiar company.”

  Jameson laughed. “I’ll remember that. I love you, Candace.”

  “I love you too.”

  “Get some sleep.”

  ***

  “I didn’t expect to see you today.” Marianne opened the door for Jameson and Cooper. “Hi, Coop.”

  “Hi, Marianne!”

  “Spencer is in his room.”

  “’Kay!”

  “And, he’s off.” Jameson laughed.

  “Not that I’m not happy to see you, but why am I seeing you?” Marianne asked.

  “Your mom wanted to get away before next week’s chaos.”

  “Perfect timing with Scott and I taking the kids away this weekend.”

  Jameson shrugged.

  “How is Mom?”

  “Better, I think.”

  “She’s taking Grandma’s death hard.”

  “Harder than she would have expected,” Jameson agreed. “I think this weekend will be good for her. Big announcement Wednesday. She’s headed out of state Monday evening.”

  “She chose a running mate?”

  Jameson nodded.

  “Did she tell you who it is?”

  “She did—this morning before she left.”

  “Well?” Marianne urged.

  “Seriously? She’ll kill me.”

  “She can’t kill you. Granted, as far as I’m concerned, jail would be less stressful than the presidency, but…”

  “Not arguing with you there.”

  “Come on, tell me!”

  Jameson was enjoying her game. Teasing Michelle and Jonah was easy. She seldom had the chance to get under Marianne’s skin playfully. Candace had told Jameson that she expected the news of her choice to leak to the press later that afternoon. Jameson would never understand why there was such a build-up to big announcements and appearances if the news was going to be deliberately leaked out in advance. That was Candace’s department.

  “I didn’t think you were interested in politics,” Jameson said.

  “JD!”

  “You remind me of Shell right now.”

  “Are you seriously not going to tell me?”

  “Got any coffee made?” Jameson asked.

  “Bribery? Really?”

  Jameson shrugged.

  “No, but I’ll make you some,” Marianne said.

  “Oh, you really are curious. You usually tell me I know where to find it.”

  “JD!”

  Jameson laughed. “Okay! Geez.”

  “Who did she choose? Please tell me it isn’t Keyes.”

  Jameson shuddered. “After that primary campaign? No, your mother is not a masochist.”

  “Thanks for that.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “So?” Marianne set about starting a fresh pot of coffee.

  “She said that she wrestled with the final two. She settled on Nate Ellison.”

  “You’re kidding? That’s kind of a fringe pick, isn’t it?”

  “Don’t ask me. She said he fits the bill.”

  It was no secret that Marianne did not share her mother and sister’s taste for politics. She did stay informed, particularly about anything that pertained to her mother’s career. Nathan (Nate) Ellison was forty-four-years-old, energetic, handsome, a life-long Catholic who served as the junior senator from Nevada. Most people expected her mother to choose a moderate Southerner. Ellison’s mother had moved to the states from Mexico when she was two and raised her children to be bilingual. His father had been a decorated Navy officer and pilot before being killed in a car crash when Ellison was in his senior year of college. Ellison was passionate about immigration, far more moderate on gun control than Candace, and widely regarded as a politician who desired to be the people’s voice. Marianne imagined that much of her mother’s staff would be suffering from heartburn over the decision.

  “He’s as liberal as she is,” Marianne said.

  Jameson shrugged. “Well, she knows what she’s doing. She did say Doug was pissed.”

  “I’ll bet he was.”

  “You know her; it’s not all about the election.”

  “Does she seem happy about it?”

  “I don’t know about happy. She seems confident,” Jameson said.

  “What about you?”

  “Me? Doesn’t have anything to do with me.”

  “Come on; you must have an opinion.”

  “I like Ellison,” Jameson said. “As long as he has your mom’s back, he’s good with me.”

  “So, let me guess? She’s headed to Nevada next week.”

  “Looks like it. Then to Arizona and Texas.”

  “Arizona and Texas?”

  Jameson offered Marianne another shrug. “I told you; don’t ask me. I go where I’m told.”

  “So? What about you?”

  “What about me?”

  “Are you going with her?”

  Jameson nodded. “Coop and I will be with her in Nevada—Ellison’s family too. After that, I’m headed back. I was hoping I could talk to you about that.”

  “Ah, the real reason I have the pleasure of your company.”

  “No. I wanted to be home this weekend, so d
oes your mom.”

  “The calm before the storm?” Marianne surmised.

  “Something like that. Look, feel free to say no.”

  “JD, just tell me what you need.”

  “Your mom asked me to make an appearance in Illinois next Friday without her. She needs someone to appear with Congresswoman Mackey at a rally.”

  “Coop can stay anytime. You should know that.”

  “Yeah, I do. The thing is,” Jameson hesitated. “He’s spent so much time traveling with us, I’m surprised they’re passing him into first grade.”

  “Coop’s bright, JD.”

  “Yeah, but he needs to be around kids.”

  “I told you; Coop can stay here whenever you need him to.”

  “What about me?”

  Marianne’s brow furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

  “Your mom and I talked late into the night last night. When she’s in Albany it’s all work, all day. Between her job as governor and the campaign, she’s rolling in at 2:00 A.M. and leaving by 6:00 every morning.”

  “Um, JD, this is your house. If you want to stay here during the week, you don’t need my permission.”

  “I know. It’s more about Coop. Your mom’s going to be on the road constantly after the convention.”

  “You will too.”

  “Yeah, I know. We’ll take Coop when we can, but when he’s not with us—I just want him to have some consistency. I don’t want to impose on you or on your time with Scott, neither does your mom.”

  Marianne poured Jameson a cup of coffee. “Coop could never be an imposition. I seem to remember a time when you stepped in to help with my kids.”

  “Not the same,” Jameson said.

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Thanks.”

  Marianne winked. “You can thank me by keeping the wine rack and your not-so-secret cabinet of micro beers stocked.”

  “Deal.”

  Marianne sipped her cup of coffee. “Sometimes, I forget this is all real. She’s really doing it. I mean, Mom might be the president.”

  “She will be.”

  “JD, are you ready for this?”

  “Nope.”

  Marianne laughed. “That’s what I thought.”

  ***

  “We still have time,” Doug said.

  “Time?” Candace asked.

  “For you to make a change!”

  “A change?”

  “Candace! Wolfe has clinched the nomination. You can’t be serious about this. Nathan Ellison? Have you lost your mind?” Doug asked.

  “I guess that depends on who you ask,” Candace quipped.

  Dana bit her lip to keep from laughing.

  “This isn’t funny,” Doug said.

  Candace smiled.

  “His concerns are valid,” Grant chimed.

  “Not you too,” Candace said.

  Grant held up a hand. “I’m just saying that he isn’t the safest pick.”

  Candace wanted to scream. She respected her campaign advisers. At the moment, they were testing her patience.

  “We vetted six possible candidates,” Doug said.

  “Yes, we did, and Nate is one of them,” Candace replied.

  “That was for optics!” Doug argued.

  “Oh? And, Senator Gray and Governor Blake were for substance?” Candace challenged him. She took off her glasses and set them on her desk. “Optics. Since it’s obvious that you need a lesson on the difference between optics and substance, let me give it to you.”

  “Candy,” Glenn tried to reel in the conversation.

  Candace shot her campaign manager a silent warning glare. “You expected me to choose the optimal candidate for campaign optics. Let me guess; a southern boy who is a fiscal moderate, attends a Baptist or Methodist church every Sunday, and speaks with a charming drawl. And, for some reason, you think that might win us votes where? In the south? You’re dreaming.”

  “We can’t lose those swing states,” Doug said.

  “Um-hum. You think Gray or Blake will secure Pennsylvania or Ohio?” Candace shook her head.

  “They wouldn’t hurt you there,” Grant offered.

  “And, you think Ellison will?” Candace asked. She heard a collective sigh filter through the room. “I disagree. You want to do what you think is tried and true. If that’s the case, why are you working on this campaign?”

  “Candy, that’s not what anyone is saying,” Glenn said.

  “Sure, it is. I don’t fit that bill.”

  “That’s why Gray or Blake would have been a stabilizing choice,” Doug said.

  “That’s your opinion, not mine. I don’t need a ‘stabilizing’ force to win this election, I need someone who can match the energy we have behind us.”

  “Blake is an engaging…”

  “Blake is a sixty-three-year-old from North Carolina. He’s a Harvard educated lawyer whose father served as a senator for five terms. He’s a nice man. He’s intelligent. Two governors who are Ivy League lawyers by trade? Come on,” Candace scoffed. “Could you get more boring? Besides, what does he bring to the table after the election for me?”

  Doug sighed. “You have to get elected first.”

  “Yes, I do. And, when I do, I need someone that I can work with. I need someone who can work with Congress on both sides of the aisle. Blake or Gray would be eviscerated the moment they stepped onto the line, much less try to cross over it.”

  “You don’t think Ellison will be?” Glenn asked.

  “No, I don’t.”

  “Your mind’s made up,” Doug surmised.

  “I’m making the formal call this afternoon as planned. Where are we with that, Dana?”

  “All set for 3:00 P.M.”

  “Good. Jameson and Cooper will be traveling with me to Nevada next week for the rally. Now, what’s next?”

  “Looks like they want you to testify on June 14th,” Dana said.

  “Flag Day? Fitting,” Candace replied. “All right. Let them know that’s a go. Clear that day. Dana, see what you can do about getting some idea about the scope.”

  “Already on it,” Dana said.

  “Candy, that’s a week before the convention,” Doug said.

  “Yes, I know.”

  “Can’t you get them to postpone your testimony until after?”

  “Probably. Why would I do that?”

  “Aside from needing to prepare for the convention?” Doug continued. “What about the...”

  “Optics?” Candace guessed. “Postponing will only make me look weak. You need to trust me on this. If they think they’re going to damper our convention, they’ve made a grave mistake.”

  “What about this ongoing story with Klein?” Glenn asked. “You haven’t made much comment yet. You know that is going to come up when you and Ellison start making the rounds on talk shows.”

  “I’ll address it then.”

  “How will you address it?” Glenn asked.

  “I have confidence that the allegations are being investigated appropriately. That’s the end of it as far as I am concerned. Then, I’ll pivot.”

  “What about Jameson?” Glenn wanted to know.

  “What about her?” Candace replied.

  “It’s only three weeks until she has to make a speech in front of all the delegates. Is she up to that?”

  Candace smiled. “Don’t underestimate Jameson, Glenn.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Good. Moving on.”

  ***

  Candace walked through the door and kicked off her heels. “God, I needed that.”

  “Hey,” Jameson greeted her wife. “I heard the car.”

  “Sorry, I’m a little late.”

  “It’s okay. Coop was exhausted from playing with Spencer. He took a three-hour nap. He’ll be up for hours. No offense, you look like you could use a three-hour nap yourself. Bad day?”

  “No. Typical day these days.”

  “How’d the call go with Ellison?” Jameson asked. S
he moved to open a bottle of wine and pour Candace a glass.

  “It went well.”

  “Still feel good about it?” Jameson wondered.

  “Actually, I do.”

  “Good.” Jameson handed Candace a glass of wine.

  “Thank you.”

  “Want to talk about it?”

  “Nope.” Candace leaned over and kissed Jameson’s lips. “Not tonight.”

  “Mommy!” Cooper barreled into the room. “Can we get pizza now?”

  Candace laughed. “Is that the only reason you’re happy to see me?”

  “No.” Cooper grabbed Candace’s hand. “Me and Momma got you a surprise.”

  “You did?”

  “Yep. Close your eyes,” he said. Cooper began to lead Candace away.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “You’ll see. Okay, open them!”

  Candace opened her eyes and smiled. Cooper had pillows and blankets lined across the living room floor. An old Scooby Doo movie was playing on the television. I can imagine who chose that one. Candace forced herself not to laugh. Jameson was constantly trying to convince Cooper and Spencer that they should watch Scooby Doo. “What’s all this?”

  “It’s a big bed!” Cooper explained excitedly. “So, you can rest while we watch movies and eat pizza.”

  Candace bent over and kissed Cooper’s cheek. “It’s perfect.”

  “Yep. You have to go get ready now. Momma will take you.”

  Candace looked at Jameson curiously.

  “You heard the man,” Jameson said. “We’ll be right back, Coop. Then we’ll order pizza.”

  “’Kay!”

  Jameson chuckled at Cooper as he settled himself into a sea of pillows. She led Candace up the stairs into their bedroom and closed the door. Before Candace could offer a thought, Jameson’s lips were on hers.

  “What was that for?” Candace asked.

  “Do I need a reason?”

  “Never.”

  Jameson reached over to grab a box from the bed and handed it to Candace.

  “What’s this?”

  “Open it.”

  Candace did as Jameson requested. She raised a brow and removed the contents. “Do I want to know why I am holding pajamas with turtles on them?” she asked Jameson.

  “They didn’t have Aladdin, trains or dinosaurs in your size.”