Solid Foundation

by J. A. Armstrong

  “And the other?” he wondered.

  “The other is a different breed. They enjoy the competition and they love to win. There is exhilaration in the game of an election. There is also gravity at its end. They fight for the right to serve. They are gratified by their victories. They are even prideful. That is a necessity for survival in this business,” she told him. “But, they are not arrogant. They understand their power is derived from the flesh they press. At the end of the day, they are humbled more than inflated by that fact. People matter more than positions, Jason. When you lose sight of that, you lose everything,” she said.

  “No one is questioning your integrity,” he said.

  “Wrong. Everyone will question my integrity at some point, even you. Everyone that is, except the people who love me. Me. Not Senator Fletcher. Not potential Governor Fletcher. Not Governor Stratton’s granddaughter. Not the woman on the magazine cover or the morning talk show. Me. Those are the people who matter the most. My grandfather never lost sight of that. His decision to wage a campaign or to quietly retire was steeped in that understanding. So is mine.”

  Jason groaned. “I understand, Candy. I don’t see how this compromises that.”

  “I know you don’t. You don’t need to. That’s not your job. Your job is to advise me on how to maneuver in this campaign. It’s to keep the wheels lubricated. It’s to coordinate and create positive momentum around my candidacy,” she said. She watched as he began to speak and stopped him. “You will have to trust me on some things. Someday, there will be no more elections for Candace Fletcher. When that day comes, there will still be three children who need their mother. God willing, there will be Jameson beside me. That day might come in a year. It might happen in ten or twenty. It will come. All this will be a memory that is left in the past. This is part of my life. It’s not my life’s foundation. That lies elsewhere. Whether or not you believe that; I assure you it is the reason I have made it this far. It is the reason I will win this election. It is the reason I even have the courage to try.”

  Jason shook his head and smiled ruefully. “I can’t say I agree with your decision, but I hear you.”

  “Good. Now, go find Dana and send her in here. You have a campaign launch to plan.”

  Jason nodded and marched off dutifully. Candace took a deep breath when he closed the door. “It’s going to be a long year,” she mused.

  ***

  Dana was leaning on the corner of Susan’s desk when Jason exited Candace’s office. “I see you are still in one piece.”

  “I feel like I just got grounded,” he said. Dana and Susan laughed. “It’s not funny. She’s scarier than my mother.”

  Dana patted him on the shoulder. “You’ll find there are a lot of us who wish we had a mother like Candace Fletcher,” Dana said honestly.

  Jason nodded. He had just been lectured and effectively put in time-out. In some ways, he felt like a chastised child. Usually, that would have infuriated him. Somehow, he had emerged from the experience more determined than ever to please Candace Fletcher. “How does she do that?”

  “What’s that?” Dana asked.

  “Reduce you to a two year old and make you want her approval at the same time,” he said.

  Dana and Susan shared an understanding glance. “She’s the real deal, Jason. I’ve met a lot of people in this town, worked or a few, and with many more. Candy is a rarity. People love her. People loathe her. Either way, they tend to respect her. Take my advice, listen at least as much as you advise. You’ll learn a lot more than how to run a campaign.” she told him. Dana hopped from her perch and headed for Candace’s door.

  “She wanted you to…”

  “I know,” Dana said. “Go nurse your wounds,” she laughed. “I’ll check on the beast that lies within.”

  Jason laughed. “I’ll come back after feeding time,” he said.

  “Just remember, Jason; never mess with mama bear’s cubs or her mate. You’ll earn quickly how sharp her claws can be.” Jason nodded his understanding and left.

  “Think he’ll make it?” Susan asked.

  “Possibly,” Dana said. “If he’s smart he’ll win over Jameson and Pearl. If he does that? He’s learned.”

  “If he doesn’t?”

  “He better just not piss them off. I learned about Pearl my first month on the job. He’s got double the trouble,” she laughed heartily.

  “You are enjoying this; aren’t you?” Susan asked.

  “Every, single, solitary second,” Dana admitted. “This is going to be an awesome year.”

  Dana disappeared through Candace’s office door and Susan shook her head. “It’s going to be a year all right. I just wonder how we’ll all survive it.”

  ***

  Jameson collapsed her head into her hands on her desk. There simply were not enough hours in the day. She had four projects that she needed to oversee. She had three meetings that had run long and put her behind. Now, she was supposed to go shopping, of all things, with Michelle and her mother. She pounded her desk lightly in silent defeat.

  “See you for dinner?” she heard a familiar voice outside her office.

  “Wouldn’t miss it. Seven still good?” she heard Michelle’s voice answer.

  “Seven is perfect,” Melanie responded. Jameson picked her head up slowly and strained to listen. She could hear the faint sound of their voices, but they had dropped to a whisper and she could not make out the words.

  Jameson shook her head. “What are those two up to?” she wondered.

  “Hey,” Michelle called as she opened the door slightly. “You okay?”

  Jameson forced a smile. “Great.”

  “Uh-oh. Bad time? I thought we were supposed to meet here?”

  “No…I mean, yes. We were supposed to meet here. Lately, there is no good time,” Jameson said.

  “J.D. you look like shit. What is wrong?” Michelle asked.

  “Just tired. I really need to wrap two of these projects before next week. I just have no idea how I am going to do it. Probably going to have to inconvenience you and crash at your place all weekend. Sorry.”

  Michelle laughed. “J.D., my place is actually your place; remember?”

  “Nah. You pay rent,” Jameson said.

  “Uh-huh. Like half what the place is worth. Don’t worry about me. I probably won’t be home this weekend anyway.”

  “Really? Why’s that?”

  Michelle grinned. “Actually, celebrating the end of the school year with friends,” she said.

  “What kind of friends?” Jameson asked suspiciously. “Oh…this is that mum’s the word thing of yours. When do we meet her?”

  “Friends, J.D. Just friends.”

  “Yeah…You have that look,” Jameson said.

  “What look?”

  “The one your mother gets when she’s about to…”

  “Stop! I don’t want to know!” Michelle shuddered.

  “I was going to say open her fortune cookie. But, thank you for confirming where your mind is.”

  “All right, so maybe there is someone I might be interested in. We’re just friends. That’s all.”

  Jameson nodded. “Well, I hope it works out, Shell. By the look on your face, you like this woman almost as much as your mom likes her fortune cookies, and that’s saying something.”

  “So? You ready to go shopping or what?”

  “Or what?” Jameson responded. “Is there a what? If this is a multiple choice question, I will take answer B, please.”

  “I might let you off the hook, but your mom is another story,” Michelle said. Jameson mumbled something under her breath. “What was that?”

  “Nothing. Let’s go. Your mom is going to kill me for not coming home this weekend.”

  “I doubt it, but why don’t you just have her come here?”

  “To the condo?” Jameson asked.

  “Yeah. Why not?”

  “Maybe. She’s been on a tear with Pearl for this barbeque.” Jameson sai
d.

  “This barbeque is your wedding reception,” Michelle reminded Jameson.

  “I know.”

  “J.D.?”

  “I'm okay. Just too much to do and not enough time to do it. That, and I don’t know how to deal with Gollum.”

  “Who?”

  “You know…Gollum,” Jameson repeated.

  “Like the creature in Lord of the Rings?” Michelle asked. “I’m afraid to ask.”

  “That little ankle biter that’s following your mom around the last month.”

  Michelle erupted in laughter. “Jason?”

  “Yeah, him. The ankle biter.”

  “Ankle biter?” Michelle kept laughing.

  “Yeah. He’s always on her heels and when he’s not he’s on mine or Pearl’s. Ankle biter…slithering around all the time. He’s Gollum,” Jameson said.

  “Well, maybe when we pick up your rings later you will be able to banish him,” Michelle offered through her laughter.

  “What are you talking about?” Jameson asked.

  “The One Ring. J.D., you’re the one who called him Gollum. Don’t you get it? Do you even know the story?”

  “NO! I know he is a slithering little creature who repeats himself constantly.”

  Michelle covered her face and shook her head. “He’s just trying to get a feel for you,” she said.

  “It’s annoying,” Jameson replied.

  “I’d get used to it. You’re going to have gnaw marks on your ankles for the next year,” Michelle said.

  “Great. And, she was worried about Jinx? How can a woman who deals with slimy little creatures all day be opposed to cats?” Jameson wondered aloud.

  “Well, you seem to have cured her of that aversion. Maybe Jason will grow on you.”

  “Yeah, like a fungus,” Jameson replied.

  Michelle laughed harder. “Come on. Look at the bright side.”

  “There’s a bright side?” Jameson asked.

  “Sure. At least Gollum isn’t going shopping with us.”

  “Remind me not to call you when I need cheering up,” Jameson said.

  Michelle pushed Jameson out the door. “Let’s go old lady. Slithery creatures are nothing compared to mothers left waiting, and yours is no better than mine on that count.”

  “Ugh. I told her we should have just flown to Vegas,” Jameson grumbled. “One more week. Just one more week.”

  “Until you’re an old married lady,” Michelle said. “Look at it this way, you get stuck with us for life. Your ankles will only need bandages for about a year unless Mom runs for president or something crazy like that.”

  “Oh God, I’ll need a body cast. Let’s go. Explain this ring theory of yours to me on the way.”

  Michelle rolled her eyes. She waved to Melanie on the way out. Melanie mouthed her question to Michelle silently. “Ring theory?”

  “Later,” Michelle mouthed back.

  “Did you say something?” Jameson asked.

  “Nope. Come on. I’ll explain on the way.”

  “Where is J.D. going?” Bryan Mills asked Melanie.

  “Something about rings and theories. Don’t ask me,” Melanie shrugged.

  “You’re awfully chipper. What gives?” he asked.

  “You know…When the boss is away, the architects play,” Melanie said as she skipped off.

  “This place has gone crazy,” he laughed as Melanie skipped off in one direction and J.D.’s arms flailed in protest of something as she walked out the door with Michelle. “Completely insane.”

  Chapter Seven

  Marianne walked into the kitchen and found her mother staring out the back door. “Mom?”

  Candace turned to her daughter and smiled. “When did you get here? I didn’t even hear the door.”

  “Just now. Rick is taking the bags upstairs.”

  “Where’s Spencer?” Candace asked.

  “J.D. commandeered him the minute we pulled in,” Marianne said. “Actually, I was kind of hoping that Rick and I could talk to the two of you before everyone gets here.”

  Candace frowned slightly. Marianne had traveled miles in her acceptance of Jameson. Candace had thought that she was actually happy to have Jameson in their family. She couldn’t imagine what Marianne would want to discuss with them. She took a deep breath and held it for a moment.

  “It’s not what you are thinking,” Marianne said.

  “What’s not what you’re thinking?” Jameson asked as she entered the room carrying Spencer.

  Candace’s face immediately lit up at the sight of her grandson sleeping on Jameson’s shoulder. “Marianne and Rick have something they want to talk to us about,” Candace said.

  Jameson looked at Marianne hesitantly. Marianne sighed. “It’s not what you two are thinking. Honestly. Can we just go sit in the other room and wait for Rick?”

  “You sure don’t waste time,” Jameson said with a nervous chuckle.

  “I just want to talk to you before Shell or Jonah get here later,” Marianne explained.

  “Okay. Should I be opening wine or pouring coffee?” Candace asked.

  “Neither,” Marianne responded. She grabbed her mother’s hand and led her toward the living room.

  Jameson whispered in Spencer’s ear. “What is your momma up to, buddy?” she asked the sleeping toddler. He nestled into her neck. “Yeah. I’m with you there, bud. Hold me. I’m afraid,” she giggled as she made her way into the living room. Rick followed her in and took a seat next to his wife. Jameson sat beside Candace.

  “You have our full attention,” Candace said. “What’s on your minds?”

  Rick smiled and Marianne took his hand. “You know that Rick lost his mom when he was only eleven,” Marianne said. Candace and Jameson acknowledged the statement silently. “Well, it’s something we’ve both talked a lot about. When we had Spencer, we talked about it. What each of us would do if one of us passed unexpectedly or got sick.”

  Candace felt the breath leave her body. “Marianne?”

  Marianne saw the fear that washed over her mother’s features. “It’s okay Mom, no one is sick.” Candace let out her breath and felt Jameson squeeze her hand. “In fact, we are all well. All of us,” Marianne grinned.

  “Marianne?” Candace asked again.

  “I’m pregnant.”

  Candace smiled widely. “That’s what this was about?”

  “Partly,” Rick said. “We wanted to tell you both first. That’s because we also wanted to ask you something,” he said.

  “What?” Candace asked.

  Marianne looked at Jameson, then at her mother, and then back to Jameson. “J.D., we’ve talked about this a lot. I know you and Mom don’t want to have children,” she said. Jameson looked at her curiously. “We both think it’s important that we have a plan. God forbid anything happened to us. I hope that never happens, but if it ever did…”

  Jameson nodded. “What are you asking?”

  “We would like you two to raise them. It won’t happen, but it would give us peace of mind if we knew you would agree,” Marianne said.

  Candace looked at Marianne in disbelief and then at Jameson. Jameson instinctively held Spencer a little tighter and looked directly at Marianne. “You never have to worry about that, either of you. I shouldn’t speak for your mom. In this case, I’m fairly sure we are on the same page. If that’s what you would want, then put your mind to rest. You always have a home here. Spencer does and so does anyone else that might come along.”

  Candace tightened her grip on Jameson’s hand. “Jameson is right. I have to tell you that I am a little surprised. What about Rick’s brother and sister, or your own?” she asked.

  Rick nodded. “They are all wonderful. We also know you would make certain that our children know that; know their family.”

  “Of course,” Candace agreed.

  “The truth is you are the only Mom I’ve ever really known. My mom was sick for a long time. My dad was lost when she died. Spencer….Well, lo
ok at him. We don’t want to impose on your life. We just…”

  “Spencer could never be an imposition,” Jameson said. “It’s true. I told you,” she looked at the pair seated across from her. “I told you once that your mother and I didn’t have any plans to have children. That’s the truth. We don’t. Things happen. I hope it never happens that your kids have to spend more than a weekend or a summer vacation here because that’s what they want to do. If it ever happened, and it won’t…I can promise you they would be raised to know who their parents were. We would do our best for them in every way we could. Not just your mom, me too.”

  Marianne nodded. “I know, J.D.”

  Candace smiled at her daughter. “Enough with the heavy drama. When do I get another grandchild?”

  Marianne laughed. “Sometime right after the first of the year,” she said.

  “I think you just gave your Mom the best wedding present she could get,” Jameson commented. She watched as Candace made her way to Marianne and enveloped her in her arms.

  “Thank you,” Candace whispered to her daughter.

  “Thank you, Mom,” Marianne said.

  “You really don’t know how much what you both said means to me,” Candace replied.

  Marianne smiled. “Yes, I do.”

  “What is going on in here?” Michelle said as she threw her bag on the floor. “I thought I was coming home for a wedding,” she said. Candace turned and Michelle saw the tears running over her cheek. “What the hell? You made her cry on her wedding weekend?” she barked at her sister. Candace started laughing and shook her head. “Okay? What am I missing?” Michelle asked.

  “I’m pregnant,” Marianne said.

  Michelle nodded and looked at Rick. “You the father of this one too?” she asked seriously.

  Rick jumped slightly as the rest of the room fell into a fit of laughter. “Understand the choice now?” Marianne whispered to her mother. Candace just laughed.

  “Better be a girl this time. One named Shell. That sounds about right,” Michelle said.

  “You birth it and you can name it,” Marianne shot back.

  “The only thing I am birthing right now is a beer. Once I find it,” Michelle said as she wandered off to the kitchen. “Come on preggo,” she called back to her sister. “I’ll pour you a nice glass of milk.”