by Carsen Taite
Ever since she’d left the White House yesterday morning, she couldn’t wait to get out of town. Seeing Addison and the surge of feelings she evoked made it clear that physical distance was the only way she could move on. She’d even gone so far as to try to secure an earlier flight, but the airlines were booked. So here she was, moving at a snail’s pace toward a future she was no longer sure she really wanted.
When she finally made it through the line, she found a seat near the gate, opened her laptop, and started reading through the e-mails Gordon had sent to get her up to speed on the burgeoning campaign she was about to lead. She’d barely made it through the first e-mail when she was interrupted.
“I can’t believe you skipped your own party.”
She hadn’t heard that voice outside of her TV set for years, but she’d recognize it anywhere. Julia looked up from her laptop into the sky blue eyes of her former lover, Kate Bramwell. She was almost as pretty as she was on TV, but without her on set makeup, a few wrinkles showed up here and there in the airport lighting. Guess life as a political strategist for Fox News wasn’t as stress-free as she made it seem when the cameras were on.
“Hello, Kate.”
“Why aren’t you at the inauguration?”
Just like her to be so abrupt. “Why do you care? You doing a story about it?”
Kate sank into the chair next to her. “Hardly. I’m headed out of town. New job possibilities await.”
Julia glanced at the ticket in Kate’s hand and realized they were booked on the same flight. Holy shit. She knew exactly where Kate was headed and why. “I thought you only talked about politics for a living. You’re really thinking of getting back into the game?”
“Walter Hayes is going to be the next senator from Montana, and I’m going to make it happen. Word is you’re heading up Shelley’s campaign. Pity you don’t have a chance. Shelley’s election to Congress was a fluke. No way will she take the Senate seat. It’s been held by a Republican for longer than you or I have been alive. You’re wasting your time. You should stay in town and go to a few inaugural balls. At least here you have something to celebrate.”
Walter Hayes was the former mayor of Billings and a wealthy Republican entrepreneur. Julia had expected his name to come up as possible opposition to Shelley, but the news that Kate would be his campaign manager was a complete surprise. “And how many years has it been since you’ve run a campaign?”
“Like riding a bike.”
Julia stared at her laptop, unable to focus on the work in front of her. Her escape had just turned into a nightmare. Seconds later, things got worse.
“Look, you should watch this. I promise it will be the last time we see a Democrat taking the presidential oath of office for a very long time.”
Julia, unable to help it, followed Kate’s pointing finger and focused on the television hanging from the ceiling. At that moment, someone cranked the volume and the entire waiting area was transfixed as Addison Riley asked the president to repeat after her. The phrases were short and quick, and Julia barely had time to register the moment when she saw Addison reach out her hand and say, “Congratulations, Mr. President.”
The wind whipped Addison’s hair, and her face was pink from the cold, but she’d never looked more beautiful. Julia ached at the sight of her, so close, yet worlds away.
“I don’t know how you got her confirmed, but you should definitely go buy a lottery ticket. That kind of luck doesn’t come around often.”
“It wasn’t luck.” Julia kept her eyes on Addison who was stepping away from the podium so the president could address the nation. “She’s brilliant, charming, and she has more integrity in her little finger than you or I have in our entire beings. She’s the best thing to happen to the Supreme Court, since, well, ever.”
When it became clear the cameras weren’t going to show Addison anymore, Julia turned to face Kate who was staring at her like she’d grown a second head. “What?”
Kate shook her head. “Nothing. I mean, I don’t remember ever hearing you sound so passionate about something before.”
“We haven’t seen each other in a long time.”
“I watch the news. I’ve followed your career. You’ve represented dozens of candidates over the years, and I’m sure you believed in some of them, but…”
Julia tuned out Kate’s words as she focused on a revelation of her own. She was passionate about Addison, but as a lover, not a nominee. A lover that she wanted, no, craved. A lover she’d given up for no good reason she could think of. Past hurt? Looking at Kate now, she couldn’t recollect ever feeling for her what she felt for Addison. How had she ever weighed the prospect of a bright future with Addison against the betrayal-laden past she’d shared with Kate?
The gate attendant called for first class boarding, and the crowd around them started to stir. If she got on that plane, in a few hours, she’d be far from Addison, fighting another political battle. She could win every one of these battles, but in the end lose the war they waged on her personal life. Was she really ready to throw away the chance of a future with Addison for a string of short-term victories won for other people?
She shut her laptop, grabbed her coat, and stood.
“You boarding?” Kate asked.
“Not my group.” She edged away. “Not my group anymore. Have fun in Montana.” She fumbled in her bag for her phone as she walked away from the gate. She hit speed-dial and kept walking as the rings sounded in her ear. She was at the airport exit when the call connected.
“Hello?”
“Cindy, where are you?” Julia had gotten Cindy a job working a temporary position in the White House counsel’s office when her tenure ended. Thank God she’d kept her number plugged into her cell.
“I’m headed into the office. They gave us the morning off since it was going to be a madhouse with the inauguration. I guess they figured we wouldn’t get much done anyway.
“I need a miracle. Pull it off and I promise you a huge promotion. Can you help me?”
She’d need more than a miracle if she was going to convince Addison to give her another chance, but she’d won uphill battles for plenty of other people before. Now it was time to win her own.
Chapter Thirty-four
Julia stepped out of the car and looked around. Cindy had promised to meet her at the entrance to the National Building Museum at exactly seven o’clock when the doors were scheduled to open. The party didn’t officially start until eight thirty, but no way was she going to risk missing either of the guests she was here to see.
“Julia, over here.”
Cindy was standing about twenty feet away, waving wildly, and Julia rushed over, trying not to trip over her dress. “Did you get it?”
“I had to make some pretty big promises, but”—Cindy brandished an official ticket to the Commander-in-Chief ball—“here you go.”
“And?”
“And the president is scheduled to be here at eight thirty on the dot. He’ll dance with the first lady and then do a video chat with some troops in Kandahar who’re joining the party via live feed.”
“Any word on the chief justice?” Julia did her best to sound nonchalant, but she couldn’t hide the hitch in her voice that came from asking the only question that mattered.
“She’s scheduled to be here with her brother and her father. I couldn’t find out any information about what time.” Cindy delivered the news as if she’d failed miserably.
“Thanks, that part was a long shot. Her detail shouldn’t be leaking the timing of her movements anyway. I’m surprised you got as much information as you did.”
“I believe you said something about a promotion.”
Julia laughed. “Indeed I did, and I’ll take care of that tonight. Expect to hear from me tomorrow. I can’t thank you enough.”
Once Cindy was gone, Julia faced the entrance of the building and took a deep breath. She had the ticket to get into the party; now she had to make the most of it.
&n
bsp; The gargantuan columns of the Great Hall were lit up in red, white, and blue, just like they had been for the last inaugural ball four years ago. Julia had shown up for that party, done a quick run around the room, and left. Celebrating had never been her strong suit, but she hoped that would change tonight. She looked around for the best vantage point to see all the arriving guests. She settled on the balcony and, after grabbing a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, took the elevator up to the second floor.
She spent the next hour wishing she’d worn a disguise. All she wanted to do was sip her drink while peering out over the crowd, but guest after guest approached and offered their congratulations on the president’s reelection. Just when she thought she’d fended off the last of them, Senator Armstrong walked up and stood between her and the balcony rail.
“Well, hello, Julia. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“It’s the ultimate victory party. How could I miss it?”
“I heard Lisa Shelley is expecting you in Montana.”
“I talked to the congresswoman this afternoon. Told her I’ve had a change of plans.”
“Is that so? I’m not aware of any other big campaigns going on right now. You thinking of switching to the other side of the aisle?”
“Not a chance.” Julia edged over slightly so she could see around the senator. Armstrong turned as if to see what she was looking at and spotted Addison first.
“Look down there, Chief Justice Riley has arrived. Chief Justice Riley. Doesn’t that have a nice ring to it?”
Julia ignored the question, laser focused on Addison who was sleek and gorgeous in a dark blue gown. Julia wished she could fly straight down to the ballroom floor and take Addison in her arms. She couldn’t fly, but determined to get downstairs as fast as she could, she turned to Connie Armstrong and said, “Excuse me, Senator, but I see someone else I simply have to talk to.” She didn’t wait for a response, but took off at breakneck speed to the nearest elevator. After punching the down button in vain for several minutes, she gave up and headed for the door marked exit, hoping she wouldn’t pitch headlong down the stairs.
When she finally reached the ground floor, she pushed through the door and encountered a sea of people. She struggled to make her way across the room, ciphering where she’d last seen Addison and her family. She reached the edge of the dance floor when the band started playing and the familiar strains of “Hail to the Chief” flooded the hall.
Everyone froze in place as President Garrett and the First Lady entered the room. After greeting several dignitaries, they took to the center of the floor and danced the obligatory first dance of the night. While the guests oohed and ahhed, Julia did her best to wind through the crowd, looking everywhere for a sign of Addison. She didn’t see her anywhere.
“Julia, what are you doing here?”
She turned and saw the president waving her over. Intent on her search, she hadn’t noticed when the music stopped. She wanted to keep looking, but she couldn’t ignore him. Besides, she had something very important to ask him.
“Good evening, Mr. President. Madam First Lady, you look wonderful, as usual.”
Veronica Garrett smiled and turned to her husband. “Wes, Julia wants to talk business with you. I recognize the look.”
She took the arm of the naval commander next to her and asked him to escort her around, while Garrett told his Secret Service detail to give them a moment. He and Julia stepped to the side of the dance floor. “What’s up? I thought you were headed to Montana.”
Julia continued to pan the room while she spoke. “I told the congresswoman I couldn’t make it. Is your offer still open?”
“To be my chief of staff? Of course. It’s not like I had time today to ask anyone else to fill the spot.”
“I want it. I can start whenever you want.”
“You seriously already quit Shelley’s campaign? Did you just assume I wouldn’t be able to find anyone else so quickly?”
She barely registered his last few words when she spotted Addison, dancing with her brother, no more than a dozen feet away. “I took a risk, sir. I hope it’s a good night for taking risks.”
She didn’t wait for his reply. Instead she squared her shoulders and strode onto the dance floor, hoping it was indeed a good night for taking risks.
*
Addison walked into the Great Hall of the National Building Museum, flanked by Jack and her father, who both looked dashing in their dress uniforms. Thank God she’d let the saleswoman at Neiman’s talk her into the midnight blue Armani gown or she’d feel decidedly underdressed.
The room was packed despite the fact they were a few minutes early for the official start of the festivities. Moments after they made it through security, she heard the band begin to play “Hail to the Chief.” She and Jack, and even her staunchly conservative father, applauded as the president and first lady took to the floor for their first dance of the evening. They were a striking couple.
When their dance was over, Jack took her hand and nodded toward the dance floor.
“Oh, no. I don’t feel much like dancing.”
“You’re seriously going to deny a soldier a dance?”
“You’re impossible. Okay, one dance.”
They fell into an easy rhythm. As he turned her around the floor, she took in the sea of uniforms and experienced a sense of pride to be in the company of so many service personnel. Once more around the floor and she saw the president talking to a woman whose back was to her. She had gorgeous red hair, and for a second, Addison wondered, hoped, that maybe it was…Before she could finish the thought, the woman turned and Addison ducked her head.
Julia. Julia was here.
“Addy, are you okay?”
She looked at Jack and then back at the spot where she’d just seen the president and Julia, but both of them were gone. Could she have imagined she’d seen her? Did her feelings run so deep they’d caused her to hallucinate? She had to get a grip. “I’m okay, but I might need to find a drink soon.”
“No problem.”
Jack guided them to the edge of the dance floor, but just as they were about to disengage, Addison looked up to see Julia standing directly behind him, and their eyes locked. Jack, following her gaze, looked over his shoulder, and Julia, without breaking eye contact, asked, “May I cut in?”
Jack looked back and forth between them, and Addison finally nodded. He leaned in close to her before he stepped to the side and whispered, “Dad was right. She’s a very pretty lady.”
The band started playing the next song, and seconds later, she was in Julia’s arms and they were gliding around the floor. Addison had a million questions, but she couldn’t prioritize, so she simply said, “You’re an excellent dancer.”
“Lots of parties, lots of practice. One of the hazards of my former occupation.”
There was a clue there, but, distracted by Julia’s bare porcelain shoulders and the way her sea green gown caused her emerald eyes to flash, she couldn’t dissect it. She started with the facts she knew. “I thought you were leaving town.”
“I decided that would be a terrible idea.”
“Oh, you did, did you? And when did you make this decision?”
“Earlier today, while I was at the airport, but I should have made it long before.”
Addison heard the closing notes of the song. They didn’t have much time before the dance ended, and she had no idea what would happen after. Julia held her close, and the touch of her body was intoxicating. She longed to forget whatever had kept them apart, agree to whatever terms Julia needed to make this moment last as long as possible, but she couldn’t suppress her need to know exactly why Julia had chosen to be here tonight. The band played its final phrase, and couples began to file off the dance floor. She stood perfectly still, tucked in Julia’s arms, and simply said, “Tell me.”
Julia’s voice shook, but her gaze was steady. “I should have made the decision to stay on New Year’s Eve, the night you told me
you loved me. I was scared to commit. Afraid I didn’t deserve you, that we couldn’t make a relationship work in the context of our careers. But I can’t imagine my life without you. You’re all I think about. So I guess what I did tonight was kind of stupid, but I told the president I would take Noah’s job, which I know will make things between us even more complicated, but it’ll mean I’ll be here, in town, and by sticking around, maybe I can find a way to make it work and I guess if we—”
Addison placed a finger over her lips to stop the ramble. She didn’t understand half of what Julia had said, but she got the gist. Julia was staying in town and she wanted more. It was a lot. The music was starting up again, but they both remained still. She should dance the next dance and then take Julia home, make love to her, and wake up tomorrow ready to start figuring out what more meant to them.
No, she already knew what more meant to her. It meant rings and vows and forever. It meant I’ll be with you to the very end, when careers and ambitions had faded into hobbies and the status quo. She could keep dancing and wondering what the future held or she could be sure. She looked deep into Julia’s eyes, willing her to understand the importance of this moment, willing her to know what hung in the balance. “Tell me.”
Julia cleared her throat, and this time when she spoke there was no tremor. “I love you. I’ve loved you since that first moment when you cut short our first date because you didn’t like my politics. I’ll always love you, even when we disagree, even when our work divides us, because you are the smartest, kindest, sexiest woman I know, and I want to be with you for the rest of my life.”
It was the first time Madam Chief Justice kissed a woman in public, but it wouldn’t be the last. Addison pulled Julia closer, and as their lips met in a searing kiss, everything else—the crowd, the band, the politics—fell away and they started their future with a celebration of their own.