What if she was here tonight? How would he react if he saw her in the audience? As much as he wanted to test his feelings, as much as he wanted her to be here to show support, he hoped she wouldn’t come. If he saw her, he didn’t know what he would do. So many days had passed. Almost two weeks. She hadn’t called except to tell him that Lizzie was home. He hadn’t called her with the exception of those brief communications to check on Lizzie. Was it too late for them? But what if he never found that kind of love again? He’d found Alex twice, and that was testing fate.
Daniel remained backstage until Greenfield’s mayor introduced him.
“Our own native son, a man who has made us all proud to be Greenfielders, the politician with a heart, Daniel Chandler.”
A bit over the top, Daniel thought as he came on stage. True, he was a native Greenfielder, but his heart? He didn’t even know what his heart was telling him anymore.
As he took the podium, Daniel scanned the crowd. He picked Lizzie out in the first row immediately and gave her a special smile. She sat with his father. He recognized many folks in the crowd, neighbors, customers of the hardware store, people whose businesses he’d frequented for years when he was growing up. The second row was reserved for reporters. Not all those faces were welcoming. Some were downright challenging.
As he started to speak, he noticed movement at the rear of the auditorium. Two women moved among the crowd, choosing seats in one of the last rows. But the auditorium wasn’t that large, and the houselights were on. And so he saw her. Alex, with the owner of Fox Creek’s newest bed-and-breakfast.
Why hadn’t she come with their daughter? Did she not want him to see her? Was she here to support him or just because she was curious?
His reaction was instantaneous. His heartbeat accelerated. His palms grew moist. His eyes burned just enough to signal an attraction that definitely hadn’t died. And then, as she sat down, he felt a calm settle over him. Maybe deep down, he knew he had at least one friend in the audience. Remembering the rules from his college speech class, he decided to speak directly to her. Maybe he wouldn’t have to try to win her over as he might the others in attendance. Or maybe she would be the toughest one to convince. The judgment was still out on that.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Mayor Duncan, friends, neighbors—” he glanced at the first row “—family members, thanks for taking time from your busy schedules to come out tonight.”
Effortlessly, he launched into his newly revised speech, the one in which he outlined his vision for the district, and now the nation. He thanked those who had helped him along the way. And he followed with a detailed description of what he’d like the national government to do for the people of Ohio.
He ended by expressing his confidence that he would be the right man to implement the changes he envisioned for his home state. Several times he was interrupted by applause but none as energetic as the cheers that went up when he announced his candidacy for US Senate. In the back, Alex cheered with the rest. She was smiling. His heart kicked back in his chest and swelled. She had a beautiful smile.
“I can’t do it alone,” he said to conclude. “I will need your help and support. I invite each of you to contact me at my email address or my office to tell me your concerns or to offer advice. I assure you, I’m always ready to listen. I’m here to serve you.”
He took a deep breath. “And now I will take a few questions.”
Each reporter who had a question identified himself and the paper or blog site for which he worked. The questions were general, restricted to Daniel’s record in the Ohio Senate, his beliefs on different topics, his possible choice for campaign director and so on. Since he was familiar with nearly all the local media, Daniel answered each query with ease.
Until an unknown reporter caught his attention.
“Yes, go ahead,” Daniel said.
“Leonard Marshall, Integrity in Politics blogger.”
Daniel recalled the website and its connection to his opponent, a man who used the site to convey his opinions.
“What is your question?” Daniel asked.
“In light of the number of voters who have become disenchanted with politics these days, Senator, I’m wondering... How important is integrity in politics in the modern era?”
Daniel cleared his throat. “Is that a trick question, Leonard?”
A few chuckles rose from the crowd.
“Obviously, a man’s character is still of utmost importance,” Daniel said. “His integrity should never be called into question.”
“And your background, Daniel? Squeaky-clean?”
“I like to think that I haven’t committed any blunders that might follow me on the campaign trail,” Daniel said. “I’ve always tried to be honest with my constituents.”
“Then Senator, how do you explain keeping such a secret as an illegitimate child you fathered eighteen years ago?”
Daniel took a second to compose himself. He glanced at Lizzie and his father. Their faces reflected shock and uncertainty. In the back row, Alex had started to stand but took her seat again.
“This is not the time or the forum to address your accusation,” Daniel said. “You have clearly crossed the line between my public life and my private.”
“Pardon me, Senator, but this is exactly the right time. You are asking the people to give you their most sacred right in a democratic government, their vote. So in the interest of openness and honesty, I ask you, are you denying the existence of this child?”
“I’m not denying anything.”
A low rumble rippled through the crowd.
“The voting public knows you are a single man, never married,” the reporter said. “And yet you are the father of a seventeen-year-old girl, one who, according to my records, was raised without benefit of a penny from your own bank account. Is this true?”
“This has nothing to do with my record as a public servant,” Daniel said. “If you have another question, one that pertains to the issues in this campaign, I will happily address it.” Suddenly, Daniel felt sleazy, like so many of those in Washington who’d had their pasts called into question.
“Then integrity, personal morality, isn’t important to you, Senator? You don’t think the public has a right to know about past indiscretions, especially one that puts you in a light of ignoring personal responsibility?”
Daniel was teetering on a precarious beam. On the one hand, he wanted to protect his reputation. On the other, he needed to protect Lizzie. And Alex. He cleared his throat. “I will address anyone’s concern over this matter on a one-to-one basis. Any of my constituents is welcome to call me during the week.” Daniel tugged on his jacket, pulled at his cuffs. He gathered up his notes. “If that is all...”
“You’re dodging, Senator,” the reporter said. “And we all know it.”
The crowd was deathly silent, the room as still as a tomb. And then one woman stood up near the back of the auditorium. At first she seemed unsteady on her feet, but she quickly regained her composure. “Excuse me,” she said. Her voice was strong and clear without benefit of a microphone.
“My name is Alexis Foster Pope. Many of you know me, know my family. We have been residents of this area of Ohio for three generations. I would like to address the topic, if I may.”
All eyes turned to the back of the room. Alexis took a long, deep breath, twined her fingers in front of her abdomen. “Eighteen years ago,” she began, “when I was just a teenager, I fell in love with the most honorable, kind, considerate man I’d ever met. His name is Daniel Chandler, and he is your candidate for US Senate.”
Daniel forced himself to breathe. His admiration for Alex was only outweighed by his fear for what her next words might cost her. He ached for her, wished he could take her away from this scene, save her from the emotional turmoil she must be suffering. He was a public p
erson, but she certainly wasn’t. He held his breath and waited for what was to come.
“Daniel and I were young,” she said. “And like many of us finding our pathways into adulthood, we were sometimes foolish. The result of my admiration and love for Daniel resulted in our beautiful, talented, intelligent daughter, Elizabeth.”
Lizzie stood, turned around, smiled and waved to the crowd, exactly what Daniel would have done if he had been in her shoes. He could have jumped off the stage and hugged her right then and there.
“My mistake was not that I had my Lizzie,” Alex continued. “My mistake was not telling Daniel I was pregnant. I had my reasons, and I won’t go into them now. Daniel, the man he was then, and the man he is now, would have stood by me, but I didn’t give him the chance. He has only known about his relationship to our daughter for a few days. My daughter has taken him into her heart as he has taken her into his.
“If this is a question of fault, then I assume the entire blame. I ask you all to hold me responsible, not Daniel Chandler. But the truth is, I don’t see the miracle that has transpired in the last few days as a matter of blame or fault. The overdue meeting between these two special people in my life is cause for joy, not shame.
“These are the facts, the truth with nothing hidden. Please judge the man before you on his merits as a public servant, not as a man who should be held accountable for something he knew nothing about.” She looked at Daniel. She looked at Aurora. And she smiled. “Thank you.”
Daniel had never felt more humbled. What it must have taken for Alex to strip herself bare in front of this crowd, her neighbors, her friends. He leaned into the microphone. “Thank you again for coming. This concludes the town hall meeting.”
* * *
ALEX AND AURORA were among the first to leave the auditorium. Arriving late and getting the worst seats had its advantages. Alex was trembling so violently, she had to grab on to Aurora’s elbow for support. “I can’t believe I just did that,” Alex said.
Aurora pumped her small fist in the air. “You were marvelous, Alex. You could have heard a pin drop in that meeting. I’m so proud of you.”
Alex emitted a near-hysterical burst of laughter. Imagine this little woman, whose strength belied her small stature, a woman practically a stranger to Alex, saying she was proud of her. Yet, to Alex, who couldn’t stop shaking, it was high praise.
“Well, I had to do something, didn’t I?” Alex said. “I couldn’t let that idiot reporter railroad Daniel into saying something gallant or courageous to save Lizzie’s feelings and mine.” Unfortunately, I might have driven an even greater wedge between us. She prayed Daniel didn’t resent her interference.
“You told the truth, sweetie,” Aurora said. “That can almost never be a bad thing.”
The two women hurried across the parking lot and got in Alex’s car. “I’m glad I don’t have to wait for Lizzie,” Alex said. “Daniel will bring her home.”
As much as she wanted to know what was going on inside the building, Alex was grateful that hers was the first car to leave the high school.
* * *
DANIEL SPOKE TO everyone who wanted to ask him a question. Most of the questions were about policy, his campaign, how his father was feeling. No one asked about his daughter, but several of his neighbors came up to Lizzie and introduced themselves. By the end of the night, Daniel figured Lizzie had become an honorary Greenfielder and a very worthy sidekick.
As soon as he got a chance to leave the stage, Daniel walked up to her. “Where’s your mother?” he asked.
“I guess she went home,” Lizzie said. “I saw her leave the auditorium with Aurora, and I haven’t seen her since.” Lizzie smiled at him. “Why do you want to know?”
He recognized the now-familiar smugness in his daughter’s grin. “Wouldn’t you like to know,” he said.
“She was pretty cool tonight, wasn’t she?”
“The coolest,” Daniel said. “I need to thank her.”
When they got to Dancing Falls, all the lights were dimmed except for the porch light. Daniel walked Lizzie to the door. “Do you think I should bother her tonight?” he asked.
“Probably not. If I know my mother, she’s still throwing up.”
“Nice.”
“Come over in the morning, Daniel. You can see her before we leave for Chicago.”
“Thanks for handling everything like a champ tonight, Lizzie,” he said. “And you can count on it. I’ll be here in the morning.”
And he was. But Alex and Lizzie had already left.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
AFTER BREAKFAST AND saying a brief goodbye to his daughter and granddaughter, Martin made his morning visit back to his wife’s room. He picked up Maggie’s hand. “Listen to this, Maggie-mine,” he said, flipping open the newspaper. “Our daughter is a headliner because of last night’s town hall meeting.”
He read the lead article in the local paper, his voice booming with pride. This was the third time he’d read it, including rushing through it for Lizzie and Alexis before they got in their car.
“She stood right up to that newshound and gave him all she’s got. Our reserved, elegant Alexis stood in the middle of that ring and symbolically punched that guy in the nose.” He leaned over and kissed Maggie’s forehead. “We raised a fine young lady, Maggie, and I told her so when she left.”
He coughed to clear his throat of a rush of emotion. “That’s all I came to say now, Maggie. I’m going to the office. But if you don’t mind, I may read this one more time to one more person. Her name is Aurora, and she was there last night alongside our Alexis.” Martin stroked Maggie’s hair. “You’d like her, honey. You two are alike in here—” He rested his finger on Maggie’s heart. “Where it counts.”
* * *
AN HOUR INTO the drive to Chicago, Alex recognized the uncanny similarity between their drive to Dancing Falls weeks ago and the one to Chicago now. Lizzie had been silent for most of both trips. Unable to stand the quiet anymore, Alex said, “I know something is bothering you. Why don’t you tell me what it is?”
“Gee, Mom, the sun hasn’t even been up an hour, and you’re wondering why I’m not chatting away? Maybe I’m not a morning person.”
Alex sighed. “I know I got you up early, but...”
“Early? I felt like I’d just gotten to sleep when you came in with your cheery ‘rise and shine.’ Excuse me if I don’t exactly feel like shining.”
“Look, getting an early start puts us in Chicago around four this afternoon. The day isn’t lost. We can begin packing for college.”
“I could pack for college in an hour if I had to, Mom.”
Alex knew that was absolutely not true. In an hour, Lizzie would have only sorted her T-shirts.
“I know why you wanted to leave at the crack of dawn,” Lizzie said.
Alex debated her choices and settled on the most obvious one. “You’re assuming this has something to do with Daniel, right?”
“You got it. I told you he was coming over, but you left before giving him a chance.”
“I didn’t want to put either one of us in an awkward position,” Alex said. “I don’t know how Daniel felt about my little speech last night.”
“I told you how he felt!” Suddenly, Lizzie was animated. “He looked for you after the town hall. He wanted to thank you.”
“That’s what he told you,” Alex said.
“So he was lying to me? I don’t think so. He appreciated what you did. So did Grandpa. We all thought you did the most courageous thing.”
“I hope that’s true, but I wasn’t ready to face him. My little speech will be all over the state before noon.”
“And once everybody has talked about it, so what? They’ll either forget or build you a statue. You don’t have to take my word for it.
Grandpa wasn’t upset.”
Thank goodness for her father. “No, but that’s Grandpa. He tries to take the messes his daughters get into in his stride.”
“Mom, I don’t understand. You didn’t even wait for Daniel to show up. You love him! At least I think you do. If you love someone, you keep the lines of communication open. You don’t shut down. How many times have you told me this?”
Alex expelled a long breath. “I can’t explain this to you, Lizzie...” How could she tell her daughter that she was flat-out terrified to face Daniel again? That she was guarding her heart, protecting her fragile ego. She tried to make some sense of her behavior. “Daniel and I... If you’d seen him when he found out about you, what I’d done.”
“I did see him! I came onto the patio, remember? He was upset, sure, but he maintained his cool. That’s more than I can say for myself, and you’re still talking to me.”
Alex smiled. “Here’s the thing, Lizzie. It’s enough for me to work on reestablishing what you and I had. I don’t think I can take on Daniel right now. It’s entirely possible that his feelings for me aren’t as generous as you believe them to be. Just because I made that speech last night...” She stopped to take a long breath. “I hurt him, honey. He may never get over it. Once you and I are on solid ground again, I’ll consider contacting him, but for now you are my top priority.”
“News flash, Mom. You’re going to see him in a little over a week anyway.”
“What?” Alex blinked, stared at her daughter.
“He’s coming to OSU to see me when I get there for fall semester. He’s only a few miles away.”
Naturally, Daniel would be there. Alex should have thought of that. Well, she’d have to deal with his presence the best she could. Lizzie was what mattered at the moment, and Alex would see her settled in her dorm. If she ran into Daniel, she’d handle it. She had a week to prepare.
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