Under Construction (By Design Book 2) Page 4

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Jameson could hardly believe that it was already Thursday. She was anxious to finish out the next two days in Albany and get home. The Fourth of July was only a week away. Monday, Jonah was due to arrive. Tuesday, her brother Toby and his wife Liz were expected to make their appearance with Jameson’s two nephews. By Wednesday, all three of Candace’s children would be home, and then on Thursday, Jameson’s parents planned on making the trip with her younger brother and Jameson’s niece. Candace’s brother David and his brood, along with Dana, Steve, and their two children were also expected to join them. Friday was the official barbecue, but the event itself was more like three days of unofficial festivities. Candace thrived on being around people. Jameson was a bit more reserved in that manner. She was praying that there would be no drama.

  Marianne had been civil, even cordial bordering on kind to Jameson when they had met. Jameson was certain that Candace’s oldest child had reservations about her relationship with Candace. Jameson’s younger brother had expressed concerns to her as well. While his reasoning to Jameson was the constant distance between the pair, Jameson suspected it had more to do with Candace’s political beliefs and public persona. Doug was two years younger than Jameson and the family conservative. They always joked about her father’s Republican affiliation, but Jameson’s father, Duncan had long ago shifted alliances. Jameson imagined that was a product of so many years loving her mother and having a lesbian daughter. Doug somehow got what Jameson called the recessive gene. She loved her younger brother, but she often wondered how they could have been raised in the same house by the same parents.

  “J.D.?” a familiar voice came from the doorway to Jameson’s office. She swiveled her chair around.

  “Shell?”

  “Yeah, sorry. I seem to be showing up unannounced a lot lately, huh?” Michelle said sheepishly.

  “Everything okay?” Jameson asked.

  “No,” Michelle chuckled. “But it will be. I was hoping maybe you might possibly have a minute to talk,” Michelle asked hopefully.

  “Wow, that was a mouthful,” Jameson laughed. “I need a break anyway. How about lunch?”

  “I don’t want to take you away from….”

  “From all this?” Jameson shook her head. “Come on, let’s go. I need some fuel. Food and a gigantic coffee.”

  ***

  “Dana, please,” Candace tried to keep her rising temper under control.

  “I understand, Candy. Aren’t you at least going to consider it?” Dana asked her boss. Candace frowned. “What does J.D. think?” Dana asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “What do you mean? She didn’t have any thoughts at all?” Dana was amazed.

  “I don’t know because I haven’t told her,” Candace said flatly.

  “Don’t you think you should?”

  “There is nothing to tell. I’m not doing it,” Candace said.

  “Candy, you would make a fabulous governor. And, think about where that would position you in six years?” Dana said enthusiastically. Candace groaned. “Candy! Come on! They are lining you up as a heavy hitter and you know it. If you wanted to make a run for….”

  “I don’t,” Candace stopped her friend’s diatribe.

  “No offense, but I think you are full of shit,” Dana challenged the senator.

  “No offense, but I didn’t ask for your opinion,” Candace replied in kind.

  “Why are you so set against this?” Dana asked. Candace put her face in her hands. “It’s J.D., isn’t it?” Dana softened her tone. Candace sighed. “Candy, I know you love the Senate. I do. This is a huge chance.”

  “If I won, you mean.”

  “You’ll win if you run,” Dana said confidently. “You know it as well as I do.” Candace’s lips upturned into a small smirk. “So, let’s have it. Is it really because this is where you want to stay? You have some aversion to governing the State of New York? Or…is it something else?”

  Candace huffed and removed her glasses to rub her tired eyes. “Would I win? Probably,” Candace agreed. Dana perked up. “I said probably,” Candace tempered Dana’s enthusiasm. “State politics are different, Dana. I’ve been in Congress now for fifteen years. Election battles are not so difficult now for me. People know me in the role. They trust me in this role. No one wants to fund a lame horse. The odds of a payoff in betting against me in a Senate bid are just not that great, not yet anyway. It’s simply not their best investment.”

  “That’s my point!” Dana said.

  “Yes, but this is a different ball game. Different players. Different positions. Different strategies,” Candace reminded her friend.

  “You love campaigning. And, you are incredibly popular at home. Look at your approval ratings.”

  “I know all of that. New York is a different state in a state election. There are different issues and concerns. I don’t know that I want to invest all of that. The research into campaign strategies, the money….the time,” Candace said.

  “Are you worried about J.D.?”

  Candace smiled. “No….not in the way that you are thinking,” Candace said.

  “What way am I thinking?” Dana asked.

  “Dana…Jameson will tell me to do what I want to do. That is what she will say,” Candace said.

  “So? What’s the problem?”

  “I don’t know that it is what I want to do,” Candace replied honestly.

  “Part of you wants to and…”

  “I love Jameson.”

  Dana smiled. “I know you do. What does that have to do with this? You just said that J.D. will support whatever you decide.”

  Candace sighed heavily, flipped her glasses onto her desk and took a deep breath. “Yes, she will. I see that gleam in your eyes, Dana.”

  “Would you jump to do it if you weren’t involved with J.D.?”

  “I don’t know,” Candace answered honestly. “I love what I am doing. You know that is the truth,” Candace said. She could see the skepticism in Dana’s eyes. “I had the chance last go round for a cabinet appointment. You know that too.”

  “Yes, but you were worried about Jonah then.”

  “And, I resolved myself that this is where I wanted to be.”

  “And?” Dana urged.

  “And, my life is different again. I like my life right now,” Candace said. She saw Dana studying her. “There’s still a lot to learn how to balance. I’m not sure I want to shake the apple cart so soon.”

  “Candy, the election is two years off. You have time.”

  “Not really, and we both know it. If I want to do this, I need to make that clear and I need to start looking at my team now,” Candace said bluntly.

  “You have to talk to J.D.,” Dana said. “She’s going to hear the chatter and you know it.”

  Candace smiled. She was not afraid to discuss the possibilities in her career with Jameson. She had hoped to get through the holiday before doing that. Jameson had tried to conceal her apprehension about the big family barbecue. Candace could see the clues to the trepidation that lingered in Jameson’s mind. If Candace were to be honest, she felt a few jitters when she allowed herself the time to stop and consider the upcoming event.

  Candace had immediately clicked with Jameson’s parents. She adored Jameson’s mother, Maureen. She wasn’t worried about anyone’s approval, but she hoped that the two families would find some common ground. Family meant a great deal to both her and Jameson. Family gatherings were stressful in the best of circumstances over many years. This would be the first go round for the new couple. She wanted to limit the stress in both their lives until they were on the other side of next weekend.

  Still, political chatter was bound to start soon. Candace knew that as well. The fact was that the party was exerting a comfortable pressure on her to consider a bid for the governorship. She fully expected that they would be turning up the heat in the coming months. She was a viable candidate with national name recognition. The gover
norship of New York would place her as an excellent Vice Presidential nominee, or if she chose, a candidate for The White House herself. That had never been her ambition. She was skeptical about a middle-aged lesbian’s viability in such a high powered candidacy. She could not deny that fact that attitudes were changing. Six years from now, it might be a different ball game. The Democratic Party wanted a strong, well-placed candidate when that tide finally sifted. She would have been lying if she suggested that the idea did not, at the very least, intrigue her.

  “I was going to wait until after the festivities on the Fourth,” Candace said.

  “But?” Dana asked, sensing a slight shift in Candace’s mood.

  “There’s no point in waiting,” Candace admitted.

  “Candy…Can I ask you something? I mean, as your friend, not as an adviser in any capacity?”

  “Of course.”

  “Are you afraid that this….possibly taking a different course will scare J.D. off?”

  “No,” Candace answered immediately. She wasn’t. “That’s not it at all, Dana,” Candace noted the inquisitive expression on the younger woman’s face. She laughed quietly. “I know you may not understand this….I like the downtime. It’s nice to just come home and be with someone. No kids under foot. They visit. It’s a nice change of pace. I raised three kids while juggling two careers my whole adult life. I barely saw Jessica and Jonathan when you think about it. Jameson is….well, it’s entirely different. Jessica always wanted to be going. We were on the go constantly. Jonathan was the same way. That has never been me and you know it.”

  “I know. I know that you like your down time, Candy, but you love the social piece as well. You thrive on it,” Dana smirked.

  “Yes, but not incessantly. I like balance,” Candace said. Dana nodded. “I won’t make this decision by myself, Dana.”

  “I am happy for you; you know?”

  Candace smiled. “Me too.”

  “But, selfishly….I hope you do it,” Dana admitted.

  Candace laughed. “I would never have guessed.”

  ***

  “J.D., are you sure you would be okay with this? I mean, it’s your place and…”

  “Shell, I already told you; you would be helping me out,” Jameson said.

  “What did Mom say?” Michelle asked.

  “I didn’t say anything to her yet,” Jameson said.

  “Really?”

  “Shell, I love your mom, but I would not betray your confidence unless I thought I needed to for some reason. She knows that.”

  “Thanks,” Michelle said. “I did tell her a bit about things with Lisa.”

  “I know,” Jameson replied.

  “Do you think she will be mad?”

  Jameson smiled at Michelle. “Mad? About what?”

  “Me quitting my job,” Michelle said.

  Jameson nodded and took a sip from her iced coffee. “No. I don’t. She won’t want to admit it, least of all to you,” Jameson chuckled, “but she will be happy that you will be closer to home.”

  “You really think so?” Michelle asked hesitantly.

  “Yes, but you already know that,” Jameson said with a wink.

  “Are you excited about Mom’s big party?” Michelle changed the subject. Jameson tried to smile, but it failed in its sincerity. “That’s what I thought,” Michelle laughed. “Don’t let Marianne scare you,” she said. “She’s got a loud bark, but no real bite. Trust me.” Jameson sighed. “J.D., seriously….”

  “It’s not just Marianne,” Jameson said honestly.

  “Jonah?”

  “It’s all of it,” Jameson said. “My brothers, Marianne, Jonah, my parents…It’s just…”

  “Mom’s a master. She can make anyone feel like they belong. Besides, Grandma Pearl will be there. No one messes with Grandma Pearl,” Michelle said. Jameson had to smile at the truth in that assessment. “Don’t worry,” Michelle took Jameson’s hand. “If all else fails; I’ll protect you,” Michelle winked conspiratorially.

  Jameson laughed out loud. “My bodyguard?”

  “Sure. I can be scrappy if necessary. You live with my mom for twenty-six years; you learn.”

  “I believe it,” Jameson said. “I’ll whistle if I need you.”

  “Deal,” Michelle said. “J.D.?”

  “What?”

  “I just….Thanks again….for everything.”

  “You don’t owe me any thanks, but you are welcome.”

  ***

  Jameson was stretched out on a lawn chair, relaxing as the sun began to set when she sensed a presence above her. She felt Candace’s lips on her forehead and smiled. “Napping?” Candace asked.

  “Relaxing. You’re home early,” Jameson said happily.

  “Yes, I am,” Candace replied. “Seems I have a date tomorrow with my daughter.” Jameson bit her lip gently. “Something about moving closer to home?” Candace posed her statement as a question. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that; would you?”

  Jameson was unsure if Candace was upset or simply being playful. “Well….I didn’t want to say anything…I mean it’s…well, you know…it was….”

  Before Jameson could continue her rambling explanation, Candace silenced her with a kiss. “I love you,” Candace said.

  “Huh?”

  Candace laughed. “Have I not told you that lately or something?”

  “No…I just…I didn’t think it was my place to tell you…it was…”

  “Jameson,” Candace took the opportunity to sit on Jameson’s lap. “I know why you didn’t tell me. I appreciate it. Michelle is a grown woman, but to me…”

  “She’s your baby. I know.”

  “Mm. You don’t know how much it means to me that she felt she could confide in you….or what it means to her that she could.”

  “I love Shell,” Jameson said as a point of fact. “She’s like mini-Candace.”

  “Mini-Candace?” Candace raised a brow.

  “Yeah,” Jameson said wistfully. She adored Candace and Michelle was the most like her mother of all three children. She resembled Candace more in mannerisms than in her physical appearance, but she also had a similar personality and sense of humor. Jameson had been immediately comfortable with Candace’s middle child. Jameson’s friendship with Michelle in some odd way made her feel even closer to Candace. Seeing the earnest affection in Jameson’s eyes, Candace ceased the opportunity to tease her.

  “You don’t have a crush on my daughter; do you?” Candace asked.

  Jameson jumped. “What?” Jameson asked nervously. Candace fought to remain stoic. It was sometimes far too easy to playfully rattle her lover. “Oh God, that would be like crushing on my sister…if I had one,” Jameson said.

  “Oh?” Candace was finding great humor in the unintentional ditch that Jameson was digging for herself. “I see. So, that would make me a mother figure.”

  “You’re a great mom,” Jameson praised and then realized how it might have sounded. Candace raised her brow a little higher. “I mean….that’s not what I meant.”

  “Oh? I’m not a great mom?”

  “Of course, you’re a great mom…just not my great mom…I mean not my mom…You know what I mean!” Jameson sighed.

  “Mm. Maybe I should send you to bed without dinner, let you think about this a little,” Candace said thoughtfully.

  Jameson narrowed her gaze at her lover, finally realizing her game. “Oh? No, I think you might need some rest, though.” She grabbed hold of Candace and stood up carrying her.

  “Jameson! What the hell are you doing? You’re going to hurt yourself!”

  “Nah, I’m young. I need to take care of my old lady and put her to bed,” Jameson chided.

  Candace smacked Jameson. “Put me down, you lunatic!” she laughed. Jameson ignored her and headed for the house. “Jameson!”

  Pearl was walking through the kitchen when Jameson kicked open the back door with Candace in her arms. “I’ve heard of sweeping them off t
heir feet, or is this a threshold thing? Something I should know?” she called out to the pair.

  “No!” Candace yelled.

  “Just putting Nana here to bed,” Jameson laughed.

  Pearl shook her head. “Well, don’t drop her down the stairs whatever you do. I’ve seen enough emergency rooms this year; thank you very much!”

  “One time! I fell one time!” Jameson called back.

  “They never grow up,” Pearl chuckled. “Heaven help me with a house full next week.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Wednesday was upon them faster than either Candace or Jameson could have imagined. Candace rolled over and snuggled closer to Jameson. “I’d better get up and help Pearl with breakfast,” she yawned.

  Jameson kissed Candace’s head. “You stay,” she said. “I’ll go help Pearl. Sleep a little while longer.”

  “Mm. Aren’t you tired?” Candace asked. “You were up late with Toby last night. Everything okay?”

  “Yeah. Just talking,” Jameson said. She had enjoyed her one on one time with her older brother and was relieved to see that Candace hit it off immediately with her sister-in-law.

  Candace propped herself up to look at Jameson. “I know you are nervous.”

  “You are better at these things than I am,” Jameson reminded her lover.

  “What things?” Family things?”

  “People things,” Jameson said.

  “Not true. I am just more accustomed to dealing with different personalities all at once. You are every bit as personable as I am. I’ve just learned to hide my apprehension.”

  Jameson chuckled. “If you say so.”

  “I do,” Candace yawned again.

  “Seriously, go back to sleep for a bit,” Jameson said. “I’ll go help Pearl. It’ll give me some more time to catch up with Toby before everyone else arrives anyway.”