Commander in Chief Read online

  “Productive.”

  “Is that good?”

  “I certainly hope so,” Candace said. “Time will tell.”

  “You’ll figure it out. You always do.”

  I hope so, Jameson; for all our sakes; I hope so.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  December 24th

  “Are you happy to be home?” Marianne asked her mother.

  “You have no idea,” Candace said.

  “Only a few more weeks, Mom.”

  “I know.” Candace poured herself a cup of coffee.

  “You don’t sound particularly happy about that,” Marianne observed.

  “It’s not that.”

  “What is it?”

  “It’s nothing.”

  “Mom?”

  “There are a million things to do, Marianne. I’m not sure I’ve given Jameson the time that she deserves lately.”

  “She understands.”

  “She might understand, that doesn’t mean it’s okay.”

  “Are you worried about JD?”

  “Not worried—aware.”

  “I’m missing something,” Marianne said.

  “There’s a lot of change happening for her right now, Marianne.”

  “I can imagine.”

  “I’m not just talking about the move or my work.”

  Marianne sipped from her mug. She enjoyed a close relationship with Jameson. In fact, she would say that Jameson was her best friend. She’d spent two hours the previous evening catching up with her step-mother. She hadn’t detected that anything was bothering Jameson. Something was clearly on her mother’s mind. “You don’t have to tell me anything,” she said. “Whatever you tell me, stays with me,” Marianne promised.

  Candace reached over and squeezed her daughter’s hand. “I know that.” She sighed. “I just hope that your brother and sister give her a little break on the teasing while we’re home.”

  “You know Shell, she delights in getting a rise out of JD.”

  “Yes, I do. But some things might hurt a little more than Shell takes the time to think about.”

  “What things?”

  Candace sighed.

  “Mom? Seriously, I spent a long time with JD last night. What is this about?”

  “Marianne, Jameson is not getting younger.”

  “Jameson’s forty-one. That’s hardly old.”

  “No, it isn’t. She’ll be forty-two this year.”

  “So?”

  Candace sighed again.

  “Oh. Oh, shit. JD’s biological alarm clock just sounded.”

  “Something like that.”

  “Can’t say I saw that coming.”

  Candace smiled.

  “You did?”

  “She’s my wife, Marianne.”

  Marianne nodded. “Does she want to try?”

  Candace shook her head. “I don’t know.”

  “What did she say?”

  “What she always says; it’s not something she’s ever desired.”

  “Until now.”

  Candace chuckled. Oh, I’m not sure I’d say that. “That’s what she would say.”

  “And, you? How do you feel about it?”

  “Honestly?”

  “Yes.”

  Candace sucked in a long, deep breath. “It scares me.”

  Marianne nodded.

  “I’m not sure what scares me more, the idea that she’ll tell me she wants to or the fact that she likely won’t want to.”

  Marianne smiled. Her mother’s revelation didn’t surprise her. “Maybe you should tell her that.”

  “Maybe I should,” Candace agreed. “I think she needs some time right now to sit with everything.”

  “And you?”

  “I told you how I feel.”

  “Well, that would certainly get tongues wagging.”

  Candace laughed. “Because they aren’t tied up enough in our business.”

  Marianne shrugged. “Well, selfishly; I wish you two would consider it.”

  “Really?”

  “I know. I know. Things change, Mom. I love JD.”

  “I know you do.”

  “She’s my best friend.” Marianne grew emotional.

  “I know she is,” Candace said. “She feels the same way.”

  “She’s a terrific mom.”

  “Yes, she is.”

  “So are you. I’ll admit, I thought any chance of that ended when you got elected.”

  Candace smiled.

  “You didn’t?”

  “I told you; she’s my wife, Marianne. I know Jameson.”

  “Cooper would be deliriously happy.”

  Candace laughed. “Probably so.”

  “Why is Cooper going to be deliriously happy?” Michelle asked. She strolled through the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee.

  “Hello, to you too, Shell,” Candace said.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  Marianne rolled her eyes.

  “Where are the twins?” Candace asked.

  “JD has them.”

  “Both of them?” Candace asked.

  “Yeah, why?” Michelle asked.

  Marianne chuckled and arched a brow at her mother.

  Candace laughed. “I’ll go give her a hand.”

  “Why?” Michelle asked again. “You know, JD; she’s a kid magnet. If she had any sense, she’d jump on the wagon with the rest of us.”

  Candace’s expression hardened.

  “What did I say?” Michelle asked.

  “Leave it be, Shell,” Candace advised as she left the room.

  “What did I say?” Michelle asked her sister.

  “Just go easy on teasing JD about babies the next few days,” Marianne offered.

  “Why? Oh my God, is she knocked up and they didn’t tell us?”

  “Shell,” Marianne warned. “I’m serious. Lay off. It might be fun for you. It might not be so much fun for JD.”

  Michelle flopped into a kitchen chair. “What’s going on? Are Mom and JD fighting or something?”

  “No.”

  “Well? What gives? JD knows I’m just giving her a hard time.”

  “Shell, please trust me this time. Please don’t go there this Christmas.”

  Michelle studied her older sister. “Is JD sick?”

  “Not that I’m aware of.” Although, your questions could make anyone dizzy.

  “Well, something is up.”

  “Nothing is up, Shell. I’m asking you. Mom is asking you; please leave it be for a while.”

  Michelle was confused. She and Jameson’s relationship had always involved gentle teasing and banter. She loved Jameson. Jameson knew that. Jameson loved her. Michelle knew that. All of sudden, her teasing was an issue. “You’re not making sense,” she said.

  “Only in your brain,” Marianne said. She sighed. Shit. “Listen, I think JD has enough on her mind right now without you giving her a hard time about having kids. That’s all.”

  Michelle held her hands up in surrender. “Okay. I’ll find something else to harass her about.”

  Marianne shook her head. “I have no doubt.”

  ***

  Jameson bounced Brody on her knee while she listened to Cooper and Spencer running up the stairs. It never gets old. “What do you think, Brody?” Brody giggled. “I don’t know either,” Jameson said. “Your cousin and your uncle are nuts; just like the rest of this crazy family.” He laughed some more. Jameson caught sight of Candace approaching and kissed him on the head. “Don’t look now,” she whispered to her grandson. “The head lunatic is on her way.”

  “Dare I ask what you two are discussing?” Candace teased.

  “Asylums,” Jameson said.

  “Ah. Well, that’s certainly a topic we have some knowledge of.”

  Jameson chuckled. “I’m glad that Shell decided to stay tonight.”

  “Mmm. So, you can steal the twins and play with them?” Candace guessed.

  “I don’t know. It feels strange without
Jonah here tonight.”

  “They’ll be here in the morning.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “Are you worried about talking to him?” Candace asked.

  Jameson sighed. She and Candace were planning to talk to Jonah and Laura about taking over their townhome in Virginia once Candace took office. Was she nervous? She was hopeful that they would accept.

  “If it helps, I think they will both be excited at the possibility,” Candace said.

  “I hope so. You know Jonah. He’s proud, Candace. He might see it as a handout.”

  “It won’t be a handout if he rents it.”

  “Do you think he’d want to do that?”

  “I think he is more apt to be open to your idea if he contributes.”

  Jameson sighed again.

  “He wants you to be proud of him, Jameson.”

  “I am proud of him.”

  “I know you are.”

  Brody grabbed a fistful of Jameson’s hair. “Ouch.”

  Brody laughed.

  “Anything to get a reaction,” Jameson said. “Just like your mother.”

  Candace giggled. Truer words. “Speaking of Shell, where did she and Mel disappear to?”

  “Not sure where Shell is. Mel took Amanda upstairs to put her down,” Jameson offered.

  “Maybe she’s with Marianne,” Candace mused.

  “Nope. Don’t think so. Marianne went upstairs to give Maddie a bath.”

  “Huh.”

  “Worried she might be up to something?” Jameson asked.

  “Shell is always up to something,” Candace said.

  Jameson laughed. “That’s for sure. Maybe she’s snooping in the attic for presents.”

  “God help us all.” Candace let herself recline on the sofa. She put her head on Jameson’s shoulder. “He’s gotten so big. I feel like he’s grown in a couple of weeks,” she said.

  “He has,” Jameson agreed. “What are your mommies feeding you?”

  Brody erupted in a belly laugh.

  “Why do they all laugh at me?” Jameson wondered aloud. “Am I that funny looking?” Jameson asked.

  Brody laughed harder.

  “I am?”

  Candace shook her head. “You certainly are in your element, honey.”

  “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult.”

  Candace kissed Jameson on the cheek and let her head fall back onto its resting place. It’s definitely a compliment.

  ***

  “What’s up?” Michelle asked Scott.

  Scott drew patterns in the condensation on his beer bottle.

  “It can’t be that bad,” Michelle said.

  Scott offered Michelle a half-hearted smile. “I bought Marianne a ring.”

  “That is awful.” Michelle laughed. “Why so glum?”

  “I’m not sure if I should give it to her.”

  “Lost me.”

  Scott took a long pull from the bottle in his hand. “Maybe I should wait. This is your mom’s time.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “Exactly what I said. This is your mom’s time. It’s only a month until her inauguration. I don’t want to complicate anything or seem like I’m… I don’t know, stealing anyone’s thunder.”

  “Did your mom drop you when you were a baby or something?”

  “What?”

  “I’m serious,” Michelle said. “Do you know my mom?”

  “I…”

  “Do you think Mom worries about that stuff?”

  “No, but it’s amazing and I…”

  Michelle shook her head. “Are you afraid Marianne will say no?”

  “Not really.”

  “Then what is the problem?”

  “I told you.”

  “I call bullshit,” Michelle said. “If you want to propose to Marianne, I think you should.”

  “On Christmas morning?”

  “Is that what you want to do?” Michelle asked.

  “I want to propose.”

  “Are you asking my advice or am I here to get you drunk?”

  Scott chuckled. “Both?”

  “Fair.” Michelle took a deep breath. “If you want my advice, don’t ask her in front of everyone.”

  Scott nodded sadly.

  “Ask her. Don’t make it a display. Ask her tonight or ask her in the morning before you come down with the kids.”

  “I kind of hoped the kids could be part of it.”

  “Sweet.” Michelle smiled. “I get it. I would make this one personal, Scott. It might seem like I am the family fuck up.”

  “Shell…”

  “No, listen; I know Marianne better than most people realize. If you don’t believe me; ask JD. She’ll tell you what I just did. She’ll also tell you not to make Mom an excuse to chicken out.”

  Scott took another swig of beer.

  “She’s not going to say no,” Michelle said. “She loves your sorry ass for some reason.”

  Scott laughed. “Thanks for the endorsement.”

  “We all love your sorry ass.” Michelle put an arm around her sister’s boyfriend. “I hope you know what you’re signing up for.”

  “You mean having a mother-in-law in the White House?”

  “Nope. I mean dealing with me and Jonah.”

  “Do your worst,” Scott said. “If she says yes.”

  “Oh, she will, and you’ll wish you never gave us permission to initiate you.”

  “You mean I haven’t already been initiated?”

  “Nope. Drink up,” Michelle advised.

  Scott complied. “Do you think JD has more beer?”

  “Liquid courage? I’d wait to polish off her stash until Marianne agrees.”

  Scott groaned.

  “Out of curiosity, why didn’t you talk to JD?”

  “You’re not serious. She’d probably threaten my life.”

  Michelle nodded. Jameson had given Melanie a gentle warning when she and Melanie had started dating. “Eh, she’s not so bad. Just… if you hurt Marianne make sure you stay away from JD when she’s got a hammer or a saw or a…”

  “I’ve got it.”

  Michelle laughed. “Welcome to the family.”

  “I hope so.”

  Now, I get to tease Marianne about the baby club!

  ***

  “Nana?” Spencer looked at Candace.

  “Yes, sweetheart?”

  “What if Santa misses us?”

  “Santa knows where to find you,” Candace promised.

  “But, Mommy, what if he thinks me and Spence are somewhere else?” Cooper asked.

  Candace took a seat on the edge of Cooper’s bed, which he and Spencer had decided to share for the night. “What did Momma tell you?”

  “Santa is magic,” Cooper said.

  “Jay Jay says Santa just knows stuff,” Spencer offered.

  Candace bit the inside of her lip to keep from laughing.

  “He does,” Jameson said from the doorway.

  “But how?” Cooper asked.

  “Santa has cookie radar,” Jameson said.

  Cooper and Spencer’s eyes grew wider. Candace bit the inside of her lip again.

  “What about the reindeer?” Spencer asked.

  “Carrot radar,” Jameson offered.

  “They’ll find us, Spence! We put out the carrots,” Cooper said.

  Candace glanced over at Jameson leaning in the doorway. Love and gratefulness filled her. These moments reminded Candace of the things that mattered most to her. She cared for the world’s plight. She felt compelled to ease suffering where she could. She was dedicated to becoming a president that would strive to lead everyone forward. She felt pride, humility, awe, gravity and excitement about her future. At this moment, the expression of wonder in her son’s and grandson’s eyes, the affection and amusement that poured off Jameson—nothing could ever compare to the way it made Candace feel—nothing.

  Jameson noted the affectionate sparkle in Ca
ndace’s eyes. She made her way across the room and put her hand on Candace’s shoulder. “There is a clause, though,” she said.

  “Like Santa Claus?” Spencer asked innocently.

  “Well, it’s called the Santa Clause—with an ‘e.’ You have to be asleep for the radar to work,” Jameson told the boys.

  Cooper burrowed underneath the covers and pulled Spencer down beside him. “Come on, Spence! You heard Momma.”

  Spencer snuggled under the blanket with his best friend. “Nana?”

  “Yes, Spencer?”

  “Do you know Santa?”

  Candace grinned. “We’ve met,” she told him.

  “Mommy! You met Santa?” Cooper jumped back up.

  Candace laughed. “You met him last week.”

  “Nah,” Cooper said. “He was Santa’s friend. Santa’s too busy to visit everyone.”

  “Oh?” Candace asked.

  “Yeah. His beard was fake. Momma told me.”

  Candace reached up and squeezed Jameson’s hand. God, I love you, Jameson. “Momma knows a lot about Christmas.”

  “Yep,” Cooper agreed.

  “Maybe Jay Jay is an elf,” Spencer offered.

  Jameson coughed.

  “Are you, Momma?” Cooper asked. “Are you one of Santa’s helpers?”

  Candace thought her heart might burst. Inaugurations be damned. Maybe Jameson was an elf. She certainly possessed magic. At least, Candace thought so, and she was positive the boys agreed. “Momma has a little magic,” Candace said.

  Jameson cleared her throat. “Okay. I’m not on Santa’s payroll. I do know that he needs the whole house to be snoring before he’ll come down the chimney.”

  “But there’s a fire, Jay Jay!” Spencer said.

  “I’ll make sure the fire is out,” Jameson promised.

  “He’ll get dirty,” Cooper said.

  “Nah,” Jameson dismissed the thought. “He’s got magic laundry detergent too.”

  Candace chuckled. Magic laundry detergent?

  “Like for the washer?” Cooper asked.

  “Sort of. You know that stick Mommy carries in her bag? That Magic Eraser thing?” Jameson asked.