A Political Affair (35 page)

“This is going to sound crazy,” she said with some apprehension. “But maybe my father and I should tell Langford before we release anything.”

“What?” Stephen asked, his brow furrowing. “I don’t know what that gets anyone. Your dad will be uncomfortable, and then Langford and his campaign are prepared when we come out.”
 

Anne shook her head. “We can get the timing right, and more importantly, it would allow my dad to be open and honest with Langford. I mean, let’s get real. My dad’s a Republican. He’s friends with these guys. It would be nice for him to be able to do things on the up and up as much as possible.”

“It’s a brilliant idea,” Patty announced and slapped her leg. “When Langford is asked to comment on your marriage, they’ll have to disclose that you and your father spoke with them. They can’t come out quite as hard if you actually give him a courtesy warning.”

“Patty’s on to something,” Greg said from across the room. “It gives us another layer of respectability.”

“It’s a really good idea,” agreed Megan.

Stephen looked around the room searching for support. There was none. Every member of his family nodded in agreement with Anne and Patty.
 

Lillian summed it up. “Tactically, it’s very smart.” She smiled at Anne. “It’s also the decent thing to do.”

Stephen sighed in defeat. “Okay. But only because your dad will be there. I’d hate for you to do that alone.”
 

As the debate went on around her, Megan scribbled notes. “I think we should handle things this way. We all fly to Denver tonight, and Stephen and Anne continue on to the ranch. First thing tomorrow morning, they tell her family, and Mom does a follow-up call. Anne and her dad then tell Langford a few hours later. In the meantime, I’ll have pitched
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an exclusive interview with you two, which will run the next day. That way the full story is out before we hold our press conference the next morning where you answer all questions.”

“I like it.” Patty nodded. “We break the whole story on our terms first, and then we’re completely transparent at a press conference.”

Marco snickered. “So in the sequence you’ve laid out, when does the shit hit the fan?”

Megan raised her eyebrows and took a deep breath. “The moment the reporter calls Langford’s camp for a quote.”
 

Later that evening, Walter rolled off Helen as they panted from their second round. The smell of sex mixed with the lingering scent of disinfectant, common to every Courtyard Marriott. Walter asked to rendezvous outside Dulles Airport in Virginia so they wouldn’t be noticed together. After a grueling day of twisting senators’ arms for votes, Helen was happy for the distraction.
 

With his arms wrapped around her, Walter stroked her shoulder. “Helen, we’re friends. I hope you don’t mind me asking something of you.”

“Not at all.”

“Please don’t be offended.”

She laughed. “Why would I be offended?”

“Well, some women might find it insulting.”

“How so?”

“Well, I’m guessing you haven’t been faithful to your fiancé.”

She laughed at the ridiculousness of his statement; at that very moment, she was naked in bed with another man. “What makes you say that?” She blinked in feigned innocence and shrugged. “I like the fact Smythe and I are engaged. I like that I’ve found someone to have kids with, but I’m not quite ready to settle down. Don’t worry, though, if you’re concerned about my reelection. I’m very discreet—as discreet as you, I might add.”

“How do you know?” He raised his eyebrows.

“How do I know?” She laughed. “Isn’t this the pot calling the kettle black? For starters, I know you’ve been screwing your receptionist for years. So if you add me and the secretary together, odds are there are others. You’re just discreet.”

“You’re a smart woman.” He sighed. “So if you’re as discreet as me, I’m guessing you stick with men who have just as much to lose as you?”

“Yes.”

“Like your Senate colleagues?”

“On occasion.” She gave him a wicked smile.

“Have you ever crossed party lines?”

“Yes. That’s not unheard of . . .”

“Pardon me if this is too forward.” His voice changed from apologetic to interrogative. “But have you ever been with Stephen McEvoy?”

Still angry from their conversation that morning, she sneered hearing Stephen’s name. “Well, yes, but who hasn’t?”

“Funny you bring that up. Do you know any of his other
 . . .
companions?” He looked at her dead on and spoke with determination. “I’m heavily invested in the Colorado race, and we have a lead he’s had an affair with an intern. Do you know anything about it? I wouldn’t ask if the race weren’t on the line. We could take the Senate with that seat.”

Helen was quiet for a moment as she evaluated his question. She never expected to be asked about Stephen by anyone—let alone Walter. In the end, Stephen’s opposition to her amendment weighed little on her mind. Instead, party loyalty made her divulge the truth. Without hesitation, she declared, “I believe her name is Anne.”

Chapter 26

Early the following morning, Anne led Stephen into the Norwood family home. “Hey! I’m here,” she called out.

   
Still in his pajamas, Mark walked down the stairs and gave a sleepy greeting to his sister. “Hey.” When he saw Stephen behind her, he raised one eyebrow and nodded. “You’re here, too?”

“Morning, Mark,” Stephen answered, as he walked up and offered his hand.

Shaking Stephen’s hand, Mark looked between Stephen and Anne. “Huh.” He scratched his head and headed to the kitchen. “This is gonna be interesting.”

As they walked into the breakfast nook, Elton and Mary Beth looked up from their usual morning fare of hardboiled eggs, buttered toast, and
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. Neither seemed surprised at Stephen’s presence. Instead, they glanced at one another as if to confirm their suspicions.

Elton spoke first. “Morning, Anne. Morning, Stephen. It’s good to see you.”

“Morning, Dad. Hi, Mom.” Anne gave them hugs.
 

Stephen again extended his hand. “Good morning, sir. Good morning, Mrs. Norwood.”

“Stephen, can I get you a cup of coffee?” asked Mary Beth with a hesitant smile.

“Thank you. That would be very nice.”

“I’ll get it, Mom. You don’t have to get up,” answered Anne.
 

“Pour me a cup, too,” said Mark, as he rubbed his eyes.

Anne looked at her brother and could tell he was hung over. He spent most of his vacations reliving his college years of drinking and sleeping. Pouring a trio of coffees, she chuckled. “You’re looking a little worse for wear.”

“Thanks.” He smirked. “We’ll see if it gets worse.”

Elton motioned to an empty chair. “Stephen, why don’t you take a seat?”

“Thanks.” He sat down, and as Anne distributed the coffee cups, he announced, “You’re probably all wondering why we’re here.”

Anne’s eyes darted about the room. Her call the night before saying she needed to talk had been short. Over the months since Christmas, they’d heard brief snippets of her life with Stephen. She made sure she always gave details of what was going on with his family, hoping they’d understand the relationship was serious. As time wore on, she got the feeling her mother was warming slightly to him. Anne hoped she’d help convince her father and brother.
 

Mark was the first to respond to Stephen’s statement, but he directed his reply to Anne. “So
now
you’re pregnant.”
 

“Jeez. No.” She rolled her eyes. “Will you give me some credit?”

Mary Beth looked at her husband, and everyone could see the relief in their eyes. Stephen gave Anne a nod and dropped the bombshell. “Mr. and Mrs. Norwood, Anne and I are married.”

“What?” Mary Beth exclaimed.

“Oh my God.” Mark shook his head and laughed.

Elton sat motionless and without expression.

After a reassuring glance at Anne, Stephen looked again at her parents. “I realize we haven’t gone about this in the traditional route. I mean no disrespect; I did tell you at Christmas I wanted to marry her. So instead of asking you for her hand, I’m asking for your blessing. We eloped on Saturday.”

“You did? How? Where?” her mother asked, her mouth agape.

“We were married at my family’s cabin in West Virginia by a family friend who’s a federal judge. Senator Grayson York and his wife, Laura, were our witnesses. It was a very respectable wedding. I love Anne more than anything in the world, more than my own life and certainly my career. Will you give us your blessing?”

Elton sat in silence, maintaining his expressionless stare. Mary Beth’s eyes flicked down to the rings on their hands, and her eyebrows rose at the diamond Anne wore. She caught Elton’s eye and gave the tiniest of nods toward the ring. Finally, Anne could decode their silent communication, for it was one she’d seen before. It was the look they gave one another when something serious had taken place that needed special attention.

Elton spoke calmly. “You told me you wanted to marry her. You said you wanted to earn my blessing. But you also told me you were going to wait until after the election. What made you change your mind?”

“I wanted to, Dad.” Anne’s voice was strong as she claimed her own ground as an adult. “There was no reason to wait.”

Elton nodded at his wife, and Anne awaited her opinion. Her mother was a practical woman. Anne hoped that she’d see her daughter was happy with a man who loved her. And her new son-in-law was a United States Senator from a hallowed family with significant wherewithal. Mary Beth looked at the dazzling jewels on Anne’s hand one more time. The ring said it all. Stephen McEvoy was a catch, and Anne had caught him—hook, line, and sinker.
 

She smiled. “Well, Anne, you certainly have made your life more complicated than it needed to be, but it
is
your choice. We still love you, and I see you’re happy. Congratulations, sweetheart.”

“Oh, Mom,” she said as she reached to hug her mother. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, dear. We just want you to be happy.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Norwood.” Stephen smiled.

Everyone looked at Elton, waiting his opinion on the matter. He cleared his voice and spoke directly to Stephen. “You have my blessing—not because I think this is a choice Anne should have made. Her mother and I both think she’s too young to get married, and we’d say that regardless of who the man was. But you have my blessing because I love my daughter, despite her decisions, and you’ve acted about as honorably and honestly as you could, given your situation.”

“Thank you, Mr. Norwood. I appreciate that.”
 

“Thanks, Dad,” Anne said as she walked around to give him a hug.

As they closed their arms around one another, he finally smiled. “I love you, Annie.”
 

“I love you, Dad,” she replied, holding back her tears.

Mark squeezed her arm as she walked to her seat. “I guess everybody’s cool with it, so I am, too. Congratulations. Good going. Nothing I do in life will compare to this.”

Anne punched him in the arm. “Yeah, right.”

“I assume you’re going to make a formal statement,” Elton said.

“Yes, we will,” Anne replied.

Stephen looked at his new in-laws with all seriousness. “Let me tell you how we’ve planned this.” He described their plans to go public, but left out the meeting with Langford. Anne would raise that later.
 

“Mom, Dad, you don’t have to be there if you don’t want to,” Anne said.

Elton looked at his wife, and she nodded. Without a wasting a moment, he replied, “We’ll be there.”

“We will?” asked Mark in complete confusion.

Elton shrugged. “They’re married now. That changes everything. I don’t want to be estranged from my daughter.” He turned to Anne. “What statement does it make if we’re not with you when you announce this? It makes it look like we’ve shunned you—maybe even for political reasons. It couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Mary Beth smiled. “We’re still a family, Anne. We want this marriage to work.”

“Damn,” Mark said as he took a drink of coffee. “I guess it makes sense. I don’t want you hanging out there alone.”

Anne wiped away the tears that flooded her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“I can’t begin to express my appreciation to you all,” Stephen said as he put his arm around Anne. “And I have to say my family is going to be very happy to meet you—my mother especially.”

As they talked about the plans for the next day, Anne became anxious. It was time to bring up Langford. “Dad, I know you don’t want to talk politics tomorrow, but I wondered if it would be best for you to give Langford a heads-up. Stephen and I think it would be a good idea.”

Elton nodded. “I actually thought of it myself, but I didn’t want to press it with you. It’s your day tomorrow, not mine.”

“Well, would you be up for it?”

“Sure, let me see if I can get some time with him today.” He smiled. “We’re going to Denver anyway.”