The Magnolia Affair (24 page)

“That’s not too uncommon in a marriage.” I chose my words carefully.

“It’s not at all. However, I learned that it’s my responsibility to help my husband see things more clearly.”

“Oh.”

“We can do that you know. Help our husbands.” She watched me. I wondered if her makeup was permanently applied. Every line was precise.

“I try to help Pax any way I can.”

Her grip on my knee tightened. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say. Yes, help him. Help him see what issues really matter. What will help the people who got you to that gorgeous mansion in Columbia.”

If she was threatening me, she was skilled at hiding it with compliments and smiles. If it was advice she was giving, she wasn’t as good at offering clear instructions. Either way, the entire exchange left me feeling uncomfortable.

“Us wives need to stick together, Audrey.”

I smiled. “You know I think Pax is getting ready to speak, and he hates it when I’m not there. Confidence booster or something.” I flattened my skirt to rise.

“Of course. I’ll be looking forward to visiting you in the mansion soon.”

“We would enjoy a visit,” I lied.

“Good. I’ll send you a list of guests for our first dinner party so you’ll have it.” She turned the antique doorknob. “Monty and I have a particular circle that will fit nicely in the capital.”

I plastered a grin on my face and forced my eyebrows to stay put. “I’ll speak to Pax.”

“Wonderful.”

I took my seat at the head table next to Mr. Porter and clapped when Pax took the stage. The conversation had turned my stomach. I picked through my salad and pushed the grilled salmon around my plate.

“You ok?” Pax leaned against my shoulder. “You’re not eating much.” It had taken him fifteen minutes to make it back to the table after he addressed the crowd.

“I’m just tired. All the traveling on the bus is catching up to me. No need to worry.”

“Hmm…why don’t I have the car take you to the hotel, and I’ll meet you there after the dinner?”

“I guess it would be asking too much to take you with me?” I hoped he would surprise me with his answer.

His expression said everything.

“I shouldn’t have asked.” I folded the napkin in my lap.

“I have to wait until the end of the night. These are my most loyal and supportive donors.” He kept his voice low.

“I know. I know. I miss you. That’s all.”

Mr. Porter tapped him on the shoulder. “Join me for a cigar?” He retrieved a pair from the inside of his tuxedo jacket. “Sorry, Audrey. It’s a gentlemen-only drawing room. I think Chantal has after-dinner drinks on the way for the ladies, though.”

God, I’d never leave this place.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Pax kissed me on the cheek. “I promise I’ll get you out of here soon.”

He disappeared behind a set of heavy doors. I could only imagine what other promises he was making tonight.

Three hours later, we sat together in the back of Pax’s Town Car. He smelled like cognac and traces of cigar smoke. My head rested on his shoulder.

“Thank you.” He rubbed my shoulder.

“For what?” I kicked my heels on the floorboard.

“For being an amazing wife. Monty told me Chantal likes you.”

“Is that what she said?” I sat upright.

“Yes, you made quite an impression on her. Whatever you said, she liked. So thank you.”

“I don’t know that it was something you’d like.”

He chuckled. “Let me guess. She expects some kind of favor when you’re first lady. A big party perhaps?”

I stared at him. “How did you know?”

“I’m running for governor. Everybody wants something. I’m a fool if I didn’t think they would ask you for favors too. It’s part of the game, baby.”

“And you’re ok with this?”

“I wouldn’t say ok. I would say used to it.”

“But, there’s no way you can promise favors to everyone. You’re making false promises.”

“You can’t take it so literally. They can do the math. They know there are more of them than me. Of course I can’t meet all those requests. But, it’s part of the charade. They give me money. I tell them I’ll listen to them when the time comes. It’s part of the campaign system.”

“But, what happens when you don’t deliver? You’re going to upset so many people.”

“Trust me. It will all work out.”

He tried to press my head back to his shoulder. “You’re not worried?” I asked.

“Do I look worried?”

“No, you look calm and maybe a little drunk.”

He laughed. “And you don’t look drunk enough.” He somehow managed to work his way through the layers of my dress, and his hand ran between my legs.

I slapped at his chest. “We’re in the car.” I tilted my head to where the driver was. He seemed to be lost in his jazz music.

“Then I recommend you be quiet, Mrs. Tanner.” His eyes fired.

I began to protest again, but his fingers were skilled and I hadn’t let on to how many drinks were running through my body.

“How far is the hotel?” I whispered, reaching for his zipper.

“I got us a room in Hilton Head for the night. We have an hour. Would you rather wait?” His free hand landed on the switch for the interior window. I heard it slide upward. “Because I don’t know if that’s a promise I can make right now.”

I popped the button of his tuxedo pants and moved to cross one knee over his waist. I smiled wickedly.

“I like how you think, Mrs. Tanner.”

“I miss you.” I wrapped my hands around his neck.

His eyes closed. “I miss this.”

By the following week, I was back in Charleston. I had a slight reprieve from reading to schoolchildren to take care of some personal matters.

There weren’t many attorneys we could trust with the details of Corinne’s adoption, but I had one in mind. Stella Price arrived at the beach house with a manila envelope tucked under her arm. Pax was pacing the kitchen on a call about a blog that was criticizing his approach to corporate tax cuts. I tried to remind him it probably wouldn’t be the last cyber opponent he faced.

“Hey, Stella. Come in.” I opened the door for her.

“Your new house is beautiful.” She walked through the foyer.

This woman had heard my shameful secret before it was leaked to the world, and knew my husband. She didn’t judge or reprimand me. She forged ahead, giving me legal advice, feeding me bits of undeserved comfort. I wanted her to help with the adoption, but now that she was in my house, I felt waves of the past. Flashes of seeing her work with Spencer.

“How are you?” she asked.

“Good.” I sat across from her on the couch. “Can I get you anything? Pax is just finishing up a call. He’ll join us in a second.”

“No, I’m fine. This will only take a few minutes. It’s fairly standard paperwork.”

I tilted my head. “It is?”

“Yes. I know you and Senator Tanner need it to be a sealed adoption. That isn’t so unusual. It happens more often than you know.”

“As long as everyone involved is protected.” I needed this to be solid. It was the only way I was able to get him to agree.

Stella pulled a stack of papers marked with sticky flags. “I can go over it with you, or just leave it here for you two to read. All the places you need to sign are flagged.”

Pax was still making circles in the kitchen. His voice escalating every few seconds. I was irritated he wasn’t making Corinne’s paperwork a priority right now.

“Maybe you should just leave them,” I suggested. “He can explain the legal speak.”

“All right. And you can call me too if you have any questions.”

“Thanks, Stella.”

“How is the girl’s mother doing?”

My eyes dropped to the floor. “Not well. She’s thinner every time I see her.”

“Cancer’s a bitch.” She said it like she had crossed paths with the disease.

“It is.”

We stood on the front porch. A cluster of rain clouds hovered nearby. The seagulls were squawking overhead.

“Thanks again for handling all of this and being so discreet. It means a lot to me, and to Paxton.”

“You can call me anytime. I mean that, Audrey.”

She hugged me, and then drove off in her red sports car, the top down. Her hair flying behind her.

The sprinkles began to dot the porch; I returned to the house. Pax smiled triumphantly. “We found a way to get the blog site shut down.”

“Uh…that’s great.”

“What? I’m tired of that guy hiding behind his anonymous page. If he has something to say, he can be a real reporter and ask me a question.”

“Did you even see Stella walk in the house?”

“Did she leave?”

“Yes. She dropped off the adoption papers. I wanted to go over it together.”

“I can read through them in five minutes. Where are they?”

“That’s not the point. I want you to be focused on this. We’re adopting your daughter. Being governor is important, but this is family, Pax. Family.”

“I said I’d look over it.” He grabbed the file from the coffee table.

“Is this how it’s going to be with our baby? Are you going to be too busy to change diapers or play? No time for homework because you have a state dinner? You’re going to miss soccer games because some blogger accuses you of mis-spending? Because if this is you being a dad, I think we need to have another conversation.”

He dropped the file, the papers sliding out of the folder. “Is that what you think?”

“I don’t know.” I sighed. “Together. You promised me everything together, and that’s not how things are.”

He grabbed me by the shoulders. “After the campaign, it will be different. I promise you.”

“And until then?”

He wrapped his arms around me. “I’ll make some changes in my schedule. I’ll be here when I’m here.” He brushed the hair off my neck. “Don’t change your mind.”

“I won’t.” I studied him. “Can we sign the papers now? I want this to be official.”

He let me go, and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He held the top button until the screen blackened. “No more distractions. I’m all yours. Let’s go over this.”

I sat next to him and listened while he explained how the adoption worked. After these were signed, I would be someone’s mother.