Building blocks by desig.., p.22
Building Blocks (By Design Book 7), page 22
“Why do I not like the sound of this?”
“Dana…”
“Candy, what could he possibly have?”
Candace took a deep breath and let it out forcefully. “My grandfather,” she said. “My grandfather was Pearl’s father.”
Dana’s jaw dropped to her knees. She had wondered what Jessica’s cryptic dialogue had been pointing her to. “Does Pearl know?”
“Yes, she knows.”
“Oh, my God, Candy. I don’t know that I can keep Klein from…”
“It’s not Pearl I am worried about. She can handle it. Frankly, I think it might be a relief for her.”
“If you are worried about the political fallout, I can’t see that revelation impacting you or any of the policies we are driving all that much.”
“No, maybe not. I suspect he is going to weave a fairytale about Laura. If I am right, he will assert that I am somehow responsible for feeding her delusions with my feminist principles.”
“Not following.”
“Dana…Laura…Laura was abused by her brother. Lawson knew. You should know, from the little that I do know, it wasn’t Mark Klein who was punished or counseled for his behavior.”
Dana closed her eyes and shook her head. “Why would he want that out?”
Candace shrugged. “I said that he will tell a fairytale.”
“You think he is going to say that Laura made that up and that her view of reality is distorted? That you are now encouraging that path?
“Yes, I do.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Well, it’s only a guess, but I am betting he is afraid that Laura will come forward,” Candace guessed. “And, he wants a chance to tell the story first. Make it his story. Paint her as the perpetrator and his family as the victim.”
“Again, why? To defame you? That’s insane, even for Lawson Klein. Candy, that won’t score any points for him with anyone already in your corner. In fact, it will probably strengthen their support. And, honestly, the people who are always on the fence? This is not the kind of message to sway them, particularly not out of an election cycle. The only ones he will gain any clout with are the ones who are already on his bandwagon.”
“I know.”
“So?” Dana asked again. “I understand the reasoning he has on your grandfather’s legacy. I even get how he might benefit from connecting Jonah to that…at least, in some circles. Why expose this? It’s a gamble for him.”
“I’m not sure. Either he’s even more arrogant than we give him credit for or he’s afraid he’ll be hung out to dry if he doesn’t come up with something. I don’t care what the motivation is. It will devastate Laura. And, frankly…”
“I think I know what you are going to say. Look, I will try and hold the wolves at bay for a few days. Throw some bones out there that raise fuchsia flags at the press. The red ones don’t seem to catch their attention anymore.”
Candace smiled wanly and sighed. “Do what you can. Call Jessica. Tell her what I told you.”
“Jessica again?”
“Just do it, Dana,” Candy said. “I hate to do this to you. Get your team ready and I will have Susan schedule a meeting for tomorrow night here.”
“Candy, are you up to all of this yet?”
“Do I have a choice?” Candace returned.
“Why don’t you just go home tonight…”
“No, we promised Spencer. And, I have a meeting at eight in the morning with Brett Stein from the city’s environmental protection department. It can’t wait. Heaven knows the last thing we need is an issue with New York City’s water. I want to review the risks and concerns he has. I will head back after that. I had planned to spend the rest of the afternoon reviewing the budget proposal with Dan. It’s fine. Dan prefers evenings. Actually, more like late nights.” Candace chuckled. “I can meet with him late.”
“And, what about you?”
“Dana, I don’t have the luxury of me right now. We both know that.”
“I do, but…”
“Stop worrying about me. Worry about stalling this Klein debacle so that I don’t have to.”
Dana got up from her seat and nodded. “I can…”
“And, greasy food be damned. Make sure there are chicken wings at tomorrow’s meeting,” Candace tried to lighten the mood.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Good.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Scott sat quietly in a chair observing Marianne as she tried to comfort a cranky Maddie. He was grateful to be sitting in his aunt’s living room with Jameson’s step-daughter. Scott had no illusions about what had been the catalyst to healing the long rift that had separated him from Jameson—Candace. He had missed his cousin and his best friend for years. When their cousin Craig had died from an overdose, Jameson had pulled away deliberately from Scott. He had understood. That had not changed the fact that the separation had served as another heartbreak in his young life. He had felt incredibly alone in his guilt and his grief. Ultimately, he had turned his pain and his frustration into determination—determination to help anyone he could heal from the devastation that addiction caused in people’s lives.
Scott also understood that addiction came in many forms. Most people thought of addiction in terms of alcohol and drugs. People could become addicted to nearly anything, so much so that it became detrimental to their quality of life. He had counseled men and women with addictions to bad relationships, food, work, sex, even to grief itself. Marianne had impressed him. That was something that he had not shared with her. He was not sure that she was ready to hear that, and he was positive she would be unable to accept that as the truth. Marianne still lingered in doubt, seeing her inevitable moments of emotional struggle as weakness. Scott was aware of that. Marianne did not see the strength that she possessed. In less than six months’ time, she had learned to cope with her grief far better than Scott would have expected, and with grace. He believed that giving Marianne the opportunity to help lead others through that grief would likely serve as another stepping stone in her healing process. He smiled as she cooed to the baby on her shoulder. Maddie rubbed her eyes, stopped fussing and put her head on Marianne’s shoulder.
“See? You are great at reassuring people,” Scott told Marianne.
Marianne looked across the room at Scott. “Not quite the same thing.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I don’t have any kids, but I’d have to imagine that keeping calm with two of them is a lot more difficult than what I do.”
“Only when they are teething,” she winked at him.
“I am so glad none of us can remember that,” Scott said absently, looking into his coffee cup.
Marianne tried to keep her laughter to a dull roar. The serious expression on Scott’s face amused her. “That would be terrible,” she offered.
Scott looked back up at Marianne. She lifted her eyebrow at him. “It’s got to hurt,” he said thoughtfully. “Something poking through your gums,” he shuddered at the thought.
“Try childbirth,” Marianne deadpanned.
Scott shuddered again. “There’s a reason we don’t do that,” he said. Marianne was curious, and Scott continued. “Men, I mean. No way,” he gave his assessment. “We were not built for pain.”
Marianne laughed, and Maddie fussed. “Sorry,” she whispered into Maddie’s ear, patting her daughter’s back while she continued to chuckle. She looked back at Scott quizzically. “Not that I mean to pry, but I’m surprised you aren’t married with your own brood. You and J.D. are kid magnets.”
Scott shrugged. “I don’t know. Me and J.D. are big kids,” he joked. Marianne looked at him expectantly. Scott sighed. “I guess I just haven’t found the right person.”
“Have you even looked?” Marianne teased.
“No,” Scott laughed.
“That’s what I thought.”
“Did you? Look?” he wondered.
“Maybe. To tell you the truth, I don’t remember. One day Rick was just there and he never left.”
Scott nodded. “Yeah, that hasn’t happened to me.”
“It will.”
Scott offered Marianne a doubtful smile and changed the subject. “I get the feeling that you are a little worried about the group.”
“I guess I am still not sure what makes you think I am the right person for this.”
Scott knew that nothing he could tell Marianne would reassure her. Her confidence would grow as she worked with the group. He had learned over the years to recognize the best people to lead, and in almost every case, those individuals entered their new roles with skepticism. It was not skepticism born of fear or self-doubt. It was humility. Scott recognized that Marianne’s loss had humbled her. That is precisely what he knew would make her successful. He smiled at her and nodded. “Nothing I say will change how you feel walking into that room.”
Marianne was surprised. “Not what I expected you to say.”
“I know. I also know it’s true.”
“So, no advice?”
“Be yourself,” he said.
“That’s it?”
“Yep, pretty much. We’ll see how you feel tomorrow afternoon,” he said with a smile.
“A little confident?”
“Only about the things I know.”
Marianne narrowed her gaze. “You must be seeing something that I don’t.”
Scott nodded but said nothing. “Yes, I do,” he thought silently.
***
“Nana?” Spencer called into the door of the Governor’s Mansion. He looked up to Jameson. “Where is Nana?” he asked.
“I don’t know, Spence,” Jameson answered. “I guess we will have to try and find her.”
Spencer beamed with excitement. The familiar game of Hide and Seek was not one that he was able to play most days at “the big red house” as Spencer called it. Jameson was positive that Candace would have welcomed Spencer’s game anytime. But, Jameson also knew that both Spencer and Cooper needed to learn that there were boundaries. She had spoken briefly with Candace earlier in the afternoon, and Jameson thought that some playfulness with Spencer might be exactly what Governor Candace Reid was in need of.
“Well?” Jameson encouraged Spencer. “Let’s get going. I’m getting hungry. We need to find Nana soon.”
“Nana!” Spencer called as he moved through the hallway. “Nana!”
***
Jonah walked into the bedroom he shared with Laura and stopped abruptly. Laura was sitting on the edge of the bed, her phone in her left hand while her face rested in her right.
“Laura? Who were you talking to?” he asked.
Laura picked up her head slowly and shook it despairingly. She sighed and closed her eyes. “My mother.”
Jonah was stunned into silence for a moment. “You called your mother?”
“No, she called me.”
Jonah took a deep breath and made his way to Laura’s side. He gently stroked her back in reassurance. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Laura shook her head again. Most times, she was unsure how to talk about her family. She loved her mother. And, Laura could recall a time when she had laughed with her mother and cried in her mother’s embrace. Distance had crept between them long before Laura Klein had left for college. It had left a hole in Laura’s heart that she had yet to find a way to explain to anyone. When little Jameson had been born, Laura had found her despair over her mother’s lack of support and affection had turned to palpable anger. As a mother, Laura simply could not fathom treating a child that way.
“I don’t know that there is anything to say,” Laura told Jonah.
“What did she want?”
“I really don’t know,” she confessed. “She asked me to consider coming home. It would be easier for everyone, she said.” Laura let out a caustic chuckle. “Easier? Easier for them? I’m supposed to leave my family? I mean, honestly? Like she would have ever done that. Certainly not for me.”
Jonah’s emotions floated between sadness and fury. He leaned in and kissed Laura on her temple, pulling her closer. “It is; you know? Your family? Us, I mean.”
Laura pulled back slightly. She caressed Jonah’s cheek and smiled genuinely. “I hope so.”
Jonah nodded and sucked in a nervous breath.
Laura felt Jonah tremble slightly next to her. “Jonah? Something wrong?”
“No,” Jonah replied. He looked at Laura. “I suck at romance.”
“What?” Laura giggled.
Jonah sighed. “Thing is, I’ve been thinking…”
“About?” Laura prodded.
“About our family,” he said.
“In what way?” Laura wondered.
“Well…In the way that would make it official. I mean, would make you officially part of my family. Not that you aren’t as far as everyone is concerned. I mean, you know…You know Mom and J.D., they think of you as…”
“Jonah?”
“And, I mean you and me…Well, I already think of us as…”
“Jonah!” Laura called for Jonah’s attention. Jonah snapped to attention and looked at Laura. Laura smiled sweetly. “What on earth are you waffling on about?” she teased.
“Making it official. Getting married.”
“Are you asking me to marry you?” she asked him curiously.
“Yeah, I guess I am.”
“Really?”
“What do you mean—really? That’s surprising?” he asked.
Laura kept smiling. “Yes.”
“Why is it surprising? We have a son. We love each other. I want to be with you. I mean, I don’t know what that…”
Laura giggled. “Yes, I will marry you…If you are asking,” she teased. Jonah tipped his head in confusion. “Jonah? Are you?” she asked lightly.
“Will you?” he asked again.
“I already said yes,” she pointed out.
“You did?”
“Yes, about two seconds ago,” Laura reminded him.
“Are you sure?” Jonah asked.
“Are you?” she returned playfully.
“Completely.”
Laura nodded. “Jonah, you do realize that my father and…”
“I don’t give a shit what your father or brother says about me.”
“Good,” Laura told him.
“They’d better not hurt you ever again,” Jonah said flatly.
“I’m okay,” Laura said.
“I’m telling you,” Jonah began. “I mean it. They had better leave you out of it.”
Laura smiled at Jonah, but with evident sadness. “Honey, that is not going to happen. At least, not for a long time. I love you for wanting to protect me. You can’t. Not from them. Only I can do that.”
“Laura…”
“It’s true. As long as I have you and J.J. I will be all right.”
Jonah leaned in and kissed Laura softly. “Not the most romantic proposal, huh? I’d hoped to do something more traditional.”
Laura’s eyes lit up, and she winked at Jonah. “Nothing about our relationship has been traditional,” she reminded him. “I’m not sure I would want to change that now.”
Jonah laughed. “I do love you, you know?”
“I hope so. You’re going to be stuck with me now.”
“Nah, you’re the one getting the short end of the stick,” he quipped. “You get stuck with my crazy family.”
Laura shook her head. “For that, I will never be able to thank you enough,” she said honestly. “But, I can try,” she told him, placing a playful kiss on his neck.
“Uhhh…Uhh…Laura?” Jonah whimpered as she teased him.
“Hum?”
“Uhh…Ummm…Uhhh…It’s one o’clock in the afternoon,” he pointed out when Laura’s hand began unbuttoning his dress shirt.
“So? As I recall, J.J. was conceived in the afternoon.”
“Uhhh…Mmm…Yeah, but that was before we…Oh, Jesus! Before we had…”
“If you are not quiet, you’ll wake him up from his nap, and I won’t get to finish what I am starting,” Laura whispered.
“Oh…Yeah…I mean…Oh, God!”
“And, my father worries that I lost religion. He doesn’t know this family at all,” Laura giggled as she continued.
“Sweet Jesus!”
Laura laughed. “If only he knew,” she thought.
***
“Nana?” Spencer asked as Candace lifted the covers to tuck him in.
“Yes, Spencer?”
“Coop gets twee mommies?”
Candace smiled at her grandson. “Yes, he does,” she agreed. Spencer frowned. “Spencer?”
Spencer looked up at Candace pensively. “Jay Jay gots one mommy and one daddy.”
“Well, I guess that’s true. Some people only get one of each.”
Spencer scratched his head. “Mommy gots one mommy too.”
“Well, that’s true, Spencer. Your mommy has me as her mommy. Is there something you are worried about?” Candace wondered.
“Can evewybody have that?”
Candace nodded and took a seat on the edge of Spencer’s bed. “Can anyone have more than one mommy or daddy?” she asked him. Spencer nodded. “Sure they can.”
“I have lots of grandmas,” Spencer observed.
“Yes, I guess you do.”
“More den Coop, cause Coop’s got you and Jay Jay as mommies.”
“That’s true.”
“So…I gets more grandmas and he gets more mommies.”
Candace grinned. She had grown accustomed to the loving rivalry that existed between siblings. In many ways, Spencer and Cooper existed like siblings. They spent a great deal of time together and were continually cared for by the same adults. She also suspected that Spencer was curious about his father; could he have another daddy someday? Candace was aware that he had already asked Marianne that question. Marianne had told Spencer that maybe one day he would, but that she could not promise him that. Candace brushed Spencer’s bangs aside gently.
“You know, Spencer you can love as many people as you want to. Sometimes you might call them Mom or Dad or Nana. Sometimes you just call them by their name but you still love them as if they were your mom or your dad or maybe your brother or sister. Like Grandma Pearl, that’s a good example. She isn’t really my mother and most of the time I call her Pearl, but in my heart?” Candace looked at him. Spencer looked at her curiously. “Right in here,” Candace pointed to her heart. “Pearl will always be my mom.”
