A Political Affair (12 page)

Anne knew what she was getting at, so she decided to get her family baggage out in the open. “My father is Elton Norwood—the district attorney.”

“Yes, I know of your family.” Mrs. McEvoy’s voice became cautious. “Your grandfather was a Republican attorney general.”

“Yes, that’s my grandpa.”

“So why are you working for my son?” Her tone was one of friendly interrogation, and she didn’t blink.

Meeting the woman’s steady gaze, Anne held her ground. “Well, I’m a Democrat, despite my family.”

“What do your parents say to that?” She raised an eyebrow. “Especially your father?”

“My dad says he has more important things to worry about than where I’m interning my senior year of college. My mom just wants me to be happy.”

“So you’re the little black sheep of the family?” Without waiting for an answer, she smiled, which put Anne at ease. “I like that.”

“I guess I am. My brother doesn’t have any interest in politics. He’s in med school—though he is a Republican.”
 

After a moment, Mrs. McEvoy brushed some dust off her suit jacket as if she was contemplating something. “Hmmm. Well, your family is known to be moderate—more reasonable than the right wing that’s taken over that party.”
 

“Believe me, my dad is plenty conservative, but he’s not a social conservative. He really only cares about crime and overregulation. Oh, and taxes, especially taxes.”

“Why has he never run for a higher office? A moderate Republican can do quite well in Colorado.”

“Oh, no.” Anne shook her head. “Neither of my parents wants to be under the microscope of a statewide campaign.”

“Very smart of them. Things are different today than when Patrick first ran in the sixties. I think Stephen is having a hard time adjusting to the scrutiny.” She regarded Anne again for a moment. “So, what do you think of the new Senator McEvoy?”

“Um. He’s . . . Senator McEvoy is very nice . . . impressive, really.” She kept her smile frozen.
Shit. I almost said Stephen.
 

“That’s good to hear. As the only child in the entire McEvoy family interested in elected office, he’s very driven, but he’s still my sweet boy. I’m glad you think he’s a nice person.”
 

“He is.” Certain the conversation would only become more uncomfortable, Anne decided it was time to leave.
 

“Mrs. McEvoy, it’s been wonderful talking with you. I appreciate you sharing your story.”

“Please, call me Lillian. I’ve enjoyed our conversation immensely. You cheered me up. I’ll stop by the office one day and say hello.”

“Thank you. That would be very nice.”
But what on earth will Stephen think? I need to get out of here.
She looked around the empty benches. “Did you come here alone? Can I walk you somewhere? I’m going to Union Station.”

“Oh, no, dear. That’s not necessary.” She patted her on the knee. “My driver is waiting in the car nearby. I can make it there myself. Thank you again for a lovely visit. I’m so glad I met you.”

On Sunday morning, Stephen taped an interview for a news program with the Denver ABC affiliate. The piece was scheduled to play back-to-back with a similar interview featuring Dan Langford. As Patty, Megan, and Stephen exited the elevator of the television station, Dan Langford entered with his campaign manager, Trey Johnson. The two rivals locked eyes for a moment. Stephen cast a quick glance at Megan and Patty to make sure they saw who approached them.

“Hello, Dan.” In order to take the high road, Stephen was the first to extend his hand. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Yes, you, too,” Langford replied awkwardly.

Stephen liked that he seemed to have disarmed him. He pushed it further. “Have you met—”

“Yes, we’ve all met before,” Patty snipped. “Stephen, I think it’s time we got going.”

“Ah, yes.” Stephen didn’t want to end on a negative note so he magnanimously gave Langford some advice. “The questions are all softballs—just watch out for the one on the differences between the House and Senate health care bills. Good luck.”

“Er. Thanks . . . very much.” Langford seemed ruffled. “Have a good day.”

Stephen walked away, only to hear Langford call to him. When he turned around, Langford wore a suspicious stare. “I forgot to ask you about something.”

“What’s that?”
 

“I understand a friend of my family is interning for you right now.”

“Really? Who?” Stephen knew exactly where Langford was going. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Megan’s cautionary expression. He guessed she wanted to make sure he betrayed nothing. Patty, on the other hand, glared at Langford.
 

“Anne Norwood,” Langford answered with a smug smile.

“Yes. I know her.” Stephen kept his practiced impassive face. “Her family is well-known. I believe her father is friends with my chief of staff’s family.”
 

“She’s a pretty girl, don’t you think?” Langford pursed his lips, raising his eyebrows.

“And?” Stephen knew better than to say anything to such a question.
 

“Nothing.” He shrugged. “I just guessed you’d take a shine to a girl like her.”
 

Stephen met his stare, but didn’t reply. Instead, he turned on his heel and left the building with Patty and Megan following behind. All were quiet until they got into the car when Patty erupted.

“What the fuck? Why did you even talk to him? All you had to do was say ‘hello’ and move on.”

“It was the right thing to do,” he answered tersely.

“He’s right,” agreed Megan. “Stephen is the incumbent, and we’re leading in the polls, if narrowly. We can’t have stories where Stephen is anything less than cordial and gracious to Langford.”

“Agreed, but you gave him an opportunity to needle you.”

Staring out the window, he ignored his elder sister in the backseat, but he still heard her mutter, “And he better not be right about Anne.”

Stephen glanced at Megan, who frowned and shook her head.
 

Anxiety kept Anne on edge for days. Naturally, she was a little uneasy over her performance on the LSAT, but she was mainly anxious about Stephen. Would he regret opening up to her? What would he say about her conversation with his mother?

She kept her eyes and ears open for signs he’d returned from his trip, but there was nothing. It all made her feel strange and sad.
How can I be involved with someone when we have no communication?

When he tapped her shoulder on Wednesday morning, she jumped from her seat in surprise. She’d been listening to her iPod as she read through some constituent mail. Startled, she pulled out her ear buds and looked up. A shy smiled spread across her face.
 

“Hi,” she said.

“Hello. How are you?” He smiled.

“Good, but you snuck up on me again.” She was too tickled not to flirt.

“I don’t mean to, but it’s kind of fun to see your reactions.”

“Oh, thanks. I wish I could do it to you.”

“That makes two of us,” he whispered with a smirk.

Her jaw dropped, and she shook her head.

“Senator, I’m sorry to interrupt.”
 

Anne and Stephen turned as his secretary stood before them. Stephen shrugged. “It’s fine. What do you need?”

“For security, the White House needs the name of your companion for the state dinner next month. I was going to tell them you would be taking Congresswoman Schultz. Is that correct?”

Anne’s heart stopped, and she glanced at Stephen before she quickly looked away. She didn’t want to hear his answer. He needed a date for such an occasion, and it couldn’t be her.

“No. I won’t be taking Diane. I’ll take Patty, or if she can’t go, I’ll take my mother.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. I’ll inform them right away.” She seemed embarrassed for presuming too much.
 

“Don’t worry about it. You can check with Patty when she’s back on Friday. She extended her trip.”
 

As his secretary walked away, Stephen looked at Anne, who gave him an uncomfortable smile. In a low voice, he said, “Megan may need to talk with you later—probably after four.” He punctuated it with a wink.

“Okay. I’ll be here if she needs me.”

Stephen left her with a smile. She turned around and grinned at the stack of letters. It was obvious he had no regrets, and he wanted to talk again which made her tingly. She checked the clock on her computer screen to see how long she had to wait until four.

In between his meetings that day, Stephen slipped into Megan’s office and closed the door. “I need a favor.”

“I’m guessing the favor involves an intern.”
 

“Yes. I’m sorry.” He knew he needed to make amends. “I know I promised to tell you more. I’ve wanted to, but our trip was busy. I promise to talk with you and Patty as soon as she’s back in town.”
 

“Okay. You know, Mom wants us all over for brunch on Saturday. Maybe we can talk then.”
 

“Yes. But not
at
brunch—maybe after. I don’t want to talk in front of Mom.” He dreaded having to tell his mother about Anne even more than talking to Patty.

“Well, depending on how far this goes, you’re going to have to tell her at some point. She needs to know as much as Patty and I.”

Stephen’s mouth twitched, but he nodded in agreement. Even when his father was alive, nothing was done that might put the political position of the family at risk without conferring with his mother. Patty inherited her shrewdness from their mother more so than their father. “Okay.”
 

“I just want a little information about what’s going on.”

“I want to be friends with her.” He shrugged.

“
Friends
? Patty’s never going to believe you.” She rolled her eyes.

“Friends for now,” he grumbled.

“Okay. And in the future?”

“Can we take this one step at a time?”

“So what can I do for you right now?” Megan asked.

“Would you be willing to ask Anne to come to your office and let us talk alone for a few minutes? I have a short break between four and four-fifteen.”

“Alone? As in door closed?” She skewed her mouth in distaste. “That’s not what we agreed to.”