By Design (6 page)

“Oh no.”

“I pointed out that her fortune cookie predicted
she would meet a friend from her past….”

“I don’t believe this.”

“And, so here we are,” Jameson said. She opened
the carrier and retrieved a small black kitten with bright green eyes. “Jinx,
meet Pearl. Pearl, this is Jinx.”

Pearl flopped into a chair in disbelief. “Candy
let you get her a cat?”

“No, she let me get you a cat,” Jameson said with
a grin.

Pearl shook her head. “Jameson, I never thought
I’d say
this, but
I think Candy has finally
met her match.” She took the kitten from Jameson’s hands and looked at it in
amusement.

“Jinx will give her a run for her money,” Jameson
agreed.

Pearl stood up with the kitten in her hands and
laughed. “I wasn’t referring to the cat.”

Candace played with
the glasses that sat on the bridge of her nose. She was making every attempt to
concentrate on the papers in front of her. It had been a long and tedious day
that lingered in the middle of what had already become an arduous week. She
pulled off her glasses and rubbed her tired eyes. Only one more week before the
holiday break. She was looking forward to a slight reprieve. She was not at all
sure that four days at Marianne’s home would provide any tangible refreshment.

“Senator?” Susan’s
voice broke through Candace’s private musings.

“What is it, Susan?”

“Dana is here.”

“Send her in.”

Dana walked into the
senator’s office and regarded the dark circles under Candy’s eyes. “Long day?”
she asked.

Candace looked up and
offered her friend a half-hearted smile. “Long life,” she quipped. Dana nodded
her understanding just as Candy’s cell phone buzzed. Candy held up a finger to
her friend to give her a moment. “Yes?” she answered the phone a bit playfully.

“Good afternoon,
Senator Fletcher,” Jameson’s voice greeted.

Candace smiled at the
sound. Dana watched the transformation and wondered what its cause might be.
“What can I do for you?” Candace asked just as her office door
opened,
and Susan peered in.

Susan held up a paper
bag. “Did you order Chinese?” she asked in confusion.

“I don’t know,”
Candace said. “Are there chicken wings in that bag?” she asked.

“There are,” Jameson
answered on the line.

Candace looked at
Susan who was rummaging through the bag. “How many fortune cookies in that
bag?” she asked.

“Looks like four or
five,” Susan answered.

“Let’s hope they
don’t all predict friends from my past,” Candace chuckled.

“I’m sorry?” Susan
asked.

“It’s fine, Susan.
Just set it down,” Candace instructed as she returned her attention to the
phone. “Any predictions?” she asked Jameson.

“Only that you will
be eating Chinese food.”

“Um. Is this your
peace offering for that mangy feline that Pearl
is
already attached
to?” Candace asked.

“He’s not
mangy,
and you were an equal party to that
agreement,” Jameson reminded the senator.

“So, I was,” she
admitted.

“Your email
seemed….well, you just seemed tired,” Jameson said.

Candace noted the
concern in the architect’s voice. “Long week.”

“It’s only
Wednesday,” Jameson said.

“Exactly. Thanks,”
Candace replied gratefully.

“It’s not much.”

“The only thing
missing was the usual delivery driver,” Candace said honestly.

Jameson smiled at the
endearment. “She is working
with
a very
demanding client right now. Doesn’t give her much time to moonlight.”

Candace laughed.
“Sounds like a bitch.”

“No, but I certainly
don’t want to disappoint her.”

Candace closed her
eyes and inhaled the compliment. “I don’t foresee that in your future.”

“No?”

“No, but I do see you
on a plane this weekend,” Candace said.

“Is that so? You
already opening dessert?” Jameson asked.

“Maybe I am….let’s
see – it says,
a lunatic will crash your
Christmas
party
.
”

“Shell is headed to
D.C.?” Jameson asked.

“I was thinking of a
certain snarky architect.”

“She might be moonlighting
that night,” Jameson replied. “She relies on tips; you know?”

Candace laughed.
“Well, let her know that there will be a tip as to the itinerary in her email
later this afternoon.”

“I’ll check her
schedule with the secretary right now, please hold,” Jameson said. Candace
chuckled while she waited
for Jameson
to return.
Dana pretended to peruse some files as she listened. “Master Jinx says he can
clear
her schedule for the weekend if
necessary. He wants to know if there will be wine.”

“Thank Master Jinx
for
me
and assure him every amenity will
be provided
,” Candace said.

“I’ll let him know,”
Jameson said. “Guess, I will see you.”

“Jameson?” Candace
said. Dana looked up abruptly. “Thanks. I needed that today.”

“It’s what I do,”
Jameson said. “Remodeling a day is part of the package.”

“I must have missed
that in the fine print,” Candace returned. “Let me know when you get the
email.”

“I will. I have to
go;
Master Jinx has taken up residence on my
plans.”

Candace laughed. “I
told you they were trouble.”

“Jinx!” Jameson
exclaimed. “Aww, dude! Come on!
Gotta
go
…
”

Candace disconnected
the call. “Why doesn’t anyone ever believe me?” she mused quietly.

Dana looked over at
her boss and lifted an eyebrow. “I’m not sure I want to know what that
conversation was about.”

Candace winked.
“Chinese?”

***

Jameson looked at her
reflection in the mirror. She tugged at her tailored jacket. “Why am I so
nervous?” she asked her reflection.

“Why are you so
nervous?” Dana asked. Jameson spun on her heels. Dana narrowed her gaze at the
architect’s startled expression. “Okay, J.D.;
truth
time
. What is going on with you and Candy?”

“What are you talking
about?” Jameson asked. Dana sat on the edge of the bed in the guest room and
waited for an honest response. “Dana, she’s a client. That’s all.”

“Uh-huh. So, you send
all of your clients Chinese food randomly when they are having a bad day?
Chinese
food you have to arrange to
be delivered
to the
Senate
offices? Just who did you bribe to pull that one off?”

Jameson shrugged. “I
know more people than you think.”

“J.D.”

Jameson sighed.
“She’s a friend.” Dana raised her brow again. “Okay, I like her.”

“You like Senator
Fletcher?”

“No, I like Candace,”
Jameson replied dryly.

“As a friend?”
Jameson turned back to the mirror and sighed. “That’s what I thought. So, why
don’t you do something about it?”

Jameson shrugged. “I
don’t know.”

“J.D., I’ve known
Candy as long as I’ve known you…well, almost. Trust me, she feels the same
way.” Jameson turned back to face her friend. Dana was surprised to see fear
and hopefulness in Jameson’s eyes. She smiled knowingly. “You’re in love with
her.” Jameson did not respond. “Are you?” Jameson plopped down beside Dana and
nodded. Dana put a comforting arm around her friend. “Can’t say I saw that one
coming.”

“Neither did I.”

Dana patted Jameson’s
knee. “Want my advice?”

“Not
really
,” Jameson said.

“Good,” Dana replied.
“Wait; what?” she asked. Jameson snickered.

Dana pinched the
architect’s knee. “Ow!”

“Just take her in
your arms and kiss her senseless,” Dana said.

Jameson laughed.
“Just walk up to Candace, pull her to me and kiss her; that’s your solution?”

“Pretty much,” Dana
said.

“And, she thinks I am
crazy?” Jameson asked.

“Hey, if she kisses
you back; you’ll know.”

“Somehow, Dana…I
think that plan might be flawed.”

“Worked for Steve.”

“Happy for you both,”
Jameson replied.

“Seriously, J.D.; no
matter what she says or does; you will know.”

Jameson gave her
friend an uncomfortable smile. “I guess, we’ll see.”

***

Candace stretched out
on the bed. A quick afternoon nap before all the festivities would begin seemed
deserved. She’d been hosting this Christmas party for twelve years. This event
had become a
sought-after
invitation in
the halls of the Washington D.C. power structure. Some years, even the president
had attended. Candace Fletcher was the perfect host. She had learned that skill
from her mother. Her parties were always elegant and ornate. That was not what
drew the elite. It was Candace’s style and candor that courted her harshest
critics and prompted even her political adversaries to seek an invitation.
Candace was a rare breed in Washington. Her demeanor, her wit, and her ability
to put politics aside for even an evening, harkened back to a different time in
the U.S. Senate. The most senior government officials in Washington had
nicknamed her The Charming Maverick. She was not afraid to go against the
grain, and with just a few words she could charm her most cantankerous opponents.

Candace looked
forward to this event every year. It reminded her of holidays past in her
granddad’s home. The New York social circuit would be abuzz every year about
Governor Stratton’s Christmas party. Businessmen, politicians, the aristocratic
element of the great Empire State all clamored for invitations. Governor and Mrs.
Stratton always invited entire families. The children
were entertained
by an appearance from Santa Claus, games, and
inevitably an old fashioned sleigh ride through the large fields that abutted
the governor’s home. There were no sleigh rides to offer here in Arlington,
Virginia. Candace’s townhome was a fraction the size of the house in New York.
Still, she strived to capture the feeling she remembered as a child.
Invitations
were sent
to families. Santa
would attend, and Candace would delight as much in the sound of children’s
laughter, and the nervousness of watchful parents, as she did in observing the political
jockeying that always entertained her. This year, there seemed to be only one
guest that she was
truly
anxious to see.
She reached for her phone.

“Senator,” the voice
greeted her.

“You made it in
safely.”

“I did. You do
realize that Steven is driving to this shindig of yours?”

“That certainly does
have risk factors,” Candace laughed.

“You sound tired,”
Jameson noted.

“It was a long week.”

“Are you feeling all
right?” Jameson asked.

“Worried about me,
Jameson?”

“Maybe,” Jameson
admitted. Candace had sounded drained all week when the two had spoken. Jameson
was positive that the senator had drifted off during one of their conversations
earlier in the week.

“I’m fine. It’s just
that time of year.”

Jameson was
skeptical, but she let it lie. “Well, can you rest for a bit before this…”

“Shindig?” Candace
finished the thought. “Yes, I think I will. Just wanted to be sure you were all
set.”

“I feel a little
funny coming empty handed,” Jameson said.

“What do you mean?”

“Should I stop for
some chicken wings?” Jameson joked.

“Don’t tempt me!”
Candace laughed. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”

“That you will,”
Jameson promised.

Candace laid back and
closed her eyes. Only one picture painted her thoughts as she drifted off to
sleep;
a snarky architect
.

***

Candace stood at the
railing
of
her upstairs balcony. She was
unsure if the
chill
that suddenly
traveled up her arms was due to the brisk December air or the presence that she
sensed behind her. She closed her eyes as Jameson’s hands caressed her arms.
“What are you doing out here?” Jameson whispered.

Candace closed her
eyes and struggled to catch her breath. “Why? Did you miss me?”

“Always,” Jameson
answered, placing a kiss behind Candace’s ear. Candace sighed.

“Everyone is gone?”

Jameson’s arms pulled
Candace closer and traveled slowly from her waist to her abdomen. “Just you and
me,” she whispered while continuing to place light kisses on Candace’s neck.

 
Candace sighed as Jameson’s hands continued
their gentle journey upward. “Jameson,” she moaned. Jameson smiled as Candace
leaned into her. She cupped Candace’s breasts through her dress. Candace’s
breath was becoming shallower as Jameson’s fingers played over her cleavage.

Jameson heard her
name through another ragged sigh and turned Candace in her arms. Candace looked
at the architect and cupped Jameson’s face in her hands. Jameson smiled. “I
love you,” Jameson promised before kissing Candace passionately.

“Oh God, Jameson,”
Candace said as Jameson broke their kiss. “I love you.”

“Senator,” a voice
startled Candace. “You feeling okay?” Susan asked.