Dissident (15 page)

“Are you sure you’re okay with all of this?” He still sounded concerned.

She caressed Jack’s cheek until she felt him relax. “I told you I was. It’s not like I didn’t suspect this when I made the decision to spend the weekend with you. Don’t worry about it. Neither one of us can change the past.”

Jack kissed the top of her head. “You make me want to enjoy the present, though.”

Caroline leaned over and nipped at his lips. “Then start a damn bubble bath for me,” she said, laughing as he yanked her off the bed and into the bathroom.

*              *              *              *              *

Jack had his arm around her as he walked her to her car. “I had a wonderful weekend.”

“We spent most of it in bed,” Caroline said.

“That was the best part. We spent a lot of other quality time together, don’t you think?”

“I enjoyed myself. Might be a little sore on the drive back, though.”

Jack returned her smile. “We should do this more often.”

“I completely agree. But next weekend we should probably do the jobs we were elected to do.”

“Maybe dinner a few nights this week?”

“Works for me.”

Jack cupped Caroline’s face in his hands. “Thank you,” he said softly.

“For what?”

“For being you.”

She shrugged. “Can’t very well be anyone else.”

He leaned in closer, pressing her up against the side of the car, kissing her deeply. She brought her hands around his shoulders, pulling him to her. It was a long time before he broke away.

He kissed her forehead. “Drive safe.”

She closed her eyes. Leaving was hard. “I will.”

Jack opened her car door and she climbed in, starting the engine. Caroline rolled the window down after he shut the door behind her.

“I’ll call you when I get home,” she said.

He stroked her cheek, started to say something, then stopped.

“What?” Caroline asked.

“Nothing. I’ll miss you.”

“You’re going to see me tomorrow.”

“That seems like a very long time from now.” He kissed her. “My sweet Caroline.”

Jack was looking at her very intently, and she knew she had to lighten the mood. “That song is about Caroline Kennedy, you know. She was only a kid when Neil Diamond wrote it.”

His expression was stern but his voice was amused. “You can suck the fun out of anything, you know that?”

“I didn’t say I didn’t like it. I just wanted to point out some history. Some mildly perverted social history.”

He kissed her again. “Leave now before I drag you back upstairs.”

She reached out to trace his lips with her fingers. “I had a very, very good time.”

He fingered the solitaire around her neck. “I know. Be safe. I’ll see you tomorrow, sweetheart.”

She kissed him again before rolling up the window, slowly pulling away. Jack stood in the driveway, watching her leave. She kept her eye on him in her rearview mirror until she was too far away to see him, and smiled the entire drive home.

Caroline

June

Caroline had been delayed after a committee hearing and was late for a meeting with her staffers. She hated tardiness. Her employees understood it, given the random nature of her position, but she still found it unprofessional. She now deeply regretted her decision to wear three inch heels that morning. She should have gone with the kitten heels. She knew she’d be running around all day. Why hadn’t she gone with the kitten heels?

She huffed her way into her office, giving a regretful glance to her receptionist. “I’m sorry, Laura. Running late, again. Please tell me Jen isn’t ready to strangle me.”

Laura smiled at her. “Jen rescheduled your meeting for later this afternoon. But I think she still wants to chat with you about something.”

Her expression was a little unreadable but Caroline wasn’t going to pursue it. “Okay.” She marched into her office. Jen and Kathleen were sitting on the couch whispering to each other, and straightened up when she walked in.

“Hi,” Caroline said.

Jen grinned. “Hello, Congressperson.”

Caroline gave her a quizzical look. She was a big fan of gender neutral language but hated that term with the burning passion of a thousand suns. “Is there a reporter hiding in the room?”

Kathleen laughed. “Not hardly.”

Jen walked over to the door and shut it. She spun around. “Spill it.”

Now Caroline was thoroughly confused. “Spill what?”

Kathleen gestured toward the corner, flouncing down in one of the chairs facing Caroline’s desk. “This should be so good.” She settled in as Jen took the seat next to her.

There was a tasteful arrangement of at least three dozen roses of various colors and sizes on Caroline’s desk. A huge teddy bear now occupied her leather chair.

“Shit.” She grabbed the card from the bouquet. It was still sealed. Good.

“Nice for them to come addressed to Congressperson Gerard,” Jen observed. “I can’t remember the last time anyone’s called you that.”

“It is technically a proper title for me,” Caroline said indignantly. “Even if I find it annoying.”

“Did a lobbyist send you flowers and a giant stuffed animal?” Kathleen was still trying not to laugh, as she joined Caroline behind the desk. “I would have thought you’d hold out for more, what with your high ethical standards and all.”

Caroline frowned at her and held the card out of her reach. “I don’t like you.”

Jen forced herself to keep a neutral expression, which would have impressed Caroline at any other time. “What’s the card say?” she asked.

Caroline opened it, batting Kathleen’s hand away. “You’re being obnoxious,” she said, trying not to laugh.

Kathleen laughed at her. “I want to see it.”

“No way,” Caroline said, pulling out the card and keeping it away from Kathleen’s prying eyes.

Thank you for a wonderful weekend, my sweet Caroline. I thought your staff would get a kick out of the envelope. This bear would look spectacular in your office. Dinner tonight? And perhaps some close, personal, clothing optional time at my place?

Jack

PS: Jen and Kathleen, if you’re reading this, don’t tell your boss.

“Come on. What’s it say?” Kathleen said.

Caroline quickly stuffed the card back in its envelope, putting it in the lockable center drawer in her desk, hoping Jack had a discreet florist. “None of your business.”

“I have a key to that drawer,” Kathleen said casually. “You might want to pick another one.”

Caroline took the card out and put it in her purse.

“Better take that with you if you go anywhere this afternoon,” Kathleen said, sitting back down.

“You are mean and I still do not like you,” Caroline retorted.

Jen smiled. “Maybe we should lay off her, Katie. She’s bright red already.”

“Yeah,” Caroline said. “Be nice.”

“So, who are the flowers from?” Jen pressed.

“I thought you were going to lay off.”

“On the teasing about the card. Not on the pursuit of the facts.”

Caroline put the teddy bear on the floor and sat down. “Who do you think they’re from?”

Kathleen raised her hand. “Ooh, ooh, let me guess!”

Caroline leaned back in her chair. “How much caffeine have you had today?”

“Oh, far too much,” she said. “You want to do it pseudo-Twenty Questions, or maybe play some charades? I’m bored and you need to entertain me.”

“Hold up, Katie. You might not want to guess right away,” Jen said. “She did go to Christine’s fundraiser this weekend. Although giant teddy bears don’t really seem her style.”

Caroline crossed her arms and glared at them both. “You’re going to force me to say it, aren’t you?”

Kathleen laughed. She never got sick of giving Caroline a hard time. “You’re so funny when you’re defensive. Give it up, Caroline. We know.”

Jen smiled. “Doesn’t take a genius to figure it out. He’s been doting on you for months. I’m surprised it took this long.”

“Was it that obvious? Does the entire office know?”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Jen assured her. “They might suspect something now, though.”

“He’s totally rich,” Kathleen said. “Was there money in the envelope?”

Caroline rolled her eyes. “You are so uncouth, Katie.”

Jen gave Kathleen a knowing glance. “The big gift’s around her neck.”

Caroline brought her hand up to the diamond necklace. She’d forgotten she’d put it on that morning. “I’m starting to figure out why no one takes us seriously.”

“They take me seriously,” Jen said. Which, thankfully, was true. “Not my fault you and Katie are so jolly all the damn time. Spill it, sister.”

“Jack escorted me to Christine’s fundraiser,” Caroline said. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Of course it’s a big deal,” Jen countered. “You cleared your calendar for a reason. You spent the entire weekend with him.”

It was a statement not a question, and Caroline sighed. This was her punishment for being close friends with her two most important staffers.

“I did,” she acknowledged.

“And he gave you that rock?” Kathleen was practically jumping out of her chair.

“He did.”

“So, how was it?” Jen asked.

“Are you asking me what I think you’re asking me?”

“I meant the fundraiser,” she said innocently.

“Like hell you did.”

“We’re glad you’re happy.” Jen smiled. “And I was kidding, we really don’t need details.”

“He looks really good with his shirt off,” Caroline said distractedly, gazing down at the teddy bear.

Kathleen glanced over at Jen. “She wants to tell us so much more than that.”

Jen grinned. “I don’t know if I really want to hear it.”

“You think I do?” Kathleen asked. “Unless she’s referring to that cute stuffed animal and not her new boyfriend. In which case I think we have bigger issues to worry about. I really don’t want to have to quash rumors that my boss is a Furry.”

Caroline snapped her head back toward them. “I’m sorry. Were you two talking? I was concentrating on something else.”

Jen chuckled. “Or
someone
else. Stop daydreaming, Caroline. You were totally aglow when you walked in this morning. I suspected something was up.”

“Oh, you did not,” Kathleen broke in. “I was the one who figured it out first.”

“Because of our special mind meld?” Caroline asked.

“No,” she said. “Although that is the most disturbing part of our employment relationship. McIntyre is just…into you. That’s all I’m saying.”

“I figured it out last. Is that what you’re telling me?”

“You knew but you weren’t ready.” Jen gave Caroline a concerned look. “Are you ready now?”

Caroline rocked back and forth in her chair. “I wasn’t expecting it. It happened faster than I’d anticipated.”

“Think it’s going anywhere?” Jen asked.

“I hope so. I don’t do casual. You know that.”

Kathleen gave her the same look of concern that Jen had. “What about him?”

“I don’t know. He’s so much different than I thought he would be. We had such a good weekend. But I worry that we’re not that compatible. Am I crazy? I must be crazy, right?”

Jen frowned. “You’re not crazy. I didn’t think you’d ever date another member of Congress, much less a Republican, but you’re not one to make stupid decisions. Clearly there’s something that makes you trust him.”

“I do trust him,” Caroline said. “But objectively this looks odd. Or is that my imagination? Are we going to get bad press over this? Should I be worried?”

Jen laughed. “You have never, ever been concerned about bad press except for the gratuitously nitpicky junk. Why would you change now?”

Her chief of staff had a much different impression of her ability to handle unfavorable opinions than Caroline did.  Maybe because she was always giving her boss the benefit of the doubt. Caroline generally accepted the legitimate criticism she received for her policy positions but hated when people crossed the line and made particularly odious, unfairly personal attacks.

She had always declined to use her daughters as props during her campaigns and made limited appearances with her entire family. In part because Nicky didn’t like the glad-handing game, but mostly because she wanted to keep her husband and children away from judgmental eyes. She recognized that any image of her as a loving wife and mother would score her points in the long run, but she didn’t think it had any bearing on whether she was qualified for office.

“It’s my private life,” Caroline grumped. “And you know how I feel about that. Close to the vest. My business.”

Kathleen pursed her lips. She enjoyed giving Caroline a hard time, but she adjusted once she realized it was time to be serious. “It may not be private for long. I’m sorry, boss. We can try to minimize but the gossip rags will be all over you once they figure it out. The backstory is too compelling.”

Caroline glanced at the bear in the corner. “Ostentatious gifts probably don’t help.”

Kathleen relaxed. Just a little. “That thing is ginormous. Are you going to take it home?”

“No, Katie. I’m going to leave it here so that every other legislator can comment on it and constituents can ask me where it came from.”

“You’d better put it someplace where he can see it,” Jen said. “Perhaps in your dining room.”

“Or facing your bed.” Kathleen chuckled. “That wouldn’t be disturbing at all.”

“Does Rockville have a burn ordinance?” Caroline asked.

Jen and Kathleen laughed.

“I was just curious,” Caroline said. “Totally unrelated question.”

“Were you going to build a bonfire in the backyard?” Kathleen asked.

“I think it’s too big to accidentally toss into a lit fireplace.” She looked over at the bear again. It was tacky and tasteless and if she really admitted it, downright hilarious. “He got the most obnoxious thing on purpose.”

Jen grinned again. “That might be why he’s a good fit for you. Did you tell him how you feel about clowns?”

Kathleen giggled. “You’d better, or you’re gonna end up with some creepy nightmares once a humongous Bozo doll ends up in your house.”

Caroline shuddered. “We do not speak of clowns in this office. You know that.”

“What do Marguerite and Sophie think of all of this?” Jen asked.

“Mo told me to go out with him when I dropped her off at camp. I guess she sensed something too. Christ, was I the last one to figure it out?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Kathleen said. “As long as you’ve gotten around to it now.”

Caroline rubbed her forehead. “Chrissy doesn’t like him.”

Kathleen shook her head. “That figures. She needs to pull that stick out of her-”

Jen cut her off. “I’m sure she’ll take a liking to him eventually. How are you feeling about it? Seriously?”

Sometimes making eye contact with her chief of staff was hard. “I didn’t think I’d be ready for this so soon. I still don’t know if I am. And I might not know what I’m getting myself into.”

“Give yourself more credit,” Jen said. “And give him a little bit too.”

“Nick would want you to move on,” Kathleen said quietly, and Jen threw her a nasty look.

Caroline waved her off. “It’s okay, Jenny. She’s right. He’s indulging me even though he’s no longer here.”

Jen’s smile was slow to develop, but stayed. “Indeed he is.”

“I still feel torn,” Caroline whispered. “Like I’m cheating on him or something.”

“Don’t dwell on that,” Jen said. “He’d want you to be happy. You can’t stay in a rut forever.”

“You’re only saying that because I haven’t yelled at you in months.”

“I’m saying it because I care about you and it’s nice to see you this way. Last year was hard.”

Although both staffers had always been attached to her family, Jen was much more measured and reflective than Kathleen when it came to relationships. She still struggled with Nicky’s death. Jen liked him a lot and knew from the beginning that he was the foundation of Caroline’s stability and poise.