The Reluctant First Lady (3 page)

As soon as they were backstage, Michael turned to Ashley. “What the hell were you thinking, answering that reporter’s question?”

Ashley was quiet for a moment. She felt like she was having an out-of-body experience. Had she really chosen to answer? She let out a pent-up breath. “I guess I was thinking you’ve been elected and it was okay to be honest. I’ve lived up to my part of the bargain. But, no more. I’m tired of living a lie. I just can’t do it anymore. You strategized every aspect of your campaign, but never once did you discuss how to convey to the public that I wasn’t part of the package. We’ve been over this more times than I can count. Did you think I was kidding?”

“I hoped that by being on the campaign trail with me, you’d see all the wonderful things you could accomplish and have a change of heart. Now, instead of enjoying my victory, I’ll have to start dealing with damage control.”

Everyone standing around backstage wasn’t sure what to say. Finally Jeremy broke the silence. “Mom, Dad, we’re gonna head up to our rooms.” Jeremy stepped forward and hugged his mother while his sister simultaneously hugged their father. “We’ll see you both in the morning.”

Jeremy’s reaction to his parents jump-started the rest of the group into action.

Richard Hughes turned to Michael. “We’ll need to discuss this as soon as possible.”

Ed Branton agreed. “We need to meet tonight, right now. I’m quite sure that piece of footage of Ashley talking to the reporter is already all over the airwaves. Station managers and newspaper editors are going to be having wet dreams. We need to devise a strategy for damage control now.”

Michael nodded. “Let’s meet in my suite in about thirty minutes. I want to react swiftly and with confidence. Ed, you and Jack get the campaign advisory team together and meet me upstairs.”

“Will do,” Ed responded.

Ashley was well aware that Michael was furious. She wondered how long she’d have to wait before the explosion came. She’d always been truthful. She’d never misled him or offered false promises. Still she felt guilty and hated that she did. Why did life and relationships have to be so complicated? She’d never wanted her husband to define who she was, and she’d be damned if she was going to allow that to happen now.

4

As they rode the elevator up to their penthouse suite surrounded by the secret service, Ashley felt cramped. It was probably more mental than physical discomfort. This was yet another thing she’d have to get used to. The secret service had been assigned to them during the campaign, but she supposed she thought of them as temporary. Now that Michael had been elected president, the Secret Service would become a permanent fixture in their lives. Michael would always be surrounded by an entourage of Secret Service and staff except when they were in their private rooms. God, how she hated that thought and wished for the bazillionth time that Michael had a normal job like everyone else.

Michael was in disbelief. He couldn’t believe Ashley had responded to the reporter. He tilted his head back, resting it on the wall of the elevator, and closed his eyes. He was exhausted. He’d spent the last eighteen months crisscrossing the country multiple times delivering his message of hope to the American people. He wondered if her recent revelation was going to change his ability to carry out his goals.

Once they were safely ensconced in their suite and it was just the two of them, Michael released the explosive breath he’d been holding since Ashley had made her declaration to the reporter. He reminded himself to breathe: inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. He walked over to the mini-bar and took out a cold beer and with great and deliberate care opened and poured the amber liquid into a glass. He was trying to focus on this simple task while his brain was attempting to put some sort of order to the cumulus clouds of thoughts forming in his mind.

His emotions were raging, an experience with which he was fairly unfamiliar. He was a man who prided himself on maintaining control during times of crisis and dealing with problems that arose in a reasonable and thoughtful manner. He was successful in this endeavor, except when it came to dealing with his wife. His public image was that of a very even-tempered, thoughtful politician, but no one could push his buttons like Ashley. She was the only person who saw the other side of his nature—Ashley and, occasionally, the twins. Tonight he felt as though he were navigating his way through a minefield.

He’d reluctantly succumbed to her refusal to be part of his political life from the beginning. After all, he couldn’t hog-tie her and throw her over his shoulder and make her do what he wanted although the thought was tempting. However, in all of their conversations, in all of the years of her refusing to be part of his political life, they’d never factored into the equation just how far he might go in politics—or how far she would go in her profession.

He looked over at Ashley, who appeared to have found a safe haven at the end of an overstuffed sofa. Her eyes were closed, and her head was resting on the back of the sofa. She looked relaxed, but he would bet good money her brain was running like a high-speed Internet connection.

He was gradually calming down and regaining control over his emotions. He thought he could have a reasonable conversation with her now without trying to strangle her. “Ashley, why did you choose tonight to answer the reporter? You’ve been dodging questions like that for months. What were you thinking? You realize the consequences are going to be catastrophic for me. I can’t believe you’d be so thoughtless.”

Ashley knew it was pointless to respond. She knew exactly where this conversation was heading, and it wasn’t going to be even remotely civil. In an exhausted voice, she answered, “I didn’t plan on undermining your election night. My response wasn’t premeditated. I’m just sick of all the deception. For months, I’ve been dodging the same question. I guess tonight I’d reached the end of my rope, and I wasn’t interested in tying a knot and trying to hang on. The election is over, you’ve been elected, and I suppose I thought just maybe the public won’t care if I become First Lady or not. We’re not living in the dark ages, you know. Millions of families have two working spouses.”

Michael interrupted her response. “What you fail to realize, what you’ve always failed to realize, is that politicians and their families are held to a different standard than other people. We’re expected to portray the perfect family.”

“Give me a break. I know you believe everything you’re saying, and it may, in fact, be true. But did you ever stop to think that it
will
always stay that way unless someone challenges these ridiculous beliefs?”

“I’ll be the first to admit how unreasonable the perception is, but that’s the way it is. Your mini-rebellion isn’t going to change it. You, and most assuredly I, are going to be crucified tomorrow. Every newscaster and blogger will be weighing in.

“Ed, Jack, Richard, and my team will be here in a few minutes. We need to figure out how to handle the crisis you’ve created. I can’t believe . . .”

He watched as his wife closed her eyes and laid her head back on the sofa. She was shutting down.

She was a beautiful woman and at forty-four, she looked younger. He’d overheard his son’s friends refer to her as a MILF often enough, which he didn’t appreciate one bit. She radiated light. Her silvery-blonde hair and translucent skin glowed with vitality. She wore her hair shoulder length with wispy bangs that accentuated blue-green eyes that didn’t miss much.

She looked delicate, but others, who weren’t as close to Ashley, didn’t realize how adept she was at using that luscious mouth of hers to whittle you down to size if necessary. She had no patience for pretense or pseudo-intellectuals. She had a genius intellect and an uncanny ability to reveal fakes and liars. She would say her crap detector was fully functional. Heaven help those at whom she decided to take aim. Michael was always intrigued that her deadly wit was so deceptively packaged within such a beautiful exterior. It was one of the traits that had drawn him to her from the beginning of their relationship way back in high school.

A knock at the door and the simultaneous ring of Ashley’s cell phone interrupted Michael’s train of thought. He wished he had more time to reason with his wife before he had to meet with everyone, but clearly that was out of the question now. He headed to the door to greet his team of advisors while Ashley yelled over her shoulder while disappearing toward their bedroom, “I’ll take it in here.”

Michael acknowledged his advisors as they entered the suite. He led them to the dining room, which boasted a banquet-size black glass dining room table. The team sat down, selecting their positions at the table as strategically as chess wizards deciding their next move. Michael offered them drinks, but all declined. Their purpose for being there didn’t lend itself to the tinkling of ice cubes.

“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but here, you’re going to want to see this,” Ed began as he slid his laptop toward Michael and hit the play button. A clip of Ashley’s exchange with the reporter was already on the network. “We’re already behind on this story. But I think in order to reclaim the lead position, we need to hold a press conference as soon as possible. You’ve always been honest with the American people, and now’s a good time to show them you meant it when you talked about complete transparency in your administration. Plus, maybe we can get Ashley to soften her position slightly.”

Michael walked to the window and looked outside. The streets were well lit and surprisingly empty of pedestrian traffic. He identified with the emptiness he saw below. He felt empty inside and wondered how that could be when he’d just been elected president of the United States. He could never have imagined this day ending as it had. He wanted to give back to the country that had given him so much, but right this moment people were depending on him. He didn’t have the luxury of trying to figure out where it all went wrong.

Decision time. He strode back to the group, smiled the half smile he was so famous for, and directed, “Schedule a press conference for first thing tomorrow morning. I’ve just been elected, and we’re already in crisis mode. We need a plan of action immediately. The media is obviously already having a field day, and the GOP undoubtedly think manna has just landed in their lap. Let’s take it away from them.”

“We have to change Ashley’s mind,” Ed said with conviction.

“Unfortunately I don’t think that’s going to happen. We’ve discussed this ever since I first threw my hat into the ring. She’s repeatedly said she wants no part of the White House or politics. It’s really my fault. I should have dealt with this a long time ago. I foolhardily believed that if I were elected, she’d change her mind. And if I couldn’t change her mind, I thought she’d more or less quietly slip away, back to New York and her career. Since that’s no longer an option, the public needs to hear the truth from us.”

No one spoke.

Finally Ed asked, “Has Ashley gone to bed, or is she available?”

“She’s on the phone,” Michael responded. “I’ll see how much longer she’ll be.”

He stepped into the bedroom and interrupted his wife’s conversation. “The advisory team is here, and they’d like to speak with you. Will you be much longer?”

Ashley didn’t bother to cover the receiver with her hand. “It’s Sienna. She says congratulations. Give me a few minutes, and then I’ll be out.”

Michael nodded and left the room. He could have predicted the call was from her cousin. They seemed to have an almost cosmic connection when it came to sensing when the other one needed something. Two sisters couldn’t be any closer.

Sienna had introduced Ashley to him when they were in high school. Michael went to school with Sienna in Sacramento while Ashley grew up and went to school in Berkeley. He loved to tease Sienna about how she saddled him with an albatross, but she always countered with her own form of warfare. She’d married Michael’s best friend, Jim, so was quick to point out that he’d done his fair share of damage to her life.

Ashley anticipated that Michael’s special group of advisors would want to talk to her. She wasn’t looking forward to what most likely would be a confrontation, but she wouldn’t back down from it either. She turned her attention to Sienna.

“Well, the headhunters have come in search of blood and a human sacrifice. I should probably get off the phone. The more time I give them to think, the more deadly they may become.”

Sienna’s radar zeroed in on Ashley’s voice. She could always tell Ashley’s state of mind by just listening to her voice. It was like a windsock. “Go on; pick up where you left off,” Sienna demanded. “I’ve already been on the phone with half the family. Most of them think you’ve lost your mind.”

“Oh, I’m sure that’s true; sometimes I think I’ve lost my mind. I also know some of our relatives probably didn’t even vote for Michael. What’s to say that I haven’t already said a hundred times before? I don’t understand why it’s so hard for people to accept change. I know it’s highly possible that I just started the debate of the century although that wasn’t my intention. I didn’t anticipate speaking to the reporter. I walked out on the stage and just snapped. It all seemed so stupid. I should have given the same stock answer I’ve been giving for months, but I also think this is an issue that’s reached its time.”

Sienna responded, “Whether it was intentional or not, you’ve just challenged the status quo, and it’s a slap in the face of tradition. There’s no way to predict how the public will respond to your being honest with them. However, if I were you, I’d pack my suitcase, grab your passport, and get out of Dodge.”

Ashley agreed. “Probably excellent advice. Really, we’re all speculating about how everyone’s going to react, but I’m preparing for the worst. When Michael first entered politics, I told him I wasn’t interested in being a politician’s wife. At the time, we honestly believed we could manage everything—his career, mine, the kids. We thought we could find compromises so we could both continue to do the things we love. Neither of us wanted to stop the other from following our passions. But, God, this is a mess. I can’t believe how naïve I’ve been. Michael has never accepted my decision not to join him in the White House. He never intended for us to work through this situation because he’s been banking on me changing my mind.”