We’re all heading downstairs, a bunch of us crowding into the service elevator at two minutes past eleven. I’ve rolled down my sleeves and donned my jacket. Susa’s straightened my tie with a wink. We’re surrounded by campaign staff, including the FHP officer who will now be one of my constant shadows.
I’ve just lost my freedom.
Ironic, I know.
In the elevator, someone squeezes my right hand, hard, before the doors slide open. I don’t have to look to see it’s Carter, who’s standing directly behind me and to my right. I’m carried forward out of the elevator with the swell of people. There are Hillsborough County deputies awaiting us downstairs and escorting us all to the ballroom’s back entrance. Carter takes his position on my left, Susa on my right and staying just a step behind me as we walk out onto the stage to the crowd’s cheers literally vibrating the building.
I don’t even know what the fuck I’m going to say. I pray Carter prepared something and will shove cards or a cell phone into my hand to read off of before I embarrass the hell out of myself and the people who’ve put their faith and trust in me to fix this state and run it the right way.
I slowly walk along the front of the stage, waving, leaning in and shaking hands, sayingthank youa thousand times, it feels like.
Then I catch Carter’s eye and he glances at the podium.
There is his tablet, sitting there, ready.
Waiting.
Of course it is.
Except I turn and walk back to the two of them, then face the crowd. I grab Carter’s and Susa’s hands and march them up there with me, raising our hands together, the only time like this I’ll be able to publicly show everyone the truth, and they can’t even see it despite us standingrightthere in front of them.
See US.
See these two people.
Ilovethem.
They are mylife.
Theyare the reason I’m here, not any of you.
All that remains unsaid, though, while I stand there listening to the applause and cheers thunder around us, lifting us up.
Carter squeezes my left hand and I look over and smile. He gives me a tiny, slow nod.
My boy, that nod says.
Reading each other’s silent cues, the way we have ever since the beginning.
I finally lower our hands and reluctantly release them. But then I hug Susa, long and hard, and turn and hug Carter.
I don’t risk saying anything, knowing there are cell phones all around us shooting video, not to mention the TV cameras. I cannot risk anyone trying to read my lips.
Carter claps me on the back and releases me and I finally turn to the podium, aware that, behind me, Carter has held out his right arm to Susa and she’s stepped across the void to tuck herself against his side.
Of course she has. She’s his wife and has every right to stand there with him.
Out of the corner of my eye I watch him kiss the top of her head.
I know he’d do it to me, too, if not for the roomful of people who’ve just elected me.
Long-term plan.
I start the ball rolling, don’t fuck up too badly, get re-elected, and then Susa can bring it home during her eight years in office.
Long-term goals. Carter’s plan.
He hasn’t failed us yet, and even Benchley says it’s a good, solid plan.Thiswas the hardest part—convincing an electorate to vote for a third-party candidate. They’ve done it once now, they’ll do it again.
