Casey arrives literally three minutes later. Sure enough, she’s wearingthatsmirk when she hustles into the kitchen.
“Okay,” Casey says. “So, new ground rules, little girl.” She looks at Aussie and points at her. “Rule one—novisitors here without clearing it withmefirst. Includingyou.”
Aussie gasps. “This ismyhouse!”
“No, it’s yourfather’shouse. And he’s thegovernor. Don’t make me request extra security. I’ll delete your gate and alarm codes and get the locks changed and revoke your car sticker. Then you won’t be able to drive into the development without clearing it first, much less drop in without calling. Don’t think I won’t.”
There’s something akin to shock on Aussie’s face. “Aunt Casey?”
I realize then Aussie probably thought Sir was bullshitting her and didn’t think she’d actually call Casey, and that we’d be exposed as cheating.
Casey stands in front of the girl and takes her hands. “Honey,” she gently says, “what happens between your dad andanyconsenting adult in his bedroom isnotyour business. At all. Or anyone else’s. How long have you known me?”
“A-all my life.”
“Have Ieverlied to you?”
Aussie shakes her head.
“You’ve all been through a lot as a family. But your dad has survived a literalhell. Your mother was closer to me than a sister or a friend. I knew her better than maybe anyone, except your father. Trust me, if there is a heaven, your mom is standing there cheering them on and scolding you for not acting like the adult you’ve been claiming you want us to treat you like.”
It looks like Aussie wants to say something else but Casey rolls right over her. “What’d you tell your friends? When you were here earlier?” Now Ma’am’s in the house and she’s in full-on battle mode.
“I-I told them Dad was on a conference call for work and I couldn’t bring people inside right now.”
“Okay, good. See how easy that was? Declanworksfor him. There’snothingfishy about him being here on a weekend. He’s his deputy chief of staff. It’s hisjobto work with the governor.”
Aussie seems to slump a little. “Terrific. So my dad’s deeper in the closet than I am.”
I barely hold back my amused snort, and only because Sir’s fingers tighten on my shoulders again as I can tell he’s trying not to laugh.
Apparently, we’ve both let Casey take charge now.
I’ve also had another question answered. I wasn’t sure, when George slipped in the past and referred to Ashleigh as Aussie’s “girlfriend,” if he’d meant that literally, or meant a girl who was a friend.
“Honey, Tennessee is still averyconservative state,” Casey tells Aussie. “Youknowthat. If this gets out, especially before the filing deadline, the GOPwillprimary him, andboom, he’s turfed. You know as well as I do that he’s a RINO. Weneedsomeone like your dad in office right now to help eliminate some of the far-right conservative bullshit previous administrations passed. And you know we do. We’vetalkedabout this. We still have a ton of stuff to accomplish. Remember all the things you said Mom wanted to try to get done as First Lady?Noneof that happens if your dad doesn’t get elected to this next term.”
They have?That was news to me. When I glance up at Sir, he’s also scowling a little, like those conversations are news to him, too.
Aussie stares at the floor for a moment. Casey’s still holding her hands.
I’m holding my breath.
From the way Sir’s fingers tighten on my shoulders, I think he’s holding his, too.
“You’rereallyokay with this, Aunt Casey?” Aussie quietly asks without looking up.
“I am, sweetie. I introduced them. I mean…” She sighs. “We work together, obviously, but I’m the one who hooked them up personally.”
“But I thought you were dating Declan?”
“Declan and I can get in trouble for dating, but it’s alotless trouble than it would be for your dad and Declan, for several reasons. I let people think what I want them to think about my personal life. Sometimes, I do that for political reasons. Again, that falls under the heading of that’smybusiness,notyours. I appreciate you feeling outraged on my behalf, honey, but it’s completely unnecessary. Can we trust you not to say anything?”
She sighs and finally glances our way. “Are youreallyhappy, Dad?”
He releases me and walks over to her. “I am, sweetheart. I’mreallyhappy.” He looks at me, turns the full force of those blue eyes on me, and I’m…
Gone.
