Chapter Six
Monday afternoon, as I’m flying back to DC after my father’s doctor appointment, two things strike me.
My father is completely in denial about his condition, and I’m literally within a couple of years of getting exactly what I’ve prayed for.
My father is adamant no one know he’s sick.While the doctor makes it clear that there isn’t any cure or treatment available to my father because of the advanced stage of his cancer, my dad acts like he doesn’t believe a word the doctor says, and that it’s an overreaction.
Which is…fine with me.
When my father leaves to use the bathroom, I take the opportunity to talk to the doctor alone.
“We’re basically going to be managing end of life care, is what you’re telling me?”
He grimly nods.“Yes, Senator.That’s exactly what I’m saying.I’m so sorry.”
Thankfully, the doctor isn’t a psychic, or he’d spot the celebration currently going on in my brain.
Complete with party streamers, a piñata, a cold keg, and hot wings.
After landing in DC, I stop by the office on the way home to take care of a couple of items.While I’m there, Stan Jergens drops by to leave a casserole dish Elsbeth is returning to Olivia after she forgot it at one of their prayer circle potlucks over the weekend.
He pauses when he sees me.“Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.Just…tired.”
“When are you going to file for reelection?”
“There’s still plenty of time for that.”
“I’ve got people asking me about it.I know you’re not as active as Olivia is, but—”
“There’s still plenty of time.”I can’t tell him about my father.
“Okay, fine.But you’re losing out on dollars by waiting.They’ll get snatched up by other PACs if you wait too long.”
I wave his words away and he finally leaves.
But I know it’s a portent of conversations to come, until I announce my intentions one way or another.
If I can just hold out for another two weeks.I can get it all over with at once.
Please, God.Cut me a little slack, just this once.
* * * *
Olivia heads to Georgia for her family visit and I distract myself with Liam and Daniel.
Until Sunday morning.
My stomach remains painfully tight from the moment I awaken this morning.Olivia returns from visiting her family in Georgia this afternoon, and then I’ll have “the talk” with her.
As of right now, I haven’t done anything that will trigger the penalties in our prenup.Rather, she has zeroproofI’ve done anything that can trigger them.
Oh, believe me, if she had proof, she would’ve immediately leveraged it against me to her benefit.
I cannot continue to get that lucky, however, and my name will be mud in certain circles once news of our divorce hits.
That means the less I lose to her in a divorce, the better off I’ll be.
