CHAPTERTHIRTY
Two evenings later,it’s a cold, nasty day that sends my pain levels off the chart. I opt to spend most of the late afternoon and evening working up in the residence in my living room, dressed in comfy sweats instead of a suit. I’m reading through briefing materials for tomorrow when Jordan walks in wearing a catbird smile if I’ve ever seen one.
I mark my place with a sticky note. “What’s up?”
His grin widens. “There’s a call for you on the residence line.” He points to the phone sitting on the end table next to the sofa. “Personal call.”
My pulse jumps with hope. “Leo?”
“No, but I think you’ll want to take this one.”
Suspecting he’s not going to tell me, I set the binder aside, reach for the phone, and answer. “Elliot Woodley.”
“Hey, El. It’s Stella.”
My stomach clenches but Jordan’s standing right there, arms crossed and grinning like a fool, so I don’t hang up. “Hey. Long time, no talk. What’s up?” I’d honestly forgotten about the earlier exchange in my study and the requirement that she needed to call me personally.
“I, uh, wanted to know if I could get a ticket to the election night watch party. Your staff said…” She takes a deep breath and drops her voice. “It’sjustfor me, okay?”
I could be a massive dick and drag this out. While the idea of doing that is damned tempting, frankly I don’t have the energy or patience for that tonight. “Why just you?”
“Because the last place I want to be on election night is anywhere near Ellis,” she practically mumbles. “He’s already being a whiny jackass.”
I’m willing to bet she’s not taping this call with her speaking about him like that. “I’m guessing he’s resentful I helped turf him?”
Her disgusted sigh drifts through the connection. “Uh,yeah. Yathink?” She pauses. “Can I come? Please?”
I decide to be direct with her. “Your private security can’t come inside. And Secret Service will keep you away from the Vice President and Second Lady. I hear you aren’t their favorite person because you and some of your friends ambushed her after a campaign event four years ago. Apparently, there were a few members of the detail who would’ve been happy to let her kick your ass that day.”
“Fine, Elliot. Please? Tell me what groveling I need to do so I can get a ticket.”
“No groveling. Just make me a promise to behave yourself. You won’t be on my arm all night, either.”
“Okay, fine.”
I take a moment to let her swing in the breeze. “All right, sure. I’ll tell staff to make sure you’re on the list.Justyou, though. No guests.”
“Deal. Thank you.”
I wish I could delight in the fact that my asshole brother-in-law hates my guts but I’m not really wired like that. “Are you all right? Seriously. I’m asking as your brother.”
“Yeah, just…adjusting. I’m still working in DC and Ellis keeps talking about me moving to Florida with him full-time once he’s out of office. He might run for a slot on the county commission in two years.” She snorts. “Like I’d want to livetherefull-time. I’d rather move back to Nebraska first.”
“Yeah, I hear Polk County’s not exactly DC.” The large, rural county in the middle of the state is also not exactly hopping with the kind of social scene Stella likes to immerse herself in the way she can here in DC.
“Oh, he’d run in Palm Beach County. He’s already changed his permanent address to the house there. He did that the day after the election.”
Ugh. Palm Beach County is like the Redneck Riviera of the GOP. Still, from what I’ve heard, Stella hasn’t been embraced with open arms even by that group because of me and my politics and the fact that it’s pretty obvious she has zero pull with me.
I’m also not sure it’s legal for him to still be in office with an address change like that, but that’s not my problem.
The big brother in me wants to hope, wants tobelievethat, maybe, Stella’s finally seeing the light. “Hope your pre-nup’s tight,” I say.
“It is. I’m not quite there. Yet,” she adds. “But don’t be shocked if it happens after New Year’s.” Another pause. “If that happens,” she mumbles, “I’ll try to do it after inauguration day.”
I know what a huge concession that is for her to admit so I don’t rub it in. “I love you, Stella. I know we’re not close and we have our differences. But you’re my sister and I do love you.”
When she next speaks her voice sounds…different. Changed. Yet I don’t want to delude myself that there’s some personal growth and reflection going on right now with her.
