This feels big. “Of course, Mom.”
She sighs, sounding resigned. “You already know I don’t like Ellis. Not at all. He’s almost as old as we are but it’s not that. He’s just…not a nice guy. I don’t get a good feeling about him and I never have. I have even less of a good feeling about him after Thanksgiving.”
Wow. For Mom to admit something like that means she really feels strongly about it. She doesn’t like to say negative things about others, especially when it has to do with her children.
“I don’t like him, either,” I admit. Going into everything he did during his campaigns is pointless and Mom likely wouldn’t understand the full ramifications of it, anyway. “I think you’re absolutely right.”
“I just—hold on, I’m getting another call.” Mom’s not gone long enough to have answered it, though. “And there she is, right on cue.”
“Did you want to talk to her, Mom?”
She laughs. “Not particularly.”
Takethat, sis.
I know. I’m a horrible brother. But you didn’t grow up with her.
If you did, you’d understand.
We chat for a couple of minutes before there’s a knock on my door. “Just a moment,” I call out. “Listen, sorry, Mom, but I have a meeting.”
“It’s okay, sweetheart. Thank you for calling. I’ll let your sister stew for a little while before I call her back.” She laughs again and I realize how much I miss that. “I might just play along a little bit and pretend I know all about your girlfriend.”
I snort. “I’m not asking you to complicate your life, Mom.” Then a darker thought hits. “You know what? Please don’t do that. I wouldn’t put it past Stella to take it to the press and then that would cause me extra headaches.”
“You’re probably right.” I’m surprised Mom’s siding this hard with me. Usually she tries to walk a line between us and not getting pulled into what is usually Stella’s bullshit. “Love you.”
“Love you, too, Mom. Say hi to Dad for me.”
“I will.”
I hang up the phone. “Come in,” I call out.
It’s my policy wonks, here for our meeting. After this ends I can return to the residence, where Jordan and Leo await my return.
None of this bullshit with Stella would be athingif I was out of the closet.
Then again, I might never hear my mother’s laugh again, either. And I’d hate for that to happen.
Either way, it’s not my priority at this moment. I have a country to run.
I wave the two wonks over to the sofa while I remain in my desk chair. “Gentlemen, what do you have for me today?”
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
THEN
Two weeks after my inauguration,I’m at work in my private study just off the Oval Office when there’s a knock on the door.
“Come.” I’m a little surprised to see Kev walk in. I stand and greet him with a hug. “Hey, there. Jordan didn’t tell me you were dropping.”
He closes the door behind him. “He didn’t know. It’s a last-minute thing.”
“Miss your old office, huh?” I tease. “You’ve only been gone, what, three weeks?”
He laughs. “Don’t miss it at all. Not even for a second. I had a couple of things to pass along to Casey-Marie.” His smile fades. “But that’s not the main reason I’m here. We need to talk, Elliot. And it’s not something I wanted to discuss over the phone.”
This feels bad. “Sure.” I indicate the sofa and we both sit. “What’s up?”
