Taylor smacked her lips. “You don’t like what? All we gon’ be doing is drinking and chillin’.”
“In fucking costumes!”
“Shut up, bitch! It’s Halloween!”
“Ughh!” Bella grumbled. “Girl, your mother-in-law done went crazy. She’s taken over this party.”
Taylor laughed. “I know!”
“So, you know damn well it ain’t gonna be as simple as drinking and chillin’.”
“Well, you know the good doctor ain’t bout to hire no swinging dicks! So, lighten the fuck up!”
Taylor grinned at Kim’s wide-eyed expression in response to her uncharacteristically foul language. “What time are you driving in?”
“I’m headed there now. I may be a half an hour out.”
“Lucas with you?”
“Nah, he’s already out there. They’re officially dismissing his medical team.”
Taylor sighed. “That’s good news. So, he must be back to normal.”
“Well, he ain’t running no marathons no time soon, but he’s stronger. He went back to work.”
Taylor nodded when the flight attendant signaled their approach. “That’s wassup. I’m glad he’s on the mend. Hey, I gotta go. I’ll see you at the Creed’s.”
“All right. See ya at the Creed’s.”
Taylor disconnected the call and smiled at her assistant. “Wanna go to a bachelorette party?”
“Thanks for the invitation, but I haven’t seen my boyfriend in weeks. And it’s my understanding that he has planned something pretty romantic.”
Taylor smiled. “Oh, how nice.”
“Yeah.” Kim sighed. “He’s something else."
Taylor knew the feeling. With Victor, she was blessed. He had given her everything she’d thought she could ever want. Life hadn’t always been perfect, but he’d made it feel like a fairy tale. Taylor looked over at her sleeping toddler and sighed. If Victor were to win the election, everything for them would change. Four, possibly eight years of their life would be dedicated to the people of the United States of America.
Taylor and Victor were accustomed to serving; Victor, to the people of the state of Illinois, and Taylor to the citizens of Chicago. The truth was Taylor wasn’t looking forward to life in a fishbowl. Being the governor’s wife was hard enough. But, as First Lady of the United States, she wouldn’t have a minute to herself. She was already getting a taste of life with the secret service and she wasn’t looking forward to being shadowed for the next eight years. For her man, her beautiful husband, she would happily accept her new life. Only, she wasn’t altogether sure the presidency was something Victor really wanted. Truthfully, it seemed more like the aspiration of her father-in-law. Victor Senior, the republican senator for the great state of Indiana. More and more, Victor’s dad seemed like the Joe Kennedy of the 21stcentury, intent on weaving his sons into the fiber of American politics.
“Mrs. Creed, am I coming with you to the Creed Compound?” Maya asked, taking a seat across the aisle.
“Yes, but just for tonight. I can have a car take you to Chicago tomorrow. Is that okay?”
Maya smiled. “Of course. I’m here for whatever you need.”
“I appreciate that, Maya.”
“No, ma’am. I appreciate you taking me to the White House. How many people can say they work in the White House?”
Taylor laughed. “Hundreds, I’m sure.”
Maya sucked her teeth. “Well, nobody I know.”
“Me either, Ms. Maya. So, we’re in this together,” Taylor assured.
***
