After greeting a few supporters, Taylor took her seat and listened to her husband deliver an inaugural speech that promoted hope over fear, unity over division and hate, and the reiteration of the simplest of solutions… common decency.
Taylor shifted Vicky on her lap and kissed her forehead. “You see Daddy?”
“Daddy!” Vicky cheered, adding her own applause to the mix.
BELLA
“That dress is stunning,” Bella remarked.
Taylor looked down and smiled. “It is lovely. I decided to go with new designers for the inaugural balls.”
“Who designed that coat for the inauguration?” Donna questioned. “That coat was everything.”
“Oh, yeah. I love that coat. It was warm too. It was designed by the House of Giovanni. You remember, Tamara, Victoria Storm’s cousin?”
Donna squinted while trying to remember. “The one who used to be a stripper?”
Victoria nodded. “Yep, that’s her.”
“Damn, she is talented,” Bella complimented.
“And sexy too,” Donna added.
Bella rolled her eyes. “Donna, sometimes I think you like women more than you like men.”
“I do until he sticks his big dick in me.”
“Oh, my Lord,” Dr. Creed mumbled. She clutched a very real, very expensive-looking set of pearls donning her neck.
Donna’s eyes flew open. She didn’t realize Dr. Creed was so close. “Oh, shoot! My bad, Mama Creed. That was nasty. I’m sorry.”
“Not at all,” Dr. Creed assured. But the look on her face read horrified.
Lincoln walked by and smacked Donna’s ass a little hard for Bella’s taste. “Behave!” he warned. “You’re in the White House for God’s sake!”
A White House staffer walked up and offered a glass of champagne. Bella accepted it with a smile and sipped from the fancy crystal. “So, you’re on ball number three. You’ve gotta be exhausted.”
“I am,” Taylor admitted.
“What time is your next ball?” Donna asked.
“In an hour and a half.”
“Shit, I’d be taking a nap,” Bella admitted.
“Can’t. Got something very important to do.”
Bella chuckled. “What? Hang with us? What’s important about that?”
As if on cue, a staffer walked over with a garment bag and handed it to Bella. “What’s this?” she laughed. “You don’t like my dress?”
Taylor smiled. “I love your dress. It’s just… Well, let’s just say it’s not appropriate for the occasion.”
Bella looked down at her royal blue strapless formal gown. “You said we were going to one of the inaugural balls. I am well-fucking dressed.”
“Yes, you are, sweet thang!” Lucas chimed from across the room.
Bella pursed her lips. “Y’all heard that!”
