“Not a Mrs., anymore,” her Aunt correctedhim. “She’s quite single, a widow actually. You can call herJessica, after all, since she may be working for you.”
Jessica tried to stifle her laughter andcleared her throat before answering.
“Senator, I’m sure you know my Aunt’s bark isworse than her bite. You’ll have to excuse her bad manners,” shetoyed, as she sent her Aunt a sideward glance.
“Well, I’m not the one who forgot they hadalready been properly introduced. Did I tell you, I’ve known thisyoung man since his first year in college?”
Jessica shook her head in response, andFlorence continued without a beat.
“Hmm. Bad manners, you say. I guess then I’lljust leave you two and get back to the reception.” She directed herattention to the Senator. “Bryan, you make sure you come by forlunch as soon as you’re able, tomorrow, if you can.” Before hecould reply, she turned about and quickly departed.
“She’s like a whirlwind, but still quite thelady.” He remarked, as they both watched her Aunt’s departure,until she disappeared indoors.
“She most certainly is that, and more.”Jessica replied. “I love her dearly.”
“Lucky her.” He quipped with a smile thatmade her heart flip inside her chest.
She looked away and shuffled nervously.
“She’s the only living relative I have. Mymom and dad were taken from me, when I was a young child. Mygrandmother raised me,” she added shyly, “and passed a few yearsago.”
“And, your husband’s family?”
She was afraid the conversation would go downa path she didn’t want to venture. When it did, her head snapped upwith surprise, and she hesitated before the words slipped from herlips.
“I … I buried him nine days ago. His family …well, they never were very accepting of me.”
His look of astonishment wasn’t surprising.She knew her Aunt hadn’t embellished on Richard’s death, the cause,or her history with his family. It wasn’t necessary, and quitefrankly, she didn’t want to go there. She started to feeluncomfortable at the way he looked at her.
“Senator. You’re staring,” she scolded, andshuffled from one foot to the other.
“I … my apologies. I can’t help myself, orimagine someone like you, not being cherished.”
His words were rather unexpected, and shedidn’t know how quite to respond to them and the way he continuedto look at her. It was both unsettling and exhilarating. Still, sheknew, if she was going to work with this man, she needed to changethe way this conversation was going.
“There’s nothing I can do about the past,Senator. I’m here with my Aunt to move on with my life, and I hopeyour offer still stands for that vacant position in your office.Does it?”
There was no hesitation, as he replied.
“Most definitely. It’s yours whenever youwant to begin.”
“How about first thing Monday morning?”
His smile was warm and welcoming as heanswered.
“Monday, it is.” He reached for her hand andshe let him. “Let me be the first to welcome you on board. I hopeyou can learn on the fly, Jessica. Elections are in a month and myopponent is well serving of my seat and a person I respect. I’m notready to give up my seat on the Senate, just yet. I’ve got too muchwork to do.
“That’s what I’m hoping for Senator, to becrazy busy, with little time to think of nothing else.”
She directed their attention at the sound ofthe music in the distance and pointed.
“Shall we venture bank indoors?”
Her offered his arm, and she slipped hersthough his, clasping his forearm. It felt good walking beside him.She liked his energy and so far, everything about him.
“Do you dance, Senator?”
“You’re asking a country boy, if he candance?”
