“I look forward to provingyouwrong. Hey, did you order more food?” I point over his shoulder.
“Where?”
When he turns to look, I grab my purse and run.
Chapter 10
On Thursday morning Carol is notified by the subcommittee considering our bill that they’re not recommending it for a floor vote, the unspoken reason being that it doesn’t stand a chance. And just like that, it’s dead. In one brisk email, nine months of my work—of mylife—goespoof.
It’s not like you see in the movies. There’s no miraculous Hail Mary into the end zone, no David slaying Goliath, no rushing around at the last minute toget out the vote!Our bill joins the other ninety-six percent of proposed legislation in the crowded graveyard of squandered time and wasted effort. It’s almost comical how little fanfare there is. Or it would be, if I weren’t so devastated.
Adding insult to injury? Ben’s mocking voice is one of the first things I hear after Senator Warner breaks the news.
You’re wasting your time.
That bill is dead in the water.
It’s going nowhere. Surely you must know that.
I can’t even escape him in my own head. I glare across the atrium, then leap out of my chair and yank the blinds closed. That’ll send him a message.
I spend the rest of the day hibernating in my cave-office, practically catatonic with disappointment. Friday is more of the same. I sleepwalk through my tasks in a near trance, and not even Stephen’s usual antics can lift me out of my funk.
Late in the day there’s a knock at my door, rudely disturbing my past half hour’s activity of staring at the wall and frowning. I sigh and swivel my chair around to find Ben in my doorway, a concerned look on his face.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” I spin back so I’m facing the wall again. “If you’re here to say I told you so, please don’t bother.”
There’s a pause. “No, I came to investigate why your blinds have been closed. But I just heard...”
“Who eventoldyou?”
“Stephen.”Note to self: Stab Stephen to death later.“But I would’ve hoped to hear it from you.”
“Oh right, I’m so eager to publicize my failure. Especially toyou.”
“Kate, there will be other bills. Plenty of them.”
I say nothing.
“You did your best. You can’t control the outcome.”
I don’t know what it is about his presence—that he knows how badly I wanted this, or the gentle, sympathetic tone of his voice—but I’m struggling not to cry. I stare at a crack in the wall, blinking furiously, willing the tight feeling in my chest to dissipate before I break down in front of him.
“It happens to everyone. Pretty soon you’ll be wrapped up in something new and this will be a distant memory.”
“This pep talk is very helpful. What other clichéd gems do you have for me? Should I keep a stiff upper lip? Dust myself off and try again?” I brace a little at my nastiness, but I can’t seem to help it. Being mean to him is my default setting.
“Well...” He hesitates. “I do have some ideas about how you could resurrect this, if you come at it—”
I whirl back around, and this time, I’m pissed. “Can we save the postmortem, please? That’s not what I need right now.” I blow out an angry breath. Better angry than weepy, I guess. I just want him toleave. Why won’t he take the hint?
“Sure.” He shoves his hands in his pockets, but that stupid piteous look is still on his face and it iskillingme. He thinks I’m pathetic. The balance of power between us is totally lopsided and I hate it. “Whatdoyou need right now?”
I stare at him dumbly.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” he repeats. “What are you doing tonight?”
