Page 12 of The Devil Goes to Washington

Evelyn put the finishing touches on the facial mud masks.“Now we have to decide on the right shade of nail polish. Do we go dramatic with something dark, or conservative, matching the champagne color of the dress?”

“Ha! I finally know something about the dress.” Meghan threw her hands in the air.

“I want my nails done!” Micah yelled as he ran into the room to join the party, energized from a nap.

“Men don’t wear nail polish.” Banner was quick to jump in.

“Why?”

“Yes, Banner, why is that?” Cora may have been the only one who could tease Banner.

“I...they...it just isn’t done.”

“I think Banner should get his done too!” Tilly giggled.

“Yay!” She wasn’t sure if Micah knew what he was cheering for, but it was heart-warming to see him happy and healthy.

“Banner?” She asked the butler for permission.

“OK, fine. May I have the lightest shade you have there?”

“Don’t forget the toes!” Tilly said with a laugh.

“And the mud mask?”

“I’ll pass.” Banner stated his limits.

“Me! Me!” Micah wanted to be included in it all.

Evelyn applied the last stroke of her blackberry jam-colored varnish that matched her lipstick for a sharp contrast to her pale skin and dress. Banner, Micah, and the ladies were snacking on Cora’s special cookies and laughing at a joke Micah told when the bang of the front door drew them all out of the kitchen to see what happened.

Michael stopped his charge through the foyer to stare at them. She imagined they must have been a sight wrapped in robes with tissues woven between their painted toes and dried gray goop on their faces.

“Seven PM. Not a minute past.” Michael pointed an accusatory finger at Evelyn before storming down the hall to his office.

“Oh, that’s not a good sign for tonight.” Tilly wrung her hands together.

“Madam, may I suggest Meghan assist you upstairs with your preparations? Cora and I will attend to Micah’s needs.” Banner’s voice of reason drew Evelyn from her shocked silence.

The reverie was over. Everyone gathered up the polishes and accessories strewn across the granite counter and put them in the container to be stored for another time.

“What do you think that was about?” Meghan asked, leading the way upstairs.

“I’d rather think it is anything but me. However, I’m concerned that he just remembered we have to spend the evening together.”

“Why is he so against that? You are so much fun, even when you make me nervous that I’m going to lose my job.”

“Thanks, Meghan. Michael and I used to have fun but that was a long time ago and he can’t let it go.”

“You’re still not going to tell me what happened are you?”

“Discussing it is not going to get me downstairs by ‘7 PM. Not a minute past’.” Evelyn exaggerated her imitation of Michael with her hands on her hips, wagging her finger in Meghan’s face, making her laugh.

“See, too funny! Now show me this damn dress!” Meghan implored, entering Evelyn’s bedroom.

“I don’t exactly have a choice. But before I do, you have to swear you won’t tell anyone what you see. I mean not a soul.” She stopped Meghan from proceeding any further.

“Geez, so serious. It’s just a dress.”