Page 14 of The Devil Goes to Washington

“How about a little wager?” She folded her elbow-length gloved hands primly in her lap.

“Ah. Here it comes. I speculated how you would try to get more money out of me, especially considering how much that dress must have cost.” It was hard not to notice the hundreds of tiny jewels on her dress and multi-tiered necklace as the street lights flashed by.

“You always thought everything was about money.” Did he? He didn’t remember them ever fighting over it, even though others said their social standings would get in the way.

“You proved to me that it was.” An able-bodied man who could provide a quality life was what his father had quoted to him.

“It wasn’t...”

“What? Just say it.” He found it frustrating that she was hesitating over this subject again.

“It’s in the past. Digging it up right now is not going to help anyone.”

“So what do you propose as the stakes of the bet?” He’d let the conversation go, for the moment, mostly because he was so curious about the scheme she was trying to play now.

“Dinner.”

“You want to see and be seen in the finest restaurant on a date with me?”

“There you go again. No. A simple meal at home with Micah. I don’t even have to be there if you’d prefer.”

“You want me to spend time with your kid?”

“He’s your kid too. At least for the next year. I would have thought your PR people would have already suggested it, so your interaction with him is more believable in public.”

“They have. Now, what about my side of the wager?”

“What is it you want?” If he hadn’t been so sure she wanted nothing to do with him, he would have sworn she was leaning towards him, her breath quickening.

“For you to finally admit what you did eight years ago.” The door to the car opened before Michael realized they had stopped. The floor-to-ceiling glass entrance to the Kennedy Center revealed the immense hallway with a canopy of state flags looking over the scarlet carpet. He and Evelyn were on full display for the who’s who of his political career. Michael offered his arm to her after Stevenson helped her out of the car. She laid her hand on his forearm and smiled up at him. He wondered if it was sincere or if she had always put an act on for him. An attendant opened the doors for them, and another offered a glass of champagne.

“Try not to get drunk around these people.” He hissed but she laughed off his comment like he had said something funny.

“Senator Harding, so glad you could make it. We were getting concerned you wouldn’t show. And is this your lovely new wife?” It was his luck they immediately ran into his biggest opponent on almost every bill he supported. Sometimes it seemed like the man just lived to be contrary and stubborn.

“Senator Williamson. Mrs. Williamson. This is Evelyn D...B...Harding, my wife.” Urgh. He needed to pull it together before he made a complete ass of himself.

“Son, it sounds like you don’t know who she is. Better check that before someone does it for you.” Maybe Williamson reminded him too much of his Dad in his old-school mannerisms, but Michael tended to freeze up when the man started to bully him.

“You old coot, stop that. May I call you Evelyn? I’m Carole. What a fabulous dress! Is it one of those Lady Catherine creations? I’ve been wanting one of those but the husband says it wouldn’t be worth the cost for a barrel like me.”

“Goodness, no. You’re beautiful. The Lady Catherine dresses are made for all shapes and sizes to accentuate your best features.” She sounded like a commercial for the company. He considered how much she had spent on the designer over the years.

“Oh, you are divine. I have to show you off to the other ladies.” Mrs. Williamson looped her arm through Evelyn’s and they disappeared into the crowd. He watched her move easily from group to group as various dignitaries greeted Michael and Senator Williamson, who seemed in no hurry to move on as long as the drinks kept coming to him.

“Where’s the little lady?” Heath came to his rescue.

“Off with the girls talking dresses and shit. You alone again, Hayes?” Williamson downed the last of his amber-hued drink and looked around for another, waving his glass in the air.

“She looks like she’s having fun,” Heath observed, following Michael’s gaze.

“Yeah, she’s the talk of the event. I lost count of how many people have asked me if I’ve met the vivacious Evelyn yet.”

“Once a party girl, always a party girl, I guess.” His friend shrugged like he always had when the topic of Evelyn came up.

A gong sounded nearby, signaling the start of dinner.

“Guess that’s my cue to reclaim my date.”