Part 6 (1/2)
Was Jo Carson a lesbian? She let the thought circle around in her head. She secretly hoped the answer was yes. It wouldn't play well in the press if anyone learned that one of Mayor Stratton's staff members was a lesbian, but Madeline hoped that one day-if Jo were, in fact, a lesbian-she could come out of the closet and embrace who she was.
Madeline knew she was dreaming. Times were changing, but no one in the world of politics was that lucky or that free. Everyone was restricted. Everyone had the full attention of the media on them at all times. Everyone was under a microscope. So those who had such desires had to keep them under lock and key.
Everyone, Madeline reminded herself again, had secrets they needed to keep. For her, that meant spouting angry words in speeches on the subject of same-s.e.x relations.h.i.+ps, words that she could hide behind. It was a necessary evil if she wanted to continue her political career, her ”normal” life. It was for the greater good if she wanted to keep trying to accomplish positive changes for the city. In a perfect world, it wouldn't even be an issue. But the world wasn't perfect. All of which meant those feelings of the past had to stay that way.
As Jo pulled into the driveway outside of the house, Madeline was thankful to see that John's car was not there. This, at least, would be quick and easy. She would grab her things and leave. Later on, after the dust had settled and the paperwork was drawn up and signed, she would return to take whatever she needed and never again come back to this place...The House of Broken Dreams, she decided to call it.
Jo helped her from the pa.s.senger side of the vehicle, her hand steadying her. She was thankful for the support, even though she was overly aware of the tenderness of Jo's touch. A strong, independent woman, Madeline rarely admitted, even to herself, that she needed help, but she was honestly not sure that she could have survived the events of the past day without Jo's help.
There was kindness and compa.s.sion in everything Jo did. Madeline had come to rely upon it, actually. If she were being honest with herself, she didn't want to spend the night at a hotel. In fact, there was nothing she wanted less than to be utterly and completely alone. But it didn't seem right to continue to hole up in Jo's apartment, intruding on her privacy.
Jo didn't speak, didn't push, as they went through the house, packing clothes and toiletries, and for that Madeline was thankful. Jo's intuition was strong enough to sense when words weren't necessary. It was a trait Madeline valued greatly.
Madeline tried, as she and Jo went through the house, to remember the good times she and John had shared there, however long ago that might have been. Over and over, though, the truth came spewing forth like a gusher in the oil field, reminding her that life wasn't fair. Not every story had a happy ending. A love that seemed good-great even-could fall apart in front of your eyes, leaving you with nothing but a packed suitcase and the memory of silent glances, separate bedrooms, looks that said, ”I don't love you anymore.” She and John had become roommates who hated each other. There was no more pa.s.sion, not even kindness. Whatever spark of friends.h.i.+p they had once shared had burned out and grown cold.
Madeline let out a long sigh. ”That should do it for now,” she said. She heard a car door shut outside. ”Dammit, let's go.” They gathered her suitcase and cosmetics bag and went out the back door.
Madeline couldn't get over the fact that she was fleeing her own house. It was all so ridiculous, but she did not want to see John again, not under any circ.u.mstances.
When they rounded the corner of the house, though, instead of seeing John's car she saw three unfamiliar vehicles. She craned her neck to make out the faces of the people standing at her front door. As soon as she saw their cameras, she pulled back, prepared to run back into the house and hide out until they left. But she had stared a moment too long and was spotted.
Apparently, reporters could move at the speed of light. Before she could get even a few steps away, they were at her side. One was snapping pictures, while another was thrusting a microphone in her face and signaling to her cameraman to start filming.
”Mayor Stratton, did you know that your husband was having an affair?”
Madeline stared at her, dumbfounded, recognizing the co-anchor of the evening news at KWWG, the largest station in the city. This story clearly was a much bigger one than she had hoped it would be.
The reporter, an experienced interviewer, tried again. ”Let me rephrase that. Do you know this woman?” She held up the picture of a gorgeous blond.
Once again, Madeline didn't speak, but the shock she felt was most likely evident on her face. She hoped they would interpret it as dismay at being confronted with the reality of her husband's cheating, but yes, she knew the woman in the picture. All too well, unfortunately.
”If you're not staying here, where are you staying? In a hotel?”
A reporter clutching a pen and pad chimed in. ”Yes, which one? We've checked for you at each of them.”
”You haven't been seen out and about since we broke the story yesterday about your husband's affair. Are you still fulfilling your duties as mayor? Do you plan to seek reelection next year?”
Madeline had seen this trick many times, reporters firing so many questions at you at once that you felt compelled to answer at least one to shut them up. Even if she wanted to, though, she found she couldn't speak.
”Do you plan to file for divorce?” the sweaty man with the pen and pad asked.
Before another question could be fired her way, Jo positioned herself between the reporters and Madeline.
”That'll be all for the questions today,” Jo spoke with ease despite the stressful situation. ”Mayor Stratton is saddened by the news of her husband's infidelity. Betrayal in a relations.h.i.+p is never an easy thing to deal with, but the mayor is a strong woman, with a strong faith, and her office has issued a statement on this issue. If you have further questions, please direct them to Jacquelyn Smalledge, the mayor's communications director.”
Jo forced a tightlipped smile and practically marched Madeline to the car.
Madeline was amazed by Jo's poise and strength. ”Thank you,” she offered. ”You didn't have to do that, but thank you.”
Jo just smiled and nodded, putting the car in gear and quickly driving away from Madeline's house. Followed by a caravan of relentless reporters, unfortunately.
”Who the h.e.l.l do they think they are, paparazzi chasing Brangelina or Kimye?” Jo asked.
”You'd be amazed at how often this happens.” Madeline's reply sounded sad and tired, even to her own ears.
”Well, I know two things for certain,” Jo replied. ”First, you should hold on, because I'm going to lose them. And secondly, I'm not taking you to a hotel for those vultures to rip you to shreds the first time you come out of your room.”
Madeline didn't reply, but she was touched by the gesture and by how much Jo seemed to genuinely care.
”You're coming back home with me, and you can stay as long as you'd like.” Jo's voice was defiant, as though nothing could change her mind at this point. Madeline wasn't about to try. Even though there was no doubt that the media was now on to the fact that Jo was accompanying the mayor wherever she went. Madeline watched as Jo flipped the car into overdrive. As if she were a professional stunt driver, Jo began to whip the Camaro into back alleys and side streets. In a matter of minutes, they were alone, parked in the underground parking garage of an office complex.
Madeline hadn't felt that kind of a rush in a long time. ”You are incredible.” She smiled at Jo. Jo beamed as if she had just been crowned as Miss America.
As Madeline's heart rate slowed to normal, she glanced down. It was only then that she realized she was holding Jo's hand. At some point during the excitement, she must have grabbed it. Jo seemed to realize at the same moment. Quietly, each pulled her hand away from the other's.
Madeline couldn't explain it, but she still felt the warmth of Jo's hand in hers. I wonder what it would be like to kiss her. She immediately looked out the side window, embarra.s.sed, as if Jo could read her thoughts.
Jo cleared her throat. ”We should probably wait in here for a good twenty minutes or so before we venture back out, just in case they're lurking around somewhere.”
”I just want to make sure you have your privacy,” Jo added.
”Thank you, Jo-for everything. You really are too kind.” To Madeline's ears, her words seemed laced with embarra.s.sment. She hoped that Jo heard only her sincere appreciation.
Jo couldn't stop remembering how it had felt to have her fingers intertwined with Madeline's, something that had happened shortly after Jo had slipped their pursuers and turned into the garage. The minute Madeline's hand had grazed hers, Jo had felt electricity shoot through her body, warming and tensing every part of her. This woman was driving her crazy.
As soon as Madeline had noticed she was holding and gently ma.s.saging Jo's hand, though, a look of embarra.s.sment and terror had clouded her face. Jo looked away to downplay the moment and ease Madeline's embarra.s.sment. The truth was, she had been enjoying every moment of being physically-if totally innocently-connected to Madeline.
Hating how the moment had turned so quickly awkward, she decided to change the subject. She turned in her seat to face Madeline.
”Is there anything you want me to tell the press or write in a statement?”
Madeline stared back at Jo, but it was obvious she hadn't heard a word coming out of Jo's mouth. Jo s.h.i.+vered at the intensity in Madeline's blue eyes and s.h.i.+vered again as Madeline cupped her face with shaking hands, very gently pulled her closer and kissed her. The shock Jo felt was overpowered by her deep need to have Madeline's mouth on hers. Madeline didn't pull away, so Jo deepened the kiss. Madeline's hands were tangled in Jo's hair, pulling Jo even closer.
The intensity of the moment was broken when the car next to them rumbled to a start.
”s.h.i.+t,” Madeline said, pulling away and putting her head down. Jo turned and looked at the car pulling out of the adjacent s.p.a.ce.
The man in the driver's seat wasn't paying any attention to them. He didn't even cast them a sidelong glance.
”It's okay,” Jo said, putting her hand on Madeline's shoulder. ”He didn't see anything.”
”I'm sorry.” Madeline looked away from Jo. ”I shouldn't have done that.”
Jo didn't regret the kiss. The only regret she had was the sudden hesitation and the disappointment displayed on Madeline's face. ”Don't apologize,” Jo said, shaking her head. ”It was as much me as it was you.”