Incumbent(62)

My blood boiled. I would never strike a woman, nor had the thought ever crossed my mind, but I knew Gretchen would and might. The best thing to do was walk away, so that was what we did.

“How could you not say anything?” Gretchen asked as I tugged on her arm. She kept looking back to the spot we had just left.

“Because that’s what she wants. I’m not going to add fuel to that fire. It’s time to go home.”

Gretchen had taken a cab to the event, so I gave her a ride home. On the drive to her place, I could feel her gaze on me.

Finally, she said, “Drake, you can’t let her get to you.”

“Get to me? It’s not me I’m worried about. If I drop out, this ends.”

“You can’t do that.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “I can’t have Lucy’s story get out. She could lose everything that she’s worked for.”

I couldn’t believe this. Lucy had kept her secret safe for over a decade, and once I’d learned it, it was in danger of hitting the tabloids within a few weeks.

“Do you think Lucy would want you to drop out?” Gretchen shook her head. “You don’t need to answer that because the answer is no. She didn’t even do anything wrong.”

Pulling up to a stop at a red light, I glanced over at her. “I know that and you know that, but there are people out there who don’t care what circumstances lead up to an event, just that the event happened. That’s what’s wrong with our society. Everyone is so quick to judge and label people without even knowing them.”

Gretchen nodded in agreement, and I went on. “When I spoke in Lucy’s classroom, there was a student who was concerned about same-sex marriage. Some of the kids snickered at her question, and I know they’re just teenagers, but it’s unacceptable. This girl was smart and genuinely concerned about it because she had two dads. So many things happen to teens because of outside influences.”

Just like Lucy.

“Gee, it’s a shame you aren’t in a position to make a change.” My sister didn’t try to camouflage her sarcasm, but she was right.

“The thing is, I don’t know what happened when she spoke to Greg. They looked so happy, sis.”

My mind spun with scenarios. Were they together? Did they say good-bye? Was she moving to Georgia? Was he moving here?

Those thoughts tore at my insides, but if she was happy, that was what mattered. At least, that was what I kept telling myself.

Gretchen reached out to pat my arm. “She loves you; I know that for a fact. You didn’t mean for her secret to get out, and if you let Emily force your hand, then you’re not as smart as I’ve always thought you were. She just can’t blackmail you and get away with it. If you drop out, you won’t be able to make the changes you talk about. You need to fight, Drake. Lucy will understand; I know she will.”

When we arrived at Gretchen’s apartment building, I pulled up at the curb and turned off the engine. “Let me walk you in.”

“I’ll be fine, big brother. You can watch me go in, and I’ll flash my living room light when I’m inside.” She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “Please don’t give up on your dreams, and that includes Lucy.”

I watched her walk in, and just like she said, her light flashed and she waved out the window. Satisfied she was safe, I pulled away and drove home.

? ? ?

The next morning, I called Ben and told him I needed to talk with him. He was not only my campaign manager, he was my PR guy, and he needed to know what was going on.

Naturally, I didn’t tell him Lucy’s entire life history; I just gave him the CliffsNotes version. He didn’t need the nitty-gritty details, just the threat Emily made and the knowledge that I was sure she’d go through with it. He advised me to talk to Lucy, which I planned on doing anyway. She was my next call.

I went to my contacts on my phone and saw a picture of us I’d taken at the baseball game. Her head was tilted and her smile was bright, and she was all mine. Now I wasn’t sure where we stood. All I could do was pray she wasn’t with Gregory.

I pressed her name and connected the call. After two rings and about a hundred heartbeats, she answered.

“Hi, Drake.”

“Hi. Is this a good time to talk?”

“Yes, I’m not far from your place. I can come over.”

The sound of her voice was soothing, and yet I was anything but calm.

“That would be great. I’ll see you soon.”

I disconnected the call and rested my head on the back of my couch as what-ifs ran rampant through my brain.

When I heard the doorbell, I took a deep breath and opened the door. Lucy was smiling on the other side, obviously happy, and I felt twin spikes of pleasure and despair at that.

Her eyes bright, she said simply, “Hi.” Then she stepped inside and wrapped me in a tight hug.

She felt like home in my arms, all warmth and sweetness and comfort. I didn’t want to let her go, but I eventually did, and stepped back.

“I’ve missed you,” she said as she looked into my eyes, and I was lost.

“I’ve missed you too. Come on in.” I watched her hips sway as she stepped into my living room, and she had a bounce in her step I hadn’t seen in a while, if ever. “So, what were you doing in DC?”