Then Ian changed the conversation.
“I hear you and Brook want to spend spring break diving.”
I looked in the rearview mirror to see how Brook wanted to handle it. She gave me a reassuring smile.
“Yeah. I guess we should figure something out,” I admitted.
“It’s only five weeks away,” Ava provided.
“Where do you want to go?” I asked Brook.
“Somewhere warm. Somewhere where the diving is better than a local farm pond,” Brook said.
“Do you have your passport?” Ava asked me.
“I had to get one for a photo shoot in the UK, and now I’m getting a visa because I’m filming a movie in Cuba this summer. I guess the studio is still working out some details with the State Department, and part of that was to give them a list of who all was going. They had to confirm that we all had passports. Anyway, my passport should be back before then.”
“Then you could go almost anywhere. You might go to Australia and experience the Great Barrier Reef. I hear some of the Pacific islands are great places to go. If you didn’t want to travel so far, you could do the Caribbean,” Ava suggested.
“Of course, we would go with you,” Ian dropped in.
Well, wasn’t that a kink in my plans to plunder his daughter for a full week. Glancing in the mirror, it was apparent that this was the first Brook had heard of these plans. I decided to be evil and see how committed they were.
“I could ask if my parents wanted to go as well; or, if you wanted to, you could do your own thing, and they could come with us.”
My parents would allow some frolicking, I was sure.
“That’s a great idea. I’d like to get to know your parents better,” Ava said, and she got her cell out and called my mom.
Who knew she had Mom on speed dial? I suspected my mom had been talking to more than Ava. I knew Mom spoke with Rita, Halle’s mom, and there had been some comments that made me suspect that she’d conversed with Ruth Pearson, Zoe’s mother. Brook leaned forward and smacked me in the back of the head. I guess I deserved that.
◊◊◊
Northern Illinois University was home to twenty-two thousand students. NIU was in DeKalb, a city of about forty-three thousand full-time residents. It was 65 miles west of Chicago. The campaign had scheduled the rally at the NIU Convocation Center, a 10,000-seat multipurpose arena on the west side of campus.
Ian directed me to the parking area. Max, a member of the governor’s campaign staff, met us. He and Ian had talked on the phone.
“Max, this is my wife Ava and daughter Brook,” Ian said as an introduction, and then turned to me. “This is David Dawson, Davey Dawson’s grandson.”
“Did you bring photos to hand out?” Max asked.
Caryn had me bring several big boxes of Stryker photos and a handful of Sharpies.
“They’re in the car. Do you need us to bring them in?” I asked.
“I’ll send someone out to get them. We should get inside so I can walk you through everything,” Max said, and he walked into the arena.
They took us to one of the entrances where there were several tables set up with a voter registration sign above them. Behind those was an eight-foot poster of my character, Stryker, with a table in front of it. Next to that was a poster of Birthrite and a similar setup.
“We plan to run everyone through these doors. What I’d like to have you guys do is help with voter registration. If someone signs up or can produce a voter registration card, they can meet either the band or David. Brook, can you help David at his booth tonight?” Max asked.
“Sure, I can keep him in line,” Brook said.
“Great,” Max said and then turned to me. “We’ll have the band go on stage half an hour before the senator and governor go on. The governor has asked if you wouldn’t mind playing MC, introduce the band, and then once they’re done playing, introduce all the guests. I’ll get you the information so you can do that.”
“I can handle that,” I said. “But first, I need to change. Where can I do that? Also, we haven’t eaten yet. Is there somewhere we can get some food?”
“We’re using the locker rooms as a Green Room and changing area. Let’s get you fed first and then you can get changed. Could I have your keys so we can get the photos and any luggage you might need?” Max asked.
“I’ll go out with them and help,” I suggested.
Fritz had someone install both dashcams and internal cameras in the SUV, so I wasn’t worried about anyone stealing anything, but I didn’t need to tempt fate, either. Ava might have some jewelry with her, after all. I walked out with a couple of the volunteers and had them pick up two boxes of photos while I grabbed my garment bag and a pair of dress shoes. Dakora had stepped up and paid for me to wear their clothes this weekend. Tyler seemed to figure out how to make everyone a little cash for things like this.
I found the Davis family stuffing their faces.
“You need to get to the buffet. This food is fantastic,” Brook said.
She was right. I think the governor must have some serious funds for his campaign if the buffet was any indication. There was a full salad bar; beef, pork, turkey, and shrimp; a pasta bar; and ice cream sundaes. I attacked the salad bar and loaded up on peel ’n’ eat shrimp. While I was eating, Hana, Riley, Amy, and Jett showed up with Angel, their manager.
“I see you found the food,” Jett teased.
“Get some, it’s not bad,” I said as I hugged all the girls.
Brook had finished eating and appeared by my side.
“I want you to meet my friend Brook,” I said.
“As in girlfriend?” Hana, the one with black hair, asked.
“No, we’re just good friends,” Brook said. “Which one of you is Jett?”
I’d never told Brook about Jett and me spending some time together. The only person who might have known was Halle, and even then, either Fritz or Trip would have had to tell her. My money was on Trip. When she figured out which one was Jett, Brook took her away for some girl-talk.
I pointed out Max to Angel so she could get the band’s equipment set up. Then I showed the girls the buffet and made my return trip for ice cream.
I smiled when Ms. Dixon came in. She was here to support her dad. She came over and took my ice cream from me.
“Hey,” I complained.
“Don’t be a baby. Remember, you might need me to like you at some point,” she teased.
It was nice to see her in normal mode as opposed to scary-lawyer mode. I returned to the ice cream station and made another sundae for myself.
“Why are you here so early?” I asked.
“I volunteered to help. They told me I’m to make sure people know where to go.”
“You should be good at that,” I said with a straight face.
“Easy, Tiger. I could tell all the girls that you’re single and looking.”
“I am single and looking,” I said with a big smile.
“To be in high school again. Wait, let me change that. I had way more fun in college,” Ms. Dixon said.
I honestly couldn’t imagine her having fun. She was always focused on her job. Well, I guess I did remember her taking my mom shopping, but I wasn’t with her then. It was good to see her relaxed.
◊◊◊
An hour before the band was to go on, they opened the doors. They had free hot dogs and sodas, which the college students were not going to pass up. The band and I were busy as soon as the people began to pour in. People would get me to sign a photo or three, and then I’d stand up, and they’d get their picture taken with me in front of the poster. Brook was kept busy, as they wanted her to snap the shot with their phones.
The band had just as many fans, except their fans were all guys. Angel also had CDs and t-shirts for sale.
When there was a lull, Angel came over and got her picture taken with me. The next thing I knew, the girls in the band all came over to get a group shot. We did a couple, and then I pulled up Brook and all the volunteers for some photos. Then another group of college students came in, and we were busy again.