Just like my mother and I had lost my father to terrorists.
Times like this I believed I could go through with this. I could try. I could even make a difference. Not being a politician. God, no. But being the wife of a politician. Organizing these events, bringing hope and comfort to people in need. It wasn’t all bad.
After I had spent a half hour circulating and talking and hugging, a small girl tugged on my pencil skirt. She was probably seven years old. Her blond hair fell down her back in tight curls and her big blue eyes shone with unshed tears.
“Is it true you lost your father too?” the girl asked.
I crouched before the girl. “Yes.”
A woman, with blond curls and bright hazel eyes, caught up with us. She held a toddler in her arms. “I’m so sorry. She just wandered off, saying she had to speak with you. I’m so, so sorry.” The woman held the girl’s arm.
“No, it’s fine,” I said. “What’s your name?”
“Natalia,” the girl said. “This is my mom, Jennie, and my little brother, Jacob.”
I shook Jennie’s hand. “Nice to meet you.” I stood, noticing my mom was right behind me. I stepped aside. “This is my mom, Peyton.”
“Hello,” Natalia said with a small smile.
When Peyton said nothing, I nudged her back.
“Oh, hello—” She shot me a confused look.
“Natalia,” I whispered.
“Hello, Natalia,” my mother said, regaining her composure. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too, governor,” the girl said. “Charlotte was telling me she lost her father too.”
Peyton glanced at me, her eyes soft for the first time in a long time. I smiled.
“Yes, she did,” Peyton said. “She was only twelve when George was killed.”
“Honey,” Jennie hissed. “You’re bothering them.”
“It’s okay,” Peyton said, surprising me.
Natalia stared at me. “My mom always says we’ll be fine, that it’ll hurt less someday, but I never believe her. But you’re okay, and you’re pretty and like a princess. You turned out okay. I hope to be like you someday.”
I felt the tears building behind my eyes. I glanced at my mother, before taking Natalia’s hand. “I loved my father and he’ll always be a part of me, but yes, it does hurt less now.” She kissed Natalia’s cheek. “You can be whatever you want to be, as long as you don’t disrespect others and do it from your heart. I promise you, you’ll be okay.”
Natalia beamed. “Thank you.”
Peyton wiped a tear from her eye and said, “If you turn out like Charlotte, I’m sure your mother will be proud of you.”
What? I gaped at my mother.
After several goodbyes and thanks, Jennie was able to pull Natalia away, but I couldn’t stop gaping at my mother.
Peyton linked her arm through mine and guided me through the crowd, to talk to other families and finish our social agenda.
“I still can’t believe it,” I said. “Can you please repeat that?”
Peyton shot me an annoyed look. “Why the surprise? Despite our differences and arguments, you’re mostly a good daughter.”
Mostly. Of course, my mother would never think I was good enough. Still, mostly was better than nothing.
As we mingled with the other families, I noticed my mother had relaxed a bit. She even shook more hands and hugged a few kids.
Perhaps Governor Peyton McClain’s heart wasn’t as cold-hearted as it first appeared.
Charlotte
One week later, my mother informed me of another friendly outing during breakfast.
“Donnie is back in town. Tonight, you’ll take him out to dinner.”
The knife I had been holding to spread jam on my toast fell from my hand, and it landed on the floor with a loud thud.
My mother stared me, her wide eyes stern. “What was that?”
“N-nothing. I just … got distracted.” I crouched to get the knife, but a maid had already approached me with a clean one. “Thanks,” I said, taking the knife.
“As I was saying,” my mother continued, her hands closed around a steaming cup of coffee. “He likes Indian food. Take him to an Indian restaurant, even if you have to drive to Washington to find one.”
Indian food? I hated Indian food, especially because it made me sick to my stomach. But did my mother care? My mother didn’t even know. In fact, she knew nothing about me. Blind to what was right under her nose, Peyton pretended I was exactly as she wanted me to be, in front of and behind her.
It dawned on me that the way my mother acted during that event for military families, the way my mother talked to the little girl about me, was nothing more than an act. Another disgusting act.
If I missed another hangout time with my friends because of her, Liana would kill me. More important than Liana killing me, I missed spending time with the girls.
An idea bloomed in my mind. It was worth a shot.
I bit the inside of my cheek for a second. “My summer classes just started, Mother, and I already have a big project to work on.”
The brown in my mother’s eyes became flames of indignation. “I’m sure you can work on your project today, before dinner and before your classes during the week.” After depositing the empty cup over the table, my mother stood, her incensed gaze still on my eyes. “Charlotte, you can’t deny it. Donnie is a great young man, and your father would approve of him.”
I didn’t know whom my father would approve or not. I didn’t get a chance to get to know him that well, to have a sense of the man he was. I was too young to pay attention to details. To me, he had been a good father and a good man. Strict most of the time, but with his sweet moments. However, I knew he would want me to choose someone like Donnie.
“You don’t know that,” I whispered.
My mother’s eyes hardened. “You are going to take Donnie out to dinner and you are going to have a good time with him.” The hard tone in her voice brought goose bumps to my arms.
I lowered my head, my stomach sinking. “Yes, Mother.”
Charlotte
I descended the stairs with a fake smile on my face. In the foyer, I greeted my mother and Donnie.
Donnie’s smile was real. “You look beautiful.”
The same compliment every time he saw me. Could he change the record? I knew I looked okay. I had gotten ready to look good. I even chose an elegant cocktail dress my mother approved for me to wear. I was politician-taste appropriate.
“Thanks,” I said.
He offered me his arm. I took it and walked outside with him.
“Have a good night,” my mother said from the top of the stairs.
My stomach still revolved each time I thought about what I was doing, so I tried to focus my attention on something else—like the fountain before my house and its glistening water. Or how shiny Donnie’s Mercedes looked under the moonlight.
Anything, everything not to think I was going out with Donnie, while all I wanted to do was find Mason and kiss him senseless.
Damn, I was so lost.
I pushed Mason from my thoughts. I had been raised to be a perfect lady. At least on the outside. No one in the world knew what was going on inside.
The smile never left my face as Donnie led me to the car, opened the door, and helped me in. I still smiled as we rode to the restaurant and sat down at our reserved table.
“You look happy today,” Donnie said, his pale blue eyes shining.
Wow, I had never noticed how beautiful his eyes were. True, I hadn’t noticed much of him at all.