The iCongressman, page 27
part #2 of The Michael Bennit Series Series
“Let’s talk about failures, James. You had me approach him with the idea of running icandidates and funded the venture so you could create a private legislative army of independents loyal to nobody but you. You laid the groundwork to get rid of Bennit, but you failed because he foiled your plan. Turns out he is much smarter than you thought.”
James clenches his lips together angrily. He does not relish being shown up, and enjoys having his failures flaunted in front of him even less.
“And the disastrous third party idea?”
“An attempt to save your hide by setting up an organized party you could easily seize control of, but he hasn’t bitten yet,” I counter. There is no way Reed is laying the blame for this fiasco on me. I don’t care how long we’ve been friends.
“I get the feeling you did that more for yourself than for me.”
“So you come up with the crazy bill to try to force the issue, only it’s already going sideways on you. Forcing the independents to caucus with a political party was a stupid idea. If I couldn’t soft sell them into uniting under a party banner, you should have known you couldn’t hard sell them into it.”
“I never intended that bill to go to the floor. It was more of a prop to use against Albright.”
“A prop he’s now taking into an actual fight.”
“Apparently.”
When Reed first approached me with idea, I thought it was brilliant. Imagine having a cadre of politicians in Washington literally in your back pocket and willing to vote any way you choose. All we needed to do was get Bennit to start the ball rolling and then oust him from the House.
Getting him expelled should have been the easy part, especially when you have the Speaker of the House helping you. Fear is a fantastic motivator, and everybody, including the Democrats, wanted Bennit gone because of it. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way and we’ve been forced to keep changing plans ever since. The third party idea may not have been exactly what Reed wanted, but it would be close enough.
What we didn’t expect is Bennit’s ferocious argument against its formation. He has been an honest broker since I met him, and I never dreamed he would lie straight to my face. With that off the table, the rules change. James having Speaker Albright introduce it is the only way to force the issue and restore order.
“So you helped create this meltdown in the House that threatens the stability of the entire two-party system and your control over it. Michael Bennit is getting politically stronger by the day, so you have zero chance of ending up with a legion of independents to control like you wanted. So, tell me, how do you plan to put the genie back in the bottle?”
“I’ve been in this town a long time, Marilyn. Much longer than you,” he says, looking over at me for the first time. “Washington is like a powerboat you see in those speedboat races. You never really control it. You just hope you can manipulate it enough to reach the finish line without crashing. I didn’t get to where I am today by giving up just because Plan A doesn’t pan out.”
“Does your Plan B include a campaign of threats to an elected official to force him to vote the way you want him to?” James flinches a little.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, right. I’ve been around Washington for a while too, you know.”
We’ve known each other for a long time, and he was influential in getting me my seat in the Senate. Of course, part of me believes he was instrumental in me losing it as well. James Reed isn’t straight with anyone, even his closest friends. I shouldn’t expect it now.
“I know you’re working behind the scenes on this vote. What I don’t understand is why you aren’t including me?”
“You really think I should trust you, Marilyn?”
“No more than I should trust you, but our friendship is strongest and most satisfying when we’re going in the same direction.”
“Are we going in the same direction?”
“If that direction is me being put into a position to help you, then yes, it absolutely is.”
“Then convince Bennit to let that bill pass.”
-FIFTY-NINE-
MICHAEL
“How did you find me?” Chelsea asks as I reach the middle of the bridge.
“I love this place as much as you do. It’s where I’d come to think things over too,” I respond, taking a deep breath and admiring the scene.
“My dad told you, eh?”
“Yeah, that probably had something to do with it.”
Briar Point is one of the magical places in town. Millfield is the typical New England village, complete with town green, historic buildings, and a lot of charm. The old iron bridge that crosses the river provides the most majestic view of all of it. It’s been closed to vehicular traffic for decades, providing a great vantage point without fear of being run over by a truck.
A light dusting of snow fell overnight, marking the transition from the stunning foliage of autumn to a winter wonderland. Thanksgiving is behind us, the holiday shopping season is in full effect with only three weeks until Christmas, and the snow covered trees are now a reminder that winter is coming.
If the puffy red eyes didn’t give it away that Chelsea’s been crying, then the tear tracks on her cheeks pounds the point home. She’s in pain, and I feel ridiculous for not having realized it much earlier.
“You scared the crap out of us, Chels. We were worried something happened to you.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t think about that. I just needed to leave.”
“Why?”
“I failed you,” she finally says, ending a long, awkward silence between us. I want her to open up and tell me what’s wrong, but I want it on her terms. I am just happy that’s the route she’s going.
“Oh yeah? Since when?”
“I left. I’m running away from you, and Vince, and Vanessa. I’m leaving because I can’t handle it.”
“Getting away to get some breathing room and perspective is not quitting, Chels,” realizing that her shift from the past to present tense means she is probably referencing the bigger picture. Now I at least think I know one thing that’s bothering her. She’s made her decision and can’t come to terms with it.
“It’s more than needing a break. Look what’s happened … with Blake, and with Viano. I just can’t keep doing this job anymore. All the lies, hidden agendas, political posturing, betrayal … I don’t know how people live like this. I can never be happy working at a place where nobody can tell the truth.”
Chelsea’s waterworks start again, and she dabs at her eyes with a ball of tissues she pulls from her pocket. My heart aches for her, and I understand her sense of betrayal. Coming from the military, getting used to that has been just as hard for me, but I’m also not twenty years old and fresh out of high school.
“Integrity is a foreign concept where we work. Not only do the elites in Washington not have it, most can't even spell it. So yes, we have to deal with people who lie and manipulate, but there’s a universal truth you need to understand.”
“What’s that?”
“People are going to lie and manipulate at Harvard, too.”
Chelsea’s head jerks around so fast I feel like I sprained something just watching her. I don’t know if keeping it a secret that I knew was the right or wrong thing to do. Maybe it would have been easier on her if I had told her, but I could never find a way to bring it up.
“I’ve known about the letter from Harvard for a while.” From the look on her face, it’s clear she didn’t have a clue I knew, or how. “The first call the president of Harvard made was to the office. He tried to explain to me that the scholarship no longer applied and wondered who would be better to break the bad news to you, him or me.”
“I don’t understand. The letter said it was still good.”
“I know. It took me a well-invested three minutes to convince him what a colossal mistake not offering you a scholarship would be.”
“How? Why?” is all my chief of staff manages to stammer out.
“All I did was explain to him that you will probably be one of the most powerful women in Washington someday, and that it would behoove him to ensure you are a valued Harvard alum when you are. As for the second part, why wouldn’t I?”
“You want me to leave the staff?”
“Oh, God no. Not having you work would be like going into combat without my rifle.”
“Then I really don’t understand.”
“Chels, I don’t get to make life decisions for you. I was thrilled when you decided to come to D.C. after you graduated, but I also knew that you would leave to attend college someday. If that is what your heart tells you to do, I would never stand in your way.”
“You could ask me to stay.”
“I could, but I won’t.”
“Why?”
“Because I know you would. It’s who you are, but I see the toll it’s taking on you. This is a personal choice, and I will not interfere with you making it. Just make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. Running away because you feel betrayed by a guy you like isn’t one of them.”
Chelsea wears shock on her face for the second time in the span of two minutes. Even in class, it was rare that I was able to do that, let alone twice in a conversation. More so in the year and a half she’s been by my side in D.C.
“You knew?” she manages to stutter out.
“No, I’m a guy, and thus an idiot when it comes to recognizing a woman’s feelings. Or so I was rather harshly reminded.”
“Kylie told you.”
“In my defense, I knew something was wrong, but never got around to asking. That’s been a common theme between you and me since we started this journey. I haven’t communicated very well with you. I got so caught up in everything we were doing, both before and since the election, I never stopped to think about how it was affecting you. Or Vince and Vanessa for that matter.”
“Did Kylie tell you that, too?”
“No, I came up with that on my own after some quiet reflection.” Chelsea looks at me with a hint of disbelief in her eyes. “It’s true.” More disbelief. “Okay, she helped with the quiet reflection part when she stopped talking to me.” That got a smile out of her.
“I thought you knew everything,” she responds, seemingly perking up a bit.
“Ha! I’m going to let you in on a dirty little secret teachers will never admit to their students. When we’re up in front of the class, we pretend to know all the answers. But the truth is, we learn just as much from our students as they do from us.”
“I’m not your student anymore.”
“No, but I am yours.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Chels, we were on a sinking ship from the moment we stepped foot in Washington. So you know what you did? What Vince and Vanessa did? You grabbed pails and started bailing. While I was running around playing the role of the typical politician and failing miserably, you guys kept us afloat. The biggest reason we were even in a position to get reelected is because of you.”
“I didn’t know you felt that way.”
“That’s because I’ve done a horrible job telling you how I feel, and for that, I’m sorry. I’m an old combat vet. Sometimes I still find it hard to open up. I have always trusted your judgment, Chels. I have never lost faith in you. You need to know that, even if I don’t always seem to be following your advice.”
“I’m not always right. Blake fooled me into thinking he cared about me. Then he betrayed us again to get a job with Albright. I thought maybe he’d changed, and I’m an idiot for believing that.” Oh, she’s really going to beat me up over this next little gem.
“He’s not taking any job with the Speaker.”
“Yes he is. Parker told me he was,” she says, thoroughly convinced of that fact. Our ruse seems to have fooled everyone, including her.
“He was offered. The acceptance part is something I asked him to spread. He’s not taking a job with Albright, just acting like he is.”
“You asked him to … You know, this is why I can’t do this job anymore!” she cries, flabbergasted at the news.
“Can’t is a word of defeat. You can do it and have been, it’s just you don’t want to anymore. Honestly, I don’t blame you one bit. In your shoes, I’d probably be making the same decision. You have done nothing but sacrifice for the campaign, for me … It’s time you start taking care of yourself and do what you want to do.”
This is a lot for her to take in. I never appreciated how bumpy a ride the last year and a half has been for her. Chelsea is incredibly smart and much stronger than even she knows. Out of fear of displaying weakness, she has kept a lot of emotion bottled up inside of her until the dam finally burst. I feel guilty about how much of that I’m responsible for.
“So you’re okay with me going to Harvard?”
“No, I’m not just okay with it, I expect a front row seat at your graduation. I am very proud of you, Chelsea. What you have been able to accomplish in just a few short years is nothing short of astounding. You’re not old enough to have a drink and you’re the veteran of three political campaigns and some very important lessons that we tried to teach the American public.”
“I feel like a history lesson is coming.”
“For once, no, but there is a request coming. We’ve been through a lot in the past year and a half. We survived reprimands, censures, and an expulsion vote. We work with an ally we can’t trust and an old enemy we have to. The political parties are bent on destroying our influence and, to top it all, we’ve been getting a boat load of threats against our lives. Through it all, you have stood right next to me, for better or worse. I have no right to ask, but I need your help one last time before you go up to Cambridge.”
Chelsea has the look of reluctance on her face. It was probably the same look I had when I realized they all aced their final and I had to run for Congress in the first place.
“Help doing what?”
“We have one more lesson I need your help to teach.”
-SIXTY-
CHELSEA
The meeting is just about ready to start. I’m not one to condone speeding, but in this instance, I’m glad I broke that particular law to get here. I drop my purse and coat on a staffer’s desk and march into the congressman’s open office. The rest of my staff gawks at me, but I don’t care.
I walk in and immediately see Vince, Amanda, Peyton, and Vanessa. Emilee, Brian, and Xavier must still be at school finishing up their final exams. I turn to see Blake standing next to the sofas at the end of the congressman’s inner office. I walk briskly up to him and summon all my anger, hurt, and frustration over the past year.
“Hi, Chelsea,” Blake says, not seeing this coming.
I cock my arm back, pivoting my hips and keeping my eye on my target just like Dad taught me. My fist connects with his cheek with a satisfying whack sound. I don’t have Mister B’s strength, so he just staggers back, off-balance. Damn, I wanted him to go down. I grab him by his suit jacket and ram him up against the wall, my forearm pressing against his neck. This works too.
“Why did you kiss me?”
“What the hell’s wrong with you?” he barks, struggling to check his now swelling cheek.
“Answer the question! Why did you kiss me?”
“Ugh, you kissed Blake?” I hear Vince ask, now recovering from the suddenness of my assault on Blake.
“Shut up, Vince!” I scream over my shoulder. “Why?” I repeat, turning my attention back to the man I have pinned against a wall.
“Because I’m falling in love with you.”
“Oh, please!” Vince interrupts again. “Don’t buy this BS, Chels. Never trust a naked guy who offers you a coat.”
“I said shut it, Vince, or you’re next!”
“Vince, not for nothing, but she means that. Remember, she’s a redhead, so I suggest you cool it,” I hear the congressman whisper to him.
“Why should I believe you? Why should I ever believe you?”
“I don’t expect you to. George MacDonald once said, ‘To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved.’ Unfortunately for me, when it comes to you, I want both.”
There is nothing but sincerity in his eyes. Since the day I met Blake I have studied his eyes for signs of deception. Considering whom he worked for at the time, I had no choice. So many decisions I’ve made, and so many I still need to … ah screw it.
“Okay,” I say, and with that, I kiss him as hard as I can. It’s only the second kiss we’ve every shared, and it feels even better than the first. When our lips finally part, I can feel every set of eyes in the room on us.
“I’m going to throw up,” I hear Vince mutter under his breath.
“Whoa,” is all Blake can say.
“Now, let me make one thing very clear to you. If you cross me, the congressman, or anyone else in this room, I will rip off each of your limbs off and laugh as you bleed out. I mean that.”
“I believe you.”
I release him and then turn to face my friends and mentors. Kylie is standing next to the congressman, arms wrapped around each other’s backs. She has the look most women have when watching romantic scenes in the latest chick flick. Vanessa and Emilee share a similar look. Vince is not trying to hide his disgust, looking like he just ate some bad sushi. The congressman just looks … I don’t know, content?
“Okay, where were you guys in the discussion? And please don’t say you were discussing the latest threat to our lives.” I’m not eager to discuss my actions. It’s a delay tactic, as I’m sure the grilling will come at a later date.
“No, we are avoiding the subject of our imminent demise,” the congressman says, giving a quick glance to Kylie. He then obliges by telling me all the details of the plan I should have been told all along. Now it makes perfect sense, making my temper tantrum up in Millfield look that much more childish. I’m actually still a little angry about that, but now’s not the time to vent.
“I don’t know, like, this seems so shady,” Peyton concludes.
