Page 31 of Pursuit of Happiness

“I think you should have her take all of your photos,” Jen said,edging her way back into the house, camera in hand. “I’m going to go uploadthese. Dinner’s in half an hour. See you there.”

Meredith waited until Jen shut the door and then she pulledStevie into her arms and whispered, “You’re pretty amazing.”

“Because I can use a camera?”

“Because you see me for something other than the public persona.Those photos feel personal, like they were taken by someone who’s known me fora long time.”

“You wanted something different?”

“I thought so, but I was wrong.” Meredith let the comment linger,certain if she added to it she would ruin the magic of this moment. Stevie wasan accomplished photographer, and the photos she’d taken would help votersconnect with her, but Stevie’s skill with the camera was not what Meredith wasinterested in right now. Later, when they weren’t standing yards from theperfectly set holiday dinner table and surrounded by relatives, Meredith wouldtell Stevie exactly what skills she wanted to explore.

* * *

Dinner had been going so well, Stevie should’ve known a road bumplay ahead. They’d just finished a to-die-for red velvet cake, and Nelson wasdirecting a second coffee service, when James Mitchell launched into campaignmode.

“Gordon Hewitt isn’t the most experienced guy on the circuit. I’msure he’s got some good ideas, but how about we reach out to Rupert Glazer?He’s worked both sides and will be invaluable in the general.”

Stevie could feel Meredith tense up beside her, and shesurreptitiously reached a hand under the table to squeeze Meredith’s thigh, asmall show of solidarity.

“Thanks, Dad,” Meredith said. “But I don’t want someone who’sworked both sides. I want someone who is an ideological fit as well as apractical one.”

“That makes sense for some things, but not a national election.”James stirred his coffee, then pointed his spoon at Stevie. “Stevie understandsthe importance of being able to argue both sides, don’t you?”

Stevie took a breath while she pondered whether the question wasrhetorical, but Meredith beat her to the punch.

“Dad, no fair picking on the guests.”

“It’s okay. I don’t mind answering,” Stevie said, surprised tohear her voice calm and even. “I think there’s a fundamental difference betweenseeing both sides and being willing to argue either one. I have an obligationto consider all the arguments my opponent will bring to bear, but that doesn’tmean I would step into his or her shoes and make those same points myself.”

“Are you trying to tell me you always believe your clients areinnocent?”

Stevie heard the disbelief in his tone, but she didn’t rise tothe bait. “No, absolutely not. In fact, many times I know they have committedthe crime for which they are accused, but my duty is to make sure they get avigorous defense within the law. The prosecutor’s duty is to make sure they areconvicted, and sometimes that means seeing only black and white. My job is toshed light on the shades of gray.”

“And a courtroom is nothing like a campaign trail,” Meredithinterjected. “Bad analogy, Dad. Gordon Hewitt comes highly recommended and he’smy guy.”

“Fine, but don’t shut your family out. We’ve been here all alongand this guy barely knows you.”

“I promise I won’t.”

Stevie watched the exchange, impressed with the deft manner inwhich Meredith handled her father’s domineering ways, which couldn’t be easy.He’d been a powerful governor and was the chief executive of the nonprofit thatbore his name. After Emily told her that the Mitchell Foundation was a clientof Folsom Enterprises, Stevie had done a little digging. Stevie hadn’t foundanything that connected the foundation to the information Barkley had leaked tothe press, but she now knew quite a bit about the nonprofit. James Mitchell hadset up the foundation soon after he retired from politics to focus on economicdevelopment and civil rights around the world. The foundation employed dozens,but James Mitchell was the primary fundraiser and he set the direction for itsagenda. Clearly, he was used to running the show, which she’d expected, but shewas completely unprepared for his next question.

“And what about you two? What are you going to tell people whenthey ask what kind of relationship you have?”

Stevie looked at Meredith who was shaking her head. Jen hid asmirk behind her napkin, and Michael looked down at his plate.

“Dad, drop it,” Meredith said.

“Your father has a point,” Anna Mitchell chimed in for the firsttime since she’d asked if anyone wanted another slice of cake. “Stevie needs toknow what she’s in for if she’s going to be by your side over the course of thenext year.”

Stevie could feel Meredith’s tension start to bubble over, andshe was feeling stress of her own. She’d been worried about questions from themedia, but she’d never expected an interrogation from Meredith’s parents overChristmas dinner. How naive. Of course, the Mitchell family would have strongopinions about who stood by their daughter’s side on her quest to carry ontheir political dynasty. But even more surprising was the whole “over the courseof the next year part.” Since when had their casual dating morphed into herserving as an escort on the campaign trial? She scrambled to come up with anappropriate response, but Meredith spoke first.

“Mom, Dad, I love you both, but today is a campaign-free zone.Thanks for dinner. It was delicious, but we’re going to duck out and have aprivate holiday celebration of our own.” Without waiting for an answer,Meredith stood and extended a hand to Stevie.

Stevie felt like she should say something before they left. Somepolite rejoinder or snappy comeback to what Anna Mitchell had said, but wordsleft her. She took Meredith’s hand and followed her to the garage.

“Erica took the town car from my parents and left it with thevalet at the Hay Adams,” Meredith said. She jangled a set of keys in the air.“We’ll be returning to the city in my dad’s sedan, and I know a secret way outof here.”

“Sounds like you thought of everything.” Stevie wanted to dialback the slight sarcasm in her tone, but Meredith hadn’t seemed to notice, soshe let it go. They made small talk in the car, and were back in the citybefore Meredith broached the subject.

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